Chapter 24: The Hunt Begins

The scent of blood still lingered in the courtyard. The bodies of the assassins had already been removed, their deaths reduced to whispers among the servants. But Leon wasn't the type to let things go so easily.

Someone had ordered his execution.

And if they thought he would cower in fear, they were dead wrong.

A Silent Conversation

Leon stood in front of a large mirror, cleaning his blade with slow, precise movements. He wasn't just polishing the steel—he was thinking.

Selene had saved him last night. That meant two things:

She was watching him more closely than she admitted. She wasn't ready to let him die.

That second point was particularly interesting.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Enter."

A familiar figure stepped in. Ronan, the young knight who had been assigned to keep an eye on Leon since his return to noble society.

"You look like a man with murder on his mind," Ronan remarked, leaning against the wall.

Leon smirked. "You're not wrong."

"Figured. Word is spreading about last night's… incident. The nobles are calling it a 'tragic mugging.'"

Leon snorted. "A mugging? Right. Because muggers always come in groups of six and use military-grade formations."

Ronan shrugged. "You know how politics work. No one will admit they sent assassins. But everyone knows the truth."

Leon placed his sword down. "Then it's time to send a message."

Ronan raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Leon grinned. "By hunting the hunters."

Tracking the Snake

Leon knew that assassins weren't hired through direct contracts. There was always a middleman—a broker who handled the dirty work while the nobles kept their hands clean.

And in the capital, there was one man infamous for dealing in shadows.

Vincent the Vulture.

A man like that wouldn't be easy to find. But luckily, Leon knew exactly where to start.

The Underground Tavern

The tavern reeked of cheap ale, sweat, and secrets.

Leon walked through the dimly lit establishment, ignoring the drunken stares from mercenaries and lowlifes. He wasn't here for them.

He was here for the bartender.

A burly man with a scar across his jaw, the bartender was known for more than just pouring drinks—he listened.

Leon approached the counter and dropped a heavy gold coin onto the wood.

"I'm looking for a vulture."

The bartender didn't react immediately. He wiped a mug clean, then spoke in a bored tone.

"Never heard of one."

Leon leaned forward. "Really? Because I hear he flies around these parts often. And I also hear that men who help him tend to keep their heads attached to their bodies."

The bartender's grip on the mug tightened.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then, with a sigh, the man muttered, "Back alley. Behind the butcher shop. Midnight."

Leon smirked. "See? That wasn't so hard."

He grabbed his coin and walked out.

Midnight—A Deadly Meeting

Leon stood in the shadows, watching as a cloaked figure approached the meeting spot. The man's movements were cautious, paranoid. He looked over his shoulder twice before stepping into the alley.

Vincent the Vulture.

Leon moved swiftly, stepping behind him and pressing a blade against his back.

"Nice night for a walk, isn't it?" Leon whispered.

Vincent stiffened. "Who—"

"Shh." Leon pressed the blade in slightly. "We're going to have a friendly little chat."

Vincent swallowed hard. "W-What do you want?"

Leon smiled. "You already know. Someone put a contract on my head. I want names."

Vincent hesitated. "I… I can't—"

Leon sighed and slammed his head against the brick wall.

Vincent let out a muffled yelp, blood dripping from his nose.

"Try again," Leon said, voice cold.

Vincent gasped. "I-I don't know their real names! Only codenames!"

"Then give me the codenames."

Vincent trembled. "The one who paid for the contract is called The Crimson Fang. But the one who arranged the details was The Silver Serpent."

Leon narrowed his eyes. Codenames.

That meant high-ranking nobles.

"Where can I find the Silver Serpent?" Leon asked.

Vincent hesitated again—so Leon grabbed his wrist and twisted.

"AHH—! Okay! Okay! The Serpent meets with contacts at the Red Lotus Pavilion!"

Leon smirked. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

Vincent whimpered. "Please, I told you everything—"

Leon knocked him out with a single punch.

"Yeah, yeah. You were very helpful."

He dusted off his hands and stepped over Vincent's unconscious body.

Now, he had a target.

The Red Lotus Pavilion—A Noble's Playground

The Red Lotus Pavilion was an exclusive brothel and gambling den—a place where nobles indulged in excess while keeping their hands dirty behind closed doors.

Leon strolled in with purpose.

The moment he stepped through the lavish entrance, all eyes were on him. Some recognized him from the recent duel. Others just sensed the danger rolling off him in waves.

A woman dressed in revealing silks approached. "My lord, how can we serve you tonight?"

Leon smiled. "I'm looking for a very particular guest. Goes by the name of Silver Serpent."

The woman's eyes flickered with hesitation.

Leon reached into his coat and pulled out a single golden coin.

She glanced at it, then at him.

Then, she leaned in and whispered, "Third floor. Private room at the end of the hall."

Leon tossed her the coin. "Much obliged."

He turned and made his way upstairs.

It was time to unmask the snake.