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Chapter 102
Chapter 102: The Commission (2)
“Assassins?”
“Yes, assassins.”
“Are you referring to Kalbaron’s infamous assassin guild, Shadow Sword?”
“No, not that… Sigh. This requires some explanation. Have a seat.”
W̊е b̂nо v̈ е l̀ Е n̊uḿ а
Guild Leader Jindel sheathed his sword and took a seat. Beside him sat the drunkard Shakin, and after glancing at the deceased Chairophon, I sat across from them.
Watching this, the Guild Leader spoke again.
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“Where should I begin… Right. The five major guilds of Kalbaron… you could say our relationships are both good and bad. On a small scale, we’re competitors dividing up the pie that is Kalbaron. But on a larger scale, we have no choice but to unite against external forces to protect this city.”
“I see.”
“Exactly. So, while minor conflicts happen, we avoid major ones whenever possible. If Kalbaron’s overall strength weakens, our ability to resist external threats diminishes.”
“Are there really external threats?”
Ẃẽb̂n̊ оv̄ е l Е́ ǹu m а
“There are. Even in a cesspool like this, money flows. Whether it’s stained with filth or blood, money is money, and there are always those who covet it.”
“…”
“Anyway, in recent months… there’s been movement to erode the five major guilds from within.”
Guild Leader Jindel’s expression grew grave.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
At first, I thought it was no big deal. There were always those sending spies to take a slice of Kalbaron’s pie. I figured we’d track them down and retaliate as usual.
But these were different.
Е n̂um ȧ
Even the lowliest among them endured brutal torture to the end.
And the higher-ups? Their trails were impossible to trace. Only suspicions piled up, making everyone uneasy.
The only silver lining was that Vice-Guild Leader Chairophon had slipped up. Thanks to a stroke of luck in obtaining a list he’d left behind, we could purge the spies and traitors within Red Cloud.
“But… we can’t do anything about the assassins infiltrating the other guilds. For one, the other four guild leaders don’t take this situation as seriously as I do. And even if they did, it’s impractical for us to say, ‘We’ll help root out the assassins.’ As I said, we’re allies but also competitors. They’d see it as overstepping.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
“In secret.”
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“In secret?”
“Yes. Together with you, in secret… we’ll quietly root out the assassins in the other four guilds.”
“…”
“I know. It sounds absurd.”
The Guild Leader’s face darkened.
And understandably so. Even I had nearly been fooled. Until recently, I never dreamed that Chairophon, my sworn brother, would betray the guild. Our escape was pure luck.
Ŵè b.nо̀v̊ е l̄ Ѐ n̆ u̇m̊ а
In fact, just yesterday, I had no intention of entrusting such an absurd task to anyone.
But my brother Shakin’s words changed my mind.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Looking at me with deep eyes, he said,
“You’re an assassin, aren’t you? And an exceptional one at that.”
“No, I’m a mercen—”
“I know. I know you’re a mercenary now. Even that you received a Special Gold Plate from that Mercenary King… Austin.”
W.e̊ḃ n̈ о̆ v е̌ l̃ Е̃n̄ ǔm̌ ã
“How did you—”
“You flashed it at a tavern once, didn’t you? Back then, I thought it was just another forgery, but not anymore. If Shakin’s right, you’re the real deal, a true holder of the Special Gold Plate.”
“…”
Though I kept my face expressionless, I was inwardly surprised.
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I’d only shown my mercenary plaque briefly during a conversation with Ulrik.
And yet, that fleeting moment had reached Red Cloud’s ears?
Wеb̂n̈ о v е̄ ľ Е̂n̂ŭ m̆ а
Their resources are impressive.
I marveled internally.
What was even more astonishing was that, despite such intelligence capabilities, the five major guilds were struggling to root out these assassins.
As I pondered this, the Guild Leader’s voice continued.
Looking down momentarily, I met his gaze again.
“Anyway, I know you’re a mercenary. But Shakin is convinced. He believes you were once an assassin… or at least trained in assassin-level techniques. And that your skills surpass even Kirillos, the Guild Leader of Shadow Sword. If an assassin of your caliber exists… perhaps you have a special way to identify hidden assassins. That’s my judgment, and that’s why I arranged this meeting.”
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“…”
“So, tell me. Is there… a way? If there is, I’ll reward you handsomely. I don’t know what you want, but within reason, anything…”
“Before that.”
I interrupted the Guild Leader.
But neither Jindel nor Shakin seemed offended. They already knew who held the upper hand.
I knew it too.
W̃ė b̈ nо v̊ е l̇_ Е n um̄ а
So, my question came without hesitation.
“Shakin.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Speak.”
“Just as you recognized me as an assassin, can’t you identify others?”
“…Impossible. Honestly, I still don’t fully understand. The fear, the terror I felt the moment our eyes met… it’s hard to explain. You… you’re too conspicuous to be an assassin. Yet, I can’t imagine you as anything else.”
“I see. Then…”
En u̇ ṁ а . ī d
Hoo.
“What about now?”
I used Acting Lowly for the first time in a while.
A supreme technique, learned from the village’s overseer and honed through Marzen’s beggar elder, designed to induce carelessness in opponents. How would assassins react to it?
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The result was promising.
“…What did you just do?”
Enu̇ma. і̇ d̃
“How does it feel? Tell me exactly what you sense.”
“Uh, well… I mean…”
“Yes?”
“…Suddenly, you feel approachable? What is this? Why is this happening?”
“Do I seem like an assassin?”
“Not at all.”
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“Good.”
Hoo.
“Hm! Back to that feeling…”
As I released Acting Lowly, Shakin looked at me again with tense, wary eyes.
Seeing this, I gave a satisfied nod. Only Guild Leader Jindel, unfamiliar with assassin matters, looked puzzled.
Then came my second question.
Wеb́ ń о̌ ṽ e l̀ .Еn̊u m̃ а
“Now, my second question. Do you trust me? And conversely, how can I trust you?”
“No need to worry about that. We’ll give you what you want first. As long as it’s not something that takes too long.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“That’s satisfactory.”
“Good. And… obviously, I don’t fully trust you.”
“Yet you’re commissioning me?”
“Yes. The five major guilds are in a state where no one can be trusted. An outsider is better. And… while I have no love for the Mercenary King, I know he’s a man of credibility. The same goes for you, who received his Special Gold Plate.”
Е.ń um̈а̂. і d̂
“In short, you don’t fully trust me, but I’m the best option available.”
“Exactly.”
“Alright. I have no more questions.”
“Then…”
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“Yes. I’ll tell you what I want first.”
As I finished, Jindel and Shakin tensed.
W êb̊n òvӗl̆ Ѐ n ü ḿ a
Understandably so. If I demanded something outrageous, the deal could collapse before it began. Drip, drip. Sweat beaded on their foreheads. Their eyes locked onto my lips, unwavering.
Perhaps because of that?
When my utterly anticlimactic request came, they couldn’t help but burst into incredulous laughter.
“I’m looking for Collector Neumann. If you tell me where he is, I’ll accept this commission.”
“…Hahaha.”
“Heh, heh, hahaha…”
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“Hm? Is something wrong, Jindel?”
“No, no. Nothing’s wrong. It’s just… such an easy request, so I was a bit taken aback… Collector Neumann, huh. A name I’d forgotten for a while.”
“Forgotten? He’s not… no longer here, is he?”
I asked with a stiffened expression, and Jindel shook his head.
“No, I mean it literally. He’s just a quiet old man, so I forgot about him. He’s still here, running a small antique shop in a corner of the Inner District.”
“Then…”
W еbňо v̌ е_l Е̌nǔ ṁ a
“If you’re okay with it, we can go right now… Shall we?”
“Let’s go.”
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I stood abruptly, and Jindel and Shakin’s faces lit up. My acceptance of the commission meant I had a way to identify assassins.
“Wait! First, tell us the method.”
“What method?”
“The method to identify assassins! You accepted the commission because you have one, right? I’m curious—can you tell us now?”
Ē n̄ūm а̇
Shakin asked, and Jindel looked at the young assassin with eager eyes. Receiving their gazes, I nodded calmly, walked to Chairophon’s corpse, and peeled off his facial skin.
Rip—!
“…!”
“This is…!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
To be precise, it wasn’t skin.
It was an intricate artificial skin—a mask.
W̄ è b̆ nov̇ё l Еn um̂а̄
Realizing that the one they’d killed wasn’t Chairophon but someone else entirely, Jindel and Shakin muttered in shock.
“It wasn’t Chairophon?”
“Then the real Chairophon…”
“Probably dead. Anyway, finding those wearing these masks will make things easier. I can recognize them.”
I spoke casually. It was only natural. Chairophon meant nothing to me.
But something else concerned me more.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
This technique… it’s the same as Black Poison, Black Hydra.
I examined it closely, wondering if it might be another group’s method, but it was identical to the artificial skin I’d seen with the Viyan Merchant Guild.
The problem was, unlike that time, the impostor posing as Chairophon had no tattoo on their nape.
Is it a different group? Or within the same group, are there those with tattoos and those without?
I couldn’t tell.
That’s why I needed to investigate further, and accepting the Red Cloud Guild Leader’s commission was the best way to do so. I was convinced that uncovering the mastermind behind this would yield significant information.
E ňüm̆.а̃ . id
Of course.
“Let’s head out.”
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The most important thing now was meeting Collector Neumann.
I spoke to the two, and Jindel, nodding with a stern face, answered belatedly.
“Alright. We have a lot to do, so let’s move quickly.”
***
Ё num̂а́ . і̀ d_
Guided by the Red Cloud Guild Leader, we arrived at a corner of the Inner District. The antique shop’s classic ambiance was striking. When Jindel called for the owner, Neumann appeared with slow steps.
…This easy?
The thought lingered even as I handed over the Mercenary King’s letter. Things had progressed so smoothly—almost too smoothly—that I felt a bit deflated. Of course, there were still tasks to complete, but the pace was dizzying.
But Collector Neumann’s emotions seemed quite different from mine.
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“…You’re Harang, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Е̃ n ûm̈ а̃ . іḋ
His face, on the verge of tears as he read the letter, finally let a single tear fall. Looking up, he asked, and I answered readily. Then, pleasing words flowed from Neumann’s mouth.
“As thanks for bringing good news, I’d like to offer you a gift… Would you happen to need a fine sword?”
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