Now was the moment Luku finally gave voice to what had been weighing on him.

  "Master... who is Fei?"

  "She's a paid assassin," Muuey answered calmly. "You can figure out the rest."

  Luku stopped short, shock flashing across his face. "Wait-so she did that to Lady Lara!? Shouldn't we-!"

  "No."

  The single word was blunt, absolute. It left no room for argument.

  They continued toward the elevator in silence, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. Yet Luku couldn't hide it-the tension in his posture, the questions burning behind his eyes.

  Muuey noticed. Of course he did.

  "You're wondering about Fei," he said quietly.

  Luku stiffened, startled that his thoughts had been read so easily. "Y-yes, Master."

  "Don't worry," Muuey replied. "Sele can handle herself." He paused, then added evenly, "But I did lend her some help."

  Understanding dawned on Luku's face. He lowered his head slightly, awe creeping into his voice.

  "I see... Master is always one step ahead."

  The elevator doors slid shut behind them, sealing Muuey and Luku away as it began its quiet descent.

  Back in the hospital room, Sele remained unaware of the danger gathering behind her. Focused, she gently lifted Lara's shirt just enough to see the wound clearly, her expression tightening.

  "Sheesh... this wound," she muttered under her breath.

  A block of ice formed and settled neatly into the hole in Lara's lower stomach, sealing it with practiced precision. Sele exhaled slowly, impressed despite herself.

  "Man... this girl's still alive," she said quietly. "That's a miracle."

  Behind her, Fei moved.

  One careful step. Then another. Silent, deliberate. Her presence crept closer, the distance between them shrinking as her resolve hardened-unseen, unnoticed, and seconds away from breaking the fragile calm of the room.

  From behind her, Fei struck-no hesitation, no warning.

  "I hope you've thought this out."

  Sele's voice cut through the air, calm and almost bored.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Fei froze mid-motion.

  Huh?

  Confusion rippled through her mind, her body locked in place as the weight of those words sank in. The attack she had committed to stalled completely, uncertainty clawing at her resolve as the room fell into a tense, dangerous stillness.

  "If I hadn't spoken just now," Sele went on casually, not even turning around, "your head probably wouldn't be in its current place."

  She continued checking Lara's body as she spoke, fingers moving with calm precision, as if there weren't a would-be killer standing right behind her. The ease in her tone made the words hit harder-matter-of-fact, confident, final.

  Fei stood there, frozen, the threat sinking in fully now.

  "Are you... talking to me?"

  "Who else would be standing behind me right now with killing intent?" Sele replied evenly. "I can feel it-right there at my back. That pressure doesn't come from an amateur." She tilted her head slightly, still not turning around. "You're a professional, hm?"

  Fei's breath caught. The certainty in Sele's voice unraveled her resolve piece by piece.

  "I-I..."

  The words wouldn't come. Her mouth opened, then closed again, hesitation tightening around her chest as doubt finally drowned out the urge to strike.

  "I'M SORRY-BUT I HAVE TO DO THIS!"

  Fei finally found her resolve. Fear, guilt, desperation-she crushed it all down and lunged, committing fully to the kill.

  Sele moved first.

  In a blink, she twisted and dragged Fei past her, the motion sharp and controlled. Fei barely had time to register what was happening before the world spun out of alignment.

  Then-

  A slash.

  Blood spiraled through the air.

  Sele staggered half a step as crimson poured from her left arm-the very arm she had thrown up to shield herself from a sudden, unseen strike that came out of nowhere.

  The room froze in shock, the metallic scent of blood cutting through the sterile air as the reality of the attack set in.

  Drip.

  The sound of blood striking the floor echoed softly in the room.

  Sele let out a tired sigh. "Darn it, boss... I'm definitely making you pay extra for this. Sheesh."

  "A-are you alright?" Fei asked, panic slipping into her voice. She was so focused on Sele's bleeding arm that she completely missed it-the lingering female shadow standing before her, a blade of darkness forming in its grasp. The blade didn't reflect the hospital lights; it seemed to drink them, a jagged void of absolute cold.

  Fei hadn't even realized what had struck Sele in the first place.

  "Yeah, yeah," Sele muttered, gripping her injured arm tightly. "Just shut up for a sec."

  She pushed the pain aside, straightened despite the blood seeping between her fingers, and lifted her gaze. Her eyes locked onto the shadow.

  Sele pointed at it sharply. "Hey. I don't know what kind of command the boss gave you, dip-shit, but listen carefully."

  Her voice hardened.

  "Having a dead body here is not an option right now!."

  "What...?"

  Confusion pulled Fei's gaze past Sele's shoulder. She turned slowly-then froze.

  What she saw wasn't anything she had expected.

  The shadow snarled, a low, petulant sound, like an infant being scolded for reaching toward something forbidden. Its form rippled, displeased, the dark blade dissolving as if in reluctant obedience.

  With an exaggerated air of annoyance, it drifted away and plopped itself down onto the chair Muuey had been sitting in.

  Then it went still.

  Watching.

  Not attacking. Not moving.

  Just staring straight at Fei.

  The weight of that gaze pressed down on her chest, heavier than any restraint. Her breath hitched as the realization sank in-this thing wasn't gone. It hadn't been dismissed.

  It was waiting.

  Sele snapped her gaze back to Fei. "You understand now, don't you?" Her voice was sharp, leaving no room for misinterpretation. "So behave-and sit back down."

  Fei stared at her for a long second, trying to process what she had just seen, trying to make sense of the shadow, the command, the quiet terror curling in her chest.

  Then she looked away.

  Without another word, she lowered herself back into the chair, obedient this time, her body tense as the weight of the situation finally settled over her.

  The Shadow just wounded Sele! How do you think Muuey 'controls' this thing?