Having delivered his dagger cleanly into the man's neck, Christian felt the warm blood splatter onto his face due to their close proximity. But even as it dripped down, he remained still, remembering-
How the man before him never once begged for mercy.
Never once sought compromise.
And even in his final moments, he had tried to take Christian's life.
With that thought, Christian didn't waver. He made sure the twitching body took its last breath before finally slumping back into his seat, exhaling a deep sigh… his gaze heavy and gloomy, his eyes dark with exhaustion.
To at least treat his wounds, even if just the bare minimum. He needed to check; was it just bruises all over his body? Or was there a broken bone from those grazing hits? But… he knew he couldn't afford to.
The car had already come to a stop at the side of the road.
And now that its wild movements had ceased, it wouldn't be strange if someone had already come over to check on the situation. Especially considering how the vehicle had veered from the extreme right to the extreme left just moments ago… it was obvious something was wrong.
Christian was ready to drive away, just enough distance to reassess his next move, when something caught his eye.
From the corner of his vision, he saw Brian holding the pistol that had been knocked from his grasp earlier. Both hands gripping it awkwardly, trembling slightly as he aimed it directly at him.
Christian's movement paused, his gaze shifting fully toward Brian. Then, with an eerily calm tone, he spoke, "Do you have the courage to pull the trigger?"
Brian remained silent, his hands tightening around the weapon, and Christian's eyes narrowed slightly, as he added, "Do you really think you're resolved enough to bear the consequences?"
The weight of his words hung in the air, pressing down like an unseen force.
But Brian had already recognized him. He had stared at Christian's ruined disguise long enough; his face now marked with blood, streaks of paint, and exhaustion. None of it could hide his true identity anymore.
The boy in front of him, someone who was involved with that side of the world, something he had only heard about, and had just killed another from the same side. But more than being shocked by finally witnessing these out-of-the-ordinary moves or the strength that had bent the steel of the car during their battle, it was his identity that unsettled him. It was the same boy… the same eighteen-year-old boy who was having an "affair" with that woman.
The realization weighed heavily on him, especially since he, too, had played a hand in sending the previous assassins against him. But even as his thoughts spiraled, Brian forced himself to steady his resolve, and finally said, "I can still go back," his voice filled with desperate determination.
It was a simple statement, like really, it couldn't be any more obvious and straightforward… as Brian thought to himself that by dealing with him, he could possibly earn some points, save himself from the current predicament, and then return to his old lifestyle.
But was that really the truth?
Would someone as selfish as Damian spare a person he didn't care about, just because there was no solid evidence and only some suspicion?
That couldn't be any further from the truth.
Actually… does Damian even have someone he cares about?
Christian couldn't help but wonder before suddenly hearing Brian's voice once more.
"Give me the other fake identities, and put your hands behind your back."
Brian's sudden command interrupted Christian's train of thought, his eyes fixed on Christian's pocket.
And Christian, looking at him ridiculously, like some clown, couldn't help but find the situation amusing rather than threatening, despite the serious expression Brian was trying to make.
But then again, was there a need for Christian to be afraid?
Of course, there wasn't!
He hadn't even been afraid when battling someone trained in essence… someone stronger than him! Moreover, he still had all his unassigned points, points he had, until now, considered a waste to use. So, he didn't.
But if push comes to shove, he was long since been prepared to use them.
Then again… was he really in a predicament?
Christian hadn't even received a signal from his Danger Awareness skill, after all.
But naturally, that didn't mean he became careless!
He had already learned that essence wasn't the absolute standard to measure everything by. Just like the man who had been stronger than him, yet, due to carelessness and the element of surprise, was defeated… and killed, the same could happen to him.
Then again, why had he given Brian, who could very well be an enemy, the antidote to the gas he had previously unleashed?
Because there was another package resting in his pocket… ready to be released before he even made a move.
And more than that, with the dagger still in his hand, all it would take was a simple throw to bury it into Brian's chest, or anywhere else he aimed.
He was confident that, despite everything, Brian wouldn't be able to bring him any real harm.
And besides… according to his sister and Eva, Brian still had his uses, when he was awake, at least.
"I thought you were smart, so what are you doing? Do you really think what you're doing right now is actually going to save you?" Christian said casually. Then, before Brian could even bat an eye or attempt to respond, Christian's fist connected with his face.
It was so fast that Brian didn't even have time to blink.
And what followed next couldn't have been any simpler, or more predictable. Before Brian could fire a single shot, Christian had already taken the pistol from him. And while Brian clutched his stomach and face where the blows had landed, Christian finally started driving the car.
He slammed his foot onto the gas pedal with all his might. And instead of stopping after some distance to check his wounds or see how the coward in the back was holding up, Christian; who was already starting to feel much better, decided against it. He was heading straight to a secluded spot where another car had been prepared in advance.
And at the same time… it was the perfect place to beat Damian to his heart's content, without anyone hearing his screams. It had been chosen for that exact purpose.
"Please spare me!" Brian suddenly cried out again, his face drenched in tears and snot, once more interrupting Christian's thoughts.
And Christian couldn't help but wonder if there was something wrong with his head.
Was he really this stupid? If he was going to kill him, he would have done it already!
As he pondered the enigma that was Brian, it didn't take long for him to arrive at an answer.
He had a massive misunderstanding.
And Brian wasn't who he initially thought he was… he was just an opportunist who lacked ability but had the luck to end up working under someone even more incompetent than him… Damian.
It wasn't that Brian was brilliant or particularly skilled. No. It was just that Damian was incomparably more stupid.
To have let someone this useless remain unnoticed for so long…
Indecisiveness, cowardice, and every other pathetic trait… was there even anything left that he hadn't displayed?
Christian found himself looking down on the very existence of the man named Brian.
At first, Brian had piqued his interest, even if only slightly. But now? That interest had long since faded. The more worthless he seemed, the harder the fall.
But while Christian despised those kinds of traits, and the man who possessed them… that alone wasn't enough to warrant an execution.
He didn't want to start killing people left and right at the slightest mistake or mood shift. It wasn't just about Brian; it was about himself. And besides, Brian still had a role to play in his plan.
So, Christian didn't bother replying. He simply continued driving, finally putting a considerable distance between himself and the initial battle site.
For a while, he maintained this silence, only breaking it to periodically listen to Iris's reports, making sure he wouldn't be caught off guard by the police or anything unexpected.
Then, after more than an hour, he finally arrived at his destination; at a forest… the edge of a one to be exact.
Christian, who had stopped the car and stepped out, didn't bother looking at the corpse still in the front seat or at Brian, whose appearance was a complete mess after taking a few hits from him. Though his gaze still held that pleading glint, he had finally fallen silent, and that was enough!
Instead, Christian found his attention drawn to the car itself.
Both the interior and exterior were damaged, some from the collisions, some from the fight that had taken place inside.