— The Shadow Steps Forward —
Resolve hardened. Lyra wrenched the steering wheel—forcing the black sedan tailing her to screech to a halt.
She rolled down her window, her voice cold as frost. "Hey! Why are you following me?"
Her hand stayed poised over the window controls, her foot hovering near the accelerator—ready to flee at the slightest sign of threat.
The door of the black sedan slowly opened.
From the passenger seat emerged a tall, burly man wearing sunglasses, a half-smoked cigar dangling from his lips. An aura of undeniable authority radiated from him.
Had Lyra known this man was Darius Crowne, unofficial underworld king of the Novalis Sector, her jaw would have hit the floor.
—Though, for now, he was merely playing the part of a 'bodyguard'.
He had originally intended only to protect Lyra in secret, but he hadn't anticipated her sharp perception. Forced into the open, he chose to reveal himself calmly.
"Miss Lyra, there's no need for alarm,"
Darius said, his tone steady as he gave a slight bow. "I am here under my overlord's orders to ensure your safety."
"My safety?" Lyra's brow furrowed, suspicion dripping from her words. "And who is this 'overlord' of yours?"
"My overlord..." Darius replied with clear reverence, "is the Power Ranger."
The moment those words left his mouth, Lyra felt a jolt run through her.
Her heart hammered in her chest—the mysterious, masked man who had fallen from the sky to save her… was he the 'overlord' this man served?
"Where is he? Take me to him, now!" Her voice carried urgency—and a flicker of excitement. Who was he? Why did he save her? And why send a protector now?
A wry smile touched Darius's lips.
"I'm afraid that's impossible, Miss Lyra."
"Why? Please, just take me to him!"
"My overlord is… elusive. His movements are unpredictable. If he wishes to see you, he will appear."
"I see…" Lyra hesitated, biting her lip before asking another question. "Then at least tell me his name."
Darius sighed, a hint of embarrassment crossing his features.
"To be honest, today was the first time I ever laid eyes on him… I don't even know his name."
As the words escaped him, he himself was taken aback.
—To pledge allegiance so willingly, without even knowing his name?
A profound sense of awe bloomed deep within him.
Lyra's frown deepened, the mystery coiling tighter in her mind.
But she wasn't one to dwell in uncertainty for long.
"Fine," she said abruptly. "You can stay. Be my driver and my bodyguard. Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while."
This wasn't born of trust, but cold logic.
Caught in a dangerous game, having a capable ally close by meant an extra layer of security.
Besides, if this Power Ranger truly meant her harm, he wouldn't have saved her in the first place—with power like that, such subterfuge was pointless.
Every instinct told her one thing—he wasn't her enemy.
Darius's mouth twitched.
Him, the king of Novalis's underworld, reduced to being a woman's chauffeur and bodyguard?
—Do I look like I should be grateful for this 'magnanimous' offer?
He silently grumbled internally, but his face remained a mask of solemn duty as he nodded.
"As you wish, Miss Lyra."
---
— Deal on the Dark Web —
The car got back on the road, with Darius now behind the wheel.
Lyra sat in the back seat, her fingers trembled slightly over the phone—not from hesitation, but from long-suppressed anger.
Then, she dialed the number she'd found on the dark web.
"You guaranteed Eren wouldn't live to see today, didn't you? So why is he still alive and kicking?" Lyra's tone was accusatory, demanding an explanation.
There was a brief silence on the other end before a hoarse voice replied, "Circumstances changed. We lost an elite assassin—why didn't you warn us the target was highly skilled?"
Lyra felt a mix of anger and disbelief. In her memory, Eren was nothing more than a failed student. Since when was he 'highly skilled'?
"Don't give me excuses," she sneered. "I'm giving you one more chance—get rid of Eren."
The person on the phone hemmed and hawed before finally saying, "I'm afraid—"
"Afraid of what?" Lyra cut him off coldly. "Are you telling me a professional organization like yours can't handle one college student?"
Her sharp retort seemed to strike a nerve. The voice on the line hardened. "Will you let me finish? I was going to say, the target is indeed highly skilled. This will cost extra."
Lyra let out a grim laugh. "Hah, if it's just about money, name your price. Take out Eren, and I'll add another ten million on top—"
Her tone left no doubt about her financial firepower.
"Deal," the voice finally agreed. "Wait for my update." The line went dead.
A brief silence returned to the car. Outside, the dying sun wove a bloody tapestry across the sky.
The wheels rolled on.
Ahead lay a web of crimson shadows.