Natalie's vision went dark as a warm hand gently covered her eyes, soft as a feather.
Then came two gunshots.
She felt something graze her arm, sharp and stinging, but it didn't seem serious.
"Sh*t!" The woman who had shielded her eyes cursed under her breath. At the same time, a man's agonized scream tore through the air, not far away.
Three more gunshots followed, each punctuated by the man's pained groans.
Ellara had rushed over after hearing about Natalie's impressive feats in the underground fight ring. But she hadn't even made it to the arena before spotting a reckless man pointing a gun at Natalie.
Without hesitation, she pulled the high schooler aside, covering the girl's eyes in an almost protective reflex. Ellara didn't want this pure, innocent girl to witness what came next.
But it wasn't enough. A bullet had grazed Natalie's arm.
Thankfully, Ellara had fired at the same time as the man. Her shot hit his gun hand, forcing him to drop the weapon. When he reached with his other hand to retrieve it, Ellara gave him no chance. Her next three shots struck his free hand and both legs, leaving him incapacitated and unable to flee.
"You okay, boss?" Mora called out as she hurried from the car parked nearby. Watching Ellara jump out of the vehicle and race toward the girl had nearly given her a heart attack.
Ellara pushed Natalie toward Mora. "Get her patched up."
To be honest, Mora wasn't particularly concerned about Natalie—her real worry was whether Ellara had hurt herself during that reckless move. But with Ellara's orders clear, she had no choice but to escort Natalie to the car for first aid.
Natalie was still in a daze. Everything had happened so quickly. She stared at the woman who had saved her, disbelief written all over her face.
"Ellara?" she asked, her voice tentative.
Ellara's mood was sour, and her icy glare made Natalie flinch. Her eyes seemed to glint with shards of ice.
Mora, knowing just how angry Ellara truly was this time, quickly pulled Natalie away before things could escalate.
Ellara approached the injured assassin, grabbing his head and twisting it to face her.
Her aim had been impeccable—four precise shots left the man crippled and unable to move.
Without hesitation, she dislocated his jaw with a harsh jerk, then delivered a slap so forceful that his teeth shattered, and a small pill tumbled out of his mouth.
"You're not as eager to die as you pretend," she said coldly, her voice cutting through the night air like a blade.
If the assassin had truly been ready to die, he would've swallowed the pill long before she intervened. Ellara knew this trick all too well—it was a contingency often used by operatives to avoid being captured after a failed mission.
By the time reinforcements from the underground fight ring arrived, the assassin lay on the ground, battered and bloodied, his face swollen beyond recognition. Regret weighed heavily on him. He cursed himself for not swallowing the poison earlier because now he was sure what awaited him would be far worse than death.
"Miss Voss!" The gang leaders scurried to her side, each bowing their heads like chastened children caught misbehaving.
But the wrath they feared never came.
"Take him back," Ellara commanded coolly. "Find out who sent him."
Relief washed over the gang leaders as they eagerly replied, "Yes, Miss Voss."
Ellara cast a long glance toward the shadows, her sharp gaze piercing the darkness. She could feel several uneasy stares retreating into the void.
It seemed Elysian Bay had more than its fair share of rats tonight.
Back in the car, Ellara glared in the direction of the fight club, her voice dripping with fury. "A bunch of useless idiots!"
Mora, who had just finished tending to Natalie's wound, coughed lightly. It was her subtle way of reminding Ellara that there was still a kid in the car.
Ellara paused, her anger simmering down just enough for her to glance at Natalie in the back seat. Silence hung in the air for a moment.
"Drive. Back to the villa," Ellara finally said.
Mora hesitated. "What about her?" she asked, gesturing toward Natalie.
"She's coming with us," Ellara replied, her voice growing colder by the second.
The car drove steadily from the dim, shadowy streets of the Shadow Crescent District toward the opulent, bustling neighborhoods of Elysian Bay. The scenery outside transformed, shifting from darkness and desolation to a display of bright lights, luxurious cars, and grandeur.
"You were looking for me?" Ellara asked abruptly, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery.
Natalie knew the question was meant for her. "Yes," she replied. "I need your help to find someone."
Mora wasn't surprised—she had figured as much.
"My services don't come cheap," Ellara warned, her tone sharp.
"You don't need to worry about that. Money isn't a problem for me," Natalie answered without hesitation.
Ellara eyed her through the rearview mirror, studying the girl intently. Natalie was staring right back, her bright, determined eyes glinting like polished black gemstones—so much like the ones Ellara cherished most.
"Who told you to come to me?" Ellara asked again, her voice more pointed.
Natalie thought for a moment before replying, "I bought a lead on a website called 'Starcatcher.' It's a marketplace for information. The answer I got gave me your name."
Of course, Ellara was familiar with the site. Starcatcher was notorious for its trade in secrets and intel.
n the Starcatcher website, pieces of information are referred to as "stars." Users can sell or trade the stars they know or post questions with a reward for anyone who provides the answer. The platform categorizes both stars and questions into different levels based on their complexity and value.
For instance, simple everyday trivia falls into the E-class, the lowest tier. These might include questions like the weather forecast for the next day. Most of these are frivolously posted by users testing the waters, hoping to see if someone gullible enough might actually pay for such information. Surprisingly, there are buyers—perhaps the information is genuinely useful to some.
D-class stars typically cover basic academic knowledge. However, they rarely attract buyers since such information can usually be found with a little effort online.
The most common categories on the site are B-class and C-class stars. These involve more advanced academic research or highly technical professional knowledge. Examples include the latest AI algorithm frameworks, experimental data from pharmaceutical research, or even insider information from specific industries. These stars are in high demand because they provide direct value to experts or professionals in those fields, making them relatively expensive.
Above B-class are the rare A-class and S-class stars. These are out of reach for ordinary people, encompassing high-value, highly sensitive content. They often include classified national strategies, top-tier corporate secrets, or leads on major events yet to be made public. Such information undergoes rigorous verification, and the price is astronomical. Only specific buyers with the right clearance can even access these listings, and purchases often involve heavily encrypted transactions.
On Starcatcher, some special requests can be elevated to "missions." The missions section, however, is only available to registered members. In essence, the missions board is the true core of the Starcatcher platform.
Sellers post missions by paying a deposit, while buyers accept the missions. Upon successful completion, the seller transfers the remaining payment to the website, which then distributes it to the buyer. Both parties' identities are strictly protected, making Starcatcher a preferred platform for conducting sensitive transactions—especially among assassins and adventurers.
Ellara was all too familiar with the Starcatcher website. She sighed in exasperation and rubbed her forehead. She used to be one of its co-founders.
Damn Seraphina!
The thought burned in her mind.
Seraphina, the other co-founder of the site, was now its highest-ranking administrator, with no equal.
If Ellara was right, Seraphina had used one of her alternate accounts to take Natalie's request. After all, Seraphina had access to everyone's information on the site, nothing was hidden from her.
"Child, you're still young. You don't realize how many bad people there are in this world," Ellara said suddenly, her tone turning unexpectedly serious.
Even Mora found the comment a bit strange.
Ellara sighed deeply, frustration edging her voice. "Don't believe the crap on those websites without reliable sources!"
Natalie didn't understand why Ellara had said that. Everyone knew the information on Starcatcher was genuine.
She asked, "Do you know who I'm trying to find?"
Ellara didn't answer the question directly. Instead, she calmly asked, "Why are you looking for her?"
Natalie stared out the window. " I just miss her."
The car fell silent, the only sounds coming from the engine and the howling wind outside.
"Alright, I'll help you find her."
Ellara broke the silence, her words abrupt. It was unclear what she had been thinking, but her resolve was clear.