Chapter 175 — Ronan’s Family

Everyone fell silent, the implications settling over them like a burial shroud.

Their families were being targeted because they’d chosen to join the Mafia instead of serving Noble interests.

Because they’d dared to challenge the established order!

Because someone needed to send a message about what happened to commoners who forgot their place!

****

[Silverbrook City - Ronan’s Family Home]

Ronan’s father, Gerard, was built like his son – broad shoulders, thick muscles from years of manual labor and brown hair starting to grey at the temples.

His mother, Mira, was shorter and slighter, her black hair pulled back in a practical bun, her hands roughened from running a small bakery.

They’d received Ronan’s frantic call and mostly dismissed it as Academy stress until Mira noticed the time.

"It’s nearly midnight... Why would our boy call at midnight unless something was actually wrong?"

She stood and walked through the house, turning off all the lights, plunging the building into darkness.

Gerard followed her into the living room, his voice carrying forced confidence.

"There’s no need to fear anything. I’m here. I’ll protect you."

"Shut up!"

Mira’s hiss was sharp.

"We both don’t have high ranks! You are D rank! I only have E rank! We aren’t talented like our baby boy!"

Gerard opened his mouth to protest.

But suddenly... his hand shot out, covering Mira’s mouth, his eyes going to the window.

A vehicle had parked on the street as they were talking. It was expensive-looking.

Three men in suits emerged from it, their movements professional and coordinated.

They walked toward the house with purpose.

When they reached a reasonable distance, all three pulled out advanced firearms – sleek weapons that practically hummed with integrated Aura technology.

All three guns aimed directly at the living room window.

Silence spread as both parties exchanged gazes.

Gerard and Mira looked at each other, understanding crystallizing in that single glance.

’There’s no escaping this. We’re not strong enough.

At least... Ronan is safe. At least our boy is safe at the Academy. Hope he doesn’t seek revenge later on.’

They smiled at each other, helpless and loving, and shared what they both thought would be their final kiss.

Then... they closed their eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

BANG BANG BANG

The sound of three gunshots was heard by them.

But... no pain came.

"..."

Several seconds passed.

Gerard opened one of his eyes cautiously, then both, looking at Mira in confusion.

She did the same, her face showing equal bewilderment.

Then, they turned to look through the window.

All three assassins stood exactly where they’d been.

Except... their heads were missing.

The heads were just... gone. Necks ending in ragged stumps, blood fountaining upward and bodies still standing through muscle memory before biology registered death.

Thud Thud Thud

Then they collapsed simultaneously, hitting the street with wet thuds.

"AHHH!"

Gerard and Mira screamed together with terror visible in their eyes.

Then, a shadow passed overhead, massive wings blocking the moonlight.

It was a raven. But not any raven they’d ever seen. This thing was the size of a small aircraft, its wingspan impossibly large, its body radiating power that made their instincts scream warnings.

And standing on its back, silhouetted against the moon, was a figure in a suit.

The raven descended and the figure jumped off with casual grace, landing without sound.

He walked to the three corpses and grabbed them one by one, his enhanced strength making the dead weight irrelevant.

He threw each body toward the raven.

Crunch Crunch Crunch

The massive bird’s beak opened wide, swallowing each corpse in a single gulp.

Gerard and Mira stood frozen at their window, watching this impossible scene unfold.

The figure and the raven turned to look directly at them.

Even through the darkness and distance, they could feel the weight of that gaze.

"Head towards Tranquil City and live there from now on."

The voice carried clearly despite the distance.

Then the figure jumped back onto the raven, and both disappeared into the night sky with speed that seemed to break physics.

"..."

Several seconds of complete silence followed.

Then Gerard found his voice.

"W-What the fuck just happened? Was that actually a beast? And how was a human commanding it?"

SMACK.

Mira’s hand caught the back of his head with practiced accuracy.

"Didn’t you hear what he said? Pack your things! We’re moving to Tranquil City RIGHT NOW!"

"But we don’t even know who that guy was! He could be–"

SMACK.

"That person just saved our lives! He’s probably one of our son’s friends from that organization he joined!"

Gerard rubbed the back of his head, muttering under his breath.

"That son of a bitch has such a frightening friend..."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BITCH?!"

Mira’s yell echoed through the neighborhood as she chased her husband into the house to begin emergency packing.

****

Kuro flew faster than he’d ever flown before, his C+ rank pushed to absolute limits, his wings creating sonic booms with each powerful beat.

Damian crouched on his back, using his own telekinesis and Aura to assist Kuro.

It helped in reducing air resistance, adding forward momentum and pushing them both beyond normal capabilities.

"Faster! We don’t have much time!"

His voice carried desperation unusual for someone normally so controlled.

Kuro’s mental response came through their bond, wordless but clear.

’I’m trying! Flying as fast as possible!’

Damian’s mind was already working through tactical assessments.

’Omega Point Level 3: Channel Shot. Three simultaneous headshots at extreme range. All three C rank targets were eliminated instantly.

Gun art is more powerful than I thought. I need to focus more training time on ranged combat. Can’t rely solely on close-quarters fighting style.’

His hat had blown off somewhere over Silverbrook City, lost to the wind.

But it didn’t matter... Nothing mattered except reaching the next location before it was too late.

The landscape blurred beneath them, cities becoming strings of lights.

Kuro’s breathing was labored, his enhanced stamina being depleted rapidly.

But he didn’t slow down.

Not while Damian was radiating this much urgency and fear.

Meadowfield City appeared on the horizon, its lights brighter than the surrounding areas.

"There! Northeast section! The address Ariana sent!"

Damian’s enhanced perception and macro vision skill picked out specific buildings even at this distance.

Kuro adjusted his flight path, diving toward the target with wings tucked for maximum speed.