The middle-aged woman was the talkative type, a stark contrast to Kaizen's quiet demeanor. The small restaurant buzzed with lively conversations, evoking memories for Kaizen—fragments from a life he barely remembered.
In his past life, he'd had a neighbor like her. The type who could fill any silence with stories and chatter. Sometimes entertaining, but often exhausting. Still, for introverted souls or those wary of unfamiliar places, people like her brought a sense of comfort. You could sit quietly, listening, without the burden of responding.
"Are you getting used to the food here?" the woman asked, her tone warm.
Kaizen gave a small nod. "It's good."
The dishes were simple—home-cooked meals that lacked the flair of high-end restaurants but carried a homely charm.
"As long as you like it." She smiled, satisfied. "By the way, isn't your family worried about you traveling alone? I mean, you're still so young. If my daughter were your age, I'd never have let her wander off like this."
"I'm not exactly ordinary," Kaizen replied evenly. "At my dojo, it's common for people my age to go out alone. It's part of our training."
"Dojo?" The woman tilted her head in curiosity. "So you're... a ninja?"
Kaizen shook his head. "Not a ninja. But close."
The truth was far more complex. He wasn't a ninja but an assassin, honed in a craft that demanded far more than martial skill.
The woman's expression cleared in understanding.
"Ah, I see. That explains it. You must be strong then—stronger than most grown men, I'd bet."
Kaizen gave a small nod but said nothing more. The conversation shifted back to her daughter. She took out a photo, her expression softening.
"When I see my daughter now, I can't help but remember how worried my parents were about me at her age. But she's made a good choice—a fine young man. Smart, dutiful, and from a good family."
She handed Kaizen the photo.
The moment he touched it, his brow furrowed. A chill ran down his spine as an ominous aura emanated from the image. It wasn't just a sense of unease—it was death. A presence darker and more suffocating than any aura he'd encountered, even more so than Carlisle's or Dandins.
The photo showed two people: the woman's daughter and her fiancé. The young man had a polite smile, the kind that would ordinarily seem harmless. But to Kaizen, it was anything but. The aura clinging to him was malevolent, and though Kaizen couldn't determine its strength from a mere photo, he knew one thing—it was dangerous.
Still, this wasn't his concern. He handed the photo back without a word.
That night, Kaizen rested uneasily, and by morning, he was ready to leave. But as he packed, he heard frantic voices outside.
A young man burst into the yard, panting. "Auntie! We've searched everywhere, but we can't find Jiuna!"
The woman froze, her face pale. "What do you mean? She left your house last night, didn't she?"
"She left around ten," the young man said, his voice shaking. "I thought she went straight home, but she never arrived. It's my fault... I should've walked her back!" His eyes reddened with frustration and guilt.
By now, neighbors had gathered, murmuring in concern. But as the young man glanced at Kaizen, his gaze hardened.
"Who's that?" he asked sharply.
"Kaizen," the woman replied, her voice uneasy. "He stayed here last night."
The young man's expression darkened. "An outsider? He can't leave! Not until we figure out what happened. Jiuna disappeared, and he's the only stranger in town. This has to be connected to him!"
The crowd murmured in agreement, unease spreading like wildfire. Some pointed accusingly at Kaizen, while others hesitated.
"You can't leave!" someone shouted. "Not until this is cleared up."
Kaizen looked at the young man, then at the crowd, his expression calm but exasperated.
"This is really troublesome," he muttered under his breath.
Turning to the woman, he said, "I'll give you a chance. For last night's meal, I'll make an offer. Pay me one million jenny, and I'll find your daughter—and kill whoever's responsible."
The crowd fell silent as Kaizen continued, his tone ice-cold.
"You asked me last night if I was holding back. The answer is no. I'm not just a traveler. I'm an assassin."
His aura flared, a palpable wave of killing intent that sent chills through everyone present. Those closest to him instinctively backed away, only to feel a mix of fear and humiliation when they realized what they'd done.
The woman stared at Kaizen, her pupils dilating in shock. "You know who did this?"
Kaizen nodded, his gaze settling on the young man. "Yes. I know exactly who it is."
The young man's face drained of color. "Of course you'd say that! You're just trying to pin it on someone else. Everyone, don't let him leave! He's the real culprit!"
But the crowd hesitated, Kaizen's aura still suffocating their resolve.
He ignored them, turning to the woman. "Do you know where this guy lives?" he asked, pointing at the young man.
The woman blinked, confused. "Y-yes."
"Then take me there," Kaizen said, his voice low and unwavering.
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