A week had passed since the broken engagement.
Finally, the news I'd been waiting for so eagerly arrived.
A messenger from the tavern had come to report on the commission I'd given him.
Fortunately, he'd found Kizen and delivered the money and note without delay.
"How was Kizen's situation?"
"Kizen had a daughter who was still a minor, and she looked gravely ill, as if poisoned. But when he saw the money you gave him, he said it would be enough to save her."
"So he couldn't afford the antidote without it."
"You saved Kizen and his daughter in their hour of despair. The errand boy said he'd never seen a man who'd only ever killed his whole life sob like that before!"
"Don't add unnecessary details to your report."
"My apologies. I'll be more careful next time."
"Anyway, good work. You earned your pay."
"Heh heh, thank you!"
I flicked a gold coin from my fingertips, and the messenger snatched it midair.
I told him he could leave, and he bowed repeatedly as he departed the mansion.
Alone now in the study, I leaned back in my chair and let out a thick sigh.
The results were good. By using money to save Kizen's daughter, I'd achieved two positive outcomes.
First, unlike in the game, Kizen wouldn't degenerate into a mad killer.
Second, I'd done him an irreplaceable favor.
I wasn't sure if I could recruit him as one of my own, but I was certain he'd come to me at least once.
'But I probably won't see him for a while.'
Even if the antidote worked, his daughter's ruined health wouldn't recover overnight.
She'd need plenty of rehabilitation time, and a caretaker by her side.
Which meant I still had to watch my step.
Kizen, when are you coming? It's cold out here...
'For now, maybe I should take knights as escorts whenever I go out?'
Being a great tycoon was great, but having too much money meant I couldn't move freely—that was the downside.
I'd considered recruiting other talents besides Kizen, but they were all dubious prospects.
Most either served another lord or needed more growth.
Veterans like Kizen, who'd seen it all and had no affiliations, were rare.
"How nice it would be if talent just dropped from the sky."
Unfortunately, reality didn't work that way.
I'd have to run around on my own two feet to find it.
I steeled myself for the risk and reached for my outing robe, but fate wouldn't allow my rebellion.
"Young master! A letter from the Bisted Merchant Guild—they urgently request confirmation and payment for today's pickup goods before the day ends!"
"Fuck."
I put the robe back in the closet.
Looks like I'd be stuck in the family estate all day.
Talent didn't fall from the sky, and neither did money.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In front of an abandoned mansion on the outskirts of Adenberg.
A man in a hood and mask, hiding his identity, kept scanning his surroundings nervously.
He paced like a thief with sore feet, clearly waiting for someone.
From the rooftop, an elf woman watched his antics with amusement.
She pulled out her pocket watch, intrigued.
At the exact appointed time, she leaped boldly from the roof.
Despite the height, the elf landed without a sound.
She whispered softly into the man's ear.
"Looking for me?"
"Hngh!"
The breath grazing his ear made the man jolt in terror.
Amused by his lively reaction, the elf chuckled and greeted him lightly with a tilt of her head.
"Sorry if I startled you. No malice intended."
"Just as the rumors say—a nasty personality, Lena Evergreen."
"Judging me like that for one little scare? You'd hurt my feelings."
Despite her words, Lena smirked shamelessly and burst into giggles.
Her lack of denial meant she knew she was mischievous.
The robed man made no secret of his irritation but decided not to press it.
Arguing with her would only end in loss.
'Crazy bitch.'
Lena was one of the infamous assassins in the empire's underworld.
She was selective with commissions, but once accepted, she always succeeded—a perfect 100% completion rate.
Some suspected she only took easy jobs, but she silenced them by beheading a corrupt lord who'd turned his mansion into a fortress.
An elf with top-tier assassination skills and stunning beauty.
Her only flaw was her assassin-unlike frivolity.
'Still, her skills are the real deal. Have to trust her.'
Mindful of her mood, the robed man brought up the matter.
"If you're offended, I apologize. More importantly, I have an assassination target for you."
"Who does the Marquis of Adenberg want dead?"
"Ahem! I'd prefer not to mention the client's details."
"Fine. So, who's the target?"
"Heinz Altesia, the scoundrel of the Altesia Count House."
Lena's gently arched brows twitched.
Assassination basics started with intel.
Assassins lacking information got weeded out in the underworld.
Lena knew every noble's profile in the empire—including Heinz Altesia's.
"The fee won't be cheap. You okay with that?"
"What do you want?"
"Half the Adenberg territory."
"Cut the jokes! You think I'd accept such an absurd demand?"
The robed man clenched his fist, raising his voice.
But Lena crushed his momentum with killing intent and fired back.
"You're the one making the outrageous request first. Killing the blood of the empire's richest man—it's a lifelong gamble. Isn't half the territory a fair price?"
"Even so, half is too much!"
"After assassinating a Sword Master, the top dog in the underworld chased me my whole life. For the Altesia heir, half is a bargain."
"Urgh... Fine. I'll consider it positively."
"Come back when you have proper compensation. I'll gather intel on Altesia in the meantime."
Having scolded the robed man with unassailable logic, Lena left the abandoned house.
Just as she'd appeared, her figure vanished like the wind, phantasmic and elusive.
Silence returned to the mansion, as always.
"Arrogant pointy-eared bitch...!"
The masked man, who'd cowered under her killing intent the whole time, started badmouthing her the moment she left.
Oblivious to the breeze carrying his curses away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The sun had set and night fallen, but the work showed no sign of ending.
I couldn't even remember how many documents I'd gone through or how many seals I'd stamped.
I'd replaced the candles two or three times already—why wasn't there an end in sight?
"I'll die of overwork before any assassin gets me."
To make big money, you had to put in the work.
I'd liked not having to use my body since possessing Heinz, but my mind suffered instead.
Still, thinking of each document as a gold coin kept my eyes glued.
'Huh? I closed all the windows, didn't I?'
As my focus frayed from the paperwork, a pleasant breeze wafted in from somewhere.
The candle flickered out briefly in the gentle gust, then relit.
That was when it happened.
Shuuup—!
Before the whoosh even registered, a cold silver glint grazed my cheek.
Fuck, what the hell just passed by?
Before I could process, a sultry woman's voice echoed from the shadowed corner.
"Oh? Surprisingly calm. Got nerves of steel? Or did you read my move?"
I hadn't even reacted— what was she talking about?
No brag, but if it'd hit between my eyes, I'd be dead; Heinz's dynamic vision and reflexes were abysmal.
But I couldn't let the intruder know my back was soaked in cold sweat.
"Who are you?"
"You ask an assassin's name?"
"Since when do assassins chat with their targets?"
"Fair point!"
A woman emerged from the shadows.
Delicate face, slender limbs, and silver hair tied back like a ponytail—an striking elf.
She bowed slightly from the waist, greeting me politely.
"Pleased to meet you, young master. I'm Lena Evergreen!"
Locking eyes with her brought back game memories in a rush.
She was a veteran assassin from Aslon Chronicles, alongside Kizen.
While Kizen turned to the Nidhogg Cult, Lena always aided the player.
Not a fixed member, but her top performance made her an early-game carry for player growth.
Her unique looks drew huge popularity, even without romance options.
The community raved: "Everyone sees the ending, but no one skips Lena's ass."
"Heinz Altesia, acting head of the Altesia Count House."
"An assassin and target exchanging names amicably—feels weird!"
She kept mentioning assassination, but showed no real intent to kill.
Lena only killed those she deemed true evil.
Guess I hadn't qualified as "evil" yet.
"Anyway, with an assassin right in front of you, you gonna keep staring at papers?"
"What should I do then?"
"Call your guard knights or beg for your life!"
"Even if I called knights, victory's not guaranteed. And why beg someone who didn't come to kill, just to hang out?"
"What if I was here to kill you for real?"
"Then what can I do? Die, I guess."
My answer baffled her; she blinked repeatedly.
Then she curved her lips into a smile.
Damn, elves really are pretty as hell.
"You're more interesting than the rumors, young master."
"Boring. I'm just working with someone standing there."
"That's what's interesting."
Lena's gaze turned friendly.
Maybe I could recruit her?
Like Kizen, she was a battle-hardened veteran assassin with no ties.
This was talent dropping from the sky.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"If you're that bored, stop moping and help me out instead."
I dangled the offer casually.
"What'll you pay if I do?"
She saw through me and responded positively.
Her decision hinged on my offer.
Had to choose carefully.
'Money feels insufficient somehow, and promising whatever she wants is cliché...'
I pondered what Lena truly desired.
Too bad she wasn't romanceable; I'd have memorized her profile.
Then it hit me: all elves in Aslon Chronicles shared one wish.
I'd mention that.
"How about land to plant a World Tree? We've got plenty in our territory."
"Land? For real?"
"What, fake land exists now?"
"Can I bring other elves to live there too?"
"Do what you want. But taxes are regular—no excess."
Land that'd be swallowed by another house if Altesia fell anyway.
Giving it to elves for Lena's recruitment was a steal, so I offered lightly.
But to her, it hit different—her breath caught.
"If you honor that offer..."
Lena dropped the daggers hidden in her palms and prostrated flat on the floor.
Gone was her usual levity; she bowed deeply and swore loudly.
"I, Lena Evergreen, pledge my loyalty to Young Master Heinz until my dying breath!"
The rich are invincible. Landlords are gods.