An Extra’s POV

"S-so… that's what happened, huh?"

Rebal was still recoiling from the words of his son.

What he described wasn't as gory or bloody as what Ralyks had displayed during the Dark Gathering, but something about it felt more twisted.

… Far darker.

"The worst part is, I could have sworn that there was a lot of damage during the entire fight, but there's nothing! Nothing at all…" Asher replied, still not completely himself.

The honest truth was that he was scared.

Was he in a dream? Was he in reality? What if, just like the Mercenary Gang, he thought he saw something which wasn't real?

Asher didn't know what to believe anymore.

"You just need rest." Rebal smiled at his son, though he too had some rabid fear within himself.

Perhaps they both needed the rest.

"Sir Ralyks… he slaughtered all the enemies without mercy. I've never seen a man kill with such… lack of remorse."

And so many at once too.

Both Ralyks and his subordinate, Ater, seemed to be cut from the same cloth—one that even Rebal could not fully comprehend.

"The battle is won, and now it is time for the aftermath." Rebal chuckled, a hint of fear in his eyes.

"What do you mean, father?"

"I mean… Sir Ralyks was employed by us to take care of this mess. Now that it is over… isn't it time to think about his payment?"

It felt like an absurd thing to say, but they had to face it—the truth that confronted them.

What could they pay such a man?!

"It seems you also need some rest, father." Asher said with a tired smile.

Rebal nodded, returning the exact same expression.

Even though it was nowhere near enough, both father and son decided to consider the horrors they witnessed as a penance for their crimes.

knew what awaited them if they

followed by inevitable

*********

That night, everything changed.

upside down in the span of merely a few

events that had transpired within the walls of the massive city, the situation in the Allied Merchant City

Dark Gathering—was exposed to the world

stormed into the building, searching every nook and cranny until they were able

required extensive investigations to piece together most of the details, but the core issues did not elude

the very least, they did not elude General

darkness that had been festering within the haven that the Alliance was supposed

would find, but that was hardly the most disgusting

They saw it all.

the worse, and

disgusting truths came

And then what?

Black Market was officially disbanded,

bound

they

world saw, that day, that darkness

remain honest and diligent in their dealings with

clients knew they had to

descend

they all felt

passing soldiers who described the gory sight that the public

importantly… they heard the

legend amongst the denizens of the Merchant City

—The Reaper.

********

Rey smiled to

his real form. His pajamas

he liked

even more people. I already knew I would do it,

one of

he

his planning, there were a lot of things he hadn't accounted

Chase—how deep the conspiracy went, and how he had been a puppet on a very loose

But more than that…

expect this world to be