Chapter 192: Hyperions Fourth Star of Doom

Chapter 192: Hyperion's Fourth Star of Doom

On the other side of Ikerite, heavy, dark clouds were threatening to swallow the skyline of the royal capital.

Inside a streetside eatery, people gathered by the windows, cradling cups of steaming coffee and gazing dreamily at the curtain of rain outside. The sound of the downpour mingled with the soft music playing within. This made the interior, which was shielded from the storm's downpour, feel exceptionally warm and cozy.

A sudden torrential rain had washed over the streets. Raindrops tapped rhythmically against the streetlamps, and the trees bowed under the weight of their soaking foliage. Pedestrians scrambled to duck into nearby shops or hurried along with umbrellas, looking for shelter from the deluge.

Two streets away from the university campus, the wind chimes hanging under the eaves were drenched by the rain at Cat Proprietor's Eatery. While swaying in the wind, they emitted a low, resonant tone quite different from their usual sound.

The restaurant door opened and closed intermittently, yet the atmosphere remained calm. There were only a few patrons sitting in the corner, leisurely enjoying their breakfast.

A staff member stood at the counter, wiping glassware with focused attention. The warm, golden glow from an antique chandelier lent a touch of coziness to the small space.

The young waitress glanced up at the wall clock and murmured to herself, "Why hasn't Boss Cat come back yet?"

Although the restaurant didn't specialize in breakfast, the weather had brought in a slightly larger crowd than usual. If Boss Cat didn't return soon, she might struggle to handle both taking orders and serving food on her own. She would have to go upstairs and ask Miss Tali for help.

However, Miss Tali was apparently sleeping in today. It was already ten o'clock, and she still hadn't come downstairs.

The waitress quickly understood why after glancing out the window. Raindrops pattered against the eaves like a steady, rhythmic background track. Water gathered on the roof to form a miniature waterfall that cascaded down the edges. With weather like this, anyone would simply want to stay home and laze about all day.

If possible, the waitress didn't want to bother Tali. She just hoped that Boss Cat, who would likely look like a lump of coal after being caught in this downpour, would hurry back.

"Order number 17 is ready." A voice from the kitchen snapped the waitress back to reality, and she quickly walked toward the service window.

She carefully picked up a white porcelain plate holding an exquisite dish. There was a golden-brown fried chicken cutlet, paired with a vibrant fruit salad and a few drops of pale yellow lemon juice.[1] It was also accompanied by a freshly baked croissant and a selection of sauces, which allowed the customer to customize the flavor profile of the meal.

Her movements were both light and efficient as she approached a table near the aisle. A young man sat there, quietly sipping his coffee and gazing out the window, as if waiting for something.

Though handsome, his countenance lacked any sharp edges, making him blend into the background rather than stand out. When the waitress approached, the young man finally looked up, a look of anticipation on his face.

As she set the plate down on the table, she said gently, "Your chicken cutlet with fruit salad, sir."

"Thank you." He also nodded his thanks before turning his attention to the beautifully presented meal.

The waitress returned to the counter. She could tell he wasn't a regular. Raindrops still clung to his shoulders and the hem of his coat. Like many others in the eatery, he was a passerby, someone who had stopped to order food and take shelter from the weather.

Quiet returned to the restaurant. The only sounds were the rain outside and the soft background music, maintaining the usual peaceful atmosphere.

The young man slowly opened the cloth cutlery pouch on the table and took out a fine silver fork and knife.

He spread the napkin across his lap and began to cut the chicken cutlet, spearing only small pieces at a time and savoring each one thoroughly until it was fully chewed. Then, using a knife, he gently sliced off a piece of the fresh croissant, spread a layer of pale yellow butter on it, and carefully placed it into his mouth.

Although he looked no different from the students of Ikerite University, who frequented the restaurant, the way he ate his breakfast revealed an unusual level of refinement and taste. His movements were as precise as a surgeon's.

The same held true when he drank his coffee. Instead of sipping quickly, he first savored its aroma before taking small, deliberate sips. Every movement was unhurried and precise. He was naturally and completely immersed in the process, enjoying a meal that served as both breakfast and lunch.

About ten minutes had passed, and he had consumed only a third of the food before him, yet this looked perfectly natural to anyone watching.

He was, in fact, waiting for a particular young lady. The only thing was, she was the target he had come to assassinate. He was certain that Lady Hyperion, the daughter of a duke, was upstairs in this very establishment.

Apparently, she had gained quite a bit from her second Shadow Realm challenge and had finally moved out of the academy dormitories to live on her own.

This was not unusual. Some students at Ikerite University did not reside in the school dormitories, preferring to live in their own private residences most of the time.

Initially, the only thing that puzzled him was why a duke's daughter had chosen this particular place. However, after tasting the cuisine at Cat Proprietor's Eatery himself, he understood. There was indeed a reason why she would pick this place above all others.

The waitress, having just delivered an order to another customer, passed by the young man again. Noticing the faint, satisfied smile on his face, she paused to ask, "Sir, are you satisfied with your food?"

Since he was seated near the walkway, anyone going toward the entrance or the counter would have to pass right by him.

The young man nodded with a pleasant expression. "Very satisfied. I'll certainly come back if I have the chance."

That was what he said, at least. It was a pity, though. There would likely be no such opportunity in the future. After all, today was almost certainly the restaurant's final day of business.

His cover identity was Fenix, a second-year student at the Yaloran Kingdom's Royal University, who lived with his younger sister, Phyllis. In reality, however, he was an elite cultist loyal to the Cardinal of Destruction. He was a mole who remained embedded in the real world and would never mobilize under ordinary circumstances.

Most of the time, he existed in a state of deep self-hypnosis, not even remembering that he was a member of the Church of Resurrection. He would only rouse himself from this state upon receiving an order or encountering an opportunity to execute one.

He was the only person suited for the task of killing Lady Hyperion, or at least driving her to her doom, and thereby sabotaging relations between the two nations.

With Hyperion exposed in the open while he lurked in the shadows, Fenix was confident that, as a Rank 5 combatant, a surprise close-range ambush would force her to burn her "lifesaver" card.

This time, he came prepared, not only with a barrier to seal off the area and equipment to pierce through invisibility, but also two special spell cards bestowed upon him by the Cardinal of Destruction.

[Grand Puppet Theater]

Category: Spell Card

Grade: Pink (Divine)

Attribute: Mental/Reconnaissance

Tier: 4

Usable only on targets of Rank 1 or lower. Controls the actions of all targets within a 100 meter radius. The greater the number of targets, the longer the duration, and the more complex the actions, the higher the mental strain and mana consumption. Cooldown: 24 hours.

A quiet death, devoid of dramatic tension.

In the setting of a restaurant, this spell, which was usually useless in standard combat, could easily frame Hyperion for the massacre of civilians.

Moreover, Hyperion was someone who would never indiscriminately kill civilians. Therefore, she would find herself severely restricted when faced with sudden, maddened attacks and interference from brainwashed innocent people.

This was actually a favorite pastime of the Cardinal of Destruction. Even when the cardinal could easily defeat an opponent, the cultist preferred to drag civilians into the fray, savoring the expressions of those noble, righteous souls as they broke down and raged in impotence after accidentally killing one civilian after another.

As for the second spell...

[Spark of Destruction]

Category: Spell Card

Grade: Pink (Divine)

Attribute: Fire

Tier: 5

Upon the bearer's death, triggers a violent, destructive fire-attribute explosion.

A grand spectacle of slaughter, starring yours truly~

It would ensure that Hyperion's death was guaranteed today.

At the same time, it was the Cardinal of Destruction's way of decreeing Fenix's own death. Barring any surprises, this restaurant and the innocent patrons inside would all end up sharing the same fate as the duke's daughter.

Though, perhaps "innocent" wasn't quite the right word. Fenix smiled, a hint of irony in his calm gaze. Just as natural disasters struck indiscriminately, these lowly commoners had simply been singled out by the grim reaper—nothing more, nothing less.

If anyone were to be blamed, it could only be the duke's daughter for choosing this place. For a harbinger of calamity, her very existence was a transgression. Had she simply died sooner, she wouldn't have caused the deaths of these people who had nothing to do with her.

1. Yes the raws actually said fruit salad and lemon juice. I blame the restaurant for having a fae cat as the owner and head chef. ☜