Kyle Riordan was literally freezing his ass off.Rain hitting his face like knife cuts, whole body soaked through already, black hair all stuck to forehead covering his left eye. He was shivering in the roof shadow—not because cold (ok maybe a little bit), mainly because the gold contract mark on his left hand back now burning like hot iron.literally burning.Countdown: 02:47:33Two hours forty-seven minutes. If mission not complete... last time he late fifteen minutes, result was three whole days cannot taste anything. Eat what also like eating cardboard.This mission more important, punishment only will be more...(wait let me wipe phone screen first, damn this rain really too big)Kyle take deep breath, rainwater and blood smell together go into lungs. He look down at that three-floor building—target is inside somewhere.Mission details: Eliminate traitor Lynn Craven. Crime: possession of forbidden contract fragment.Lynn Craven, seventy-two years old, before working at Empire Archive. After retire move to border small town open one bookstore, Surveillance Bureau records show he three months ago from black market bought one ancient book, reportedly inside got "contract origin" information blah blah blah Empire gave him two times self-surrender chance but he all refuse liaoSo now this job fall on Kyle headAnother innocent personKyle bite teeth tight, push this thought down. "Innocent" this word for him already long time no meaning, five years ago those white uniform contract recruiters break into slum area, forcefully plant steel contract core into his chest that time, he already lost qualification to define "innocent" liaoHe just one tool only. A breathing weapon.Kyle jumped over roof edge, lightly land on backyard mud ground... footprints immediately get washed away by rainHe untie waist that pair twin blades—thin blade body carved with contract runes, in darkness emit weak... eh that word how to spell ah, forget it anyway just glowing lahBack door not lockedOld man too naive or this actually is trap? Never mind, steel contract don't care these things—countdown still running 02:39:12 no time hesitateDoor push open already smell old paper smell rush to face, bookstore inside pitch black only second floor like got light. Kyle light hand light foot walk through creaking wooden floor (five years assassin training not white practice one, he for every piece will make sound floor all got memory... wait no this first time come here I writing what)Staircase entrance got sound coming"...I knew you'd come."Kyle stopVoice although old but carry one kind weird calm, like chat with old friend that kind. Kyle grip dagger tight one step one step climb upSecond floor is small study room, candlelight flickering, Lynn Craven sitting on old armchair, hand holding cup still steaming tea. He wearing old sweater hair silver-white face all wrinkles—look like just normal will doze off by fireplace old personExcept those eyesThose eyes too eager, make Kyle very uncomfortable"Sit down, you must be freezing. Have some tea," old man point at opposite side empty cupKyle never move, he raise blade against old man throat "Give me the book.""The book?" Lynn Craven smiled sadly "You mean The Primordial Iron Law? Child I don't have that book""Surveillance Bureau records say—""All records are fake" old man interrupt him tone still calm "You should know this kind thing. Empire never need real crime they just need excuse to eliminate dissidents"Kyle hand shake even more 02:31:05 time flowing away"I don't have that book" Lynn Craven slowly stand up movement slow and heavy "I'm just retired old man who collect books but three months ago I in one old diary read to... something I shouldn't have read""What?""Contract truth" old man walk to bookshelf take out one broken old notebook "This is research notes left by my teacher fifty years ago show five hundred years ago—that is Aurelian Empire establish before two hundred years—steel contract system already exist liao"Kyle heartbeat suddenly become super loud. This cannot be, official history clearly say steel contract is Emperor Aldric invent one..."You lying""I hope I am lying" Lynn Craven put notebook on table push toward Kyle "But truth often more terrifying than lies child you know why Empire want kill me? Not because I know what but because I taught it to others"(shit my tea cold already wait go pour one cup)02:18:03Kyle hand shaking. Dagger suddenly become so heavy, he look at old man calm face those see-through-everything eyes suddenly realize his own feeling—he hate this kind life hate must kill people hate his own coward most of all he hate one world that turn people into executionerBut hatred cannot change anythingKyle take deep breathHe moved.Blade pierce through throat that moment Lynn Craven tea cup from hand slide fall smash on ground break. Hot tea mix with blood everywhere flow in dim candlelight showing weird redOld man throat get blocked by blood foam just quietly look at Kyle. Lips micro-move like want say something then again get blocked by bloodKyle pull back dagger step back. Blood from blade drip down on wooden floor form dark red patternMission complete. Countdown stop.Left hand gold mark gradually cool down. Chest steel contract core send out warm pulse—that is system reward complete mission contractor all will get tiny amount spiritual powerKyle should feel relief. Should grateful himself still aliveBut he only feel like vomitHe kneel down dry heave, stomach inside empty empty only bile and acid. Rain from no-glass window pour in hit on corpse also hit on Kyle face, rain too big already no need stand up liaoHe lift head want leave. Then see that notebookNotebook just lying there cover got few drops blood. Kyle slow motion stretch hand take upNotebook very old handwriting neat but paper already turn yellowResearch Journal Page 217
I hear say Empire Archive third floor discover sealed document date write "Old Era -327"—that is Empire establish before two hundred years
Steel contract system not weapon it is living person
So if document is real then now steel contract completely not Aldric invent he just... restarted itKyle hand shake until almost cannot hold notebook. He frantically flip page want see more but behind pages all get torn only left last page use bright red ink write:Truth buried in abyss crack. One hundred kilometers—Footsteps soundKyle spin around grip dagger tight. Through rain curtain one thin figure standing at street opposite side—quietly looking at himThat person wearing Surveillance Bureau uniform—silver long coat high collar cover half face waist got glowing contract mark most striking is that head silver-white long hairSeraphine, Ice HeartKyle recognize her liao. Empire third-level surveillance officer get called "Glacier Arbiter" woman. In contractor circle her reputation only got two forms: idol or nightmareSeraphine standing not move through rain look at Kyle those ice-blue eyes almost can freeze soulEven though distance very far Kyle can feel her emit cold—not normal cold but like her existence itself make surrounding all living things become coldPerfect until weird face like marble statue. You will forget she is human—until those ice-blue eyes turn toward you suddenly realize this statue is researching your soulKyle throat tightSeraphine raise right hand do one hand gestureThat is professionals between signal: follow meThen she turn around disappear in night rainKyle stand in bloody study room hold blood-stained notebook brain all empty. He should run away throw notebook away pretend nothing happened return academy continue zombie-like existenceBut Lynn Craven last words still in ear whispering: go Empire Central Hospital third floor room 317 you will find answerKyle look one eye at ground old man corpse those open eyesHe put notebook stuff into jacketJump out window time rain start again. He follow Seraphine direction walk(damn shoe got water super annoying)Kyle step on puddles follow front that silver-hair thin woman she walk very slow very calm every step telling him how to follow up. Finally in far from street empty alley inside stopRain stop after street still very quietSeraphine stop turn aroundThis is Kyle first time close distance see herShe taller than expect—probably 175 around body specialized and slender but posture like unsheathed sword as if lines all use ruler draw one. Silver-white long hair tie up rainwater from hair end drip down—but not one drop touch her like even raindrops scare her coldSkin white until almost transparent in night even emit micro-light. Pair ice-blue eyes stare at Kyle pupil inside slowly rotating golden claw-like contract mark—that kind angular way make people don't dare direct lookCoat and long pants under body shape hard to judge—straight long legs slender waist chest not very full but shape perfect. However she emit aura completely override appearance evaluation—absolute cold inhuman chill like she completely made of ice. Imagine her blood vessels flow liquid nitrogen instead of blood also not so weird"You hesitate four minutes" Seraphine tone dryKyle never respond"You took notebook" she say "Although you knew it would mean trouble""You want kill me" Kyle hoarseSeraphine tilt head that movement make her look innocent and curious—except eyes inside killing intent cover everything"No" she finally answer "I'm going to recruit you""Why"Seraphine step forward. Kyle involuntarily step back but she faster—instant to his front left hand grip his right wrist right hand knock his chest steel contract positionShe cold like ice. Words soft as whisper first time showing emotion other than indifference—interest "Your steel contract got abnormality contract mark color not correct. Normally is gold yours not match standard"She pull open Kyle shirt expose chest contract markThat is radiating scar but center should be gold energy core place become almost black"Dark Contract" Seraphine murmur "Never expect will see this"Kyle push away her hand "You want how"Seraphine step back immediately pick up that cold composure. She from jacket take out black metal chip throw to Kyle"Tomorrow night nine o'clock come to this address" she say "If you want know your sister truth steel contract secret and... why you still alive""Why should I trust you"Seraphine laugh liaoThis is Kyle first time see her laugh and completely not nice to see. In fact worse than her cold because that smile show every unkindness and no kindness. Like that kind laugh least people most know how mock others but completely don't care other people feeling. World no have them will be better"Because you no have choice" she say "From the time you pick up that notebook you become dead person. Surveillance Bureau system will in three hours detect abnormal then send cleanup squad"Kyle blood turn cold "You... you want betray me""Far from it" Seraphine turn around want go voice stay in rain "I'm going to protect you condition is you—work for me""Work for you? Do what"Seraphine at alley mouth stop look him. Rain in front her automatically separate like even weather scare this kind person arrival"Do what you best at" she say"Murder"Finish say she disappear in nightKyle stand there very long long until rain seep to bone. He stare at hand inside black metal chip—above got address still got one line small words:"Truth got price, entrance ticket is freedom, you ready already or not"Kyle put chip into pocket toward academy walkIn rain nobody see his jacket inside that blood-stained notebook start faintly glowSame time also nobody notice his chest deep inside steel contract core that piece black fragment is slowly but surely spreadAuthor rambling:
Save my life I just now in toilet side write finish this chapter feet all numb liao 😭 And phone typing really will hand sore leh everyone got recommend what phone stand or not?? Next chapter should write Seraphine POV but I still thinking want or not let her actually got little bit humanity or continue iceberg route... By the way got people know abyss crack want how to set up more handsome I geography super lousy hahahaanyway next chapter see you lah (if my cat never knock over my computer)btw got people discover Lynn Craven tea is what tea or not? This is foreshadow oh hehe 😏