Time raced on, with some racing against it.

It was a night devoid of rain or wind, clear and dry, perfect for visibility—a sniper's dream. External conditions like a gust of wind or a sudden downpour could throw off a shot, but tonight's weather was ideal for sniping, and that was the main reason Cyrus had chosen this method of assassination.

En route home to rendezvous with Argentum, Cyrus received a dossier from Red detailing the profiles of the entire squad involved in the harbor bombing mission. She paid special attention to Thornrose and Python's information, familiarizing herself with their abilities.

22:27

Cyrus returned home to find Argentum was out, acquiring equipment from the arsenal.

22:28

Cyrus and Thornrose communicated to confirm the night's route and the designated sniping location.

Thornrose activated her location tracker and wiretap, linking to Cyrus's communicator, allowing Cyrus to track her in real-time and eavesdrop on her conversation with Python.

22:41

Cyrus contacted Red to request an auxiliary squad to block off routes, preventing Python's escape in the event of a failed assassination attempt.

"Agreed. I trust your marksmanship, but we still need a fallback," Red said. "The auxiliary squad will be under my remote command. You just focus on your shot."

22:50

Argentum returned with the equipment.

Cyrus checked the weapons and donned her gear while Argentum finished off the roasted lamb she had brought home.

23:00

Cyrus and Argentum left for the designated sniping location.

23:01

Python concluded his transaction and left the gambling den, contacting Thornrose.

"Boss lady, done with your beauty routine? Oh, finished, I see," Python said obsequiously over the communicator. "Heh, I've just had my dinner too, heading your way now."

"You didn't sneak off to gamble, did you? After the mission, gamble all you want, but now's not the time," Thornrose's voice was stern.

Python quickly assured her, "Of course not, just grabbing a bite. You know I need to eat well to work hard!"

"You'd better be."

Thornrose ended the call and immediately messaged Cyrus: "Vice-commander, he's on his way. We'll meet at Conch Street in fifteen minutes and then head to Dock No. 5."

"Roger that," Cyrus replied.

23:16

Thornrose and Python met at the scheduled time.

Python fawned over Thornrose, "Boss lady, your new manicure looks great!"

"Save the flattery, let's move," Thornrose commanded.

23:17

Cyrus and Argentum arrived at the sniping spot—an abandoned lighthouse at the old docks.

Before the harbor expansion, the lighthouse guided ships home. After the renovation, the docks extended into the sea, and the new floating harbor required taller, brighter lighthouses, rendering the old lighthouse obsolete.

23:23

Cyrus climbed to the top of the lighthouse, emotionlessly assembling the K80 from the case she carried. She loaded the bullets methodically, set up the tripod, and attached the silencer.

She breathed on the scope, wiped it clean to ensure clarity, and peered through it to survey the street for suspicious figures.

"What are you aiming at? They're not even here yet," Argentum asked, bored.

"Shut it, don't make a sound," Cyrus replied ruthlessly.

Argentum remained silent.

23:24

Red's voice came through Cyrus's earpiece: "Auxiliary squad in position, street's locked down. He won't get away."

"Copy that," Cyrus acknowledged.

She pulled away from the scope, glancing at her wrist projection. On the map, green dots representing their team encircled the street like a noose. Python was the boar, and they had laid a net on his path—once he appeared, they would tighten the snare.

23:26

Thornrose's wiretap transmitted sounds to Cyrus's ear.

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Python: "Boss lady, I ate too much; need to take a dump."

Thornrose: "Why so many issues?"

Python: "Can't hold it in when nature calls..."

Thornrose: "Get it done fast! Any delays, and you'll regret it!"

Python dashed into a public restroom.

23:32

Argentum commented, "Why's he have to go now? What's taking him so long... I'm getting impatient."

23:32

Python mentally prepared himself in the restroom stall, holding the glass tube with the Hidden Threadworm.

"I'll pretend to casually touch her shoulder and release the worm. She won't notice... No, that's too intimate for our history. The closest we've gotten is her slapping me... Damn, that still makes me angry!"

"Claim there's something in her hair and help her remove it, then drop the worm? That seems forced... Perhaps I'll lag behind a bit and release it then. That might work."

Python tried to take deep breaths to calm down but remembered this was a restroom, notoriously filthy in the harbor district. Deep breathing here would likely result in vomiting.

He slapped his own face to stay alert, then left the stall to wash his face.

He usually wore gloves, which would prevent the threadworm from penetrating easily. When the time came, he'd open the tube in his pocket, stealthily place the worm on Thornrose's hair.

There were no sensory nerves in the hair; the worm could fall on it unnoticed. Once it burrowed in, Thornrose would no longer control his every move.

Python pocketed the tube and composed his expression before exiting the restroom.

Thornrose, impatient, checked the time: "We should've been close to our destination by now."

"Let's hurry," Python said, feeling guilty.

Thornrose turned and led the way, with Python trailing two steps behind, looking for his chance.

23:34

Red reported, "The target is on the move again."

"Got it," Cyrus was all focus.

Her new mask had night vision capability, but she still brought spare night goggles. Assisted by night vision and the scope, nothing on the dock streets escaped her watchful eye.

The docks were quiet and deserted tonight due to a series of bombings. Dock No. 5 was temporarily shut down, busy with workers and machinery repairing the dock by day, empty at night.

The lighthouse, now devoid of its guiding light, stood as a silent sentinel at the dock.

The dark barrel of the gun protruded from the top window of the lighthouse, hidden by the night. No one noticed someone was lurking in the lighthouse.

23:36

Python, confident Thornrose wasn't looking back, silently twisted open the glass tube.

He quickened his pace to catch up to Thornrose and swiftly deposited the worm on her head.

But he underestimated Thornrose.

Her keen senses detected the change in airflow, and she dodged reflexively, her right hand instinctively reaching for her head.

Had Thornrose been unaware of Python's betrayal, her reaction wouldn't have been so swift. But knowing he was a traitor made her wary; she no longer trusted him as before.

Thornrose turned, maintaining distance from Python, her expression and demeanor shifting to one of cold ferocity.

Suddenly, the hand that had brushed her hair felt a slight itch. Looking closer, she saw a tiny red threadworm burrowing into her skin, leaving only a tail visible.

With no hesitation—a trait honed from countless missions and brushes with death—Thornrose drew her knife from her belt and, in one swift motion, severed her right hand.

With a swift slash, blood sprayed, staining the ground crimson as her manicured hand fell to the floor.

"Python..." Murderous intent filled Thornrose's eyes.

Python took a step back, his mind buzzing.

"Traitor!" Thornrose scoffed. "Thought you could outsmart me? You're still green. You made me ruin my manicure... I'll carve you up!"

With their peaceful façade shattered and no need for secrecy, Python realized Thornrose was on guard against him. The illusion of peace between them had been broken.

Once the illusion was broken, the only option was to escalate the conflict.

Thornrose's left hand gripped the knife, now glowing with an orange hue akin to molten lava. The temperature of the blade rose until the air around it began to distort.

Holding the red-hot knife to the stump of her wrist, she cauterized the wound with a sizzle.

Python, realizing his cover was blown, thought only of escape.

Thornrose knew he was a traitor! How did she find out? And when?

Had she reported his betrayal to Red, to headquarters? Was someone... lying in wait to ambush him?

Fear took hold of Python's mind. He activated his supernatural ability, a thin layer of blood-red flames wrapping his body, his muscles swelling to nearly double their size. He turned and bolted, his steps erratic.

Thornrose, injured, was at a significant disadvantage. An awakened being of Class B, her power "Blazing Blade" could superheat metal to slice through anything like a hot knife through butter.

Python's power "Blood Aflame" allowed him to burn his own blood for a boost in strength—a self-destructive ability that, despite being only Class C, enabled him to match a Class B awakened being in short bursts. His bulging muscles were so dense that ordinary bullets would get stuck without causing significant damage.

Only a weapon like the K80 could penetrate Python's flesh.

As Cyrus ran, she spotted a couple of bikers on the street. She halted, then darted over and knocked them out with a single punch each.

"Can you ride a bike?" Cyrus asked. "You drive, I aim. Keep it steady."

"I can," Argentum straddled the bike, gripping the handlebars.

Cyrus settled behind him, adjusting her stance, and with the roar of the engine, they shot off like an arrow from a bow.

"Bitch!" Python's eyes turned crimson as he lunged back at Thornrose, ready to tear her apart.

Thornrose didn't engage him directly. With her strength diminished from the injury and naturally weaker than Python's, she fought smart, wielding her metal whip to fend him off.

She dodged his lunges and struck back with scorching lashes, leaving searing marks on his flesh. Time and again, Python couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes.

He reached for his gun, but Thornrose's whip knocked it away before he could fire.

Python thought of fleeing, but the agile whip kept ensnaring his limbs, forcing him to stay and fight. Once, he nearly got strangled by it.

In his "Blood Aflame" state, Python truly felt no fatal harm, but the red-hot lashings were painfully real. His clothes charred, his body emitting a smell of cooked meat.

Determined, he grabbed the whip mid-strike, enduring the searing pain to pull Thornrose toward him, intending to finish her off.

That's when he faintly heard the rumble of a bike engine.

And with it, the sound of bullets firing from a silenced gun.

"Thwack—"

A hole appeared in his chest.

Python's grip on the whip loosened, the blood flames on his body seeming to freeze.

23:39

Cyrus and Argentum arrived at the battlefield!

Argentum drove the bike in a straight line, allowing Cyrus to maintain a steady shooting posture.

Cyrus fired again, the silencer emitting a soft sound as bullets flew, each one hitting Python, the force of the impact causing his body to jerk violently.

After emptying ten rounds, Argentum's water rope ensnared Cyrus, and they rolled off the bike.

The bike continued its momentum, crashing into Python and exploding into flames upon impact.

Python's muscular form collapsed, flames engulfing him, motionless.

"Vice-commander," Thornrose managed a smile for Cyrus.

Only now did she have the chance to inject herself with a healing agent.

"Mission complete! Just a bit noisy," Argentum said with ease.

Cyrus approached Thornrose, but at that moment, she felt a sudden pulse at her temple.

She glanced toward the flaming bike, where Python's charred toes twitched. His eyes snapped open, he lifted the bike, and hurled it at Cyrus.

"I was planning to prepare before using it..." Python spat out the vial of divine blood, rising from the flames, his eyes bloodshot.