The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Chapter 170: An Assassinʼs Loyalty [Bonus]

Klaus spent a few minutes chatting with Hanna. When midnight came, he asked if he could stay the night with her. Hanna didnʼt mind at all. They were siblings now, and despite Klausʼs reputation for being shameless, she instinctively knew he wouldnʼt do anything inappropriate.

She couldnʼt explain why she felt so certain, but the way Klaus looked at her told her everything. There was no hint of bad intentions in his eyes. Their mother had even reassured her, saying she didnʼt need to worry about Klaus. He wasnʼt the type to cross that line with her.

In truth, Klausʼs past—his life as Fruity—made him extra protective of Hanna. He carried memories of the time they had spent together, the love and care she had shown him, and the ultimate sacrifice she had made for him and his in the end.

Klaus knew just holding her hand as they slept wouldnʼt be enough to repay that. In his heart, he vowed to make her happy, to ensure she never had to worry about anything again. That night, they both drifted off to sleep with peaceful smiles on their faces.

At 4 a.m. the next morning, Klaus quietly got up and went to his room. He had an assassin under his spell, and it was time to check on him. The senior had told him to be patient—the spell would work on its own, but it required time.

When Klaus entered the room, he found the assassin sitting silently, staring at his poison dagger. The man looked like he was thinking about ending his own life, but something was stopping him. The Bewitching spell wouldnʼt let him take that final step.

”So, are you ready to talk, or are you still holding on to that loyalty?” Klaus asked casually, his expression relaxed.

Number 91ʼs hands trembled as he stared at the mocking smile on Klausʼs face. He wanted nothing more than to sever that head off his neck while that infuriating grin was still there, but he couldnʼt. No matter how much he tried to muster the strength, he was powerless. His stubborn loyalty was eating away at him, but it wasnʼt just that—his very soul was being consumed by the spell.

In truth, Klaus couldʼve ended it easily. If he used the Eye of Malevolence, heʼd be able to extract some memories from the manʼs mind, it would be painful for both of them. He doesnʼt yet have the mental and Soul capacity to do such a thing.

But even if he could, a part of him didnʼt want to. He was savoring the situation, watching the once-loyal assassin squirm. Another part of him thought it would be far more satisfying to record the man spilling his secrets and send the footage to his employers.

They had tried to kill him, and now Klaus wanted to strike back—hard. The best way to do that was to show the Dark Order that he could turn anyone. When he said ”anyone,” he meant even the most loyal could be bewitched.

”Let me make this clear,” Klaus said, his voice cold and sharp. ”You will die today. Or maybe tomorrow, depending on how fast you talk. But instead of getting your fingers cut off, then your toes, then your hands, feet, tongue, ears—every piece of you, little by little—your death could be quick. Painless, even. All you have to do is tell me what I need to know.”

Number 91ʼs breathing quickened, sweat dripping down his face. Klausʼs words cut through the room like a knife, leaving the assassin no room for hope. He knew Klaus wasnʼt bluffing. The man standing before him had no mercy, and the only thing keeping him alive now was his silence.

But for how long?

Klausʼs cold eyes gleamed as he watched the assassinʼs internal battle. The assassinʼs resolve was cracking, his defiance hanging by a thread.

”So,” Klaus continued, his voice even colder now, ”whatʼs it going to be? Are you going to keep holding on to that worthless loyalty and suffering... or are you going to save yourself from unnecessary pain?”

”The Dark Order sent me,” Number 91 muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked down, avoiding Klausʼs piercing gaze. ”And before you ask who they are or where to find them, know this—Iʼm just an assassin with the designation Number 91. I receive orders and payment, and thatʼs all I can tell you.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, amused. ”Thatʼs all you can tell me? Or all you will tell me?” He leaned in closer, his tone dark and menacing. ”Because right now, youʼre not in any position to make that choice.”

Number 91 swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had given Klaus something, but it wasnʼt enough. The name of the Dark Order meant nothing to Klaus, and he knew that. It was like throwing a scrap at a wolf and hoping it would walk away.

Klaus smirked, clearly unimpressed. ”Iʼve heard about the Dark Order. They think theyʼre untouchable, moving in the shadows, sending their puppets to do their dirty work.” He stepped closer, his eyes locked on Number 91. ”But youʼre wrong if you think youʼre just a nameless pawn. You do know something, and Iʼm going to get it out of you.”

Number 91ʼs heart pounded in his chest. He knew there was no escaping this. The spell, the pain, and Klausʼs cold gaze on him are menacing enough.

”Now, letʼs try again,” Klaus said, his voice chillingly calm. ”Tell me everything. Names, locations, and how they operate. Donʼt make me ask twice.”

”I receive orders through an envelope, and thatʼs about it,” Number 91 said, his voice trembling slightly. ”But there are safe houses in every city. To access them, you need a key. This ring—” he lifted his hand, showing a plain black band on his finger, ”—is that key.”

He paused, his breathing uneven. ”Like I said, I donʼt know where the Dark Orderʼs headquarters are. Not even at the Regional level. If youʼre trying to find them, the best place to start is their safehouses in the cities.”

He looked up at Klaus, hoping that was enough, that heʼd finally said all he knew.

Klaus studied him for a long moment, his eyes sharp and calculating. There was no hesitation in Number 91ʼs voice, no flicker of a lie. Klaus could tell the man was being truthful. Maybe he didnʼt know everything, but what he had given was valuable.

Klaus nodded slowly, his expression neutral. ”Youʼve done well,” he said, his tone flat but with a hint of something darker beneath. He took the ring from Number 91ʼs trembling hand, examining it briefly before slipping it into his pocket.

Number 91 let out a shaky breath, unsure if this meant his suffering would soon end. His eyes darted to Klaus, desperate for any sign of mercy.

”So, where is the Dark Orderʼs safe house in this city? Or in Ross City?” Klaus asked, his tone sharp and demanding.

After a tense pause, Number 91 finally gave up the locations. His voice wavered, barely holding together as he shared the secret he had sworn to protect. Klaus listened carefully, memorizing every detail.

Once Klaus had the information he needed, he stepped back and looked at Number 91 with cold, emotionless eyes. ”You should have picked a different line of work,” he said, his voice low and harsh. ”Instead of getting paid to kill people.”

Klausʼs gaze hardened. ”But for telling me what I needed to know, Iʼll grant you a quick death.”

With that, Klausʼs sword materialized in his hand, glowing faintly with power. In one swift, fluid motion, the blade sliced through the air. Number 91 didnʼt have time to react as his head rolled from his body, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Klaus slid his sword back into his space ring with a swift motion, the blade vanishing from sight. He bent down, encasing the severed head in an ice sculpture, preserving it perfectly before tucking it into his space ring as well.

The body was a different matter—he glanced at the lifeless form and with a flick of his fingers, ice began to creep over it, freezing it solid. Once it was completely encased, Klaus shattered it into fine pieces, dissolving it into nothingness.

He stood there for a moment, satisfied with how clean the process was. No trace, no mess. Just like that, he had secured a lead.

”Now the Dark Order will know exactly who they tried to kill,” he said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Even if it was just a contract from someone else, they would soon realize their mistake for trying to kill him and making those around him worry.