Cesar Arrives

"???"

Xue Yan looked puzzled. "What do you mean? You think the Saber Organization should take this job?"

"Two million. That's a lot of money. I've been short on cash lately, and I need a pile of gold coins."

"So I've decided to take the job."

Xue Yan said, "Don't think about ruining the Saber Organization's reputation."

"Even if the Saber Organization can't complete a job, we return the money. We've always had a sterling reputation in the assassin world."

Yeah, since when did assassins have reputations to protect?

Jonathan silently mocked him, then said, "Of course not. The employer gave us the information, and we sent assassins out, but the information was wrong, so they came back empty-handed. Shouldn't the employer pay more?"

"We'll drag it out for a few months. The Bred Family won't last much longer. Once the family is gone, there'll be no need to return the money."

"And besides..." Jonathan suddenly grew serious. "This money was mine to begin with."

Xue Yan and Cross exchanged glances. "Your money?"

"What do you mean?"

"Actually, I only found out recently that my real surname is Bred!"

Cross said, "Don't joke around. As far as I know, there's only one Bred Family in the Dark Alliance."

"The Bred Family's direct line—the eldest son's branch—was wiped out more than a decade ago. The second branch, which is the current head of the Bred Family's line, doesn't have any illegitimate children, let alone one as old as you."

"Wait, you're sixteen. I remember that the eldest son's branch of the Bred Family did have a child who was two or three years old back then. Could you be...?"

As soon as Xue Yan said this, both his and Cross's expressions changed.

If this was true, then the Saber Organization was the one that had murdered Jonathan's family!

They had a deep and bitter feud.

And they had personally raised the sole survivor of that massacre into a fine assassin?!

Even fairy tales weren't written like that.

Seeing Jonathan smiling, they thought he was lying to them. But then he said, "That's right."

"Moreover, I know that the people who carried it out back then were from the Saber Organization. The employer was the current head of the Bred Family—my second uncle!"

"But don't be nervous. When Abraham rescued me from the pile of corpses, I'd forgotten everything about my past. Besides, I'm an assassin too. I know assassins just do the job they're paid for."

"Even if you hadn't accepted that job, some other assassin organization would have."

"The Saber Organization tried to kill me, but one of its assassins also saved me. I'll consider the debt settled."

"So even though I know the truth now, I won't come after you for revenge. Canina Bred is the one I'm after."

"What do you think? Should I take the money?"

Xue Yan sighed softly. "What goes around comes around."

"Fine. We'll handle the job the way you suggested!"

"Thanks, Brother Xue Yan. When Master Cesar arrives, I'll put in a good word for you. Maybe you two can even take a trip to Above the Moon together."

After Jonathan left, Cross said, "Lord Xue Yan, do you really believe him? He's willing to let go of his family's murder so easily. Are there really people like that?"

"Whatever the truth, for now he's still on the Saber Organization's side. His talent, potential, and cunning are all unfathomable."

"We either kill him before he grows stronger, or maintain a good relationship with him and avoid making an enemy of him."

"The Old Instructor is on his way here. If he arrives and you tell him we killed Jonathan, do you think you could bear the consequences of lying to him?!"

"Besides, the Old Instructor thinks highly of him. He may even have the chance to accomplish as much as the Old Instructor."

After a pause, he continued, "For now, do as Jonathan says. When he says he considers things settled with the Saber Organization, what he means is that if the organization goes after him, he'll consider that a new feud."

"Then the old and new grudges will be settled together!"

"With someone like him, if he catches the slightest hint of trouble and runs, even I might not be able to find him."

"He sent Abraham and the others away, so now he has no weaknesses left. He's covered every angle."

"Even if we decide to deal with him, we have to wait until the Old Instructor arrives and tell him everything. He'll make the decision. Understood?"

Cross bowed. "Understood, Lord Xue Yan. I'll meet all of Jonathan's demands during this time."

Jonathan left, the corner of his mouth curling into an almost-smile.

He hadn't been particularly interested in revenge, but now that they'd gone after the Saber Organization again, he might as well settle both old and new grudges at once.

He'd already written the script!

Back at his estate, Jonathan went into his room and resumed crafting his first Magic Weapon.

But as he engraved the second Micro Magic Array, the slightest disturbance ruined everything. The first array was destroyed along with it, and the entire weapon was rendered useless.

For now, he was only practicing. Later, Jonathan planned to study smithing, find materials, and forge a magic weapon with his own hands.

After Canina returned, he thought it over and ultimately decided to assassinate Jonathan. A few days later, he approached the Saber Organization again.

Cross quoted him a price: two million.

He also made it clear that if Canina's information was wrong and the assassination failed, the Saber Organization would keep fifty percent of the payment. Any further attempt would be priced separately.

Canina swore that the information he'd provided was absolutely accurate.

"You're just a cornered lamb."

Watching him leave, Cross murmured, "Getting targeted by a nephew this terrifying—you really are unlucky."

Then he, too, disappeared from the hotel room.

Half a month later, Canina paid the fee, and the money was transferred to Jonathan's Magic Crystal Card.

The Saber Organization told Canina they'd have news within three months. As the one who'd taken the job, Jonathan could decide when to make the attempt and when to report that it had failed.

To him, it was like a game.

During those two weeks, Jonathan crafted nearly twenty Magic Weapons, using up as many as eighty weapons in the process.

If he reached eighth-level mage and got more adept at engraving Micro Magic Arrays, his success rate might improve considerably.

"That's enough for now. Weapons with two Micro Magic Arrays are only useful against warriors below level seven. In the hands of a peak sixth-level warrior with compatible attributes, they can take on a seventh-level warrior."

"I wonder how powerful a weapon with three Micro Magic Arrays would be."

After a pause, he muttered to himself, "But I'm probably not strong enough yet. If I force myself to make one, the success rate will be abysmal."

"It's been almost three months. Unless Cesar's lying in bed with a woman and doesn't want to get up, even he should have arrived by now."

The next day.

A middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties or forties entered the Saber Organization's residence in Black Phoenix City. He wore a loose robe, and his long black hair hung casually around him. His expression was languid and carefree.

"Little Swallow, it's been a long time."