Chapter 148: The Only Way Forward
A single flame flickered to life in the darkness, illuminating the sharp features of a red-haired man as he lit the crystal ball before him. The air hummed with energy as the device activated, casting an eerie glow across the room.
A holographic figure materialized above the sphere—tall, imposing, with piercing violet eyes that seemed to see through flesh and bone alike.
The red-haired man bowed deeply, his voice smooth with practiced reverence.
"Greetings, Esteemed Warden."
The Warden's gaze bore into him. "Report."
Straightening, the assassin nodded briskly. "Both commissions have been successfully completed." He reached into his coat and withdrew a small recording crystal, holding it up. "Visual confirmation, as requested."
With a tap, the crystal projected its memory into the air—a scene unfolding in stark clarity.
A black-haired young man stood frozen, his eyes widening in shock—in realization—as shadowy hands yanked him backward. An instant later, the explosion swallowed him whole, the screen bleaching white before cutting to black.
The red-haired man tucked the crystal away with a satisfied smirk. "As you can see, the target was eliminated without complication."
The Warden's hologram remained silent for a beat. Then—
"You checked it?"
"Thoroughly," the assassin confirmed. "His life force and aura vanished completely. My spirit mark on him also disappeared. There were no residual traces, no spatial distortions—nothing. I even surveilled his close associates afterward. No unusual reactions beyond… grief." He shrugged. "The fool died as he lived—playing a 'hero'."