Murderer.

After the formal pleasantries were over, the event had finally concluded. The premier was a huge success, and the numbers that started to roll in from all over the country were all pointing towards the movie being a blockbuster. Not Romeo's biggest hit, but strong enough to make fruitful returns for the investors.

As much as he would have liked to mingle around with everyone after the premier had concluded, his two guests took priority. While leaving the theater after apologizing to his other guests, he asked one of the staff members to pass a note to them, and said,

"This letter should only be given to those two people over there. If anyone else finds out what is written in this letter, consider yourself fired."

His tone was domineering, which made the person obey his words without question. After the note had been handed to Bruno, he opened it only to find the following words,

"Meet me at the usual place in an hour. If you are late, consider the promise broken."

He handed the note over to Raphael and said,

"I am guessing you know where this place is."

Raphael didn't respond. He was in deep thought after reading the note.

'He really knows how to piss me off.'

After a minute or two passed, he looked at Bruno and said,

"Your mother's grave. That's the usual spot."

Bruno tightened his fist.

"Do you mean-"

Raphail put his left hand on his son's shoulder.

"I made a vow to your mother to keep this a secret. Besides myself, he is the only person who can tell you. However, whether you can get him to reveal the secret is a completely different story."

Bruno started counting numbers in his head. He had to be calm.

"Was this on purpose?"

Raphael took his hand back and said,

"You know it wasn't. Our purpose was to get him to train you, but it looks like he is going to be difficult."

Bruno got his composure back. Before this, this was just supposed to be a casual meet up for a discussion concerning his future progression as a hunter. The involvement of his mother, however, changed things.

"Let's go."

They both left the venue without wasting another second. After a 30-minute-long cab ride, they were at the entrance of the cemetery named 'A Shade of Peace'. It was a tradition to visit this place every year on the 9th of March, which was the day on which Bruno's mother, Rachel, died. To Bruno, all he had was that date. His father had restricted him from ever knowing the why and how of her death.

"You could have called."

Standing with a bouquet of lilies in his hand, Romeo didn't look the two of them in their eyes. Dressed in a loose white T-Shirt and black jeans, he was exuding a different aura when compared to his celebrity persona.

"He wasn't convinced."

Raphael shamelessly put the blame on his son. Romeo placed the Bouquet on her grave and closed his eyes.

"How is the finger?"

He turned his head towards them with a serious expression on his face.

"Not too bad."

The tension in the air was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

"Then I shouldn't have held back."

This time, he flicked a small pebble, once again in Bruno's direction. Raphael had watched him pick it up as he placed the bouquet, but this time, he didn't intervene.

"That trick won't work twice!"

Bruno moved out of the way, barely dodging the projectile.

"Hmm..."

Romeo raised an eyebrow at the boy's actions. After a moment of discernment, he looked back at Raphael and asked,

"Why is his body so stiff?"

'A 6'2 boy at the peak of his youth shouldn't be this rigid.'

This was the first thought that had gone through Romeo's mind.

"I used-"

A clean uppercut to the chin. Bruno was sent flying in the air, and landed shoulder-first on the ground in an awkward manner.

"Did I ask you?"

His eyes were cold. If he didn't hold back-

'I would be dead.'

Raphael couldn't help but comment,

"You kept up with your training."

"I had to. With you bums around, it would be sad if the world had to lose a hunter like me."

Romeo wiped the blood off his fist with his shirt.

"So? Are you going to train him?"

Raphael had to ask. This conversation was going nowhere.

"Depends. How many variants has he killed?"

Raphael flinched. Bruno slowly got up from the ground and said,

"Zero."

Romeo's eyes widened in surprise.

"Is he serious?"

Raphael maintained his silence. Romeo smacked his own forehead and said,

"By any chance, are you a justice nerd like that douchebag over there?"

Bruno decided to stand his ground.

"So, what if I am-"

A hook to his left cheek, and he crashed to the ground. Romeo began wiping his knuckles like before.

"Your father would have to think twice before speaking to me in that manner. If you don't want to be buried next to your mother today, then keep your attitude in control. And as for what you believe in, let me drop a bombshell on you."

He looked back at Raphael.

'I am going to tell him, and you cannot intervene.'

The father had to take a step back. Romeo had a promise to fulfil.

"What if I told you that I was the person that killed your mother?"

A black aura enveloped the boy as soon as Romeo's words reached his ears.

"Dark attribute. Just like her."

Bruno, now releasing the aura from every orifice on his skin, looked towards his father.

"Is that true?"

Raphael averted his eyes. He wasn't going to intervene.

"You wanted the man that killed your wife to train your son."

Bruno clenched his fists as hard as he could.

"You don't deserve to be a hunter. All you are is a coward, just like him."

He burst forward, aiming to end Romeo with a single punch. He concentrated all of his aura into his fist mid-air. He was leaving nothing to chance.

"Hypocrite."

Instead of dodging, Romeo used his palm to grab the brat's fist. All of the aura dissipated in an instant, and what followed was a tight slap on Bruno's face.

"You won't kill variants that murder innocent people for no reason at all, yet you are ready to kill someone for personal revenge?"

Another slap. This time, Bruno's face had gone numb.

"I killed your mother because she asked me to. Your father brought you here because it was your mother's last wish. I agreed to take you in because I made a promise to her."

Seeing that another slap was coming his way, Bruno closed his eyes, bracing for the impact.

"Forget everything you know about morality and justice from now on."

Romeo did not hit him for the third time.

"I will teach you how to kill. And you do not have a choice."