REVENGE OF THE MOURNER

You Really Think I'm That Merciful?

Leon kicked Alex in the back, sending the hitman crashing to the ground.

"I’ll ask you one more time. Who sent you?" Leon said coldly, blood dripping from the tip of his combat knife.

Groaning in pain and clutching what remained of his severed arm, Alex slowly raised his face. He caught a glimpse of something strange—specifically the handle of Leon’s blade. It wasn’t just a knife.

“Who the hell are you? Your records have been scrubbed clean for the past five years. And now you track me down this easily? You're no ordinary guy, are you?”

Leon didn’t respond. He just stared at Alex for a moment, then stepped forward and crouched right in front of him. Their eyes met.

Thud!

“AAARRGHHH!!”

Leon stabbed his bloodied knife into Alex’s right shoulder. The hitman’s eyes almost popped out of his head.

“I ask the questions here. Your job is to answer. Got it?” Leon said, his stare as cold as ice.

Alex was gasping for air. Two brutal strikes had left him completely powerless.

“This is your last chance. Who sent you?”

Still wheezing, Alex looked into Leon’s eyes and felt like he was staring down the alpha lion of the pride—one that was about to rip him apart.

Sweat poured down his face. His lips trembled.

At this rate, forget finishing the mission and getting that massive bonus promised by Victor Kerstel—he’d be lucky just to live through the night.

“Victor… the one who hired me to kill you… His name is Victor…” Alex rasped.

Leon narrowed his eyes. “Victor Kerstel?”

Alex nodded.

Leon’s gaze sharpened. So the enemy was the business tycoon himself. This had to be payback for what Leon did at that failed engagement party—when he broke the hand of Jonathan, Victor’s son.

“I give up… I—I’m calling off the hit… Just let me go…” Alex pleaded.

“Let you go?” Leon raised an eyebrow. “You want me to release the guy who nearly killed my sister right in front of me?”

“I told you… I’m aborting the mission… I’m no longer a threat to you or your family… So please…”

Shlick!

Thud!

“ARRGGGHH!!!”

Leon yanked his knife free, then plunged it into Alex’s other shoulder.

“You really think I’m that merciful?” Leon growled, eyes blazing. “Let me tell you something. The moment you loosed that arrow at my sister’s head, your fate was sealed.”

Alex could feel Leon’s fury radiating like fire. But all he could do was scream in agony as Leon pressed down and twisted the knife.

“S-stop… p-please… stop…” Alex sobbed.

Leon pulled out the knife, took aim, and slashed Alex’s throat in one swift motion.

Slash!

Alex died instantly, his eyes wide open and his mouth agape. Blood gushed from the deep wound on his neck.

Leon stood up calmly. Without a word, he pulled a white handkerchief from the inside of his coat and wiped the blood off his blade.

“The Harringtons and the Kerstels. Just wait. I’ll burn down everything you’ve ever been proud of,” he muttered.

...

About half an hour later, Leon arrived at the front gate of his mother’s house.

As he got off the motorcycle, he was immediately approached by Dimitri, who had been standing guard on the porch. Leon took off his helmet and hung it on one of the side mirrors, then turned to Dimitri.

“How’s everything here while I was gone?” he asked.

“All clear, sir,” Dimitri replied, walking toward the gate before leaping over it effortlessly.

“Good,” Leon said, his eyes landing on the black folder in Dimitri’s hand. “What’s that you’re holding?”

Dimitri offered it to him respectfully. “The document you requested—data on several tycoons who’ve been dominating this city over the past few years.”

Leon took it, opened the black folder, and skimmed through the contents.

At one point, his eyes narrowed. His expression turned serious.

“Sebastian Arkwell? You’re sure he’s one of the tycoons in this city?” Leon asked, still reading the document.

“Yes, sir. Three years ago, his wealth skyrocketed after he struck gold in the crypto market. Since then, he’s launched several businesses, and nearly all of them have blown up. He’s now one of the wealthiest men in Greystone Hollow,” Dimitri explained.

Leon tried to wrap his head around it. If everything Dimitri said was true—and so far, his intel had always been accurate—this could be a game-changer. Good news, finally.

“You got beef with this guy, sir? Was he involved in the case that got you locked up back then?” Dimitri asked.

“Oh, no. Not at all,” Leon replied, closing the black folder and looking Dimitri in the eye. “In fact, we’re old friends. He was my best buddy back in high school.”

“Ah, I see.”

Leon smiled. He had already decided which tycoon in Greystone Hollow he’d try to pull over to his side.

“You can go now. I’ll contact you later.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dimitri put his helmet back on, climbed onto his black motorcycle, and rode off.

...

The next morning, around 7 AM…

Victor rose from bed, leaving his sleeping wife behind. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand.

Immediately, his brows furrowed. His face turned grim.

“What the heck?”

He had just received a message—from Alex. Strangely, the message stated that Alex was no longer alive.

Victor reread the chat again and again. It was definitely from Alex’s number. And that was the message.

His head began to spin. Massaging his temples, Victor tried to call Alex.

No response. The number was off—or unreachable.

His headache worsened. He tried again. Still nothing.

“Is he really dead?” he muttered, lowering the phone.

If Alex was truly dead, that meant the message was sent by his killer. That much Victor could deduce.

The question was: who killed Alex?

How ironic, he thought. A hired killer taken out—while on a mission to kill someone else.

“Could it be… that bastard?” he whispered.

The thought crossed his mind. But a few seconds later, he shook his head.

“No way he’s that capable,” he said. “If that pro hitman is really dead, someone stronger must’ve taken him out. Maybe that bastard's friend in the military?”

The more he thought about it, the more nervous he got. The last thing he wanted was to get involved with the military. That would be a direct threat to his business empire.

He immediately called the same contact who had linked him with Alex. As soon as the call was picked up, he spoke:

“That hitman’s dead. Now I want you to get me in touch with the most feared mafia boss in this city.”

...

A few hours later, at the headquarters of Astral Nyx Group…

Leon stepped out of his car and headed straight for the lobby. He was there to meet his old-bestfriend, Sebastian Arkwell.

Inside, Leon approached the reception desk. Two receptionists—a woman and a man—glanced at each other, confused. Leon’s plain jeans and t-shirt made him look wildly out of place.

“Can we help you, sir?” the woman asked, standing up.

“I’m here to see Sebastian Arkwell. I heard he usually works from this building,” Leon said.

The woman gave him a long, skeptical look. “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Arkwell?”

“No.” Leon shook his head. “But just tell him Leonidas Vale is here to see him. I’m sure he’ll make time for me.”

Her brows furrowed. She didn’t believe a word. This man looked like a nobody off the street and he demanded to see the owner of Astral Nyx Group with that much arrogance?

“I’m sorry, sir. But to meet Mr. Arkwell, you need to schedule an appointment,” she replied politely.

Leon clicked his tongue in annoyance. “I said tell him Leonidas Vale is here. You’ll understand once he hears it.”

The female receptionist looked frustrated and confused. You could tell she was biting her tongue, holding back something sharp.

At that point, the male receptionist stood up, giving Leon a condescending glare.

“Leave now before I call security guards. People like you don’t belong here,” he said.

Leon shot him a piercing glare. The female receptionis looked surprised at her coworker’s sudden aggression. After all, they were supposed to follow protocol, weren’t they?

“Get lost! Or do you want the guards to drag you out like a dog?!” the male receptionist barked.

“What’s your problem? There’s no need to be this rude,” the female receptionist protested.

“You don’t know who this guy is? He’s a criminal. Five years ago, he was arrested for raping a maid!”

The female receptionist’s eyes widened. She turned to Leon again. Leon met her gaze briefly, coldly, then locked eyes with the male receptionist once more.

Click!

“Too late. The guards are already coming. They’ll drag you out of here like a fucking dog!” the male receptionist sneered.

...