Akira remained motionless on the roof, analyzing the scene. The assailant had vanished, but not without leaving traces.

  A dagger was still embedded in the wall.

  He approached and yanked it out with a swift motion. The blade was slender, curved, marked with a discreet symbol near the hilt: a black lotus.

  Akira felt his stomach knot.

  — The Black Flowers…

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  An elite group of assassins, specializing in the elimination of “problematic” targets.

  The kind of killers sent only when a contract becomes too complicated.

  This meant one thing:

  Someone wanted him eliminated too.

  He gritted his teeth and sheathed the dagger before quickly descending.

  ---

  Down below, Mayu was waiting for him, still hidden behind the wall.

  — Who was it? she asked, seeing his expression.

  — A professional. Someone on my level, maybe even better.

  She swallowed hard.

  — Does that mean…

  — Yes. We have no choice.

  She frowned.

  — The choice of what?

  He fixed her with a cold gaze.

  — If I want to survive, I need to know exactly what you know.

  A shiver ran through Mayu. Until now, she had thought that seeing the future was enough to protect herself.

  But as she met Akira's gaze, she finally understood something:

  Knowing was good. But acting… that was the only way to survive.

  — Okay, she whispered.

  She took a deep breath and declared:

  — It all started six months ago…