John stared at Fade’s mask as if he was trying to see through it. The two remained silent and simply stood there staring at each other. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of John and Milly’s breathing. Fade’s breathing was so silent that no matter how hard one tried to listen they would normally be unable to hear it. 

“… I see…” 

After that long silence, John finally spoke those two simple words. He then nodded his head and looked at his daughter for a bit, before continuing to speak. 

.

“I promise I shall pay the price, but can you please wait a bit. I just need to guide my daughter until she grows up and can be independent. Please just give me a few years, I promise I won’t run nor hide.” 

Once John was done speaking Fade lifted his hand, and approached John. When John saw Fade’s raised hand he knew what was to come. Time seemed to slow down as he watched Fade slowly approaching him.

He looked at his little girl sleeping behind him and started thinking about all the things he would never get to do with her and the things he would no longer be able to do with her.

He would no longer be there to comfort her when she has a nightmare. He would no longer be there to play with when she’s lonely. He would no longer be there to protect her from the world around her. 

He wouldn’t be there when she graduates from school. He wouldn’t be there to see her first boyfriend and scare the soul out of the poor boy. He wouldn’t be able there when she finally marries and have children of her own. 

John was full of regrets, and he didn’t really want to die before being able to witness how his daughter’s life will turn out to be. Still, he knew that even he resisted at this point nothing would come from it as he was no match for Fade, it would only be a useless struggle. Also, he wasn’t such a person that would go back on his word.

He had already promised Fade that he would pay any price if he completed the job. Fade had done the job perfectly, so John had no reason to object even if Fade wanted to take his life as compensation.

John closed his eyes as he waited for his death to come, but then he felt someone touch his shoulder.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something.” 

John opened his eyes and looked at Fade who was patting his shoulder.

“Huh?” 

“The one I want to kill is the martial artist called John Yui, not the father called John Dunphy.” 

“… You want me to stop being a martial artist?” 

“Yeah, that’s basically it. Someone as naive and sentimental as yourself isn’t cut out for the world of martial artists. You better just be a father to your daughter than continue on the path of a martial artist. I’m sure you can do a lot of other things for your living expenses.” 

John looked at the masked figure standing before him in a daze. It took him a couple of seconds before he was able to digest what was said. After fully understanding Fade’s meaning John started to tear up. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” John kept on repeating those words as he tried to wipe the tears away. 

“As I said many times before there is no need to thank me.” 

John shook his head as he responded. 

“No, I really do need to thank you… I’m willing to give my payment now.”

John started circulating his inner energy and then started burning his reserves. The inner energy within him was starting to become chaotic as he eventually destroyed the flow of his inner energy. The Dantian were the inner energy of a martial artist was produced was damaged. John’s strength had decreased from a rank five martial artist to a rank one martial artist. 

The damage that he inflicted on himself was irreversible and his Dantian will never be restored to what it once was. He would never be able to continue his path as a martial artist. 

Fade was rather surprised at how decisive John was. He was expecting more resistance since people who had a taste of power would find it difficult to let go. Fade respected John more than he did before. Fade then nodded his head in approval. 

“I have received your payment. I hope that you live a life that you won’t regret.” 

John nodded his head as he caressed his daughter’s face. 

“I will do just that. Hey, Fade are you sure this is all you want?”

John turned his head to look at Fade, but the assassin was no longer there. John then felt a cold wind enter the room, he saw that one of the windows was opened. Seeing that open window John smiled and before he closed it he bowed his head again. 

“Thank you.” 

…

Fade was now on the hospital’s rooftop and was about to leave when he felt another person’s presence on the roof. It was a presence he knew very well, Fade sighed as he turned around. 

“It’s been a while, Detective.” Matsuri was there by the door of the rooftop pointing her gun at Fade.

“Yeah, it’s been a while Assassin.” 

“So what do you want, Detective, are you going to try and capture me again?” 

Matsuri who was pointing her gun at Fade shook her head as she placed her gun back in her holster and shrugged her shoulders. 

“No, I won’t… Though I really do want to bring you in, but not today.” 

“I see, well then Detective if there’s nothing else I will take my leave.” 

“Why?”

“Why would I leave?” 

“Why are you doing all of this? I know that you’re the one who recommended John to meet me. All of my investigations on you seem to point that not only are you killing people but you’re saving them as well. Now it seems I’m one of those that were saved.” 

“DIdn’t I tell you already as long as the reason is just and the price is right I will kill anyone.” 

“… The justice you represent is different from the justice I represent… A friend of mine said that you’re someone who deals with the people that my justice cannot touch, but I don’t believe that. The law is there to protect all, there is no such thing as a person that my justice cannot touch.” 

“Why are you telling me all of this Detective?” 

“I might not understand your justice, but I do understand that you wish to help others albeit in your own twisted way. I want you to give yourself up, and I promise that I will help you get a lighter sentence. Once you serve your time, you can come and join me in the force and I can show you how to do things the right way.” 

Fade was momentarily stunned by the Detective’s invite but after a while, he chuckled. 

“You are a rather amusing individual Detective. Your offer is pretty enticing.” 

“Then-” 

“Unfortunately, I cannot accept. I do not believe that there is such a thing as a wrong way to save a person. In my eyes everything is simple, for every debt, there is a debtor… I give strength to those people that don’t have the strength to get make their debtors pay. Well, Detective, it was nice talking to you, but I need to go. Of course, you can try to catch me now.” 

Hearing Fade’s response Matsuri sighed. 

“I won’t do it now, since I owe you, but the nice time we meet I will make sure to bring you to justice… Also, just this once, I will say this to you, so you better listen.” 

Fade stood there quietly waiting to hear what Matsuri had to say. The Detective looked at him clearly hesitating to say whatever it is that she wanted to say. After several seconds Matsuri lowered her head and finally spoke. 

“… Thank you…”

Matsuri practically whispered the words, but Fade heard it and was really surprised at this point. If he wasn’t wearing a mask Matsuri would’ve seen the shocked expression on his face. Yet seeing the detective act this way, Fade had the urge to tease her. 

“What did you just say, I didn’t hear you.” 

“I already told you, that I will only say it once!” Matsuri shouted as she lifted her head. To her surprise Fade was no longer there. She looked around the entire rooftop but saw no one. She checked and looked at the ground and found not even a shadow of Fade could be seen. As she was just about to give up looking, she heard Fade’s voice whisper in her ears. 

“You’re welcome, Detective.” Hearing that voice Matsuri instinctively looked behind her but Fade wasn’t there.