The Apex Assassin of the Realms

Du Chen's voice was frigid, his fury evidently pushed to its limits. Yet, only he knew that his heart held but four parts anger, the other six consumed by guilt. Had he not 'borrowed' his teacher's sacred artifact, severely crippling his strength, how many in this era could have inflicted such grievous wounds upon the Titled Battle God, His Excellency Zigurd!? Even Roland, the Peak Sword Emperor, might not have achieved such a feat during the great Battle of Mount Wanliu!

His chilling gaze fixed on Professor Mina, a bone-deep killing intent already radiating outwards. But Professor Mina merely offered a wry smile, shrugging. 'Oh, little handsome, planning murder? Don't direct that fiery temper at your big sister, now. I'm here to help you, remember!'

Her expression shifted in an instant, a beaming smile gracing her lips as she settled herself before Du Chen. 'Before you hear the even worse news, I suggest you take a seat, little brother, and let me finish telling you about His Excellency Zigurd!'

Du Chen rubbed his nose, then resettled himself. 'Alright, spill it! With the Holy Church's intelligence network, I presume you already have some leads, don't you?'

Professor Mina nodded, choosing an unexpected starting point for her tale. 'You're now Thirteenth Master of York Town, aren't you? Heh, for the Holy Church to know this is hardly difficult! So, as a prominent figure in the Clandestine Circles, you must have learned quite a bit about that world, yes?'

'I have a general impression, but I wouldn't say I'm too familiar,' Du Chen carefully sidestepped Professor Mina's loaded question.

'Hmm, so how much do you know about the assassin trade?'

'The largest and most mysterious assassin organization today is called Orm Ceres. Rumor has it their assassins are divided into four tiers—Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron—but there's also the most enigmatic Diamond-tier assassin, rumored to possess the ability to assassinate Nine-Star Battle Gods!' Du Chen eyed Professor Mina suspiciously. 'Could it be an assassin's work? I once heard that the Apex Assassin of the Realms belonged to Orm Ceres...'

'No need to mention his name, for it holds no meaning anymore!' Professor Mina cut him off, speaking swiftly. 'On the first day of January this year, the title of The Apex Assassin of the Realms changed hands!'

Seeming rather pleased with Du Chen's astonished expression, Professor Mina continued, 'On January first, on Golden Sands Beach of the Azure Heaven Continent, someone discovered the body of that poor wretch. From the wound, he'd been instantly slain by a strange sacred artifact, his throat slit. The culprit left no clues, save for... a note affixed to the unfortunate fellow's forehead!'

'A note?' Du Chen grew even more perplexed. Would an assassin actually leave a note as a clue for people to track them down? 'What did it say?'

'When the silver moon recedes and starlight fills the heavens, your life shall be offered to the stars! Heaven's Will bows.' Professor Mina recited leisurely, taking a sip of Du Chen's red wine and chuckling. 'I wonder if you have a hobby of stargazing. Well, for a few days at the beginning and end of each month, the moon is invisible in the skies of the Three Continents; only the brilliant stars shine brightest...'

'So the killer only strikes when there's no moon and the starlight is abundant?' Du Chen countered.

'At least, that's how it appears so far! After January first, the universally acknowledged Apex Assassin of the Realms became 'Heaven's Will.'' Professor Mina returned the wine glass to Du Chen, adding, 'On January thirtieth, another moonless night, the vice-commander of the Three Continents' top Mercenary Corps, Iron Roar... Hmm, you should know that fellow's clandestine identity is the rumored Blood Slaughter Battle God of the Clandestine Circles – that bastard who massacred thousands of civilians in an entire town...'

'He was also killed, with a note affixed to his forehead?' Du Chen asked.

Professor Mina nodded helplessly. 'Yes, 'When the silver moon recedes and starlight fills the heavens, your life shall be offered to the stars! Heaven's Will bows!' And then, the very next day, February first, Somia, known among the Clandestine Circles' brethren as the World's Foremost Debaucher, also met his end. A similar note was on his forehead... I don't need to tell you the content, do I?'

Du Chen frowned deeply. 'From these three strikes, it seems the killer only targets those who commit heinous deeds, those who deserve death. This 'Heaven's Will' is quite interesting, then...'

Professor Mina's voice resonated as she continued, 'Interesting?! Just two days ago, on yet another moonless night, your teacher, His Excellency Zigurd, was en route to the Holy Church when he learned of a water-attributed sacred artifact manifesting nearby. He decided to try his luck, but unexpectedly, not long after he left his main retinue, he was ambushed on the small island where the sacred artifact appeared. And the one who attacked him claimed to be Heaven's Will!'

Without waiting for Du Chen to ask, Professor Mina was already prepared with his desired answer. 'According to His Excellency Zigurd's attendants, that battle caused the heavens and earth to change color; even the island that served as their battlefield was blasted into fragments, sinking forever into the seabed! Heaven's Will was cloaked in silver starlight, his true appearance indiscernible. When he saw that His Excellency Zigurd lacked his sacred artifact and his Divine Pet was not by his side, he very magnanimously... also refrained from using any sacred artifacts or Divine Pets! Yet, your teacher, His Excellency Zigurd, was still gravely wounded and utterly defeated, plummeting into the sea. And then... here's the interesting part: Heaven's Will didn't seize the opportunity to take His Excellency Zigurd's life. Instead, he uttered a remark with utter disdain—'Is this 'Eternal Glory' Zigurd!? Hmph!''

Professor Mina mimicked the domineering disdain in that single sentence with uncanny accuracy. 'And now, little handsome, it gets even more interesting! After attacking His Excellency Zigurd, Heaven's Will didn't trouble His Excellency Zigurd's attendants. Furthermore, he disdained the newly manifested sacred artifact, leaving it for His Excellency Zigurd, then drifted away, seemingly letting out a sigh born of a master's solitude—'It seems only one capable of transforming a 'waste' into a Heaven-Bestowed Hydro-Body can truly be considered a master of this era!''

Du Chen offered a bitter laugh. The one capable of transforming a 'waste' into a Heaven-Bestowed Hydro-Body... wasn't that the person he had fabricated? So, Heaven's Will's next target was to find that non-existent individual, through him?

Professor Mina looked at Du Chen sympathetically. 'Judging by your expression, you've probably already figured it out, haven't you? Before he finds his next target, he'll definitely come looking for you! Although His Excellency Zigurd might send word back in a day or two, it's always better to know these things as early as possible. That's why your big sister came to inform you the moment I got the news.'

'Indeed, this is worse news than my teacher being gravely wounded!' Du Chen shrugged.

Professor Mina counted on her fingers, calculating as she spoke. 'Judging by his pattern of striking, the moonless nights at the end of February and early March were used to attack His Excellency Zigurd. So, towards the end of March, or early April, you should be especially careful!'

With that, Professor Mina leaned closer to Du Chen. 'Boss Mars wants to know if the Holy Church should assign more personnel to guard you?' Du Chen scoffed inwardly. Assigning more personnel to him? Ostensibly for protection, but covertly, it was likely to use him as bait to draw out Heaven's Will, thereby recruiting him for the Holy Church, wasn't it? Hmph, this was the Holy Church's usual tactic.

Then he reconsidered: unless the Holy Church dispatched a Titled Battle God to protect him, Flaying and Deboning were more than enough. Otherwise, any additional personnel would only be a hindrance!

With that thought, Du Chen smiled. 'Please thank Boss Mars for me, but it shouldn't be necessary. After all, I am Roland's registered student. If I encounter truly insurmountable trouble, I'll simply ask the old man for help!'

Du Chen then inquired about his teacher's injuries, learning that His Excellency Zigurd was not in mortal danger, but was nevertheless pressing on to the Papal Curia despite his wounds! As for what matter could compel His Excellency Zigurd to disregard his health and convene with His Holiness the Pontiff, Du Chen asked, but Professor Mina offered only one response: even Boss Mars, His Holiness the Pontiff's trusted confidant and Godfather-tier figure, had no knowledge of it!

After exchanging probing questions and subtle jabs, Du Chen dismissed Professor Mina, yet inwardly felt that dealing with such a female operative was far simpler than confronting Annie and Avril.

Approaching the window, Du Chen gazed at the starlit sky, chuckling mockingly. 'The Apex Assassin of the Realms!? Interesting! Come on, Flaying and Deboning, along with the Red Phoenix Battle Formation... are waiting to avenge my old man, my master!' Having said that, Du Chen concealed himself within his Precious Lotus Scripture and flew to the tranquil beach at the south end of the docks.

In the gentle sea breeze, Helen waited anxiously. Du Chen quietly appeared behind her, his voice deep. 'How interesting!' Helen started in alarm, swiftly turning to bow. Seeing Du Chen's hands empty, her heart involuntarily sank. Yet, she respectfully inquired, 'Your Excellency, what is so interesting? My father and Sulan...'

Du Chen spoke, his hands clasped behind his back. 'When I went, a few little chaps from the Sea Clan were attacking Mount Tianshan. It was quite an interesting fight!' The commotion from that event was too great for Helen not to eventually learn of it, and Du Chen felt concealing it would be ungracious. His face set like still water, he coldly stated, 'Helen, you must understand one thing: this time, I intervened solely because of that small token your father gave me!'

Helen thought to herself, *I understand that much, but what about my father and Sulan?*

Du Chen seemed oblivious to Helen's anxiety, instead pacing slowly along the beach as he deliberately stated, 'Therefore, this is the last time I will help you! In the future, I do not wish to see you begging for my help again, or interfering with my affairs. This is the final time, do you understand?'

For Lord Francis to say such a thing, could it be that he has already...? Helen was overjoyed, hastily saying, 'Rest assured, Your Excellency. If I were to fall into enemy hands again, Helen would have no face left to live!'

Du Chen continued, 'It's good that you understand. Hmph, you and your father have brought me enough trouble!' With that, Du Chen raised a hand, and two large chests appeared out of thin air before Helen. 'One final piece of advice: perform more good deeds in your daily life, and Du Chen will bless you!'

Helen paused, bewildered. 'Du Chen?' What was that? Since the word 'bless' was used, was he a god? Lord Francis's tone just now... could he be a believer, worshiping a god named Du Chen? And the deity's doctrine urged people to perform good deeds? Helen's thoughts logically progressed: it must be so. Then, Lord Francis, saving her for the common people at Antwerp Port, must also have been fulfilling the doctrine of God Du Chen!

Opening the two chests, she saw who was inside and was overjoyed, hurriedly saying, 'I am grateful, Your Excellency...' A thought struck her: if Lord Francis was a believer, then she should say, 'In the name of good, praise Du... Chen!'

Her pronunciation wasn't standard, because the name 'Du Chen' had been uttered by someone in Chinese, and in this world, no one understood its meaning. Yet, Helen's praise was met by a hearty laugh from the already vanished individual—he was thrilled, absolutely thrilled! 'Heh, slowly now, first plant a seed in Helen's mind, then gradually nurture her... Aha, Flaying has arrived just in time. I'll head back and immediately begin discussions on reorganizing the Yessar Church...