The New Elder

Chapter 8

With fatigues from the previous fight still clinging to Selina's body, she chooses to ignore them by forcing herself to visit the warehouse.

She chose to disregard the fact that she was strolling around between night and dusk; everything was required for Raiser's doom to fall.

 Slide---

Selina casts a glance inside the warehouse she has opened, the same place that will soon be transformed into a battleground.

'This place is more spacious than last time I remember.'

Jingling~ Jingling~

Sudden loud noises of chains colliding with each other's caused Selina to flinch and pull out her dagger.

'What was that noise?'

She walks closer to inspect the chains after realizing the source of the noises. “These chains should be strong enough to bind me up there.” While pulling the chains, Selina mumbles.

More than two hours have passed as Selina absorbs herself in order to prepare everything she needs for her vengeance.

'All I have to do now is place a few bombs at the entrance.' Even if Raisen manages to persuade Axel to switch sides, I won't have to worry and will be able to carry out my plan to kill her myself.'

Selina realizes that excluding the possibility of Axel's betrayal from the plan is a terrible mistake. Raisen, who was responding to his request in an unusually quick manner, is half the reason to be wary of Axel.

'It takes at least a month for Black Circle to provide such information about a long-ago assassination. Raisen must be keeping an eye on Axel, and I need to know why as insurance for my vengeance.'

After a thorough inspection of the entire warehouse, Selina steps herself out from there and prepares to once again monitor Raisen. She stays on a rooftop that could be giving her the advantage to see everything near Black Circle.

‘I should start activating these listening devices to hear clear voices.’  

Unlike yesterday, Selina does not have to wait long to record a conversation within Black Circle.

Two distinct voices are heard through the listening devices, one of which belongs to her sworn enemy.

'Please tell me everything you want to say about Axel, elder Raisen, with a brief explanation.'

“Elder Raisen, are you sure this is the right decision to give Axel Brainer the information about her sister's murderer?” asks a husky voice.

“How come it isn't correct?” she asked.

“The Brainer family has been a part of our organization for decades; in fact, they are one of the founders of Black Circle!” This person is enraged.

“They were once a valuable member of our Black Circle, but right now Axel Brainer is nothing more than a slave to carry out our secret contract.”

“Truly a heinous plan, to use the information of his sister’s murderer, Selina Hayes, who has been eliminated, as a tool to control him?” No wonder the Hayes brothers despise you until the day they die, elder Raisen.”

Slam!!

“Watch the direction you're going elder, do I have to remind you that if it weren't for my effort, you wouldn't be returning to Black Circle!” Raisen hissed angrily while slamming her hand on the desk.

“Do not rely too heavily on that little favor of yours, elder Raisen, because I will have my way to return it soon.”

With that threat, the mysterious elder has exited the room, leaving behind him a trail of loud footstep. Selina switches off her devices and swallows the information she has gathered.

“I assumed it was purely coincidental that I heard Brainer during my first encounter with Axel.” I doubt he is related to Jasmine Brainer, who was my assassination target three years ago.”

'Now I have two options: use Axel to help me eliminate Raisen and then kill him as soon as the plan is complete, or tell him in person about her intention to use his thirst for Jasmine Brainer's murderer information, similar to how she has used Daddy and Jason as pawns.'

Selina has been frozen like a statue over a new possibility that could not only derail her initial plan to use Axel's help to kill Raisen, but also increase the risk of her safety.

Another unexpected movement by the mysterious elder has captured Selina's attention, who is preoccupied with Axel's identity. She was able to improve her vision by using binoculars.

“Shadow, I have you to stay behind and become my eyes and ears to break down Raisen's plan for Axel Brainer,” a six-foot taller man with a bald head says as he exits Black Circle. The least I can do to repay the Brainer family's kindness is to keep the last descendant of them as far away from Raisen as possible.”

'It's quite a sight to see an assassin like Shadow working under another elder, especially without the presence of Light, who, in my opinion, is his partner.' Selina is taken with what she has seen.

Shadow responds with a monotone voice and stiff gesture, “I will do as you have instructed elder.”

“That is not an instruction; rather, it is a favor I requested from a friend. Please notify me if Raisen makes a move.”

As a result, this person is leaving Black Circle, leaving Shadow to disappear into the night as he has done before, to begin his task.

“What a letdown; I expected to hear more secrets from this mysterious elder. I'd like to keep track of him, but he has vanished. Tracking Shadow is also impossible due to the risk of alarming Raisen.” Selina expresses her annoyance.

Selina decides to return to the safe house with the new information she obtained from Raisen's conversation with the mysterious elder. A place that has become Selina's temporary home. At the same time, it serves as a base of operations for her ambitious revenge.

Creak...

A strong and warm ray of light finds a way to hug Selina, similar to how she was welcomed back as the current owner. She moves closer and flips the old desk under the window into a board.

It contains everything related to Selina's vengeance. Eight names of current Black Circle elders, Light and Shadow's assassination abilities, as well as their personalities, and a picture of Raisen stick in the center of the board.

'I need to add Axel Brainer's identity as Jasmine's little brother, the mysterious elder who was on Raisen's bad side, and Shadow who works with/knows him to the board.'

Her hidden board is covered in lines pointing to names and pictures, as well as several highlighted points.

“I had no idea preparing a trap could consume so much time. I went spying at night and came back in the morning.” She mumbles something. “My final preparation before resting will be to check the quantity of mini bombs.”

Selina takes a drawer from beneath her work desk and counts the explosives she has on hand.

“There are only ten of them left, which, while not ideal, should be sufficient; I take six and give him the rest.”

After everything has been sorted out, Selina goes for a couple of short walks before embracing a short but comfortable bed next to the desk and laying her stiff body for a while.

“I need to give my body as much rest as possible.”

Selina's eyes have already closed, no longer able to stay awake as a result of her exhausted body from her hard work.

***

“Where are we going, Daddy? There is so much water coming from you that you are looking like the waterfall we saw a week ago.” 

He wipes his face several times to ensure that not a single drop of sweat remains.

“Sweetheart, Selina, today we're going to see a panda, just like you've always wanted to see.”

The young lady screams with delight and is enthralled by her Daddy's words, “Really?!!”

“Of course, your Daddy is telling the truth, Selina. So, tighten your seatbelt and we can go right away,” he says as he approaches young Selina's seat.

Crash!!!

Another car intentionally crashes into Selina and her Daddy's car at full speed. Their car is rolling around five meters on the street as a result of the collision.

The temperature inside the car is rising, producing black-thick smoke, and people nearby are screaming hysterically.

“Wa!!!” Selina, the young girl, yells while crying. “Dad, my hand hurts!! Give me a hug, Daddy.”

“D-daddy? Daddy, wake up! “Wake up, there's smoke and fire inside the car.”

A silhouette tries to grab her in order for her to get out of the burning car; Selina sticks out her arm in an attempt to reach her father, as she does not want to be separated from him.

Selina is jolted awake from her slumber and screams, “No...!! Daddy!!!” Her hand instinctively tries to reach out to someone, similar to what she does in her dream.

Selina's soul is permanently scarred by the unusual dream about her past success. Her eyes can't afford to hold back the tears that are threatening to fall.

“Why is the memory I'm trying so hard to forget returning to me?” Selina murmurs. “Was it because I knew someone other than Raise knew both Jason and Daddy?”

She gets out of bed and walks over to the target board. Her hands moved up and down, causing some deviations from the original plan, which had only one intention.

Secondary Plan: Collecting information about the mysterious elder and everything he knows about Jason and Daddy.

Personal Information: One of the nine elders who still require additional information. Personality and abilities remain unknown. Shadow, one of the special assassins, has developed feelings for him.

Information is the goal.

'There are only six days left to find out more about the second elder who has appeared in Black Circle.'