Chapter 44

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Translator: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠penny

Chapter: 44

Chapter Title: Assassin Family Raven (2)

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Sian Crow—now Sian Raven—originally hailed from the Crow family, a branch of the Raven house.

The Raven family, tasked with the empire's dirtiest deeds, held a position akin to a ducal house, though they bore no official title.

Everyone knew the Ravens were assassins, yet no one dared mention it to their face.

An assassin family couldn't exist openly in the empire, but the emperor permitted it under his authority. In exchange, the Ravens imposed two conditions for taking assassination requests.

First: the client's life as payment.

Money, jewels, power—none held value.

To hire an assassin, one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had to stake their own life.

There were two exceptions, but very few could use them.

Second: legitimacy, an additional demand from the emperor when he acknowledged the family.

One had to prove their desire for vengeance wasn't mere misunderstanding—that the target was clearly guilty.

Bring bloodstains, evidence, or compiled rumors, and the Ravens would investigate before acting.

For example, nobles who mocked the first condition by using a servant's life to kill a rival ended up dead by a Raven assassin themselves.

They had violated the rule: to take another's life, you must risk your own.

This second condition was why the Ravens were treated like leashed dogs in the empire today. They were assassins, yet not quite assassins anymore.

Exchanging life for life seemed too straightforward an equivalence, leading to deaths every day.

Growing weary of it, the emperor issued a decree: proper investigations to determine if a life was truly warranted for the target's death.

For instance, if someone stole money, was it pocket change for a meal or a family's hospital bill? They had to find out.

In the past, even if it was just lunch money, offering your life to the Ravens ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meant they'd kill. Now, they had the right to refuse.

The Crow family, as a branch, handled these investigations. And I, from the Crows, joined the main Raven family thanks to one standout talent.

'I learned it backwards.'

The Raven family's secret skill, Shadow Mastery, had a proper sequence passed down through generations.

First, master stealth by blending with shadows.

Next, infuse shadows with physical force, akin to magic.

Finally, gain the ability to materialize shadows.

That was the standard path. But Sian Raven learned it in reverse.

He succeeded at materializing shadows first and was working on the rest.

Sure, reversing a skill you'd eventually learn wasn't a big deal.

But shadow materialization? Only the family head, the three elders, and I could do it.

'That's why the main family treats me like I screwed them over.'

Something must have happened, forcing me to fake death by poison.

Find that bastard and kill him—maybe answers would come.

"I'm hungry."

The poison was neutralized, but I hadn't regained my full strength. Right now, I was just a broke guy sitting by the village fountain, looking pathetic.

*

They're not coming.

I figured someone from the Crow family would spot me sitting out in the open village square.

I tapped into my rising assimilation rate to pull the memory I needed most right now.

Head to the tavern likely hosting a Crow informant? Actually, not a tavern—the third house left of the biggest one was a family home.

I headed to the tavern district on the village outskirts just past noon.

No customers yet; the places were empty. But kids were cleaning inside and out—perfect timing.

Street urchins or children of the working women, probably.

I went to the biggest tavern among those being cleaned, then the third house left—a standalone home that felt oddly out of place, like someone had jammed it onto prime land.

Trash piled up out front, a faint stench, but bearable.

Knock knock knock.

A woman's voice came from inside.

"Yaaawn... We ain't selling the house."

"Obviously, selling it would be a disaster. What was it again...?"

Password's gone from memory.

Even as Lee Sian, I'd forgotten the house code and used fingerprints everywhere. Weak with codes, it seems.

Just use Shadow Craft on the doorknob to pick it?

"You still there?"

"Forgot the password."

"Haha. Who needs a password for a family home?"

Footsteps approached, the bolt slid, and the door cracked open.

Looked wooden from outside, but lined with steel plates—memory flashed.

"Huh? Sian...? Sir?"

Lucky—someone who knows me.

"Mind if I come in?"

"Y-yes. Of course..."

Door shut, bolt undone, and she let me in.

Sealed from the outside, no trash stink at the entrance.

Unlike the shabby exterior, inside was tidy, books everywhere.

Magic communication tools for Crow contacts, solid info gathering.

The woman set a dagger on the table and bowed deeply to me.

"Sorry for not recognizing you right away."

"Nah, my fault for forgetting the password."

"Main family folks never memorize branch codes anyway...? Uh, anyway, this month's is 'The white dove has been pierced.'"

The white dove has been pierced. Too specific for a code—Sian Raven's memories stirred.

No wonder the high priest kicked me out.

"The family's assuming you're missing on mission. Shall I report to the main house?"

"Nah, warp gate opens tomorrow—I'll head back then. Might give the head a nice surprise."

"Doubt he'll be surprised, but got it. Need anything?"

"Food, and warp gate fare."

"Right away."

As she rose to prepare, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠asked,

"What's your name?"

"Terry Crow."

"Got it memorized."

"Thank you!"

She beamed, her black hair—same as mine—swishing as she cooked.

Branch family, but acting like I'm main house elite?

I get treated like dirt there; branches must not know.

Better test skills while waiting idly.

"Shadow Craft."

No chant needed for the family's secret—chantless by default—but I murmured.

No form in mind; a black dagger formed, slightly larger than my hand.

Shadow-made: black, edges blurry, but the blade was sharp, lethal.

I swung the materialized shadow dagger through the air.

Weightless—huge plus.

One more skill bugged me: Black Shadow Assassination Sword?

Opened status to check.

Normally, you'd master Shadow Mastery sequentially to hide your presence by blending into shadows. Couldn't do that, so I learned this separately.

Blending and sprouting shadow thorns to impale foes seems stronger. Why's materialization last?

Dismissed the shadow dagger, pondering.

Materialization must have unique edges beyond the magical stuff I craved.

"Sir Sian, meal's ready. Nothing fancy, but made with care."

Terry's spread: standard fare—bread, soup, pasta. Starved, it tasted great.

After eating, I asked Terry,

"The white dove piercing—church's reaction?"

"They know it's Ravens, sent protest letters to the empire. But no war brewing. Too black for a 'white dove' anyway."

I nodded.

High priest—me and 'that guy' targeted him. List his crimes, death was deserved.

Ravaged the client's sister and many women, took lives, yet kept his rank abusing divine power.

The church probably sent letters because they couldn't punish him themselves. Deep down, grateful we uprooted the rot.

'That guy, huh.'

Assassination partner, but memories fuzzy.

Main house might reveal why I rage at 'that guy.'

"Heading out briefly, back soon."

"Staying the night?"

"Yeah, here."

"Got it. Voice alone works—no password. Activity funds here."

Three silver coins marked 10.

30 silver—handy.

"I'll prep till you return."

Did I ask for more?

Oh, warp gate money. That.