CHAPTER 213: CHAPTER 211 EXPOSED_1

After speaking, Yan Xing pushed the Gold Coins on the table towards Grey Mouse.

Grey Mouse wasn’t particularly concerned about the feud between the Jufeng Mercenary Group and the Farsight Mercenary Corps. He was more focused on how much money he could make from this legendary thief. Terence’s interest in the Assassin’s Guild of Nuta City indicated he planned to take on missions issued by the guild. Of course, providing information to Terence netted Grey Mouse quite a few benefits.

So, Grey Mouse told Yan Xing about the Assassin’s Guild in Nuta City.

The so-called Assassin’s Guild was not the chain store structure Yan Xing had previously imagined; it was not a unified organization. The Assassin’s Guild was an underworld institution unrecognized by any official authority. Its business was to provide espionage and assassination services for certain individuals or forces. There was almost no connection between the Assassin’s Guilds in different cities. In some large cities, there were even multiple, unaffiliated Assassin’s Guilds coexisting.

Some tasks unsuitable for mercenaries, tasks that had to stay out of the light, would be placed with the Assassin’s Guild. Therefore, although the Assassin’s Guild carried the word "assassin" in its name, the scope of its missions was not limited to just assassinations. Even assassinations were not the main source of income for the Guild. The Assassin’s Guild’s business focused more on trading information.

Therefore, it would be more accurate to call it a Thieves’ Guild. But the name "thief" was too low-class, nowhere near as grand-sounding as "assassin." Moreover, commoners believed that an assassin must master everything a thief could do, while a thief might not necessarily understand the skills of an assassin. Customers naturally chose the Assassin’s Guild when posting commissioned tasks. Thus, institutions that had once truthfully called themselves Thieves’ Guilds were eventually phased out. What remained was the Assassin’s Guild.

The unique nature of the Assassin’s Guild meant it had to be very secretive and not operate openly. Whether posting or accepting tasks, there was a very strict vetting process. So, when Yan Xing mentioned wanting to learn about the Assassin’s Guild in Nuta City, it didn’t arouse Grey Mouse’s suspicion. No matter how legendary a thief might be, without a guide, it would be impossible to easily find the Assassin’s Guild in Nuta City.

In Nuta City, no one knew where the headquarters of the Assassin’s Guild was located. One could only find contacts for the Assassin’s Guild in certain taverns designated by the Guild. The Assassin’s Guild contacts only dealt with regulars. Newcomers had to be introduced by a regular who would also vouch for them.

After briefly introducing Nuta City’s Assassin’s Guild, Grey Mouse said to Yan Xing, "I know a bar with a contact from the Assassin’s Guild. I’ve often taken information-gathering commissions from him in the past. If Mr. Terence would like to accept missions from the Assassin’s Guild in Nuta City, I can take you there and act as your liaison."

As he spoke, Grey Mouse pinched the Gold Coin, dropped it into his own purse, and made it jingle deliberately.

Yan Xing understood what Grey Mouse meant.

"Don’t worry," Yan Xing said. "As long as I make money, you’ll definitely get your share."

Upon receiving the promise, Grey Mouse happily stood up. "Let’s go! I’ll take you there right now."

Yan Xing deactivated the Soundproof Magic. Grey Mouse chuckled as he went to the bar to settle the bill, deliberately engaging Li Jiya in a little more conversation. It was only after Yan Xing left the tavern that Grey Mouse tossed Li Jiya a silver coin as a tip before hurriedly following Yan Xing.

Li Jiya watched Grey Mouse walk away and then casually threw the silver coin into the cash box. She then also left the tavern, heading in the direction Yan Xing and Grey Mouse had gone. She didn’t follow too closely. She knew Terence was a very capable thief; if such a thief could be easily followed, he wouldn’t have lived this long.

In the tavern, Li Jiya had been able to make some guesses about their conversation by reading their lips. She knew the place they were going to had something to do with the Assassin’s Guild. Additionally, Li Jiya had long since smeared a magical scent on Grey Mouse’s clothing. By using the corresponding Tracking Magic, she could see the trail left by this scent. Therefore, Li Jiya didn’t need to see them; she just needed to follow the lingering magical scent.

After following them for a few blocks, Li Jiya figured out where Grey Mouse was taking Terence. So, she stopped trailing them directly and instead hurried ahead, entering the tavern they were headed to before they arrived.

Yan Xing, completely oblivious to being tracked, followed Grey Mouse through the commoner’s district. Then he entered a tavern that was many times more bustling and significantly larger than Li Jiya’s tavern. The patrons at Li Jiya’s tavern were mostly local residents, creating a very tranquil atmosphere. The tavern they now entered was filled with brawny, muscular individuals. Their identities were unclear, but they were obviously not kind-hearted folk. Some were topless, loudly boasting to the companions at their table, while others wrapped themselves up tightly and sat alone in a corner, drinking and eating.

Upon entering, Grey Mouse became very subdued. He, like Yan Xing, pulled up the hood of his garment to cover his head and hide his face, keeping his head down as they walked further inside. At the same time, he cautioned Yan Xing, "Don’t provoke anyone here. Just follow me..."

"Understood," Yan Xing replied.

Grey Mouse didn’t linger in the tavern’s main hall, instead heading straight further inside. When they reached a closed secret door, a brawny doorkeeper blocked their way. Grey Mouse familiarly recited the password and presented a token to prove his identity. The brawny man looked at the token and then opened the secret door, letting Grey Mouse and Yan Xing pass through.

Behind the secret door was a dim corridor, and at its end was another closed door. Grey Mouse pointed to a slot in the door and said to Yan Xing, "Only one person can enter at a time. I can only bring you this far. You just need to slide a Gold Coin through this slot, and the door will open. This is to prevent accidental intrusions and also serves as a deposit. When you leave, the counter will return the remaining money after deducting the consultation fee."

"Just wait here for me."

Yan Xing took out a Gold Coin and slipped it through the slot in the door. With the sound of a lock turning, the door creaked open. After Yan Xing walked in, the door automatically closed behind him.

In this sealed room, there was only a desk and two chairs in the middle. A Magic Light Sphere hovered above the table, serving as the sole source of light in the room. In its soft green glow, a person could be seen sitting in the chair on the other side of the table. The person was entirely cloaked in a black cloak, the oversized hood pulled low, shrouding their entire face in shadow.

Yan Xing walked over to the empty chair and sat down without initiating conversation.

In this kind of environment, where everyone is trying to be enigmatic and imposing, whoever speaks first will diminish their imposing presence. Hmph, I, this esteemed one, am a legendary thief who has conquered countless women of all kinds! You are merely a minor contact for the Assassin’s Guild. Even though I’m new here, I must maintain my stature and position. I absolutely cannot lose out on sheer presence!

The room fell into a lengthy silence.

In the end, it was the Assassin’s Guild contact who couldn’t bear the silence any longer and spoke first. "Your Excellency, are you here to post a mission or accept one? To buy a warning or sell intelligence?"

Before Yan Xing could respond, Chui Chui had already changed into a detective outfit in his mindscape. Clenching a pipe between his lips and holding a magnifying glass, Chui Chui said, "Master, although she deliberately altered her voice, I am one hundred percent certain that she... is Li Jiya!"