Free Web NovelChapter 219: Chapter 207: Assassin Union
Luoshui City, City Lord’s Mansion.
With the City Lord’s sudden disappearance, the two Clan Leaders, Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao, were left to temporarily manage Luoshui City’s affairs. Though young, both were decisive and ruthless. That, combined with the money Nie Yun had left behind, allowed them to quickly gain control over most of the city’s forces. freewёbnoνel.com
Controlling most of Luoshui City’s forces, and with the advantages of their two great families, the Yangg and Feng Families, they should have had victory in the palm of their hands. Yet, Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao now sat in the conference hall of the City Lord’s Mansion, their brows deeply furrowed.
"The captains of the southern and western city guard squads have both defected to Luonan City. Now, the City Lords of the eight second-rate cities—Luonan City, Jibei City, Xiashang City, and the rest—are all applying pressure at once. If we don’t handle this properly, forget saving our own skins. It’s questionable whether the Yangg and Feng Families will even survive!"
Feng Xiao said, rubbing the tense knot between his brows and pointing to a map laid out before them.
At the very center of the map was Luoshui City, surrounded by eight arrows pointing inward. Each arrow represented a city comparable in status to Luoshui City.
City Lord Luoo Zhanhao’s sudden disappearance had thrown Luoshui City into chaos. The eight neighboring second-rate cities all made their move, intending to carve out a piece of the pie for themselves. This made it exceedingly difficult for Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao to unify the city.
Although restricted by the Empire’s decree, they didn’t dare to send troops openly. However, making threats, stirring up trouble, and sabotaging their efforts was another matter entirely.
"Hmph, Luonan City has the gall to demand three million silver taels, three Royal Family’s Low Grade weapons, and a thousand Wind Wolf Hides... Talk about a lion’s appetite!" Yangg Yan snatched a list from the table, his fist clenching with a loud CRACK.
There were eight lists on the table, one from the City Lord of each of the eight cities applying pressure. Every list detailed exorbitant demands for silver taels and gifts.
"Luonan City is tame by comparison. Look at the list from Xiashang City: two hundred Gang Formation Realm Demon Cores, three thousand Gang Formation Realm Demon Beasts... This is utterly outrageous! If we had three thousand Gang Formation Realm Demon Beasts, we could probably wipe out Xiashang City itself!"
Feng Xiao picked up another list, filled with righteous indignation.
"Forget it. If there’s no other choice, we’ll do it my way. I’ve already sent someone to make contact, and I’m sure we’ll have results soon!" With a sweep of his hand, Yangg Yan grabbed the eight lists and tore them to shreds. He tapped his fingers on the table, a vicious glint in his eyes.
"You mean... the Assassin Union?"
Feng Xiao’s brow furrowed.
"That’s right. I’ve already contacted the Assassin Union. The City Lord of Luonan City and the others are bound by the Empire’s regulations; they don’t dare to make an open move. All we have to do is strike like lightning, assassinate all of their Envoys, and unify Luoshui City under our absolute control in one swift stroke. I guarantee they won’t be able to pull any more tricks!"
The eight City Lords had each sent an Envoy, and these individuals all possessed the strength of the Armor Realm. In a second-rate city, this was considered Peak-level power. Their simultaneous arrival truly put immense pressure on Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao.
The Assassin Union was a shadowy organization, much like a Mercenary Corps, that specialized in activities like assassinations and targeted killings. As long as you could pay their price, they would follow your command.
Yangg Yan’s plan was simple. ’These Envoys are here to threaten us, right? All we have to do is hire someone to kill them all simultaneously and consolidate our control over Luoshui City. After that, even if they want to interfere again, their hands will be tied!’
Furthermore, killing all these people at once would be a display of their power, making the other cities think twice.
"The Assassin Union... I’ve heard their reputation isn’t the best. We should be careful." Although Feng Xiao didn’t fully agree with Yangg Yan’s proposal, he didn’t object.
"Not the best reputation? Kid, our Assassin Association prides itself on being fair to all customers, young and old. How dare you say our reputation is bad?"
The words had barely left his mouth when a sinister laugh echoed from afar, and three figures slowly materialized within the hall.
The speaker was a man in his fifties or sixties. His aura was deep and imposing, and it was clear at a glance that he had reached the Qi Sect level. The two young men with him were both Peak Powerhouses of Armor Realm.
"You must be Lik Nansou of the Assassin Union. I am Yangg Yan." Seeing the three approach, Yangg Yan’s eyes lit up.
’Assassins specialize in Concealment and Assassination. With one Qi Sect expert and two at the Peak of Armor Realm, a force like this could take out twenty Armor Realm cultivators without breaking a sweat!’
"The one and only!" Lik Nansou laughed heartily and stroked his beard, pleased that Yangg Yan had recognized him.
"Senior Lik Nansou, we’ve invited you here today to ask you to kill a few people for us. Here is your payment." Now that he had confirmed his identity, Yangg Yan took a thick stack of silver notes from his robes and offered it to him.
Each silver note was worth ten thousand taels, and there were at least fifty or sixty of them in the stack.
The Assassin Union, just like the Mercenary Corps, operated on a simple principle: money talks. They had a clear price list for assassinating targets of different cultivation levels. The price for an Armor Realm target ranged from ten thousand to one hundred thousand silver taels.
"It’s just killing a few Armor Realm cultivators, right? Simple enough. However... this payment is a little on the low side." Lik Nansou casually pulled over a chair and sat down, glancing at the silver notes Yangg Yan was holding out before speaking nonchalantly.
"Low? I’m well aware of your Assassin Union’s rates: ten thousand silver taels for an Early-Stage Armor Realm, thirty thousand for a Mid-Stage, sixty thousand for a Late-Stage, and one hundred thousand for a Peak! Our targets are four at Mid-Stage Armor Realm, three at Late-Stage, and one at the Peak. By your own pricing, that’s only four hundred thousand taels. This is six hundred thousand. How is that not enough?"
Yangg Yan’s brow twitched.
"Heh heh, you’re quoting our old prices. The rates have gone up..." A sinister smile spread across Lik Nansou’s face.
"The rates have gone up? To how much?" Yangg Yan asked. He hadn’t heard anything about a price hike for assassinations.
"One million silver taels for an Early-Stage Armor Realm, three million for a Mid-Stage, six million for a Late-Stage, and ten million for a Peak!" Lik Nansou’s voice was a harsh screech.
"What? One million for a single Early-Stage Armor Realm target? It seems to me you have no intention of cooperating!" Hearing the price, Yangg Yan shot to his feet.
’Even if there was a price hike, it couldn’t possibly jump a hundredfold. For Lik Nansou to say this, he clearly has no intention of cooperating!’
"That’s right. We never had any intention of cooperating. Heh heh... get them!"
In response to Yangg Yan’s accusation, Lik Nansou suddenly broke into a wicked laugh and swept his right hand forward.
WHOOSH!
The instant he spoke, the two Armor Realm youths at his side struck. They moved like vipers, two bone-chilling glints of cold light shooting straight for the throats of Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao.
"You...!"
For an assassin to attack a client was a grave taboo. Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao had never imagined they would do such a thing. With a cry of alarm, they dodged the fatal strikes, but just as they tried to retreat, they saw a massive palm descending upon them!
Lik Nansou had made his move!
BAM!
The two men coughed up blood as they were sent flying backward, unable even to activate their Ultimate Venerable Talismans. They crashed to the ground, completely immobilized.
"Hmph. You two fools. Someone already paid for your lives long ago. And you still wanted to work with us? Too late!"
With a final glance at the two men lying motionless on the ground, Lik Nansou snorted and stood up.
