Chapter 58: Secret, Whispers

As the darkness slowly enveloped the surroundings, as if foreshadowing the secrets that would soon be revealed between mother and son. Marcelino, more commonly known in their family as John, sat in a heavy wooden chair, his eyes intently focused on his mother, Aira Jewel Innovation. With every breath Aira took, Marcelino could feel the weight of tension filling the room—a tension that seemed to push them toward a path fraught with danger and betrayal.
"John, my son, why did you ask me those questions? Could you tell me the reason? Is this somehow related to your mission?" Aira asked, her voice tinged with anxiety and concern.
Marcelino took a deep breath before answering, carefully weighing every word. "The last mission Grandpa gave me is to bring down the Assassin Guild. From the very beginning, they have been our family's enemies because they are connected to the Second Celestial Family. And from what I've heard, they are also our adversaries, especially with our Hunters Association."
Aira was shocked by what she heard; her chest heavy with the weight of the truth. The mission given to her son directly opposed her secret—a secret she had hidden for so long. What the Innovation family members didn't know was that Aira had been a member of the Assassin Guild, and not just any member but one of the top three most skilled assassins in the world.
"Mother, what if our family, especially Grandpa, finds out that you’re an assassin? This goes against our family's code. You could be sentenced to death, and I might lose my candidacy as one of the heirs of our family," Marcelino asked, his voice filled with worry and fear.
Aira bit her lip, knowing that in this moment, all their precautions could vanish because of one mistake. "There’s only one solution to our problem," Aira began, tracing the next steps they needed to take. "But first, tell me, where did you get this information?"
"From—Jack, Mother," Marcelino answered, stammering, unable to hide the fear in his voice.
Aira let out a deep sigh, her eyes darkening. "From Jack? John, your enemies, and I know that damn gay trickster well. Jack is cunning. Tell me the truth—what was the price for this information?" Aira asked seriously, her eyes reflecting the stern gaze of a mother who should not be crossed.
"N-nothing, Mother," Marcelino replied, bowing his head, trying to avoid his mother’s gaze.
Aira looked at him sharply, as if reading his thoughts. "Make sure you didn’t trade your dignity for this, John, huh? I know Jack has had feelings for you for a long time. Don’t tarnish our family’s name just for a small piece of information. Do you understand me, John?"
“Y-yes, Mother. Don’t worry, I got the information from Jack for free. I just took advantage of the situation because he couldn’t resist me. I used that against his weakness,” Marcelino lied, trying to calm himself so his mother wouldn’t see through his deception.
Aira raised an eyebrow but chose to remain silent despite her doubts. She knew there was more to her son’s words, but this wasn’t the time to push Marcelino. "Good. If everything you said is true, we need to ensure that nothing will hinder your mission, and most importantly, your position in our family."
Their eyes met, and in that moment, Marcelino felt the weight of the responsibility his mother had placed on him. Aira, who had been the pillar of their family his entire life, was willing to sacrifice everything to ensure that he would inherit their name and power.
"We need to be careful," Aira continued, her voice as cold as the night wind. "Our family doesn’t easily forgive mistakes. And if they ever find out the truth about me, you and I will both be in danger."
"But, Mother, how can we prevent the truth from coming out? How can we ensure that no one finds out your secret?" Marcelino asked, his mind filled with uncertainty.
"There’s only one way," Aira answered, her eyes shining with determination. "You need to be more careful, more vigilant, and above all, smarter than anyone else. That’s the only way to keep certain things from being exposed."
Marcelino listened silently, absorbing every word his mother said. He knew he was in a dangerous situation, and every move he made came with a risk. But he also knew he couldn’t turn his back on his duty, not only to their family but to himself.
"You need to be cautious in every move, my son," Aira continued. "There’s no room for mistakes. We can’t trust anyone, not even your own comrades. The only people you can trust are yourself and me. If anyone learns more about me, you need to make sure it doesn’t reach others."
"What’s your plan, Mother?" Marcelino asked, now filled with doubt and suspicion.
"I will help you with your mission, but on one condition—you won’t do anything that could tarnish our name," Aira replied, her eyes filled with determination. "I will do everything to ensure that you become the new head of the Innovation family, even if it means fighting the shadow of my own past."
Marcelino nodded silently, knowing that his role would be heavy, but he had no choice. He needed to follow his mother’s plan, not only for himself but for their entire clan.
"Do you understand everything I’ve said, John?" Aira asked, her voice cold and unwavering.
"Yes, Mother," Marcelino answered, though his heart was full of fear.
"Good," Aira replied. "Let’s begin taking steps to ensure our success. First, you need to make sure that not a single sign of weakness is seen in you. Second, you need to do everything necessary to bring down the Assassin Guild, but in a way that no one will know of our connection."
"But how will we do that?" Marcelino asked, struggling to figure out how they would carry out their plan.
"I know people who can help us," Aira replied, her eyes lighting up with the idea of their next steps. "We will use their strength to bolster your position. And most importantly, you need to make sure that no one finds out our secret."
Marcelino silently agreed, knowing this was the only way to ensure their success. Every step they would take carried a risk, but he knew it was the only way to achieve their goal.
The night grew darker, as if signaling the events to come. Marcelino and Aira stood on the brink of a great challenge—a challenge that would push them to the limits of their abilities and trust in each other.
As the moon left the room in darkness, only their secrets and dreams illuminated their path. They knew that in the coming days, every move they made would be crucial, and every decision would shape their destiny.