At the sa mont.
On the other end of the Floating Port.
Inside the most private VIP room of a luxurious casino.
A gold chip was spinning rapidly on the table, rolling over a stack of cards before finally coming to rest atop a large pile of chips.
"Hee, I've got a good hand this ti, you're all going to lose," a frivolous voice chid.
"Cut the crap, you've already lost a round and caused everyone a lot of trouble," another voice retorted imdiately.
"Are you talking about the assassin issue? Oh, how could I have anticipated that?"
The frivolous voice beca sowhat nacing:
"I am the Supre VIP of the Assassins Alliance, I have to assign them a few targets every year—"
"For a big client like , they even dared to neglect, sending an assassin who leaked the employer's information over."
"Hmph... when I co into power, I'll have all the people from the Assassins Guild killed."
"A bunch of slaves, they can't even handle things properly."
He flicked his wrist carelessly, and another cascade of chips fell onto the table.
"I'll pass this round as an apology to everyone."
Pass.
This ant he was giving up all the chips he had put in previously.
All the chips would go to the winner of the next gamble.
Perhaps it was his conceding attitude that made everyone feel a lot more comfortable.
A calm voice subsequently rose:
"That Shen Ye has already arrived at Yunshan Port and will soon take the exam; do you have any objections?"
"It's far too simple." Soone responded.
"Let's hear it."
"Just have a word with so of the proctors, make sure he fails the exam."
"Just failing the exam? That's letting him off easy? Know that the old man at ho scolded in person," another voice said dissatisfiedly.
"Don't rush, the incident this ti has made us look bad in the eyes of the various families, and we are being watched. Why bother making a move so anxiously?"
"—As long as he fails, it proves he's just a glorified diocrity, unable to pass the entrance exams of the Three Great High Schools, worthless. With that, the elders at ho will be too lazy to bother with this matter anymore."
"Once he's failed, he won't even have the qualifications to co to Yunshan Port in the future."
"He'll never be able to make a splash again, the Human Martial Arts Group won't make a strong effort to cultivate him, nor will anyone pay him any attention."
"By that ti, the situation will have mostly subsided, and he'll be easy to deal with."
"No matter how he dies or how miserable his death is—"
"It will no longer be our business."
A mont of silence followed among the group.
No one else raised any doubts.
Clearly, this was the best way to handle the situation.
The earlier calm voice spoke up again:
"Then let's just have him fail this ti."
"But there's one more thing—"
"I want to ask the people from the Assassins Alliance how they can ss up on such a matter."
The frivolous voice rang out once more:
"I'll give them a call right now."
"No, I'll handle it personally," said the calm male voice.
He snapped his fingers.
In the dim room, a holographic projection suddenly appeared.
An old man with white hair, dressed in a neat black suit with black gloves, his deanor gentle and polite.
"Good evening, everyone," he greeted.
The image of the elder stood mid-air, bowing to the crowd.
"All of you here are the future pillars of the world, busy pushing the progress of civilization, and might not have the opportunity to hear my humble and insignificant na."
"Others call Old Gong, please feel free to address as Gong Wu."
"I am the Chief of the Assassins Alliance."
No one spoke.
Only the frivolous voice ascended:
"Uncle Gong, what's going on with you guys, allowing that assassin to leak the video."
"It's making look bad!"
The elder replied with a smile, "Apologies, that assassin was originally one of the strongest in our alliance, but he was passionate about pursuing so grand and utmost romantic art, so he often forgot the mission."
"—I have already killed him."
"And I guarantee that there will never be any failed missions again."
"What if there is a failure?" the frivolous voice asked.
"If there are any more mistakes, I will personally cut off my own head and present it before you as an apology."
After speaking, the elder bowed deeply.
Even the most critical among them began to feel satisfied with his attitude.
"Hmph, if that's the case, then there's nothing more to say," they murmured.
The holographic image shut off.
The calm male voice resonated once again:
"Which family will provide a strong expert to take charge and ensure this matter is carried out smoothly?"
"I'll do it, indeed we should supervise those assassins, they are too unreliable," spoke up the frivolous voice.
"Who do you plan to send?"
"Our family's Great Upholder—he has always doted on , and this ti I requested his help."
The steady voice imdiately beca relaxed:
"Him? Then there won't be any problems."
No one else spoke.
It seed that the Great Upholder indeed made everyone feel at ease.
The matter was thus concluded.
No one talked about the earlier issue anymore; instead, they began to discuss the stakes of this round of gambling.
—The boy's fate had already been arranged.
At the sa mont.
On the sea.
The giant ship of the Assassins Alliance headquarters.
The white-haired elder who called himself Gong Wu let out a breath, muttering softly:
"Really hard to swallow."
An assassin is covered in wounds, and with age, their ailnts never cease to act up.
The taste is naturally not quite to one's liking.
If it were a scion of a noble family, it would be different.
They are bathed in special body tempering fluids from birth, ridding their bodies of fetal toxins.
They consu the best food in the world, drink the finest beverages, and undergo secret massages every day—even their breathing follows a specific technique, utterly unlike normal people.
They are well-exercised, their bodies coordinated and supple, with no trace of injury ever left behind.
Their flesh must be firm and delicious—
If one could taste it in this lifeti, one would die without regrets.
Gong Wu gently wiped his face, and in an instant, he took on another appearance.
If Xiao ngyu and Shen Ye were here, they would certainly recognize him.
—The Skinner!
He removed the wig, returning to his elegant deanor, then knelt respectfully on the floor.
"Master."
He intoned devoutly.
Endless shadows converged from all directions, coalescing into a girl before him.
"Did you just make a promise to soone else?"
Zhao Yibing asked.
The man hastily explained, "I was just saying it casually, other than you—"
"Don't explain—my followers must keep their promises, even when disguised as others, for it is sincerity that brings out the spirit's manifestation in matters."
Zhao Yibing lectured from her lofty position.
"Yes, I will imdiately deliver this old man's head to Yunshan Port, fulfilling the promise to them," the man said.
"Yunshan Port… Yes, we should go to Yunshan Port. You need to find a way to blend into the exam site and retrieve the cursing power of the King of Ten Thousand Fallen Evil Spirits with ," Zhao Yibing said.
"And one more thing—"
She leaned down and whispered in the man's ear, "Do you want to eat those real scions of the noble families?"
"Yes," the man admitted honestly.
"Go to Yunshan Port to hunt, the flesh is yours and the souls belong to ," Zhao Yibing said.
The man's hands twisted together tightly, turning white from the force.
Desire, anxiety, fear, and sorrow flashed across his face as he stuttered:
"But, my strength is not sufficient to—"
"This hunt, I too shall participate," Zhao Yibing enunciated.
The man was stunned, then slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his whole body shivering uncontrollably as if chilling.
A trendous sense of bliss struck him, sufficient that he preemptively savored that unapproachable delight.
A true scion of a noble family.
These were the rulers of the world, self-proclaid gods who deed the lives of others within their dominion.
Now he was permitted to eat them.
Because—
His faith's True God had sounded the horns of war.
The True God had made a promise.
The flesh would be his, and the True God desired only the souls of those humans masquerading as gods!
—What a grand and romantic hunt it was!
Yet—
"Why would you personally take action, when actually, as your servant, I can do it on your behalf…"
The man said cautiously.
Zhao Yibing spoke, "That boy who killed you—not only does he have an Undead, but he also hides a not-so-insignificant fellow. anwhile, I have traversed from the distant cosmos, expending far too much strength."
"I need to sacrifice so souls, absorb their essence, and rally my forces."
"—Only then can I devour them."
The man listened intently, tears streaming from his eyes as he knelt deeply into the ground, chanting with heartfelt emotion:
"Great True God, I shall forever accompany you, heed your teachings, and assist you in the hunt—"
"—Walking your path upon the earth."
Zhao Yibing said nothing more.
She lowered her head, lightly twirling the crimson thread between her fingertips.
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