The silence that followed the oath was heavy.
The seven prisoners had barely risen. Their black coats were still pristine, their numbered red moons intact, as if awaiting their first judgment. None of them spoke. All stared at the man before them.
Kaito.
On his back, unlike the others, shone a black moon.
And in its center… the number zero.
No one dared ask.
Kaito broke the silence.
"Your first mission is simple."
A symbol appeared in the air: a warehouse located in the kingdom's slums.
"Trafficking in forbidden artifacts. Mercenary mages. No official ties to the court."
He raised his head slightly.
"A test. Of loyalty. And efficiency."
Chiyo chuckled softly.
"Their blood is boiling. They already sense something is coming."
Musashi said nothing. Around him, swords appeared one by one, floating perfectly still, as if the world itself were holding its breath.
Night had fallen when Blake Shadow arrived.
The warehouse was guarded. Too well guarded for mere trafficking. Mages patrolled, armed mercenaries watched the rooftops.
Nyx, Number 1, whispered, "Shall we attack?"
Kaito shook his head.
"Observe."
He took a step forward.
The torchlight grazed his coat.
A guard looked up.
And saw him.
The black moon.
Number Zero.
The guard froze. His heart raced. A primal, incomprehensible fear seized him. He didn't know why… but he knew one thing:
This man decided whether he would live or die.
He opened his mouth to scream. No sound came out.
Chiyo stirred.
The guard's blood froze in his veins. He fell to his knees, alive… but broken. His eyes remained open, fixed on the zero.
Inside, other mercenaries glimpsed Kaito through the half-open door.
It only took a moment.
Some collapsed beneath Musashi's blades, clean, swift, without unnecessary pain.
Others survived, neutralized by members of Blake Shadow.
But all of them, without exception…
saw the zero.
Those who died carried that image with them into death. Those who lived kept it etched in their minds.
A few minutes later, the warehouse was silent.
Artifacts secured.
Enemies neutralized.
No conscious witnesses… except those Kaito had deliberately left alive.
Nyx looked around, then at Kaito.
"That was... too easy."
Kaito slowly turned his back.
"This world is filled with kings, demons, and gods.
But none of them understand fear."
He paused.
"Not yet."
Chiyo smiled, satisfied.
Musashi sheathed his swords.
Behind them, the survivors were still trembling, unable to explain what they had seen.
They didn't know the name Blake Shadow.
They knew nothing about the organization.
But one thing was certain.
They had seen the zero.
And they knew the shadow existed.