"Won't you invite me in?" The smiling man spread his arms, intending to show he meant no harm, but Sakura merely stood in the doorway, watching him with an icy expression.
She scanned the man up and down, her gaze lingering on the blade in his hand for a few seconds. She said seriously, "What was the matter with the target you provided me today?"
"His being killed by an enemy was unexpected on my part." The man made a regretful expression. "Perhaps this is just the wicked receiving their just deserts."
"Is that so?" Sakura didn't trust his words. Too many things were suspicious today.
"Heh heh, didn't I help clear your suspicion later? Forget-Me-Not, who eliminates threats to humanity, cannot be wrongly accused."
A flash of disgust crossed Sakura's face: "Just an assassin. Don't make it sound so noble."
"Assassin? No, no, Miss Forget-Me-Not. From the data and records I have collected, none of the targets you have accepted can be counted as 'humans.'" The man displayed a respectful expression, which only made Sakura detest his pretentious manner more. "How can those who harm others be considered 'human'?"
"You speak of 'humanity' too nobly. I don't even know your true identity. Are you perhaps trying to be a savior of humanity?"
"A savior... hmm..."
The man savored the word, nodding with satisfaction: "You are correct. I do indeed intend to save humanity."
"...Heh, please leave." Sakura scornfully glanced at him and turned to go back inside.
"Please wait."
The man took a step sideways with a smile. The blade in his hand precisely blocked Sakura's path, instantly raising her vigilance to the maximum. All her muscles tensed.
"Although I apologize that I cannot reveal my identity with my real name, if you don't mind, you may call me the Councilman. I also hold a respectable position in the general society, and there is likely nothing in the Far East that I cannot accomplish."
"...What do you mean?"
"Nothing, Miss Forget-Me-Not. Since you have been so candid with me, I should also offer a little sincerity and give you some necessary information, such as... who sent the email in your inbox."
"Shing!"
The elegant arc of the long blade sliced through the beautiful round moon, stopping a few millimeters from the Councilman's neck. The icy blade, enveloped in a thin layer of snow-wind, emitted a coldness that instantly froze a layer of frost onto most of the Councilman's neck and facial skin.
This is...
Sakura was startled by the power displayed by the blade.
The Councilman, with the blade at his neck, looked at the surprised Sakura, still smiling, and said, "What do you think? I believe this blade is very suitable for Miss Forget-Me-Not. This weapon was developed by one of our genius scientists. Unfortunately, the genius passed away before the weapon was unveiled. I found this weapon in his hidden R&D records and had it manufactured."
"It would be a terrible waste to give this kind of weapon to the person it was originally intended for. Why not let me present it to you?"
"...Don't change the subject." Sakura's hand gripping the blade didn't tremble at all, holding it steadily against the Councilman's neck. With just a little more force, she could sever his carotid artery. "You were monitoring me. Did you send that email? What are you trying to achieve?"
"That would be a great misunderstanding, Miss Forget-Me-Not. Why would I want you to live such a mediocre, ignorant, and easily corrupted life?"
The Councilman took a step back, avoiding the blade, and smiled at Sakura—
"However, I will not stop you if you intend to pursue that kind of life. But would you consider making your decision after hearing what I have to tell you next?"
...
"All of this is... what kind of joke is this..."
Sakura's brows were trembling. She looked at the images and text records on the communicator in her hand with disbelief.
"While I also wish it weren't true, I'm afraid this is a real disaster that has already occurred four times in secret. The closest to you would be the events in Nagazora and the Honkai disease."
The Councilman's eyebrows slanted, making him look quite helpless.
Nagazora... Honkai disease...
Sakura certainly knew about the events in Nagazora, as the disaster had been reported countless times in the news, but the true nature of the disaster had never been revealed, even after more than a year.
And the Honkai disease, a terminal illness with a 100% fatality rate that appeared after Nagazora, also had an unknown origin.
And now, everything seemed to align with this disaster called the "Honkai."
"Miss Forget-Me-Not, have you considered what you would do if the Honkai were to strike near you?"
"..."
"At that time, you chose to live a peaceful life. Perhaps it would be during a commute to work, perhaps in a peaceful dream, or perhaps... during dinner with your little sister." The Councilman rubbed his fingers together and spread them out in front of her. "Bang! Everything you hold dear would vanish into thin air."
When she heard the word "sister," Sakura's gaze wavered.
And this flicker did not escape the Councilman's eyes.
He pressed his advantage, smiling playfully: "Frankly, Miss Forget-Me-Not, I respect you greatly. Your swordsmanship and experience are incomparable to those under my command. In your presence, they would be crushed like insects. Do you remember the person you accidentally killed more than two months ago?"
"How... how could you know that?"
"His badge must be in your possession. Truth be told, he was one of my incompetent subordinates. It was from then that I started paying attention to you. I must say, your technique truly astounded me."
The Councilman gently applauded Sakura in appreciation. A strange smile flashed across his face: "But to be honest, Miss Forget-Me-Not, you are not essential to me. The human species numbers close to seventy billion people in this world. Do you truly think you are the most special one?"
"I genuinely do not want to see you and your little sister, who have the potential to fight for humanity, perish along with the complacent ones in this disaster. That is why I wish to propose a deal to you."
Sakura stared at the smile on the Councilman's face. She knew very well that probably half of what this man said was false. He was a politician, and she was merely an assassin. He intended to confuse her with words, making it impossible for her to distinguish truth from falsehood.
But even if half of it was true...
"What is the content of the deal?"
The Councilman's lips curled slightly.
"The safety of your little sister, in exchange for the life of a 'non-human' who seeks to turn humanity into monsters, and joining my affiliated unit, 'Chrysalis,' to fight for humanity."
"'Non-human'?" This was the first time Sakura had heard such a term.
"I said it before, how can those who bring harm to others be considered human? Then how can she be considered human? She is merely a rational monster."
The Councilman put his hands behind his back, squinting his eyes with a smile: "This is for the greater good of humanity—to eliminate its affliction, Forget-Me-Not... no, Miss Sakura."