Chapter 366: End or beginning??
"The auction...Has already ended."
Light’s calm voice echoed softly through the auditorium.
Old Krause slowly turned toward him.
Confusion spread across his face.
"What do you mean?"
Without answering, the elderly man reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
His fingers quickly typed a short message before sending it.
Light merely watched.
Then he smiled.
"Don’t bother, Mr. Krause."
"You won’t get anything."
Old Krause looked up.
The confidence in Light’s voice unsettled him.
Around them...
The whispers only became louder.
"What exactly is happening?"
"I saw Anzo barely an hour ago."
"So where is he now?"
"Did he lose his nerve?"
"Did he change his mind?"
"This has never happened before."
Every guest looked toward the entrance.
Everyone expected Anzo Fischer to appear at any moment.
Instead...
A member of the Krause staff hurried onto the stage.
He approached Johanna and whispered something into her ear.
The confident expression she had maintained throughout the evening slowly disappeared.
She looked genuinely surprised.
After taking a deep breath...
She stepped toward the microphone once again.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"There has been an update."
The entire auditorium fell silent.
"Unfortunately..."
"Mr. Anzo Fischer has withdrawn from tonight’s Grand Auction."
A wave of confusion spread through the audience.
Johanna continued.
"He left Krause Tower a short while ago."
Her expression became serious.
"This behaviour is completely unprofessional."
"It is a direct violation of the rules governing the Conclave."
She looked across the auditorium.
"Therefore..."
"On behalf of the Krause Family..."
"I officially announce..."
"The Fischer Family..."
"...Is permanently banned from all future Conclaves."
For several seconds...
Nobody spoke.
Then the whispers erupted once again.
"Permanent ban?"
"Impossible."
"The Fischers are ruined."
"What happened?"
"This doesn’t make any sense."
Old Krause slowly lowered his head.
He quietly closed his eyes.
Then...
He sighed.
A long...
Heavy sigh.
Light calmly rose from his seat.
Thea followed immediately.
Light looked toward the old man one last time.
"Mr. Krause."
He smiled faintly.
"It appears..."
"Your own countrymen don’t take your rules very seriously anymore."
Old Krause remained silent.
Light glanced around the auditorium.
"The air in this place..."
"Has become too heavy."
"So much greed."
"So much hatred."
"So much regret."
He looked back at the elderly man.
"I’ve spent two days breathing it."
"I’m leaving."
He smiled gently.
"You should leave too."
"Go outside."
"Walk somewhere quiet."
"Breathe fresh air."
"I think..."
"You’ll feel much better."
Old Krause slowly opened his eyes.
Light continued.
"I’m leaving Germany tomorrow."
"And with that..."
"The identity known as Light disappears forever."
His gaze swept across the auditorium one final time.
"To be honest..."
"I’ve never really been against the Conclave itself."
He paused.
"It makes an excellent hunting ground."
A small smile appeared beneath the mask.
"But..."
"I think it’s time."
He looked directly at the old man.
"You should consider starting over."
"Your family has carried influence for centuries."
"You don’t need any more."
"After generations of chaos..."
"What your family truly needs..."
"...Is peace."
The old man quietly listened.
Not once did he interrupt.
Light reached into his suit pocket.
He removed a simple card.
Then he handed it to Old Krause.
The elderly man accepted it slowly.
"This is my contact number."
"It’ll remain active until tomorrow."
"Before I board my flight."
He pointed gently toward the card.
"If you decide..."
"That the Conclave should continue for many more years..."
"Ask Miss Johanna to call me."
Then his voice became softer.
"But..."
"If tonight becomes the end..."
"If you choose to conclude everything..."
"You should call me yourself."
Old Krause looked at the card without speaking.
Light smiled warmly.
"I promise you something."
"If it’s the second choice that you make..."
"Your family won’t fall."
"Not for centuries."
He chuckled quietly.
"If you ask me..."
"You should retire."
"Just like I did."
The old man couldn’t help smiling.
Light continued almost casually.
"Spend some time living."
"Attend a real opera."
"Go fishing."
"Take a walk without bodyguards."
"Drink tea in your own garden."
He looked toward the stage where Johanna still stood silently.
"And most importantly..."
"Spend time with your granddaughter."
"Let her see your regrets."
"Teach her the truth."
"This time..."
"Without hiding behind rules."
"Without deceiving her."
He slowly stepped backwards.
"Goodbye."
"I hope..."
"I’ll see you tomorrow."
He looked toward Thea.
"Princess Thea."
"The purchased item is yours to collect."
She nodded once.
"I’ll take care of it."
Without another word...
Light turned around.
His footsteps echoed quietly through the vast auditorium.
Step...
After step...
After step...
He never looked back.
Not once.
Everyone watched the mysterious white mask gradually disappear through the large exit doors.
The hall became strangely quiet.
Even Johanna stood motionless on the stage.
Her eyes followed him until he vanished from sight.
Old Krause remained seated.
Still holding the small business card.
After a long silence...
He smiled.
A tired...
Gentle smile.
"Retire...like you"
He quietly repeated the word.
Then he looked toward Princess Thea.
"Why..."
"Does it feel like..."
"He’s lived much longer than I have?"
Thea smiled softly.
"Because in many ways..."
"He has."
She looked toward the closed doors through which Light had left.
"The experiences he’s gone through..."
"Far exceed those of anyone sitting in this auditorium."
She folded her hands together.
"Most people make decisions with their hearts."
"They become prisoners of anger."
"Or greed."
"Or guilt."
She looked toward Old Krause.
"But he..."
"He relies on his mind."
"He searches for logic even inside emotions because he learnt them himself."
She smiled faintly.
"That’s something most of us could never do."
Old Krause stared quietly at the business card.
After a while...
He finally spoke.
"Eleven years ago..."
"I never understood."
His voice had become distant.
"Why he saved my life."
He slowly shook his head.
"He risked his own."
"He was only a child."
"So why..."
"Why would he take a bullet for me?"
He closed his eyes.
"I still don’t know."
A quiet silence followed.
Then Thea smiled.
"Then call him."
Old Krause looked up.
"Ask him yourself."
She stood.
"You might finally find your answer."
She gave him a respectful bow.
"And..."
"Thank you for your hospitality over these past two days."
She glanced toward the stage.
"Your granddaughter is remarkably capable."
"She’s trying to carry every burden herself."
There was a brief pause.
"But responsibilities like these..."
She looked around the magnificent auditorium.
"They become unbearably heavy."
"Especially when fulfilling them costs pieces of your own soul."
Her voice softened.
"I know that feeling."
She offered one final smile.
"Take care, Mr. Krause."
"I believe..."
"This is the last time we’ll meet."
Old Krause slowly stood as well.
He returned the bow.
"Thank you..."
"Princess Thea."
His smile remained gentle.
"You take care too."
The two quietly parted ways.
Meanwhile...
Outside Krause Tower...
The cool night air greeted the man in the white mask.
For the first time since arriving in Germany...
Light took a long, deep breath.
The cool night air greeted Miles as he stepped out of Krause Tower.
He slowly looked around.
Frankfurt stretched before him like a sea of lights.
Towering buildings glowed against the darkness.
That the stars above had almost disappeared.
Waiting near the entrance...
Kenan leaned casually against a black sedan.
The moment he noticed Miles approaching, he straightened.
"What’s up?"
Miles reached for the white mask covering his face.
"This thing is heavy."
He let out a tired sigh.
"I want to take it off."
He shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Who would’ve thought that old man would have his own granddaughter monitoring me the entire time."
Kenan laughed.
"Then let’s go take it off."
He looked at the mask.
"Your real face looks much better."
Miles glanced sideways.
"Was that a compliment?"
Kenan shrugged.
"Maybe."
Miles chuckled.
"You idiot."
"Trying to act like my older brother all of a sudden."
Kenan immediately protested.
"Hey."
"Who are you calling an idiot?"
He folded his arms.
"To be honest..."
He looked at Miles seriously.
"I’m actually scared of you."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Kenan lowered his voice.
"How the hell did you deal with Anzo?"
A mysterious smile appeared beneath the mask.
"Do you really want to know?"
Kenan immediately shook his head.
"No."
"I’ll pass."
"The less I know..."
"The better I sleep."
Both of them laughed.
Just then...
A familiar elderly voice came from behind.
"Leaving already, young lad?"
They turned.
Senior Nine slowly approached with his cane.
Kenan immediately understood.
"Umm..."
"I’ll wait in the car."
Without another word...
He quietly walked away.
Miles faced the old assassin.
"I’ll be leaving tomorrow."
Senior Nine smiled.
"So soon?"
Miles nodded.
"I still have a few things to finish."
"Oh?"
The old man looked curious.
"Like what?"
A genuine smile appeared beneath the white mask.
"I still need to buy presents."
"For my fiancée."
"And for my family."
Before Miles could react...
Senior Nine suddenly slapped his shoulder with surprising force.
Thud.
"Ouch!"
Miles rubbed his shoulder.
"That hurts."
The old man laughed loudly.
"You deserve it."
His smile gradually softened.
"I’m happy for you."
He looked at the young man standing before him.
"Enjoy this life."
"It wasn’t given to many of us."
His eyes became distant.
"Live happily..."
"For us."
"And for all the brothers and sisters who never had the chance."
Silence followed.
Miles looked at the old man.
There were many things he wanted to say.
But in the end...
Only one sentence left his mouth.
"Take care..."
"Senior Nine."
"And..."
"Thank you."
"For everything."
Senior Nine nodded gently.
"You too, young lad."
Without another word...
He slowly turned around.
His cane echoed quietly against the pavement as he disappeared into the night.
Miles remained standing there.
Watching.
Until the old man was no longer visible.
Then...
That familiar sensation returned.
A cold chill quietly crept across his back.
Someone...
Was watching him again.
Miles didn’t panic.
Instead...
A faint smirk appeared.
"So..."
"Let’s find out who you are."
He quietly took out his phone.
A secure number was dialled.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Boss."
Miles kept his eyes fixed on the surrounding buildings.
"Can you see me?"
"Yes."
"Our surveillance team is positioned inside the office building directly opposite yours."
"We’ve maintained visual contact."
Miles slowly nodded.
"So..."
"There really is a trap."
The agent answered carefully.
"There are indeed several suspicious individuals."
"But..."
"We’re still unable to determine who their target is."
Miles smiled.
"They’re here for me."
The answer came without hesitation.
"Send another vehicle."
"Take Kenan away."
"We can’t allow them to trace our safe house."
The agent immediately responded.
"Understood."
"Replacement vehicle arriving in three minutes."
The call ended.
Miles slipped the phone back into his pocket.
He quietly looked toward the brightly lit streets.
"I didn’t expect..."
"There would still be people holding grudges against this identity."
Kenan’s phone vibrated.
He glanced at the message.
Without questioning it...
He simply drove past Miles.
Not even slowing down.
As though they were complete strangers.
A few moments later...
Another black sedan stopped beside the pavement.
The rear door opened.
Miles entered without a word.
The vehicle quietly merged into traffic.
Barely half a minute later...
Three different cars pulled away from nearby parking spaces.
Then another.
And another.
They didn’t even bother pretending anymore.
Every one of them followed the same route.
Inside the car...
Miles calmly watched them through the rear window.
"They’re not even trying to hide."
He looked toward the driver.
"So..."
"Did you find a suitable place?"
The driver smiled.
"Yes, Boss."
"We’re heading there now."
A dangerous grin slowly appeared on his face.
"We have prepared quite a surprise for them."
Miles simply leaned back.
"I almost feel sorry for them."
...
Several thousand kilometres away.
Star Harbor.
Mars Residency.
The night was unusually quiet.
It had already passed midnight.
Inside the softly lit bedroom...
Chloe suddenly opened her eyes.
She sat upright, breathing heavily.
Her forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
Nightmare.
She remained still for several seconds before reaching for the glass of water on the bedside table.
After taking a few slow sips...
She looked toward the dark window.
"...What is this feeling?"
She quietly placed one hand over her heart.
For some reason...
It wouldn’t stop beating so fast.
A strange uneasiness settled deep inside her chest.
She whispered softly into the silent room.
"Miles..."
"Are you alright?"
To Be Continued...