Amusement

The crimson door faded behind us, and I found myself standing once again in the heart of the Moonlit Hitman Agency. The worn stone floors creaked beneath my boots, the air heavy with age, and for once, the place didn't feel empty.

I turned to Alina, expecting awe—or at least surprise—but instead, she burst into laughter.

"This is it?" she asked, hands on her hips. Her amber eyes scanned the cracked walls, the flickering lanterns, and the faint cobwebs clinging stubbornly to the ceiling. "You're the leader of this?"

Her laughter echoed down the hall, irritatingly clear. "I'm supposed to trust you to train me?"

I resisted the urge to groan. "Yes, you are. And I don't recall inviting you here to critique the decor."

Her grin widened. "I didn't realize the Moonlit Hitman Agency was just an abandoned dungeon. At least my treehouse had charm."

"You'll change your mind soon enough," I muttered.

Before Alina could continue her mockery, the butler materialized from the shadows as if he'd been waiting for this very moment. His appearance had the same effect it always did—stoic, calculated, and impossibly composed.

"Welcome back, Master Raven," he said, giving a small bow. His sharp gaze landed on Alina, who cocked an eyebrow at him. "And welcome to you as well, young lady."

Alina blinked at him, her amusement faltering just slightly. "You're... real?"

"As real as any servant of the Moonlit Hitman Agency," the butler replied smoothly. "And you must be Alina—new recruit, first of the restored legacy."

"Legacy?" she echoed, crossing her arms.

The butler didn't waver. "The Moonlit Hitman Agency was once revered across realms. Its name struck terror into the hearts of the wicked. And now, under Master Raven's leadership, it shall rise again."

Alina turned to me, skepticism returning. "You're seriously the leader of this place?"

"Yes," I said, meeting her gaze without hesitation. "I own the agency. I brought you here to give you a job, a purpose, and a chance to be part of something bigger than yourself."

For once, she didn't have a comeback. Instead, she tilted her head, studying me as if reassessing everything she thought she knew.

The butler cleared his throat. "Allow me to explain the fundamentals of the agency for you both—though Master Raven is already familiar, of course."

We followed him into the main hall, where faded portraits of assassins hung on the stone walls. I'd never paid much attention to them before, but something about their silent stares seemed... encouraging now.

The butler began his lecture with the same patience he always exuded. "The Moonlit Hitman Agency operates between realms. It offers a simple yet eternal service: vengeance. Those driven by desperation, betrayal, or loss are given an opportunity—a blood-red door will appear before them. When they step through, they become clients. Their plea becomes a contract."

Alina frowned. "And who approves these contracts?"

The butler smiled faintly. "The system itself governs that process. It identifies the most desperate among the masses and determines who is worthy of our services."

"The system?" she echoed, shooting me a look. "So it's not just your dungeon—there's some magic bureaucracy involved?"

I rolled my eyes. "If you have a better word than 'system,' let me know."

Ignoring our exchange, the butler continued. "Each completed mission earns Moonlit Coins, the agency's unique currency. These coins allow agents to purchase tools, skills, and power beyond what they might achieve on their own. Even entire realms like Reuzia are now connected to our operations, thanks to Master Raven."

At this, Alina finally seemed to listen. I activated my monocle subtly, letting its information flood my vision as I focused on her.

[Analyzing Target...]

Name: Alina

Power Level: Early Qi Cultivator (Stage 1)

Skills: Exceptional Reflexes, Trap Crafting, Dual Knife Combat

Potential: Remarkably High

Her stats glowed in my peripheral vision, reinforcing what I already knew: Alina was no ordinary recruit.

She caught me staring and narrowed her eyes. "What's with the creepy monocle?"

"It analyzes people," I said flatly. "Just confirming you're as strong as I thought."

"And?"

"And you're lucky I found you," I replied with a smirk.

She scoffed but didn't push the issue further. Instead, she turned to the butler. "So you're saying I can get paid for fighting people who deserve it? And all I have to do is work for him?" She jabbed her thumb toward me.

"Precisely," the butler said with a faint nod. "But keep in mind, failure carries consequences."

Alina's eyes sharpened. "What kind of consequences?"

The butler's tone turned heavy. "Failure to complete a contract results in a penalty—loss of strength, freedom, or, in dire cases, life itself. This agency demands commitment."

For the first time, Alina's smirk faltered. She looked at me, her expression unreadable. "You didn't tell me about that."

"I didn't think you'd fail," I replied simply.

She stared at me for a moment before breaking into a reluctant grin. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."

The butler concluded his explanation, leaving Alina with little room to argue. She leaned back against a column, arms crossed as she looked around the decrepit hall once more.

"So I guess I'm a trainee now," she muttered.

"For now," I said. "But if you prove yourself, you'll become a full-fledged assassin soon enough."

"And what makes you so sure I'll stick around?"

"Because," I replied, tossing her the blood-red token I'd received for her recruitment, "you wouldn't be here if you didn't want this. You accepted the token, and now you're part of the agency. You'll see soon enough—it's better than that treehouse of yours."

She caught the token and studied it for a moment. Then she smiled faintly, shaking her head. "You're an odd one, Raven. But fine. I'll play along... for now."

[Quest Completed!]

Objective: Recruit Alina – Success

Rewards: 300 Moonlit Coins, Blood-Linked Recruit Token

I grinned to myself as the notification flashed in my vision.

"Welcome to the Moonlit Hitman Agency," I said.

As we stood there, I realized something I hadn't felt since this strange journey began—this wasn't just about revenge anymore. The agency was growing. It was rebuilding. And Alina, as sarcastic as she was, marked the first step forward.

"Only ninety-eight more to go," I murmured.

"What?" Alina asked.

"Nothing," I replied, already planning our next move.