He tried to stay strong, took a deep breath, and buried his feelings as deep as possible into the darkest bottom of his heart.
I really hope my feelings for him will disappear soon, Allen prayed inwardly. Even though it's suffocating, I must endure it! If they find out, my relationship with Kazien will drift apart.
Allen's biggest fear wasn't romantic rejection, but the loss of familial closeness. I don't want to be shunned by my own cousin. Just imagining it scares me half to death.
Allen's sad daydream dispersed instantly when Kazien's baritone voice broke the silence again, this time with an undeniable commanding tone.
"Show all your faces before us!"
The assassins glanced at each other for a moment, then obeyed their new master's order. One by one, the assassins removed the cloth masks covering their identities.
Now, Kazien, Elisa, Alvin, and Allen could see the real faces of the people who had just tried to kill them. Hard faces, full of scars, yet radiating loyalty.
However, the biggest surprise came when their leader removed the mask.
Kazien was astounded. His eyes widened slightly upon learning that Zeto, the leader who spoke firmly and fought fiercely, was a beautiful woman. Her black hair, previously covered by a hood, now cascaded slightly, framing a stern yet enchanting face.
"Is Zeto your real name?" Kazien asked, verifying.
"That is my name, Young Master. I no longer wish to use my old name!" the woman answered straightforwardly, without a hint of hesitation.
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Kazien decided not to ask further about her reasons or past. Everyone has wounds they wish to bury.
Kazien shifted his gaze to the scattered corpses. "Take your fallen comrades and bury them properly! And regarding their families, let me handle it! I will provide appropriate compensation."
Zeto shook her head slowly. "You need not worry about that, Young Master. Besides Borris, they have no families. Because from the beginning, they were orphans or outcasts from society."
Kazien sighed, feeling slightly relieved that the moral burden for the deceased was not as heavy as he had guessed. He then looked at Borris, the undead standing stiffly beside his comrades.
"Borris, I allow you to go with them!" Kazien ordered gently. "Tell your son that you have died and become an undead. Be honest with him. But if your son cannot accept it and decides to take it out on me, bring him here. I will bear all his anger and sadness!"
Borris's cloudy eyes seemed glassy, a miracle for a creature that should no longer have normal bodily functions.
"Am I allowed to act like a father even though I have become an undead like this?" asked Borris with a hoarse voice full of hope.
"Of course!" Kazien answered firmly. "Even though you are an undead, I never restrain you! Just do it if it's for your son! Be a father to him while you can still move in this world."
Borris felt an immense relief. The heavy burden in his chest lifted because his master had allowed him to continue acting as a parent to Arken, even though his form was now terrifying.
After the humanitarian matter was settled, the atmosphere around Kazien turned cold and sharp. He turned back to Zeto. And the beautiful woman, with her sharp killer instincts, immediately knew the meaning of the gaze directed at her. It was time for confession.
"The one who ordered us to kill you is a young woman named Marina Delfilian!"
Zeto reached into her combat gear's pocket and handed him the proof of the signed transaction document. Kazien received the slightly crumpled document sheets, his eyes scanning the name and signature listed there.
"That foolish woman!" Kazien growled while crumpling the paper. "She already wanted to steal Alvin from me, now she even tried to kill my family!"
Hearing that name, Allen immediately remembered something. "No wonder she was always watching and even following us from behind since we left the academy building," Allen chimed in suddenly, realizing the girl's strange behavior earlier.
Kazien stared straight ahead, as if he could see Marina's figure in the distance.
"As I once told you, Allen. I will make her and her family regret it!"
Kazien's lips slowly curved into an evil smirk. A smile that radiated not warmth, but a promise of suffering. The thick killing aura emanating from him gave goosebumps to those who saw him, including the assassins.
On the other hand, Alvin, who saw that expression, could only shake his head inwardly.
What a troublesome future husband! Alvin thought, half annoyed but unable to do much. I wonder what he's planning, but I don't like it! Because of that evil smirk, his handsome face is gone. After his business with all those assassins is done, I will reprimand him!
Shortly after, the assassins began to move. They respectfully lifted the bodies of their fallen comrades.
"Zeto..." Kazien called before the woman left. "Meet me here after I settle my business with that rotten woman!"
"Yes, Young Master! If we receive reports or other movements regarding that woman, we will meet you immediately."
Kazien then turned to Borris for the last time tonight.
"Borris, just enjoy your time with your son. Your place is not here but in the afterlife! And I promise, after everything is done, I will definitely send you home to where you belong peacefully!"
Borris bowed deeply. "Thank you very much for your understanding, Master!"
After putting her mask back on, Zeto gave a hand signal. She and all her members, including Borris walking in the rear, turned and left the ravaged mansion.
Once in the yard, they all ran fast, leaping over high fences, and moving onto the rooftops of residents' houses very quickly and silently, disappearing into the darkness of the capital's night.
While running on the rooftops, Zeto glanced briefly toward the Altavis mansion.
I don't know what he plans to do to that woman. Zeto thought, recalling Kazien's smirk earlier. But it is certain that the woman and her family won't be fine. They woke a sleeping dragon.
Zeto looked ahead again, feeling the night wind against her face behind the mask. There was a sense of loss, but also a strange gratitude.
It is indeed a shame I had to lose a few of my members. But thanks to this incident, I and all my members can have permanent jobs without having to risk our lives as hired assassins like this.