( Meanwhile Julien D Evanus )
"What did Ben Faulkner say at the end? That he knows where to find me?" Julien asked, curiosity gripping his voice as he questioned the statement that Ben Faulkner made at the end of the recent confrontation between the Virex Corps and him.
"Yes sir, my underlings have reported that Ben Faulkner has indeed threatened to kill you if you don't let him be, however, otherwise, it seems like he wants to live the life of a normal citizen" Cedric, the Leader of the Virex Corps and a Master Assassin himself said, as he reported the matter that unfolded between his underlings and Ben Faulkner directly to the Emperor.
"How interesting…. To think that even in his old age he is still as feisty as ever" Julien commented, as he rubbed his chin with interest.
"If you desire for him to be executed, the Virex Corps will have him killed within the end of this week my lord, even if I have to complete the mission myself," Cedric said, as he tried to reassure the Emperor that he did not need to worry about Ben Faulkner's threats.
"No, there is no need to kill Ben Faulkner if he has really stepped away from the world of shadows.
If he really has no affiliation to the Assassin Alliance and if they were really using his name in vain all these years, then Ben Faulkner was never as big of a problem as we thought him to be.
I do not seek for the blood of an innocent man.
Which he is after I pardoned his past crimes" Julien said, as he decided to not pursue Ben Faulkner anymore, if he really had no affiliation to the Night Guild or the Assassin Alliance.
"As you wish, My Lord" said Cedric, as he accepted Julien's command without a second question.
"How is the girl coming about Cedric? Have you already given her a new identity and a new persona within your Virex Corps?" Julien asked, as Cedric nodded in acknowledgement.
"She's coming about nicely, my lord. I think we have successfully removed the persona of 'Lin Mu' from the surface world.
There is only 'Victoria' left in this world now and she has the potential to someday become the next leader of the Virex Corps" Cedric said, as Julien expressed his pleasure over this development.
"She indeed is a talented one. Nurture her well Cedric, maybe one of my son's will appoint her as the leader of the Virex Corps in their tenure" Julien said, as he adopted a hopeful stance on Lin Mu's future.
****************
( Meanwhile Dem Paltrow )
Several days had passed since Dem had last seen Hollard, and the absence of his right hand man bothered Dem Paltrow immensely.
Dem's mental state was already unstable after the rough times that his guild was forced to endure, however, Hollard's absence had recently pushed him over the edge to the throes of insanity.
Last he checked, an underling reported that Dem was trailing Ben Faulkner's carriage in hopes that Ben Faulkner would lead him to the defector Lin Mu, who was responsible for the current dismal state of the Night Guild.
"Hollard, you fool! I hope you are alive and have not foolishly confronted Ben Faulkner!
That's not an opponent you can take down…. I've told you this countless times and I hope your better sense has prevailed" Dem mumbled to himself, as he desperately prayed that Hollard did not perform an act as stupid as trying to kill Ben Faulkner.
"You're wrong…. Hollard. Lin Mu won't be hiding with Ben Faulkner…. I'm sure of it" Dem mumbled, as although the entire organization that he had built was in ruins currently. He himself remained as sharp as ever.
"If it's the Virex Corps that liberated the Mu Clan, killing our experts and helping them settle in different parts of the Empire with new identities.
Then it has to be the Virex Corps that's helping Lin Mu as well and has given her a new identity.
If my guess is not wrong, then Cedric that leech won't be able to resist her talent, so instead of kicking her out of the empire like the snake that she is, he will nurture her like a Virex Corps member.
A new name….
A new persona…..
But it will be the same old snake, Lin Mu" Dem mumbled, as he accurately assessed the situation of the real world, although he was currently living in a safe-house that was cut-off from the outside world completely.
"I hope you return home soon, Hollard, because I'll lose my mind if I lose you too.
I'm holding out here, biding my time only because I have faith that if we weather this storm, we will still be able to rebuild the night guild from the ashes of its destruction.
However, if I lose you too, then there will be no hope to rebuild and then I will re-surface to destroy instead." Dem said, as his thick killing intent began leaking from his body as he went on with his monologue.
"If you don't return Hollard, then I'll no longer bide my time.
I'll resurface and resurface to kill, bringing the fight straight to the Virex dogs.
I'll kill Lin Mu
I'll kill Ben Faulkner
I'll destroy the Virex Corps.
Or
I'll die trying" Dem promised ominously, as he decided to wait a week more for Hollard to return, or go rogue if he did not.
Unfortunately, the leader of the Night Guild had no idea that let alone one week, even if he waited until eternity for Hollard to return, his right hand man was never going to, as Ben Faulkner had buried him six feet under after the kid tried to spring an ambush on him.
This meant that him going off on his revenge journey was a certainty and no longer a question of whether or not he was going to do it, for Hollard was most definitely never going to return back to the base.