Chapter 164: The Mystery of Her Identity
"Alice, do you know this man?" John asked curiously, noting the flicker of surprise in Alice Moon's eyes.
Alice nodded slowly. "Yes, I do. We used to be business partners. I even had a drink with him once. He was always cheerful and enthusiastic... That's why I was shocked when I took off his mask. I couldn't reconcile that smiling face with what I just saw."
John gave a soft chuckle. "You're not so different, are you? Who would ever imagine that the elegant and captivating Queen of Roses is actually the cold-blooded killer known as Night Rose?"
That was the truly terrifying aspect of the Shadow Pavilion.
You never knew whether the sunny, friendly person beside you was a deadly assassin. It was a reflection of human duality—everyone had a dark side, but the Shadow Pavilion twisted it to the extreme. Behind masks and aliases, people believed they could act without consequence.
It was a dangerous illusion.
Alice tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, offering a faint smile. "No. I'm not her anymore. I'm Alice Moon. I've left the Night Rose behind."
John gave a quiet nod, his tone curious. "Alice... will you finally tell me why you joined the killer organization?"
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes dimming. "It has something to do with my identity."
"Your identity?" John frowned.
"I've spent years trying to uncover my past. But no matter how deep I dig, I find nothing. The only link to my history—the only clue I ever had—was the Shadow Pavilion."