The victory in the Blood Pact Assessment granted Rin unprecedented access, and unveiled deeper secrets of the academy. However, he had little time to digest this information. An unprecedented sense of crisis, like a shadow, clung to him. He constantly felt that something was quietly descending from the darkness.
A few days later, the academy received an unexpected visitor. He claimed to be a "Central Adjudicator," stating his purpose was a routine inspection of the academy's recent assessments and missions. This man wore a deep gray uniform, unlike anything seen in the academy before. His face was gaunt, his eyes profound, and every movement carried a suffocating gravitas. Wherever he went, all instructors were deferential, and cadets dared not even breathe.
While eating in the mess hall, Rin inadvertently caught sight of this "Adjudicator" walking nearby. With just a fleeting exchange of glances, Rin's body stiffened abruptly. Deep within those seemingly calm eyes, Rin sensed an aura he knew intimately—the distinctive coldness and scrutiny belonging to the assassin organization he served in his past life.
"He's not from the academy," Rin's heart sank. This "Central Adjudicator" was clearly the shadow of the vast and mysterious assassin organization from his past life!
He began covertly observing the Adjudicator's movements. The Adjudicator moved through the academy, holding secret meetings with high-ranking instructors, but his gaze always lingered, seemingly unintentionally, on Rin and Ye Xue. He would pause by the training grounds, observing their combat skills; he would stop outside mission briefing rooms, seemingly listening to their conversations; even when Ye Xue was alone, he would watch her from afar, with a cold and precise gaze.
Rin's intuition told him he was being watched. This feeling was identical to when he was targeted by enemies during missions in his past life.
He feigned nonchalance, avoiding the Adjudicator's gaze, and secretly activated his personal terminal's encrypted eavesdropping program. He knew that in a place like the academy, any secret communication could leave traces.
Finally, late one night, Rin intercepted a specially encrypted communication. He quickly decrypted it, and when he heard the content, his heart wrenched, and a chill went straight to his bones.
On the other end of the communication was a vague, low voice, carrying an air of supreme authority.
The Adjudicator's voice, in contrast, was exceptionally respectful, even with a hint of barely concealed excitement:
"[Report]: Central directive received. Target subject 47 exhibited abnormal performance during the 'Blood Pact' trial; both his physical instincts and mental activity exceeded expectations. Assessment: appears to be in a state of recovery."
"'Cold Moon' individual's status also shows fluctuations, with increased correlation to target subject 47. Recommend continued observation."
"Should backup protocols be initiated? Awaiting instructions."
The communication ended quickly, but the information it contained churned in Rin's mind like a tempest.
"Target subject 47 appears to be in a state of recovery."
"Subject 47!"
Rin's pupils sharply constricted. This designation was all too familiar! It was his codename in the organization in his past life!
The "Central Adjudicator" was indeed from his past life's organization! They were still tracking him even after his "death and rebirth," and even knew he was "recovering"! So, was his "rebirth" also under their control? The erased "Blade of Demise" file, the remark "Risk Taker X still being tracked"—all the mysteries now pointed in the same direction: that mysterious and vast organization!
"'Cold Moon' individual's status also shows fluctuations, with increased correlation to target subject 47. Recommend continued observation."
Ye Xue was being monitored by them too! Her memory backlash, her emotional fluctuations, even her dependence on him, were all observed and recorded by this organization! They called her "Cold Moon individual," which was clearly her codename from his past life!
An unprecedented chill ran through Rin. He had always thought the academy was merely an institution for training assassins. But now it seemed it was just a branch of that mysterious organization, a training camp they used to screen and cultivate "weapons"! And he and Ye Xue, from the very beginning, were just pawns on their chessboard!
"Risk Taker X…" The remark from the deceased's file flashed in Rin's mind. If he was "Risk Taker X," then what exactly did that organization want from him? Why did they "eradicate" him, and why did they continue tracking him after his "recovery"?
Rin's face was ashen. For the first time, he felt a complete distrust of the academy, and of the world he was in. Everything here, from the moment he arrived, might just be an elaborately designed cage, a colossal lie.
He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails almost digging into his palms. Anger, vigilance, and fear of the unknown intertwined within him. He had to be more careful, more powerful than ever before. He had to find the truth for Ye Xue, and for himself, for both of them, he had to carve out a true path to survival within this massive conspiracy!
Outside the window, the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, and the entire academy was plunged into darkness. Rin's eyes gleamed with a cold, eerie light, like a panther lurking in the shadows, preparing for its next lethal leap. A deeper game had officially begun.