"Did you know? A great sorcerer can do anything."
What the hell is this supposed to be? What does it mean? Iago was slightly startled and confused. His anger began to surge. Damn it. Someone is messing with me! And whoever he is, he must be watching.
"Iago?" Yuki said with a worried look.
Iago finally snapped out of his daze. Standing in front of the dining table, he saw the worried faces of Yuki and Edward. Seeing this, he decided to smile at them, trying to conceal the storm within him.
"What's wrong with you two?" Iago asked with a smile that felt brittle and stiff on his lips.
"We should be asking you. What's wrong, Iago? Why did you jump up like that? Your expression looked panicked, and your hand was shaking." Yuki looked curious.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Iago's eyes, usually steady and relaxed, now skittered away from Yuki's gaze. After a moment, Yuki sighed and picked up her teacup, warm herbal steam wafting up, calming her.
"Alright then." Yuki began to drink her herbal tea. Edward also drank his herbal tea.
Meanwhile, Iago returned to his seat. He placed the scrap of paper under the table. He crumpled the paper until it was wrinkled, as if wanting to destroy the mysterious message along with the threat it contained.
"Iago..." Yuki said with her intense gaze again, this time with a tone of certainty in her voice.
Huh? What else does she want to talk about? Calm down, Iago! You were a calm person before. You have to act relaxed. Iago was slightly anxious. But he began to calm himself down. Once he was calm, he tried to meet Yuki's eyes. "What is it, Yuki?"
"Does that note have anything to do with the two murders? The inn and the alley."
"No. Why would it?"
"Hmm… You started to panic right after I mentioned the suspicious old man. You checked your pocket, found the note, and then looked even more distressed."
Iago slowly began to lift the corners of his mouth. This was a trap he couldn't avoid.
"Honestly, my bag and coat were stolen by someone while I was asleep on the street earlier. Maybe that old man was the one who stole them. He must be a skilled thief."
"Really? That's serious. We have to find that old man immediately. Those skilled thieves are very hard to catch; they can disappear like smoke."
"Yes."
"Oh, right… What did the note say?" Yuki continued.
"It said the thief is a famous skilled thief in Citywon," Iago lied, a chill of cold sweat trickling down his back.
"Huh? Don't tell me he also killed the people at the inn and the narrow alley. Shadow Thieves usually only steal, not kill."
"Yes, that could be it," Iago knew this would only complicate matters, but he had no other choice.
After chatting over breakfast, they didn't realize their food was gone. Clean plates sat on the simple wooden table.
"Mmm... even though the bread was quite hard, like the traveler's bread usually sold on the roadside near the city gate, it tasted decent," Edward said.
Iago and Yuki just nodded and smiled at Edward. The morning atmosphere, which should have been calm, now felt tense because of the secret Iago kept.
"So, what are we going to do, Big Brother Iago and Big Sister Yuki?"
Yuki looked at Iago. Iago noticed and looked at Yuki too.
"What are you going to do now, Iago?" Yuki said with her usual gentle smile.
On the other side, Eliana was observing Citywon City from Witch Mountain. The city, which stretched beneath the green valley and was traversed by a glittering silver river, looked as beautiful as ever. In the distance, the white towers of the Church of Light looked majestic, contrasting with the red brick houses in the Residential District and the metallic glint of the factories in the Industrial District.
"Hmm... this city is still as beautiful as ever. Too beautiful not to be ruled," Eliana said, her murmur almost lost in the cold mountain wind.
Eliana was dressed in covered clothing. She wore a shabby brown cloak, with faded black thread embroidery on the edges, and her head was covered by the hood of the cloak. It was a cloak she had worn for a long time, perhaps even older than herself, a relic from past missions.
Behind Eliana was a man wearing a mask. The mask was shaped like a bunny's face and was white, with fine crack lines in the eye area that emitted a strange glint. The man's hair was silver, neatly hidden behind his black hood. "Eliana, is it true that our master has returned? The real Master Iago?"
"Yes, of course. I met him myself. Although his memories are still... fragmented." Eliana remained focused on the view of Citywon City in front of her.
"Really? Hard to believe, after all these years of him disappearing without a trace."
"Yes. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. I'm jealous of you. I should be the one to restore his memory first. I deserve to restore his glory."
"And why is that?"
"Because my memories with him are superior to yours. I understand his vision best, not you, the 'sentimental Left Hand.'"
Eliana's lips began to curve, forming a thin, cold smile. She began to face the man behind her. "Indeed? I am Master Iago's Left Hand, appointed by him personally after defeating you in the Blood Trial in the Red Valley. I have worked for him for a long time. Longer than you, the newcomer who can only rely on speed."
"Length of service is meaningless, Eliana. Master Iago's returning memories are largely useless to him. Most are just your long string of failures."
Eliana began to frown. Her hands began to clench tightly. "What did you say?!"
"I said, the memories from your time with him are useless. They will only slow him down. He needs his sharp vision back, not bitter memories."
Eliana's anger surged even more. She smiled cynically and approached the bunny-masked man. "Take that back, or I will kill you." Eliana said, whipping out her two daggers.
The daggers were pitch black, forged from Shadowfell obsidian known for its ability to absorb light and magic, and they were very sharp. Even under the morning sun, the daggers seemed to swallow the light.
"The memories Master Iago will get are likely moments where you were trying to tempt him, or when you almost jeopardized our missions for your own selfish gain." The masked man provoked again, his voice unnervingly calm, without the slightest hint of fear.
Eliana began to attack the masked man with her daggers. She struck the man's head quickly, a move commonly used by assassins in Citywon's underground. However, the man managed to avoid the attack by ducking his head down.
While Eliana's hand was still swinging above, the man quickly grabbed Eliana's wrist. The man held it with a firm grip, an unexpected strength from his slender body.
"Argh…" Eliana winced, feeling her wrist bone protest painfully.
"Is this the best the Master's Left Hand can muster? You can't even lay a finger on me."
The masked man released Eliana's hand. Eliana slowly backed away while holding her sore wrist. Her wrist was slightly red.
Shortly after that, Eliana quickly aimed a kick at the masked man, a spinning kick trained with high discipline.
"Don't underestimate me, damn it! I am the third strongest in Organization IV!" Eliana said with an annoyed expression, her eyes flashing with anger.
Just as her kick was about to connect, it was held back by a muscular man. He caught her foot in his hand. Eliana became more frustrated and lowered her foot. She tried to calm herself down.
"Tch, you're in the way!" Eliana said, cursing the unexpected intervention.
The muscular man came with other subordinates of Organization IV, about fifteen people in dark uniforms. His hair was brown, and his mustache was quite thick. His gaze was sharp, and his face looked scary. This muscular man is called the "Big Boss." He is the current interim leader of Organization IV. He is Iago's Right Hand who is filling the leadership position after Iago disappeared.
"What do you want, Eldric?" The masked man said, his voice laced with annoyance at the interruption.
The name of the interim boss of Organization IV was Eldric Malrik. He was the one who pursued Iago at that time.
"I just saved you, Otto. The least you can do is show respect to your interim boss! Call me Mister Eldric! Or have you forgotten who was Master Iago's Right Hand before he vanished?"
The name of the bunny-masked man was Otto. He was also an elite executioner of Organization IV.
"Helped me? I don't recall asking for your help, Eldric. Besides, I can handle her myself. This Left Hand is starting to get dull."
Eldric became annoyed but quickly calmed himself down. He knew Otto's reputation as a difficult individual to manage.
"I told you to call me Mister Eldric! That's an order!"
"Eldric, the only man I respect is Master Iago. Only he deserves my loyalty. You are merely a substitute."
Eldric sighed. He had been frustrated with Otto for a long time. Although Otto's abilities were superb, he had a disrespectful attitude towards others. But, somehow he was very obsessed with Iago.
"So, you don't respect me, huh?" Eldric said, approaching Otto, his steps heavy and threatening.
"Yes."
Eldric's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes narrowed, and his hands clenched. The muscles in his arms tensed, ready to strike.
"Fine. It seems I have to teach you a lesson, Otto. A lesson you won't forget."
"I'm not scared, you simple brute. In fact, I welcome the duel."
Eldric quickly lashed out with a kick—military-style, strong and precise enough to shatter bone. Otto managed to block it with his hands, but the sheer force of the blow sent him staggering back. Both his hands were swollen from taking the attack. Otto positioned his right hand behind his body. He hid his right hand behind him. Eldric didn't care and immediately attacked Otto, as if giving no quarter.
"Enough!" Eliana said to both of them, her voice firm and full of authority. Eliana suddenly stopped the two of them. Eliana started to walk away.
"We have to carry out our mission now. Right, boss? Organization IV's priority is Master Iago, not your personal quarrels."
As she passed them both, Eliana turned to face them. "Do you want to waste your time? Every wasted second means an opportunity for the enemy to find Master Iago first."
Eldric sighed and walked towards Eliana, acknowledging the logic behind her words.
"Eliana is right. We have to carry out our mission. All of you, follow me! Remember, this mission is Organization IV's top priority!"
Eldric led the way in front, followed by the other subordinates. The sound of their boots clattered on the rocks, creating a regular marching rhythm.
"Hear me! Our mission is clear: We find Master Iago, and we restore him to his rightful throne! Organization IV will rise again!"
"Yes!" shouted the other subordinates, their voices echoing in the mountains.
Otto was still left behind them. He watched his friends' backs getting further away. His right hand was still behind him. It turned out that Otto was holding a small knife, a double-edged throwing knife he usually used for silent execution. He hid the knife in his back pants pocket. Otto intended to slash Eldric's head when Eldric attacked earlier. However, Eliana stopped Eldric.
Otto began to walk, following his friends. They passed through the forests on the mountain. They looked happy and enthusiastic.
Eliana, who was walking beside Eldric, slowly stepped back. She approached Otto who was walking behind her.
"Hey, you!" Eliana whispered to Otto.
"What?"
"Why did you intend to kill Eldric just now? You know the consequences, don't you? It could split Organization IV."
"Haha... there's no way I could kill him. You know yourself, right? He's as strong as a bull. And also, why would you think that? Are you starting to hallucinate, Eliana?" Otto tried to deny it, but there was a flash of amusement in his voice.
"I don't know if you're trying to be humble or what. But, why do you so rarely open your mask? Is there something you're hiding, Otto?" Eliana asked, her curious tone evident.
"Oh, I just want to wear it."
"Hmm... suit yourself. Remember! Our mission now is to find Master Iago and invite him to join us. The world awaits the return of the Master."
"Understood."
"Don't cause any chaos! We don't want to attract unnecessary attention, especially from the Church of Light or other factions."
"Alright, alright..." Otto replied with an annoyed tone.
They walked from Witch Mountain towards Citywon City to search for Iago.