That night, deep within the silence of Revelon's room…
"Presence Substitution."
A whisper, barely audible, echoed through the darkness.
A smoke-like shadow peeled away from Revelon's sleeping body. It drifted upward, slipping through the gaps in the ceiling before reforming on the roof. The mist coalesced into a solid figure, revealing none other than Revelon himself.
Yet, there was something fundamentally different about this Revelon.
His pupils were a deep, blood-red. His gaze seemed to pierce through all lies, and most unsettling of all, his face was void of all emotion. He was the polar opposite of the innocent, clumsy boy from the morning.
"That was a close call today. We need to be more careful."
Revelon's words were addressed to the empty air beside him. A shadow twisted and rose from the floor, taking the shape of a woman. She was wrapped from head to toe in black cloth, leaving no room to guess her identity. The only features exposed were her eyes—sharp and blue like sapphire gems.
"Sir Revelon, shall I dispose of Gem? She is starting to suspect you."
Her voice was devoid of warmth. It was clear her only desire was to be a useful tool.
"Think bigger, Aleia. We don't burn down a castle just to kill a mouse. Let her suspect all she wants; she can't stop what's coming. Besides, we both know who she actually is."
"Understood."
The exchange was short and calculated, a sign of years of seamless cooperation.
"Tonight, we will recruit five candidates directly from the mayor's personal agents. There seem to be a few good seeds among them."
A predatory gleam flashed in Revelon's red eyes. He looked toward the town center like a hawk spotting a field mouse.
"As per your orders, Sir Revelon. It shall be done."
- - -
The night deepened.
At the perimeter of the mayor's estate, shadows flickered over the spiked metal fences. Below, darker shapes tunneled silently beneath the walls.
The group infiltrated the estate like a phantom wind. They moved toward the opulent mansion at the center, which was surrounded by a manicured garden.
An unfortunate guard turned a corner and encountered the intruders. Before he could draw breath to scream, his neck snapped like a dry twig. A figure draped in black gently lowered the limp body to the ground.
Revelon watched from the top of a tall bamboo tree nearby, balancing on a single thin branch with unnatural grace. He observed as twenty shadows breached the mansion.
Moments later, chaos erupted. Gongs clashed and bells rang out, shattering the peace.
The mayor's elite agents revealed themselves. Unlike the standard perimeter guards, these men were trained in assassination and espionage.
"Those agents almost had me last night," Revelon mused.
"Sir, shall I kill them if they refuse to submit?" Aleia asked, appearing beside him.
"Yes. But keep five alive."
He answered without a second of hesitation. This cold decisiveness was a world away from the hesitant boy he played during the day.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, the mayor fumbled to pull up his trousers as a team of five shadows burst into the room. He was a rotund man with a greasy beard, reeking of expensive wine. Beside him, a woman shuddered on the bed, pulling the sheets up to her chin.
"Mayor, we thank you for being our leader's stepping stone."
A voice drifted down from the ceiling. The woman in black, Aleia, dropped into the center of the room, having traversed the distance from Revelon's side in an instant.
Even though her face was covered, her eyes communicated wicked intent.
"W-who is your leader!? Who are you pests?!"
The mayor screamed, his face flushing red. It didn't take a genius to see he had been fattened by the taxes he embezzled from this forgotten town.
"That is not for you to know. You are unworthy of hearing his name."
Taking graceful, deliberate steps, Aleia approached him. He tried to run, but the other shadows blocked his path.
"What do you want!? Money? I can give you anything!"
Out of options, the mayor tried to buy his life. But when he looked into Aleia's eyes, he felt a strange, jarring sensation. Fear mixed with a sudden, confused arousal.
"Oh? I want nothing but your…"
She purred the words, her voice laced with a seductive attraction.
"W-what?"
The mayor blinked, his mind fogging over. He didn't know if he was about to die or experience bliss.
He never heard the answer.
Aleia kicked him backward onto the bed. In one fluid motion, a blade appeared in her hand. She swung it in a cruel, low arc across his groin.
"AhhhhhHHH!"
Blood sprayed. The mayor's scream was that of a slaughtered pig.
"Why?! Why did you do that?!" he shrieked, clutching himself.
"Because I pity her."
"You…"
The mayor gasped for air, his face twisting. Unable to overpower the assassin, he turned his hateful glare toward the trembling woman beside him on the bed.
"Oh, don't worry," Aleia said softly. "She can't live either."
"Eh?"
The woman let out a confused squeak.
Thwack.
A throwing knife hurtled through the air, piercing the center of her forehead. Her head fell back, and a pool of crimson began to spread across the white sheets.
"She… died…" the mayor muttered, his brain failing to process the speed of the violence.
"Our leader has strict orders: no witnesses," Aleia stated as if discussing the weather.
That was the last thing the mayor heard before the pain and blood loss dragged him into unconsciousness.
The chaos in the estate died down soon after. No one was left alive—except for five lucky agents. Bound and gagged with black sacks over their heads, they were dragged out of the estate.
"Sir Revelon, mission complete."
"Good. I see your Shadow Traversal has improved."
"Yes, sir. I have been practicing."
Aleia beamed. Even beneath her mask, her joy at Revelon's praise was palpable. If she weren't covered in black cloth, her smile might have outshone the moon.
"It is time."
"..."
Revelon's words made everyone freeze. Even the agents dragging the prisoners halted.
"Sir, does that mean you intend to fully awaken?" Aleia asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Correct. It is time to discard my false cover. I may have to say goodbye to Gem and her parents soon. With this town under our control, we no longer need to hide in the dirt."
"But sir…"
"What? Is there a problem?"
"No, sir. You are right." Aleia swallowed the words she wanted to say.
Revelon looked up at the moon, his red eyes burning.
"For the Great Empire of Swordgate!"
"For the Great Empire of Swordgate!" his subordinates chanted in unison, their voices merging with the shadows.
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