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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 205: The Time of Commencement
Ghir and Drak.
The two brothers of the Svaltalfar assassination clan entered the luxurious tavern.
"Is this the place?"
"Yes."
The two brothers wore black glasses even at night. Though they presented a jarring sight to anyone who saw them, such concerns hardly mattered to the two assassins who knew how to remain outside others' perception.
"Drak."
"What?"
"Why did you spare this place?"
This establishment had suffered no damage in last night's raid. Thanks to that, they were operating normally while other organizations had been attacked.
"We need a place to make a scene, so I deliberately left it alone. Besides, it's the largest organization within the Huten, so they wouldn't have been easy to attack."
"That's absurd. And they send just the two of us for this?"
Drak responded with an incredulous tone.
"Don't you need something like this to scratch that itch of yours, brother?"
"That's true, but..."
Ghir cracked his neck from side to side, still dissatisfied.
"Let's get this over with quickly. If Karzan fails to catch Huten, I'll have to step in."
"Isn't that what you're hoping for?"
"Idiot. Of course it is."
Ghir split his lips into a grin. The moment to release his pent-up bloodlust was finally approaching.
But before that.
"Let's eat something first, I'm hungry."
Assassins needed to eat too, after all.
"Did you bring money?"
"Are you crazy? We're going to wreck this place anyway, why would I bring money?"
Drak shook his head.
"You're not an ogre..."
Expecting this, Drak had brought gold coins and fumbled with his inner pocket. Still, one should pay what's due.
.
.
.
"Excuse me, sirs. Are you enjoying the food?"
The young employee serving the two suspicious and eerie customers asked with nervous sweat.
"..."
Ghir pushed his black glasses up and stared at the employee.
"It tastes bad. Is this place always like this?"
"What? Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that—"
Despite his flustered state, the employee answered honestly.
"Due to certain circumstances, our chef couldn't come in today. The kitchen is in disarray because of it."
"Yet you're still open for business."
Ghir emptied his glass with a displeased face. Fortunately, he didn't suddenly crush the man's head or commit any such atrocity.
"You."
"Y-yes!"
While the employee tensed up, afraid of what complaint might come, the younger brother Drak observed him carefully before asking:
"Are you a member of the organization?"
"What? No, no. I'm just working here for money—"
What's going on? Are these men from the underworld? The man felt cold sweat run down his spine. The atmosphere was unmistakably dangerous.
"Is that so? Hmm."
Drak took out a gold coin from his pocket and flicked it to the man.
"Payment in advance."
"What? Oh, thank you. The remaining—"
"Not necessary."
Drak said.
"Are there many people like you working here? Not organization members, but hired for various reasons?"
"Oh, yes. Considering the situation—"
Drak nodded.
"When it gets noisy, evacuate immediately. Don't get caught up in this."
"...!"
The man's eyes widened in alarm. This implied that chaos would soon erupt here.
"Don't make it obvious, just stay quiet and when the commotion starts, take action. Understand? Consider the remaining payment compensation for your trouble."
If you work at a tavern backed by an underworld organization, you naturally need to be quick-witted.
Instead of asking foolish questions, the man promptly bowed.
"Thank you so much. For sparing my life—"
"You can go now."
Drak waved his hand dismissively.
"...What was that about?"
To his brother's question, Drak shrugged.
"There's no need to kill people who aren't organization members, right?"
"You're insane. An assassin suddenly wants to uphold chivalry?"
"It's in our code. Killing without a contract is prohibited in principle."
"Hah, bullshit. Quite the saint you are."
Drak put down his glass and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"I guess you were born with all the aggression and bloodlust that I should have had."
"Hmph!"
Ghir snorted and finished his bottle before standing up.
"That's right, my brother. You're calm and proper. Unlike your brother."
"Stop mocking me."
"Look at that, so perceptive too."
Ghir chuckled and wiggled his finger.
"Let's get started. This place has good alcohol, but the food is absolute shit. Just wasted my appetite."
"You heard what he said earlier, right? The juniors probably rushed to make it."
"What's outrageous is that they charged full price in that state. The more I think about it, the more infuriated I get."
Ghir gestured to one of the organization members who had been glaring at them.
"You there, come here."
"..."
A cold-faced thug approached, dripping with murderous intent. Sensing the danger, nearby patrons instinctively moved away.
"What's with you two? You don't look like you just came for a quiet drink."
The thug fingered his waist, radiating killing intent.
"Well, aren't you perceptive?"
Ghir cackled.
"But you lack awareness."
"What did you say?"
"Looks like the smart ones have already fled, and only the incompetent remain."
Ghir struck a surprisingly sharp point.
"Has your boss fled too? If he's still around, bring him out. He deserves a slap for ruining my appetite."
"You crazy bastard, just because you have a hole for a mouth—"
As the thug moved to draw his blade—
Crack!
'Huh?'
The thug felt confused as his field of vision inverted.
'Strange, why is the sky—'
With his chin and forehead positions reversed, his head twisted around until he died. Ghir tossed the corpse aside as if it were cumbersome.
"Heh, hahaha."
Ghir laughed like a child. That's how pure he was in the face of bloodlust.
"What the hell!"
"It's an ambush!"
Screams erupted instantly, and several organization members drew their knives.
"You weaklings, come at me all at once."
Ghir grinned fiercely without even drawing his dagger.
"If you're going to call for help, now would be a good time. You'll all die if you wait."
The monster had just been unleashed.
* * *
"Wow. That crazy bastard."
I clicked my tongue as I watched Ghir rampage from a distance.
"Is he human or an ogre?"
Ghir was crushing people with just his fists and feet, as if martial arts were unnecessary.
Even mana imbued blades shattered pathetically upon touching his sturdy arms, and when he threw someone, walls would crumble and floors would cave in.
"Good grief, what insanity."
Ghir even ran straight into a group of armed men, bent his waist, struck to rupture internal organs, then seized a blade and sliced through three men's waists in one motion.
"Hahaha! Come at me more! Don't stop!"
Then he broke that blade with his bare hands and tossed it to the floor.
"Did he eat something good? He's overflowing with strength."
He was clearly born into the wrong family.
'If he had entered the mercenary business instead, he could have become a legendary mercenary king someday.'
Or perhaps a great general charging through the northern snowfields.
'A life of constant battle with monsters in the north might have suited him better.'
What can you do? Instead of being born as a northern grand duke's genius illegitimate child, he became a madman of an assassination clan.
"Well, the first move has been made correctly."
Now Zizek will move. To lure the Black Night Society's attack.
'But we can't rule out the possibility that they might attack elsewhere first instead of going for Huten.'
That's why I needed to remain sheathed until the end, ready to respond immediately regardless of where Huten appeared.
'I can feel gazes from all around.'
It felt like being watched by owls, bats, and sleepless wolves upon entering a night forest.
Among them would be Skella's eyes, my father's eyes, and the eyes of the underworld. Tonight, I was the most watched man in this city.
'...However.'
When I truly employ my concealment techniques, will you really be able to find me?
'Let's test it.'
I simultaneously deployed the Dark Star's technique and the highest level of the Whispering Snow in the Night technique as I leapt down into the alley below.
Then, no more gazes followed me.
* * *
"Huh?"
"What?"
Rudgarda and Turnak.
The two were bewildered by Karzan's sudden disappearance.
"Turnak, did you lose him?"
"Yes. Did you as well, my lady?"
"We've been completely fooled."
Rudgarda was dumbfounded.
Was Allenvert's concealment technique so extraordinary that it could even evade their sense of presence?
'When did he learn such a skill?'
She knew he had learned the Whispering Snow in the Night technique. But those capable of such concealment were rare even among the entire Special Operations Division.
"...When did he—"
Rudgarda muttered.
"Improve his skills so much, Young Lord Allenvert."
"Geniuses are truly annoying creatures."
"I agree."
Turnak shook his head.
"Well, nothing we can do. Our mission isn't to watch over the young lord anyway."
"That's right."
Rudgarda nodded.
The two were assigned as a reserve force to counter any attack against Zizek.
"No matter how strong Huten is, if you step in, my lady, you could certainly kill him."
"That's not my role."
Rudgarda shook her head. They would only intervene in the final moment, if Zizek was in danger.
'But honestly—'
Rudgarda was more interested in watching Karzan fight Huten than in protecting Zizek.
'Allenvert.'
She envisioned the face of the man to whom she and her retainers had entrusted their fate.
'Show me. Just what kind of man are you?'
* * *
"Hahaha! The time has finally come!"
Rugan headed toward the tavern where Ghir was causing havoc, accompanied by subordinates dressed in black.
"I'm curious. How well have those Svaltalfar pups matured?"
He was the man Huten had called upon to deal with this situation.
"Seriously, such an obvious feint."
But it didn't matter. Huten had anticipated this and designated him as the chess piece to tie down Ghir.
"This is the last day you'll be able to act so boldly, Huten."
Rugan snickered. What a favorable deal—to place a competitor beneath his feet by providing assistance just once.
"Will you kill them?"
"Is that really necessary?"
Rugan smiled confidently.
"Of course, if they're too weak, I might accidentally kill them from poor strength control."
But that wouldn't be the case, would it? Not for that infamous mad dog of Svaltalfar.
"Your task is simple."
He turned to the black-clothed figures quietly following him and ordered:
"Surround them so neither brother can escape."
"Understood."
What Karzan's side hadn't yet realized was—
Huten had been waiting for this moment just as eagerly.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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