While Rey's situation unfolded, a hospital scene emerged where an autopsy was being performed on the bodies of thugs and Jacob. The doctor in charge was under immense pressure after an old man in a butler suit {Who appeared in Ch. 6} had visited his office earlier, offering 5 million Dracins for the autopsy with a stern warning of dire consequences should anything go awry.
He proceeded with utmost caution, and the findings were startling. Upon examining the wounds on the 26 bodies, he discovered they were all inflicted by the same weapon, indicative of a professional assassin's handiwork. However, the injuries on Jacob's body told a different story.
The slashes on Jacob appeared amateurish, likely made by a novice just learning to wield daggers, laced with traces of poison. His death, however, was the work of a martial artist of at least Peak Acolyte or Low Disciple rank, who delivered a fatal punch directly to his face, crushing his skull and reducing his brain to a pulp. The force was so great that his neck could not withstand the impact, and with his spine attached, his face was driven into the ground.
"What a gruesome way to kill someone, but whoever did this is certainly not a low-profile individual, huh who is this Raven blade who did this." the doctor mused as he recorded all the details in his report before exiting the room.
He entered his cabin where the old butler was already waiting with a cup of tea.
"Apologies for the delay, sir. Here is the information you requested." He handed over the report, and the butler's eyes widened in surprise as he read through it.
"So, there were at least three individuals involved: a professional assassin, a trainee, and, as you assumed, a low-ranking Disciple artist responsible for the demise of the thug boss known as Raven Blade," the old man stated, to which the doctor nodded continuously, a sign of his nervousness.
"Indeed, sir. The police also handed me this piece of cloth found on the iron fence's back wall, where there was a hole. It appears that this hole was the escape route for the trio," the doctor explained, opening his desk drawer to retrieve a sealed plastic bag containing a fragment of black cloth.
"Hmm, let me see," the old man murmured, removing the cloth from the bag to examine it closely.
"It seems to be made from a blend of cotton and some lightweight, flexible metal. Judging by its appearance, it's part of a coat," the old man deduced, leaving the doctor astounded at how one could identify the garment from just a small piece.
"Sir, you truly are a genius," the doctor said, attempting to flatter him.
"Enough with your charade; what is it that you want?" Marcus, the butler, demanded, his face a mask of straight-faced disgust.
"Sir, the money you... promised..." the doctor began hesitantly.
"Ah, your reward, correct? Take it," Marcus replied. At a snap of his fingers, a figure clad in black materialized behind the doctor and, with a swift motion, twisted the doctor's head 180 degrees, leaving him dead with a shocked expression.
"Hmph, the master was correct; greed is indeed humanity's greatest foe," Marcus remarked as he exited the room, approaching ten men dressed identically, kneeling before him.
"Sir Marcus, what are your orders?" asked the one kneeling at the front.
"Burn down the entire floor, make it look like an accident, just as we've done before," he instructed before disappearing with the file.
"You heard me correctly, start the work," the leader commanded, and the group commenced their task. Within 15 minutes, the entire floor was ablaze.
By the time the fire brigade arrived, the entire floor had been consumed by fire.
According to reports, all the bodies, including the doctor, were burned alive, and the fire was officially deemed an accident.
Marcus appeared before a room in a grand mansion, heavily guarded. Despite his labored breathing, he made it there swiftly, knowing his master had no tolerance for sloth.
'It seems my body is succumbing to age, my strength and stamina waning with each passing day,' he mused as he entered.
The room was adorned with lavish Lavois and imported luxuries.
At the center, a man sat in a rocking chair, cigar in mouth, flanked by a retinue of butlers and maids.
"Sir, I have returned with the report," Marcus announced, kneeling before the man.
"Oh, you've returned, Marcus," the man said, looking up from the paper he had just set down.
"Yes, my lord, I have returned with the report," Marcus replied, presenting the document in his hand.
The man took the file, read through it carefully, and set it aside without a word.
"Did you find anything about this Raven Blade fellow?" he inquired, swinging in his chair.
"No, Sir, but I suspect it's a ploy by a prominent family to undermine our business. Only they have martial artists of this caliber, and I doubt a stranger uninvolved with us would target us," Marcus responded, awaiting his lord's reaction.
"Alright, what about the report on their family?" he asked, noticing Marcus's pallor.
"Sir, we've been monitoring them closely, but the boy, Rey, has been acting suspiciously. He vanished from our surveillance and reappeared as if nothing happened, and we couldn't find anything and now his facial structure and body is totally different and when we checked it then there is no sign of him and the boy changing the places.," Marcus explained with hesitation.
"What has happened is serious, and you're only telling me now? Don't you realize that if something were to happen to them, we would be the first ones investigated?" The man said angrily as he raised his hand and made a gripping gesture, causing Marcus to suddenly levitate as if held by an invisible force.
"I-I'm sorry, sir, we will do our utmost to investigate. Please, have mercy," Marcus pleaded with difficulty, feeling as though his body was being crushed by the immense pressure.
The servants grew fearful and retreated slightly, but none dared to flee, knowing well that any attempt to escape would mean certain death. They could only watch the scene unfold.
"Quiet now, be extra cautious and leave," the man commanded as he released his hold, flinging Marcus to the ground.
'This is the might of a Low-grade Master rank artist; even a Peak martial artist like Sir Marcus is insignificant before the Patriarch of the Ashcroft Family, or the Second Duke of the Imperium Aurelius Empire, under the dominion of the Valerius Family,' Marcus thought as he gasped for air, bowed his head to the floor in supplication, and retreated outside. {The power structure and history will be revealed in later chapters.
"I am saved, but I must unravel this boy's mystery to save myself from the lord," he said, and with a snap, several special guards appeared.
He ordered them to tighten the security in surveillance of Shadowthrone family. And killed the ones before doing this job to vent his anger.
Unaware in his room, Rey didn't know that a formidable force was approaching to uncover his secret.
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