Chapter 356 Delivering the Killing Blow

Without a word, she made a subtle show of tilting the blade just enough for the Baron to catch a glimpse of it. His eyes widened in realization, and a flicker of hope flashed in his terrified expression. He realized that she was about to eliminating Isaac.

"Isaac... nephew... you've got it all wrong!" he stammered trying to distract him, his words tumbling over each other.

 "It wasn’t me! I swear, I had no hand in your father’s death. You have to believe me! There are... forces at play here, Isaac. Forces far beyond me! Powerful people—shadowy figures pulling the strings. I was... I was nothing more than a pawn in their game!" His voice cracked as he tried to sell the lie.

"I—I didn’t want to do it! No! I had no part in it! You have to understand, they forced my hand! They threatened me, Isaac! My life, my position—it was all at risk. They told me to... to stand aside and let it happen, but I never—never wanted this!"

Gideon’s eyes glistened, and he clasped his hands together as though begging for forgiveness.

 "If I didn’t comply, they would’ve destroyed me, too! You think I’d ever hurt my own brother? My own family? No! This was the work of people far more dangerous than you can imagine! They’re the ones who sent the thugs, who lit the fires... who orchestrated it all! If you kill me, Isaac, you’ll never learn the truth! You’ll never know who’s really behind it! Please, just... just give me a chance to prove it! I can help you find them! I swear, I’ll make it right!"

Isaac’s jaw clenched, his voice sharp and thunderous.

“Enough of your pathetic lies, Gideon! Do not insult my intelligence with this sniveling cowardice. You didn’t ‘comply’—you commanded it! You orchestrated every vile act, you gave the orders, and you watched as my family burned for the sake of your insatiable greed! You are no victim, and you will not twist this into anything else. Do you think I’m blind to your schemes? You’re nothing but a snake, and your pleas for mercy fall on deaf ears!”

“It wasn’t me! You have to believe that! What happened to your father, your family—it’s... it’s not what you think! If I hadn’t played along, they’d have come after me next. You think they care about loyalty? Blood ties? No! They would’ve wiped me out, just like they did your family. I didn’t want this to happen, Isaac. I didn't want you to be framed for all that happened. But... but I had no way to stop it. None!”

 “Think about it! If I were really behind it all, why would I still be here? Why would I risk everything to face you? I could’ve fled! But I didn’t, because I want you to understand—I need you to understand—that this wasn’t me. It was them! I’m just... I’m just a survivor, Isaac, like you.”

Suzuka kept her face calm, almost bored, as she turned and walked to the door.

“Boys, boys. Not so loud. At least let’s close the doors first. We wouldn’t want any uninvited guests now, would we?”

The door clicked shut. For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Suzuka turned, stepping into the shadows behind Isaac. Her glowing red eyes pierced the dim light, and her smile—wide, menacing, and toothy—caught the faint glow from the lamp, making her look every bit the demon the Baron feared.

Baron’s panic shifted into something desperate yet hopeful. His trembling lip almost formed a smile. He saw her ready to deliver a killing blow. Blade in her hand and raised high.

Suzuka moved gracefully, stepping behind Isaac. She slid one arm around his chest in a mock embrace, leaning her chin over his shoulder. Her other hand, gripping the knife, going down toward his neck. The Baron’s breath caught in his throat as he leaned forward, transfixed.

She pressed the blade against Isaac’s skin, just enough for him to feel its cold edge. Then she froze.

Her shoulders began to shake. A low chuckle escaped her lips, growing louder until it erupted into full-blown laughter.

“Just kidding!” she said, withdrawing the blade and flipping it in her hand. She stepped away from Isaac, turning to face the Baron with a grin that stretched ear to ear.

“Oh, Baron, you should’ve seen your face! You actually thought I’d do what you asked? That’s priceless!”

The Baron’s face turned as white as a ghost. His lips moved soundlessly as he tried to form words, but nothing came out. All of his hope, the fragile, desperate shred he’d clung to, shattered into a million pieces. He stumbled backward, his legs threatening to give out, and his mind reeled in utter despair.

Suzuka flicked the knife into the air, catching it and tossing it onto the desk.

 “You really thought you could buy me off with a bit of gold? Oh, Baron, you’re even more of a fool than I gave you credit for.”

Isaac, unflinching, turned his head slightly to look at Suzuka. 

“Do you always have to toy with everyone?”

 “Sorry, what can I say? I couldn't resist. Also, I hope you don't mind; I emptied his pockets a bit as well. He was kind enough to offer me coins, so I took them.”

Isaac crossed his arms, his sharp gaze fixed on the Baron’s trembling form. His lips curled into a faint growl as he spoke to Suzuka, his tone calm yet laced with anger.

“I don’t mind that you emptied his pockets. Frankly, it’s more than he deserves, and knowing you, you probably left him just enough dignity to keep breathing. Consider it a service to society.”

Suzuka grinned, brushing a strand of her hair back.

 “I aim to please.”

“Now, if you don’t mind, Helen, I’d like a moment alone with my dear Uncle Gideon. There are some family matters I need to… address. You should check in with Olivia. I have a feeling she could use a break from babysitting the guards.”

Suzuka tilted her head, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes as she casually pulled off one of her gloves, revealing her slender fingers. A small, polished crystal slipped into her palm, catching the light faintly as she held it up between her fingers.

“Family matters, huh? Well, not that it’s any of my business, but I figured you might find this handy.” She stepped closer and placed the crystal into Isaac’s open hand.

“This is a voice recording crystal. I recorded your dear uncle trying to hire me to kill you. Loud and clear, every single word. Call it insurance, or just a parting gift. Either way, it’s yours.”

Isaac’s eyebrows raised slightly, and he glanced at the crystal in his hand before meeting her gaze. His voice was calm, polite, but laced with genuine appreciation. 

“Thank you, Helen. That will come in handy, indeed.”

Suzuka gave a small chuckle and shrugged as if it were no big deal.

 “I figured you’d like it. Consider it a gift for bringing me to a ball.”

She turned to leave, pausing at the door to glance over her shoulder one last time.

 “Good luck. Try not to break him too much before you find out where he stashed all his secrets.”

With that, she slipped through the door, closing it behind her with a soft click, leaving Isaac and his uncle alone in the oppressive silence of the room. 

Suzuka strolled confidently into the ballroom, her sharp eyes scanning the scene until they landed on Olivia, who was perched at the bar. Two guards sat slumped over the table next to her, their faces buried in their arms as soft snores escaped them. Suzuka couldn’t help but smirk at the sight as she approached.

“So,” Suzuka began, resting an elbow on the bar, “what’s the story with these two chums?”

Olivia rolled her eyes dramatically and let out a sigh, swirling the drink in her hand.

 “Oh, nothing worth writing home about, I assure you. At first, they were all bluster and bravado, talking big game about how great they are, how tough and unbeatable. But,” she gestured at the snoring pair with a dry chuckle, “they couldn’t even handle a few drinks. Lightweight braggarts. Pathetic, really. So, how’d it go with Baron? Was he as sleazy as expected?”

“Eh, he wasn’t too bad, honestly. For some reason he was very excited to see me. Kinda like a guy who’s been lost in the desert and finally sees, I dunno, like, a water fountain or something. Just kept throwing compliments at me left and right. Also, I could swear he liked it when I restrained him. Crazy, right? Oh, and get this—turns out he’s Isaac’s uncle.”

Olivia blinked in surprise, setting her glass down. 

“His uncle? Seriously? That’s a twist I didn’t see coming. No wonder Isaac wanted to deal with him himself.”

 “Yup, though it’s clear the family bonds are, uh, a little strained. From what I gathered, dear Uncle Gideon definitely wronged Isaac. And by the looks of it, Isaac’s upstairs delivering some overdue punishment right about now.”

For several hours, Isaac didn’t return, leaving Suzuka and Olivia to revel in the masquerade ball without a care. The two had seamlessly blended into the crowd, their elegant dresses and carefree attitudes making them seem like they belonged among the elite. They laughed, danced, and indulged in the finest delicacies the event had to offer. Eventually, they slipped into a small, empty room they’d stumbled upon.

Seated on plush chairs, they toasted to their success with a few bottles of the strongest liquor they "borrow" from the bar. 

Suddenly, their earpieces crackled to life, breaking the serene atmosphere. Isaac’s voice came through, calm but with a hint of urgency.

“Hello, can you hear me? I’m back. Sorry I left without a word. You two still here? Where are you?”

“Oh, we’re definitely still here, Isaac, enjoying each other’s company. You know, two ladies having the time of their lives.”

Suzuka, lounging nearby with a bottle in hand, chimed in with her usual playful edge.

“Are you done with your dear uncle? Or did he manage to get one over on you?”

Isaac’s voice carried a measured calm as he replied, “Yes, I’m done with him—for now. Thank you both for your help tonight. I couldn’t have done it without you.” 

There was a pause before he continued. 

“But I need to leave. Now. Will you two be alright without me? Should I escort you back home before I go?”

“Oh, don’t worry about us, Isaac. We’re big girls—we can handle ourselves. Besides, I think we’re in the mood for a little more fun before heading out. This place has so much to offer, it’d be a shame to leave just yet.”

Suzuka raised her bottle in agreement, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

“Yeah, you don’t need to babysit us. This is my first time at a nobleman’s ball, and it’s a blast! We’ll be fine. You go do whatever you need to do.”

“Alright, if you’re sure. Stay safe, both of you. If anything goes wrong, contact me.”

“Don’t worry, Isaac. We’ll call if the sky starts falling.” Olivia purred, her tone lighthearted.

“Or if we run out of drinks,” Suzuka added with a chuckle, waving the bottle in her hand despite knowing he couldn’t see her.

With a final word of thanks, Isaac signed off, leaving the two women alone once more. Suzuka leaned back in her chair, taking a long sip from her bottle before turning to Olivia with a sly grin.

“So, ready to crash another party, or should we see who else we can mess with here?”

Olivia laughed, clinking her glass against Suzuka’s bottle.

“Why not both?”