Assassins in the Shadows

‘This…… it’s a different species’ language.’

The writing revealed on the pillar wasn’t the common tongue of the Abian Continent. Nor was it the unique language system used by the mantis clans.

‘Ants! It’s their language.’

I immediately recognized that the red script carved into the pillar belonged to the ant species. A fact I knew from fighting prolonged wars against them over my twenty long years.

‘I don’t know what it says, but it’s not even the standard language system used by ordinary ant species.’

It was subtly different. This meant it was the language system of a minority tribe within the ant species.

‘Ah…… I’ve definitely seen it somewhere before.’

Why on earth would they leave behind a language from what seemed to be a minority ant tribe? I racked my brain over it.

‘If it’s a spy, they’d be connected to the Four Great Lords…… and it’s definitely not army ants.’

Suddenly, a tribe among the ants linked to the Four Great Lords came to mind.

‘No way! Ghost Ants?’

Ghost Ants. Who were they? A tribe renowned for their innate abilities from birth, making them the pinnacle of assassins.

‘This isn’t something to dawdle over.’

I made a quick judgment. The presence of Ghost Ants meant the shadow of death had fallen over this place.

‘I need to report it right away.’

I immediately sprayed more aphid remover on top of the pillar. The writing that had appeared vanished once again.

‘How do I let them know about this?’

My first thought was to be upfront about it. From witnessing Theo summoning the mole cricket, to watching him and spotting his suspicious actions at the pillar.

But if Theo denied it, it would just waste time. Worse, I might end up suspected as the spy myself.

‘Besides…… if word of this reaches the Four Great Lords, it’ll draw their attention from the start.’

I still lacked the power to protect myself. Until I could stand against the Four Great Lords, it was best for my safety to stay as far off their radar as possible.

‘No choice.’

Having decided, I immediately called Kind here. Along with a request to bring some aphid drink.

"Aleckniiiim!"

The moment I contacted him, Kind came rushing over, both hands clutching bottles filled with aphid drink.

"Huff, huff."

He was panting hard, as if he’d sprinted the whole way. Then he looked at me with an expression of deep emotion.

"To call me here personally to comfort me…… I’m deeply moved by your kindness, Aleck!"

I could only give a wry smile at Kind’s reaction.

‘Sorry, Kind. Be my shield for this.’

Considering what had happened to me in my previous life, he’d probably accept being used like this.

‘If it gets dangerous, I’ll protect you.’

Anyway, I cleared my throat and spoke to Kind.

"What’s with all the deep emotion between us?"

"Sniff, Aleck…… no, my liege!"

I burst out laughing again at Kind’s dramatics. This guy seemed to be getting more irreverent by the day.

"You had the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skills to advance to the finals, but your draw was just rotten luck. If only……"

I leaned against the pillar and offered Kind some consolation.

"Anyway, let’s drink while we talk."

I said as I twisted open the lid of the aphid drink Kind had handed me.

"Cheers, right?"

I naturally prompted a toast.

"Yes, yes! Cheers it is! Here, cheers—!"

The moment Kind extended his bottle toward me.

I put a slight force into my own bottle as I met it.

Clink—!

"Gah!"

Kind’s bottle flew sideways, spilling its aphid drink all over the pillar.

"S-sorry! My grip must’ve slipped. I’ll clean this up…… Huh?"

Kind flailed in panic, then blinked at the red writing emerging on the wall.

"What’s…… this? Was it always there?"

Following the trail of spilled aphid drink, the red letters began to reveal themselves more and more.

"Wh-what? Letters are appearing!"

Kind looked at me with a panicked face.

"Yeah, this looks seriously suspicious, doesn’t it?"

I suppressed my laughter and replied with a grave expression.

"This…… Kind! Looks like you’ve made a major discovery. I’ll stand guard here, so go quietly fetch Instructor Norton."

"Y-yes, sir!"

Kind stared blankly for a moment, still confused, then nodded and dashed off toward where Norton was.

With that, half my plan had succeeded.

‘Good, that was natural.’

I grinned, watching Kind’s retreating back. Now I could inform Norton without exposing myself.

"By the gods, how did you discover this?"

Norton arrived with Kind, scanning the writing on the pillar with a grave face.

"Hold on…… no, it can’t be!"

As he examined the carved script, Norton’s face twisted in horror. He’d clearly figured out what it was.

"I-is it serious?"

Kind asked Norton timidly, looking up at him.

"Well…… yes, extremely serious. This appears to be…… a Ghost Ant tribe cipher."

"Ghost Ants!"

Kind jumped in shock, clamping a hand over his mouth. He knew their infamous reputation well.

"The ancestors of the mantis clans must have blessed us. How did you stumble upon this by such coincidence?"

I answered swiftly.

"Exactly. If it weren’t for Kind, we’d never have dreamed of this."

Norton nodded at my words.

"I see! Well done, Kind. You’re the hero of this Sama Grand Tournament."

"Me? Really?"

Kind, still not fully grasping the situation, blinked dumbly.

Norton ruffled Kind’s hair with a hand the size of a pot lid.

"Well done, truly well done!"

After praising Kind, Norton lowered his voice to us.

"First, we handle this quietly. Keep it under wraps for now. I’ll report to the Lord personally."

Kind and I nodded.

"If we’re all gathered here, it might arouse suspicion from the one who carved this. Let’s move."

Norton fetched aphid remover and concealed the writing on the pillar again. It returned to its pristine state.

That cipher could be revealed repeatedly with aphid liquid unless erased by a special recipient fluid.

"Alright, let’s head back."

Monahan summoned his disciples.

"A Ghost Ant cipher! Time is critical—decode it immediately."

Monahan issued the command with a taut face. He’d just returned from the Lord’s chamber after a summons from the Mantis Lord and been shocked.

‘A Ghost Ant cipher in Mantis Hall?’

‘Kind, was it?’

A vaguely familiar face. The kid who trailed after Aleck.

‘Lucky find.’

Having heard how it was discovered, Monahan sighed inwardly in relief. Truly a heaven-sent opportunity.

‘If they were planning an assassination……’

We might have been caught completely off guard. Ghost Ants were that specialized in killing.

‘We need to interpret what this cipher means, fast.’

Monahan urged his disciples ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠onward, rolling up his own sleeves to join the deciphering. That night, the lights in his research lab burned till dawn.

They’d pulled an all-nighter to crack the code. Those under Training Hall Director Monahan were among Mantis Hall’s top scholars, handpicked as the most trustworthy.

They succeeded in a single day.

"Director, the decoding is complete."

Monahan, haggard from the sleepless night, took the final translation from his chief researcher. The man’s eyes twitched faintly beneath dark circles. The content was that shocking.

Monahan’s eyes bulged from the first line as he read down.

The Ghost Ants planned to assassinate the Lord.

‘These mad bastards!’

Trembling with rage and shock, he scanned the rest hastily.

His grip slackened, and he slumped back in his chair, dizzy.

"Master! Are you alright?"

Chief researcher Jangdar asked in alarm.

"I’m fine, fine."

Monahan clutched his throbbing forehead, gathering his thoughts.

‘They’re dead set on this. From the Lord to the prospects…… Just when the mantis species was gaining a foothold for revival, they aim to uproot it entirely.’

He had a hunch who orchestrated it. Those who’d long sought to seize and destabilize the mantis clans. The Four Great Lords. Especially high odds it was Craig, lord of the Amar King Centipede clan.

‘We stop this.’

Monahan’s hand tightened on the translation.

‘Even if it costs my head.’

Not a single name on that list would be taken.

"I must report to the Lord immediately."

Monahan shot to his feet. Then Jangdar spoke gravely.

"Master, there’s one more decoded sheet."

"What?"

Monahan read the additional translation and his eyes widened. If true, there was no time to waste.

‘Hmm.’

I inwardly groaned. Our first team preliminary was about to start.

But per Norton’s private message earlier, as expected, the Ghost Ants were plotting assassinations.

‘Me, Ruslan, and Robed here, huh.’

I knew they were targeting me, so I could prepare. The problem was Ruslan and Robed.

I glanced at the two warming up before the match. They’d shown promise, but were still bound by Infant Stage limits. If Ghost Ants struck, they’d likely suffer fatal wounds.

‘Of all things, Ghost Ant bastards.’

Facing Ghost Ants was exhausting. They could hold their breath and blend with surroundings—a special ability. Their footsteps were nearly silent. Their ghostly ambushes had once been dubbed the ‘Grim Reaper’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Touch.’

‘How do I counter them?’

I stroked my chin, devising countermeasures. Norton said he’d handle it, but I couldn’t just sit idle.

‘For now, stick close to those two. And that guy……’

I turned to Theo. He wore his usual friendly smile, encouraging the team.

‘Can’t slack on watching him either.’

I hadn’t told anyone about him yet. But after this, he’d never show his face again. I planned to expose everything.

"Group B, Team 23, please prepare."

The announcement echoed in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the athlete lounge.

"Ugh, our turn finally."

"Let’s make finals in the team event! Make up for individual losses here!"

"Yeah! Especially you finalists—step it up! No holding back in team mode!"

"Aleck looks tense too? Kahaha! The guy who was so chill in individuals, nervous for team?"

"Must be team leader pressure!"

The team mistook my stiff face for nerves.

Nerves. Sure, I was tense. Just for different reasons.

‘No helping it. Robed and Ruslan’s lives are on the line.’

How could I not be? Anyway.

We left the lounge and ascended to the arena.

"Yes—! Group B’s 12th match players have just entered the arena!"

The MC’s voice boomed. Cheers, boos from the crowd. Taunts between our side and opponents.

I sharpened my senses, scanning for Ghost Ant traces.

‘……Nothing obvious.’

Even fully extended, no traces in the arena. Maybe my senses weren’t keen enough yet. Or they weren’t moving today. Or not here.

‘But acting outside leaves more traces. To strike without any, they’ll do it during the Sama Grand Tournament events.’

That’s why so many incidents happened during past tournaments. What seemed accidents were likely Ghost Ant work.

‘Wait, incidents?’

Come to think of it, there was a massive explosion……

My face hardened.

‘The earthquake before Robed’s match.’

No way? Maybe today—or sometime during the tournament—an explosion. In the ensuing chaos, assassinations would be harder to trace.

‘Ah, so that’s it.’

My eyes narrowed further. The outline of this grand malice was emerging.

"Aleck, you’ve seemed really tense. You okay?"

Robed asked worriedly beside me. I’d been too immersed.

Can’t let it show. But I had anyway.

I relaxed my face and smiled gently.

"Yeah, of course. Just a bit nervous earlier. I’m good now."

"Haha, stage fright cured by the arena, huh? Classic!"

The team, who’d been subtly worried, relaxed seeing me back in form. I waved apologetically, easing the faint tension further.

To fully unwind, I briefly circulated Wind Qi Gong. My mind cleared, tension vanished completely. Confidence surged from deep within—I could handle anything.

‘Yeah, Ghost Ants? Bring it. I’ll devour you instead.’

One tenet from my assassination training: know how to wait for the enemy.

Hold your breath.

The instant they enter striking range.

Take their life faster than anyone. That’s the mantis way of killing.

‘I’ll assassinate them right back.’

I smirked. Ghost Ants were fearsome for stealth, not raw power. Physically weak, even Mature Stage ones struggled against Growth Stage of other species in direct fights.

"Both teams, move to base formation! Match starts in 5 seconds once positioned!"

Team match rules: KO the enemy king or steal their base flag and return it to yours for victory.

‘Formation: Jungle.’

Trees and grass obstructing vision, swamps and traps everywhere—a tricky setup.

‘Simple sight and sound search missed them, but……’

What if I sense scents on the wind?

That thought hit, and I stirred the ether in my body. To keep senses maxed constantly.

The match began.

As we left base and entered the arena.

A faint fishy scent rode the wind.

‘There they are.’

My eyes gleamed fiercely. The unique body odor of Ghost Ants.

I’d caught that they’d infiltrated the arena. If I’d relied on eyes and ears, I’d have lost an antenna.

I’d have been the prey. Now, I’m the hunter.

‘Come bite.’

I boldly directed the team forward. To bait them easier.

And soon.

Shhh……

‘Here they come.’

The fishy scent intensified. The moment I’d waited for.

My eyes blazed murderously. Like.

Shriiik—!

The eyes of a mantis lying in wait to hunt its prey.