Chapter 177 - Assassin
Everyone couldn't calm down after hearing what Sayaka said. She was an assassin! None of them couldn't have guessed that, even Emily was surprised. Everyone was silent for awhile trying to take in the new piece of information they acquired.
Everyone was a bit shocked, but seeing how all the members present has a thing or two hidden in their past, hearing Sayaka was an assassin was surprising but it wasn't beyond imagination. Kei was the only one, who was truly shocked by this sudden reveal. After a short while of stunned silence Rachel spoke.
"An assassin? The ones that kills for money?"
"...Yah." Sayaka decided just to be truthful about it
"That would mean you have..." Rachel was hesitating to ask the question she wanted to hear an answer to. Sayaka saw the hesitation in Rachel's gestures. She had been Rachel's best friend for ten years now and she could easily understand what her best friend was thinking.
"Yes, I have killed... Also I'm not saying this to defend myself or anything, but just so you know. The people I kill are usually murderers, rapists, con artist, kidnappers and other such scum."
Alex the now awake Lyner, Emily and even Oliver didn't feel much when they heard that Sayaka has killed. Alex Emily, and Lyner had killed numerous people, and unlike Sayaka the people they killed were not necessarily bad.
Sayaka hasn't even killed nearly enough people compared to the three of them. If there was a ranking of Kill count for the people in the room. Lyner would have first place. Even though he has retired for a few years now, his kill count is the size of an army of a small nation. Alex would be second place, his kill count nears the thousands. Third place would be Emily who has killed a little over a hundred and then it would be Sayaka who has killed only a dozen or so.
Meanwhile Rachel, Kei, and Niel were trying to take in what they heard. Rachel and Niel were just having a little trouble processing the new information, but Kei on the other hand was getting scared.
He wanted to join this group to change himself, but he didn't want this kind of extreme changes. Now he knows someone that's a killer for hire. Though Sayaka said she only killed bad people, but who's to say if she was lying. Kei has only known these people for a couple of weeks and learning something like this was both exciting him, and scaring him.
"I see... Since when have you started this job Sayaka? Does your father know what you're doing?" Rachel was still trying to accept the new information about her best friend, but keeping quiet made her feel a bit worse. So she just asked the next question that popped out of her mind.
"I did my first assassination job two years ago... The answer to the other question is that my whole family knows, since it's you know... The family business."
When they heard that it was family business, the group was once again shocked by the statement. So that would mean every time Sayaka said she has to help doing a job for the family business she meant killing someone.
'So the quality masks they produce is for infiltration and for them to be able to blend in without anyone noticing.' Alex finally had some answers to questions he had, ever since meeting Sayaka.
"I see..." Rachel had complicated look right now. Sayaka was always afraid of seeing this kind of reaction from her best friend . This is why she said that she was an assassin in a straight forward manner, like it was a joke, it was to ease the tension.
"Rachel, and everyone I understand if you don't want to be my friends after this, and if need be I could transfer schools... But before that, I just want to say... The only reason I told my secret to you guys... It's because I trust everyone in this room... I'm sorry if I made you guys uncomfortable for being with someone like me..." Sayaka stood up from her position and was about to leave but before she was able to get near the door, someone held her arm.
"What are you saying? Who doesn't want to be your friend? We've been best friends since kindergarten... I was just a bit shocked in learning about your job... I guess in a way everyone is sorta like a killer, we kill to eat and all that nonsense... Aaargh! I guess what I'm saying is... That no matter what your family background is like, you'll always be my goofy, lovable best friends Saya." Rachel spoke in a weird, gentle, and annoyed tone.
"She's right! You are our comrade, and no matter what I will never leave a comrade behind." Oliver proudly proclaimed.
"Oly..."
"Truth be told I am a little scared of you at the moment Sayaka, but at this same time I'm excited. I have only known you for a few weeks, but if your personality that I saw isn't a facade and is real, then I can somehow accept you being an assassin." Kei gave his input as well.
"You and me were tight like sisters, so no need to act so emotional." Emily tried to lighten the mood, as she smilingly placed her hand on Sayaka who was taller than her.
"What kind of Senior would I be, if I don't try to understand the situation of my junior. I would be bad one if I did that. But more than that, what kind of friend would I be, if I let you feel bad about yourself. So there's no need for all that nonsense about transferring schools. We're your friends and I'm sure everyone in the Mercenary Club acknowledges you." Niel with his usual radiant aura and smile, encouraged Sayaka.
"Kei, Emily, Niel..."
"I might not understand much, but you are my friend Sayaka... That will never change."
When everyone heard Alex say this, even with his usual poker face and indifferent tone of voice, it was still a surprising statement.
"Alex... Thank you." Even Sayaka was overwhelmed by what Alex said, much more than when Rachel stopped her from leaving.
"Oh comrade are you going soft on me?... Heh, well that's a good thing." Oliver laughed heartily and others followed suit.
"Damn it! It's not like I care, but just to get this over with, while all of you people are in some sort of mood. I will say this once and only once, so listen up. I your teacher and club adviser, is the one and only SS rank merc of Berdonia. That means I'm the most powerful f*cking thing in this country... Oh now I feel better, with that out of the way, I guess I'll go back to sleep... Good night." Out of nowhere Lyner suddenly dropped a bomb at his students.
"WHAT!!!" Once again almost all the mercenary club members screamed in shock.
'What is this? Is there a virus that makes people want to reveal their real identity? Don't tell me Alex would be next? Or worse me!' Emily was having weird thoughts after hearing Lyner's confession.
Alex on the other hand was actually feeling a bit guilty, the other members even Lyner had revealed a portion of their secrets. Should he do so too?
'I can't do that... It would jeopardize the success of the mission...' Alex at this very moment was feeling very conflicted. This has never happened before on past missions, only now in this particular mission, and it didn't happen just once. It happened on numerous occasions, all throughout this one mission.
The emotions that he had sealed deep inside his subconscious were slowing coming out.. Alex at this point hasn't noticed anything yet, but the gates have been slowly opening.