Chapter 11
Chapter 11
************************-
Translator: uly
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Hunter's Infiltration
************************-
Multiple buildings. An expansive manor enclosing them all.
Its sheer size rivals a small village. Black Heaven Axe Sect. Though dismissed as a minor sect, seeing it up close revealed its considerable scale.
Number 20 spoke.
"Around thirty men on constant watch. They patrol the interior in groups of three. Four gatekeepers..."
"The walls are pretty high."
"Can you get over them?"
"...Yes."
"If you can't, just say you can't."
"I can get over them."
"...Hmph."
Number 20 sketched out a rough route.
"We can't take out every guard. Our goal from the start is to leave no trace. We can't let them know we're from the Blood Demon Squad. We have to silently eliminate the target in one go."
"........."
"But the target's a master. A peak-level expert. Unless we strike his back with a surprise attack, the fight will drag on. And if it drags..."
"It's over."
"All the guards will have signal horns, no doubt. Their security is tight. For a sneak attack, we'd have to move with all sorts of restrictions. Silently slip past countless guards, launch a surprise assault on the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader, grab his head, and then break through the guards again to escape."
I caught on to what she meant. I thought it over carefully.
"Assassination's impossible. We'd at least need to go in with a mutual destruction mindset to have a shot."
"Exactly. And I don't want to die. Got any good ideas?"
"Hmm..."
I racked my brain for a moment. I didn't want to die either.
"...Isn't there about fifteen days until the assassination date?"
"Yeah."
"Give me one day."
If there's no way, I'll make one.
"I'll draw up a plan."
"...Fine. Need my help?"
"We'll act separately."
"Got it."
...
Black Heaven Axe Sect.
A sect sizable enough that "minor" felt like an understatement.
This whole area was firmly under their control-no exaggeration. I started scouting from the market alleys.
The food for sale was of poor quality in abundance. Plenty of starving folk around. I spotted a scrawny, emaciated dog leaning against a wall.
Even beasts starving to death without scraps? It wasn't just starved; the flesh was completely gone, which was odd.
Being near the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's territory around the Heavenly Mountains made it inevitable. The land around there was barren, making crops incredibly hard to grow.
But even so, the extent was extreme. Most items on the stalls were low-quality goods.
Decent fruit was hard to find. So what about the merchants' faces?
I bought a shriveled apricot. I glanced at the merchant's plump, fleshy cheeks.
He wasn't starving.
Were the empty stalls sold out?
"Business good?"
"Huh? Outsider, eh? Makes sense. New face. From far away?"
"Yes. Far away. To be honest..."
I swept my eyes over the stall.
I pictured items not overlapping with his stock.
"I've come to sell some meat."
"Meat?"
"Hunted it over those mountains. Had my reasons, so I crossed one to get here."
"I see. Meat, huh. With that sturdy build, you've clearly been hunting beasts a while. Got some skill?"
"Not enough to call myself a proper hunter yet."
I scratched my chin sheepishly.
"...Truth is...my father always calls me incompetent...so I stormed out in a huff..."
The merchant laughed.
"Still got that youthful fire, eh? Go home quick! No matter how cold home is, it can't be colder than the streets."
I rolled it over in my head.
I spun a tale.
"Can't do that. I ran off with my beloved...thought I'd try standing on my own two feet. Figured crossing to this side of the mountain meant no running into my old man. But even catching beasts, I don't know how to sell 'em..."
"Elope with your lover...young blood. Well, I do know folks around this market. But even so...words gotta be backed by something, right?"
I bought a few more shriveled fruits. The merchant let out a hearty laugh.
"Came with a fat purse, I see. No sense at all."
"Once I make real money, I'll pay back what I took."
"Not totally senseless, then. Fine. Can't keep freeloading off a young buck like you. Perfect timing. See how there's no fancy fruit here?"
"Yes. I see."
"Black Heaven Axe Sect bought it all up. All the good fruit and meat-swept clean by their disciples. Butcher says more meat's coming in than going out. Heard he's puffing cigars all day now from all the slicing."
"...I see."
"That alley over there? Go ask."
I followed his advice. The butcher greeted me with a cigar in his mouth.
"Hunter, you say?"
"Not quite worthy of the title yet, but aspiring."
"Good. Bring the meat. I'll buy at a fair price. Whole carcasses-no dressing 'em. I'll handle the skins too. Just deliver to the right spot."
"Thank you, but..."
I glanced at the empty shop interior.
"No meat hanging in the back."
"What? Suspicious?"
"........."
"Youth's privilege. This street's in a boom-especially food trade. Black Heaven Axe Sect's openly stockpiling grub. Wonder who eats it all-they buy so much even beggars go hungry."
"Something happen inside?"
"Dunno. Rumor is the sect leader's eldest disciple suddenly got a huge appetite...that's all I know. What do small fries like us know? Hey, more sales for us-big windfall. Practically my benefactor."
Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader's eldest disciple.
I filed that away. Bowed to the butcher and returned to Number 20.
"...Hunter?"
"Yes."
"Weird."
Number 20 eyed me suspiciously. I explained briefly.
"How about supplying meat to the butcher, then delivering it straight to the manor ourselves?"
"What're you talking about?"
"We pose as temp workers at the butcher. Looks like he's solo. Can't leave the shop empty, so offer to deliver for a bit extra-he won't refuse."
"........."
"Delivery from a regular supplier-no suspicion. Plus, we scout the manor interior. Might even carve out a way inside. Or hide in a building come operation day after delivery."
"...Hmm."
"Even if we scrap the plan midway, scouting inside's no loss."
Number 20 pondered.
"How do we get the mountain beasts?"
"Haven't we hunted beasts to death before?"
"Different from there. Those aggressive ones charged first-this side'll bolt at the sight of us."
"Won't know till we try. Besides, I..."
What I was counting on was her.
A being with overwhelming martial prowess beyond mine-Number 20.
"trust you."
"........."
Number 20's eyes softened.
"That's no amateur line...conquered a few ladies, have we?"
"Pardon?"
"Whatever. You're right. Worth a shot. Smart head on you."
Number 20 stood.
"Impressed, Number 30."
"Oh, and we told the butcher and merchant we're a married couple, so play along..."
Number 20 kicked my shin.
Why's that?
Seems like the cult's full of tough women.
...
Number 20 and I ran a diversion. Racing the mountains, she suddenly vanished from sight.
Moments later, she returned shouldering something. A deer. True to Heavenly Mountains life-skinny, but...
Not devoid of edible meat. Felt meatier than it looked when I touched it.
"How'd you catch it?"
"Spotting's easy. Just use Ghost Spirit Step's concealment."
A movement technique I couldn't yet perform. An advanced, tricky aspect of Ghost Spirit Step.
Reduces presence entirely, from what I'd heard. I grinned wide.
"Knew I could count on you, Number 20."
"Gotta add arrow wounds first."
She was right. We rigged the carcass.
At the butcher, he clicked his tongue.
"Rookie work-mangled it. Still usable, though. Wife beside you?"
"Yes."
I pulled her shoulder close. Number 20 flinched and shot me a glare.
I know you hate it, but play along. No choice.
I smiled awkwardly. The butcher burst into laughter.
"She's shy, eh."
"........."
"Fair price, no gouging newlyweds."
"Um...about that, one more thing..."
I feigned desperation-like it'd net an extra coin-and proposed. When I offered to haul to the Black Heaven Axe Sect manor myself, his face shifted subtly.
"Not impossible...but can't pay extra. You know."
"Happy with whatever extra penny."
"Modest greed. Fine by me-easier. Hauling meat stinks and tires. Thieves everywhere lately. If you deliver, I'm grateful. Toss in a bit more coin."
I got cash and dressed meat. The butcher warned.
"Don't run off, now. Do that, horns and hides are mine."
"Deliver and come straight back."
"Sure."
Left the shop. Getting into Black Heaven Axe Sect wasn't hard.
"From Jang's Butchery? New hire?"
"Just a carrier."
"Yeah?"
The warrior with an utterly ordinary face eyed us and opened the back gate.
"Drop it quick and go."
I whispered to Number 20.
"Worked, didn't it?"
"Warn next time, hand signal. Scared me."
"No choice."
"...Hmph."
Prickly as a cat.
We stepped into the Black Heaven Axe Sect manor.