Standing before Jiang Jie was the rogue trainer Roand.
"Instructor Roand, is something the matter?" Jiang Jie frowned. Had Roand come for the Assassin's Blade?
"Nicholas, Lord Miles wants to see you." Roand swept his gaze over him, spotted the Assassin's Blade in Jiang Jie's hand, and could no longer look away.
Anything belonging to Onias held a fatal attraction for him, let alone the Assassin's Blade she had used for years.
Soon, they returned to headquarters.
"Nicholas, I'll wait outside. I brought plenty of money. You know what I mean," Roand whispered, his eyes gleaming.
Speechless, Jiang Jie nodded, then walked into the hall.
The moment he entered, Jiang Jie saw Miles.
The high-ranking assassin, long past his prime, looked restless and anxious. He had actually aged considerably compared to a few days ago, as though a mountain weighed on his shoulders.
These past few days, the pressure of the entire Assassins' Order had rested on him. Hundreds of people needed him to direct and deploy them, and he was overwhelmed.
"Nicholas, you're here?" At the sight of Jiang Jie, a trace of a smile finally appeared on Miles's face. He nodded. "I've heard about what you did. Very good. Remarkable. Master Onias just spoke to me. Widowmaker and Gut Ripper will stay with me for now. It's for your own good. I hope you understand."
Jiang Jie hurriedly nodded. "I understand, I understand. Long live understanding! Actually, I'm not even a full-fledged rogue yet. Only you deserve those two daggers. How about I speak to Master Onias and let you have them?"
Miles smiled and shook his head. "You don't need to test me. No matter how good those daggers are, I don't want them. For a rogue, there's no best weapon, only the weapon that suits you best. This pair of daggers has been with me for ten years. I don't want to change them. Besides, I'm old. I'm no longer worthy of such fine weapons."
Jiang Jie froze briefly, then shook his head slightly.
Perhaps that was true. For people accustomed to their weapons, they might use one for life without wanting to change it, but that also depended on the circumstances. Good weapons could do a great deal to improve one's strength.
Miles was indeed old, long past his prime. But to say he didn't want Widowmaker and Gut Ripper was impossible.
He simply wasn't willing to take them. He didn't want to snatch away what belonged to Jiang Jie.
That deeply moved Jiang Jie.
"You've learned Stealth. By tradition, you now need to complete a mission before you can become a full member of the Assassins' Order." Miles looked at Jiang Jie. "Once you complete it, I'll give you Widowmaker and Gut Ripper. Don't disappoint me."
"A mission? What mission? Lord Miles, I'm still a rogue apprentice, you know? I only just learned Stealth! And you already want to send me on a mission? Isn't that inappropriate?" Jiang Jie hurriedly waved his hands in refusal.
What kind of astral joke was this?!
Sure, by international convention, rogue apprentices had to go on missions too, but those were apprentices who had completed their training! Shouldn't there at least be a three-month probation period? You haven't finished teaching me any of the things I need, and you're sending me on a mission? Aren't you afraid I'll botch it?
Don't try to fool me! I've asked around. Only rogue apprentices who've learned the full set of low-level skills and received at least a month of training can take on a full-fledged rogue's mission. That's the real international convention!
Well, what Jiang Jie really thought was, Wouldn't it be great just to stay in Lordaeron?
Practice skills when I have nothing to do, learn martial arts, copy a few books to earn some money, then level up in the princess's residence. After a few months, once I'm stronger and feel I can go anywhere in the world, I can leave this city of Lordaeron, doomed to fall, and travel the world!
A mission? How dangerous!
No way, no way!
"Nicholas, this isn't up to you."
Miles sighed. "There's no other choice. You're so clever, you must have already guessed that something's wrong within the Assassins' Order, that we have people from other factions among us. Baron Soroson's people, for instance."
Jiang Jie's expression turned serious, and he nodded silently.
The two assassination attempts a few days earlier were still thorns in his heart that he could not pull out. The pressure from Baron Soroson and the Cult of the Damned almost left him unable to breathe. Still, he always felt that as long as he didn't expose Baron Soroson's identity, the Cult of the Damned wouldn't bother with a small fry like him, and Baron Soroson wouldn't go all out against him either. It wouldn't be worth it.
He believed this was the tacit understanding between him and Baron Soroson: they were both smart people, and smart people had no need to fight to mutual destruction.
But regardless, the Cult of the Damned already had its eyes on him. He would never have a moment's peace.
"Quite a few of the Paladins at Tirisfal Monastery have been transferred to Hearthglen to resist the Undead Scourge there. With insufficient forces to defend the monastery, they asked His Majesty to send mages to assist them. Several groups of mages have already headed to the monastery in batches. Today, it's Mage Nolan's turn."
Miles sighed. "Mage Nolan is a veteran mid-ranking mage with considerable strength. This time, he'll be bringing three of his students, and His Majesty will also send a mixed squad to escort them. According to regulations, the Assassins' Order must send someone too. Everyone in the order is out on assignment now, so I can only send you. Don't worry. It's just a formality. It's very safe."
Tirisfal Monastery!
It was the place later known as the Scarlet Monastery, located in the northeastern Tirisfal Glades, adjacent to Hearthglen. It was very far from Lordaeron, a journey of at least several days.
At present, the Undead were concentrated in the Eastern Plaguelands and Western Plaguelands. Held back by Hearthglen, Chillwind Camp, and the Paladins of Tirisfal Monastery, they had yet to spread into the Tirisfal Glades. It was very safe.
That wasn't what concerned Jiang Jie.
He asked doubtfully, "Lord Miles, if I remember correctly, Baron Soroson's son, Dudley Dursley, is Mage Nolan's apprentice, isn't he? I doubt you're sending me just because the Assassins' Order has no one available."
Jiang Jie had once asked the young maid to inquire about Baron Soroson and the entire Dursley Family, and had learned this information.
Since Baron Soroson was involved, it wasn't that simple.
"You're very clever. Very good." Miles nodded. "We've received information that the Undead Plague is connected to a mysterious faction called the Cult of the Damned. A couple of days ago, I had Roand personally investigate Melva, who tried to assassinate you. He discovered that she had ties to both the Cult of the Damned and Baron Soroson. In other words, Baron Soroson is very likely connected to the Cult of the Damned."
Jiang Jie was startled!
The Lordaeron Royal Assassins were no ordinary outfit. They truly lived up to their role as His Majesty's watchdog and intelligence organization. They had followed the trail straight to Baron Soroson!
He knew full well that Baron Soroson was a member of the Cult of the Damned. Moreover, he was the very person who had personally put the Scourge Plague into the river at Andorhal!