A few days later, at 21:01.
In the alley, puddles reflected the colors of the neon lights.
Rachel's eyes flickered in the shadows.
After investigating the target in detail, she had decided to make Eiffel her point of entry.
This was a route Eiffel had to take, and the most secluded place to make her move.
Based on Rachel's observations over the past few days, Eiffel would pass through here in about ten minutes... give or take no more than five.
There was no denying that Rachel's ability to conceal herself was extraordinary.
It was as though she had truly melted into the darkness. Someone could stand right beside her and never notice she was there.
Exceptional concealment skills helped improve the success rate of an assassination. Although what she was about to do was not an assassination... if the target noticed anything amiss, dealing with the aftermath would become much more troublesome.
That [Steward] was no ordinary woman. Without the advantage of information, carrying out the plan would become an uphill struggle.
But...
Why wasn't she here yet?
Rachel frowned, an uneasy premonition rising within her.
Based on her usual routine, Eiffel should have appeared long ago.
Rachel glanced at the time in the upper right corner. 21:20. Forty minutes had already passed since she arrived.
A sudden sense of danger welled up inside her, forcing her to dart sideways.
A searing red light hurtled toward her with the sound of air being torn apart. The Thermal Sword slashed through the spot where she had been standing, its intense heat burning a hole through the wall.
The wall collapsed a moment later, sending rubble flying.
Watching the girl slowly emerge from the dust, Rachel's heart sank.
-[Black Valkyrie], Esnie.
Why was she here...?
Before Rachel could consider that question,