The man stood under the dim streetlight, his gaze scanning the empty street where I had just been walking. His brows furrowed in confusion, his eyes darting around the alley.
"Huh? Where the hell did he go?" he muttered to himself, his frustration evident.
I smirked from my hiding spot above him, perched silently on a ledge like a predator watching its prey. He had no idea that he was no longer the hunter—he was the hunted now.
Without a sound, I activated Shadow Walk, my body slipping through the darkness like smoke. And with a single, swift movement—
I appeared right in front of him.
"Surprise!!" I said, my voice dripping with mockery.
His entire body jerked backward, his breath catching in his throat as he stumbled a few steps away. His eyes widened in sheer disbelief, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.
"W-What the—?! How did you—?!"
I tilted my head, my smirk never fading. "What's wrong? Weren't you the one following me? What happened? You don't look so confident anymore."
He swallowed hard, visibly shaken. His hands twitched toward his waist, as if he was reaching for a weapon.
I sighed dramatically. "Ah, ah, ah… I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Before he could react, I took a step forward and grabbed his wrist **in a vice grip**, twisting it just enough for him to let out a choked grunt of pain.
"Now, let's make this simple," I said coldly, tightening my hold. "You're going to tell me exactly who sent you and why you're following me. Otherwise…"
I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping into a deadly whisper. "I might just get creative with how I make you talk."
He gritted his teeth, sweat forming on his brow. "I-I don't know what you're talking about—!"
I cut him off by twisting his arm further, making him drop whatever he was reaching for—a dagger, which clattered onto the pavement.
I clicked my tongue. "Tsk. Lying already? That's disappointing."
I shoved him against the wall, pinning him effortlessly. His breathing was ragged now, his entire body trembling.
"One last chance," I said, my tone losing any sense of amusement. "Who sent you?"
He hesitated, his eyes darting around desperately, looking for an escape. But there was none.
After a long pause, he finally exhaled shakily. "I-It was a job… someone paid me to watch you. I swear, that's all I know!"
I narrowed my eyes. "Who?"
His lips trembled. "I don't know! They never showed their face. Just sent an anonymous message and money."
I studied him for a moment, trying to decide if he was lying. He was scared out of his mind, and judging by his pulse and body language, he was telling the truth.
I sighed, then suddenly released him, letting him slump against the wall, gasping for air.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood," I muttered. "Now, if I ever catch you following me again…"
I stepped on his dagger, breaking it under my heel. "You won't be walking away next time."
He nodded frantically, scrambling to his feet and running off into the night, his footsteps fading quickly.
I stood there for a moment, watching him disappear. Then, with a smirk, I muttered to myself, "So… someone's watching me. Good. Let's see what they want."
As I watched the man disappear into the distance, his footsteps fading into the empty streets, I sighed and shook my head. "Amateurs."
Just as I was about to move, a familiar blue screen flickered in front of me. The system.
It always appeared whenever I wanted it to, a screen floating just in front of my eyes, only visible to me. But this time, I didn't even summon it—it appeared on its own.
I raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
The words on the screen shifted as a new notification popped up.
[Quest Update: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted]
Objective: Someone has been following you since you left the Parker Mansion. Find out who they are and why.
Status: Partial Completion
Progress: You confronted the stalker and forced him to reveal his employer was anonymous.
Next Step: Track down the source of the payment and uncover who is truly behind the surveillance.
Reward Unlocked: +3 Perception, Hidden Ability Progress (??? %)
I exhaled sharply, crossing my arms as I read over the update. "Figures. This wasn't just some random thug watching me."
The system chimed again, displaying a second notification.
[Warning: The unknown employer has been alerted to your awareness. Expect further interference.]
I let out a low chuckle. "So, whoever sent him knows I'm onto them? Good. That means they'll make a move soon."
The system remained silent, waiting for my response. I stared at the floating text for a moment before muttering, "Alright, System. Show me the quest progression in real-time. I want to see how deep this goes."
The screen flickered for a moment before updating again.
- Stalker: Escaped. No longer a threat.
- Employer: Unknown. Has become aware of Samuel's knowledge.
- Threat Level: Moderate → High
- Next Step: Investigate the financial trail left by the anonymous payment.
I smirked. "So now, it's a game of cat and mouse."
I glanced down at my hands, flexing my fingers. The boost in Perception would come in handy. I could already feel my senses sharpening—the distant sounds of cars, the soft rustling of the wind, the faint smell of metal from the broken dagger on the ground.
I turned off the screen with a thought and started walking, my steps slow and deliberate. I needed a plan.
"First, I finish the Parker Heirloom case. Then, I track down whoever's watching me."
The night was far from over, and the real hunt… was just beginning.