CHAPTER 30: SCHEMES

"So, you’re an assassin, not a simple thief." Ray’s eyes narrowed. "Let me guess. Ashclaw sent you?"

"Brat, you’re sharp." The masked figure chuckled. "Hearing the news that you defeated a knight despite awakening as a waste in the beast tamer trial really shocked him. Not to mention, you survived being poisoned by the fearsome Soul-Dispersing Poison. It all points to one fact—you had a lucky encounter. You probably got a treasure that makes you immune to poison and increase your strength over time."

"So he sent you to kill me and steal my opportunity?" Ray said.

The masked figure said with a laugh, "That old man is really foolish. If you truly possess something valuable, I’ll just take it for myself. At most, I’ll have to leave for another place for a while. Once I’m strong enough, I’ll return and laugh in his face."

"Your fantasy will remain just that," Ray said mockingly. "It will never come true."

"Hmph! I am a peak Iron-rank Tamer with a demonized wolf cultivated to the advanced stage. And you are a mere commoner who just happened to get lucky. I won’t even need to use my beast. With just my Flying Sword, I can crush you."

The masked figure snorted as he pulled his sword out from the scabbard tied to his waist before letting go of it.

As the sword was falling toward the ground, it suddenly stopped, hovering in midair.

Basic Flying Weapon Refinement!

It was the ability he had gained upon awakening as a beast tamer. It allowed him to refine any sword into a deadly flying sword. At a time, he could only control one Flying Sword!

"Good! This skill will add a nice touch to my arsenal," Ray laughed.

The masked figure couldn’t understand what he meant. If he could, he would have made a run for it, treating him like a devil!

Whoosh!

A silver arc flashed as the masked figure’s sword traced a sharp trail through the air, descending upon Ray.

Ray merely raised a finger in response.

Bam!

The sword was smashed aside, embedding itself deep into the ceiling.

"W-What?" The masked figure gaped, shocked to see that his signature move had been deflected effortlessly.

"Next, it’s your turn," Ray said as he flicked his finger.

Air compressed to a lethal degree shot out, exploding as soon as it struck the masked figure.

The masked figure felt like he had been struck by a boulder hurled by a giant. His body was blasted out of the room, crashing into the courtyard.

"W-What just hit me!?" he stammered, pain wracking his body and blood trickling from his mouth.

Ray walked out of the room calmly, his steps unhurried. With his hands behind his back, he looked down on the masked figure and said,

"If it was a few days ago, facing a peak Iron-rank Tamer, I could only accept death. But now? Even dozens of you wouldn’t be enough."

His last words dripped with disdain.

The masked figure felt cold to the bone. The way Ray looked at him was disturbing to say the least—it was as if he were already dead in those eyes.

"Wolfie, block him! No matter what it takes, buy some time for me to escape!"

Mentally shaken and injured, the masked figure was willing to sacrifice its tamed beast to save his life, summoning it to attack Ray.

The demonzied wolf pounced toward Ray.

Wind blades flew out.

The beast was sliced apart into pieces in the blink of an eye.

Ray stepped over the remains like dirt beneath his feet and swiftly approached the masked figure who was struggling to get away. He knocked him down with a punch that caved his chest in.

"Any last words?" Ray asked after beating the masked figure to the ground.

"Please spare me. I have a family to support. My mother is old, my children are young, and my wife is pregnant with our third child. Please..." the masked figure begged with tears streaming down his eyes.

"Mercy is a poison that kills through ingratitude and betrayal. Besides, you are an assassin with the blood of countless people on your hands. I would be a fool to spare a ruthless thing like you."

Ray didn’t bother speaking further.

A wind blade flashed—

and the masked figure’s head was cut off.

[You have killed a peak iron rank tamer and his tamed beast. You have gained several hundred EXP!]

From the man he’d just beheaded, Ray removed the mask. He was curious about who Ashclaw had sent to kill him.

A face, bloated and ruined by decades of indulgence in alcohol, lust, and prostitution, was revealed once the mask was taken off.

"Kane..." Ray’s eyes flashed with recognition.

Kane was Ashclaw’s most trusted confidant, but to call him a dog would be far more appropriate, as he was infamous throughout the town for biting anyone Ashclaw pointed at!

Worth noting, Ashclaw didn’t have the capability to bind grand knights and higher nobles to his side. He could only bribe them heavily to gain their aid every now and then.

As a result, Kane was the strongest and most talented knight under Ashclaw.

Surely, his death would come as a great loss for Ashclaw!

"First, I killed his most talented son, now I killed his most capable subordinate. I have dealt him two great blows back to back!"

The thought made Ray happy.

Ashclaw was his mortal enemy. The more losses Ashclaw suffered, the happier he felt!

Anyways, Ray held nothing but disdain for Kane. To end up as nothing more than a blade for hire for a fellow knight was utterly pathetic. In his eyes, Kane was unworthy of even a proper burial. However, this disdain didn’t extend to his Beast Taming Seal.

[You have fed the Bright Silver Seal to your Eclipse Devouring Seal.]

[Similar effect cannot be duplicated.]

[Failed to duplicate the Beast Taming Skill.]

[Successfully duplicated Sword Flight.]

[Skill Acquired: Basic Flying Weapon Refinement]

[Level: 1]

[Description: Allows you to refine a sword of your choice into a flying weapon that can kill from a distance. You can only own one flying weapon at a time.]

[Cost: 10 Magic Power.]

[Level Up Requirement: Assassinate 10 people or beasts (0/10).]

"Not bad."

Ray put his seal back into his Niwan Palace after upgrading it.

Just then, the clanking of armor and the stomping of boots erupted from outside his courtyard.

A well-armed group was moving in a steady but rapid march, filling the street with pressure.

They had to be the town’s guards, responsible for fighting against crime and keeping White Sparrow Town safe. They were clearly not good at their job, as the crime rate in White Sparrow Town was significantly higher compared to nearby territories.

"What are they doing in the town’s outskirts so late at night?"

Ray was startled to hear them draw closer. He had too much to hide!