The Hide-and-Seek Game Began

Over the next few days, Karen began his "game."

On the first day of their hunt for the Black Nightmare, Yuri and a lieutenant arrived at a popular bar downtown.

A subordinate ran over and saluted them. "Lieutenant Kasaf, Second Lieutenant Yuri, we've confirmed there's only one person inside the bar. The lights are on, but there's a closed sign hanging outside."

A flicker of confusion crossed Kasaf's eyes. "Someone's still inside despite the closed sign? They haven't retreated even after being discovered. Could they be an ordinary civilian?"

Yuri couldn't be bothered to think that much about it. "Why don't we just arrest him and interrogate him?"

That was what they normally did anyway. For the sake of national security, such things were as routine to them as eating and drinking.

Besides, they had already searched several Phoenix hideouts, and this was the first one with someone inside. He couldn't help wanting to learn something about the Black Nightmare as soon as possible.

Kasaf shook his head. "That's not wise. What if there are traps inside? If we rush in to arrest him and he has firearms, things could get tricky."

"I'll go in and sound him out first."

Yuri caught Kasaf as he was about to change clothes. "Lieutenant, that's too risky. Let me go instead..."

The lieutenant firmly refused. "Enough, Yuri. I know you're eager to catch the Black Nightmare, but you're too young. You lack experience, and you're impulsive."

Yuri fell silent for a moment before letting go.

He was efficient and skilled at tracking, but gathering intelligence through a face-to-face encounter really wasn't his forte.

"Understood, Lieutenant. Please be careful."

After changing clothes, Kasaf laughed. "Hahaha, Yuri, you should know that most people who go to bars for a drink are middle-aged men. Playing that role comes naturally to me."

Inside the bar, Karen had taken over the Phoenix Organization's hideout and assumed the role of a bartender.

His eyes glinted red in the dim light, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint, eerie smile.

The sight of him filled Kasaf with an inexplicable sense of dread.

What's going on? My heart suddenly started pounding... I must be too nervous. He looks barely twenty, so inexperienced. How could he possibly frighten me?

After reassuring himself for a while, he sat down at the counter.

"Welcome. We're already closed," Karen greeted Kasaf in a gentle voice.

For a moment, Kasaf wondered whether the man before him really was an ordinary civilian. Would an assassin have such a gentle voice?

It was hard to imagine!

He cautiously surveyed his surroundings, trying to find anything suspicious. Yet this was just an ordinary bar, and the young man across from him seemed equally unremarkable, his hands busy wiping a glass.

"I know, but I really want a drink. I've been feeling pretty miserable."

Karen was silent for a moment, then ran his tongue around his lips. "In that case, what would you like to drink?"

"Give me a glass of your house specialty!"

"Of course, sir."

Though Karen wasn't much of a cook, he could mix drinks. All he had to do was follow the steps.

Unlike recipes, which all said, "Add an appropriate amount."

He soon mixed a vividly colorful drink and set it in front of Kasaf.

"Please enjoy, sir. This is our house specialty-the Rainbow Aurora."

"It certainly is beautiful, just like its name." Kasaf sniffed it. It did indeed smell like alcohol.

Moreover, the bottles used to mix it had just been opened, so the chances of poison were low.

He took a small sip, then closed his eyes and remained silent for a minute.

Many lethal poisons had distinctive tastes. He hadn't detected any, and he wasn't feeling any discomfort either.

He opened his eyes. "Delicious."

"Thank you for the compliment. After all, it's made with Sila Wine and Pulu Fruit Wine from the coastal nation of Venice."

"W-what?!" Kasaf's vision swam, and then he abruptly collapsed.

"Good night." Karen smiled faintly. "The National Security Service waits one minute to test for poison when eating or drinking away from home. But drinking these two wines together puts you to sleep, and the effect takes one minute and ten seconds to kick in. How interesting."

He watched Yuri rush in from outside and beckoned to him.

"Surrender, you Phoenix Organization bastard!!" Yuri pulled a gun straight from his pocket, its black muzzle aimed at Karen.

"Oh my, another honored guest." Karen looked at Yuri and raised his head slightly.

"Don't move!! What did you do to Lieutenant Kasaf?!" Yuri roared.

"I didn't do anything. I just helped him relax those tense nerves a little." Karen calmly sat down. At this distance, he was faster than a gun.

Yuri signaled for the subordinate accompanying him to take Lieutenant Kasaf away and check on him. The man held a hand beneath Kasaf's nose. He was still breathing. He nodded to Yuri.

"I'm Second Lieutenant Yuri Black of the National Security Service. You're under arrest! Don't try to resist!!"

"Hehe, do you know... how the title of Black Nightmare came about in the Phoenix Organization?"

"What are you getting at?!" Unease stirred in Yuri's heart.

"Because... it's nighttime now." Karen snapped his fingers.

Instantly, all the lights in the street and the bar went out, leaving Yuri and his subordinate temporarily unable to see.

"Aah-"

"Aaaah!"

"What?!" Hearing his subordinate's screams, Yuri instinctively turned to look. Then a hand clamped down on him.

"Because... I can see my targets in the dark." Karen slammed Yuri hard into the floor and snatched the gun from his hand in the same motion.

"Though that isn't the main reason."

"Damn it, cough, cough!" Yuri tasted blood in his throat, but he didn't hesitate, preparing to clamp his legs around Karen.

As long as he could restrain the Black Nightmare, his colleagues would soon arrive to back him up.

Unfortunately, the instant he moved, Karen leaped high away from him and landed on a bar table.

"What adorable fighting techniques."

"Shut up!!" Yuri scrambled to his feet and swung his fists toward the place the voice had just come from.

His punches were fast, and his reactions were decent, but he had one fatal flaw...

"Too green... Those fighting techniques aren't intimidating in the least." Karen dodged at leisure. He had dealt with the National Security Service more than once and knew their basic punching techniques and patterns.

To him, Yuri's textbook punches were like a blueprint. He could see exactly where the next attack would land.

"Shut up! I worked hard to get this far. I have to protect my sister!!" Karen's taunts filled Yuri with fury, and his punches grew even faster.

"Is this that legendary thing where you attack while shouting about friendship and family?" Karen was a little astonished, then made his move.

"Your determination to protect your sister is touching," Karen's voice sounded beside Yuri's ear, "but your attacks are all too predictable-"

As Yuri's right fist missed again, a heavy blow struck his lower back, sending him stumbling into the liquor shelves amid the sound of bottles shattering above his head.

By now, he had adjusted to the darkness. He could see Karen leap into the air, spin a full three hundred and sixty degrees, and land lightly. "Unfortunately... you're not the protagonist."

"Ha-haha..." Yuri wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. The Black Nightmare was even stronger than he had imagined. He hadn't even used a weapon, yet he had left Yuri in such a sorry state.

"All right, that's enough hide-and-seek for today. Unfortunately, you didn't catch me... Let's play again sometime." Karen clapped his hands cheerfully, then walked out of the bar.

At the doorway, he looked at Yuri, who was glaring at him with hatred. "Sweet dreams."