Dusk

Fuse steadied his breathing, gradually revealing a smile.

"You could take a gamble—perhaps I'm the legendary Sakrael, and perhaps I'm only bluffing. Maybe this is just a flash or a smoke screen?"

He shook the sphere in his hand, and it immediately emitted an unsettling hum.

The Execution Knight stared fixedly at the sphere, the veins on his hand nearly bursting through his skin.

Tales' eyes widened.

How did it come to this...

"I have to say, everything just now left quite an impression on me, Execution Knight," Fuse said with a vicious grin.

"Looks like your blade hasn't dulled with age."

Sakrael snorted disdainfully.

"As for you, Your Highness," the assassin leader turned toward Tales and panted lightly, "you exceeded my expectations as well."

"But wouldn't it be a shame for you to die here with me?"

Tales stared at Fuse, biting his lower lip.

With this added factor, the situation had once again slid in a direction beyond their control.

The Prince looked toward Yordel, but the Masked Guard merely shook his head gently.

Damn it.

"Let him go, Fuse." Tales took a deep breath before speaking gravely. "In the name of Brilliant Star, I promise that you can leave here safely."

Sakrael glanced at Tales.

But Fuse shook his head, his smile unchanged.

"No, Your Highness."

"Do you think I went to all this trouble to come here just so I could 'leave safely'?"

Fuse sneered. "The Phantom Shadow never dies, because we fear no death."

He slowly pulled a bottle from his robes and, under Sakrael's wary gaze, let it roll to a stop between the two sides.

"This is only the most ordinary Sleeping Potion, Your Highness. I swear it won't have any side effects," Fuse said with a light chuckle. "Please have your legendary