She saw what she should not have seen.

They froze in place.

In the narrow alley, a huge man was holding another person by the clothes…

Then—

Stab.

Once.

Twice.

And a third time… without mercy.

The sound of flesh being pierced mixed with broken breaths, and drops of blood splattered onto the stone wall.

Lety’s eyes widened, and her small body trembled.

She opened her mouth to scream—

But a warm hand quickly covered her lips.

“No…” Iris whispered in a voice barely audible.

Her heart was beating violently, but she forced herself to stay calm.

Her eyes were fixed on the man…

Who suddenly stopped.

As if… he felt something.

He slowly raised his head.

And at that moment—

Iris pulled Lety forcefully.

She ran.

With all her strength.

Their footsteps were rushed, Lety’s breathing muffled under Iris’s hand, her tears falling silently.

Iris did not dare to look back.

But she could feel it.

That cold sensation…

As if eyes were chasing them from behind.

They turned quickly through alleys, then another, then another…

Until they got far away.

Or so she thought.

When they finally stopped, she was heavily panting.

She slowly removed her hand from Lety’s mouth.

Lety immediately burst into tears.

“S… sister… h-he… he killed him…!”

Iris held her tightly, her hand trembling despite her attempt to stay calm.

“It’s okay… don’t think about it…” she whispered while patting her head.

But…

She herself could not forget what she had seen.

That face.

That gaze.

It was not a human gaze…

But the gaze of a predator who had found its prey.

Terrifying to the point of chills.

Iris tightened her grip on Lety’s hand.

“Let’s go home. Now.”

Lety did not argue this time.

She walked close to her, as if afraid she would disappear if she let go.

When they arrived, Iris quickly closed the door, then closed the windows one by one.

She checked the locks… twice.

Three times.

Then she sat on the floor and held Lety again.

Silence filled the place.

But the silence… was not comforting.

It was heavy.

Terrifying.

And after a moment—

Lety whispered in a trembling voice:

“Sister… will… will he come to us?”

Iris paused for a moment.

Then she gave a small smile, even though her heart did not believe it.

“No… he won’t come.”

She did not know if she was convincing Lety…

Or herself.

But inside…

She knew.

Things…

Were not over.

Because she saw what should not have been seen.

…

In the distant alley—

The body fell motionless.

The man finally stopped stabbing.

Silence returned… heavy.

He slowly wiped the blood from his blade, then sighed as if what he had done was just routine work.

“Your escape was useless…” he muttered coldly.

He bent slightly and picked up something small from the ground belonging to the dead man.

A metal seal.

An intricate engraving with a symbol—

A crown with an eye in the center.

The man examined the seal for a moment, then smiled coldly.

“As expected…”

He slowly raised his head and looked toward the alley entrance…

Toward the direction the two girls had fled.

“This is annoying… witnesses.”

He paused for a moment, then exhaled slowly.

“A small mistake… it will not happen again.”

A short silence.

Then—

He disappeared.

Leaving behind a lifeless body, not even bothering to hide it.

…

At Iris’s house—

She could not sleep.

She sat beside Lety, watching her struggle to sleep.

But her mind…

Was stuck there.

In that moment.

In that gaze.

“He was not just a killer…”

She whispered to herself.

Something was wrong.

His method… his calmness…

Even his clothes, despite being simple, were not random.

A slight chill ran through her.

Then—

She froze.

A faint sound.

From outside.

“…!”

She slowly stood up, without waking Lety.

She carefully approached the window.

She lifted the curtain slightly—

No one.

But…

On the edge of the window…

There was something.

Her trembling hand touched it.

A small metal piece.

Like…

A seal.

Her eyes widened.

This is the kingdom’s symbol!!

A crown… with an eye in the center.

That piece…

She had seen it near the victim’s body.

Her body stiffened.

It was left for her… as a warning to keep silent.

“I know you saw.”

She swallowed hard.

She quickly looked around, but the street was empty, no one outside.

And she realized something terrifying—

This… was not a random murder.

And this man…

Was not working alone.

…

Somewhere inside the capital—

Tall carved pillars surrounded a vast hall swallowed in darkness.

The only light slipped faintly through high windows, barely revealing the place.

The man stood in the middle of the hall.

He knelt on one knee.

“The target has been eliminated.”

A heavy silence fell.

Deep in the shadows—

There was someone.

His features were not visible.

But his presence alone…

Made the air heavier.

Then his voice came.

Calm. Cold.

“And the witnesses?”

The man paused for a moment.

Then said calmly:

“Two girls.”

Silence again.

Then—

“Do you think they are a threat?”

The man lifted his head slightly and smiled.

“No…”

Then added coldly:

“But… they might be useful.”