Ambush

Finn was a thin, middle-aged man. His appearance was fairly clean and his attire plain, but there was absolutely nothing remarkable about him. Once he blended into a crowd, he would vanish without a trace.

He also seemed to have an easygoing temperament, always wearing a harmless smile on his face. When he scratched his belly or his head, he looked just like the underachieving husband of a small neighboring family, whose edges had been worn smooth by life.

It was hard to imagine that this guy was absolutely one of the top-tier existences within the Blood Pact. He had never failed a single commission he accepted... In other words, no one had ever survived his hands.

Good work.

Luo Lun's figure suddenly materialized in front of Finn.

That merchant caravan was one of my few assets, boss. When we get back, you should compensate me for my loss, Finn said with a hint of grievance.

The Elves were not fools. The fact that they had used this caravan as a cover to infiltrate would likely be thoroughly investigated and exposed very soon... Finn naturally knew that after this operation, the caravan's credit with the Merchant Association would basically be wiped out, making it hard to ever recover.

Don't think I don't know that your caravan has been losing money lately. Luo Lun patted Finn's shoulder without leaving a trace. You've wanted to disband it for a long time but couldn't bear to do it... I'm helping you make up your mind. You should be thanking me.

Damn it, boss, as a girl, could you have a little shame? Finn said indignantly.

The organization's funds have been in a bit of a deficit lately, so don't be too petty about it.

Luo Lun began to discuss the matter concerning Ned, casually brushing the previous topic aside.

That guy Ned is already our enemy. Luo Lun's tone was extremely flat.

I really didn't expect that guy Ned would do something like this, Finn sighed. He never used to be like this.

Luo Lun knew that Finn and Ned had shared some history in the past, which was why he emphasized the matter again.

However, most people in this line of work had rather indifferent temperaments. Aside from Finn, the others didn't seem to have any reaction. To them, this was just another ordinary assassination mission... even if the target they had to deal with was a fellow member of the Blood Pact.

The caravan did not proceed toward the glorious city atop the giant tree, but instead kept wandering beneath the colossal trunk.

The glowing moss and ferns around them were sparse and withered, and there were very few other luminescent plants, making the area appear quite dark.

This was the Coliu Giant Tree. Luo Lun looked up, and even though she knew the general direction, she still couldn't clearly see where Marie's residence was... That guy was probably still sleeping.

Luo Lun curled her lips, feeling quite envious of that guy.

There were many abandoned houses beneath the tree, all left behind by the Elves... After Calanris was mostly built, the majority of the Elves gradually moved up to Calanris. Guys like Yorid, who were still willing to live beneath the tree, were merely a minority of conservatives.

That was why Luo Lun was quite surprised when she jumped down earlier and ran into Mo Lini and Lian Na.

Many of these old dwellings abandoned by the Elves had been quietly purchased by the Blood Pact, turned into secret lairs scattered throughout the shadows.

However, as for exactly where Ned was hiding... Luo Lun couldn't say for sure. She could only confirm it place by place.

There's someone over there.

Finn noticed a faint light coming from a house not far away. A weak halo of light was stubbornly seeping through a window obscured by a thick curtain.

Approach slowly... subdue them first and ask for Ned's whereabouts. Don't be in a rush to kill, Luo Lun's order was concise and cold.

At her command, dark silhouettes converged toward the window emitting the faint light.

A burst of indistinct conversation drifted from inside the house.

Have you heard? The new Elf Queen has taken the throne. It's that legendary archer, Liyana.

But isn't she an adventurer? She can become the queen too?

Who knows, but it was the council's decision.

Listening to the exchange inside the house, Luo Lun was momentarily stunned.

It was extremely ordinary idle chatter, and the tone was sluggish, even sounding a bit weak, not like warriors at all... Judging from the tone of voice, it seemed that the people inside were just two ordinary elderly folks.

The thick curtain blocked their line of sight. The light shone through faintly, but the figures inside could not be seen clearly...

Luo Lun's brows furrowed tightly. If there were only two ordinary people inside, it wouldn't make sense for there to be absolutely no sound of footsteps.

Rustle...

Have you heard? The new Elf Queen has taken the throne. It's that legendary archer, Liyana...

The dialogue echoed from the house once more.

Something was wrong!

Luo Lun hesitated no longer and violently slammed into the door of the house. The wooden door was only slightly ajar and not locked.

The house was completely empty. An oil lamp was lit on the desk, and a box-shaped magitek device was placed on a chair. The previous conversation had been coming from this very device.

But... isn't... she... an adventurer? She... can become... the queen too?

The voice from the magitek device gradually became hoarse. Then, a powerful fluctuation of magic power began to gather.

Boom—

A violent explosion occurred inside the room.

In the split second before the explosion, Luo Lun smashed through the window and leapt out of the house.

Surging waves of fire instantly swallowed everything inside.

To think they had fallen into another ambush!

Luo Lun gritted her teeth. Those assassins truly resorted to all conceivable means to deal with her.

Although she was also an assassin, and even the leader of the Blood Pact... she never used such insidious methods.

Where were the others?

Luo Lun looked around. The subordinates who had originally come with her had vanished without a trace.

A faint scent of blood permeated the air.

As expected of the boss, to be able to react to even that. Finn clapped his hands. Your beast-like intuition... it must have saved your life countless times.

You allied with that guy Ned? Luo Lun observed her surroundings. In the darkness, several figures had surrounded the area.

Several corpses were thrown out. They were familiar faces; just like Finn, they were subordinates who had come to the Elven Forest to support Luo Lun.

Luo Lun's heart sank. She hadn't made the matter of a traitor clear earlier because she feared they would suspect one another. After all, she hadn't been entirely certain if there really was a traitor... This was her mistake; she should have made them keep their guards up.

That's right. I feel that I'm more suited for this position than you are, boss... Finn casually tossed and caught a dagger in his hand. Although your strength is great, you are simply too naive. Being an assassin isn't playing house, yet you actually use those so-called moral concepts to bind us... From now on, I will take charge of the human side, and Ned will take charge of the Elves. We will make the Blood Pact bigger and stronger.

Luo Lun said sternly, Idiot, if you do that, the Blood Pact will quickly become rats crossing the street, entirely wiped out.

Hmm... and what does that have to do with me? Finn shrugged nonchalantly. As long as I can make a fortune, that's all that matters.