Where Did the Assassin Come From?

Ryan stepped into the room.

Behind him followed the two women carrying the chest. The mahogany box was incredibly heavy, forcing the two women to pant for breath, their foreheads beaded with sweat.

"Put it there." Ryan pointed to the empty space beside the table.

The chest hit the floor with a dull thud.

Ryan strode forward, gripped the edge of the lid with both hands, and heaved it open with a forceful motion.

A brilliant, golden glow instantly illuminated half the room.

A chest filled to the brim with Gold Coins.

They were stacked neatly inside. Every single one was stamped with the double-headed eagle emblem of the Orenda Kingdom.

In the dim room, these small metal discs reflected a color of striking intensity.

Su Li was using a dagger to slice a piece of roasted lamb.

He paused his movements.

His gaze was entirely captivated by that chest of golden light.

How much money could this be?

Thousands? Tens of thousands?

In Grey Gull Port, ten Gold Coins could buy a fine black horse.

He had felt a pang of heartache back then just spending money on a horse. This chest alone was more than enough to buy half the street.

Su Li grabbed a linen cloth from the table and wiped the grease from his hands in a haphazard manner.

He reached into the chest and scooped up a handful of Gold Coins.

The heavy, metallic sensation was incredibly real. The coins clinked against each other, producing a crisp, clear sound.

They were all real.

Had those soldiers lost their minds?

He had just tapped a few times in front of that broken furnace and produced a piece of scrap iron that didn't even have a blood groove, and they were paying him a whole chest of Gold Coins for it?

Had the status of blacksmiths reached such an absurd level?

Su Li released his grip. The Gold Coins clattered back into the chest.

He had no idea how exaggerated the commotion he had caused truly was.

He was even less aware that he had already been pegged by Count Remington as a strategic, nuclear-weapon-level magic smith.

He simply assumed the front lines were desperate for blacksmiths.

"What is the meaning of this?" Su Li leaned back in his chair.

Ryan stooped low, the flesh on his face bunched together. He was a completely different person from the arrogant man he had been at the armory.

"Mr. Su, this is a small token of appreciation from the Count."

Ryan rubbed his hands together.

"The Count speaks highly of your craftsmanship. He specifically instructed that you must feel the sincerity of Blackrock Fortress. This is just a small welcoming gift. As long as you are willing to stay and serve the fortress, you will receive this amount every month!"

A chest of Gold Coins every month?

Su Li stroked his chin.

The terms were indeed generous. In these chaotic times, having money and power was the only way to go. Having a fortress commander as a backer was far better than wandering around aimlessly.

Ryan pointed to the two women standing to the side.

"These two are the cleanest girls in the city. They are here specifically to help you unwind. In our fortress, as long as you have the talent, you can have whatever you want. Feel free to use these women; if you break them, I'll bring you two new ones tomorrow."

Su Li looked at the two women. They both kept their heads lowered, making it impossible to see their faces, but their figures were certainly pleasing.

"What else?" Su Li asked.

Pies don't fall from the sky.

Take someone's money, handle their troubles. He understood this principle clearly after living three lifetimes.

"The Count has prepared a banquet at the main castle. He requests the honor of your presence. The Count has many things he wishes to discuss with you in person." Ryan bowed even lower.

"Fine. I'll head over later."

There was no harm in meeting this Count. He could test the waters.

If the other party's demands weren't excessive, working as a retainer blacksmith would be quite comfortable.

In the event that things went south, with his current strength of several hundred pounds, hopping a wall to escape wouldn't be difficult.

Ryan straightened up.

"Please rest, sir. I shall go and report to the Count now."

He walked to the door and looked back at the two women.

"Serve Mr. Su well. If anything goes wrong, the two of you will be filling the mass grave tomorrow."

The two women shuddered and nodded repeatedly.

Ryan exited the room. The door was pulled shut.

Only three people remained in the room.

The silver-thread charcoal in the brazier burned a deep red, sending waves of heat outward. It warmed the body.

The two women stood side by side.

They reached out their hands and tugged at the ties of their cloak collars.

The knots came undone.

The heavy wool cloaks slid off their shoulders and piled up at their feet.

They wore very little underneath.

Only a layer of translucent, thin gauze dresses.

A cloying, sweet fragrance rushed straight into his nose.

Su Li picked up the wine glass on the table and took a sip of red wine.

Honestly, it was a feast for the eyes.

Back in his first life, when he was hauling sacks at the docks, he would have pounced on such a good thing immediately. Why be polite when someone delivered it to your doorstep?

But now, he had no interest at all.

Closing his eyes, his mind was filled with Saina's wrinkled, aged face.

Before that old woman died, she had grabbed his hand and told him to find a fairy in his next life.

He had only just erected a tombstone for his wife, and to turn around and seek pleasure with two strangers in this fortress—that would be a truly despicable thing to do.

"Put your clothes back on. Take a few Gold Coins and get out." Su Li set down his glass.

The two women were stunned.

The tall woman bit her lower lip and stepped closer.

Her thigh brushed directly against Su Li's knee.

"Is the gentleman dissatisfied with our service?"

Su Li leaned back, putting some distance between them.

"Can't you understand human speech? Get out."

He really wasn't in the mood. Treating women like objects to be gifted—this rotten nobility was truly beyond saving.

The two women exchanged a glance.

They bent down to pick up the cloaks from the floor and draped them back over their shoulders.

They turned and walked toward the door.

Su Li watched their backs, picking up the table knife to cut another piece of lamb.

A sound of metal friction came from the front.

Click.

The door lock was engaged.

Su Li's motion of cutting the meat stopped.

Why lock the door?

Were these two women planning to defy his orders and force themselves on him? Were the women in this fortress this aggressive?

The two women turned around.

Their hands emerged from beneath their cloaks.

Each held a short, nimble dagger.

The blades shimmered with a faint blue luster. These were definitely not table knives for cutting meat.

Assassins.

Su Li's mind raced.

These two weren't sent by the Count to win him over! They were definitely from another faction!

Spies from the Baris Empire? Or perhaps someone in this fortress who didn't see eye-to-eye with the Count?

There was no time to think.

The tall woman moved.

Her speed was absurd! It completely defied the physiological limits of an ordinary woman.

In a single step, she crossed several meters, her dagger thrusting straight at Su Li's face.

Su Li pushed off the ground with his toes.

He slid back half a meter, chair and all, narrowly dodging the strike.

He grabbed the rosewood chair in front of him and hurled it at the tall woman with all his might.

The heavy, solid wood chair flew through the air with a whistling sound.

The tall woman neither dodged nor parried; she coiled power into her left fist and struck out violently.

Wood splinters flew everywhere.

The sturdy rosewood was actually shattered to pieces by her single punch. Wood fragments scattered across the floor.

Taking advantage of this opening, Su Li turned and lunged toward the bundle in the corner.

His small iron hammer was inside. As long as he could get his hands on his weapon, he was certain he could turn the tables with his strength.