Master Assassin of the Ronan

Chapter 11: The First Trial (5)

The head of the Assassin Blade Family and the leader of the Edict Bureau, Rulfo, gathered at the lakeside annex.

Rulfo tilted a bottle upon hearing that Rubin had gone to the concert hall, laughing heartily as it poured out.

“Ah-ha, so Rubin went to the concert hall, just as Seiren thought? She’s raised a clever child.”

Rulfo’s reaction couldn’t be described as genuine admiration.

Compared to Kun’s aggressive and decisive approach, Rubin’s actions probably looked like mere trickery.

Seiren had almost thought the same, watching Rubin collect a festival map from the stand and head toward the concert hall.

But something nagged at her.

“Participant Rubin was ambushed by Participant Hamil before reaching the concert hall. But…”

“But?”

“Then, during their ensuing chase, the two briefly slipped out of the observers’ sight.”

When the watchers finally located Rubin and Hamil, Rubin was already gone. Only Hamil remained, dusting himself off as he stood.

“We need to confirm the placements of the hidden observers within the test site. Bring me a map.”

Seiren ordered her attendant.

“Seiren, what’s this? Are you planning to overturn all your assassins on such a joyous day?”

“I just have something to confirm.”

“The observers only lost track for a moment. Isn’t it likely that Rubin was simply faster than the kid chasing him? And the pursuer lost him when he tripped.”

Rulfo gestured his fork in Seiren’s direction as he continued.

“That Kun kid is interesting, and Rubin has a good head on his shoulders. I’ll have plenty of news to report to the Emperor, and I’m satisfied with that. Personally, I do prefer the bold Krokisson over Rubin among the two… But Rubin is also noteworthy enough to report to His Majesty, so don’t worry.”

Worry?

Seiren suppressed a smirk.

She cared nothing about how her son’s performance would be reported to the Emperor.

She was simply curious.

How he had escaped.

What kind of fight had taken place.

And if it had all been intentional.

“Master, I brought it.”

A Ronan attendant approached, carrying a map detailing the placements of the Assassin Blade Family observers.

Seiren examined the area where Rubin and Hamil had clashed.

One spot stood out immediately.

The place where Hamil alone had been belatedly discovered.

Given the observers’ capabilities, only that specific spot in the area would have had any blind spots when monitoring through Dark Ripple.

“Does that mean Rubin was aware of this?”

It was too perfect to be mere coincidence. It felt as though he’d deliberately targeted that blind spot.

However, Seiren couldn’t be sure.

Being skilled at tricks, having intelligence far beyond his years—these were conceivable traits for a child his age.

But having the ability to detect the locations and levels of hidden observers was an entirely different matter.

For that, Rubin would need to discern not only their placements but also their levels of skill.

Moreover,

“At the very least, he would need Dark Ripple’s blossoming and a sturdy Ring.”

This was absolutely impossible for someone of Rubin’s age.

After considering, Seiren shook her head dismissively.

“There’s no need to let expectations turn into fantasies.”

* * *

“It’s already been three hours. I’m starting to get bored. Have our little ones made any progress?”

Rulfo shouted, his face flushed.

Over the past hour, the only news from the test site had been reports of movement and searching.

Just then, soldiers entered to deliver news from Trumbell.

“Oh, out with it, quickly!”

Currently, three participants remained alive.

Kun Krokisson had eliminated the Bondog and Stone Family participants near the map repository, injuring them and rendering them unable to continue. Then, he ambushed the Galliotric Family participant who arrived next.

The Kalkreed, Rainkroki, and Krieger families had all been disqualified after losing their markers to the ghost rats.

Kun Krokisson.
Hamil Kunitli.
Rubin Ronan.

Only these three remained.

“I’ll report the situation at the test site. It seems Participant Kun has identified the target.”

A smile crept across the face of the Krokisson Family head, who had been silent.

“And how did he figure it out?”

“He utilized the Level-1 map he had acquired. Participant Kun infiltrated the office of the Trumbell mayor, as indicated on the map, and waited for the mayor to appear.”

Kun’s chosen method was “intimidation.”

To prepare for any accidents that might occur during the test, Trumbell’s nobles had fled to nearby cities. However, the mayor could not leave.

Even the mayor was unaware of what was transpiring in his city, as he had no access to this classified information. To him, the city was merely a festival ground granted as a test site by imperial decree.

“What on earth is going on here?”

The mayor muttered to himself as he entered his office, only to be confronted by a boy standing before him.

“Who are you? How did you get in here?”

The boy leaped onto the mayor’s desk in one swift move.

Meeting his gaze was a young boy with an unsettling look.

Sure enough, the boy’s hand, which had been at his waist, held a shard of porcelain.

“Hah, do you intend to threaten me with that?”

The mayor’s attempt to act composed was futile; it was his last thought.

The boy’s eyes revealed no emotion, only a chilling, predatory gaze.

Without hesitation, the boy stabbed the porcelain shard into the mayor’s thigh.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

Blood spurted, but the mayor couldn’t scream.

The boy had somehow managed to gag him with cloth.

“To think he’s intimidating the mayor—what potential!”

Rulfo rose from his seat and approached the Krokisson Family head, who also rose and slightly bowed as the leader of the Edict Bureau approached.

With a face redder than the wine he held, Rulfo put an arm around the Krokisson Family head’s shoulders.

“How is it that you’ve raised such a remarkable son?”

Rulfo chuckled contentedly.

“In a test to forge the Emperor’s sword, what does a rural mayor matter? Kun made an excellent choice, demonstrating boldness. He’s sure to become a fine sword for His Majesty.”

The mayor, unaware of his city’s role in the test, obviously hadn’t known the target.

Kun was also well aware of this.

But he discovered useful information by threatening the mayor and spilling his blood.

The soldiers’ distribution.

The mayor had deployed his soldiers as directed by the Edict Bureau.

At first glance, the deployment appeared general and balanced.

However, a closer look revealed an unusual concentration of soldiers in an inconspicuous alley.

An ordinary alley lined with two or three flower shops.

Kun had extracted this insight from the mayor through intimidation.

“Edict Bureau soldiers and the Assassin Blade Family observers are mere onlookers. They lack the authority to intervene even if something happens to the target. However, the mayor’s soldiers are different.”

The mayor’s soldiers patrolled the area, unaware of the true purpose, to ensure the target wasn’t harmed by ruffians or drunks on the streets. Or by a stray carriage.

Seeing his son finally take the upper hand, the Krokisson Family head couldn’t hide his satisfaction and smiled freely.

Seiren and the Krokisson Family head’s eyes met, and even the head of the main family nodded, acknowledging the effectiveness of Kun’s actions.

Buoyed with confidence, the Krokisson Family head asked the soldier.

“What’s the status of the other participants?”

“Participants Rubin and Hamil are both near the alley where the target is located. Participant Hamil is using a captured ghost rat as a compass to approach the other two, while Participant Rubin is quickly gathering information as he moves.”

The first selection was drawing to a close.

Kun had the most accurate information. However, the proximity of the other two was also a fact.

“It’s surprising that Rubin’s also near that area. I expected him to be at the concert hall still. Is it just luck?”

Rulfo smirked.

“Not that luck is a bad thing.”

His tone had a mocking undertone.

Indeed, Rubin appeared to be wandering aimlessly around the city after failing to locate the target at the concert hall. His approach had been good, but his results poor, making him easy for Rulfo to ridicule.

It seemed as though Rubin’s current proximity to the target was merely luck.

However,

None of them knew this was Rubin’s intention all along.

Or that the impression he would leave on the Edict Bureau, the family heads, and his mother, Seiren, had been planned long before.

A clever child.

Rubin was not a ruthless or bold child like Kun; he was a clever one.

Although the objective of the test was to win, this contest had continued for centuries for more than that reason alone.

It was also to identify any “future threats” who might become potential enemies to the Emperor.

A thorn inevitably pierces the pocket, so it was the Emperor’s will to find such thorns and cut them off in advance.

To survive, and for revenge, Rubin understood better than anyone that it was wiser to hide than to reveal.

At that moment, a soldier from the Edict Bureau entered the hall hastily.

Everyone focused on the soldier, who was gasping for breath as he opened the door.

“What is it?”

The young soldier adjusted his helmet as he breathed heavily.

“The test has finally ended!”

At this, the family heads rose at once.

Could it be that the target had already been found?

Seiren, the only one still seated, heard the result first.

A Ronan attendant who entered simultaneously approached her and whispered the outcome.

Her expression remained unchanged.

“It’s over? Who came first? Ah, wait… Ready the Grand Bird. I’ll offer my congratulations directly over Trumbell’s skies.”

As another soldier left to summon the Grand Bird, Rulfo urged once more.

“Well, come on then. Tell us. Which child took first place? Or rather, how did it happen?”