After stocking up on supplies and getting some rest, Brian's group set out for the Rain Empire. But now, their party had two new members — the young girl and her grandmother. The girl's name was May.
"Your Highness, is this how it should be?" May asked.
"Yes… mmm, that's right. Continue," Brian replied with a nod.
"Yes, Your Highness!" May said with enthusiasm, nodding firmly.
Brian had tasked May with compiling her knowledge of livestock and crops into a book — one that would one day be stored in the city's library for future generations.
The horse-drawn carriage, which had been moving steadily, suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
"Young Master, there's someone ahead who's badly injured," the driver reported.
"Alright, I'll take a look," Brian said as he stepped down and approached the wounded figure — a man in a black cloak.
Hmm? Brian activated his Divine Eyes.
Name: Robert (former assassin)Level: 18 (Spirit Stage 8)Race: HumanAffinity: 0Loyalty: 0Equipment: High-grade black cloak, Rare-grade Snake Dagger
A former assassin? Interesting… For some time now, Brian had been thinking about who might be suitable to lead the Dark Division.
If this man turns out to be decent, I'll recruit him.
Brian picked the man up and brought him back to the carriage.
"Brother, why are you bringing that man along?" Adre asked, uneasy. They didn't know the man's identity, and to Adre, that was dangerous.
"Don't worry," Brian said with a reassuring smile.
System, is there a cheap healing medicine? Something that costs a few hundred coins?
[There is, Host. However, it won't heal instantly. The patient will regain consciousness and recover in two days.]
Two days? That's basically instant in my book, Brian thought.
"I'll take one," he said aloud.
[Host has purchased a Low-Grade Recovery Pill for 500 system coins.]
"What? You call that cheap? That's 500 coins!" Brian barked in annoyance, as if he'd been swindled.
[That is the lowest price available, Host.]
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Brian grumbled.
He placed the pill in Robert's mouth. A faint flush returned to the man's pale skin.
But before long, the carriage stopped again — this time blocked by a group of people in black cloaks.
"Hey, have you seen an injured man along the road?" one of them asked.
Brian overheard from inside, stepped out, and replied, "No, sir. We haven't seen anyone injured."
"Really? Then how could Robert have escaped so quickly despite his wounds? I don't believe you," another said.
"Let's just search their carriage," someone else suggested.
"Sir, isn't that a violation of privacy?" Brian asked mildly.
"Privacy, my ass. You think we care?" the man scoffed.
"Yeah, let's check it. This kid's suspicious," another added.
"Please, don't force me," Brian said weakly.
"And if we do? What can you even do about it? Go on, check the carriage," the leader ordered.
Brian sighed. Honestly, he couldn't be bothered to fight a bunch of Spirit Stage 8 thugs.
Two of them stepped forward — and Brian casually threw two punches. The men exploded into blood and gore.
Everyone froze.
"Brother, you're so strong!" Adre exclaimed.
"Your Highness, that was amazing!" May said, her eyes sparkling.
"T-they…" The remaining black-cloaked men were trembling in terror.
"I told you not to force me," Brian said lazily.
By now, his cultivation had reached Master Stage 5, having slain numerous beasts during their journey while the others slept.
"Sir, we're sorry. Please let us go. We won't bother you again," their leader begged.
"Hmph. How could I let pests like you live? You're assassins from the Darkness Guild. You'd just come back for revenge, and that's far too troublesome for me," Brian said with a smile.
"H-how do you know we're from the Darkness Guild?" The assassin leader was shocked — their organization was highly secretive during missions.
"Who knows," Brian said with a chuckle before striking them down.
"Run! Run!" the leader screamed, but before any of them could move, their bodies were torn apart.
"Brother… don't you think that was a bit…" Adre glanced at the mangled corpses, feeling Brian had gone too far.
"Hm? They were criminals. Why would I hold back?" Brian replied with a smile, meeting Adre's gaze.
And with that, they continued their journey.
Two days into their journey, Robert finally regained consciousness.
"Ughhh…" He opened his eyes, scanning his surroundings warily.
"Oh, you're awake! Wait here, I'll call His Highness," May said before stepping out of the carriage.
"Who is she…? Was she the one who saved me?" Robert muttered under his breath.
Brian entered the carriage, finding Robert still disoriented.
Ahem. "Feeling better now?" Brian asked.
"Yes, sir. Thank you for saving me," Robert said, snapping out of his daze.
"Mind telling me why those assassins were chasing you?" Brian asked.
Robert hesitated for a moment before replying, "Since you saved my life, I suppose I owe you the truth."
He explained everything — how he once had a lover, only for her to be murdered by the captain of an assassin group. To avenge her, Robert worked tirelessly to reach the Spirit Realm so he could infiltrate the assassins' ranks and kill their captain. But his plan failed; the captain not only survived but discovered Robert's betrayal, forcing him to flee for his life.
"So, during your time as an assassin… how many people have you killed?" Brian asked.
"Only five — all criminals. And whenever I took a mission, it was usually protection work," Robert quickly clarified, afraid Brian might mistake him for a cold-blooded killer.
"Hm… is that so? Then what's your plan now?" Brian asked, a faint sense of déjà vu creeping into his mind.
Robert thought for a long moment before answering. "Perhaps I'll join the enemies of my former group. That way, I can gain protection and grow stronger before taking my revenge again."
"Why not join me instead?" Brian suggested. "I guarantee you'll rise in strength faster than you can imagine… and see just how vast this world truly is."
There it is again… why does that line sound so familiar? Brian mused.
"Do you even know who I am? And yet you dare to invite a stranger like me?" Robert said with a sneer.
"I know exactly who you are — Robert, the assassin. And I'm not afraid of you," Brian replied evenly.
"Heh… naive," Robert scoffed, launching an attack. But before his strike could reach Brian's neck, his hand was caught — effortlessly — between two of Brian's fingers.
"No… you're the naive one. To me, you're just an insect," Brian said calmly.
"W-who are you?" Robert asked, shocked. He had assumed the young man before him was just a lucky martial novice who happened to know his name.
"Me? I'm just the one who saved your life," Brian replied with a smile.
"Think it over. If you don't want to join, you're free to leave. I'm not the kind of man who forces others." With that, Brian stepped out of the carriage.