It was a night of torrential rain.
The night was deep. Within the viscous darkness, a cold light glinted, like the God of Death strolling through the rainy night.
CRACK!! BANG!!
Suddenly, the cold light froze. Accompanied by the collision of two powerful forces, an invisible ripple spread out, blasting away the surrounding raindrops.
"A blade in the rain but no umbrella… isn't that a bit unbecoming of your beauty, my lovely and chilling Miss 'Forget-Me-Not'?"
Fu Li's form coalesced like black mist on the Sanatorium rooftop. With just a single armored gauntlet, he had caught the flashing, cold blade.
"Who are you? How do you know me? Is this some kind of invisibility technology?"
Miss 'Forget-Me-Not' did not panic, nor did she press the attack.
Relying on her assassin's intuition, she could tell from that single blow that she was no match for Fu Li.
Besides, since he seemed interested in talking, it was best to play along. It would give her a chance to gather information and find an opportunity to retreat.
"Hmm, you have quite a few questions. But considering my impending discourtesy, I suppose I can tell you."
Fu Li straightened his clothes, a smile on his face.
"First question: I am the priest of Twilight Street, and also its mysterious boss behind the scenes."
"Second question: Not only do I know you, but I also know about the Toxic Chrysalis behind you, the MOTHs Who Chase the Flame behind them, and the Dr. MEI who invited you to join."
"Third question: This isn't invisibility technology, but rather a biotechnology that mimics the genes of a chameleon-type Honkai Beast."
Staring at the nonchalant priest before her, Sakura's pupils contracted.
Why does this man know so much about me? It's as if all my secrets are laid bare before him.
Thinking of a certain small figure, Sakura's hand holding the blade trembled slightly.
"Are you afraid?" A smirk played on Fu Li's lips as they opened and closed, tearing away the last shred of cloth covering Sakura's secret.
"Or perhaps… are you afraid that I know about your younger sister, Rin?"
Instantly, a cold gleam flashed. A streak of light parted the curtain of rain, slashing toward Fu Li's neck.
Sakura had abandoned all thoughts of retreat. She had to kill this person here and now, to eliminate any threat to her sister.
However, even though she swung her blade with all her speed, the man before her moved like an elegant dancer, dodging with ease.
"Look at you, poor Sakura. So cute when you get all angry and throw a tantrum because you can't hit me."
"Oh yes, yes, a little faster~ Sakura. It's not that I'm trying to be critical, but you're just not giving it your all."
"Mhm, that was a good one. You almost nicked my neck. Keep it up~"
Finally, after thirty minutes of non-stop trash talk, Sakura could no longer bear it.
"Enough! You— Shut up!"
At last, Sakura stopped, panting as she demanded, "What do you want? Why are you trying to provoke me?"
After all this time, she had confirmed that this man was only trying to anger her intentionally. As for why, she had no idea.
It couldn't possibly be that he was just toying with her for fun, right?
"Finally calmed down?"
Fu Li stopped moving. His handsome, crimson eyes reflected Sakura's figure.
Sakura didn't speak, her grip on her blade tightening. Even at a disadvantage, she was still like a ferocious fox poised to devour its prey.
A perfect assassin!
Fu Li praised her internally. He sat down beside her without a shred of caution, completely exposing his back to her as he looked down at the darkened Sanatorium below.
"Do you really want to harm these children?" he asked suddenly. "These children, who are about the same age as Rin?"
The hand holding the blade trembled. Sakura didn't answer directly. "Those with the Honkai Sickness will die sooner or later. I am simply… helping them end their suffering."
"Besides, if I don't kill them, the Honkai will eventually spread from here, and more people will die."
She didn't know if she was answering his question or trying to convince herself.
"You're not wrong. But there are always exceptions."
A canister of blue liquid was tossed toward the assassin, who caught it instinctively.
"What is this?"
"Hope."
"What on earth is that?" Sakura was confused.
"An anti-Honkai drug that can actually delay death," Fu Li explained.
"You're lying."
Even as she said it, Sakura's grip on the blue canister tightened.
If—and she meant if—this thing was real, and if it could be mass-produced…
Sakura's hand began to tremble, because not even she could be certain that Rin wouldn't suddenly contract the Honkai Sickness one day.
"Don't overthink it. It only delays death. Mass production is difficult, and the cost is exorbitant."
"That is why I need the MOTHs Who Chase the Flame. Oh, no, to be precise, I need the power and intellect of Mobius."
The priest before her spoke casually, uttering a name that was considered taboo even within the MOTHs.
Mobius?
He even knows about Mobius?
Sakura's breathing quickened. She suddenly realized she had stumbled into a massive conspiracy, one far beyond her ability to handle.
However, just as she prepared to make a swift escape and report this information to her organization, she found her vision growing blurry.
What is this? What's happening?
Sakura opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her body suddenly lost its strength.
In a daze, she fell into a warm embrace. A raincoat was draped over her, and she felt the sensation of a needle being pulled from her arm.
"It took long enough, but it finally kicked in."
"Now, Sakura, please get some sleep. I promise you, when you wake up, the world will be a different place."
In the last moments of her consciousness, Sakura felt her mask being removed. She wanted to raise a hand to cover her face but lost consciousness before she could.
---o---
[You brought Sakura back to your private space in the underground chapel.]
[This space is constructed from a special alloy, soundproof, warm in winter and cool in summer, and spacious. It is equipped with a wireless television and a game console with only offline games. The door can only be opened from the outside.]
[You used handcuffs and ankle cuffs made of Soul Steel to bind Sakura's limbs, ensuring she could not escape. You then left her a letter and a sufficient amount of food.]
[After doing all this, you boarded your private jet and headed for the headquarters of the MOTHs Who Chase the Flame.]
---o---
A basement, restraints, imprisonment, a female assassin, a holy church.
When these elements were combined, even the purest of minds would let their thoughts wander.
Thus, when the pink-haired young woman woke up and realized her predicament, her usually stoic body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Even an assassin could be afraid of that sort of thing.
Trying to move her bound hands, Sakura found to her despair that she couldn't break free from these cuffs at all.
It was as if they had been custom-made for her, fitting perfectly around her wrists with no way to slip them off.
However, just as Sakura was consumed by fear, the sturdy, special steel door slowly swung open, and a woman's voice, as gentle as the flutter of a butterfly's wing, came from outside.
"Please do not be afraid, my dear lady. My name is Aponia. Might I ask… is there anything I can do to help you?"