With those last words, Kai's image faded as the cracked TV finally succumbed to the damage it took and finally turned off. But, after the damage has been done. Kai's message has been delivered to the top 100 hitmen.
The silence that followed after that was suffocating, to say the least. Nobody spoke a word, not even Grey as the weight of the disaster that happened finally sunk in.
The Black Phantom had revealed a huge secret that should've stayed hidden. It was indeed true that the Guild had broken rules and it was also true that they kept such files that encompassed everything they could know about each individual who joined the Hitman Guild.
However, the fact that it was revealed by none other than their strongest Hitman ever, was a catastrophe on all fronts.
"Was that all true?" One of the hitmen murmured as he looked around him, and everyone shared a similar expression. Shock, surprise, betrayal, anger, and even amusement.
"Seems so…" A man with a wild appearance replied as he crossed his arms. "We've been completely tricked by the Guild."
"Fuck me… Oi, you High Officer bastards, explain yourself. What the hell did we just see?" Another asked as he glared at the section where all the High Officers were sitting.
However, none of them tried to utter a word. Instead, they signaled for the Executioners to appear and surround them.
"Fucking scumbags! Hahahaha! They don't want to even deliver an explanation! Oi, Grey! You're the one who started all of this! Explain now!!"
Usually, Hitmen would never dare to talk like that to a High Officer no matter the situation. But, everyone, including Grey agreed silently that the second Kai's message was over, the line that linked the hitmen with the Guild was severed.
As Kai said before 'The most important thing that keeps the Guild alive and strong is not power. It's trust. And if that trust is broken, then the Guild will come down crumbling.'
His message worked as a catalyst that led to this.
"Tsk…" Grey spat down as he looked around him, staring at every Hitman. "Don't believe what he said. All of that is a fake scheme to make you think we're using you!" His tone lacked any sympathetic tone. Instead, his voice was loud and domineering. It was as if he was delivering irrefutable facts instead of trying to explain what happened.
At first, most of them seemed intimidated by his words so they didn't respond immediately. Even with this evidence backing them up, Grey was still Grey. Instead, out of the frightened hitmen, a man stood up and walked to the front.
He didn't care about the fact that his face would appear from behind the veil and why would he?
With a statuesque presence, the man stood out instantly even though this whole time, he didn't utter a word, not when the heated discussion was happening and not even when the Black Phantom appeared. The man was tall, with a mean build and a very elegant aura covering every part of his body. He seemed like royalty at first even though his attire said otherwise.
He was wearing a long black coat, black pants and had what seemed to be a long necklace with a distorted skull around his neck. The skull was sliced in the middle and yet magically, it was still preserved in one piece with each piece being attached to one side of the necklace.
He wore a hat that covered his incredibly handsome face and long, black hair. His sharp, hawk-like eyes only looked ahead, straight at Grey. However, his most eye-catching feature by far is the huge sword strapped to his back.
The sword was almost as tall as he was with a long handle and a terrifying black blade that seemed to be emitting a mysterious and cursed aura. If Kai was there, he would've thought that it was similar to his 'Wretched Heart' albeit not as blatantly wicked. If Wretched Heart was this playful, distorted devil that wants to toy with his enemies before killing them, basking in their pain and suffering. This one was a more stoic, cold, and merciless devil, ready to slice his enemy into pieces, no questions asked.
When Grey noticed the man, his face turned serious. Every other hitman unconsciously stepped away.
"I'm leaving the Guild." When the man stopped in front of Grey, he said those few words in a rather peculiar, elegant accent before he turned around to leave, not waiting for a reply.
"Where do you think you're going, Agent 1?" Grey asked.
Everyone unconsciously gulped down a mouthful of saliva as they watched the two individuals face each other.
The person Grey called 'Agent 1' was in fact the current strongest hitman in the Guild. Nobody knew his name so instead he got the nickname 'Noir'.
"I have no reason to keep my end of the deal, do I?"
"You do. I said all of this is a mere scheme."
Turning around, Noir looked at Grey for a second before he said.
"Facts say otherwise. I have known the Black Phantom for a long time. He won't need to lie to destroy the Guild."
"He will do anything to destroy the Guild. Don't make him sound like a great and honorable man. Every Hitman is a scumbag who kills for money." Grey replied with a threatening tone.
Noir's eyes squinted for a second before he looked away and continued walking away.
"I said stop." Grey suddenly vanished as he appeared behind Noir and grabbed him by the shoulder.
However, before he could do anything, Noir grabbed Grey's arm with both hands and threw him over his shoulder with ease. The latter didn't flinch as he quickly wrapped his hand around Noir's shoulder and dragged him with him.
*BANG*
The two hit the ground at the same time with a loud thud.
"You're ruining whatever chance this organization has left to survive."
"I do what I want. If the other cowards can't control the Hitman Guild, then I will do that." Grey stood up from the rubble around him and glared at Noir.
The latter sighed and then moved his hand to the sword on his back and murmured. "No choice, then."
"Shit! He's going to use 'Devine'! Move!" One of the Executioners quickly alerted the High Officers, making them stand up.
The others also felt the sheer danger of that blade as it slowly unsheathed from its scabbard. The moment it fully left its socket, a looming gloominess filled the room.
Then, with an emotionless look, he pointed the sword at Grey. "I have already decided to leave. Move or it won't end well. This is my last warning."
*CRACK*
"Your sword has always been eye-catching. A great addition to my collection." Grey said.
"Too arrogant. You're completely blinded, Grey. Perhaps that's the reason why I have your position now."
*BOOOM*
Grey's aura turned sharper as he dashed toward Noir at top speed.
The latter grabbed the sword with two hands before his eyes widened, Origin channeling into his sword.
"Void Impact."
*Swish* *DIIIIIIING*
His sword slashed down with a loud ringing sound. At that moment, the whole world halted for a second.