The Plague Twins
10:55 PM
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At the famous Riviera Royale Mansion
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"Hey, Mr. Smith, why aren't they here yet? It's getting late already!" A nervous, heavyset man, Jack Mark shouted, sweat running down his face.
Regret gnawed at him. "I'm very stupid. Why couldn't I control my greed for money? Now, I'm going to be a dead man in a few hours."
That's right, the nervous-looking person who was shouting right now was Jack Mark, the rich business person who had the information about the location of one Shadow Syndicate Clan branch.
"Relax Mr. Mark, with me here, nothing is going to happen to you until the meeting with the government ends," Smith reassured Mark.
The man trying to calm him down was none other than Lord Smith, the head of 'The Lions' Mercenary Group. He was renowned for his martial arts skills and proficiency with various kinds of weapons.
Lord Smith and his elite band of mercenaries were known for handling high-risk missions, from safeguarding prominent figures for extended periods, embarking on daring rescues of business owners or politicians whose children have fallen into the clutches of ruthless terrorists."
"Of course, he's well aware of the formidable force they're up against this time. The deadliest league of assassins ever forged. Even if they combined his mercenary crew thrice over, it would pale in comparison.
Yet, his unwavering confidence in his abilities stands firm to repel whoever they may send his way."
However, this mission was unlike any other. Smith couldn't believe to death that the Shadow Syndicate Clan had sent one of their deadliest assets- the famous Plague twins, renowned for leaving no survivors alive on a mission.
Mark sighed, "Mr. Smith, you won't understand. It's essential to share the context. Back then, when I stumbled upon the valuable information, my desire for wealth clouded my judgment. The government had pursued this organization for years, and in a moment of haste, I wanted to sell the information to them without considering the consequences."
Smith understood the gravity of the situation. "If this situation is as big as you said, why don't you show me the information that causes all this problem? With this, I can assess whether it's worth the Shadow Syndicate Clan sending an assassin I can't handle."
Mark hesitated, "No! If I show you the information, you and your group won't live past this week, trust me. You've already helped me a lot by protecting me when you know who my opponent is."
"And I must be honest with you, Mr. Smith. There's no assurance that you and your team will walk out of my home tonight unscathed. Unless fate has other plans, this evening may be the day we all meet the grim reaper." Mark looked solemn.
Hearing this, Smith couldn't help but tremble inside. If it really came to the annihilation of his entire mercenary group, he wouldn't mind leaving right now.
But it was just too late...
At that moment, two shadowy figures moved silently through the mansion's surroundings. In the dimmest corner, a pair of dark phantoms remained nearly impossible to see by any casual observer.
Over the last seven minutes, they infiltrated the grand mansion, swiftly dispatching agents and mercenaries, leaving no soul unscathed in their path.
These were the Plague twins, the deadly assassins sent by the Shadow Syndicate Clan. They had perfected their skills since childhood, and no agent or mercenary stood a chance against them.
This was just too easy for them. They have been doing this since they were ten years old. So, no matter how strong the agents are, it's just a matter of time and planning before they took them down.
As they neared the core room of the mansion, Zephyrion asked, "What should we do now? There are two ways to enter inside. Should we separate?"
Varian replied with a nod, scanning the surroundings. "Yes, we should separate and clear the agents along the way. Remember the clan master's instructions, right?"
"Hmmm, okay, let's move." Zephyrion was about to disappear into the shadows when Varian's hands clutched his shoulder urgently.
Varian's face seemed to struggle, as if he was fighting a great battle inside him. After a few tense moments, his expression relax and whispered.
"Hey, brother, remember the oak tree by the river where we spent our childhood training martial arts and assassin skills with the clan master?"
Zephyrion was puzzled. "Yes, I do. How could I forget that good time? We always climb the oak tree to see who can reached the top faster ah."
Varian replied mysteriously, "Well, if you see a shadow beneath its branches, beware. It might not be me."
"Why the proverb, brother? I thought you weren't into proverbs," Zephyrion asked with a confused expression.
Varian shrugged it off, "Oh, I just remembered the oak tree. I think we should visit it and spend a few days thereafter this mission ends."
"That's a small matter. Let round up this place quickly and leave." Zephyrion didn't dwell on it for long, putting it in the back of his mind for later.
After all, there was a mission to complete. After saying that, Zephyrion swoosh and, in a blink of an eye, disappear into the shadows on the left path.
What Zephyrion didn't realise was that his brother didn't move from his spot after a long time but watch his departing back till he was out of view.
Then suddenly, Varian eyes shifted to a brilliant crimson red, yet this time, the radiance stay, refusing to vanish in a mere blink as it had done before.
With a final, wistful look towards the direction Zephyrion had soared, he, too, drifted to the right path, melting into the comforting embrace of the shadows.
As Zephyrion continued on his path, he couldn't help but feel that something was off about his brother's behavior. However, he pushed those thoughts aside for the time being and focused on the task at hand.
After several minutes of stealthy eliminations, Zephyrion arrived at a large door that required a security code for entry. "
"Nine out of ten, the target is inside this room," he thought as he placed his hands on the wall and pour his internal energy to sense the room.
Sure enough, after listening closely, he could detect seven people inside, one of them with quite significant momentum.
Zephyrion decided to wait for Varian to arrive before making his move. They always worked together, and it was their strategy to strike as a team.
However, as the seconds ticked away, Varian was nowhere to be seen. Zephyrion grew impatient and blew the door open. None of the people inside the room were a match for him anyway, and he might as well just save time.
Setting a timer for thirty seconds, he placed small C-4 explosives on the door's weakest point. The thirty-second countdown began, but Varian was still absent.
With just two seconds left on the timer, Zephyrion realized he had no choice. He silently unsheathe his katana and ignited the explosives, causing a deafening explosion that shattered the door.
Simultaneously, the lights inside the mansion went out, leaving the room in darkness except for flickering candles on the far end corner.
Obviously, he had tempered with the mansion's source of electricity when moving here.
BOOOOOMMM!
Zephyrion glided effortlessly into the room, his movements looks like he was dancing. With a flick of his hand, two shuriken, laced with a lethal poison, took flight and found their mark, piercing the hearts of two agents."
SWOOSH!
Like a flash, he moved behind the third agent, a hulking figure, and drove the Katana into the man's heart. A stifled gasp was the only sound as the agent crumpled to the floor, dead before he can make any move.
The remaining two bodyguards reacted, drawing their weapons and fire a barrage of bullet at Zephyrion, attempting to protect Mr Mark.
Zephyrion glided through the chaos of bullets, a graceful specter of speed. His blade flashed in the dim light as he effortlessly deflected the incoming bullet, sending it ricocheting off the wall.
His hands orchestrating a mesmerizing dance, slicing through a barrage of bullets with exquisite precision. Not a single bullet grazed him. His katana moved like lightning, splitting them in two.
It's all child's play to him. How many bullets has he sliced in half since that very first mission at ten? Countless! Zephyrion couldn't help but marvel as his mind raced, already plotting his next dazzling move."
With a step forward, he move like a phantom and swiftly dispatched the fourth agent with a precise strike to the throat.
The final agent lunged at Zephyrion, but the ninja assassin was already behind him, a garrote wire wrapped around the man's neck. The fifth agent fell lifeless to the ground.
Now alone with two people in the room, Zephyrion turned his attention to Mr. Mark, who was now on the ground, pleading for his life. While Lord Smith stood paralyzed, unable to comprehend the speed and skill of the assassin before him.
Terror gripped Smith's soul as he looked into the mysterious figure's eyes. The assassin's entire form was cloaked in darkness, except for those piercing eyes that held him captive.
He refrained from attacking just now, convinced that the two of him joining forces together wouldn't stop the assassin. The hidden killer was just moving around and merely waving his sword, he sensed the assassin was withholding his full prowess.
"You... Who the hell are you?" Trembling, Smith stammered. "What kind of assassin did the Shadow Syndicate Clan send this time?" He thought.