Chapter 71: The Counter-Contract

[You have arrived at the Ashen Marshlands.]

[The minimap for your quest is now active.]

Levan had come to the Ashen Marshlands for his growth quest.

As soon as he arrived, a minimap representing the Ashen Marshlands appeared in one corner of his vision, dotted here and there with red points.

‘The red dots must mean Gray Trolls.’

Since the quest was to drive out the Gray Trolls, that was most likely the case.

Before hunting the Gray Trolls, Levan sprayed his Water Strider Spray onto the soles of his boots once more.

Then, he drew out his Black Iron Mace and Rock Shield, and started walking toward the nearest Gray Troll.

[Gray Troll / Lv.102]

A triple-digit level.

It was the first time since the Hundred-Year Snake that he’d encountered a triple-digit-level monster.

As Levan confirmed the Gray Troll’s level, his pace quickened.

Step—step—step—

Stepstepstepstep!

His stride grew faster.

Then, at some point, the sticky sound between his shoes and the marsh surface vanished. And then—

Bang!!

Graaaaaargh!!!

[Critical hit!]

A heavy blow sounded, and the Gray Troll’s ripping scream filled the surroundings.

He hadn’t even used Smite.

Even so, Levan’s Black Iron Mace pierced through the troll’s thick chest hide, smashing into its innards.

Splash!

Landing softly after his strike, Levan looked at the Gray Troll’s rapidly dwindling health bar and smiled.

“Now that’s what I call a satisfying hit.”

Gwaaaaaaah!!

The attacked Gray Troll grew agitated.

Its piercing cry attracted the attention of other Gray Trolls, who began to gather one by one.

“Yeah, come on, all of you. What choice do you have but to gang up on me if you want to survive? Thunder Strike.”

Rumble—

Thunder Strike charged upon the Black Iron Mace.

Watching the Gray Trolls swarm in, Levan truly felt exhilarated.

---

[You have hunted a Gray Troll.]

[Your level has increased.]

Thud!

A Gray Troll collapsed.

But Levan didn’t pay it any mind and let out a low sigh as a radiant light enveloped his body.

“Ah… I really didn’t want to level up.”

With this, Levan’s level was 65.

If he reached level 70, he’d no longer be able to enter the second floor of the Tower of Infinity.

Levan grumbled in frustration as he checked the minimap.

‘Just a little more and I’ll be done.’

Most of the red dots that had filled the minimap were now gone.

Levan had hunted down all those Gray Trolls.

‘A little more hunting, and the quest will be complete.’

Just then—

Thunk!

[You have been hit by a surprise attack.]

[Critical hit!]

[You are now poisoned.]

A sudden attack came from somewhere.

The weapon used was a poisoned needle.

He realized it was a poisoned needle only after seeing it stuck in his forearm.

Levan pulled out the needle with his bare hand and spoke.

“Who’s there?”

But there was no answer.

Scratching the back of his head, Levan thought,

‘Well, yeah. Who would introduce themselves after being asked who they are?’

He pressed his shield close to his body and stayed alert.

‘Who could it be? Iron Dragon? No, this is too weak for him. If it was him, he’d be going for my throat. Then maybe a fan who saw my video? But how would they even get here?’

Staying vigilant, Levan kept guessing about the assassin.

Suddenly, a suspicion struck him, and before he realized it, he muttered out loud.

“Gald Tower?”

“…A sharp one, aren’t you.”

Heavens, it really was Gald Tower.

The assassins responded to Levan’s muttering and revealed themselves.

For some reason, the scene seemed oddly comical.

Levan said,

“One, two, three, four… Wow, six of you came just for little ol’ me? Guess you really weren’t confident, huh?”

“We simply prefer to get the job done right.”

“Is that so? Then don’t you dare get caught by me. Because the last one standing, I’ll beat him till he really dies.”

“Nonsense!”

“Hold!”

With a shout, the fight erupted.

Undaunted by being outnumbered, Levan hurled himself at them as soon as the battle started.

At the same time, he used 22 Cubes.

With six opponents, there was no time to leisurely aim for 33 Cubes, so he chose 22.

[Hold is activated.]

Clang!!

Luckily, Hold landed.

Levan started with the one caught in Hold, smashing in his skull.

Crunch!

A chilling noise rang out from the Black Iron Mace.

But Levan didn’t care.

If he got hung up on every little sound like that, he’d be the one dead.

His gaze scanned the health bar of the one who’d just died.

‘Their health is pitifully low.’

From the start of the fight, long health bars had appeared above the heads of all six foes.

Levan had one too.

Proof of being in battle.

Pushing the body of the instant-killed assassin down, Levan set his sights on his next opponent.

Just then, poisoned needles flew in from every direction, stabbing into his body.

[You are now poisoned.]

[You are now poisoned.]

[You are now poisoned.]

[You are now poisoned.]

…..

Five poisoned needles hit at once, so five alert messages popped up at the same time.

It didn’t really hurt.

Since poison needles counted as magic damage, and Levan wore the Royal Family’s Bracelet.

So, ignoring the messages, Levan used Bookmark on his next target.

[Hold is activated.]

Clang!!

This time, he used 44 Cubes.

With Hold being a targeting skill, there was no way a mere assassin could dodge.

Levan shattered the head of the second one caught in Hold and picked up the corpse, shouting to the rest,

“I warned you not to get caught. This is what happens if you do.”

“What are you waiting for! All of you, attack!”

“Yes!”

Perhaps they realized after seeing Levan’s Hold that hit-and-run tactics were useless?

At the leader’s command, they all rushed him at once.

Blades slashing in from all directions.

Ferocious.

But—

“Uwaaah!!”

[Shout is activated.]

[Targets who hear the shout are stunned for 2 seconds.]

“Damn it!”

Levan didn’t hesitate and roared.

The shout came out faster than any incoming blade.

It was highly effective.

The assassins who had closed the distance were all frozen in place, their drawn blades rendered useless.

Levan seized the chance, reached out his left hand, and grabbed one by the back of the neck.

“You look like the boss, don’t you?”

[Grab is activated.]

“Guh…!”

As soon as he had him by the scruff, Levan activated Grab.

By then, the stunned assassins instinctively backed away.

Levan, pointing his Black Iron Mace at the group, spoke.

“Everyone, stop.”

Freeze.

The assassins stopped in their tracks.

He could almost hear the sound of their cold sweat hitting the ground.

Levan smirked and said,

“This guy’s your boss, right? So what’ll it be? You all want to die here, or negotiate with me?”

“Enough with the nonsense, just kill me…!”

“Really?”

The one who answered in place of the subordinates was the boss Levan had by the neck.

At the boss’s resistance, Levan tightened his grip.

“Kuh…!”

“Better think carefully. Now that your client’s information has leaked, you’re not really succeeding even if you finish the job. So how about we negotiate? I’ll take care of the client for you. That way, there’s no record of you failing your mission. Good deal, right?”

“Ridiculous…!”

“If you don’t like it, you can just die. I’m not the one who’s desperate, you are.”

With those words, Levan squeezed even tighter.

White foam began to leak from the boss’s mouth.

“I-I’ll do it!”

“Hm?”

At that moment, a subordinate spoke up in place of the boss.

When Levan loosened his grip and looked over, the man who had spoken knelt and bowed his head.

“I’ll do it! P-please, just spare our lives!”

“Really?”

Levan turned his gaze back to the boss.

“Lucky you, having such loyal subordinates.”

“Kh…!”

Thud!

Once the negotiation was struck, Levan released the boss.

He’d never really intended to kill them from the start.

Once freed, the subordinates rushed to the boss’s side.

Seeing that, Levan thought,

‘Yep, definitely NPCs.’

If they’d been ordinary players, they’d have let each other die.

Assassin-class players generally didn’t fear death.

‘Since you just respawn anyway.’

But NPCs were different.

When they died, it was for good.

That, and the way they talked, made Levan sure they were NPCs, so he spared them.

NPCs could be useful in countless ways, depending on how you handled them.

Levan sat down on a flat rock away from the marsh and said,

“Alright, before we get down to business, everyone take off your masks.”

At his command, the four survivors removed their masks.

Only then did their nameplates appear.

“So, the boss is Chlorro? And you all belong to…?”

“How did you…!”

“I asked, where are you from?”

“Kh… We’re assassins from the Black Hand.”

“What a perfectly assassin-guild-sounding name. So, did Gald Tower hire you to kill me?”

“They told us to follow you, and to kill you if possible.”

“Can you prove it?”

“What?”

“I mean, how do I know you’re not just blaming Gald Tower to save yourselves? Got any proof?”

“Damn it…”

At Levan’s sarcasm, Chlorro cursed under his breath and pulled out a sheet of paper from inside his clothes, tossing it over.

It was a contract written between Repel and Black Hand.

Levan took it, checked the details, then asked Chlorro,

“So aside from the kill order, what information did you give them about me?”

“Not much. Just that you’ve been in and out of the Prison of the Marsh.”

“Really? Is this all of the contract?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re lying, you die later.”

“…There’s actually one more.”

“Don’t try to pull a fast one next time.”

“…Understood.”

Another contract came out from his clothes.

Levan checked the details of the additional contract.

He frowned.

“They ordered you to kill the Masterials?”

“Yes.”

“With your own hands?”

“No, we’ve got blades planted inside the prison. They’ll do the job.”

“When?”

“After killing you, we were to issue the order.”

“So it hasn’t been given yet?”

“Yes.”

“Ha, just look at these bastards.”

Levan was impressed by Repel’s perceptiveness.

After all, the Masterial assassination order was probably given after hearing Levan had been coming and going from the Prison of the Marsh.

Levan asked,

“That’s everything, right?”

“Yes.”

“So how much do I have to pay you?”

“For what?”

“For keeping you all in line. Threatening assassins like you with just your lives isn’t going to cut it. Let’s settle this cleanly with money. You’re only here because Repel paid you, right? Think of it as me counter-hiring you over his contract.”

“That’s…”

“You’re not seriously going to bring up assassin code of honor, are you? And trust me, Repel will want to hush up hiring you out of embarrassment. Don’t worry and trust me. I was planning to go pay Repel a visit soon anyway.”

“…Alright.”

Chlorro nodded almost without realizing it, overwhelmed by Levan’s confidence.

Not that he had a choice anyway…