Chapter 127: Black Justice
"You really are a brave kid, Hide Volter," the master murmured, a glint of genuine respect crossing his disciplined face. "I don’t think anyone else in this city would still be standing or sitting on this edge if I looked them in the eye and told them I was here to kill them. Your lack of fear is... remarkable."
’No... I am afraid! Its just that If I tried to run, you would actually kill me!’ Hide forced a smile.
The man straightened his tailored utility coat. "My name is Ren Sihue. And you can rest easy on one account—Risa is currently stable. She is locked within our inner ring sanctuary, heavily guarded under my direct authority."
Hide’s shoulders faintly relaxed, his fingers loosening within his pockets.
"When Enji told me everything, including that the dumb kid claimed he could procure a permanent cure for her mana poisoning... I didn’t believe a single syllable," Ren stated, his gaze shifting back to the blinking lights. "I assumed you were just desperate to buy some time for your own sake and prolong her torment."
Ren’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "But after watching your performance during that little fight today... after witnessing that impossible sight, I can no longer say that you are just some random kid."
He turned back to face Hide.
"The patriarch—my father, the old man you met in the estate—has officially boarded a private airbus to the Eastern Continent to handle the matters in Tarita. It will take him at least three months, If I am guessing right about what had happened."
Hide’s eyes narrowed. "Even you don’t know what happened?" he asked curiously.
"No... that case is a secret. I think only a few S-Rankers around the world know about it. And most of them are dead." He shrugged. "That’s just as much as I know. Anyways back to main thing."
Ren extended a single, compact finger. "I am going to grant you one single chance to back up your claim, boy. The time while the old man won’t return. Which means... that is exactly how much time you have left."
Ren’s eyes bore into Hide’s with seriousness. " Procure the antidote. Cure my daughter. If you succeed, I will let you choose one of the three S-Rank Artifacts that my clan has. But if you fail... if the three months expire and her veins remain dark... I will return to this very rooftop and kill you."
Hide’s cold blue eyes instantly lit up, a brilliant, genuine flash of hope cutting through his emotional detachment. For the first time in what felt like centuries, his lips split into a rare smile. He stood up smoothly, adjusting his jacket, and performed a deep, formal bow of absolute respect toward the master assassin.
"Thank you," Hide whispered, his voice vibrating with fierce determination. "Three months is more than enough."
Hide held the bow for a full count, ensuring his gratitude was fully displayed.
Then, he straightened his back.
He froze.
The concrete ledger beside him was completely, utterly empty. The wind howled loudly across the abandoned observation deck, lashing against his silver hair.
Ren Sihue had vanished into thin air within the split second Hide’s gaze had been broken by the bow.
A profound, violent shudder violently rippled down Hide’s spine, his hands instinctively dropping to the empty pavement as a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
He had evolved, leveled his phantoms, and gained top-tier passive and active skills—yet against a true, hardened master of the peak generation, his situational awareness was still completely useless.
"What an incredibly dangerous guy," Hide muttered under his breath, his teeth grinding hard as he stared into the empty, smoke-choked sky.
The deadline was set. Ninety days to reach level 50.
His communicator buzzed again and he pulled it out again in frustration. It was Claire’s again.
He picked up the call and placed it against his ear. As soon as he did... he heard a scream from the other side, which sounded as if the person would come out from the speaker.
"WHERE IN THE FUCKING HELL ARE YOU?!" Claire shouted from the other side.
"Did... did he pick up?" Evelyn’s voice came just beside her.
"Yes! The damn superstar actually picked up our calls. Aren’t you busy signing autographs now, Black justice."
Hide blinked a couple of times. "What? Who Black justice? You got the wrong person captain, I am Hide."
The other side was silent for a long moment, then the sound Maddox laughing broke the silence and then Claire’s shout made it through.
"IS THIS STUPID ASSHOLE IS TRYING TO PISS ME OFF?!"
The way it sounded, Hide instantly imagined Claire trying to throw her Communicator away and Evelyn trying to stop her. It was hilarious imagination.
But wait! Who the hell was this Black Justice guy she was talking about.
"Hello... hello, Hide you still there? Are your ears safe?" Evelyn’s voice came through next.
Hide almost didn’t hear that. He was kind of lost in his own weird thoughts. Was having this kind of conversation with people other than Risa and Kai, ever normal for him?
He laughed at the notion, not long ago he was thinking that the system was somehow making him cold. But he never considered the new people he got to meet, the reputation he earned and the trust that he gained.
It wouldn’t have been possible if he was weak.
"Are you listening? Why are you laughing? Have you gone insane or what?" Evelyn’s voice once again came and jolted him out of his thoughts.
"Yo... I mean yeah. I am here and I think... my ears might be bleeding hearing that broken loudspeaker earlier."
"WHAT DID THAT DUMBASS JUST CALL ME!!!!!" Claire’s voice was clear as day from behind.
"Anyways... who is this Black Justice guy?" Hide asked, seriously.
"You really have no Idea? That’s you."
Hide... was silent. "This "you" is not supposed to be me, right?"
"You are so lost kid." Evelyn sighed. "Don’t you use social media and Video platforms? You have gone viral over the internet and people have named you Black Justice."
Hide’s jaw fell to the ground. He was currently questioning what wrong decision did he make to end up here.
’Actually, who the cunt named me Black Justice, I have fucking white hair and blue eyes, I am even wearing a blue jacket for god’s sake.’
