Darkness had grown deeper.
Milo stretched lazily as he opened the door of his house—only to find Koyo standing in front of him. There was a mask in Koyo’s hand. The sight of it startled Milo, but hiding his nervousness, he asked, “Where are you going?”
There was sadness on Koyo’s face. He extended the mask toward Milo and said, “This mask… Master gave it to me. It was the first thing she ever gave me. And today… it has cracked.”
Milo examined it carefully. A large fracture ran straight through the center, as if someone had slammed it hard against the ground. But looking at Koyo’s gloomy expression, Milo doubted that he would have done such a thing himself.
Before he could think further, Koyo spoke again, “I killed my first target wearing this mask… and I want to kill the last target of my life wearing it too.”
Hearing that, Milo muttered inwardly, “What a ridiculous and pointless wish.”
“I’m going to give it to Mr. Lucifer so he can get it repaired,” Koyo said with a faint smile as he began to leave.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Milo’s mind. He hurried after him.
“I want to come too!”
There was childlike innocence on his face. Seeing that, Koyo agreed easily.
Hearing him say yes so quickly, Milo thought to himself, “Ah… maybe my suspicion was wrong. Koyo really is going to the old man’s house… I thought maybe…”
Aditya’s face appeared in his thoughts—those eyes filled with a strange warmth. Milo shook his head forcefully.
“Why should I care about him anyway?! Besides… I work for Aniket now. He’s the one paying me. That makes him my master. And if Aniket considers Master like a brother, then it’s my duty to care! Exactly… I don’t care about him. I’m just doing my job.”
Koyo’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“What are you thinking about?”
Koyo had opened the car door for Milo, but he was so lost in thought that he hadn’t noticed.
Milo scratched his head and smiled.
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“Oh… I was just trying to remember that new move you showed me this evening. I just want to be as perfect as you.”
Koyo replied, “Just believe in yourself and become your best version. You don’t need to become like me.”
He gestured for Milo to get inside. After Milo sat down, Koyo took the driver’s seat and started the car.
At the same time
Without any visible emotion, he stepped out. Two other cars had arrived with him, and men in black suits stepped out as well.
Aditya buttoned his black coat and walked toward the house.
Mr. Shah was walking ahead of him. He rang the doorbell. A butler opened the door.
The butler spoke like a lifeless machine.
“The master does not meet anyone at this hour.”
There wasn’t even the slightest crease on his face, despite seeing Aditya and the group of well-built men behind him.
Mr. Shah replied, “We have an appointment.”
After thinking for a moment, the butler said, “Mafia King… Oh, so it’s you. Didn’t you check the updates? The appointment has been canceled.”
Aditya spoke calmly, “In this world, a promise once made is never changed. That is the rule.”
“Indeed, it is a rule.”
Everyone turned toward the voice coming from inside the house.
Mr. Lucifer stood there, as refined and composed as ever.
He stepped forward and said, “Yes, it is the rule of the underworld that promises cannot be broken. But we do not recall ever promising to meet you.”
“An appointment is just another form of a promise.”
Aditya’s face remained calm.
After a few seconds of silence, Mr. Lucifer gestured for them to follow him inside.
“Very well. Let’s sit and talk.”
A few moments later, the atmosphere inside was quiet.
Mr. Lucifer sat across from Aditya. Mr. Shah stood beside Aditya.
“What is the purpose of your visit?” Mr. Lucifer asked. “What project? Who needs to be killed?”
His calm expression made it clear that killing someone was nothing extraordinary for him.
“Grin Reaper… your master. The most famous name among assassins.”
With a cold gaze, Aditya continued, “I want to form an alliance with him.”
Mr. Lucifer gave a sarcastic smile.
“Mafia King… the uncrowned ruler of the underworld. So many mafias fear you. Why would you want an alliance with the leader of an assassin family? Besides… assassin families do not form alliances.”
Aditya did not lose his composure.
“Yes, people fear me. But that fear can turn into rebellion. And I know what weapon will be used first in that rebellion. That is why I want to make that weapon mine. I want to meet Grin Reaper.”
Mr. Lucifer thought for a moment before replying,B“Mr. Grin Reaper would never be pleased with an offer that restricts his freedom to kill.”
“What do you mean?”
Mr. Lucifer smiled faintly.
“Child… no matter how frightening a mask you wear, the bright light that comes from you will never allow you to become the king of darkness. Some of your stories are very famous… and one story in particular is so well known that it will never allow you to truly belong to this dark world. Mr. Grin Reaper and you? Impossible.”
Aditya stood up, irritated, locking eyes with him.
“I will meet Grin Reaper. At any cost. I will return and meet him.”
He walked out. His men followed.
Mr. Shah took a deep breath and looked at Mr. Lucifer.
“You may be right about Aditya sir. But there is one thing you should know—whatever he decides, he accomplishes.”
He turned to leave, then paused midway and looked back.
“By the way… does Grin Reaper enjoy keeping birds in cages? If so, remember this—alliances will only be formed after all the birds are set free.”
With a sharp smile, he walked away.
Mr. Lucifer’s expression changed.
Meanwhile
Koyo stood outside the car. Milo was asleep inside.
Looking at Milo through the window, Koyo smiled faintly.
“I can’t believe I chose you to be my successor. Perhaps when Master chose me, she thought the same.”
He grew serious.
“She knew this position was a curse. Maybe she believed she would break it… and free me too. But that didn’t happen. True change is impossible.”
He turned on his phone and accessed the CCTV footage of his house.
A room drowned in darkness appeared on the screen. In the center stood a beautiful cage. Inside it, like a doll, Master’s daughter slept peacefully.
Looking at Anamika, he whispered, “You are the change… that’s what she said. This is my attempt… to break my curse.”
He turned off the phone and took a deep breath, looking up at the sky.
Moonlight fell on the mask lying near the driver’s seat.
The crack in it seemed to grow even larger.
