Noah rushed toward the rabbit figure and swung the knife at her neck. She dodged it with ease. As Noah turned, he froze—the dagger was only centimeters away from his eye hole.
The blade had a steel-like coating, its edge tinted a dark purple.
The rabbit figure flicked his knife away and spoke tauntingly:
"This knife would fit perfectly through those mask holes. Then there wouldn't be any difference between you and your friend. I don't understand why Lord Yin said you have potential. All I see is a crazy, dumb man."
As she spoke, she casually increased the distance between them.
"Now," she said coldly, "attack again."
Noah paused, thinking. Then he dashed forward once more. She dodged again with effortless precision. As she prepared a fake swipe—meant to mock him—she noticed something strange.
Noah had thrown his knife into the air.
Her eyes flicked upward for just a fraction of a second—
And Noah struck.
His fist slammed into her neck.
He caught the falling knife mid-air and tried to stab her, but the rabbit figure snapped the blade clean in half with her dagger.
Still, Noah didn't stop.
He loosened his grip on the broken knife, grabbed her collar inside the cloak with one hand, seized her left arm with the other, rotated sharply, and slammed her straight into the ground.
He raised his fist to strike.
The rabbit figure rolled away just in time, narrowly avoiding the blow. She sprang back to her feet, her thoughts racing.
"My neck isn't broken… but one more punch and I'm done."
"I can't lose."
Her gaze flicked toward the CCTV camera.
"He's watching. I can't lose."
Noah was breathing heavily now, trying to read her next move.
She darted forward.
Noah swung, but she dodged and sprinted behind him. Before he could react, she aimed for his throat. The blade barely missed, leaving a thin red mark across his skin.
She attacked relentlessly. Noah struggled to dodge and counter, but every movement drained him further, slowing his reactions.
Suddenly, he lost his balance.
She exploited it instantly—kicking his calf and grabbing his collar before he could fall. Her dagger pressed close to his neck.
"Don't you dare—"
Noah kicked upward, striking her chin.
As he tried to follow up with a punch, she slashed his stomach horizontally.
Noah staggered back, clutching the wound, trying to stop the bleeding—but she punched him in the face, knocking him down.
She raised her dagger for the final blow.
At the last moment, Noah slid forward from the ground, sweeping her legs. He forced himself up and poured every ounce of strength into a single punch—
Straight into her mask.
Noah grinned in victory.
But to everyone's shock, the rabbit figure was still standing.
Her dagger hovered only centimeters from his throat.
Blood poured from Noah's knuckles. His punch had left only a dent near the mask's eye hole.
She spoke in a serious, almost impressed tone:
"Looks like Lord Yin was right—"
Before she could finish, Noah's vision went black.
—————
Vyuk sat on the sofa in his home, carefully rewrapping the bandage on his hand. His expression was distant, troubled. A phone rested on the table beside him.
It rang.
"Sharma residence," Vyuk answered.
"It's me," Emma said. She sat in front of her computer, scanning data. "I've been monitoring Washington, D.C. The President is about to give a speech on the current terrorist threat."
Vyuk sighed.
"So what? The higher-ups won't listen to me. I've tried before. I'm not getting labeled delusional again. I am lucky I still have my reputation."
"But—"
"No!" Vyuk snapped.
Emma exhaled sharply.
"What if we go ourselves? Try to stop whatever those masked people are planning—and maybe find Noah?"
"Are you insane?!" Vyuk shouted.
"If—"
Vyuk cut the call.
He stared at the dark phone screen.
If I refuse… Emma is stubborn. She'll go anyway.
He paused.
She will definitely go!!
Vyuk grabbed his phone and hurriedly dialed her number.
—————
Lord Yin sat silently in a wooden chair, his mask still on, reading a children's book.
The room was large yet empty. A small bed stood in one corner. Beside it was a table holding a photograph of a woman and a young boy. Their faces had been violently scribbled over with black marker—so much that even their hair color was unrecognizable.
Another table stood near the bed with a single chair and an empty vase placed in the center. The walls were painted green.
"So beautiful," Lord Yin murmured.
A knock broke his focus.
He slid the book beneath the blanket, cleared his throat, and spoke calmly.
"Come in."
A masked figure entered.
"Saif al-Rahaman will arrive tomorrow."
Lord Yin folded his hands in his lap and leaned forward.
"Tell that bonehead to bring soldiers. And inform the superiors."
"Yes, sir," the masked figure replied.
As the figure turned to leave, Lord Yin added,
"Remember—be respectful. Dumb people love believing they're the most important. And right now, we need him to feel exactly that way."
—————
Alice—the green-eyed masked figure—lay on her bed, reading a romance novel.
Suddenly, a masked figure rushed toward her, panting heavily, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
"You know what the new guy did?" he blurted out.
Alice didn't look up.
"Let me guess. He attacked Superior Rabbit and almost got killed. I already know. You're late—as usual."
The masked figure stared at her, stunned. He dropped onto her bed.
"Aren't you the one who kidnapped his friend to force him into joining? Didn't he question you? Didn't he come here after joining the organization? "
Alice yawned.
"He asked a few questions. I think he already knew about the rabbit superior before he broke the rules."
The masked figure stretched and stood up.
"I should go to my bed."
Alice stood as well.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you going?"
She chuckled.
"I'm a nurse. I've been assigned to take care of that crazy guy."
She tilted her head.
"You coming?"
The masked figure grinned beneath his mask.
"Yeah."