Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The First-Class Training Hall
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Black Scale Island was only accessible through a water gate.
Once inside, its defenses were far more formidable than they appeared from the outside.
Hundreds of massive ballistae lined the ramparts, and every tower was equipped with a trebuchet.
If an enemy fleet were to invade, thousands of fiery projectiles would be launched from them.
‘What a killer location. No wonder we were the only ones hit back in the city.’
Beyond the ramparts, small fields connected to the waterways were scattered about.
These farms were designed to make the island self-sufficient for a certain number of people.
They were run on the labor of the children in the agent training facility.
‘Ugh, I’m so sick of it.’
The memory of being sent to cultivate crops after every training session suddenly surfaced.
Even being a direct descendant of the Head didn't grant an exemption from the ten years of hellish training and external missions.
There were, however, a few perks, one of which was the right to report directly to the Head.
Passing by a series of dark, somewhat eerie stone buildings, I went straight up to the Head’s office.
I handed my mission orders to the agent standing guard at the entrance.
“Reporting my return.”
“Please wait a moment.”
After checking the orders, the agent knocked on the office door to announce my arrival.
Soon, a gruff voice drifted from within.
“Let him in.”
*Click. Creeak!*
Opening the door, I walked to the center of the office and offered a cursory bow.
She was still a grand elder of the family, so I had to show some courtesy to avoid trouble.
“That is enough. You may rise.”
As I lifted my head to look at the woman, a sharp sensation seemed to pierce my heart.
Snow-white hair, slightly upturned eyes, and firmly set lips.
The very model of a strong woman, called the Iron-Blooded Empress: Acting Head Kairam.
To me, she was a stepmother.
She glanced over the approval documents, her red eyes flashing as she posed a question.
“You’ve completed thirty second-class assassination missions.”
“Yes.”
“It was a demanding schedule, yet you handled it well.”
“They weren’t all that hard.”
Though her words were complimentary, Kairam’s tone was like an arctic gale.
But whether her reaction was cold or not, my reply was utterly serene.
I responded as if I were out for a casual stroll.
Kairam didn’t make an issue of it, knowing this was my usual demeanor.
The Rantzverger Assassination Guild had strict rules, but it valued skill above all else.
Besides, it was a private meeting, with no one else to see.
“You have completed all your second-class assignments as assassinations, but you will still be given a choice.”
“I’m aware.”
“I will give you three days to decide. Once your path is set, I will grant you access to the first-class training hall.”
“Why waste time? I’ll go with assassination.”
As I answered with a calm expression, a flicker of interest appeared in her eyes.
The guild aimed to cultivate specialists, so it gave no credit for prior experience.
If a first-class agent or higher changed their specialization, they had to start again from the bottom.
“Is that so? If that is your decision.”
Acting Head Kairam’s reply was concise.
It felt as though she was only meeting me because I was the Head’s child and she had no choice.
Given that we shared not a single drop of blood, it was a natural reaction.
I was a potential rival to her own children in the future; it was a blessing she didn't openly ostracize me.
In that respect, she was surprisingly fair and just.
“This is your pass to the first-class training hall.”
*Shhk. Thud.*
Kairam took a thumb-sized red object from a drawer and placed it on her desk.
I immediately picked up the red pass.
This metal token not only granted access to the training hall but also served as proof of my status as a first-class agent.
Now, I could expect rather good treatment at any of our safe houses.
“Your missions will resume at the Eastern Imperial Branch. You have a three-month grace period, so be sure to arrive on time.”
“The Empire, you say? Sounds interesting.”
As if her business with me was concluded, she began looking through a thick stack of documents.
She was about to immerse herself in her duties as Acting Head.
Shrugging, I opened the office door and stepped out.
It was time to head to the training hall.
However, in the corridor outside the office, I came face to face with an unexpected person.
“First-class at eighteen, aren’t you a little fast?”
Slightly upturned eyes and lips, reddish pupils.
A young woman who looked much like Acting Head Kairam, except for her light brown hair.
The woman was my half-sister, Isabel.
The Head and Kairam had three daughters together, and Isabel was the third.
Since we weren’t far apart in age, we often crossed paths on missions.
She, too, had recently become a first-class assassin.
“Was the last time we worked together on the Alexei assassination mission?”
“How can you only remember your dear sister in the context of a mission? That’s just cruel.”
“What else is there to remember? Memories between us… You mean that time we fought like cats and dogs during the ten years of torment?”
“What are you talking about? Can’t you just erase memories like that?”
“Sorry, but unlike you, I have a pretty good memory.”
As I tried to walk past her after my careless reply, Isabel blocked my path and leaned in close.
“No matter how hard you try, you’ll never beat our eldest sister. Mitra is already a transcendent-level agent, you know.”
“And what about it? Aren’t you being a little too competitive?”
“Hmph! I’m not being competitive!”
“It’s written all over your face. Stop chattering and move.”
Being of similar age, we couldn't help but grow up in constant competition.
Moreover, as an illegitimate son, I felt a slight distance from them.
Of course, this tomboy didn't seem to care about what others thought.
At my slightly irritated tone, Isabel flinched and stepped aside.
But she didn't stop chattering away as she followed alongside me.
“If you act like such a jerk, girls won’t like you.”
“Can’t you tell by looking at my face? There are tons of agents who would kill just to get a glimpse of me. Try to keep up with the rumors.”
“You! You sound just like Wendy when you talk like that, and it’s so annoying.”
Wendy was the second daughter born to the Head and Kairam.
She had just recently been promoted to a special-grade agent.
Isabel then began to complain about Wendy.
The gist of it was that she found her older sister’s arrogance unbearable.
Naturally, the nonsense I had just spouted also came under heavy criticism.
Tired of her incessant chatter, I pointed to the office door to change the subject.
“Weren’t you going to report to the Acting Head?”
“Right.”
“You should probably get going. She’s not in a great mood after seeing me.”
“I can go a little later. My mother probably doesn’t care whether I report my mission or not.”
“Just go already. Stop bothering me.”
“Hey, who do you think you’re talking to so casually? Huh?”
“…”
As I walked out of the great hall without another word, she yelled after me.
“If you get friendly with Wendy, you’re dead!”
I shook my head at Isabel’s unpredictable behavior.
‘As if I’d get friendly with those wretched women. Ah, not ‘wretched,’ they were my actual enemies.’
***
After escaping Isabel, I headed straight for the first-class training hall.
‘Oh, this looks nice. Being first-class really is different.’
Unlike the ones I had seen before, the training hall facilities looked quite impressive.
The walls, adorned with a fish-scale pattern, and the dome-shaped roof resembled a miniature version of Black Scale Island itself.
*Clank. Thump! Thump!*
Approaching the entrance, I pulled the handle and let it go.
It was a signal to open the door, but there was no response from inside.
Just as I was about to grab the handle again, a voice came from somewhere.
“What is your business?”
Looking up, I saw a figure in dark attire perched on the gate.
I hadn’t sensed the slightest presence until now.
That meant the person’s skill level was far above my own.
He was likely a special-grade agent or higher, tasked with guarding the training hall and archives.
They were typically at the 4th-tier level and usually served as captains of combat units.
Of course, that didn’t change my attitude.
“I’m here to use the first-class training hall.”
As I dangled the red pass, the gatekeeper vanished from his post and reappeared inside the gate.
A moment later, the massive iron door moved without a sound, opening just enough for one person to pass through.
“Come in.”
*Screech. Thud!*
The gatekeeper took the red pass from me and examined it closely, his eyes narrowed.
It was a standard procedure to check for forgeries.
“It’s authentic. Follow me.”
The interior of the training hall was quite simple.
Four large bookshelves stood in the center, surrounded by dozens of rooms.
“You’ve used other training halls, so I trust you know the procedure.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Walking past the gatekeeper, I went straight to the central bookshelves.
A few books were missing, likely taken by others using the hall.
But since there was at least one copy of each, it wouldn’t hinder my training.
I ran my fingertips over the spines of the books as I slowly walked alongside the shelf.
‘This is…’
Then, a familiar cover caught my eye.
It was the secret manual of the Riverune family, now nothing but an empty shell.
My gaze lingered there for a moment before sliding away.
‘No need to pull that out and create a pointless misunderstanding.’
I picked two other manuals from a different shelf and immediately entered my assigned room.
*Rumble. Thud!*
With the sound of grinding machinery, the heavy stone door sealed shut behind me.