To Marquis Barr's slight relief, they did not drag out the shadow. Instead, Young Miss Olmedo stood at the front, raised a freshly printed copy of Rikaner Glory, and read aloud from an article:
"Since the Kingdom's move to the west coast, the decree to rebuild the Kingdom issued by the Council Chairman has brought new life to this land..."
After reading the short article, Annan held up the newspaper. "Barr, this article looks familiar, doesn't it?"
Familiar? Marquis Barr remembered it vividly.
They had supplied exactly the praise Marquis Barr wanted but could not ask for. And their offer had been generous—they were paying him, not charging him for the article. Only a fool would have refused.
"What about it?"
Marquis Barr sensed a problem and avoided answering directly.
Annan circled the first character of each paragraph. Put together, they read: Free City will destroy the Kingdom.
The onlookers erupted. Annan snapped, "It's a coded message!"
"I investigated the merchant credited with this article. He works for Free City!"
"That... that proves nothing! We only published an article praising the Council Chairman..." Sweat broke out on Marquis Barr's brow.
"What if you took their money?"
"Ow—"
A cry suddenly rang out nearby. An old woman collapsed in pain and appealed to the people around her. "My back... someone help me up."
The old woman's sudden appearance among the Purification Court soldiers stunned everyone. Annan felt a powerful urge to help her and had already reached out by reflex.
The pain vanished from the old woman's face. With a cold smile, the assassin said, "Marquis Barr sends his regards!"
As Marquis Barr stared in shock, the assassin drew a dagger and thrust it at Annan's chest.
What better warning could there be than assassinating a marquis's enemy in public, right