Chapter 259: The Bar A Master Assassin Should Achieve
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
If it was up to him, the seasoned assassin would have never accepted this mission. He knew of the target’s identity through the Church’s massive endorsement and the Intelligence Agency’s extremely revered feedback, which stated that Baiyi was the one true master, who had resolved two major events just recently. Although the seasoned assassin was a hired assassin, whose only goal was to eliminate the target in order to fulfill his mission, he, personally, still possessed a moral baseline. Hence, when he was given with such a high-profile target, who was revered publicly, the seasoned assassin’s first thought was to turn down the mission.
The organization insisted. As a hired assassin, his only option was to accept the job.
However, the mission had been very bizarre, to say the least, looking at the way the organization had arranged its procedures or the events of this assassination itself; it all made him feel so embarrassed…
Although the client had forked out a huge sum of money to hire Umbra’s best assassin to complete the mission, it was as if the client had anticipated this failure. Besides being assigned three assassin apprentices to accompany him so that they could ‘gain some experience out of this’, the seasoned assassin was also bombarded with advice, prior to the mission, like: “prioritize your own safety, do not force yourself, do not mess up, and get out of there if things get out of hand”. It was as if they already knew, right from the start, that this mission was a lost cause. It was very different from the others jobs with high rewards.
The target was really as intriguing indeed as the masses had perceived. The mission was more of a practice match than an assassination attempt; both the seasoned assassin and Bayi seemed like seasoned opponents, instead. The seasoned assassin was not dumb; he could tell that there was a lot of restraint being shown by the target and by Umbra. He considered his performance too embarrassing; faced with a target like Baiyi, his skills seemed no better than the three apprentices he brought along.
To sooth the awkward atmosphere and the questions on his mind, the seasoned assassin decided to initiate conversation. “Sir Hope, I would like to know… How did you learn about the Umbra’s ultimate technique? You seem so well-versed in it. How are you able to handle it better than me…?”
“Hmm, I learned it from a friend of mine; an adorable lass so beautiful, you would never think that she was an assassin, at all,” Baiyi spewed out lies like it was second nature. “By chance, I happened to helped her out, so she taught me this move in exchange.”
When she heard that, little Miss Assassin started pestering him again in the Void, nagging him in a peculiar tone, “Just what do you think you’re saying?!”
‘Can this lie get even more blatant…’ the seasoned assassin mulled internally. ‘What is this? A soap opera?’ However, he did not press Baiyi any further on the matter; thus, making the atmosphere even more awkward.
Although Baiyi’s earlier Coup de Grace missed its target, the seasoned assassin never believed that it was due to a lack of skill. He clearly understood that the miss was a mercy shown by his opponent. Not only was Baiyi’s weapon not appropriate to execute the technique, but the distance Baiyi had placed between himself and the Master Assassin was a single step short of than the distance required to execute the technique.
Although the difference between Baiyi’s distance and the compulsory distance was as minute as one step, that step was required to make the technique work; otherwise, it would be impossible to perform.
The best distance to activate the Coup de Grace was twenty steps away from the opponent; this was not too close, neither was it particularly far. The technique did not require some form of manipulation on the physics of the world, and it did not require a special chant from a sorcerer. Twenty steps apart were simply the most optimum distance for chi teleportation, for it allowed the user a good margin of control over the teleportation’s destination. This Twenty-Step Rule was also important because the effectiveness of an illusion depended on how well the caster estimated the distance; if their target was out of a certain range, the illusion would lose its edge. This was especially true for unique techniques like this, which observed an even stricter, and more demanding, requirement.
The Twenty-Step Rule was a discovery made after countless trials and errors from multiple assassins; it was the standard rule prescribing the most optimal distance to perform Coup de Grace. If one wished to perform Coup de Grace with fewer or more steps, they would have to relearn and remaster chi teleportation techniques from scratch, because Coup De Grace was not like the plain teleportation tricks used by the Sorcerers. To execute a technique faster and more elusive than common teleportation spells demanded an acute control over its execution. Meanwhile, if one tried to perform Coup De Grace outside of the standard twenty-step rule, then they would have to make extra efforts to reconfigure and recalibrate the technique to restore the effectiveness lost for foregoing the golden distance. In other words, they would have to spend even more years to train.
Mastering the Twenty-Step rule was already an incredible feat on its own. Extending that distance, however, was something no normal person would consider possible. The seasoned assassin got his first carving when he mastered the Twenty-Step Rule, and that was ten years ago. The number of carvings on his gauntlet had since increased to five, and yet he had not invented and mastered a second distance from which he could perform Coup De Grace.
Even the current strongest assassin in the organization could only perform Coup de Grace within two additional ranges — eighteen steps and twenty-two steps — and he had yet to master performing Coup De Grace from these additional ranges. Nevertheless, this seasoned assassin was already considered the best at controlling the distance necessary to perform Coup De Grace — second only to the founder of the technique herself.
Since the seasoned assassin knew just how challenging it was to have such a control over distance — and after he had observed how Baiyi lept back and forth with ease — Baiyi’s feat was enough to make the seasoned assassin warily take a step back.
In the Master Assassin’s mind, Baiyi’s steps had become similar to a demon’s stomps; his ability to perform Coup de Grace from only nineteen steps away completely shattered the bravado which the Master Assassin had put up. The seasoned assassin finally understood that there was a whole level of difference between himself and Baiyi; no longer did he dare make any brash actions towards Baiyi.
However, after hesitating for a bit, the seasoned assassin decided not to press for the truth; this was not entirely impossible, after all.
There were, indeed, a few pretty assassins within Umbra’s ranks, but they mainly carried out special missions. It was quite possible that one of these gorgeous but deadly female assassins really had mastered the Coup de Grace. However, after the rebellion, the organization was stricter on its borders and the personal records of its members; thus, an old geezer like the seasoned assassin could not claim to know every member of the organization, so he could not be sure if the aforementioned charming lass, who taught the Coupe de Grace to an outsider, ever existed or not.
The seasoned assassin could no longer maintain the reserved and silent composure of an assassin. He could no longer help himself; he voiced out the biggest question in his mind.
“Sir Hope, assuming that this is really how you learned the secret technique, how could you even activate it in nineteen steps? You should know that distance is the core determinant in pulling off this ultimate technique successfully; so, just how did you manage to do it?! Even we who practice it every day cannot even…”
Baiyi seemed distracted when the seasoned assassin asked the question, but this was only because he was conversing with Little Miss Assassin in the Void; thus it took a while for the question sink and for Baiyi to reply.
“Actually, that assassin from Umbra invested Coup de Grace as a secret technique for her own personal use only; it was not meant for everyone because it requires a lot of talent and synchronization to work successfully.”
While they were talking, however, Baiyi’s body vanished from its original position. The seasoned assassin then felt a tap at the back of his neck, which he could not even attempt to avoid, undetected by his sharp senses.
The expression on the seasoned assassin’s face was one of shock. Earlier, before they began conversing with each other, the distance between them was reduced a little more; this could only mean one thing: Baiyi could handle three distances!
However, Baiyi still seemed unsatisfied. By the time the seasoned assassin turned his head around, Baiyi had vanished from his original position once more. The seasoned assassin then felt a slight knock on the back of his neck with the hilt of a dagger; he could not even respond in time.
The distance between the two had already closed to the point where they were directly facing one another. Technically speaking, it was close to impossible to activate the Coup de Grace with a distance like this, but Baiyi seemed determined to completely eliminate all doubts in his opponent’s mind by succeeding again.
Baiyi lept back, and the seasoned assassin’s eyes instinctively followed his movements; however, he suddenly felt another tap at the back of his head.
The seasoned assassin’s back broke out in cold sweat. If this was a real battle, he would have already died three times. Giving himself the benefit of doubt, the seasoned assassin did let down his guard slightly while they were having a conversation, earning him the first strike. However, it was undeniable that he was fully focused on Baiyi the second and third time — especially the third — his eyes could barely follow Baiyi’s silhouette before he was hit.
‘Could it be that… my eyes can’t follow his speed?! ‘
Something within this well-experienced seasoned assassin crumbled at that thought.
“H-how is this… possible?!” He slumped to the ground weakly, landing on his knees.
“Activating the Coup de Grace in such a close range was challenging on its own, but…. h-how could the distance be so controlled?! Why wasn’t there a cooldown between the activations? Even the highest ultimate techniques could not even be used continuously like that… j-just how?! How…?!”
When they heard the seasoned assassin’s howl of disbelief, the three apprentices waiting outside in the yard stood on their toes and threw curious glances towards the source of the commotion. At their level, they could not comprehend just how formidable Baiyi seemed to their Master, so they had not reacted too much.
“Didn’t I clarify earlier? The key to this technique lies in pure talent and synchronization,” boasted Baiyi as he stood before the seasoned assassin. “I must be an excellent candidate for the role of an assassin, huh?”
He would never tell his opponent the truth. The key to mastering the technique was actually the illusionary abilities taught by the Charlatan, along with his own profound knowledge in the fundamentals and principles of teleportation. It purely stemmed from a wide range of knowledge and had nothing much to do with talent, at all.
The seasoned assassin kneeled on the ground, panting laboriously for quite a while before he recovered his energy. He did not attempt to stand up straight away; instead, he continued to kneel on the ground as he implored, curiously.
“Sir Hope, can you tell me… who are you, really?”
“Can you tell me who your client is?” Baiyi retorted.
The seasoned assassin was stunned silent. Then, he proceeded to stand up. “Sorry to disturb,” he said respectfully. Together with the three stone-faced apprentices, they all vanished into the darkness.
To an assassin of Umbra, the ultimate rule — which was second to none, even when one’s life was in jeopardy — was complete secrecy on all matters regarding their clientele.
An incomplete mission could be abandoned or refunded; it was only a matter of capability. However, revealing the identity of the client was a matter of principle. As a neutral organization in this industry, a lack of skills could be trained and nurtured; but, lacking in reputation meant bankruptcy. Umbra had only been able to sustain itself till the current day because of their reputation of integrity towards their clientele; this had always been the foundation of their existence.
As Baiyi’s gaze tailed the silhouettes of the four retreating assassins, he found himself having another conversation with Miss Assassin.
“It did seem quite pitiful, though. Having spent ten years worth of intense training to learn the ultimate technique, only to be overwhelmed by the opponent, using the very same technique… technically speaking, he did look like he was on the brink of madness, didn’t he? However, he handled the situation unexpectedly well, being able to recover like that… He even remembered to uphold his little secrets.”
“Secrets are just part of our culture; upholding them is a practice carved deep within the bones of every assassin from Umbra, so it will not be foregone so easily. The fact that he had five scars on his palm meant that he had experienced despair and desolation more brutal than you could ever imagine, so don’t you ever undermine the upbringing of Umbra’s assassins. You should never confuse a person’s thoughts and emotions with their call of duty; this is how impressive Umbra’s assassins should be!” Miss Assassin proclaimed proudly and jabbed Baiyi’s consciousness two more times; as if this was some sort of game.
“Hmm, you made it sound pretty professional, but it sounds eerily similar to some form of mental disorder, though. It’s not easy being an assassin, really; and, what’s with those jabs when we’re just talking!” Baiyi hit back a few times in revenge.
“Hehe!” She giggled. Perhaps the energy channeled by Baiyi this time was not that strong, so it was ticklish more than painful to her, resulting in a series of giggles, instead.
“Hmm, speaking of which — I truly understand your sentiments and your… concern for your descendants, but isn’t this a little too much? They’re here to kill me! Showing them mercy was fine by me, but I still had to entertain them by talking to them nicely? You even expected me to put on a performance. Don’t you even care about how I feel?” Baiyi complained ruefully. “Furthermore, wasn’t the whole reason you were banished to the Void because of Umbra? The people in that organization that betrayed you; have you forgotten? Not only did you not take the chance to get your revenge, but you wanted to look after them?”
“A traitor… so what? Does it make them all bad people by default? Should I kill them all?” retorted the little Miss Assassin emotionally. She sounded conflicted and pained as she continued to lament.
“And how could I not care about you? Do you even know how big of a trouble you’d cause if you killed him? A top-notch assassin like him is a treasure to any organization; if you killed him, you’d turn an average mission into a blood feud with Umbra! You’ll get pestered by a storm of assassins every day later on; is that what that makes you happy?! Do you even know how many of them are out there, lurking in the shadows? Do you really think you can kill them all?!”
“Kill, kill, kill; is that all you know? Murder? Idiot! Dumbass! You ignorant fool!” The little Miss Assassin spew out a torrent of insults. She suddenly went quiet, no longer pestering him with her consciousness; she must be extremely pissed off.
Baiyi was at lost for words. ‘Really, I’d say I’m a pretty reasonable person, but what’s with the sudden temper? Did I somehow step on her tail?’
“She might have the most renowned talents and even be the best assassin in the world, but the truth is — she didn’t enjoy killing at all.” A hollow voice rang in his ear suddenly. “Don’t forget, her biggest dream was to become the owner of a bakery…”
‘Eh? Am I imagining things? The Warrior… actually uttered so many words at once? And in such a clear manner, too; not the usual grumble!’ Baiyi exclaimed in his mind. Was this a form of support for a sister-in-arms? He knew, for a fact, that the few female Voidwalkers came together occasionally for a leisure chat — usually about girly affairs — and had fostered quite a good relationship between themselves because of that.
“Now, now, how rare of you to talk so much at one go…” Baiyi simply said, almost amused.
“There is no need for words between two people who truly understand each other,” replied the Warrior nonchalantly. “You are stupid, though.”
‘Wait, wait, wait… how am I stupid? Didn’t you hear them call me Lord Savior of the World? Didn’t you see how I showed off the Coup de Grace back there? Except for the Bard’s wimpish techniques, I handled every Walker’s knowledge and skills perfectly; so, how exactly am I stupid, huh?!’
“Hmph!” The Warrior produced another one of her signature huffs before ignoring Baiyi just as little Miss Assassin did.
“Alright now, my apprentice, there’s no need to bargain with those unreasonable women; let us sit down and analyze the situation instead!” The Sorcerer quickly said, bringing Baiyi’s attention back to the key issue.
‘My own master is still the most reliable!’ Baiyi thought it private. After erasing the soundproofing enchantment in the mansion, he retreated back into his laboratory and spent the night discussing the assassination with the other male Walkers.