Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

Only the city mayor, his wife, and their young daughter remained. Though the headquarters was impressively large, their upper-ranking forces were surprisingly few. Most of the remaining personnel had been mere servants, and Edrik had already ensured their safe escape during the infiltration.

Nearly all of the city mayor's men had been dealt with by Kurogasa alone. From the composed stance of the Ninja Rat, it was obvious he hadn't broken a sweat. If anything, he'd dispatched them with minimal effort, never even drawing his signature weapon to complete the task.

The city mayor and his family stood frozen, pale and stricken with terror. The woman clutched her daughter protectively to her chest, while the mayor stumbled backward until he hit the wall, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"This is your fault!" his wife cried. "You were too arrogant! You thought you could buy off anyone? And now look where we are!"

"Shut up! This isn't the time, " the mayor snapped, but his voice cracked midway. He wiped at his forehead with a trembling hand, glancing desperately at the door as if salvation might still arrive.

"If only you had listened to me! I told you from the start not to get involved with them!"

"Papa... I'm scared," the girl whispered.

Atlas stepped forward just a few feet from the mayor. Zara moved with him, standing at his side. Both wore white masks that concealed their identities, leaving only their eyes visible.

The city mayor's voice quivered as he stammered. "What do you want? Money? I'll give you money!"

He snatched his Awakener Device and hurled it to the floor, the device skidding to a stop near Atlas's feet.

"Take it! There's plenty of money there. Take all of it! Just let us go!"

The man responsible for the death of Zara's entire family now stood before them. His terrified eyes darted between Atlas and Zara, searching for any trace of mercy.

Zara stepped forward. For years, this man had slipped through the cracks of justice, living in luxury without ever facing the consequences of his actions. But now, drenched in sweat and paralyzed by fear, he stood at the edge of the reckoning he had always managed to escape.

"He killed your family, him!"

All heads turned as the city mayor's wife broke down, her voice trembling. "I know you came here for revenge, Zara. You know exactly who's to blame."

Her hand shot out, pointing directly at her husband.

"He's the one responsible! Not me, not my daughter!" she cried, her voice cracking. "Don't look at us. He made those decisions. He's the one with blood on his hands."

"What are you saying, Callista? How?! What the fuck is wrong with your head?!" the city mayor shouted.

"She!" Callista screamed back, her finger trembling as she pointed directly at Zara. "She's here for revenge. For what you did to her family!"

"Shut up, Callista!" the mayor barked, eyes wild. "Say another word, and I swear I'll make you regret ever opening your mouth!"

But Callista ignored him entirely. She dropped to her knees in front of Zara.

"I know why you're here," she said. "For justice… for Rowen. He's the one who destroyed your family. I had nothing to do with it. I swear. I was too afraid to stop him. I didn't have the strength to speak out… I couldn't do anything."

"Callista, shut your damn mouth!" Rowen snarled, grabbing her shoulder and shoving her roughly backward.

She jerked away, recoiling as she ripped herself free from his grip. "Don't touch me, Rowen!" she spat. "Your sins are yours to carry, alone. Don't you dare pull me and my daughter into this filth you created!"

"Callista, you've crossed the line!" Rowen roared. "Selling out me? Do you honestly think throwing me under the bus will save you? Do you?! Weren't you the one who wanted more wealth? The one who pushed me to act, who begged for the luxury you now cling to like some fragile crown? You were the one who set it all in motion!"

"Don't you dare twist this, Rowen!" she screamed, stepping back as her voice cracked with rage. "I never asked for this! You are the sinner here! You're the monster! Face this by yourself. I want nothing to do with your madness! I knew nothing, and I refuse to suffer for your crimes!"

Rowen staggered, his mouth opening as if to speak, but all that came out was a broken growl. "Callista! You—!"

Then, as if something inside him snapped, he lunged at her. His hand shot out to seize her wrist, but Callista was faster. She twisted away, slapping his arm aside. He snarled and surged forward, this time catching both of her wrists, his grip tightening as the two struggled, their strength locked in desperate opposition.

"You wretch! How dare you betray me?!"

In one fierce motion, Callista leaned in, attempting to slam her forehead into his face. But Rowen saw it coming. He yanked his head back just in time. In that same moment, his hand dove into the inner lining of his coat and emerged gripping something. It was a knife.

Rowen lunged, the blade flashing as he drove it toward Callista's stomach. But she twisted at the last second, shoving his arm aside.

And then, everything stopped. A moment of frozen silence gripped the room. Both of them stood still.

The knife hadn't struck Callista. It had pierced Thessara.

Their daughter had been standing just behind them, caught in the chaos. Her eyes flew wide with shock as she looked down, mouth opening in a silent scream. Her hands shot to her wrist where the blade had grazed deep.

Blood poured between her trembling fingers, splattering to the floor as her knees buckled.

"No! No! NO! Thess!" Callista screamed as she dropped to catch her daughter.

Rowen stumbled back, his face draining of all color. The knife slipped from his shaking hand, clattering against the marble floor.

"Thess… no… Thess…" Callista whispered.

From the corridor, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed as a crowd of people rushed toward the scene. When they arrived, they froze, their eyes widening in shock at the sight before them.

Callista sat in the center of a pool of blood, her arms wrapped tightly around her daughter's body.

Just a few feet away, Rowen slumped against the wall, his entire body trembling, his hands stained with blood and disbelief.

"Please!" Callista wailed, lifting her face to the stunned onlookers. "Call an ambulance! A healer! Anyone! Please. Save my daughter!"

Atlas and his group had already vanished, leaving the chaos behind them.

"Was the girl alright?" Atlas asked.

"Yes," Edrik replied, his tone flat. "No vital areas were hit. It just looked worse because of the bleeding. She'll recover quickly."

There was a pause before Edrik continued, his eyes shifting toward Zara. "Is that enough?"

The question lingered in the air, not directed at Atlas but at the quiet girl beside him. Zara didn't answer immediately.

"Yes. That's enough," Atlas answered for her.

The city mayor had lost everything. His reputation, his power, his allies. No one would ever trust him again. The foundation he had so painstakingly built had crumbled into dust.