Taking a deep breath, Milo said, “Alright,” and ended the call.

  For a few moments, he kept staring at the ground.

  Then, with a mischievous smile, he lifted his gaze toward the field and muttered—

  “Master… I can’t wait. The longer I wait, the more people will come demanding a share of the money.

  I know you’ll arrive with others, but if this is something I can do alone— why should anyone else take the money meant for me?”

  With that thought, he started walking toward the field.

  The men standing near the gate and along the wall noticed Milo approaching and immediately gathered together.

  With an innocent smile, Milo greeted them, “Hey… how’s everyone doing? Why are you all camped here today?”

  The very next second—

  One of the men rushed forward and punched Milo hard in the face. His head snapped to the side.

  Milo slowly touched the blood gathered at the corner of his lips, then looked back at them.

  One of the men cracked his fingers and sneered, “Showing off your money yesterday, huh? Now show it again—go on!”

  Another laughed.

  “You escape every time because of Mr. Lucifer… but not today.

  This time we even have an excuse— we’re ordered to kill anyone who tries to enter this place if they don’t stop.”

  Hearing this, Milo laughed quietly to himself. "."

  One of the men pulled out a knife and stepped forward.

  In the blink of an eye, Milo lunged.

  Before the man could even lock eyes with him, Milo drove his hand straight into the man’s chest.

  When Milo turned his blood-soaked gaze toward the others, fear flooded their eyes.

  He pulled his hand out of the body— blood burst forth, splashing across Milo’s clothes and face.

  Even then, with a cute smile, Milo said calmly, “‘This was self-defense.’

  (In a serious tone.) That’s my excuse.”

  Some of them turned to run, but Milo called out— “Aren’t you afraid of Grin Reaper and Mr. Lucifer?

  Have you thought about what’ll happen if they find out you ran away in fear from a nineteen-year-old ex-gang kid instead of guarding this place?”

  Even after that, half of them fled—thinking survival mattered more than pride.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  The ones who stayed behind stood frozen, trembling.

  As Milo turned back toward the field, they slowly backed away and disappeared.

  Milo smiled to himself. “Now all the money will be mine alone.”

  He took a step forward— , a sharp pain struck his neck.

  His body collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Darkness swallowed his vision.

  Before losing consciousness, he saw the shape of a man.

  His sight blurred—but he clearly noticed a white mask in the man’s hand.

  The man Milo couldn’t recognize was Koyo

  Smiling down at Milo, Koyo said,

  “You’re quite capable. Honestly… it’s a shame someone like you isn’t in our gang.”

  With that, he lifted Milo onto his shoulder and carried him into the field.

  When Milo finally regained consciousness, the surroundings felt familiar.

  As he slowly sat up, he noticed Mr. Lucifer standing near the window.

  This was Mr. Lucifer’s house— a place filled with Milo’s memories of training under him.

  Spotting his phone on the table, Milo quietly leaned forward to grab it— but Mr. Lucifer spoke sharply, “Who is this ‘master’? Who are you working for now?”

  Milo froze.

  Then, composing himself, he picked up his phone and stood up.

  “I take small projects now,” he replied calmly. “I’m currently gathering information on a businessman’s rival company. That’s the ‘master.’”

  Mr. Lucifer turned toward him.

  His face showed no emotion— yet a terrifying aura radiated from him, as if countless emotions were surging beneath the surface.

  He said slowly, “Mr. Grin Reaper wants you back in the gang. He wants to train you personally.”

  Milo was still processing this when Lucifer added, “Refuse.”

  Milo looked at him in shock.

  Lucifer continued, “The title he wants to give you is a curse. I’ve seen it—it steals a child’s innocence and strips humans of their desires.

  I wanted you to choose the path your father chose. When you left the gang, I was happy. But when I learned you were still working as an assassin even after leaving… I was furious.

  Why can’t you be like your father?”

  Milo laughed.

  “Don’t talk like that,” he said lightly.

  “You’ll make me want to call you Grandpa—and I don’t want that. You’ll stay ‘Mr. Old Man’ to me.

  Old relationships don’t matter anymore.

  My dad lived his life— but I’ll live mine.

  I’ll do what benefits me. I won’t let my life be taken the way my father’s was.”

  He turned to leave, then stopped at the gate and looked back.

  “By the way… the one who knocked me out was Mr. Grin Reaper, right? Because till today, no one has ever attacked me without me sensing them first.”

  Lucifer’s silence confirmed his suspicion.

  Milo smiled and added, “Tell Mr. Grin Reaper to wait for my answer. I’ll respond after checking all possibilities.”

  Outside, Milo turned his phone on and saw countless missed calls and messages from Aditya.

  “So that’s why he asked about the ‘master,’” Milo muttered. “Good thing my phone is locked—he couldn’t read the messages.”

  With childlike, swinging steps, Milo walked away.

  From the house window, Lucifer watched him leave.

  From a third-floor window, Koyo watched as well.

  Taking a deep breath, Koyo murmured, “Mr. Lucifer’s grandson… You’re truly worthy of becoming my successor. But… I doubt you’d ever want that.”

  , Milo finally reached Aditya’s house.

  He rang the doorbell.

  The moment Aditya opened the door, Milo began— “I’m so—”

  Slap

  Aditya struck him.

  Milo flared with anger, ready to hit back— but Aditya suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.

  Milo froze.

  Aditya’s trembling voice whispered into his ear, “I told you to wait… I told you this was dangerous… Why didn’t you listen? What if you had died?”

  Milo felt Aditya’s shaking hands.

  "It was unbelievable— a mafia lord of the underworld, terrified at the thought of someone’s death." He thought.

  Later

  Aniket was there too.

  Breaking the quiet, Aniket said, “Milo… Aditya has decided to give you a new identity. Quit this work. Live a normal life. You’re still young—you can change your reality.”

  Milo narrowed his eyes. “What’s the benefit?”

  Both Aniket and Aditya were confused.

  Milo continued, “Why do you want to pull me away from this world? What do you gain? It’s not like my death would affect you.”

  Aditya replied firmly, “Every life has value.

  I take responsibility for the lives of everyone who works for me. You’re just a kid— this isn’t an age to embrace death for money.”

  Milo laughed like a child.

  “I know my life’s value, Master. I think you’re just a bit of a coward— afraid of blood staining your conscience.

  Don’t worry—I’m not like others.

  Even if I lose my arms or legs in this mission, I won’t blame you.

  I have no family to curse you if I die. So chill.”

  Aniket looked at Aditya— who sat silently, hands trembling.

  He knew what was going on in Aditya’s mind.

  Aditya was breaking— desperate to run away from everything, yet unable to— not until he saved everything that could still be saved.

  Milo tried to understand the silence between them.

  Inside him, a strange feeling surfaced.

  For the first time, he wondered— Does my life really have value?

  Is it truly necessary to invite death for money?

  Can’t I live with less money… and more life?

  The silence lingered.

  Unbroken.