That night, in the basement beneath Stark Manor, where bright lights cast a steady glow over a single chair positioned at the center of the room.

Ethan stood a short distance away, with his phone in hand. But just before he began, a message came through.

He glanced down at the screen.

Miss Berlene❤️: I think it actually worked. I’ve been in this house for the last three hours and my father hasn’t called for me yet.

Ethan read it and smiled, before taking the texts screen away. He thrust his right hand forward and magic circle formed in front of him.

And from it, the hitman summon emerged.

Joe Sanderberg.

Ethan gestured toward the chair. "Sit."

Joe moved without resistance, and sat down in the chair, gazing back at his summoner.

Ethan watched him for a second. Then muttered under his breath, "Two can play this game."

He stepped forward, pulling out his phone again and activating the camera. He adjusted the angle, positioning it directly in front of Joe’s face.

The frame captured him perfectly centered, lit, clear. Once it was steady, Ethan gave a small nod.

"You may begin."

"My name is Joe Sanderberg," he began. "Also known as Hitman X. And if you’re seeing this, it means the bounty on my head has been fulfilled, and I am dead."

There was no hesitation nor emotion in his voice.

"I have carried out multiple assassinations throughout my lifetime," he continued. "What follows are the names of some of those who contracted my services."

A smile formed on Ethan’s face right after.

——

The next morning, at Crypco—

Tyrwin stood before Edgar in his office, with a satisfied look in his expression.

"We’ve just received word," the man began. "Stark Industries have officially decided to drop the case."

Edgar smiled, then laughed out loudly as he leaned back in his chair. "Very good."

Tyrwin gave a slight bow before turning and leaving the office, closing the door behind him, gently .

Edgar exhaled, and reached for the glass of wine on his desk and took a slow sip, savoring the taste.

Then, a notification appeared on his phone.

He glanced at it briefly, with his brow furrowing slightly. The title was... strange.

"Top Elites Exposed: Men Like Edgar Desdemona Involved in Multiple Assassinations"

Edgar frowned as he stared at the screen for a moment.

Then he tapped it and the video began to play.

A man sat at the center of the frame, lit by a single overhead light. His face was clear, with a neutral expression.

Edgar did not recognize him, so he simply continued with the rest of the video.

"I have carried out multiple assassinations throughout my lifetime. What follows are the names of some of those who contracted my services."

The names began.

One after another.

A few men in the government, CEOs, nobles and crime lords.

Edgar watched in silence with a growing weary expression.

Then—

"I was also hired by Edgar Desdemona of the Desdemona family," Joe said. "I was assigned to eliminate the engineer, Mr. Isaac Hargreaves."

There was pause.

"I carried out the task on the evening of X2052, two years ago. Afterward, I collected hair samples from Mr. Isaac’s body and delivered them directly to Edgar Desdemona, who explicitly stated his intent to use them as a catalyst to summon him."

Edgar’s eyes widened and the wine glass slipped from his hand. It shattered against the floor, and the red liquid spread across.

It didn’t take long to realize that this video wasn’t contained.

News outlets had already picked it up. Social media was ablaze. Analysts were dissecting every word. Enforcement agencies were being flooded with demands for investigation.

It was everywhere.

Edgar moved immediately.

He shot up from his chair and stormed out of his office, striding through the halls. His security detail fell in behind him as employees glanced their way, with their expressions uncertain, confused, and edged with fear.

Moments later, he stepped outside, heading toward his car parked near the front of the building

But just then, multiple vehicles pulled into the compound. Black vans with the insignia of the Grayfort Enforcement Division emblazoned on their sides.

Doors opened, and enforcers in blue uniforms stepped out, with their weapons drawn. Some carried swords. Others held bows with enchanted arrows. A few held long rifle artifacts.

Chief Enforcer Roland emerged from the front vehicle. He straightened his coat and walked towards Edgar.

Behind him, other enforcers fanned out, surrounding the entrance.

"Mr. Edgar Desdemona," Roland said firmly, "you are coming under arrest for the murder of Mr. Isaac Hargreaves."

Edgar’s eyes widened slightly. He turned, scanning the scene.

The enforcers had brought numbers. At least twenty men, all armed and ready. But it wasn’t the men that made his stomach drop.

It was the woman now approaching from behind Roland.

She had striking blue hair that cascaded down past her shoulders, She had a mask covering her face, and wore a unique black suit that had been embedded with enchantments.

This was Junni, an S-rank hero who also worked as an enforcer.

Edgar’s jaw tightened. His men fidgeting men could not compete with that.

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Roland?" Edgar said in a furious tone. "Do you know how badly this endangers you? How badly this endangers your family?"

Roland’s expression didn’t change. "I know exactly what I’m doing," he said evenly.

Then he raised his hand and gestured forward "Get him."

The enforcers moved immediately as two of them closed in on Edgar from both sides, reaching for his arms.

Edgar’s fists clenched, his magic beginning to stir

But Juni took a single step forward, extending her blade towards him. Chief Roland also looked ready to take him in a battle.

Given his situation, he knew better than to resist.

But From the corner of Edgar’s vision, a car passed by slowly.

Inside it, was Ethan in the driver’s seat, with one hand resting casually on the steering wheel.

For a brief second, Edgar’s eyes met Ethan’s and that slow devious grin on his face.

Ethan winked at him, then turned to face the road as his car’s tinted windows began to rise, slowly obscuring his view.

Then he drove on.

—-

A/N:

Votes Bonuses: (21/40)

Gifts: (1 / 13)

Shit😰