Gary Hayes' Request

Chapter 10 

Gary is burdened with massive guilt for hearing his friend's desperate question. He never expected that Joan would think Jasmine Brainer could still be alive like himself.

"I offer you my apologies, my friend, but Jasmine Brainer is no longer in this world with us. What I mean by taking you to see her is none other than visiting her grave."

"Mon ami, if it's possible, I'd prefer to pay my honor to Jasmine Brainer first, before lending you a hand to save your daughter."

"Not when Shadow is still working together with Light under the direct order of Raisen. The worst scenario is when Light gets in our way after he becomes aware of Shadow’s unusual movements. This could lead to another scheming of Raisen to control Axel Brainer."

"Bon alors, mon bon ami Gary, this time I'll follow your lead and patiently wait for the right moment to visit Jasmine Brainer."

Shadow who keeps quiet and refrains from getting involved in the conversation regarding Jasmine Brainer, finally speaks. "I have a question, Master. Is the reason behind my code name, perhaps related to your past as an active associate of Black Circle?" Shadow asks in a curious tone.

"More or less Shadow, seeing you reminds me of the hardship I’ve been through in my past life. Also, I assume the code name Shadow fits you better than I am."

Although Shadow did not respond, the satisfied look on his face perfectly described how he felt about Gary's words.

"Now Shadow, I need you to share the information about Light in detail. His personality, fighting style, real name, background, and relationship. Everything you know to make it easier to analyze him."

Shadow's facial expression has changed following his Master’s inquiry about Light. With no trace of hesitation or guilt, he describes his partner's information.

"The code name is Light. His actual name and background are not recorded or listed in Black Circle's associate database. So far, the only thing I can say about him is his relationship with the elder Raisen, to whom he has been assigned as a special assassin on her direct order. His fighting style could be different, judging from the target he has to eliminate. The common style he often used was fighting while provoking his opponent to prolong the fight and satisfy his urge for fighting. However, while he fights against Selina Hayes, Light switches from a fighting maniac into a cold-blooded assassin. Light shares a similar trait with elder Raisen, which is that he wishes his name to be known as Jason Hayes and he wants respect from other assassins. That is the possible information I could share with Master Gary." 

Gary comes up with a straightforward question, "Who will walk out intact if the two of you were to go against each other Shadow?"

Shadow doesn’t expect such a question to appear in his life, yet he hasn't shown bewilderment in his body language.

"I am confident of taking Light down, Master Gary. I have been observing his ways of assassinating, fighting, and provoking to the point where I already have a countermeasure in case, I have to face up against him."

An urge to hear Shadow’s opinion comes and whispers itself inside Joan, who has been listening in quiet. With his curiosity now rising, Joan starts rubbing his white beard.

"Now I wonder, Shadow, is Light someone you have acknowledged as your equal in the Black Circle? Rumor has it that it’s not easy to gain your approval as your equal; not even the elders of Black Circle have managed to earn your respect. Sometimes, I question how I have earned your respect. "

"As someone who has done many elimination tasks with him, I found myself at least on the same level as Light. Furthermore, I cannot fully object to the rumor you have mentioned because half of it might be true, elder Joan."

Gary, on the other hand, is enjoying his friend's amusing question with some silent chuckles. Shadow's personality will respond to everything seriously, and Joan’s interest makes it look fun to watch.

"Let's stop with the question solely based on a rumor. Joan, my instruction for you could be more difficult than Shadow’s-"

"Are you looking down on me, Gary? This old Joan is still able to do some assassination tasks like a recruit. " he was angry.

"If the instruction is to eliminate Raisen or Jason, I have no doubt your skills are still as dependable as in the heydays, but your instruction is to leave some traces for my daughter."

"That is a different thing indeed. What traces do you wish me to give to your daughter?"

Regret has landed in Joan's heart; he never expected that simple question could bring sorrow to his best friend's side. Gary reveals the look of those elderly who are ready to die of guilt.

"Please pretend to have a piece of an envelope that contains my last will from ten years ago. Try to make it look less obvious and distract her from the initial plan she has made with Axel Brainer."

"Gary, I did not like this instruction at all. To me, it sounds as if you have no intention of returning to your daughter’s side after being separated for ten years."

Gary's hand was reaching out to Joan to give him a little pat on his shoulder. "Joan, honestly, I just want to run at my daughter, hug her, and whisper that I have returned home. However, what she has done to the Brainer family is the reason I chose to remain dead. We both learned the other codename of the Brainer lineage held in the Black Circle."

Joan's breath has been held from the word he carefully chooses to say, "The Avenger!"

He can no longer remain calm. He was rising from the couch and blurting out the possible way to solve the revenge nature of the Brainer family.

"Shadow! Make an official appointment with the young Brainer. A good explanation of her sister’s assassination may not be able to erase his desire for revenge. At least we could persuade him to change his elimination target."

"Yes, elder Joan-"

Gary replies to his friend’s panic instruction order with a gesture to make Shadow stay on his chair.

"Do not give him unnecessary instructions, Joan. I’ve been considering so many options in my head to arrive at this decision and I hope you will give me your concern."

""But why, mon ami,

why?!!" Joan shouts, in an upset voice.

"Selina has enormous honor for Jason, who stays beside her in the absence of a father figure. This is also the cause of Jasmine Brainer’s death, which was listed intentionally on Selina’s assassination target by Jason, affirming the fact that she is Jason's killing doll."

"That is already plenty of a reason to persuade Axel Brainer that Selina was a fall victim of your brother’s scheme."

"But not enough as payment for her one and only relative. Even if we tell him who is responsible for Jasmine Brainer’s death, he will keep going after Selina as the killer. The worst possibility I could imagine is that he comes at me and plans to take advantage of my death to hurt my daughter as a reminder of how he felt back then."

Surprised, amazed, and disbelief is written all over Joan’s and Shadow’s faces. They, who could refer to themselves as great assassins, did not think of such possibilities as Gary did.

"Don’t look at me like that, Joan. I know it is difficult for you, the one who has found me from death. However, I also didn’t want my daughter to mourn for the second time, nor did I want to experience the same pain of losing someone I hold dear."

The last sentence makes a tear fall from Gary’s eyes. For a moment, the three of them remain silent.

"Se bien! I will no longer object and will give you my full support, Gary."

"Let's, stop being dramatic about my situation."

Shadow broke the silence with his question to his master, "Master, are you perhaps also suspecting Light of disguising his relationship with Jason Hayes by pretending to be the elder Raisen’s loyal assassin?"

"There is a possibility, but I don't have enough evidence to support my guess at him. I want to focus more on gathering information about Raisen and Axel Brainer. Shadow, does she have some plan or appointment with Brainer today? "

"There was one appointment with Axel Brainer. It was held in the Black Circle, to be more specific, within the elder's chamber. The appointment was canceled and has been scheduled for six days from now, all because the elder feels insulted by Axel Brainer’s question about the part of the contract, he has to give her in return."

"Do you know the reason why Selina is targeting either one of you?"

Shadow explains the unexpected situation with Selina Hayes to Gary, who is perplexed. The fact that she is still alive itself has already taken a toll on Shadow’s mind. However, he was still able to deliver a suggestion to his master.

"The possible reason I could think of is Selina Hayes's plans to gather information about elder Raisen and what she has been planning for Axel Brainer. It is also possible that she overheard elder Joan’s wish to keep the young brainer from the Black Circle." 

Joan cuts in the conversation between the two of them, "The question is how? How could she have managed to eavesdrop on our conversation, even though we were careful about where to speak."

Shadow turns his face to look at his master before slightly nodding at him. "I believe Master Gary has already figured it out."

"Tell me, Gary, don't make me curious for a long time!" Joan begs his friend.

"Listening devices! Selina must have sneaked around Black Circle, installing those devices. No wonder you are not aware of her actions. I recall each device has its range limit and if she manages to plant different types of listening devices, not even the talk outside the Black Circle, not even the classified conversation within the elder’s chamber could reach her ears."

"Yes, it is the most reasonable answer to Selina’s way of gathering information. Master’s instruction has now become more difficult to execute, because of the risk of Selina finding out Master Gary’s presence has risen."    

"Gary, I hate to say this in front of you, but Jason Hayes has trained your daughter into an assassin to be reckoned as the successor to the throne of Black Circle."