That's right. She wasn't an ordinary person anymore, so why should she fear assassination?
"So, the only one who needs to worry is Mobius herself."
As they spoke, both of them turned their attention to Mobius.
Mobius, now under their gaze, rolled her eyes at them.
"You two are fine, but now I'm in trouble. So, what's the plan?"
"How about having Vill-V stay with you for a few days? Once I deal with the assassin, she can leave."
"...That could work."
After some thought, Mobius nodded in agreement.
This wasn't an unreasonable request, especially since it was for her own safety.
Later that night...
"Let me guess, who will the assassin target first? Me, or Mobius and the others?"
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Chang Yuan kept his eyes on the only entrance to the room.
In an instant, a black figure flashed by, and within that figure, a hint of cherry blossom pink could be seen.
"Coming for me first? Makes sense. After all, I'm the mastermind. Capture the leader, and the rest will fall."
Just as Chang Yuan finished muttering to himself, the figure suddenly drew a long blade and thrust it toward him.
The strike was decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Facing this attack, Chang Yuan sidestepped slightly and dodged the blade.
The blade embedded itself three inches into the wall behind him, showing just how powerful the strike was.
"As expected of a future Flame-Chaser. Even as an ordinary person, she possesses such strength. Impressive."
After dodging the attack, Chang Yuan stood to the side, watching the assassin, who was momentarily stunned by her first miss.
However, the assassin quickly regained her composure and launched another series of attacks at Chang Yuan.
Each strike was aimed at vital points—the neck, heart, and temples.
Every one of these spots was a fatal target.
But without exception, every strike missed.
Seeing this, the assassin decided it was time to retreat.
From Chang Yuan's evasive movements, she could tell he wasn't even trying his hardest. This target was clearly beyond her capabilities.
But just as she was about to flee, Chang Yuan's words froze her in place.
"Miss Sakura, the renowned Assassin of the Forgotten, do you really think you can just walk away like this? Wouldn't that make me, the second-in-command of the First Squad, look bad?"
Hearing her full identity revealed, Sakura was momentarily stunned.
She turned to look at Chang Yuan with a shocked expression.
"Curious how I know who you are?"
Seeing the look in Sakura's eyes, Chang Yuan guessed what she was thinking.
"Did it ever occur to you that you've already been set up as a disposable pawn? Sending you to assassinate me was just a way to use my hand to eliminate you.
After all, as high-ranking members of Fire Moth, how could they not know my strength? Remember, I was the one who helped Elysia take down the Second Herrscher."
Of course, this was all fabricated to shake Sakura's resolve and make her easier to recruit.
And Sakura actually believed it. After all, she knew the kind of people she was working for. It wouldn't be surprising if they decided to discard her after she outlived her usefulness.
As an assassin, she knew too much about her employers' dark secrets. Very few assassins lived long enough to retire, and even those who did often faced endless troubles.
So, she had planned to retire one day, take her sister, and disappear into obscurity, living in some remote corner of the world.
"But you can trust me. I'm not with those council members. They sent you to kill me because they fear my strength.
Even if the chances are slim, they still wanted to try. After all, if you failed, it would just mean the death of an assassin—nothing to do with them.
So, how about switching sides? I can guarantee your sister's safety, as long as she comes to Fire Moth's headquarters."
After saying this, Chang Yuan pulled up a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs, watching Sakura.
Hearing Chang Yuan's offer, Sakura's heart wavered.
After all, she had long grown tired of working for those council members. Who knew when she might be discarded, like now?
But she wasn't sure if this man could truly guarantee her sister's safety.
"Don't believe me? You can call your employer. I can make him die instantly, with no chance to retaliate against you."
"...If you can really do that, then I will pledge my loyalty to you."
If Chang Yuan could truly deliver on his promise, then her sister's safety would be guaranteed.
Sakura then called her employer.
Meanwhile, Chang Yuan activated the nanobots' listening function. He wanted to see which council member was behind this.
"Are you calling to report that the mission is complete?"
"...Yes."
After a soft reply, Sakura turned her gaze to Chang Yuan.
Chang Yuan now knew which council member was the mastermind.
With a grin, he pressed the detonation button.
This was a warning to the others—a way to crush their arrogance.
Just as Sakura was wondering what was happening, an explosion sounded from the other end of the phone.
Beep, beep, beep—!
"So, is that enough to protect your sister? If they ever try to harm her, I'll know immediately, and I can make them die on the spot."
"...The Assassin of the Forgotten, codename 'Forget-Me-Not,' real name Sakura, pledges her loyalty to you."
Setting down her blade, Sakura knelt on one knee and swore her allegiance.
Seeing this, Chang Yuan couldn't stop himself from grinning.
If he weren't a pure-hearted person, this might have led to a different kind of scene.
"Pretend the mission failed and go back. I know there are other council members who aren't the masterminds, but with the main instigator dead, they probably won't dare make a move anytime soon.
You can use this opportunity to bring your sister to a city near Fire Moth's headquarters. I can guarantee her absolute safety there."
This wasn't an empty promise. He could actually deliver on it.
Vill-V's nanobots had already created a 360-degree surveillance network around Fire Moth's headquarters.
While the surrounding cities weren't fully covered yet, it was only a matter of time before the nanobots were deployed globally.
Once that happened, dealing with the Honkai would become much easier.
"Understood. Here's my private number. You can contact me anytime. I will become the sharpest blade in your hand."