The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

There was a heavy silence in the room when the masked man dropped the name. After a brief moment passed, the masked woman finally spoke.

"Deploy all active hitmen in the Eastern Region. Take her out. No mistakes." The call ended, and the man in the dim room sighed.

He pressed a button on his device, and a projection of another figure appeared. "Number 81, recall number 91 and deploy all active hitmen. Target: Cynthia Ross. Duration: two days." He ended the call immediately after giving the order.

The man reopened the projection of the post on the dark web again. Looking at the dead bodies, he sighed. A while later, far from his location, 19 individuals received the same kill order through a certain device.

Some were delivery workers, others were teachers in the middle of a classroom, and some were just office workers. But the moment their devices beeped, their faces turned serious. They knew what they had to do.

Meanwhile, Klaus, who was brushing his teeth, heard a familiar beep coming from his bed. He walked to the bed, picked up the device, and read the order. A smile crept onto his face before he returned to brushing his teeth.

He had taken everything from Number 91 during his interrogation. All the intel, all the contacts. He knew this would be useful, and now the kill order for Cynthia Ross was right there on his screen. He had always suspected she had a dark side, and now he knew he was right.

The Dark Order hadn't even considered Klaus' presence in Hiroshi City. They immediately assumed Cynthia was the culprit, which could only mean one thing.

She had past dealings with the Dark Order. Maybe she had killed some of their operatives, or perhaps the bounty on her was so high that she had become a prime target. Either way, the hunt was on.

Klaus wanted nothing more than to seize this opportunity to learn more about his mother-in-law. He intended to use her as bait to lure in the assassins coming after her.

Understanding the Dark Order was crucial; he needed to know his enemies. Each kill would provide him with valuable information on where to strike next and who to target. So this was like a gold mine for him.

After brushing his teeth, he headed to the kitchen for breakfast. Once he was done, he left to visit his mother-in-law at the Ross Mansion.

"Master Klaus, what brings you here today? Miss Anna is in seclusion," Henry the butler greeted him, as always.

"Oh, Henry, I'm not here to see Anna. I actually came to see her mother," Klaus replied casually.

"Shouldn't you be calling me Mother-in-Law instead?" Immediately Klaus replied Henry, a voice that he recognised so well filled the air. He turned toward the source of the voice.

And there she was—Cynthia Ross, walking toward him. Her hourglass figure, slender legs, and generous curves were captivating like always, while her long grey hair flowed behind her like a veil. She appeared both magical and dangerous. Klaus knew he shouldn't look directly into her grey eyes, yet he found it hard to look away. Despite his efforts, he felt slightly shaken.

'This woman is dangerous,' Klaus muttered to himself. Looking into those eyes is like staring into an empty bottomless dark pit.

"Oh, Mother-in-law, just the woman I was hoping to see on this fine morning," Klaus said smoothly. He wasn't one to let a mere presence throw him off his game.

"I wouldn't be honest if I said I wasn't also looking forward to starting my day with such a handsome presence," Cynthia Ross said, causing Klaus to smile weakly.

'She sounds friendly, I guess', he thought, letting out a sigh.

"Do you have a moment for a talk, Mother-in-law?" Klaus asked, trying to keep his tone light.

Cynthia's expression shifted slightly, curiosity dancing in her grey eyes.

"Of course, Klaus. What's on your mind?" she asked, gesturing for him to follow her into the Ross Garden. Henry stepped back, sensing he wasn't needed anymore.

Once they were seated, Klaus sighed, unsure of how to start the conversation. He knew that one way or another, he would have to confess a few things—like how he knew she was in danger and what he did to get that information. He thought it over carefully before sighing again. One way or another, he had to achieve what he came for, so there was no point in trying to stay composed now.

With his mind made up, Klaus decided to drop the bombshell right off the bat.

"Mother-in-law, why is the Dark Order trying to kill you?"

Cynthia's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She remained composed, but Klaus could feel the tension in her eyes.

"How did you know that?" Instead of answering, Cynthia shot back a question, her tone, curious.

"Just answer the question, Mother-in-law. They seem adamant about wasting you away," Klaus pressed, his tone firm yet cautious. He knew he had to tread carefully, but he was determined to get to the truth.

Cynthia studied him for a moment. She seemed to weigh her words, and for a brief moment, there was no sound between them. Finally, she sighed, leaning back slightly. "Very well, Klaus. But understand, this isn't a simple matter."

Klaus leaned in, eager for more. "I'm listening."

Cynthia took a moment. "The Dark Order has a long memory. They don't forget easily, especially those who cross them. I was once involved in a business that put me at odds with them. It was a dangerous game, and I made some enemies along the way."

Klaus nodded, absorbing her words. "So, you think they want revenge?"

"Revenge is part of it," she continued, her tone growing serious. "But it's more than that. I possess information—secrets that could undermine their operations. They want me silenced before I can share what I know."

Hearing this, Klaus knew he had struck gold, yet he knew he knew it would put him in danger. But he doesn't care "What kind of information?"

Cynthia's eyes narrowed again. "It's best you don't know too much, Klaus. The more you learn, the more danger you put yourself in. But know this: the Dark Order is relentless. If they're coming for me, they won't stop until they succeed."

Klaus leaned back, weighing her words. "What if I could help you? They've tried to kill me twice already, so it's only natural I hit back at them."

Cynthia raised an eyebrow, skepticism flickering in her grey eyes. "Klaus, dear, you wouldn't happen to be the one who killed those 37 people, would you?" She had seen the post on the dark web, just like most people had.

"Tomato, tomato," Klaus shrugged, an evil grin spreading across his face. "The most important thing here, Mother-in-law, is how you and I are going to work together to get back at our pursuers."

Cynthia studied him for a moment, her expression shifting. The initial surprise faded, replaced by a calculating look. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

"Absolutely," he replied, his voice steady. "We both have something to lose. If we don't act now, we will forever have to endure knowing they could come at any point, even putting the ones we love in danger"

Cynthia leaned forward, her curiosity deepening. "And what do you propose?"

"That will depend on what secret you have about the Dark Order," Klaus replied, his expression serious.

Cynthia studied him for a while weighing her options. Finally, she let out a long sigh, her posture relaxing slightly. "Very well. I'll share what I know, but you must promise to keep it between us."

Klaus nodded, sensing the gravity of the moment. "I promise."

Cynthia took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Years ago, I was involved with someone who had deep ties to the Dark Order. She shared some information she shouldn't have with me about their operations, their networks, and their goals. When I realized how dangerous they were, I cut ties with her, but not before learning things I shouldn't have."

"What kind of things are we talking about here?" Klaus pressed

She hesitated, glancing around as if ensuring they were truly alone. "They have a list of targets—people they consider threats. Warriors, Scientists, engineers, you name it. But that isn't all, thanks to my curious self, I managed to know about a few powerhouses funding the Dark Order.

Klaus raises an eyebrow

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