“So,” the man said, his gaze fixed ahead, “what will it be, Assassin of Lakarion? Will you keep hiding, or will you step forward and greet one of the Twelve Daimyos of New Japan?”

  Luke tried to piece together what was happening. The first thing he accepted was simple: whoever this enemy was, they stood far above him. At least level 100.

  He called me the Assassin of Lakarion. That’s the outfit I’m wearing. He thinks I serve the Grimhart family.

  Luke glanced toward Layla.

  If I activate the Teleportation Pentagram, I can escape this place in a second, before anything else happens. But then… she stays.

  He didn’t have a choice. He moved. Stepping out of the darkness, Luke advanced toward the man.

  “It seems your shyness is gone, assassin,” the man said as he crossed the room and stopped by a table.

  He pulled two cups and a teapot from his storage and set them down. “I always carry one with me. Tea goes unnoticed by most people. It can be present in a friendly conversation, just as easily as in a war room where the fate of a nation is decided.”

  He inhaled the aroma, then took a sip. “Tea is always there. Great rulers have fallen because of it. Even tea can be a weapon of death, carrying poison within its leaves.”

  In a single smooth motion, he stepped closer, holding out a cup. “Would you care to share some tea with me?”

  Luke stared at the liquid, then at the man offering it, his face hidden behind an oni mask.

  “As you said, our stories have crossed,” Luke replied evenly. “I will report to Queen Grimhart that you… arrived first.”

  The man stepped away. Luke’s attention shifted to the others in the room. Nine ninjas. Eight men and one woman.

  “And how is she doing?” the man asked casually. “The last time I visited the Grimhart kingdom… things didn’t go well during the meeting.”

  Luke’s mind raced, searching for a way out. “Someone like me doesn’t have the honor of frequent access to the queen, but if I had to say anything, it would be this: her blade remains sharp and lethal to her enemies.”

  The man sat down, crossing his legs as he drank his tea, lifting his mask just slightly. Luke could tell. He was studying him.

  “If you’ll allow me a question,” Luke said. “What is a Daimyo doing… here?”

  Luke asked without truly knowing what a daimyo was. The only thing he remembered came from school. Japan had an emperor and a prime minister. That was it.

  “I like tea,” the man said, staring into his cup. “It reveals many truths about a person. It builds trust. You haven’t touched yours.”

  “I don’t drink while on duty.”

  The man reached into his pocket and pulled out an object Luke recognized immediately. A [Tsukumogami no Me].

  “The group that occupied this place tried to deceive me,” the man said with a soft laugh, gazing at the artifact. “They sold me something on the black market. This little item, capable of creating a Spirit Tool. I introduced myself as Grass. They demanded payment in advance, and I honored it. A man’s word is his honor. But when it was their turn to honor the agreement… they vanished.”

  He set the cup down and rose to his feet. “Do you know why I introduced myself as Grass?”

  “No,” Luke replied.

  “What is more dangerous,” the man asked calmly, “the snake in the grass, or the grass capable of hiding a snake?” He tilted his head. “They learned the answer. They thought I was just grass. So I came here and took what was mine, along with their lives.”

  He stepped closer. “I expected to find the other one. The second leader. But he never came. Then you appeared. Interesting, isn’t it? How stories sometimes collide.”

  “It is,” Luke said. “Thank you for the tea. Unfortunately, I must take my leave. My task was completed by someone else.” He glanced back toward Layla. “My assistant and I will be going.”

  “It’s a shame our tea conversation was so brief,” the man replied.

  Layla stepped out from behind the crate, and the ninjas immediately turned their attention to her.

  “An assistant without an assassin’s uniform?” the man asked.

  “She was disguised,” Luke answered.

  “You truly enjoy that sort of thing,” the man remarked.

  Layla stayed silent beside Luke.

  “Before you go,” the man said, “may I ask you one question, assassin?”

  “Of course.”

  “What is the true name of Queen Grimhart?”

  Silence fell over the room, thick and heavy. The ninjas drew their weapons in unison.

  “I really should have had that tea,” Luke muttered, then hurled a throwing knife toward the window.

  He grabbed Layla and activated [Wraith Form], black mist spilling outward.

  [Witch’s Thread activated]

  Luke and Layla were yanked out of the chamber as the knife’s thread latched onto a tree outside. They crashed through the opening, and almost instantly the ninjas leapt after them.

  “My dear, this may be a good test for you,” the man’s voice said to the female ninja.

  “Layla, run,” Luke shouted.

  “I-I-I got hit by a throwing knife,” she cried.

  Before she could even get up, another blade flew toward them and detonated on impact. The explosion flung Layla away.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Luke sprinted and caught her midair as they slid down the forest slope together. He glanced back and saw the ninjas pursuing them, leaping between trees like animals, swinging from branches and vines with terrifying ease.

  Black mist bloomed again as Luke threw a knife into a tree.

  “Hold on.” He tossed the thread to her.

  Layla grabbed it and was yanked upward. Luke cut through the dark fog and charged straight at the ninjas, drawing all of their attention to himself. Kunai whistled toward him. He zigzagged, weaving through them.

  He hurled a throwing knife.

  [Telekinetic Impulse activated]

  One ninja was struck and slammed into a tree. Luke rushed forward to finish him, but the others closed in.

  He dodged blows, deflecting kunai with his kukris. One ninja slammed a palm into his chest, releasing a burst of wind that sent him skidding backward. Another flipped backward, heel snapping into Luke’s chin, followed by a web that slammed him into a tree.

  “You bastards are way too synchronized,” Luke growled as he sliced through the bindings and traded blows. Kunai clashed against kukris. A ninja grabbed him from behind. Luke surged forward, smashing both of them into a tree and shaking the grip loose.

  [Teleportation Circle 2 activated]

  Luke pointed at the ground and stepped onto the circle.

  [Teleportation Pentagram activated]

  He reappeared at his first teleportation circle, drew his bow, and fired an [Acid Blood Arrow] toward the ninjas’ position. The acid cloud erupted at a distance. Through [Predator’s Mark], Luke knew Layla was still fleeing, putting space between them. Then she collapsed.

  Damn it.

  Something burst from the undergrowth. Luke twisted aside. The female ninja.

  “I’m two steps away from you, assassin,” she said.

  “And I’m three from you,” Luke replied, pointing to the ground.

  [Corrupted Plant Growth activated]

  [Thorn Mutation activated]

  Roots snapped up and wrapped around her leg. Luke lunged to strike, but even restrained, she parried his blows. Then her body turned intangible, slipping clean through the roots.

  She drew a strange blade, not quite a katana, and clashed with Luke. Two more ninjas appeared behind him, striking in tandem. Luke twisted away from their attacks.

  He threw a knife straight up into a tree.

  [Witch’s Thread activated]

  A mana thread formed, and Luke leapt skyward.

  “He jumped!” one of the ninjas shouted.

  Luke was still suspended by the thread. He swung around the tree, threw another tethered knife to gain momentum, and completed the arc, coming down behind one of the ninjas.

  He dropped with his kukri leading, driving it through the man’s back straight into his heart.

  [You have slain a human…]

  [+1 Soul Fragment]

  The second ninja responded instantly, hurling shuriken in his direction. A few struck home. At the same time, the female ninja burst from the ground beneath him, plunged her blade into his abdomen, then spun and kicked him hard, sending him crashing into the brush.

  Luke hit the ground, rolled, then pushed himself up, glancing down at the wound in his stomach. He sprinted forward, weaving between incoming shuriken while throwing his own knives in rapid succession.

  [Telekinetic Impulse activated]

  The blades flew like bullets, so fast the ninja was forced into a desperate retreat, dodging with frantic movements. Luke came down from above, hanging from a thread, and slammed onto him, burying a kukri into his chest.

  [You have slain a human…]

  [+1 Soul Fragment]

  [One of your class skills is evolving…]

  Then it was just him and her.

  They exchanged blows in a blur of motion. Luke rolled backward as spheres of blinding light detonated around him. When she lunged, aiming her blade for his throat, his foot struck something etched into the ground.

  [Teleportation Pentagram activated.]

  He appeared behind her.

  “Surrender,” Luke said.

  “Me? Surrender?” she spat. “My life belongs to the cause.”

  “There’s been a mistake,” Luke replied calmly. “I want a deal. We go our separate ways, and no one else has to die.”

  “I won’t—”

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” Luke cut in. “I was talking to the daimyo.”

  Luke was seeing through the man’s eyes now via [Soul Infiltration]. He was hidden in the brush.

  “You’re in the… ‘grass,’ aren’t you?” Luke asked.

  “Yes. I’m here,” the voice answered. “You killed two of my men.”

  “They underestimated my grass and found the snake,” Luke said. “I want an agreement. We part ways without conflict.”

  “And why would I agree to that?”

  “You’re a businessman. A strategist. We’re both grass. I still hide many snakes in mine. They may not be as venomous as yours, but that doesn’t mean I’ll fall without leaving damage you’ll never forget.”

  The man fell silent.

  “She’s important to you too,” Luke added.

  “And what gave you that idea?” the man asked, his oni mask turned toward him.

  “I watched you during this fight. You only moved when you realized she might be in danger,” Luke said. “So what do you say? How about accepting my tea this time and ending this?”

  “I refuse to surrender!” the female ninja shouted.

  The man raised a hand.

  Silence fell. Seconds stretched long enough to feel eternal.

  “Very well,” the man said, clapping softly. “You did manage to entertain me.”

  Luke had no idea what that meant.

  “I accept the deal. I will not attack you, as long as you do not harm her.”

  “No, father—” The woman froze, realizing what she had just said.

  “Oh, my dear,” the oni-masked man said gently. “I told you before. The life of an assassin is not for you.” He gestured calmly. “Lower your weapon.”

  The daimyo studied him for a long moment. “We have an agreement, assassin.”

  “I trust your word,” Luke said, even though he did not.

  Clicking her tongue in frustration, the female ninja sheathed her weapon and sat down hard on the ground. “I would have won.”

  “You would have ended like the scorpion and the frog,” the daimyo replied calmly. “You would have stung the frog, and in the end, both of you would have drowned in the river.”

  Luke slid his kukris back into their sheaths.

  “I never intended to let you live, even if you had answered the queen’s name correctly,” the daimyo continued. “I should not be seen in these lands.”

  With that, the man turned and vanished into the forest. “Do not speak of me to anyone, assassin.”

  The woman stood. “If that partner of yours survives, consider yourself lucky.”

  “Good luck in your race for the legacy,” the daimyo’s voice echoed faintly from the trees. “Back when I was at your level, I also enjoyed traveling through dimensions and dungeons. Now… the storm is coming. And few will survive the flood it brings.”

  Then he was gone.

  Luke remained where he was for a while, keeping [Soul Infiltration] active, watching through the daimyo’s eyes as he and his ninjas retreated at incredible speed. Eventually, the distance became too great, and the connection snapped.

  Luke collapsed to the ground, pain tearing through every wound.

  I cannot believe I gambled my life on an assumption.

  He looked down at the sword wound left by the female ninja. “Damn it… poison.”

  Fortunately, his resistance was high. He drank a healing potion.

  If it were not for Layla, I would have escaped without much trouble.

  He forced himself to his feet and moved toward her position. She was crouched some distance away in the brush, her red outline visible through the power of [Predator’s Mark].

  “Layla, it’s me,” he said as he approached.

  But when he reached her, she was sitting upright, skin pale, foam spilling from her mouth, eyes bloodshot, dark veins spreading across her exposed skin.

  Luke rushed to her side. “Poison.”

  He pressed his fingers to her pulse. Her heartbeat was racing, frantic, completely unstable.

  Layla was dying.

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