CHAPTER 343: CHAPTER-343.

Triple payment for a young woman? Either this target was extremely dangerous, or someone wanted to make absolutely sure she died.

Either way, the pay was too good to pass up.

She tucked the contract away and vanished into the crowd.

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..

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A third hitman—a wolf beastman with scarred hands—found his copy at dusk.

He read it under the fading light, his eyes narrowing.

Three days. Triple pay. Maximum brutality.

He grinned, showing sharp teeth.

"Finally, something interesting."

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The fourth—a hawk beastman—discovered the contract at the dead drop just after sunset.

His keen eyes scanned every word, every detail of the sketch.

He knew this location. The western district hotel. Easy to find.

Three days.

He had time to prepare.

He folded the contract and took flight, disappearing into the darkening sky.

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The fifth hitman arrived last, just as night fell completely.

A panther beastman, moving like liquid shadow. They retrieved the final copy of the contract from the hollow stone.

Unlike the others, this one paused longer. Studied the sketch more carefully.

Something felt... off.

Triple payment. Maximum brutality. Three days.

It was too open. Too obvious.

Almost like...

The panther’s eyes narrowed.

Almost like a trap.

But the payment...

They tucked the contract away.

Trap or not, they’d take the job. They just wouldn’t be careless about it.

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By midnight, all five contracts had been claimed.

All five hitmen knew the target.

All five were preparing.

The hunt was on.

And none of them knew—not yet—that their target was expecting them.

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Back at the hotel, Kaya sat by the window, her new purchases arranged neatly on the table.

She held the jade butterfly pins up to the moonlight, watching them gleam.

Behind her, the mongoose was still chained in the other room, breathing but barely conscious.

Veer sat nearby, sharpening one of his blades. Shhk, shhk, shhk.

Cutie stood by the door, silent as always.

And Sparrow... Sparrow was in the corner, knees pulled to his chest, still trying to process his new reality.

Kaya set the pins down and smiled softly.

"Three days," she murmured to herself.

Three days until they came.

Three days until the real fun began.

She leaned back, gazing out at the city lights of the beast world capital.

Somewhere out there, five beastmen killers were sharpening their weapons. Planning their approach. Imagining how they’d complete the contract.

And she’d be waiting.

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The second day began much like the first.

Too calm. Too peaceful.

Kaya woke up refreshed, stretched lazily, and went about her morning routine like she didn’t have five professional killers planning her demise.

She ate breakfast—some rice porridge and steamed vegetables that Veer had prepared. She even hummed softly while eating, completely at ease.

Sparrow watched her with hollow eyes. He hadn’t slept properly. Every shadow, every sound made him jump. His nerves were completely shot.

"How," he finally croaked out, "how are you so calm?"

Kaya looked at him, spoon halfway to her mouth. "Hm?"

"You literally challenged five assassins to kill you yesterday! And you’re just... eating porridge?!"

Kaya swallowed her bite and smiled. "Well, yeah. I’m hungry."

Sparrow’s eye twitched.

"Besides," Kaya continued, setting down her spoon, "worrying about it won’t change anything. They’re coming either way. Might as well eat well and stay strong."

That logic was both completely reasonable and absolutely insane at the same time.

Veer chuckled from where he sat. "She’s got a point, Sparrow."

"You’re all crazy," Sparrow muttered, burying his face in his wings. "Every single one of you."

Cutie remained silent by the door, as always. But his eyes tracked every movement outside the window, every shift in the air.

After breakfast, Kaya did something unexpected.

She went to check on the mongoose.

The room where he was chained smelled of blood and sweat. The mongoose was awake—barely. His eyes were glassy, unfocused. The bandages Cutie had wrapped around his worst wounds were already stained dark red.

Kaya crouched down beside him.

"Still alive?" she asked conversationally.

The mongoose flinched at her voice. His whole body trembled.

Kaya studied him for a moment. "Your friends know I’m here now. Two of them came to observe last night."

The mongoose’s eyes widened slightly.

"I wonder," Kaya continued, tilting her head, "will they try to rescue you? Or will they just focus on completing the contract?"

The mongoose tried to speak, but only a weak rasp came out. "Khh... aa..."

Kaya stood. "We’ll find out soon enough."

She turned and walked out, leaving him alone in the darkness once more.

By midday, the tension had grown thicker.

Even Kaya could feel it now—the weight of being watched. Multiple sets of eyes tracking her every move.

They were getting bolder. Closer.

Good.

She decided to go out again. This time to a different part of the city—the southern district where the fighting pits were located.

"You’re doing this on purpose," Veer said as they walked. "Making yourself an easy target."

"Maybe," Kaya replied with a small smile.

The southern district was rougher than the rest of the capital. Beastmen here were stronger, more aggressive. Fights broke out regularly in the streets, and no one batted an eye.

Perfect environment for an assassination.

Kaya walked through it all calmly, occasionally stopping to watch street performers or examine wares from weapon vendors.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

She could feel her own heartbeat—steady, controlled, anticipating.

They were here. Watching. Waiting for an opening.

She turned down a less crowded street. Buildings loomed on either side, casting long shadows.

Veer’s hand went to his weapon.

And then—

Whoosh!

Something flew past Kaya’s head, embedding itself in the wall beside her with a sharp thunk.

A throwing knife.

Kaya stopped walking. She looked at the knife, then slowly turned to face the direction it came from.

On the rooftop, a figure stood silhouetted against the afternoon sun. The hawk beastman. His wings were spread slightly, ready for flight.

"Testing my reflexes?" Kaya called up to him.

The hawk didn’t respond. Instead, he launched three more knives in rapid succession.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Kaya moved.