Chapter 4: Death Awaits Everyone

Adrian asked calmly and confidently:

"Who is this person? An ally of yours, or another victim?"

The Ghoul, holding a dagger to the officer's neck:

"Who knows? Maybe an ally... or maybe an enemy?"

Adrian was just about to speak when a bullet pierced his chest from behind.

Karl, screaming in shock:

"Adriaaan!"

Then, turning to the Ghoul angrily:

"How many of your accomplices are here? What's your goal in all of this?"

The Ghoul, mockingly:

"Accomplices? What are you talking about? I stand alone here.

Everyone shooting and everyone falling are just pawns in the hand of the king. This game is so trivial... even I... I'm just a knight circling around to confuse.

But sometimes... the pieces betray their king..."

Karl, rising from the ground, wincing in pain:

"So you're going after your own king then. If you're the knight, then the sniper firing at us must be the bishop—waiting for the right moment to strike.

But from what you just said... it sounds like your master already suspects your betrayal. Yet he still sent this bishop to help you."

The Ghoul, slitting the hostage's throat, thinks to himself:

"Really, Alexander... I didn't expect this from you.

I feel like I'm watching a play that's been rehearsed too many times... everything happened exactly as you said.

But don't underestimate these pieces... for their king is cunning too."

Ten furious officers lunged at the Ghoul. The Ghoul gripped his dagger and charged at them without hesitation.

The only thing the officers saw was a flash of steel—the same flash that dropped the first man in the opening scene.

Two of them pointed their guns, but before they could fire, darkness swallowed their vision.

The fourth stood his ground, but what good is steadiness when you're slow?

A stab from behind shattered that composure.

The next tried to ambush the Ghoul, but he spun, slashing his blade through the man's chest.

The Ghoul, turning slowly:

"Do you want the same fate? I'm ready."

One officer whispered in fear:

"Is... is this man even wounded?"

Karl, thinking nervously:

"How can we stop him? And it's not just him—the sniper is still watching us.

And Adrian's wound... if we delay, he'll die.

I don't know what's happening downstairs, but it seems the civilians have fled after hearing the gunfire."

As Karl was deep in thought, two more officers fell.

Only three remained, and they attacked at once.

The Ghoul leapt at the one in the middle, stabbing him fatally, then quickly pulled a pistol from under his cloak and shot another in the head.

The last tried to flee, but the final thing he saw was the Ghoul's blood-smeared mask.

The assassin approached Karl, who was sitting on the ground, clutching his injured shoulder.

The Ghoul:

"Why didn't you call for backup? You could've sent someone.

Also, is this really the full number of your force? Only 12 officers? That makes no sense—I gave you the possibility of an entire street."

Karl, defeated:

"Your first question is silly—you know anyone who tried to flee and call for help would be shot by your sniper.

As for the rest of the force... 22 more men are waiting for you at the only exit of this building.

Others are currently hunting down your 'bishop'... We adjusted.

But I fear he may still escape..."

The Ghoul walked over to Adrian, lying on the floor, and said:

"He's breathing his last... it's over for him."

Then, he raised his pistol and pointed it at Karl's forehead.

The Ghoul:

"I'll spare the child out of respect for your efforts.

But you... you'll join your comrades now.

Goodbye, young detective."

Karl, smiling one final time:

"It doesn't matter.

I trust that our king will win in the end.

Even if he's young, he hasn't even shown a glimpse of his true intelligence..."

As the Ghoul pulled the trigger, Karl's life flashed before his eyes—like a lightning bolt.

He remembered his first case, the hardships he faced to reach his rank...

And then, with a satisfied smile and a bullet to his forehead, the detective's life ended—bringing the rooftop police massacre to a bloody close.

---

The Ghoul left the building, glancing quickly left and right—as if plotting something wicked.

He darted right, pursued by police officers who had avoided sniper fire.

The sniper fired, but barely missed any of them.

Seeing more officers enter the building, the sniper decided to hide in one of the rooms.

The sniper peeked out from the room's doorway on the second floor:

"There are three of them.

If I focus, I can take them out.

One moment of distraction or a single mistake... and I'm done.

But how did they pinpoint my location...?

That bastard must've told them."

As one officer searched rooms, the sniper attacked him from behind—

But it was a trap. Another officer ambushed him from the side and shot him in the knee, bringing him down.

The sniper fled, only to be cornered in a hallway.

He drew a pistol from his pocket... and shot himself.

One officer muttered:

"He killed himself to protect information. Damn it!"

---

3:15 PM, Brook Street

The Ghoul was still being hunted by police.

Civilians fled and hid from the masked figure drenched in blood.

Vehicles, panicked people, chaos.

Everyone was chasing him—to end this nightmare.

He ducked into a narrow alley and blended into the darkness like shadows merging together.

Despite rushing in after him, they found nothing—only his cloak and dagger lying on the ground.

---

3:45 PM, the same street:

In posh London, it wasn't unusual to see a luxurious carriage adorned in black and gold, decorated with symbols of the bourgeois class.

Its driver was an elderly man in a formal suit, round glasses, and a tall hat.

The carriage stopped in the middle of the gathered crowd.

A man, seemingly in his late twenties or early thirties, approached the driver.

Man:

"We need to leave now. We'll talk later."

Driver, without turning his head:

"I was tasked with bringing you.

It was expected you'd be cornered... right, Mr. Brian?"

Brian, hopping into the carriage quickly:

"Let's just go."

The carriage rolled away unnoticed.

Inside, the two men spoke quietly.

Brian:

"What does the Master want this time, Adolf?"

Adolf:

"He didn't say.

Only instructed me to retrieve you.

(pause)

How did you vanish into the shadows like that?"

Brian, with a subtle yet sinister smile:

"Because... I am the darkness."

Adolf said nothing. He swallowed hard, thinking:

"This monster must be destroyed.

What have you done, Alexander?

You created a man with hollow eyes... you erased every emotion.

All that's left is emptiness."

Brian, calmly:

"Where are we going?"

Adolf:

"He told me not to say.

Did you leave your dagger and cloak because they were the only things stained with blood?"

Brian:

"Such a pointless question.

Obviously.

Also... I want to help the other king.

But let's talk about what matters—what about the plan?"

Adolf:

"Everything is going as planned.

But do you think the Master will be fooled so easily?"

Brian, eyes sharp:

"We'll find out... in a week."

---

The massacre proved how powerful the enemy was.

It also proved that the city police force alone couldn't face member number 4 of Alexander's Chess Pieces.

Therefore, the capital's police must collaborate with the six greatest detectives in Europe, along with the secret police (spies), and finally—Martin, the one most directly involved in the case.

Next day, Highgate Cemetery – 10:00 AM

At the funeral of Detective Karl and the officers who did their best...

Under the heavy fog, cries and tears filled the air.

Children refusing to believe their fathers were gone.

Mothers still not comprehending the deaths of their sons.

Young men fallen too soon.

Amo

ng them stood Martin, placing a flower before Karl's grave.

Beside him stood Karl's elderly mother, leaning on a cane.

She gazed into Martin's eyes…

And in them, she saw a spark of hatred and rage.