Charles also tried earnestly to talk him out of it.
"With your talent, there's really no need to push yourself so hard. If you keep training steadily, you'll definitely become a Grand Magister. You might even have a chance of reaching the Saint Realm."
"Yeah, Jonathan. What about your classes at the academy? Aren't you going to attend?"
Jonathan had taught himself everything in the curriculum a year or two ago. He only went to the classroom to keep up appearances and avoid arousing suspicion.
He had read a great many magical tomes in the library and found some of their theories extremely useful.
While everyone else was diligently practicing the magic appropriate to their level, he had already begun improving spells.
And the process had gone very smoothly.
He suspected it was because the Soul Dao Fruit had strengthened his soul and enhanced his comprehension.
He hadn't investigated the matter further. Whatever the reason, it could only benefit him.
Jonathan smiled faintly. "Do you really think missing a month or two of classes will affect me?"
"Even if I fall behind, I'll catch up in no time."
"We know you're amazing. Fine, we can't talk you out of it. Anyway, the Magical Beast Mountain Range is dangerous, so be careful!"
"Come back safe!"
"Come back safe!"
"Thanks. I'm buying today. Let's go out and have a big meal."
"It's been ages since we all got together. Let's go, let's go!"
Several days later, Jonathan received a letter asking him to pay Xue Yan a visit.
"Lady Xue Yan, what did you need me for? Do you have a mission for me?"
"Clever. You said you wanted to go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, right? The Saber Organization received an assassination contract a few days ago. The target is heading there, too. Since you'll be in the area anyway, I thought I'd let you take it on for some practice."
"Tell me the details first."
Xue Yan briefly explained the job. Jonathan said, "The head of the Iron Armor Mercenary Group, a seventh-level warrior. You really think highly of me. And the whole mercenary group is going into the Magical Beast Mountain Range together. Aren't you worried I'll fail to assassinate him and die out there?"
"The Saber Organization has invested so much in me. Surely you don't want me to die before my time."
"Quit your nonsense. I know you better than that!"
Xue Yan said, "Any other assassin would have little chance of pulling this off, even a seventh-level warrior. But I believe you can do it."
"You've trained as both a warrior and a mage. You're a peak sixth-level warrior and a sixth-level mage, and you've learned the Assassination Art from me personally. Don't underestimate yourself, young man."
"Fine. Since you put it that way, I suppose I have to accept."
"Don't worry. The person who posted the mission will secretly help you. And I've made sure your price is high. You're now a gold-tier assassin of the Saber Organization."
"I don't trust him. A man who'd kill his own older brother for profit might well try to silence me the moment I get into trouble."
"But would you let yourself get into that kind of situation?" Xue Yan asked with a raised corner of her mouth.
Assassins did the job. They didn't ask why.
Jonathan smiled without answering.
"He's already paid a deposit of twenty thousand. Once the mission is complete, he'll deliver the remaining gold."
"Understood."
A while later, Jonathan left. He bought some provisions in Black Phoenix City, then set out for the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
From Black Phoenix City, it took several days of travel east to reach the range.
He wore plain clothes and a black cloak, keeping his face hidden beneath the hood. Unless someone stood close, it was hard to make out his features.
That was one of the basic skills of an assassin: knowing how to conceal yourself.
After walking for about half a day, Jonathan spotted two sixth-year students from Ulada Magic Academy on the road.
He had met them once before.
His excellent memory meant he recognized them.
He didn't greet them. With his pace, he easily passed them by.
Several days later, an endless mountain range stretching from north to south appeared before him.
"Magnificent!"
Peaks rose one after another across the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Everywhere he looked, there were mountains upon mountains, like an endless ocean.
The range was home to countless magical beasts. There were even plenty of Saint Realm magical beasts, scattered throughout.
Jonathan quickened his pace and soon disappeared into the mountains.
Inside the range, ancient trees that had grown for thousands or even tens of thousands of years towered everywhere, their canopies blotting out the sky.
All kinds of weeds spread across the ground, and thorny undergrowth crowded the forest. Dead leaves carpeted the earth in thick layers, rustling beneath the feet of anyone who walked over them.
Strangely, though, Jonathan made no sound as he walked. It was as if his feet never touched the ground.
This was also part of the Assassination Art Xue Yan had taught him: how to silence your footsteps as much as possible.
"I've barely been here a moment, and I've already run into a magical beast. They really are everywhere."
He sensed a living presence a dozen or so meters ahead. It was well hidden, but it hadn't escaped Jonathan's notice.
Jonathan struck first. He stomped, and the ground rippled. A huge stone spike suddenly thrust up where the beast was hiding. A massive python appeared, its body pierced through and hanging from the spike.
"So it's a python. Looks like it's only around a third-level magical beast."
He raised a hand and conjured another sharp stone spike out of thin air. With a flick of his wrist, it shot forward and pierced the python's head, ending its life.
From what Jonathan had learned, the outer hundred miles of the Magical Beast Mountain Range were mostly home to low-level magical beasts. The farther in you went, the more seventh-, eighth-, and even ninth-level magical beasts you'd encounter.
Of course, the occasional ninth-level magical beast also came out from the depths to wander around the outskirts.
If you ran into one, you could only blame your bad luck.
Dark Magic was naturally suited to concealment and suppressing one's presence. Combined with the exquisite Assassination Art he had learned, it gave him an advantage. Even so, he didn't dare move too quickly through the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
If he accidentally ended up surrounded by a horde of magical beasts, even he might get hurt.
On the third day after entering the range, Jonathan had killed dozens of magical beasts. They were all low-level and not worth much. Even the Magic Crystal Core of a sixth-level magical beast was worth only a thousand gold coins.
Jonathan had come to the Magical Beast Mountain Range hoping to find some seventh- or eighth-level magical beasts to practice against and test his improved spells.
But now that he'd accepted an assassination mission, he had to take care of that first.
A hundred thousand gold coins was no small sum.
He didn't care much about money, but he couldn't deny it was useful.
The Iron Armor Mercenary Group was heading out to search for rare medicinal herbs, as well as a good number of Blazing Rhino Horns.
A Blazing Rhino Horn was the single horn on the forehead of a sixth-level Blazing Rhino. It was quite valuable: not only was it hard, it also had medicinal properties. One could sell for several thousand gold coins on the market, more than the beast's Magic Crystal Core.
Jonathan kept moving toward the gathering place of the Blazing Rhino herd.
Two days later, he arrived.
The Iron Armor Mercenary Group was nowhere to be seen yet.
"By my reckoning, they should've entered the range a couple of days ago. They'll probably show up within the next day or two."
"Then I'll wait."
As someone who had undergone rigorous assassin training, he had plenty of patience.
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