Death... and me

The Shadow Reapers' building in the Black Market wasn't that big to start with. Roan and Palbei only crossed one corridor, and they were already in the right place. Surprisingly though, there were a few people already there. Obviously, all of them were hiding their own identities. Assassins like Palbei, who didn't need to be afraid, were just too rare.

Roan then saw an enormous board with hundreds of notes. Each and every one of them was an assassination mission. They had the full description of the mission and what the assassins should expect.

"Does this board have the missions for everything in the territory of the Empire?"

Palbei nodded.

"Indeed. You can find missions located in the many countries of the Empire here. Of course, our Shadow Reapers Organization also has a few other branches in other countries where you can find more missions. The ones posted here are usually for the Capital and the surrounding countries."

Roan nodded before asking.

"Can I know the location of the Shadow Reapers in the other countries as well? I might need to get access to one of them."

Palbei shook his head.

"As a new member, you lack the prerequisites to know all of them. But you can opt for a specific region if you're not from the Capital. We will simply transfer you there."

Roan was satisfied with that. Even if he selected his own region, it would probably cover many countries at once. It would be too difficult to find him just based on his territory of choice.

Palbei then arrived at a counter.

"New recruit. Give the identification badge."

On the other side, the person nodded before throwing a black plate with a scythe engraved on it to Roan.

"To get access to orders, you need to show this badge beforehand. If you try to enter the Shadow Reapers' building without it, you will be killed, no questions asked."

Roan nodded as he looked at the badge. There, he could see his number and level.

-12897-

-Earth High Rank-

"What's this about?"

The guy then explained.

"Here, you don't have a name, just a number. That number is your identity. Earth High Rank is your current level according to the combat test you went through. It meant you can accept any mission at the Earth High Rank and below. Check the notes on the board. Each mission's level requirement is listed on the top."

Roan then glanced at the board where the other assassins were choosing missions.

-Earth Peak Rank-

Target: Loval Trark from Trark Clan.

Target's Cultivation: Core and Soul Fusion Middle Stage.

Location: Waskon City, Xastan Country.

Reward: 4000 Rank Three Spirit Stones

-Heaven Initial Rank-

Target: Sue San from Vindict Sect.

Target's Cultivation: Nascent Soul Initial Stage.

Location: Vindict Sect, Earghit Country.

Reward: 300 Rank Four Spirit Stones.

-Earth Middle Rank-

Target: Galol Samikil.

Target's Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

Location: One of the Imperial Subordinate Clans, the Samikil Clan.

Reward: 2000 Rank Three Spirit Stones.

'Sure enough. Important targets like the Sasamil Imperial Family and the Protector Clans need a much higher rank even though the target itself is many times weaker. Also, the reward is very enticing since the assassin knew that he would be buying a fight against a behemoth whether he succeeds or not.'

It was then that Roan found something.

-Earth High Rank-

Target: Tissan Sasamil.

Target's Cultivation: Energy Gathering Middle Stage.

Location: Capital, Inner City.

Reward: 4000 Rank Three Spirit Stones.

Roan couldn't help but snort.

'The Sasamil Imperial Family itself is a lot more expensive. Even a simple Energy Gathering Realm like that drag already costs 4000 Rank Three Spirit Stones. Then again, that should be because of their higher-leveled protectors like that Core and Soul Fusion Realm old man. Still, judging by the task submission date, no one seems willing to target a Sasamil Family Member.'

All of a sudden, a man came out of a room with some papers in his hand and looked at the board. Soon after, he used his Spiritual Energy to remove several notes from there. Roan didn't need to think much to understand that those were the missions that had been concluded or couldn't be taken anymore for some reason. That wasn't all, though. The guy also sent a few more notes back on the board after that.

Between those notes, Roan could tell that the majority were new missions. A few of the old tasks had also been updated and now offer more or lower payments with their requirement levels modified. Roan also noticed that Tissan Sasamil was one of the removed notes. Naturally, it was because he and Rean had taken Tissan away and got his Identification Plate. Everyone was probably thinking that he was dead.

Last but not least, there were the missions that no one wanted to take until the end, or that the assassins failed many times. Those ones were then removed, and the payment of those who posted it will be given back later.

"Oh! Someone actually killed a Sasamil Family Member."

"Indeed. There are a few missions to kill people of the Sasamil Family, but they're rarely taken."

"I heard that this Tissan was quite trashy. Perhaps the perpetrator risked taking this mission because of that."

"Even so, as trashy as that guy might have been, he was still a Sasamil Family member. Few would dare to offend them. He was probably quite desperate for the rewards."

Roan smiled and then returned his attention to the counter. Palbei, who was still there, then said.

"Anyway, this is it. I'll go back since I have more things to do."

Palbei then disappeared in a flash before Roan could say anything.

Roan didn't care, though. He simply returned his attention to the counter before asking.

"Can I select my region already? I don't intend to stay in the Capital for too long."

The guy on the other side nodded and passed a list to Roan. It only showed the regions available, not the location of the Shadow Reapers in those places. Roan quickly scanned it, and sure enough, he found the area where Jialin Country was located.

After choosing his new region, the attendant took Roan's badge back. A few moments later, he gave it back to Roan and used a Spiritual Sense message to tell Roan the location where he could find the Shadow Reapers. There was no physical memo, so Roan had to memorize it straight away.

The attendant then explained a few more rules.

"You must not use the missions on the wall to warn the targets about the assassination. If it is found that you did that, the organization will use its full power to get rid of you first."

"If you recognize someone on the board like a family member or even yourself, you can apply for the remotion of the task. However, you will need to prove your claim, which would also hint at your real identity, so be careful if you decide to do so."

"The organization only accepts the targets' heads as proof of their death. Any other way of identification is useless. As to how you will carry the head around, that's not our problem. Everyone has their own methods."

"Last but not least, each Shadow Reaper must take at least three missions per year. The level of the mission doesn't matter. If you fail, your membership will be revoked. You can also take a single task only, but it has to be one at your own level, and you must succeed."

"However, it isn't forever. As long as you do that for ten years in a row, you will be promoted and then removed from the minimal killing requirement. From there on, you can take any amount of missions as you wish or not take any at all. You will still be considered a member unless you apply to leave the organization."

Roan then asked.

"Is there any repercussion if I lose my membership?"

The attendant on the counter nodded.

"Yes. You won't be able to return to the organization anymore. If you try to do so and we find out that you were a previous member, you will also be killed. Trust me when I say that even though we don't know your identity, we can definitely find out you were part of us in the past. Changing appearances won't work."

Roan couldn't help but say.

"That's quite a lax repercussion, no? I thought anyone who failed would be killed as well."

The attendant shook his head.

"There is almost no assassin who wishes to be with it forever. This is a way one can use to leave the organization without repercussions. Of course, you better keep your mouth shut about the time you spent in the organization. I don't need to tell you why right?"

"Anyway, that's all you need to know."

Roan nodded before turning around to go to the board.

'Since I need to keep a minimal killing rate, I might as well take a look at what I have available here.'

In a separated room inside the Shadow Reapers' Building, Palbei had just closed the door behind him before looking at a particular person drinking tea on the table.

"You were right. That's quite a good seed you got there."

The man's expression didn't even change after hearing that. He just gave a simple reply.

"Obviously."

Palbei scratched the back of his head as he looked at the emotionless figure in front of him. If Roan was here, he would have immediately identified him. He was none other than Old Worm!

"Can't you at least show a smile, Hagen? Oh, right. You are using another name now. Should I call you Fauk instead?"

Old Worm didn't even bother answering as he got up and left the room.

"As always, you are no fun."