Published: July 3, 2025
Village of Avan. Headquarters of the assassination cult.
Two executives were engaged in conversation.
"Shikker, what did the leader say?"
"About Natalia? No, nothing yet..."
They were the ones who led the kidnapping team that abducted Prince Willy of Juu Kingdom.
"Last time we kidnapped someone, it was a fake, and we were in big trouble."
"Please don’t bring that up."
Natalia chided Shikker for his previous failure.
"So this time, we had Bagabis's team launch the attack, and only let his subordinates chase after whoever fled. We didn’t pursue. And as expected, there was someone who looked like the real deal."
"But if I hadn’t joined up, we wouldn’t have defeated those guards, would we?"
"I believed you would join."
Natalia insistently pointed this out, while Shikker internally grimaced but expressed gratitude on the surface.
In the end, over thirty people were mobilized.
Securing the prince was that important.
However, Shikker had something troubling him.
Twelve members of Bagabis's team that chased after the shadow warrior had yet to return.
It was certainly common for them to be summoned only when necessary, and afterward, they would go straight to the next mission due to the nature of their work.
As a lower-ranking executive compared to Shikker and Natalia, Bagabis was often sent around without returning to headquarters.
Still, this was unusual.
(Did they get taken out by monsters in the forest? All twelve, including Bagabis? That’s impossible...)
It was unthinkable for twelve executives, who could likely hold their own against monsters, to fall behind against something like a shadow warrior.
Just then, the leader's aide approached to report.
"Shikker-sama, Natalia-sama, the leader requests your presence."
"The leader, you say?"
Shikker and Natalia knelt before the leader.
On the stone pedestal behind the leader lay the abducted Prince Willy.
"Indeed. This time it was the real one. You both did well."
Standing at a height of 190 cm, with long white hair and a beard, he had brilliantly shining black eyes that gave no hint of his age.
Though said to be over ninety years old, he could easily pass for someone in their fifties.
And yet, he was still a being that none of the executives could surpass...
Yes, Natalia thought to herself.
Since the time she joined the cult, he had always been an old man, and even now as an executive, he remained the same.
An eternal old man, and likely even if all the executives banded together... they still couldn’t defeat the leader standing before them.
Though they swore loyalty on the surface, Natalia was, so to speak, a member of the 'anti-leader faction.'
(I really wish he would retire soon.)
It was true that he was the founder of the assassination cult and the strongest man, but after reigning as the top for over half a century, it was natural for people around him to feel fed up.
The strongest man had fixated on Prince Willy.
For what reason, she did not know.
Next to her, Shikker was the one most knowledgeable about alchemy after the leader, and while he had previously mentioned that the blood of Prince Willy was needed for something in alchemy...
"I will now begin preparations for the ritual. Henceforth, no one is to enter this elder chamber. Understood?"
"Understood."
Shikker and Natalia bowed and withdrew from the leader's presence.
As they exited the elder chamber, the sound of the door being locked from the inside echoed.
(How strict...)
Natalia cursed inwardly.
(I just found out that door had a lock!)
She stared at the door once more.
At that moment, she heard Shikker mumbling.
"The leader has finally achieved his long-held ambition..."
Shikker himself was on the verge of trembling with emotion.
"Hey, Shikker. What ritual is the leader going to perform?"
"Uh..."
Shikker's face was one of obvious dread.
He suddenly realized he had let slip his emotional reaction.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. It must be done soon, right?"
Natalia further prodded him.
"Uh, well, those who know about alchemy would understand... but the leader has developed an alchemy called 'immortality,' and that will be performed."