CHAPTER 133: CHAPTER 132: THE BIRTH OF A LEGENDARY ASSASSIN

The Old Sen Magical Technology Store encountered difficulties in the field of alchemy. Two people and one chicken researched until dawn, producing seven distinctly colored magic potions, yet ultimately making no progress. Considering that continuing the research might make Miss Keroy bald, Ethan hurriedly halted the study.

Based on Miss Keroy’s fire healing properties, he proposed a hypothesis. If successful, they might be able to use this feature to brew a magic potion that could heal any injury.

Their organization still lacked an excellent medical team.

The idea was wonderful, but putting it into practice proved extremely challenging. Creating a new magic potion is like charging forward with inspiration and luck without a synthesis formula, and the most likely event is causing an explosion. Lindong had exhausted all her knowledge to prevent the apartment from burning down.

They brewed a total of seven magic potions with unclear effects. Considering that magical potions often have overly miraculous effects, Lindong strongly opposed Ethan testing them on himself, so they could only save the seven potions for now.

After finishing these, she went back to bed and fell asleep immediately.

For a cat accustomed to sleeping and waking early, during the time spent with Ethan, she stayed up late more than she had in the past few years combined.

She thought Ethan was a night owl with a day-and-night reversed, extremely bizarre routine, possibly addicted to staying up late.

It looks like prompting Ethan to sleep early should be on the agenda in the future.

The sleep was hardly restful. Ethan felt he had just closed his eyes when noise from the living room woke him. He dazedly opened his eyes to find it was noon, while Lindong reacted more directly. She turned into cat form, closed her eyes with her brow furrowed, hid under the blankets, just shy of pressing a pillow on herself.

Thinking of Miss Lindong Witch’s risk of magic power surging, Ethan had no choice but to fight his sleepiness, put on formal attire, and after washing up, went to the living room.

As expected, all three neighbors came by. The considerably thinner Miss Keroy was entertaining guests, bringing the coffee beans Ethan had brought back from Gear City to the living room. Recently, she found these beans delicious and seemed to have a stimulating effect.

Before Ethan could speak, Pi’an stood up excitedly and said, "Our product became famous! Haven’t you read today’s news yet?"

She was holding the Horned Owl Beast Daily. The first thing she did when she woke up today was entrusting Rowena to buy the newspaper in the town. After selling off the electromagnetic crossbow yesterday, she guessed today would bring big news.

Ethan glanced at the newspaper. The reporters reported prominently an uprising in Dark Furnace City.

In the monochrome depiction, the high and mighty Chief Priest sneered as he recounted the crimes of those judged. Right then, an arrow shot out from somewhere, piercing straight through his chest.

The white shield of protection could not fend off the dark arrow and was immediately shot through.

The Chief Priest fell in response, causing a commotion.

Ethan seriously suspected the journalist writing this report was a church detractor, placing the image of the Chief Priest being pierced with an arrow in the most conspicuous position, making sure the entire Empire saw the scene of him being shot through the heart.

He read the report again: another victim at the execution platform was Count Jialan, also shot through the heart.

Even though the writer seemed indignant, denouncing the despicable attacker and rebels, the words were filled with a sarcastic undertone.

Now Ethan confirmed, with this tone and accompanying picture, they were deliberately mocking the ineffectiveness of Dark Furnace City’s church and nobility. Both the Chief Priest and a Count were so easily struck down by an assassin.

The rebellion was even more dismal than Ethan anticipated, with only ten people, all farmers. After using the Ice Arrow Scroll to kill a few priests, they soon got gunned down. Several pushed to the guillotine didn’t escape the fate of execution either.

For Dark Furnace City residents, the only good news was the delay of the "Amnesty Tax."

The deaths of the Chief Priest and Count Jialan brought huge deterrence to the nobility and church. They couldn’t find any trace of the assassin. After killing the targets, this Brotherhood member vanished into the shadows.

The Horned Owl Beast Daily issued a wanted notice for the assassin.

Black Wolf, Brotherhood member, wanted dead or alive.

These two arrows made him a legend in the Brotherhood, and since the Fallen War, he became another felon wanted by the Empire.

"The church’s reputation is completely ruined this time."

Rowena gloatingly said from the side, though she had nothing to do with the church. Due to Lindong’s experiences, she regarded the church as an enemy too, "They intended to use suppressing the rebellion as intimidation but didn’t expect to be shot one by one. Everyone saw the Chief Priest’s shield shatter instantly. The Pope himself is probably furious, too bad there is no direct report on him."

"The events in Gear City and Dark Furnace City should quiet them down recently. Three high-ranking figures died just like that, they should realize the power of populace shouldn’t be underestimated now."

Ave gradually comprehended the deterrence Ethan mentioned.

The petitions from Dark Furnace City residents were destined to yield no results. Only the two arrows shot by the legendary assassin Black Wolf could change the decisions of the nobility and church. She could imagine them doing whatever it takes to track down this legendary assassin, but before Black Wolf is found, an arrow will always hang over their heads, robbing them of their peace in sleep.

"Fear... is your weapon."

Ave fell into deep thought.

"A legendary assassin costs 80 gold lions. As long as the Empire continues enacting laws like the ’Amnesty Tax,’ more legendary assassins will emerge."

The popularization of electromagnetic crossbows means every city will have legendary assassins standing up.

"Sooner or later, they’ll trace this back to us."

Ave felt a bit worried.

Before, the Ice Arrow Scrolls Ethan made were mostly used for fulfilling commissions against dark creatures, causing no ripple in the Empire’s upper echelons. But now, a Chief Priest and a Count got killed; as long as Empire investigators visit Fireplace Bay, they’ll easily hear about Heisenberg and the Magic Technology Store.

"Of course, it’s possible we won’t be able to keep the store open much longer."

Ethan shrugged, this was his original plan and an inevitable outcome, "So before that happens, we must make good use of Fireplace Bay’s resources."

"Ethan."

Ave took a deep breath and gathered courage, "I have something to ask you, please answer honestly."

"Hmm?"

"What is your purpose, exactly?"

Ave leaned forward, and the blond hair atop her head pointed towards Ethan. Ethan had mentioned more than once he didn’t harbor ambitions of such scale, which was indeed the truth. He would rather stay in Ximu Town, using these creations capable of altering the Empire’s landscape to arm the town’s guards.

"My purpose, huh..."

Ethan fell into contemplation. Initially, his life goal was to be transferred to the central bureau in the Empire’s capital, working steadily until retirement, but now this ideal was destined to be shattered.

"To let you all, and those I know, survive."

This was a humble wish, yet for today’s Empire, it was undoubtedly a luxury item.

He seriously gave Ave an answer, "I can’t stand separation by life and death. If the day comes when you all die, I’ll probably be sad for a long time."