Chapter 4: Gray Mist City

Chapter 4: Gray Mist City

Selena held the ledger in her hands, her fingers brushing over the yellowed pages. The cover bore the emblem of the Nightshade family—a silver serpent coiled in the darkness, its eyes as crimson as blood. Once, this symbol had represented power in the Victoria Empire. Now, it was nothing more than a faded shadow.

She flipped through the pages, scanning the densely packed records of transactions, hideouts, and names. But more than anything, these pages chronicled the past glory of the Nightshade family.

Her gaze grew cold as memories surfaced in her mind—fragments that did not belong to her, yet were now hers to bear.

The Nightshade family, one of the oldest noble bloodlines in the Victoria Empire, traced its origins back three centuries to the Age of Darkness.

Back then, the empire was not yet unified, torn apart by feudal lords and endless wars. The first Nightshade was a nameless assassin, his poisoned daggers carving a path through history. He single-handedly eliminated dozens of rival nobles for the emperor, securing the foundation of the empire.

As a reward, the emperor granted him the title of duke and vast, fertile lands in the south. Thus, the Nightshade family rose to power—not through brute force, but through intelligence, wealth, and conspiracy, weaving an underground web that spread across the empire.

The nobles feared them, calling them the "Serpents of the Night", and even the royal family treaded cautiously around them.

At their peak, the Nightshade family controlled the empire's underground trade, from smuggling weapons to selling information.

Their estate, a massive obsidian fortress, loomed on the outskirts of the capital, its walls adorned with silver serpent engravings that gleamed like living creatures in the firelight.

Generations of the Nightshade family honed the arts of assassination and dark magic, with rumors claiming they had forged pacts with forbidden cults, gaining powers beyond human comprehension.

Selena's father, the last Duke Nightshade, had led the family to its peak. In a single night, he wiped out three rival noble houses, their blood staining the streets, yet no one dared accuse him.

But beneath this glory festered the seeds of destruction.

The Nightshade family had too many enemies.

The nobles, though outwardly submissive, secretly conspired against them.

Then, five years ago, Selena's father was assassinated.

The official statement called it an "accident", but everyone in the family knew the truth—it was a test by the royal family and the nobles.

With her father dead, sixteen-year-old Selena was forced to inherit the family legacy.

She was brilliant, yet in the original storyline, she was written as a foolish romantic, blindly devoted to Lucien Windrider, using the family's power to gain his favor, only to be betrayed and destroyed.

The downfall truly began three years ago.

Lucien Windrider—then hailed as the Empire's youngest war hero—was caught in a noble conspiracy and perished on the Northern Battlefield.

Though the Nightshade family had no direct involvement, their vast intelligence network made them a scapegoat.

When Lucien was reborn, his first act was revenge.

Framing the Nightshade family for treason, he rallied the nobles, launching a purge.

That night was hellfire and blood.

Iron-clad cavalry broke through the duchy's gates.The family's guards were slaughtered.Servants fled in terror.

Selena saw her uncle impaled, her mother burned alive.

And then, Carl Greythorn—the traitor—locked her in the dungeon, leaving her to die.

The final page of the ledger detailed the last transaction of the Nightshade family—

A weapons deal with Lucien's army.

And the signature on it?

Selena Nightshade.

She laughed—cold and mocking.

The original Selena had truly been a fool.

She had thought that helping Lucien would win his favor.

Instead, it had given him the perfect excuse to crush the family.

Their wealth was plundered, their power erased, their fortress reduced to ruins.

Only these few outposts in Gray Mist City remained, barely clinging to existence.

"Lucien…"

Selena murmured, her nails digging into the ledger.

A dark, murderous gleam flickered in her icy blue eyes.

She was not the original Selena, but she had inherited her memories.

And with those memories came a hatred so deep it could drown the empire in blood.

"You destroyed the Nightshade family."

"I will make you kneel before me and beg for mercy."

Selena closed the ledger and turned to Ivy. "How many of our old allies are left?"

Ivy lowered her voice. "I know of seven or eight. They were spies and guards who managed to escape back then. They're scattered across Gray Mist City—some became mercenaries, others joined the gangs—but they all hate Lucien to the core."

"Good." Selena stood up, her icy blue eyes gleaming in the dim light. "I'm not rebuilding the Nightshade family for some noble honor. I want Lucien and those nobles to see who the real ruler of the night is."

She paused for a moment, then curled her lips into a cold smile. "And it all starts here, in Gray Mist City. That 280 luck points from Sharktooth Jack? I'll take them."

Tucking the ledger into her cloak, she said, "But first, I need people. Ivy, take me to them."

Ivy nodded, a hint of hope flashing in her eyes. "Follow me. They're in hiding, but if they know you're alive, they'll come back."

Under the cover of night, the two moved through the narrow alleys of Gray Mist City. Thick mist curled over the port, muffling the drunken curses and the crashing of waves against the docks.

Selena activated "Intelligence Perception", scanning the area within a hundred meters. She sensed a few vagrants huddled in corners, black-market dealers conducting shady trades in the alleyway, but no immediate threats.

She spoke in a low voice, "Who's the first one?"

Ivy whispered back, "Old Blade Finn. He was the head of Nightshade's intelligence network—an expert in tracking and eavesdropping. After the fall, he escaped to Gray Mist City. He's working as an enforcer at a dockside tavern, but people say he's drowning himself in alcohol every night."

"A drunk?" Selena narrowed her eyes, her modern instincts kicking in. "He's either truly broken, or just pretending. Let's see which."

The tavern was falling apart, its wooden door swaying precariously on rusted hinges. Inside, the dim candlelight cast flickering shadows over shattered mugs and slurred curses.

Selena stepped in, her sharp gaze sweeping the room. In a dark corner, a scruffy middle-aged man slouched against the wall, holding a half-empty bottle of cheap liquor. His face was unshaven, eyes clouded with intoxication.

But beneath the tattered clothes and limp posture, she noticed something—a gleaming dagger, sharpened to perfection, hidden at his waist.

Not an ordinary drunk.

Selena strode forward, her voice cold. "Finn?"

The man snapped his gaze up, his drunken haze vanishing in an instant. His sharp eyes gleamed like a blade drawn from its sheath.

"Who the hell's calling my name? You looking to die?" His hand was already moving toward his dagger—but then he froze.

Selena pulled back her hood, revealing her cold, sharp features. Her icy blue eyes gleamed like frozen steel under the flickering tavern light.

"…You—" Finn's voice cracked, and the bottle slipped from his grip, shattering on the floor.

"Miss? You're alive?"

"Clearly." Selena smirked, leaning closer. "The Nightshade family isn't finished yet. Lucien hasn't won."

She studied his expression—shock, rage, and something else—hope.

"What about you?" she asked, her voice chillingly soft. "Are you going to rot here like a coward, or are you coming back with me?"

Finn was silent. His eyes flickered with **conflicting emotions—**resentment, bitterness, self-loathing.

Finally, he exhaled and muttered, "I saw it all… the massacre. I watched them burn the manor, slaughter our people. I ran. I lived like a dog. And now you're telling me we can get revenge?"

Selena didn't answer. Instead, she activated "Mind Domination."

An invisible force invaded Finn's mind. His pupils dilated for a moment as his thoughts blurred.

Selena whispered, "I won't just take revenge. I will make Lucien kneel before me. Do you believe me?"

A shudder ran through Finn's body.

When he snapped back to reality, his forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

He stared at Selena, as if seeing her for the first time. Then, a low chuckle escaped his lips.

"Guess the old lovesick fool is dead. The woman standing here now… I like her better."

He grabbed his dagger and stood up. "I'm in."

One by one, they gathered allies.

Finn led them to the next target: Ironhand Locke, a former Nightshade family guard, now a mercenary. A towering, silent man, his fists could break bones like twigs. He asked no questions—Selena handed him a bag of gold and said, "Lucien will die." He swore his loyalty on the spot.

The third recruit was Shadow Rat Lina, a petite, quick-fingered thief. Once a Nightshade informant, she had survived by stealing and smuggling.

At first, Lina refused to believe Selena was truly back.

Until Selena summoned dark tendrils of shadow magic and wrapped them around her throat.

Lina fell to her knees, trembling. "M-my lady… forgive me—I'm yours to command!"

Selena smiled. "Good choice."

The fourth target was trickier—"Poison Eye" Veil, the Nightshade family's alchemist, now hiding in a southern underground gambling den in Gray Mist City. Rumor had it that he had already been bought by Sharktooth Jack.

Selena, along with Finn and the others, infiltrated the den. Smoke filled the air, and gamblers with bloodshot eyes shouted at the dice tables.

In a dimly lit corner, Veil sat hunched over, rolling a small vial of violet liquid between his fingers. Two heavily armed gang enforcers stood by his side, their sharp gazes scanning the room.

"Miss, this one's going to be tough," Finn murmured. "Veil only cares about money, and Sharktooth pays him well."

"Money?" Selena chuckled coldly. Her modern corporate experience had taught her that loyalty could be bought, but fear worked better.

She whispered, "System, analyze Veil."

[Analysis Complete: Poison Eye Veil. Luck Value: 160. Skilled in poison crafting. Psychologically fragile, cowardly, fears death. Recommended strategy: Use 'Mind Domination' or 'Dark Magic' to intimidate.]

Selena nodded and signaled her team to spread out. She stepped toward Veil, activating "Master of Disguise", transforming into Sharktooth Jack.

In a low voice, she said, "Veil, how's the work coming along?"

Veil froze, then forced a greasy smile. "Boss Jack! It's all on schedule—the poison will be ready for delivery by tomorrow…" He trailed off, his expression shifting. Something was off.

His gaze snapped up to Selena's, and for a split second, he saw the glint of icy malice in her eyes.

"Disguise, cancel."

Selena's form shifted back, revealing her true self. Her icy blue eyes bore into him.

"Sharktooth Jack bought you," she said coldly, "but I can buy you too. The difference is, I prefer to take what I want."

She raised a hand—black tendrils of dark magic surged forward, coiling around Veil's throat, lifting him off the ground.

The two enforcers rushed forward, but Finn and Locke cut them down effortlessly, blades slicing through flesh and bone.

Veil kicked and clawed at his throat, his face turning purple. His voice was a hoarse rasp, "D-don't kill me! I surrender!"

Selena smirked and loosened the shadows. Veil collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.

She crouched down beside him. "Lucien destroyed the Nightshade family, and you helped his lackeys. Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you right now."

Veil frantically nodded, trembling. "I—I have information! **Sharktooth Jack is meeting Red Blade Catherine tomorrow to trade weapons—**for Lucien's army! I know the location!"

Selena stood up slowly.

"Well then," she said. "You get to live. You work for me now. Help me rebuild the Nightshade family."

[Ding! Successfully recruited Poison Eye Veil. Luck Value +160. Gained ability 'Poison Mist Control' (Releases small poison clouds to weaken or incapacitate enemies).Current Luck Value: 770.]

As the first light of dawn crept over Gray Mist City, Selena and her new team of five returned to Warehouse No. 3.

She surveyed her growing force—

Finn, the cunning spy.Locke, the formidable warrior.Lina, the nimble thief.Veil, the master of poisons.

A smirk played on her lips. Modern leadership strategies taught her that a team needed structure and objectives.

And her objective was crystal clear—turn Gray Mist City into her base, then tear down Lucien's empire, piece by piece.

She spoke quietly but firmly.

"Finn, Lina—track Sharktooth Jack's movements.""Locke, Veil—prepare weapons and poisons."

Her eyes gleamed.

"Tomorrow, at the trade, I want Sharktooth and Red Blade to pay the price."

Her team nodded in unison, determination burning in their eyes.

Selena leaned back against a wooden crate, her icy blue gaze distant but filled with dark promise.

"Lucien…" she murmured.

"The Nightshade family is back. You better be ready."