"Does it have anything to do with the deal?" Kael asked, his gaze filled with worry.
There was no way his master would ask them to search for someone if it wasn't important. Remembering the last time his master went out, he feared that Liam might be sent to his doom but no, he wasn't. He could tell from his master's voice.
"We have a deal that we haven't settled yet," Zayden replied with a scoff, placing his hands on his waist.
At that moment, both Ryan and Kael understood that Liam was still alive somewhere, and their master was giving them a mission: to find Liam. They couldn't afford to mess it up.
"And find out if he has gone to visit his sister in the hospital. He is a cold-blooded murderer, and he might be keeping her there for her... insurance?" Zayden stated as he walked out of the boxing room, with Ryan and Kael following closely behind.
"But if he's after her life insurance, why wouldn't he just kill her instead of treating her?" Ryan asked, oblivious to who Liam truly was.
Zayden's steps stopped, causing Ryan and Kael to come to a halt. He tilted his head in contemplation before turning to them with a smirk, snapping his fingers in realization.
"Perfect timing? He brutally killed his wife and nearly got caught by the police, managing to escape by providing a false alibi. There's no reason for him to commit murder in a hospital when it could lead to trouble," Zayden scoffed, taking a moment before continuing.
"He's just like that cheeky old woman described," he said with a stilted grin. His gaze grew darker, and the playful tone he had was overshadowed by a more serious demeanor.
"Also, find out if his sister has life insurance. We might discover something in common with his late wife," he added, starting to walk again alongside Ryan and Kael.
"Yes, boss," they replied in unison.
"Who's next on the list?" Zayden asked as he entered an empty room. It was neither too big nor too small—just the right place for a perfect crime.
Curious about their crazy boss's intentions, Ryan and Kael checked the time on their wrists and noted that it was 10:00 PM, a time when Zayden typically prepared for his next deal.
"Damien is 21 years old and the son of the owner of RJ Enterprises," Ryan reported.
"What a coincidence," Zayden scoffed, trailing his hand along the wall.
The walls were adorned with intricate designs, and a beautiful oil painting hung perfectly in the centre.
Zayden's fingers, tracing the artwork, suddenly stopped. With little effort, he opened a hidden door in the wall, separating it with ease.
What appeared to be an ordinary wall concealed a hidden room. As it glided open, an unsettling aura emerged—cold and ancient, like a forgotten breath.
The walls were hewn from black stone and veined with a faint crimson glow, giving the impression that the room itself pulsed with a heartbeat. Flickering fluorescent lights revealed grotesque carvings in the stone—depictions of a dark past.
Chains hung from the ceiling like grotesque vines, their rusted hooks and large shackles capable of binding a beast. The faint clinking of the chains echoed as if they were moving unseen.
On the left side of the room stood golden mannequins, each adorned with a long black jacket, a pair of black trousers, and a black shirt.
Zayden heaved a heavy sigh, and Kael noticed a sudden change in his mood.
No matter how cold Zayden was toward him, Ryan couldn't wish for a better master. He couldn't understand why his master had to endure such a cruel fate.
Every night became torment for him due to a sin he had committed—a sin that couldn't be forgiven or forgotten. He hoped that someday his master would meet his reincarnated lover as he had heard.
Zayden approached the mannequins where his elegantly designed dress hung.
"But..." Ryan began hesitantly, biting his lip.
"What is it?" Zayden asked, his attention shifting to Ryan's words. Kael also focused on Ryan, curiosity piquing.
"He beat his girlfriend, Anna to death, and it seems the case is closed since he is a conglomerate. There's a possibility he bribed someone..."
"What about the girl's family?" Zayden interrupted, his concern evident.
"She was an orphan," Ryan revealed. A moment of silence enveloped the room. The air thickened with empathy, and the weight of Damien's actions settled heavily in the space.
"That bastard," Zayden cursed, scoffing in disgust.
"And it doesn't seem to be the first time he's murdered his girlfriend. Three women are missing, and two have been confirmed dead, all linked to the club he often visited," Ryan finally admitted, his voice heavy with difficulty.
Kael was about to speak when Zayden cut him off. "I will handle him," he said firmly.
"But it's dangerous to go…" Kael replied, worry evident in his voice.
However, he noted the teasing grin curling on Zayden's lips and decided to hold back his concerns.
After providing Zayden with all the necessary information about Damien and his girlfriend, Anna, they soon parted ways.
Finishing his preparations, Zayden walked toward the centre, where an obsidian altar had emerged. As it reached the surface, it stopped moving upward.
The altar was smooth and flawless, except for the dark stains marring its surface.
Upon it rested an ancient dagger, its blade jagged and etched with runes that shimmered faintly.
Around the altar, a thick circle of black wax candles burned with eerie blue flames that refused to flicker, even in the cold air.
Zayden stared at the altar intensely before his gaze drifted to a mirror in a shadowed nook. Its glass swirled like blackened smoke before settling back into its usual form.
He looked at it for a while, expecting to see a reflection, but no image stared back—only shadows.
He heaved a sigh and stepped into the circle surrounding the altar. There, he noticed a book partially open. Before he could touch it, the book opened by itself.
Zayden read the strange words and unfamiliar characters on the pages before stepping out of the circle, his gaze drifting back to the mirror as he left.