Peter kept walking, voice sharp with certainty. "Didn't you pick up on how he stood? How did he hide his face? That kid matches the description Lady Riley has been chasing." The deputy blinked. "I heard she's been losing her mind these past two days because she can't track him down." Peter threw his hands up. "You honestly think he's just another first-class citizen? Once we send his information up the chain, we're cruising for the rest of our lives." Realization finally hit the deputy. "No wonder you're the one in charge." Peter lifted his chin. "Exactly. Otherwise, the titles would be reversed." His glare sharpened. "Also, how many reminders do you need? Stop using my first name. It's Captain Blair." "Got it, Peter," the deputy replied. Peter nearly exploded. "You're begging for it!" The patrol unit moved out.Aiden didn't linger. He headed straight out of Eastguard without hesitation. Destination? The respawn point, of course. A famous thinker once wrote, "If the roots stay, the rest always grows again." That line lived rent-free in Aiden's head for a reason. He refused to repeat his old mistakes. Mercy toward someone gunning for him only created more graves. He understood perfectly how people acted once they locked onto a target. Swiftwind had become proof of that. A deadly assassin—skilled, proud, and temperamental—reduced to someone else's shadow? That screamed of a hidden agreement Aiden didn't need to know about. None of the details mattered, nor was he interested in them. His sole certainty was: "Mercy toward a predator puts you in the ground." His previous life had drilled that lesson deeper than any blade could. Even with his identity hidden, the day would come when the game overlapped with reality. He couldn't pretend secrets would last forever; someone would eventually connect the dots. Any threat had to be crushed early. Taking out that spoiled young heir would absolutely drag trouble his way. Aiden's inner voice shrugged. F*ck it. Since I'm already in this, the wisest choice is to eliminate the threat entirely rather than stopping halfway and hoping for forgiveness. Thinking they'll forget the insult? That kind of fantasy belongs in a kid's bedtime story. ... Players gathered outside the blacksmith guild, whispering quietly. Equipment covered the ground like someone had dumped treasure across the dirt, with a few gold pieces gleaming among the rest. Temptation filled the air, but no one moved. Everyone understood the same truth. Picking up those items meant stepping on the toes of someone powerful in the real world and surviving the consequences? Slim chance.Most people weren't Nighthale—untouchable, confident, and impossible to intimidate. ... Inside the duke's estate, the room overflowed with luxury. Silk curtains hung low, soft incense curled lazily upward, and expensive furniture gleamed under the lighting. None of it improved the woman's mood. Sienna reclined beside the window, violet silk hugging her body. One strap slid down her shoulder, exposing warm skin and a dangerous sort of elegance. Her red-polished nails tapped restlessly against her thigh. Ever since the Westhand properties were sold off, she had tracked Aiden closely. Her network scattered throughout the city kept feeding her every bit of information. Then, out of nowhere, everything went silent. She dug around and learned a dragon had taken him. Sienna understood the terror behind that better than anyone, which made her chest feel tight ever since.She dug through every source she had, even managing to open a line to the Hall of Supremes in hopes Merrick knew anything about Aiden. Still, no answer ever came back. Is the universe messing with me? I finally get a little luck, and this happens?" Frustration furrowed her brow as she let out a sigh. "Your Grace!" Madonna's voice came through the door, muffled. Sienna didn't bother lifting her head. "What is it, Madonna?" Her tone sounded lifeless, like nothing interested her anymore. Madonna stumbled inside breathlessly. "W-We have news about Mr. Nighthale!" A brilliant spark lit up Sienna's eyes instantly, burning through every trace of gloom. ... Respawn Point 4. White flashes erupted nonstop as players reappeared. "You got wiped too?"The handsome young man's face darkened when he spotted the group stepping out. "Apologies, Mr. Hammond. He's too strong," Swiftwind muttered. "Even together, we couldn't close the gap." "Trash. Pure trash." Mr. Hammond clenched his jaw as he growled, "He actually went after us? That's shamelessly bold. Does he not understand? In the real world, taking him out would be easier than stepping on a bug." Not a single person dared speak. Seconds passed as he simmered down. The young man took a deep breath and said, "Fine, I overreacted. He's already at Level 30, so losing to him isn't surprising. This result was expected."