Chapter 9
Surprisingly, Brooks picked up the sword beside his bed and blocked the attack.
Like the outstanding warrior he was, he had reacted instantly even while sleeping soundly.
“Who are you?”
PARARAP!
He swiftly left the bed and straightened his posture.
His reaction speed and movements were incredibly agile, beyond imagination.
Though he had been retired for a long time, it seemed his fundamentals hadn’t gone anywhere.
‘This is troublesome.’
Since the assassination had failed, he wasn’t someone who could be killed easily.
Brooks was originally a super-strong warrior who had made quite a name for himself.
Even having lost his right arm, he would be able to handle someone like me with ease.
‘The Silent Killing Technique won’t work at all. I need to bring out a higher-level secret technique.’
I had been learning Demon Wheel Kill, the family’s secret technique that was the next level after the Silent Killing Technique.
However, to properly execute this technique, at least a Tier 4 level was required.
With my current level of only Tier 5, I couldn’t unfold it perfectly.
That said, I couldn’t bring out Riverrun’s secret techniques here either.
‘It’s gotten too noisy. I have to settle this with killing techniques somehow.’
If I just retreated here, there wouldn’t be a next opportunity.
Brooks would go into hiding, and the governor’s office security would be strengthened even more going forward.
My thoughts were long, but my decision was short.
WHIRR! SRRR!
As the drawn Black Dragon Sword caught the moonlight, a strange luster flowed from it.
“Ho! A sword despite being an assassin? Hehe! Interesting.”
As soon as Brooks saw my weapon, he let out a snickering laugh.
When it came to swords on the Ribias continent, the Felton family was what immediately came to mind.
His gaze was utterly contemptuous.
‘Oh my, being careless?’
If he’s going to do something stupid on his own, it’s only natural to eagerly accept it.
As I drew up my aura, a damp and sticky energy wrapped around the Black Dragon Sword.
The moonlight that had lingered on the blade disappeared without a trace, and even the sign of deploying swordsmanship evaporated.
SWOOSH.
Before I knew it, my sword was thrusting in close to Brooks.
“UGHURK!”
ZZZANG!
Then the opponent was greatly alarmed and twisted his body.
He barely managed to block the attack by receiving the blade with his shoulder.
It felt like he had deployed Half-Swording swordsmanship using his entire body.
‘Ah! What a waste!’
Though he had blocked the Demon Wheel Kill with a clever move, his condition wasn’t very intact.
Having received the aura-infused blade with his shoulder, there was no way his skin could be unharmed.
But from now on, I would be in a dangerous state instead.
From here on, Brooks would definitely not be careless.
“This technique is?”
PUKANG!
I rushed at him as he was about to babble something and began pouring out sword strikes.
Brooks had probably vaguely realized my identity from that strike just now.
There was only one organization that possessed such brutal killing techniques.
KANG! KANG!
Unable to continuously execute the Demon Wheel Kill yet, I deployed the Daily Flowing Transformation Sword.
However, the opponent soon showed stable defensive techniques.
‘Even with his left hand, the Expansion Line Sword Technique doesn’t seem awkward. Was retirement nonsense and he was actually in rehabilitation?’
The Expansion Line Sword Technique was top-grade swordsmanship even within the Felton family.
But I could feel subtle gaps.
It was probably due to his unbalanced body.
As time passed, it was becoming increasingly disadvantageous for him as well.
With each clash, his posture was gradually crumbling.
“You’re an incomprehensible fellow. You’re deploying swordsmanship I’ve never heard or seen of, yet the completion level is this high! Just who are you?”
“……”
SWOOSH. KWACHING!
Though the opponent threw a question, I kept my mouth tightly shut and concentrated only on swordsmanship.
Of course, inwardly I was cursing the guy who was spouting nonsense.
‘If I was going to tell you that, why would I have infiltrated wearing a mask? This bastard is unexpectedly stupid.’
When I gave no response, Brooks also soon immersed himself only in combat.
The confrontation unfolding was too close to handle with leisure.
We exchanged offense and defense for a considerable time, but I couldn’t land a decisive blow.
The basic difference in our levels was too great, so only endless exchanges of moves were taking place.
‘At this rate, the Felton guys will come charging in.’
If this much commotion had occurred, the guards standing watch around the governor’s office would have noticed more than enough.
My heart couldn’t help but become impatient.
‘Let’s make a decisive move.’
ZZANG!
First, I swung the Black Dragon Sword quickly to create distance.
Then I began drawing out the true power I possessed.
KIIING-! PUSHIIK!
As the Black Dragon Sword was dyed dark blue, a sound like steam being expelled could be heard.
When I thrust the sword straight forward, the power of aura and mana trapped inside shot out through the blade.
SHWAAAAAK!
The small dark blue energy transformed into a large disc shape.
The third technique of the Heaven-Severing Nine Harmony Sword, Heaven-Severing Lunar Eclipse, was unfolding.
The opponent sensed the sword strike flying toward his waist and quickly threw his body.
“UHURK!”
However, he couldn’t completely avoid the flash shooting at ultra-high speed.
In the end, Brooks had to block the sword strike with only his left arm.
SWING! PASSS. TUDUTUK!
As the blue-green disc passed through, all objects within range were cut away.
Not only the mansion building but even the furniture inside was left with nothing intact.
DUDUDU!
However, thanks to the sword strike spreading horizontally, the mansion didn’t collapse or anything.
The walls and pillars were cut clean through, barely maintaining balance precariously.
It definitely wasn’t a normal situation.
Probably even a small shock would cause it to collapse completely.
PSSSSSS!
“KRUUUK!”
In the end, Brooks couldn’t perfectly block the Heaven-Severing Lunar Eclipse.
The blade was cut clean in half and rolled on the floor, while his left arm became like a rag and hung limply.
However, my condition wasn’t very good either.
I had suffered considerable internal injuries from blocking the opponent’s Expansion Line Sword Technique deployed at the final moment.
Clutching my abdomen, I ended up kneeling on one knee on the floor.
Still, it was a better situation than that enemy bastard.
At least I wouldn’t die from this wound.
“This is……”
“It’s the technique that took your right arm.”
Eighteen years ago, this guy had fought against Riverrun’s elder and lost his right arm.
As if that memory had surfaced, Brooks glared at me with bulging eyes.
Having lost an arm again to the same technique, it was certainly surprising.
Especially to Riverrun’s secret technique that had been exterminated.
“How does someone using Lantzvalger’s killing techniques know Riverrun’s secret techniques?”
Right after the war, the Felton sword family had devoted all their energy to subjugating Riverrun’s descendants.
Using the excuse of remnant subjugation and stabilizing the Riverrun region, even family members who weren’t disciples were brutally executed.
Such attempts at extermination continued for over five years.
Territory divided into four parts and direct lineage massacred, now only the form of swordsmanship remained.
Probably there was almost no one who could use true Riverrun secret techniques.
Brooks had an expression of disbelief even after experiencing it directly.
I approached the opponent who was breathing heavily and said.
“You’ll find out when you go to hell, so why are you so curious? Just die quietly.”
SWOOSH. POOK!
The Black Dragon Sword pierced through his throat before the opponent could say anything.
“KURHURK!”
Having lost both arms and suffered internal injuries, he couldn’t block the Silent Killing Technique.
Unless he bit the sword with his mouth and swung it.
SPIT. ZRRRK!
Even when the blade was pulled out, no particular sound was made.
Only the noise of blood pouring out filled the surroundings.
Brooks, who had been twitching for a moment, soon fell backward and breathed his last.
TADADADADAK!
“What’s happening? Lord Brooks!”
But just then, along with the footsteps of several people, voices looking for him could be heard.
The members who had detected the commotion seemed to have approached Brooks’s room.
‘Their reaction is faster than expected? But it’s already over. You stupid Felton bastards.’
I went outside the mansion through the window, then disappeared like a ghost.
I had deployed the Perception Concealment Art to hide my traces.
KUNG KUNG KUNG!
The sound of members knocking on Brooks’s door belatedly echoed through the night air.
***
“Excellent! Well done. For a Level 1, it was quite a difficult mission, but I didn’t expect you to finish it this quickly.”
When I returned to the Empire’s Eastern Branch, Dusk greeted me with a bright smile.
The branch chief had already confirmed the mission’s success through the assassination group, but I submitted a separate report.
Though I don’t usually have such a diligent image, I had my reasons.
“Here is the mission report.”
“I probably don’t need to look, but shall I check it once? Hmm. You suffered internal injuries?”
“Internal injuries aside, having come all the way to the Empire, shouldn’t I take some rest? I heard there are so many beauties in the east.”
“Right on! When resting, nothing beats enjoying life. I too, in my younger days, was known as quite the gallant man in these parts.”
“……”
At Dusk’s words, I couldn’t help but make an incredulous expression.
Though he was my direct superior, I felt I absolutely had to say something.
Otherwise, that old man might get caught up in delusions and wander around trying to enjoy life.
With that fierce impression of his.
“Um… You do look in the mirror regularly, right? I don’t think the branch chief would be very popular.”
“You bastard! Just because you have a decent face, you’re spouting such nonsense. Men aren’t evaluated by looks alone!”
“Still, it’s true that looks take up a considerable portion, isn’t it? You might get reported to the security forces if you carelessly talk to women.”
“……”
At this heavy fact bombardment, this time Dusk was left speechless.
“Want me to cut your vacation short?”
“Hehe. Just kidding. Please give me two months.”
“Phew. This generous person will have to endure it. I can’t stand the sight of you, so get lost quickly.”
“You were quite pleased just a moment ago though?”
“Keep arguing? Get out right now!”
“Yes, take care.”
The Lantzvalger assassination group provided agents with sufficient rest periods after killing missions.
This was to prevent getting caught in any potential inspections and to treat wounds suffered during missions.
In such cases, most would hole up in safe houses, but I had no such intention at all.
It was time to realize my next plan.
‘I definitely felt it while facing Brooks. Thanks to the fierce real combat, my level has risen to Tier 4. I should start moving soon.’
Right after leaving Dusk’s office, I prepared to depart.
Starting from Marquis Pennant’s territory, I crossed Daysol Wasteland and moved straight east.
Passing through this enormous area of wilderness, the Forest of the Dead would appear.
‘Esmaranta’s Tower is there.’
A mysterious structure shrouded in veils – who built it, when it was made.
If the traveler Esmaranta hadn’t discovered it ten years ago, no one would have known of its location.
“Those who pass through the tower can obtain something powerful. However, they must risk their lives.”
In front of the tower stood a stone monument created by Esmaranta.
The first discoverer, having realized the danger, had made it as a warning.
Of course, there was no way adventurers would listen to such warnings.
I quietly looked up at the tall building.
Though famous enough for all the continent’s warriors to know about it, the tower’s appearance was far from splendid.
However, the purple flashes filling the entrance had the power to stimulate curiosity.
‘Trials and such, I’ll just roughly overcome them.’
Having steeled my resolve, I slowly moved my steps forward.
