Cier practiced for a while, focusing on refining his control over the threads. He noticed some improvement, though it was slow. His movements felt a bit smoother, and the threads were becoming more responsive, but the progress wasn't as fast as he'd hoped. Still, it was progress, and that was enough for now.
After a while, he took a break for dinner, eating quickly before returning to his practice. The food gave him a burst of energy, and he spent some more time working on his abilities. Once he felt he'd reached his limit for the night, he decided to rest and get some sleep, knowing he'd need to be prepared for the task ahead. With that thought, he lay down, letting fatigue take over.
Cier woke up with the first light of the sun streaming through the window. He felt refreshed, the sleep having cleared his mind and eased his body. After a few moments of stretching, he got out of bed and went through his usual routine, washing up and getting dressed in a simple, decent set of clothes.
Once ready, he stepped out of the house, feeling the cool morning air on his skin. There was no rush in his movements—just a quiet focus as he made his way out, mentally preparing for the task ahead.
Cier took the same path toward the main market, the streets slowly coming to life as the day began. He passed by familiar stalls, some already filled with people buying and selling goods. After picking up a few items he needed, he stopped at a nearby food stall to grab a quick meal before heading to the inn.
Once full, he made his way to the Cat's Claw Inn. Upon arrival, he was about to ask Jessica about Lily's whereabouts when she quickly informed him that Lily was waiting upstairs. Cier nodded and headed towards the stairs, making his way to the room where she was waiting.
Cier walked towards the stairs, his footsteps steady as he made his way to the upper floor of the inn. The soft murmur of conversations from the lower levels gradually faded, replaced by the quiet of the upper floor. When he reached the door to Lily's room, one of the guards stationed at the entrance noticed him approaching. Without a word, the guard opened the door, allowing Cier to step inside.
The room was as quiet as ever,Lily was sitting in her usual position by the window, a book open in her hands. She glanced up as Cier entered the room, then placed the book aside with a slight change in her demeanor, becoming more casual and focused on him.
" You're here. Good," she said, her voice calm. " But before I give you this, just know that the task might be a bit more dangerous than it seems. Are you sure you're up for it?"
Cier nodded confidently, "Yes, no problem."
With that, Lily slid the task paper toward him, saying, "Alright then, here's the task."
The task was posted by someone from the inner city who wanted the Clemine gang eliminated. The gang consisted of about 11 to 12 people, all of whom were ordinary mortals without any special abilities. They had somehow offended a powerful individual, leading to the request for their removal.
Lily looked at Cier with a small smile, her tone shifting slightly as she spoke. "The original payment for this task was 80 silver coins," she began, "but since this is your first mission after becoming an evolver, I've decided to increase it to 1 gold coin. Consider it a little extra for the challenge." She leaned back in her chair, watching him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Does that sound good to you?"
"Yes, sister Lily," replied Cier in a respectful tone.
The task, if done properly, wasn't too dangerous with his new abilities, and he felt confident about handling it. Killing others had become somewhat familiar to him over the years, and it no longer fazed him. While he didn't enjoy killing unnecessarily, the lessons from his past life had taught him that survival often required hard choices. If it came to it, he knew he wouldn't hesitate, even if it meant taking innocent lives, so long as it served his own interests.
"Yes, Sister Lily," Cier replied politely.
The task itself, when done properly, didn't seem too dangerous with his newly developed abilities. It wouldn't be much of a challenge. Killing others had become something he had grown accustomed to over the years, and he no longer found it particularly difficult or unsettling.
Although, in his previous life, Cier had been taught the value of preserving life, those lessons had gradually faded into distant memories. He still harbored a deep dislike for taking innocent lives, but his indifference had grown over time. If killing an innocent person served his interests or protected him, he wouldn't hesitate, but he never took life unnecessarily. He didn't enjoy unnecessary bloodshed, but in a world where survival was key, his actions were always pragmatic.
Just like while killing Abel and the others in the brothel, Cier had spared the women, choosing to render them unconscious instead of killing them. This decision wasn't driven by kindness or morality; it was because their survival posed no immediate threat to him. Had they seen him or suspected his identity, however, he would have killed them without hesitation. His actions were always calculated: he spared them only because they didn't stand in his way, but if they had, he would have eliminated them as he had done with Abel and his gang.
"Well, here is some info you will be needing regarding the Clemine gang," said Lily, handing Cier another piece of paper.
"If you have any other questions regarding the task, you can ask me now," she added, her tone casual as she leaned back in her chair.
Cier took a moment to think, his mind processing the information Lily had given him. After a brief pause, he shook his head.
"No, Sister Lily, I think the information I have is enough," he replied calmly, his voice steady and assured.
With that, he took the task from her hands, his fingers brushing lightly against the paper.
"Sister Lily, then I am leaving," Cier said, his tone respectful yet decisive. He gave a small nod and turned towards the door, going out.