Protect the Code

"What have you done?!" One of the masked men asked in panic as he watched the body laying on the floor with blood continuing to pour out his stabbed eyes.

The girl shook off the blood in her knife and showed no change in expression as she jumped back a few steps away from them.

"This dress can't be stained." She said as she lifted and checked the hem of her dress.

The masked men were struggling to understand her words. They brought out their own knives and stood in defense but the shaking of their body didn't stop.

"I-Is she worried about her dress, r-right n-now?" One stuttered in shock as they watched her.

She didn't even blink an eye while stabbing a human eye.

"Hey," The girl called

"..!" Even if their eyes didn't leave her, her voice is enough to startle them.

"You are the same as him right?" She raised her bloodied knife and pointed to the dead man in front of them.

'This is different from what we were told!!' One of the masked men steps back to the door and reaches for the doorknob without averting his eyes on her.

"Tsk" She clicked her tongue which made him stop.

"I guess that was too much. " She continued as she cracked her neck to the sides.

The masked man finally grabbed the doorknob and he positioned himself to run.

'That is not human!!!!' He thought loudly.

*Swish*

*thud* thud*

The escaping man hit his head on the door, closing it once again and dropping to the floor.

"Ah damn. I was aiming for the head." Kali grimaced as she watched the fountain of blood coming out the man's neck.

The remaining two men stand stiff like a statue in her presence. Their wobbling legs struggle to support their body weight.

The girl showed no agitation nor panic. She lowered her body and picked another knife from the fallen body. She admires it for a moment and returns her attention to them. Her attention and the silver knife in her hand made the masked men kneeled down voluntarily

'There is no way, she is human.' One had thought in resignation.

'Ah. Am I going to die here? Yes. I am going to die here.' Others had lost hope.

"So, who are you?" She asked

"?!!"

"I don't have much time. Don't waste--"

"We were commissioned to get Kaleena Alexanders code." The one who just a few seconds ago lost all his hope answered.

"By who?"

"It was an open job from black society. W-we were not able t-to i-identify the client."

"Ah. The Bounty - 1,000 Sakhat gold for code and 100,000 Sakhat gold if you deliver me as a whole -alive. Isn't it?"

His eyes grew big but he eventually nodded earnestly.

"Who let you in ? This is the royal palace" Kali's voice grew colder and began to tap the couch's sides like she was counting down time.

"S-someone sold a safe passage in t-the black s-society." The other man answered, while the one who answered glared at him.

She was silent for a few seconds before she let a wide smile out. It was a sinister face.

"I guess you are not the only group who are here for my bounty." She finally said.

"I-I can help you identify t-them. P-please spare me." One beg and face plant the carpet.

"I-I-I can do the same. I am more knowledgeable than that person" Another beg.

They are both shaking and make her return to unconscious bodies she first knocked down.

"I only need a person though?" She said in a low voice.

*Slash

The person with hopeless thoughts earlier first drew his knife and slash the throat of his comrade without second thoughts.

'I will survive!!" His thoughts are screaming and the girl observes the scene. His eyes are burning desire to live as he pants down with rigid breathing.

"I am sure you will do the same." He said in a low voice as he glared down at the dying body beside him.

He pulls down his masked face and kneels down in front of her. His face is an ordinary man in mid 30's.

"I will do my best to assist you."

"Aren't you comrades?" She asked without a hint of judgement in her voice. The tone made the man relax a little.

'She is far from being human.'

"We are just teaming up for the rewards, now that we failed, I need to ensure my safety first." He said in all honesty.

"How many were you in your group?"

" 7. All the members are here in the room."

"How many groups are there?"

"There are at least 6 more groups that bought the 'Imperial Passage' from the black society."

". . .and how did you snatch me from the party?" Her eyes changed from calm to scrutinizing.

"There is no way your team can drug and take me away." She continued.

"Other teams did that. . . We stole you from one of them." He continued to lower his head.

"I see. That's all I need."

When he raises his head, the girl's gaze is on the unconscious body near her. He followed her sight and he frowned.

"There is no blood." He murmured and frowned.

"You heard the guy. His safety is more important than your damn life."

After her words one by one the laying bodies on the floor rise up and glare at the kneeling man.

"Wha-what?" He panics.

"I don't care who lives, just don't mention my name or my family after this, or I'll hunt you down." She said it nonchalantly as she avoided the pools of blood in the carpet and walked towards the door.

"Good night Gentlemen" She bid farewell as she closed the door behind her.

"ARGHHHHH!" Even if she is just by the door, the scream is faint and low.

The corridor is spotlessly flawless and rows of rooms and art decorations fill the hall. The room she was in was in the middle of the hall without a single soul passing by.

"Where am I?" She wondered.

She slid down her finger and check the quest again

[QUEST :  Protect The Code]

Time Remaining: 02:38:15

'Hmmm. I couldn't be that far from the hall right? I was only knocked down for 10 minutes.' She thought as she walked the long corridor.

*click *click *click

Kali's high heels echoed in the long corridor.

"Excuse me. My lady?" Someone suddenly approached her from behind. A man maybe in his 20s wearing a bow and tie.

'A servant?'

"Ah yes?" Kali answered.

"Are you perhaps lost?" He tilted his head to one side and asked cautiously.

"Yes, do you know where the grand hall is?"

"I am actually on my way there, my lady, can I lead the way for you?"

"Sure."

"This way, my lady. " The servant pointed in the direction Kali just passed by.

". . ."

"This palace is somehow far from the grand hall, how did you end up here mylady?"

"I am not sure, I woke up alone in one of the rooms here. I am sure my brothers are worried."

"Ah. . . yes."

*Swish

Kali blocked the incoming fist to her side cheek with the butcher's knife.

"Where did that come from?" The servant asked with a smiling face.

"Who knows, you little shit." Kali glared.

The servant withdrew his fist and reached for his back and he pulled a knife.

"What a cute weapon you have there." Kali smiled, compared to her ogre's butcher knife, his knife looks incredibly small.

He charges upfront and wields the knife professionally. If only Kali didn't have weapon's training, she might've long gone.

"This is laced with sleeping powder you had back at the party, my lady."

"Ah is that so? in case you are wondering if it doesn't work, that's why I am awake." she said with an uninterested expression.

The servant grit his teeth before resuming being offensive. Kali blocks every swing of the knife but there's a limit she can do in a dress and heels.

Messenger Anklet

She dodge another swing before she creates a distance and reaches for the door knob of the room beside her.

"I wonder what will happen if another group finds me and steals me again?"

She opened the door and luckily it wasn't locked. Unlike the previous rooms, the room she opened is similar to a study room with a small walk in terrace.

"Do you want a private audience with me or we can wait here for the other groups to arrive?"

The servant lowered his dagger and followed Kali inside the darkened room. As he entered and locked the door after him a smile was created.

"Ha-hahaha. I guess you are not smart after all, you could have wait outside, whether another group or imperial knights come, it can give you more ways to escape than here now." he said mockingly while holding his laughs

"I don't want that." Kali answered with her back facing him.

"You don't want what? hahaha "

Kali tossed her butcher knife and it disappeared, it made the servant stop laughing. Next she pulls a long stick out of nowhere.

"SUBSPACE? N-No -w-way! There is mana disruption orb here. How . . . ekkk" He swallowed his next words as he froze to the golden eyes staring at him.

*Ting

[Requirements has been met]

[???'s Hunting Spear activated "Moonlight Effect"]

"I don't want you escaping either." Kali remained still as she swung her spear to her side.