A little while later, each of them was walking deep through the forest, Aiysha having already marked a place where those other three women would meet.

The deal was quite simple.

Meet up, three people from each group, and then exchange information. Luckily, those three women decided to agree. They were one of the most notorious first-year girl musketeer trios after all, so it made sense.

Aiysha, on the other hand, declared that she only needed herself.

Both sides agreed, and that was how the deal finally came to fruition.

...

Ten minutes later, they were still walking. No beasts decided to appear from the bushes, quite fortunately.

Aiysha went to walk side by side with Cassien while Siv stayed in front, afraid and contemplating his future decision.

"You’re a monster," she whispered. "A risk-taker."

Cassien looked at her seriously. "I know, but I must win."

She sighed. "You keep giving that same response."

Cassien stared at the moonlight above. "Because, in this world... winning is everything."

Especially if he wanted to change fate.

She gave Cassien one last look.

"If that’s the path you’ve chosen, I won’t stop you," she said. "But be careful, because not all people are dumb."

Cassien grinned. "Glad you could comply..."

...

A little while later, about twenty minutes or so to be precise.

Cassien and Siv were hiding behind large bushes, while Aiysha made her way into the open environment, the area where each of them was designated to meet up.

Cassien used his [Perception] skill to its maximum ability, but nothing out of the ordinary came back to him.

’Seems quite calm.’ The three women then began stepping out from the opposite direction. Aiysha stood there... waiting. ’There we go.’

Cassien smiled and tugged Siv by the shoulder.

"This is your chance to make a better life for both you and Audrey... are you willing to do it?" he whispered. "Look at them. Don’t their smiles irritate you?"

Siv shook his head. "Yes... But I still don’t know."

"What? You still aren’t sure whether you want to continue this life of the forsaken or live a life of freedom? I know which one I would pick," Cassien continued, trying to convince him. "But do you?"

Siv looked back at Cassien, then at the pistol he gripped tightly in his hand.

"So... I just need to infuse mana into this thing and shoot?"

"Don’t worry," Cassien grinned. "I’ll hold your hand while shooting, but you’ll have to be the one to pull the trigger if you want a better life for Audrey."

"B-but tonight... will I be able to hit?"

"It depends on your conviction," Cassien continued. "Do you deeply want Audrey to live a life of happiness and freedom? That’s what the pistol depends on. If so, then commit."

Siv thought about it, shaking, then finally nodded.

"I’ll try."

"This is all you need to do, and then I won’t tell a single soul about your treacherous actions toward our class."

...

Aiysha began negotiating with the three women.

"What have you picked up on Class-1C?" one of the three women from 1D asked. "I know we’re here to discuss 1A, but help us get the rest of the information."

Aiysha looked the three of them dead in the eye.

"That wasn’t what we agreed on. You guys owe me the information on Class-1A’s behavior. That’s the fair trade."

"Seriously?" The three of them laughed. "And what if we don’t?"

They slowly began pulling out knives. Aiysha did the same and equipped herself with a longsword.

"I’ll take it by force."

The three of them laughed again.

"We’re just messing with you! Anyways..." Their faces turned quite serious. "We believe the leader of 1A is Klaus Mordrove."

"How did you identify him?" Aiysha asked.

"He was always working in the shadows, and one of our core members, whose name I still haven’t learned, brought an entire package of evidence."

Cassien clicked his tongue, immediately remembering that man.

’[The Nameless Extra], from Class-1D.’

During their conversation, Aiysha and the three girls finished discussing the trade of information.

...

"Alright, thanks a lot... See you the day after tomorrow at the same time?" she asked before the three of them turned their backs on her.

They nodded, turning around to walk in the opposite direction.

Aiysha stood still for a moment, looking at the moonlight above before realizing what was about to occur.

Cassien grabbed Siv’s arm.

"This is your only chance. Before they go back into hiding and continue to bully Audrey for the rest of the years she’ll spend inside the academy."

Siv’s hand was clearly vibrating as he lifted it. He nodded hesitantly.

Cassien grabbed Siv’s arm from underneath, then squeezed Siv’s left shoulder while helping him balance the muzzle.

"There you go, now squint your left eye," Cassien continued, arching Siv’s back. "And pull it. Three times at once."

"Do not blink. If you do, you’ve failed," he continued. "Shoot with all the conviction you have, and scream... scream like you want those three gone."

Siv jittered, but then finally found the calmness to gulp loudly while his blood boiled.

All he needed was that one second of calmness.

’I want those three dead!’

Cassien smiled, seeing Siv’s form loosen while tightening his grip.

’Those three will be gone by tonight!’

"Now," Cassien leaned in. "Scream... scream with all the fire left in your spirit. Make a better life for your loved ones."

He curled his finger around the trigger, then looked at the three women, smiling as they slowly made their way into the forest.

"I’ll kill you... I’ll kill you all!"

Cassien grinned. "And now, shoot."

"EHHHHH!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

It seemed as though time had slowed down. All three bullets began leaving the barrel, slowly approaching the three girls, who acted as if there wasn’t a care in the world.

Pierce!

Each woman instantly fell to the floor. Siv turned around immediately.

He smiled, a creepy type of smile.

"Cassien! I did it! I killed all three of them—"

He paused, looked around, then back at the three women he had just murdered.

"Cassien...?"