Inside the private study of the Vale Estate, the air was thick with the scent of expensive tobacco and quiet tension.
Ziso Vale, the head of House Vale, leaned back in his leather armchair, his eyes fixed on the elderly butler standing across the mahogany desk. As the final words of the report hung in the quiet room, Ziso's deep brows furrowed tightly.
"You mean to tell me all of our attempts were intercepted?" Ziso's voice was low, carrying a dangerous edge. "A simple cleanup job on a trash E-rank hunter, and we failed all 8 times?"
The butler bowed his head slightly, keeping his posture perfectly rigid. "Yes, My Lord. Most of the individuals we sent vanished without a trace before they could even reach the target, while the two who managed to slip through ended up getting caught by Miss Seria."
Ziso frowned, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the armrest. "...Seria?"
