Chapter 113
"It seems you still need to train for a few more years." Chen Ce mocked the other party mercilessly, then reached out towards the other party's coat—he needed to remove all of the other party's weapons before he could be completely at ease.
But just as he reached into his coat, ready to rip it open, he suddenly felt something...
An eerie softness...?
I think I felt something like that when I touched the Heartsteel earlier, but I was busy stacking steel and didn't pay much attention...
What is this feeling...? Does Talon have a habit of wearing silicone stab-proof vests? His pectoral muscles can't be this soft, right? And the size is obviously off?
Something's strange, let me touch it again...
It's still so soft...
Not sure, let me feel it again...
It's still soft...
Again--
"Have you touched me enough...!"
A reprimand laced with both shyness and anger rang out, Chen Ce's hand, which was seeking knowledge, froze instantly.
Touch it again... it's still soft...
"Stop it! You madman!"
Katarina struggled a few times, but unfortunately, she was still unable to break free from that terrifying force.
But she successfully got rid of her hat.
A beautiful head of long, bright orange hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
Those delicate features were also exposed to the air.
Chen Ce was completely frozen this time, and his hands really stopped moving.
"Ka... Katarina...?"
Chapter Four: Black Stockings or Bare Feet? Only Kids Make Choices!
Katarina truly hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
She was now pinned against the wall by her "second target," in a strange position that also hinted at something ambiguous, and a dull pain kept shooting through her chest—he had been too rough...!
She tried to break free, but the terrifying force immobilized her; she tried to fight back, but her wrists were already gripped; she wanted to scream, but they now looked like a young couple having a tiff in the street...
With one arm still around his neck and her body pinned against the wall, she looked every bit the domineering girlfriend who had been playfully throwing a tantrum or being forced into a "wall slam" by her boyfriend...
And what's worse is...
The other person seemed to recognize her...
He could even pronounce her name perfectly...
Although she had diligently practiced the art of assassination for many years, she was still a recent graduate and hadn't carried out many missions. The few missions she had undertaken were all perfect assassinations of her targets, leaving no information or clues about her identity. Theoretically, outsiders shouldn't be able to know who she was...
But... why is that...!
"Who are you...!"
As Katarina struggled, she angrily questioned the other person, her voice filled with the humiliation and rage of someone who had suffered greatly.
"I..." Chen Ce hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose not to tell the truth. "I'm just an ordinary person wearing a fox mask."
"Would an ordinary person receive such a warm welcome from Swain? Would an ordinary person even know my name? Clumsy and meaningless lies... If you don't want to talk, then just do it...!"
"Make a move... make a move what?"
"I've failed. If you want to kill me, hurry up and don't waste time...!" Katarina gritted her teeth, her voice and expression a mixture of grief and anger making her look like a severely wounded mother leopard who had given up the struggle. "Don't even think about humiliating me...!"
"Wait, wait... who said I was going to kill you?" Chen Ce maintained his pinning posture, but loosened his grip slightly—perhaps to make the other person feel better. "Now I want to know why you were following me?"
"..." Katarina promptly shut her mouth.
This is also one of the basic principles of being an assassin.
If the mission fails, not a single piece of information will be revealed.
Seeing this, Chen Ce didn't press the matter, but silently began to speculate in his mind.
First of all, it is obvious that the other party does not know him, but knows that he met with Swain and takes it very seriously.
Considering Carter's past and the trajectory of events according to the original timeline...
Um...
If nothing unexpected happens, she probably intended to assassinate Swain, and then during the assassination attempt—perhaps while looking for an opportunity—she unexpectedly discovered that she had a "close relationship" with Swain, so she temporarily added a "second target"—she might want to assassinate him, or she might just want to gather intelligence before making further plans.
In the original timeline, Katarina did indeed attempt to assassinate Swain after the formation of the Trifarix Council and before the outbreak of the Battle of the Gates of Mourning —Swain of course, the attempt failed.
Even Katarina later served the Trifarix Council of Swain.
This guess is probably pretty accurate.
However... Swain's attitude is quite intriguing.
Did he know about this? Did he know that Katarina wanted to assassinate him?
If I knew...
Chen Ce recalled everything from the meeting—especially Swain's overly enthusiastic attitude towards him, which almost seemed like an act.
Was that cunning raven trying to turn the fire on itself...? Or was it trying to use this incident to forge a partnership...?
Or... was he truly completely unaware?
With so little information at his disposal, Chen Ce was genuinely unsure of what to do.
But he could ask Katarina in an almost declarative tone, "I guess you were going to assassinate Swain today, weren't you?"
The moment she finished speaking, a strange look flashed in Katarina's amber eyes.
Although her exceptional mental fortitude allowed her to recover quickly, Chen Ce still keenly sensed something amiss—it seemed he wasn't wrong.
So that's how it is...
"Katarina, take my advice. This is a dangerous situation, and you can't handle it... Give up as soon as possible; it will be better for you and your family."
Chen Ce knew everything about the red-haired girl in front of him—her background, her past, and even her future.
Born into the glorious Du House Du Couteau, she was destined from birth to be a highly respected noblewoman in Noxus —the eldest daughter of the family patriarch Marcus Du Couteau and the future heir to the family fortune.
She realized her superior status from a young age. Her younger sister, Cassiopeia, inherited her mother's political acumen, while she clearly resembled her father more—a fact that pleased her.
Because her father—that stern and unsmiling top assassin and general—was recognized as the number one assassin in all of Noxus, and even the Assassin Guild was directly or indirectly under his command.
Thus, she was half-voluntarily and half-involuntarily pushed by the cunning General Du Couteau onto the path of studying swordsmanship, relying not on reckless brute force, but on deadly precision.
From then on, her childhood—if it could even be called childhood—was almost devoid of kindness or rest. Apart from sleeping, she spent all her time testing her physical strength, dexterity, and tolerance for pain, ultimately forging herself into the ultimate weapon.
Although her strict father and mentor, General Du Couteau, never offered her any verbal encouragement or affirmation, she could glean some information from the gradually satisfied look in his eyes—she knew that her father recognized her abilities.
She was already a powerful figure who could satisfy even the strongest assassin.
Then, she began accepting commissions from the Assassin Guild, completing each one flawlessly—even though she always liked to associate "honor" with "assassin," she never made a mistake during the missions.
She yearns to contribute her strength to Noxus, she longs to demonstrate her potential, and she desires an opportunity to serve the empire and the monarchy.
Unfortunately, her father never gave her any instructions.
The missions given by the Assassin Guild can't even be called "targets"; only missions given by the father, who is the strongest assassin, can be considered true targets.
Several months have passed since she "graduated," but she has yet to receive her father's formal authorization and entrustment.
In the past few months, the only truly challenging task she had encountered was a commission she received two days ago from the head of an Assassin Guild —to assassinate the newly appointed Grand Commander Jericho Swain.
She was initially full of confidence, until...
An unexpected event occurred.
"Stop thinking about assassinating Swain. Give up." For his own benefit, and also to help the other party, Chen Ce kindly advised, "Things aren't as simple as you think. If you persist, it will only bring annihilation upon yourself and your family."
"You think I'd believe your nonsense... Kill me if you want, stop talking nonsense...!" Unfortunately, Katarina wasn't having any of it.
Although she now possesses extremely strong assassination skills, her mind is still very simple—you could even say it's as pure as paper.
She received assassin training from a young age, but never learned anything about "humanity," nor did she possess her sister Cassiopeia's innate political acumen. Of course, she couldn't understand those two-faced politicians.
Chen Ce knew that if she persisted in her own way, it would inevitably lead to tragedy—just like in the original timeline.
Her arrogance nearly led to her father's death, in which case he sent assassins to eliminate her. Later, her father became embroiled in political turmoil, ultimately resulting in his disappearance...
The once-powerful Du House Du Couteau also declined as a result of these events.
"I'm giving you one last piece of advice, stop now—before you leave a scar on your beautiful eyes." Chen Ce gave his final warning, going straight to the point:
"There might be someone else who sent you to assassinate Swain... It's not as simple as you think. I know you don't believe me now, but if you really encounter those things in the future, you can come to me again."
Chen Ce gradually loosened his grip, and the girl's small hand, which had been pinched until it was pale and bloodless, was freed.
"Of course, I won't help you for nothing—by then, we won't be equals anymore... I think you understand what I mean."
"..." Katarina frowned and quickly withdrew her arm, but did not try to draw her spare weapon to fight her opponent—in that brief and ridiculous "exchange" just now, she had already realized the difference in strength between herself and her opponent.
Moreover... assassination is the skill that assassins excel at.
A direct confrontation would inevitably result in defeat.
She began to carefully back away, keeping a watchful eye on any possible attacks while preparing to escape along the route she had planned beforehand.
Chen Ce didn't stop her, but calmly watched her leave. "I hope you'll be just as safe and sound when I see you next time, Miss Katarina."
"I hope we never meet again...!" Katarina cautiously backed away, then quickly disappeared into the shadows of the alley.
Clearly, she was still resentful of the "humiliation" she had just suffered—how could someone so innocent have ever been... treated like that...?
Even now, my chest still aches a little...
Chen Ce had no idea what the other person was thinking, but the soft, comfortable touch seemed to linger on his hand—he really hadn't meant to.
Watching that receding figure, he knew very well that the other person would come knocking again sooner or later—but that time it would be to ask for help.
This is a good setup.
To establish his own power base in Noxus, he would indeed need Katarina's help—or rather, the help of the Du House Du Couteau behind her.
Equal trade and fair cooperation.
Hmm... it might be a little troublesome to stack steel next time...
This red-haired girl is probably traumatized by my pinching; it won't be so easy to touch her again next time...
Oh well.
Now it's time to go find LeBlanc...
LeBlanc's pre-prepared "safe house" was indeed quite good.
Located in the manor district in the northwest corner of Noxus's capital, it is spacious and secluded, surrounded by only a few old manors of similar size but empty – their original owners were mostly old nobles who were vassals of the former Grand Chancellor Darkwill, and had been "purged" by Swain several days ago.
The interior of the manor is also luxuriously decorated, with every flower and plant meticulously trimmed, suggesting it was once one of her hiding places—as evidenced by the numerous secret passages throughout the manor.
Syndra chose a room in the corner on the second floor to stay in. When Chen Ce arrived, she was packing her few belongings.
"What about LeBlanc?" Chen Ce asked bluntly.
"I don't know," Syndra replied briefly. "She brought me here and then left."
Did she say where she was going?
"No."
Did she leave any contact information?
"No."
"So... do you have a way to find her now?"
"No."
"..." Upon hearing these three affirmative answers, Chen Ce was instantly stunned.
The most urgent task now is to find LeBlanc and find out about Swain and the Trifarix Council, but she just happened to disappear somewhere at this crucial moment...