Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 65: Execution

Adela’s playful expression slowly vanished. Instead, a look of great interest appeared in her eyes.

"You actually spoke a lot... am I like that in your eyes?"

Tamara felt the change in Adela’s mood, but didn’t understand why.

’Could it be that he said something that genuinely touched her?’

Beneath those dark bangs, a sharp glint passed through her eyes, unnoticed by anyone.

"Who knows?" Kaiser dismissed her question. "Now then, what will be the reward for this game of yours?"

Adela lowered her head slightly, hiding her expression from him. Even though he couldn’t see her face, Kaiser saw her as a small girl sulking—not like he cared.

"I’d present you with 800,000 credits." She said in a low voice. "You don’t have to worry, it’s not class funds."

Kaiser nodded, then stood up. "Very well, I’ll reciprocate in the case I lose."

Without sparing the Class-A duo another glance, he walked out of the coffee shop.

"Um... Adela, are you alright?"

Tamara asked, hesitantly reaching out to touch the girl’s shoulder.

Adela raised her head sharply, her face filled with a bright smile.

"I feel so happy, Tammy."

Tamara’s expression turned blank. "Fuck. And I thought something was wrong with you. Hmph."

Snorting, she crossed her arms and turned her head away.

Adela giggled cutely, spreading her fan. However, deep in her eyes, complex emotions still brewed.

...

Kaiser returned to his room, thinking about what to cook for dinner. He had previously considered buying food from the convenience store, but decided against it.

’I need to maintain basic level of cooking.’

To ensure his skills didn’t dull, he wanted to cook by himself once in a while. After a little shower and changing clothes, he prepared a standard meal with balanced nutrients in the right proportion.

’Hmm... should I plan ahead for Class-A’s downfall? Nahh, I’ll think about it tomorrow.’

He yawned, rolling his shoulders and preparing to go to bed. He checked Liam’s message on the group about the evaluation tomorrow, and how everyone should get enough rest.

Finally, he locked the phone, then lay on the bed to sleep. Before long, soft breathing sounds could be heard in the room.

...

While Kaiser slept, he had a dream—a dream of an old memory he rarely remembered.

Back when he was nine years old, he had been adopted into the main branch of the clan and allowed to train with the other direct kids.

"Everyone present has basic understanding of all the assassination skills known to humanity."

A middle-aged man with dark green hair and blue eyes lectured about thirty kids with a serious expression. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Today, you are to test your assassination skills against the captured criminals from the East."

’From the East? Hm...’

Kaiser’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, but he remained silent and didn’t say a word.

"The arena has been prepared, and you are all to get yourself armed within the next five minutes."

The kids immediately scattered, grabbing weapons and donning their custom armor.

In less than two minutes, they assembled before man, all clad in black assassin armor and armed with a variety of weapons.

Looking at them, the man was satisfied. He then led them to a closed arena with a rough terrain full of empty crates and large obstacles. A white mist permeated the air, further reducing visibility.

"I know you all can hear me."

He spoke into the darkness, eyes locking on some spots where nothing could be seen.

"If you are able to successfully slay one of our Clan Kids, you shall receive the Clan Patriarch’s pardon and be exempted from the execution."

He sensed the atmosphere change immediately, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips.

’Unfortunately, there’s a very low chance of anyone of you succeeding. This is just an execution for you criminals.’

Without turning to the kids behind him, he clasped his hands and said. "Give them everlasting solace."

’Solace to the world.’

Kaiser chanted to the world, then covered his lower face with a mask.

He leapt into the arena alongside others, disappearing into the mist.

Although the mist made vision limited, Kaiser had no issue seeing the silhouettes of people moving within the mist.

’That’s not a clan junior.’

He soon spotted his first prey, a lanky man with a guarded expression, armed with two short swords.

’His senses are dull...’ His blue eyes observed. ’My apologies... you can rest in solace.’

He appeared behind the man, then slowly slit his throat. The man made no sound at all, with only his eyes widening in terror. Slowly, his expression relaxed, and he went still.

Kaiser laid the man’s body on the ground, then clasped his hands for a short prayer.

The next moment, he vanished into the mist again, quietly slaying those he meets. Occasionally, he’d hear bloodcurdling screams echo in the distance, before everything went quiet again.

Standing atop a rock, Kaiser peered down on the criminal hiding. She kept looking left and right, not knowing that her predator was above.

Kaiser dropped from above, locked his legs around her arms to immobilize them, then pierced her skull with his sword. Blood slowly spilled from the wound, and her eyes lost their light.

’That’s number nine.’

After giving her a short prayer, he suddenly tilted his head. An arrow wheezed past his neck, striking the pillar with a dull thud.

Looking at how deep the arrow drilled into the pillar, Kaiser was a bit amazed.

’That strength... could it be someone who has awakened?’

He didn’t turn around immediately, nor did he flee. Instead, he remained still, as if waiting for something.

"You think you can kill me?! You motherfuckers!"

The young man with spiky red hair growled, nocking another arrow on his bow.

Kaiser relaxed, then bent backwards as if his body had lost strength.

The arrow shot through where his torso had been, striking another deep hole into the pillar.

The criminal’s expression darkened. "So you dodged again, uh? Kids these days."

A vein popped on his head, and he discarded the bow. Holding two knives in replacement, he charged at Kaiser.

"Ha!"

Slash after slash, he attacked like a veteran, aiming for vital spots like the heart and the neck. Kaiser dodged every attack with minimal movement, making the criminal more frustrated.

"Just die already!"

The man’s eyes turned bloody red, and he lunged at Kaiser. The young boy tilted to the side, dodging the attack, then hit the back of his neck.

The man fell on his knees, coughing violently with tears falling from his eyes.

Now that he was on his knees, Kaiser could look at him from above. He gently raised the man’s chin, and caressed his face.

"You should rest, uncle."

He pulled the man close, then pushed his dagger into the man’s heart. All bodily functions seized, and the criminal died.

’Number ten—Rest in Solace.’

Kaiser continued scouting, then witnessed one of his fellow juniors killing a criminal. The little girl had a vicious smile on her face as she repeatedly stabbed the chubby criminal. The chubby man kept screaming in pain, but couldn’t do anything to resist since his tendons had been cut, rendering him harmless.

"Alicia... it’s not enough?"

Kaiser called out softly, his face expressionless. Pausing, the girl turned to look at him.

Even though he had a mask on, the girl flinched from the look in his eyes—an indifference that felt wrong and odd. Just like a blooming flower amidst a sea of blood.

"K-Kaiser...? What is it?"

The girl called out nervously, her brows quivering. Almost every junior was well aware of how notorious Kaiser was whenever someone offended him.

Without answering her, Kaiser threw a dart that struck the man’s temple and killed him painlessly.

"It shouldn’t look ugly. Remember, we are to give them an everlasting solace."

Alicia nodded slowly, an expression of remorse on her face, then walked away. Kaiser continued to scout the arena, Killing more criminals and meeting other juniors moving about too. After half a day, he confirmed that all of the criminal’s were dead.

’Mission completed.’

He wiped the bloodstains on his weapons at a nearby spring, then sat on the grass.

"Why have you decided to show yourself? You could have remained silent and perhaps I wouldn’t have noticed."

From behind the spring, a young lady in tracksuits came out, her eyes sharp.

"Perhaps." She said, "But I’m sure you already noticed me the instant you arrived. Do not underestimate my own senses."

Twirling a dart in his hand, Kaiser sighed.

"Who knows? You seem to have accepted death, though."

The young lady shrugged. "What can I say? It’s impossible to kill you monstrous kids. And among you all, I’d rather die at your hands."

Kaiser cocked his head, then nodded slightly. He stood up, dusted his trousers, and walked towards her. Standing just a few steps away from her, he sank the sword into her torso, ensuring she died without spilling a single drop of blood.

Looking at the peaceful expression on her face, a blurry image suddenly overlapped.

"Kara..."