The Merchant and the Hidden Blade
I ducked quickly into the guard post.
Visitors were only brought to the post when something was wrong.
“Senior, is there a problem?”
“Ah, this man says he had an appointment, but his name isn’t on the visitor list.”
Jake sunbae scratched his forehead, looking troubled.
“The list must be wrong. I made this appointment a whole month in advance. This is the head of the Green Company.”
The man who called himself the company head didn’t bother hiding his displeasure and kept pressing Jake sunbae.
“Who did you say your appointment was with?”
“Lord Decon Gold.”
“Ahem.”
The moment one of the seven executives’ names left his lips, Jake sunbae’s face crumpled even further.
Decon Gold and the Gold family were, as their name suggested, the ones who moved Knox’s money. Among them, Decon Gold also served as the master of the Knox merchant coalition. Like all the executives, he was one of the people with especially strong influence inside Knox.
“I also have a letter from the company head here.”
The man pulled a letter from his coat with a smug flourish and showed it off.
When I took it, I saw that it clearly bore Decon Gold’s signature and seal.
“In any case, since he’s not on the list, protocol says a security officer should escort the Green Company head to his office to verify….”
Jake sunbae gestured at the empty guard post and continued.
“As you can see, we’re unusually short-handed today, so you’ll have to wait a little while.”
“Wait? The appointment time is right around the corner! If the deal falls through because Lord Decon Gold takes offense, will your side take responsibility?”
“It’s the rule. What can we do? If we explain the situation, I’m sure Lord Decon Gold will understand—”
“I’ll go, sunbae.”
At my words, Jake sunbae frowned.
“Can you handle it?”
Escorting outsiders into the main building was usually a job for senior officers who had accumulated experience. New recruits not only didn’t know the giant duchy’s internal layout well, but they also lacked the ability to respond to sudden incidents.
“We don’t have much choice, do we?”
“That’s true, but…”
After a moment of hesitation, Jake sunbae finally nodded.
“You went there yesterday, so you at least know where the main building is, right?”
The main building? That was the least of it.
I had memorized the maze-like geography of Knox Castle long before I even got hired here. More importantly, there was something I absolutely needed to confirm about this so-called “head of the Green Company.”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
I answered while staring at the man’s shoes.
***
“We’ve been waiting for you, head of the Green Company.”
A handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes greeted the Green Company head.
“Lord Decon Gold.”
The Green Company head, who had been frowning the entire way here, finally broke into a wide smile and clasped Decon Gold’s hand.
Then he whirled toward me and snapped.
“What are you looking at me like that for!”
“My apologies. I was terribly rude.”
I gave a small bow and apologized as politely as I could manage.
But my eyes never left the man’s shoes.
Back when I was actively working as an assassin for the Wickers, I had created all sorts of tools. There was a limit to how many people you could kill by sneaking in at night with a single dagger.
The shoes with poisoned blades hidden in one sole were one of the weapons I had invented during that time. Later they evolved into blades on both soles.
After that, other Wickers assassins began copying the method and using the same shoes. They didn’t require particularly advanced skill to make, but they were still an important trade secret. Aside from Wickers assassins, almost no one knew about those shoes.
So why is this merchant wearing them?
And not just any pair—the early model with a blade on only one side?
Was he targeting me?
The whole way here, I had deliberately chosen deserted paths so that only he and I remained. There had been several perfect moments to attempt an assassination, yet the man had simply urged me to walk faster.
Even now, standing in front of Decon Gold, the Green Company head’s face showed nothing but irritation.
I was still scanning him for any other suspicious signs when our eyes suddenly met.
“Ah.”
Decon Gold was looking straight at me.
I quickly looked away, pretending nothing was wrong.
It must have been meaningless, because Decon Gold turned back to the Green Company head and spoke.
“Shall we go meet His Grace the Duke now?”
What?
I froze for a split second.
He’s here to see Killian Knox?
I had assumed that as long as the merchant wasn’t after me, it didn’t matter who he was meeting. But an appointment with Killian Knox changed everything.
If those shoes really were the ones I had designed and the man’s target was Killian Knox, the situation became completely different.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue softly.
If things went wrong, the sparks might fly my way too.
After all, I was the one who had escorted the Green Company head this far. The lowest-ranking security officer who had guided an assassin into the duchy would obviously be the first to die during the investigation.
Of course I could slip away before that happened, but…
If, by some one-in-a-hundred-thousand chance, Killian Knox actually died…
The reason I had chosen to hide inside Knox was simple: as long as Killian Knox was here, Edward couldn’t touch me. If something happened to Killian Knox, that shield would vanish.
In other words, my peaceful days here would be over no matter what.
Maybe they’re just self-defense shoes?
But the bad feeling that had never once been wrong prickled sharply at the back of my neck.
Damn it. I wanted to keep watching, but what excuse could I use to follow them?
While I was still agonizing over it, my eyes met Decon Gold’s again.
“Follow us to His Grace’s office. You can see the guest out as well.”
“…Yes, understood.”
Surprised by Decon Gold’s unexpected suggestion, I quickly fell in behind them.
As I walked and listened to their conversation, it really did seem like the Green Company head had important business.
“I’m finally going to meet His Grace the Duke!”
The Green Company head smiled brightly.
Was I being too sensitive?
It was impossible to let my guard down when it came to anything involving the Wickers. No one here knew my circumstances, so I felt a little embarrassed and bit my lip.
“Your Grace.”
Decon Gold knocked politely on the already wide-open door to the Duke’s office.
Beyond the doorway I could see an enormous—almost majestic—work desk. Killian Knox and Dupont Clancher stood in front of it.
Killian Knox only gave us a brief glance before returning his attention to the documents in his hands. Dupont Clancher, standing at his side, gestured for us to enter.
“Please come in.”
Decon Gold guided the Green Company head inside.
Step. Step—
The still-unpleasant sound of footsteps drew my ear when something suddenly caught my eye.
It was the desk in Killian Knox’s office.
Have I seen that desk before?
A strong sense of déjà vu washed over me. Especially the Knox crest—wood lightly scorched to create a different shade—with the moon and crow motif. It felt strangely familiar.
I was frowning slightly at the murky feeling when Decon Gold turned to me.
“Wait here.”
“Pardon? But…”
The moment I answered, my slightly shifted view caught the Green Company head’s back.
He was walking alone toward Killian Knox, subtly rolling his right foot in a distinctive way.
Then came a small click, and a tiny blade appeared.
He really is an assassin!
I quickly scanned the room.
Decon Gold was still watching me. Killian Knox and Dupont Clancher were focused on their documents. Even the guards standing watch in the corridor hadn’t noticed anything.
No one had realized an assassination attempt was underway.
I clenched my fists and held back.
Don’t get involved.
Someone would notice soon.
The Green Company head took one step forward.
Still, nothing changed.
One of the guards by the door tilted his head, but he didn’t seem certain.
The Green Company head—no, the assassin—took another step.
Killian Knox is a monster. He’ll dodge it on his own.
But the Duke’s Dragon Eyes, which could detect even the most carefully hidden spies, were too busy reading the document in his hands.
Look up already!
Step. Step—
Killian Knox had entered the assassin’s effective range.
Please!
I swallowed back the torrent of curses rising in my throat and waited until the very last second.
But the moment the assassin lifted one foot—
“Oh, for crying out loud!”
I shoved Decon Gold aside and broke into a run.