A few minutes after Nyx vanished into the shadows, the scene of the attack began to stabilize. Additional patrol units arrived, establishing a protective perimeter, evacuating the wounded guards, and sweeping every corner of the alley with weapons raised. But there were no traces. No footprints. No bloodb. /bbNo /bheat signatures.

Like a shadow, Ny came and went at will.

Andrian sat inside the car, his clothes soaked with blood that had started to dry. In his hand, a sterile bandage given by one of the paramedics. But his gaze was empty, staring into the darkness of the night.

“I want all movement bdata /bfrom tonight, Andrian said to Viktor without turning his head. “Public CCTV, phone signal logs in this sector, even thermal scans. Everything”

Viktor nodded immediately. “Already ordered, sir, Aerial surveince units have also been deployed”

Andrian nodded, pressing on the wound on his shoulder. But for Andrian, the physical injury weighed less than the psychological shock he couldn’t ignore. His long–held suspicion was shattered tonight.

Aliana was not Ny

But that didn’t solve anything.

Because now, two questions emerged: If Nyx wasn’t bAliana/b…then who was she rea

really? And what had Aliana been hiding all this timeb? /b

Lost in thought, Andrian was interrupted when Viktor handed him a phone. The screen was lit, disying an active call.

“I’ve connected you with Elric, sir,” Viktor said sinctly.

Andrian epted the phone without looking baway /b

by from the window. One hand pressed against the bandage on his shoulder, the other gripping the phone

I received the report about the attack. Are you alright? Is the injury serious?”

Elric’s voice sounded worried.

Andrian didn’t respond. His face bwas /bstern, but his eyes held inner turmoil.

“Elric, I want a direct report.

Andrian asked, ignoring Elric’s concern.

“What bwere /byour findings on Aliana?”

For a moment, silence fell.

On the other end, Elric hesitated. It took several seconds before he finally responded, carefully.

“I didn’t find any wounds aside from a minor cut on her arm, sir. It appears to be nearly healed. No signs of other injuries… or a struggle.”

Andrian closed his eyes briefly. His breath caught, then slowly exhaled.

I see,” he murmured. His voice was bnearly /bdrowned out by the soft hum of the engine. “So they breally /bare two different bpeople/b.”

Andrian’s hand clenched lightly on his thigh. The wound on his shoulder still throbbed, but it wasn’t what troubled him. What disturbed him was the feeling he couldn’t quite name: a mix of relief… and disappointment.

“Return to Zenith,” Andrian ordered tly as he opened his beyes/b. “Assign Aliana’s guard to a recement unit. I want you bhandling /bthe situation here,

Understood,” Elric replied. “Way other instructions, sir?”

“No. For now, rest. Prepare to return tomorrow. I’ll need yo

you soon.”

Andrian pressed the button to end the call. The phone rested on hisp, while his gaze remained fixed on the darkness outside.

In Ravenskab, /bElric still held the phone even though the call had ended. He lowered his bhead/b, silent, his expression tense

Andrian’s order was bclear/b. He was to leave Ravenska and hand over the task of watching Aliana to someone else. But that wasn’t what troubled Eric–it was the lie bhe /bhad just told

Elric took a slow breath. He knew full bwell/b, when Andrian asked about Aliana’s condition, what he truly wanted was certainty.

But Elric couldn’t provide it. Because he hadn’t examined the woman’s bbody /bthoroughly. He bhad /bonly checked the wound on her arm, unwilling to go further. He knew if he pushed, he would bcross /ba line he couldn’t bept /bas a man and bas /bba /bsubordinate

Linc couldn’tpromise his own integrity–or Aliana’s dignity–even under orders.

And nowb, /bafter hearing the report that Nyx bhad /bappeared in Zenith, Elric felt reassured in his decision. Aliana had been with him in Ravenska during the incident, which meant she couldn’t be Nyi.

He had suspected it from the start. It never made sense that someone as bfragile /blooking as bAliana /bcould be the legendary assassin feared by the

underworld.

Elric looked at the bdoor /bof the room where Aliana was staying, then pocketed his phone and turned away. He didn’t feel proud for lying, but he knew: that lie was more honorable than a truth that would wound someone’s dignity.

bInside /bthe broom/b, bAliana /bsat near the window, gazing at the fog covered night sky. The wound on her shoulder had just been re–bandaged–nearly dry and closed. But that wasn’t what kept her restless and sleepless.

Andrian had asked Elric to examine her injuries. Even though the man himself had already checked them before. bThat /bworried Anab–/bclearly, Andrian wasn’t easily deceived. He wouldn’t be satisfied until he had solid proof that she wasn’t Nyx.

While Aliana was still lost in thought, the door suddenly opened. Elena entered in a rush, carrying a cup of hot tea

“Miss, bthere’s /bbad news,” Elena said urgently. “Master Andnan was attacked tonight”

Aliana was startled, immediately rising from her chair. “bWho /battacked him?”

Elena stared at Aliana, surprised. She bhadn’t /bexpected such a quick reaction. She thought bAliana /bwas starting to care bfor /bher husband.

b“/bI don’t know exactly, because I identally overheard Mr. Elric talking to one of the guards. But… I think they bmentioned /bthe name–Nysb” /b

Aliana was stunned. Shocked by Elena’s answer, she froze, confused.

How could bNyx /battack Andrian, when she herself bwas /bright bhere/b?

“Are you bsure /byou heard that name?” Aliana asked, making sure she hadn’t misheard.

Elena bnodded /bfirmly. “Yes, Miss. Even Master Elrichas been ordered to return to Zenith tomorrow morning”

Aliana fell silent, her mind bflooded /bwith unanswered questions. Who was the Nyx that appeared in Zenith tonight? What was her purpose in attacking Andrian? And most troubling of all would Andrian bbe /bable to tell that the person wasn’t her?

“What is going on na muttered. “bWhy /bwould Nyx show up there

After serving the tea, Aliana dismissed Elena gently.

19:48 Wed, 27 Aug M

“You need rest too, Elena. Go get some sleep,” Aliana said calmly.

Elena nodded and exited through the adjoining door that connected directly bto /bbAliana’s /bbedroom

As soon as the door closed, bAlians /bgrabbed her phone and dialed Rale’s number.

“Miss?” Rafe’s volce sounded from the other end, a little surprised to be receiving a call from her at midnight,

“Andrian was just attacked in Zenith,” Aliana said without preamble. The assant impersonated Nyx”

“What?” Rafe bwas /bstartled “Nyx? But you’re in Ravenska.

“That’s why I’m calling you. I need you to investigate who had the audacity to buse /bmy identity,” Aliana bsaid /bbfirmly/b.

Rafe fell silent for a moment, then asked hesitantly, “Is it possible the real Nyx made ba /bmove?”

681

Aliana instantly knew who he was referring to. She sighed deeply and replied calmly, “Impossible. just saw my mother tonight. There’s no way she could’ve reached Zenith just one or two hours after meeting me

They both foll silent.

They shared amon understanding: the original identity of Nyx belonged to Marisse. That identity had been passed down to Aliana after Mansse suffered a severe injury bthat /bleft her unable to fight ke she ance could.

“I’ll look into who impersonated you,” Rafe said quietly. “This might not be a random threat. Someone is deliberately stirring conflict.”

Aliana murmured softly, “Yes. And we need to find that person before Andrian does.”

Aliana sat quietly for a while after ending the call with Rafe. Her mind was in turmoil, dozens of scenarios shing through her head. She couldn’t understand who would dare to use the identity of bNyx /band attack Andrian in Zenith.

But the biggest question in her mind was who stood to gain from the appearance of this fake Nyx?

Velor Family Mansion

Morning came quickly in Zenith for Andrian Velor. He sat upright behind his desk in his private study, still half–bdark/bb, /baluminated only by the bglow /bof the monitor disyingst night’s CCTV footage.

Andrian’s eyes were fixed on the figure in ck who had attacked him–Nyx. He pressed the rey button again and again, studying every the short but intense fight from the night before.

movement in

The more Andrian watched the footage, the more certain he became the person who attacked himst night was Ny Not an imitator. Not an amateur trying to provoke a response. Every move, every strike, was too precise–too distinct to be faked.

Especially the eyes.

That sharpb, /bbcold/b, calcting gare belonged only to someone intimately familiar with bdanger /band death. Those eyes had seen the depths bof /bdarkness bboo /boften to be hiddenb, /beven behind ba /bmask

Andrian took a slow breath. He btouched /bthe wound on his shoulder–it still throbbed–but the physical pain was far less than the frustration he felt

Last nightb, /bAndrian hade so close to capturing Nyx–only to fail.

And the incident had reshaped his entire understanding of Aliana, Now he was fully convinced Nyx was her own person, not someone who had been b his side all this time.

bNyx /bwas not Ana.

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19:48 Wed, 27 Aug bM /b

That certainty brought both relief and a new wave of confusion. Because Andrian still sensed a special connection between them–especially after seeing how Nyx had not responded at all when he mentioned Aliana,

Andrian realized he still needed to keep a close eye on Aliana–the woman

fils wife still harbored too many secrets.

“Viktor,” Andrian called softly. His assistant, who had been standing near the door, stepped forward immediately

“res, sir,” Viktor responded carefully.

“What about Elric? Has he left Ravenska yet?” Andrian asked.

“Elric is already on his wayb, /bsit

Andrian we as

a small nod,

then fell silent for a moment..

“Oh… Tighten Aliana’s security in Ravenska, but do it discreetly, I don’t want to risk anyone trying to harm her.”

Viktor paused for a moment, then nodded respectfully. He understoodpletely–though Aliana bhad /bbeen proven not to be Nyx, she remained an important figure to Andrian. Aliana was hiswful wife and needed to be protected ordingly.

Meanwhile, in Ravenska, in a hidden underground chamber behind Gabriel Corvo’s butcher shop, Gabriel and Marisse were digging through old archives stored in a metal box.

Gabriel sat in an old swivel chair, a stack of files spread out before him. Beside him, Marisse scrolled through a tablet, searching for any additional information they might have missed.

They had spent the whole nightbing through every old record, trying to uncover any hidden connection between Kestrel and Sable–13. And they had found many disturbing simrities

Marisse lowered her tablet for a moment and sighed in exhaustion.

“It seems we’ve been too focused on Alexei all this time and failed to notice other traces that were left behindb./bb” /b

Gabriel nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on an old photo–a blurry silhouette of a mysterious figure taken at the scene of an incident years ago.

“Yes,” Gabriel murmured. “We were so caught up dealing with Alexei the traitor that we forgot he was never the true mastermind. He was just a pawn- controlled by someone far more cunning.”

“Sable–13,” Marisse said softly. “I never thought we’d have to face that name bagain /bafter all these years!

bGabriel /bclenched his fist tightly, his bgaze /bhardening.

“We have to uncover their true identity before it’s toote. Nyx was bour /blegacy to Aliana. I won’t let our daughter face this threat alone.”

Marisse nodded firmly, her beyes /bglistening, filled with a worry she bcould /bno longer hide.

“Do you think Kestrel and Sable 13 are really the same person?”

“bTheir /bmethods are identical, Gabriel replied. “But we can’t be certain until we catch them ourselves.”

Gabriel slowly brose /bfrom his chair. His body felt weighed down by the burden of responsibility. He stared out the window, his eyes searching through the thick morning log.

If Krestrel truly is bSable/b–13, then Ana is in serious danger. That woman would do anything to eliminate her.”

You’re right.

Marisse joined him, stepping closer and taking his hand tightly

“We already lost Alexei I don’t want to los

bo /blose Aliana too. We must find a way to stop this person Gabriel said again.

We’ve bsurvived /bworse than this before.”

“We will stop them, Gabriel. We’w

Every member of the Corvo family was considered kin, which was why Gabriel mourned the loss bof /bany of them as if they were his own.

Gabriel looked into his wife’s eyes, then nodded slowly

“You’re right. We need to move fast. Contact our oldwork Gather every piece of intel avable on Kestrel and her past operations. I want to know who’s worked with her–even if only indirectly”

“Understood.” Marisse nodded with resolve reach out to them right away

Gabriel turned back to the old photograph in his hand, eyes lingering on the blurry figure known only by a codename. His mind burned with determination–he would protect bAliana/b, no matter the cost

Gabriel was about to reorganize the documents when his phone buzzed on the btable/b. He immediately nced at the caller ID, then picked it up bquickly/b.

“Aliana?”

“Father, there’s something I need to tell you. Last night, Andrian was attacked in Zenith. The assant used the identity of Nyx”

Gabriel jolted in shock, Marisse, who had been standing not far bfrom /bhim, stepped closer with a startled expression.

“Nyx? How is that possible? You’re in Ravenska, Gabriel asked sharply.

“That’s what confuses me too, Aliana replied seriously. “But from Andrian’s reaction aher the attack, it seems he believes the attacker bwas /bthe real Nyx He even called his most trusted guard back to Zenith.”

Gabriel exchanged nces with Marisse, their confusion growing more apparent

“If that’s the case, then this is very strange,” Marisse murmured. “No one should be able to mimic bNyx’s /bmovements perfectly–except you.”

“That’s what worries me, Mom,” Aliana replied. “Until now, I’m the only one who’s ever used the Nyx identity. No one else. But suddenly someone’s using it. And if Andrian bis /bconvinced it’s Nyx, then this impersonator must be extremely convincing”

b“/bbDay /b

you suspect banyone/b?” Gabriel basked/b.

“bNo /bone. But Rafe has already begun investigating

Silence fell for a moment. Gabriel and Marisse appeared even more troubled.

“By the way, what about your investigation into Krestrel and Sable–137 Have you found anythingb?/b”

Marisse took over the conversation, her voice weighted

“From all the bdata /bwe’ve gathered so far, it’s highly likely that Krestrel bis /bSable 13. They share the same kill pattern clean murder scenes, Hawless lethal strikes, and the ability to disappear without a trace. The pattern is too distinct to ignore.”

Aliana fell silent for a moment, then her voice grew firm.

“In that case, I need to return to Zenith immediately. If Julian and Krestrel are still there, they’ll surely btarget /bAndrian, I need to find them and confirm whether they have any connection to theke’Nyx or not.”

Gabriel let out a long breath,

“Alright, sweetheart. We’ll bprepare /bwhatever you need. Be careful out there.”

“I will, Dad. Thank byou/b.

After the call ended, Gabriel and Marisse looked at each other with contem.

“This is moreplicated than we thought,” Gabriel whispered.

“Yes,” Marisse replied. “We need to dig deeper into Krestrel, Aliana can’t face this alone?

“Hmm.”

Gabriel looked down again, his eyes fixed on the photos showing traces of Krestrel

Without him noticing. ollig. Marisse smiled faintly. So family that Gabriel, standing right beside her, failed to see it. /li/ol

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