Extra's Descent

413  Winter-break [2]

"Thank you for putting up with me this past month."

Androxus had told Brandon that he couldn't oversee his training anymore.

Of course, Brandon wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so.

After all, Androxus wouldn't tell him anything.

He had immersed in training for the entirety of the winter break, pushing himself to limits even he didn't know he had.

While winter break wasn't over yet, and there was still a month before the second semester opened, Brandon had never stayed idle.

He wanted to put his training to the test.

And recently, his disdain for Wraith cultists had skyrocketed.

He absolutely detested them.

They all had to die.

For that reason, Brandon delved into the dark web, taking on mercenary jobs that involved hunting down Wraith cultists. He donned a dark hood and used the Mirage Mask, twisting its form to hide his identity completely—while also hiding the fact that it was the Mirage Mask.

For the past two weeks, he had taken on twenty-three jobs.

Twenty-three.

The targets were all the same. Wraith cultists scattered across Holy Britannia. But Brandon wasn't waiting for them. He was hunting them as if they were prey.

In any case, his [Permafrost] affinity had become his signature in these jobs.

The first time he used [Eternal Glaciate] in a life or death scenario, it was utter chaos. The moment the glacial energy spread, the battlefield became his domain. The ground froze instantly. Enemies slowed under the icy grip, struggling to fight back.

Wraith cultists weren't much of a challenge when they couldn't move properly.

Brandon's sword, layered with frost, cut through them like a scythe through grass.

Swoosh—! Slash—!

He moved swiftly.

Cultists fell one after another. They had no idea who was hunting them, only that death came in the form of ice.

The fights blurred together. Each one, faster, more efficient than the last. He no longer hesitated. His [Eternal Glaciate] turned the battlegrounds into frozen wastelands, making his enemies weaker, slower.

It was clear how much he had improved since he first started training with Androxus.

Swoosh—! Another cultist fell, their blood freezing as it hit the icy ground.

He hadn't returned home in two weeks. Not once did he contact his friends. Belle and Amelia had no idea where he was, and that was fine with him.

They didn't need to know what he was doing.

In any case, there were several job postings regarding suspected Wraith cultists.

Some of them, even being high–profile celebrities and so on.

The dark web was full of job postings, many of them regarding suspected Wraith cultists. Some were low-profile targets, while others were people in the public eye, celebrities, politicians, even business tycoons. Of course, the dark web didn't just accept random accusations. Before a job could be posted, the individual offering the bounty had to provide solid evidence. Proof that the target was, indeed, involved with the Wraith cult.

Brandon had been selective up to this point, taking on jobs that didn't attract too much attention. However, that changed with his next assignment.

Job number twenty-four was bold.

Rian Velante, an A-list actor and a household name. Known for his charming smile and his lead roles in blockbuster films, Rian was beloved by the public. He was also suspected of being deeply involved with the Wraith cult.

It wasn't just baseless rumors—there were connections that couldn't be ignored. Secret meetings, disappearances linked to his name, and enough circumstantial evidence to raise suspicion.

Brandon knew this job would be risky. Taking out someone like Rian Velante would draw attention, but he wasn't concerned in the least bit.

He sat in a dimly lit room, going over the details of the mission. Rian would be attending a private party in one of Holy Britannia's most exclusive districts.

 It was a luxurious event, filled with celebrities, politicians, and high-profile figures. The party was set to take place in a towering building. The building itself was heavily guarded, with layers of security both inside and out.

It was perfect.

If Rian Velante truly was a Wraith cultist, then this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him without raising too many alarms. Brandon could use the chaos of the event to his advantage.

"Hmm…."

He began preparing meticulously.

First, he studied the layout of the building, memorizing every entrance, exit, and potential escape route. He needed to know the place inside out, so that when things inevitably went sideways, he could slip away unnoticed. He also gathered intel on the security detail. Most of the bodyguards were A-rankers. With that amount, they wouldn't be easy to deal with, but Brandon had faced tougher enemies before.

Next, he equipped himself with the tools for the job. He wore his usual dark hood and the Mirage Mask, ensuring that no one would recognize him. The mask contorted his features, hiding his identity completely. His sword, imbued with his [Permafrost] affinity, was strapped to his back. He also carried various throwing knives and gadgets for stealth and distraction.

As the night of the party arrived, Brandon moved quietly through the shadows, blending in with the dark streets as he approached the building. —Haha!

—Lady Cersei, I heard your idol group's new album had just been nominated for an award!

—Sir Arthur! Over here!

The lights from the party spilled out onto the streets below, and the sound of music and laughter filled the air. From a distance, it all seemed so normal. But Brandon knew better.

His eyes scanned the area, noting the guards positioned at every corner. He wouldn't be able to walk through the front entrance without raising suspicion, so he opted for a more discreet approach. He circled around the back of the building, finding a service entrance used by the catering staff.

Two guards stood watch at the door. "Hoo…"

Brandon took a deep breath as he moved silently.

Swoosh—!

In one swift motion, he appeared behind the first guard. "What th—Nmm…!"

His hand covered the man's mouth before neutralizing him shortly after.

He couldn't kill him, they were innocent.

The guard crumpled without a sound.

 Before the second guard could react, Brandon suppressed him just as quickly.

With the guards dealt with, Brandon slipped inside.

The interior of the building was even more extravagant than he expected. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Guests in lavish attire moved about, mingling and laughing, completely unaware of the danger.

Brandon stayed low, sticking to the shadows as he made his way through the building. He could feel the weight of the mask on his face. No one paid him any attention.

He had only one goal.

Find Rian Velante.

The intel he had gathered suggested that Rian would be in one of the private lounges on the upper floors. That was where the real party happened, away from the public eye.

But as Brandon made his way up, things got trickier. The security was tighter the higher he went. Most were A–rankers. Brandon himself was an S– ranked. Far from S–rank itself, but significantly more capable than an A+ ranker.

Brandon stayed patient, watching their movements, waiting for the right moment to strike.

When he encountered a group of three bodyguards in the hallway, he knew a direct fight would be risky. Instead, he used his stealth skills to slip past them unnoticed, avoiding confrontation entirely.

He moved quietly through the luxurious hallways. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But as he neared the private lounge, he sensed something off.

There, standing by the bathroom a few distance away, were two people he never expected to see.

"Huh?"

Brandon's brows raised beneath the mask.

He hadn't seen them in over two months.

"Raven and Reinhard?"

***

It was Raven's first big job.

While there was no trouble escorting the idols he worked with, today was different.

The girl group was called "apsea" and its Leader, stage name: "Katarina," had specifically requested for Raven to escort her today.

Additionally, the youngest member of apsea was also invited to the party.

Stage name: "Yizhuo," had specifically requested for Reinhard to escort her to the party.

And so, that brought them to the current situation.

Raven glanced around. He had felt something was off, but couldn't quite place it.

For that reason, he kept a close eye on his client, Katarina.

But it proved to be difficult.

After all….

"Here, Raven, try this!"

Katarina, who was wearing a beautiful one piece dress, was openly flirting with him.

Raven could practically see her cleavage! And the fact that he couldn't keep his eye away from her, afraid something might happen, wasn't helping him in the least bit!

But since he was being paid good money, Raven had to heed his client's requests.

As long it wasn't too troublesome.

"Oh, you're such a good drinker!"

"Hehe~"

Katarina, her face flushed red, locked arms with Raven.

He could feel something soft and squishy pressed on his arm. But Raven quickly dismissed it, fighting the alcohol.

Katarina was a bonafide beauty, and the alcohol didn't help at all!

He had to control himself.

'Damn teenage hormones!'

"Raven, I need to use the bathroom. Could you escort me there?"

Katarina glanced around. She looked uneasy, but Raven could understand why.

Several men were eyeing her. They were all celebrities, and other influential figures in the showbiz scene.

"Of course, follow me."

Raven led her all the way up.

"Reinhard?"

Reinhard, too, was standing guard outside the bathroom. No wonder he hadn't seen him around.

"Ah, Raven?"

"Where's Miss Yizhuo?"

"She's inside, fixing her make–up. Someone pushed her and her face was smudged by the cake."

"Pftt…."

Katarina, who was standing right next to Raven, chuckled.

Then, she entered the bathroom.

The two stood outside, guarding. While his head still felt a bit fuzzy from the alcohol, he was managing quite well.

Indeed, he had built up quite the tolerance for alcohol thanks to Brandon, bringing whatever kind of alcohol whenever they all hung–out.

—How's it going with Raven, Katarina?

—Hehe~ He's really cute, always getting flustered and all.

Despite the fact that the two girls were behind the door, Raven and Reinhard couldn't help but overhear.

"Seems like they're talking about you. Heh."

Reinhard looked at him with a smug expression on his face.

Raven shook his head, touching the side of his face.

—If things go well…. Hehe~

—Oh? Which hotel are you bringing him?

"...."

Raven jerked.

Hotel? Trivago?

He had no idea. Why bring him to a hotel in the first place?

Too expensive

22:16

Too expensive

—No, I'm actually quite attracted to him. I want to get to know him first.

"...."

"Hey."

Reinhard suddenly spoke, looking at him.

"About Amy, aren't you going to reject her?"

"Hm?"

Raven turned to look at Reinhard.

"What do you mean?"

"Really, man? You don't even like her back, it's obvious. Are you going to continue leading her on?"

"Ah?"

Was that how it looked?

It was true, he didn't feel any kind of infatuation towards Amy.

But it wasn't like Amy was proactive either. It felt more like they were best—friends, rather than lovers.

"She confessed to you two years ago, and you still haven't responded to her. It was quite a surprise for me how you accepted this job, knowing what it entailed."

"Uh…."

"Well, it's your life. I'm just giving you advice before things get complicated."

"....Okay?"

Raven totally had no idea. Did Amy still have feelings for him?

He couldn't really tell.

It was true that she did confess two years ago, before the calamity, and that he never properly gave her a response.

It was just Amy, following him around.

Was he leading her on then?

"....!"

All of a sudden, before he could ponder on these thoughts, for a flicker of a moment, he saw a shadow move from the corner.

"Did you see that?"

He asked Reinhard.

"See what?"

"...."

Was it just the alcohol?

"Nevermind."