𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 • k. ayato

36

☄. *. ⋆

Holding the tip of his sword against an assassin's throat, Ayato grimaced. The assassin felt Ayato's chest press against his back, as the sharp sword was cutting into his throat. The masked man was about to try and strike Ayato with the dagger in his hand, but before he could do that, Ayato whispered into the man's ear, "Shhh... You wouldn't want the guards barging in here, would you?"

The assassin gulped, then moved his eyes forward, feeling his hands grow cold. In the dimly lit jail cell was a mattress on the floor, with the cloaked "arsonist" lying on it, completely unaware of what was happening just in front of him. The assassin had planned to assassinate that man so that he wouldn't reveal information about Lord Kamiyama, but for whatever reason, the commissioner was here as well.

"Calm yet? Shake your head very slowly for yes."

The assassin felt cold sweat trickling down his forehead and slowly shook his head.

He had calmed down. Ayato supposed Asahi would not send an unskilled assassin for this. The commissioner pressed the sword closer to the man's throat, "Very good. Now we will slowly turn around, and walk out of here."

The assassin did as instructed. His information about the commissioner was wrong. He was sure of it now. Lord Kamiyama had guessed that the commissioner would be hiding his strength, but their estimates were very wrong. Going in here, the assassin was certain he would be able to take care of the pawn easily, but he never expected the commissioner to have him under his control, or even be here at this late hour, after all, their spies had told them that the commissioner was at the estate together with his wife. This just didn't make sense.

Walking out of the prison cell, and into a room nearby, the commissioner let the assassin go, making his sword vanish into tiny golden particles. This room had no windows or furniture, and the commissioner was guarding the only door. There was no escape.

"Now then," Ayato's smile had gone away as he dusted his hands, "I believe we have things to discuss."

The assassin stayed silent, but not for long, "Are you betraying us, Commissioner?"

Ayato raised a brow at the assassin while fixing his gloves.

"If not... then were you ordered to get rid of that man as well?"

At this, Ayato frowned, "Ordered?" This time, his voice was low and somewhat angry. To think that anyone would believe that the commissioner would get ordered around was painfully unfunny to the said commissioner.

The masked man clenched his fists. Ayato would not give him any answers. But to survive, or at least drag some answers out of Ayato, he had to do or say something, "Then... what is it that we have to discuss?"

Ayato smiled, "I want you to work for me."

The man, whose eyes were the only parts of him that could be seen, loured deeply, "You must be insane," Ayato noticed how the man was beginning to tremble, "What nonsense are you spouting? You're asking me to go against my Lord?"

Ayato slowly stepped closer to the man, "You needn't be afraid."

"Wh—What insanity!" The man began stepping backwards just as slowly.

"No, really. If you decide to go against him right now... If you decide to... trust me, just this once... You and that child of yours will get a life free of slaughter," Ayato placed his hand on the man's shoulder as he was now backed up against a wall, "A life of comfort without your child's life constantly being at stake due to your own foolishness."

The man's heart skipped a beat. How come the commissioner knew that he had a child? When even Lord Kamiyama didn't! The man lowered his gaze, his eyes becoming bloodshot. So many emotions were swirling inside of him, so many regrets and so many memories. He truly was a fool! If he had not become an assassin, if he had instead sought out a decent and ordinary job instead of the easy way out, his child would not have to live in darkness and fear. His child would not have to be shut out from the world.