Bloodbath!

A few moments later, Harry emerged from the grand manor, his pace steady and composed. The echoes of chaos within the walls were behind him now, replaced by the quiet hum of the city night. The air was still, but the tension lingered, especially for Karina, who walked beside him, struggling to process everything she had just witnessed.

She finally broke the silence. "Zack, you…" Her voice wavered, a mix of uncertainty and amazement.

Harry glanced at her briefly, his face calm but unreadable.

For most of the walk, Karina had remained quiet, reflecting on what she had experienced inside. The transformation she had just witnessed, both in her brother and the world around her; was staggering. Once, she had always been on the periphery during such gatherings, overlooked and insignificant, waiting silently for an opportunity to be noticed. She remembered standing to the side, blending into the wallpaper as the powerful figures of the city mingled and made deals, her only hope being a fleeting moment of acknowledgment.

But tonight, everything had flipped. It was no longer her chasing opportunities, it was the so-called "big shots" scrambling to approach her. She didn't even need to speak; her mere presence drew them like moths to a flame. They jostled and argued among themselves, desperate to impress her, eager to curry favor. Their eagerness was almost pitiable, and yet, she couldn't deny how intoxicating it felt.

For the first time in her life, Karina wasn't invisible. She wasn't just someone standing in the shadows, hoping to catch a sliver of attention. She was the center of it all. And the absurdity of it, the sheer contrast; made her head spin.

"It feels like a dream," she murmured, mostly to herself.

Harry broke the silence with his steady tone. "You'll need to get used to this. It won't be the last time."

Karina looked up at him, her expression puzzled. "Used to what?"

"To being the focus. To people like them crawling over each other just to be in your orbit." His gaze remained ahead as he spoke, his voice calm, almost detached. "It's not about you, Karina. It's about proximity. Proximity to 'me.' As long as you're my sister, they'll treat you like that. They're not coming for you, they're coming for what you represent."

Karina frowned slightly, unsure how to feel about his words. "So this is just… flattery? Manipulation?"

"Of course," Harry replied bluntly. "I control resources. Enough to make or break entire businesses. For them, it's logical. They can't reach me directly, so they'll try to use you instead."

He glanced at her then, noticing her conflicted expression. "But don't overthink it. If you're smart, you'll use it to your advantage. Take what you can, as long as you can."

Karina hesitated, mulling over his words. Her ambitions had always been modest, just enough to survive, maybe a bit more. She had never dared to dream of being in a position like this. Now, the idea of wielding even a fraction of Harry's influence was daunting… but also thrilling. "I see," she said softly, though her mind was still spinning.

"Do Father and the others know?" she asked after a pause, her voice tentative.

Harry shook his head. "Not yet. But they'll find out eventually. You can't keep something like this hidden for long."

The weight of his words hung between them. Their family, like most, had been fractured and complicated. Karina couldn't imagine how their father or anyone else, for that matter, would react to the man Harry had become.

They reached the street outside the manor, where a figure was already waiting. It was George, one of Harry's most trusted allies. The man leaned casually against a lamppost, his broad shoulders and scarred face giving him an air of quiet authority. As Harry approached, George pushed off the post and greeted him with a nod.

"Everything handled?" George asked, his voice low and steady.

Harry nodded. "It's done."

George's sharp eyes flicked over Karina briefly, noting her pale face and nervous stance, before returning to Harry. "Anything else that needs taking care of?"

Harry paused, then something seemed to occur to him. "The man from earlier; Clinton," he said slowly. "Is he powerful?"

George smirked faintly. "Not especially. Local real estate magnate. Decent assets. Nothing we can't handle."

"Good," Harry said, his tone cold. "Then I want him gone. Quietly. Find the right opportunity and make it happen."

George raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Just him, or are we talking a full clean-up? His family, his associates?"

Harry's brow furrowed slightly. "Don't overdo it," he said, his voice firm. "Take care of anyone who could be a threat. Leave the rest if they aren't important. No unnecessary bloodshed."

George shrugged, his smile fading into something more professional. "Understood. It'll be done soon."

Karina listened to the exchange in silence, her stomach twisting. The casual way they discussed life and death unsettled her, even though she knew this was the world Harry lived in now. He wasn't the brother she remembered, the one who had been quiet but kind, gentle in a way that felt rare. That version of him was gone, replaced by someone colder, sharper, and far more dangerous.

As George turned to leave, Harry looked at Karina. His expression softened slightly, but there was still a distance in his eyes, as though a part of him was already thinking three steps ahead.

"Let's go," he said simply.

Karina nodded and followed him, glancing back at George as he disappeared into the shadows. She felt a mix of emotions; admiration, fear, and a growing unease. For the first time, she truly understood just how far her brother had risen.

Karina stood frozen in place, her thoughts racing as she stared at her brother. It was as if the person she had known her entire life had transformed into someone unrecognizable. The boy who once hesitated to swat a fly was now giving orders to kill without a flicker of emotion.

Her voice caught in her throat, the words she wanted to say trapped by the weight of her thoughts. 'If the unimportant things can be cast aside so easily… then what about the important ones?' she wondered. Could someone as powerful as Senmu, a man she once thought untouchable, really be reduced to nothing more than a pawn to be discarded?

It wasn't just the words Harry had spoken that left her shaken, it was the ease with which he had said them. To her, this was unthinkable. To him, it was simply another task to be completed. It was clear now: her brother was no longer the person she thought she knew. He had ascended to a level so far beyond her comprehension that it was almost terrifying.

For Harry, however, this moment was far simpler. He glanced at Karina's wide, stunned eyes, but didn't linger. To him, this was just another day in the life of a fighter. In this world, killing wasn't an aberration; it was part of survival, a necessity tied to the flow of power, wealth, and influence.

Fighters were not saints; they were warriors, often enforcers of blood-soaked order. Even the prestigious dojos, the ones lauded as pillars of society, carried the stench of violence behind their doors. The resources they controlled, the power they wielded; none of it was clean. Harry had come to understand that long ago.

He didn't care about the consequences of his actions for himself. Let them hate him, resent him, plot against him, it wouldn't matter. None of them had the strength to touch him. But Karina was different. She was vulnerable, and so were others connected to him. That was why Harry had been so ruthless in his decision. The world he lived in did not forgive weakness, and he refused to let those he cared about suffer because of his enemies' grudges.

But he could see it in Karina's face, she didn't understand. Not yet. Harry exhaled softly, shaking his head before turning to leave.

"Let's go," he said simply, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

George stepped forward, glancing at Karina with a grin. "I've arranged a place for you to stay," he said, his tone far more casual than the gravity of the moment deserved. "How about Senmu's manor? It's quite luxurious."

Karina's brow furrowed. "Senmu's… manor?" she echoed, her voice uncertain.

"Don't worry," George said with a dismissive wave. "It'll be cleared out in half an hour—tops." His grin widened as a series of faint screams echoed from the direction of the estate, their sharpness muffled by the distance. The sound sent a chill down Karina's spine. George didn't seem bothered in the slightest. "See? They're already working on it. Won't be long before everything's quiet again."

As if on cue, the screams stopped abruptly, leaving behind an eerie stillness. George turned back to Karina. "See? Told you it'd be quick."

---

Late that night, in the shadowed maze of Malu City's alleys, a lone figure darted through the darkness. The woman moved with agility and speed, her breathing sharp but controlled as she pushed herself harder. Her name was Ellie, and fear drove her forward like a whip.

The narrow alley twisted and turned, but Ellie navigated it with practiced ease, her feet barely touching the ground. Yet no matter how fast she moved, the sound of footsteps behind her never faded. They were relentless, chasing her like predators on a hunt.

"Who the hell are they?" she muttered under her breath, her voice tight with frustration and fear. The attack had come out of nowhere, her pursuers striking without warning or explanation. It made no sense.

Her eyes darted ahead, narrowing as she spotted her destination in the distance. 'Almost there… just a little further,' she thought, her resolve hardening. The Red Bird Dojo wasn't far now. Once she crossed its threshold, she knew they wouldn't dare follow.

The thought of safety gave her a burst of energy, and she surged forward, her legs burning as she pushed past her limits. Her mind flashed briefly to the figure she knew was waiting at the school. 'Zack,' she thought, the name steadying her nerves. If she could just make it to him, she'd be safe. No one would challenge someone like him, not here, not in Malu City.

But as she rounded a final corner, her breath caught in her throat. A shadowy figure stood in her path, blocking her way. Ellie stumbled to a halt, her chest heaving as she stared at the man before her.

"Gero?" she called out, recognizing the silhouette. Relief washed over her, her tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

The figure turned slowly, his movements deliberate, but as his face came into view, Ellie froze. It wasn't George. Beneath the shadowed hood and mask, the man's features were hidden, his presence radiating something cold and ominous.

Her relief turned to dread as the figure tilted his head, studying her in silence. Ellie took a cautious step back, her instincts screaming at her to run. The alley, once her path to safety, now felt like a trap.

"Who… are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling as she tried to steady her breathing. But the figure didn't respond, his silence more chilling than words ever could be.

The chase wasn't over yet. And this time, Ellie wasn't sure she'd make it out alive.