Chapter 51
Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Assassin Family Raven (9)
Even if you're insanely wronged, there's almost no way to fight back against overwhelming money and power.
That's because it's a class-based society.
Crimes committed by those with lots of money and power always got light punishments, which is why the Raven family existed.
According to my original values, rich people would hire assassins to deal with annoying enemies, but the insane assassin family Raven operated differently. They were a group less influenced by money and power, with the motto, "Sacrifice your life, and we'll kill your target for you."
They had such a notorious reputation that adults would tell their kids, "If you do something really bad, a Raven assassin will come take you away." Even now, though the emperor had leashed them to curb their power—earning them the slur "dogs of the empire"—they remained one of the few means of true vengeance.
The intelligence agent continued.
"He's just a ne'er-do-well who causes trouble without holding any real position, so that might explain it. But if he's holed up in seclusion, wouldn't assassination be a bit tricky?"
After hearing that, I checked the map of the Travis mansion from the materials the agent had provided.
Lowe Travis's room was on the third floor, in a corner—not a difficult spot to infiltrate.
The mansion had magical protections overall, but they were sufficient for me to kill the target and escape.
"If necessary, setting fire to the trading company itself or some other flashy act of destruction could weaken the mansion's guards."
"Diversion tactics don't suit the Raven family. Has Lowe Travis bought anything during his seclusion?"
The Travis trading company would have merchants coming and going constantly, so he might have stocked up on magic tools for self-defense.
Especially if he was wary of the Raven family—they could use light-based magic tools to weaken assassins.
"It's hard to confirm items bought through servants during seclusion. Actually, that's why Elvi stepped out—to get that information. Should I call him back?"
Was that the name of the guy I mistook for someone else when I first arrived at the Crow family safehouse?
If he'd left for intelligence gathering, there was no need to recall him.
"He said he'd return by evening, so I'll hear it then."
"Understood. So, will you be staying in the safehouse until night, Sian?"
"No. I'll head out for a bit myself. There's no substitute for seeing it firsthand."
I pulled a dagger the size of my hand from the bag I'd left with my coat, tucked it into my bosom, and stepped out of the safehouse.
It was broad daylight, so I couldn't use Shadow Cloak, but my ordinary clothes let me blend in with the crowd without issue.
I left the tavern area and headed to the Travis trading company's mansion.
As the map showed, it was a massive estate clustered with several buildings, and the security looked quite tight.
They had to protect important money and lives, after all.
The Travis company's guards were especially vigilant—likely because of what the youngest son had done and the missing victim's sibling. They probably expected a Raven family member to show up any moment.
In that situation, a black-haired man—a Raven hallmark—wandering around would draw attention, but with so many people nearby, it was fine.
Not like a noble house isolated with nothing around; it was near buildings like the bank.
Judging by the nearby shops, foot traffic would definitely thin out at night.
Then I spotted a woman in a maid outfit, her bright blonde hair neatly trimmed, heading straight toward me as I lingered near the Travis mansion.
Even rummaging through Sian Raven's memories, I had no recollection of her.
Maybe she was approaching someone else? I glanced over my shoulder, but she spoke to me.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes? Are you talking to me?"
I replied in a tone as close as possible to Yoo Sian, not Sian Raven.
"This might sound weird, but the master said to give this to the best-looking black-haired man wandering around here today. Please take it."
With that, she handed me a letter.
"There must be better-looking guys than me around."
"Among the black-haired men, you seemed the best. Well, then…"
She bowed slightly and scurried back into the Travis mansion.
I moved a bit away, ducked into a nearby alley, and opened the letter.
[Please don't kill me right away. Give me time to talk.]
[To Sian Raven, from Lowe Travis]
'The information leaked?'
It had been nearly a day since I accepted the mission, but there was no way it had spread that fast.
Did the Crow family betray us? Or did that guy Elvi, who's not at the safehouse, pass it on?
The communication magic tool never left the agent's sight, so the timing didn't fit suspecting Elvi.
The agent at the safehouse when I arrived didn't even know I'd accepted the mission yet.
Unless… they knew in advance I'd come to kill him tonight.
'Do they have a quest like me?'
If their quest today was something like "Survive against Sian Raven," they'd know my name and have reason to prepare for assassination.
That kind of opponent would definitely trigger a warning from my Survival Rules.
Shaking off the stray thoughts from the letter, I entered a nearby restaurant.
It was lunchtime anyway, and the guy at the safehouse didn't inspire much trust compared to Terry Crow.
"Can I help you order, sir?"
"The regular set, please."
"Yes."
Once the server took my order and headed to the kitchen, I tuned into the men at a nearby table discussing a topic I couldn't ignore.
"When do you think the Ravens will show up?"
"Lowe caused a huge mess, and Avena took the money and went to the Raven family. It might take longer. They made a big splash in the Holy Kingdom recently too."
"Multiple assassins died there—not just one or two. Could be someone else coming."
"Everyone acts like it's a sure thing. Well, the scandal's too big. Even judging by his usual behavior, it's about time."
"That's why we're betting on the assassination date."
"What about today? It's been about seven days since Avena left."
"Shouldn't it be at least ten? You gonna take a tavern waitress's word that seriously?"
"Ravens don't care about that. A life for a life."
"He should've lived without committing murder, at least."
People feared the Raven family but also trusted them. What was so appealing about these crazy assassins who lived to kill?
As I listened to the conversation, the server brought my regular set.
Pasta with bacon—pricey, but delicious.
Valtir lived up to its reputation as a bustling, money-flowing city; the food quality was above average.
After a surprisingly decent lunch, I lingered, eavesdropping on the natural chatter, then stood to leave.
If even the townsfolk expected the Ravens, what about the Travis family?
Princess Rose trusted me to kill only the target without unnecessary casualties, which was why she'd sent me on this mission. But I might have to take out more than expected.
I returned to the safehouse after dinner.
"Gah?! It's really Sian Ra… Raven!"
A man with deep navy hair—presumably Elvi—opened the door and jumped in surprise at the sight of me.
"If you don't let me in quick, I'll look suspicious."
The perception-jamming magic tool at the entrance made it hard for civilians to notice, but with a big tavern nearby, I shouldn't assume no experts were around.
"Yes, come in."
Inside, traces of a meal lingered.
The intelligence agent who'd greeted me earlier also shot to his feet and bowed.
"You're back?"
"Yeah. Elvi, the intel?"
"Yes. Not perfect, but I got some."
Elvi Crow must have organized the list before I arrived; he handed over the documents right away.
For items to prepare against tonight's assassination, it was just luxury goods and spices?
"This accurate?"
"More precisely, an auction opened, and he sent servants to buy everything matching certain conditions he specified. Their odd behavior made the servants remember the items roughly, so the info's pretty reliable."
"Auction items are revealed in advance?"
"Officially confidential, but as the Travis youngest son, he could have access."
This was basically him openly signaling to me that he knew something.
He knew I'd come to assassinate him tonight and that I'd gather intel on him—yet he pulls this suspicious stunt?
I couldn't rule out a Crow family leak entirely, but doing it so blatantly was too fishy.
Remembering the shapes alone and grabbing all the useful ones screamed foreknowledge.
So, I figured Lowe Travis likely knew the future.
But how far ahead could he see?
Knowing he'd die tonight was short-term.
Buying auction items, though? That seemed beyond mere short-term foresight.
'Looks like I'm not going to assassinate, but to meet him for real.'
Had it been nearly three full days since possessing Sian Raven?
It happened midday in the forest, so not quite three complete days.
I zipped my black coat to the top and activated Shadow Cloak, blending into the darkness.
Even the moon couldn't spot me hidden in the shadows; it just shone brightly as I arrived at the Travis mansion.
Guards patrolled with torches, but Sian Raven could read the gaps in their vigilance.
Clinging to the building wall, I used Shadow Craft to form a long pole and scaled to the third floor—Lowe Travis's room—in seconds.
As I tried to unlock the window with Shadow Craft, the latch clicked open from inside.
'More like an invitation.'
I slipped through the slowly opening window. There stood Lowe Travis, matching his portrait.
"It's really Sian Raven…"
What? I was here to kill him, and this lunatic…? His inexplicable reaction soured my mood instinctively.
"Oh crap…! Please spare me first! This is a frame job!"