The Blood Pact Assessment concluded, with Rin and Ye Xue, partners reborn in blood and fire, emerging victorious. Their strength was recognized by the academy, but they also paid a heavy price—in battle, they once again confronted the contradiction between humanity and killing.
However, for Rin, the greatest gain was not an increase in strength, but the coveted authority to access the "Deceased's Files."
Under the scar-faced instructor's cold gaze, Rin received a specialized terminal key. This key was the gateway to the academy's deepest secrets, and his hope for truth.
"The 'Deceased's Files' contain records of all individuals who died in academy missions or were 'eliminated' by the academy," the instructor's voice was devoid of emotion. "Remember, any act of leaking archival content will be considered defection."
Rin didn't respond, merely gripping the key tightly. He knew this authority was both an opportunity and a deadly trap.
Back in the dorm, Ye Xue was already asleep, a hint of fatigue on her face, but the pain between her brows had eased somewhat. The snow owl wooden carving lay securely by her pillow.
Rin carefully activated his personal terminal and inserted the key. The screen instantly switched to the academy's internal network's highest-privilege interface, displaying numerous unfamiliar encrypted directories. He unhesitatingly selected "Deceased's Files."
A torrent of files immediately appeared, countless names and numbers scrolling like a tide. Rin's heart pounded. He took a deep breath and typed the codename he both familiarized and hated into the search bar—"Blade of Demise."
"Retrieving…"
A progress bar appeared on the screen. Rin's gaze was fixed on it, filled with both anticipation and unease. He knew he was about to touch upon the most core secret of his past life, and the truth behind his "execution."
However, when the search results appeared, Rin's pupils sharply constricted, and a chilling coldness shot up his spine.
The screen displayed only one entry:
[TOP SECRET] 'Blade of Demise' Individual File (Data Anomaly/Partially Deleted)
He clicked to enter, expecting to see detailed information about his past life, but what greeted him was a shocking blankness, as if it had been thoroughly erased. Most of the data was marked "deleted" or "inaccessible."
Rin's fingers trembled slightly. He had anticipated some restrictions on the archives, but he hadn't expected them to be so thoroughly deleted! This was not a normal "casualty" record; it was more like a meticulously planned "erasure."
He continued to scroll down, trying to find even a single clue. Finally, at the very bottom of the file, he found a very brief remark, hidden deep within the encrypted code:
[Remark]: Eradication complete, Risk Taker X still being tracked.
Rin's body stiffened abruptly. He stared intently at this remark on the screen, every word piercing his mind like a blade.
"Eradication complete"! "Risk Taker X still being tracked"!
These words exploded in his mind like thunder, bringing immense shock and confusion.
Who deleted his identity from his past life?
Clearly, someone within the academy, or a certain organization, possessed authority beyond his imagination, capable of completely erasing the identity information of the "Blade of Demise." This was certainly not something a mere instructor could do.
Why was "Risk Taker X" mentioned?
Who was "Risk Taker X"? This remark seemed to imply that his death in his past life wasn't a simple execution, but part of a larger operation, and he was just one of the "risks" to be "eradicated"? And that "Risk Taker X" was still being tracked even after his "death"!
Wasn't he already dead?
Rin's breathing quickened. If he was truly dead, why would there still be a "Risk Taker X"? Was his death in his past life merely a part of some grand scheme? Was there a deeper conspiracy hidden behind his "execution"?
A terrifying speculation, like a cold viper, slowly coiled around Rin's heart.
Was his "execution" in his past life not his true end, but merely an "eradication" operation? And was his "rebirth" also connected to this "Risk Taker X"? Or, was he, himself, that "Risk Taker X"?!
Rin's face turned ashen, his mind in chaos. He felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. He thought he had grasped part of the truth, but now it seemed what he knew was just the tip of the iceberg. He had been drawn into a conspiracy far larger and more complex than he had imagined.
What secrets did this academy, this organization that trained assassins, truly hide? What was the real mission of the "Blade of Demise"? And for whom, for what, were those erased memories and "thought re-molding" performed?
Rin clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost piercing his palms. He not only had to find the truth for Ye Xue but also for himself, for his erased identity from his past life. He could no longer passively accept everything; he had to proactively strike, to uncover the reality behind these layers of fog.
Outside the window, the night deepened, and the academy's lights flickered in the darkness, appearing even more sinister. Rin's gaze was deep and cold. He knew that this game had only just revealed its most terrifying fangs.