Chapter 125: Assassination Operation

"Apprentice path privilege? Is this path really special?"

Foersi, who has been trapped in the apprentice sequence and unable to promote, is very sensitive to this topic and immediately asks.

When the apprentice path is mentioned, Leike Dun's first reaction is Mr. Men stuck in the storm, but unfortunately Mr. Men, who has been marinated by the primal moon, is likely beyond rescue.

Suppressing his thoughts, he redirects his attention to Foersi's question and begins to explain:

"In a sense, this path is indeed special."

"Its core extraordinary abilities are closely tied to the Spirit Realm, so Spirit Realm sorcerers give you additional bonuses."

"Closely tied to the Spirit Realm?"

Foersi repeats the sentence, and his mind already starts to imagine the various extraordinary abilities that follow the apprentice path.

After a while, prompted by Xiu's reminder, he snaps back, then, slightly embarrassed and hopeful, looks at Leike Dun and asks:

"You seem to know this path well? Then, do you know the Trickster Master's potion formula?"

Leike Dun is not surprised by the question; she has been searching for the Trickster Master's potion formula for a long time, and after a slight nod says:

"I know it, do you want to buy?"

"How much?"

Foersi asks cautiously, a bit worried that the other might see her great need for the formula and use it to hike the price.

"450 pounds."

Leike Dun quotes a normal market price.

"Deal!"

Foersi, a bit excited, slaps her own thigh, agreeing to the deal. Then she realizes her action is not very ladylike, with outsiders present, and gives an embarrassed smile:

"Um, I didn't bring that much cash today; I can do it tomorrow—no, when are you free? I can trade at any time."

"When you have the money ready, send it to Mingsike Street; someone will collect it, and I can tell you the Trickster Master's potion formula right now."

After speaking, Leike Dun walks to a nearby desk, tears a page from the notebook, writes down the Trickster Master's potion formula, and hands it to Foersi.

Foersi, surprised, takes the paper handed over, with a trace of astonishment still in her eyes.

"You're just an apprentice; you can't breach the contract before me."

Leike Dun naturally adds a sentence.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll bring the money tomorrow—no, this afternoon."

Foersi quickly nods, and her earlier worries disappear completely.

"Stomach of the Spirit-Eater, blood of the deep-sea swordfish."

Foersi looks at the listed ingredients, frowns slightly; these are not things she usually encounters at extraordinary gatherings. She discovers the apprentice path's difficulty is not only the formula being hard to find, but the ingredients are equally scarce!

With Miss Justice's help she collected data on the unicorn figurine and additionally completed two deals; Leike Dun is very pleased with today's harvest.

After further conversation and promising to join their little circle gatherings when she has time, Leike Dun says farewell to everyone, steps into the Spirit Realm, and leaves Viscount Ge Lai Lin Te's study.

"Phew~ Miss Ao Dai Li, I didn't expect you to know such powerful extraordinary beings; I don't even dare to speak loudly in front of him!"

After Leike Dun leaves, Foersi instantly switches demeanor, speaking in an exaggerated tone, and doesn't forget to ask her friend's opinion:

"Right? Xiu!"

"Xiu? What's wrong?"

Xiu, after Foersi's repeated shouts, comes to his senses:

"Ah? Oh, yes."

"What's wrong, Xiu?"

"Nothing, just recalled something, got a bit distracted."

Xiu shakes his head.

Sitting opposite, Ao Dai Li looks at Xiu with suspicion; as a mind‑reader, she can sense Xiu's state is off, and she seems to have recognized Mr. Baita, or rather, she is somewhat doubtful of Mr. Baita's identity.

"Since Xiu hasn't stated it explicitly, that indicates Baita—no, Mr. Tainsi—shouldn't be a particularly dangerous person, and moreover, there's Mr. Fool's guarantee."

Ao Dai Li thinks briefly, then doesn't ponder the matter further, after all everyone has their own secrets.

Back home, Leike Dun, through a ritual, sends the unicorn figurine to the library; keeping the rejected figurine is pointless. It's better to promptly apply for the next batch of materials and craft a more normal figurine.

Later, through divination, she chooses a suitable time to assassinate Ambassador Inditis' Beikelong.

Thursday afternoon, Leike Dun, by praying to the Hidden Sage, grants Tu Ba Ge a certain concealment, then stuffs a bunch of talismans and sends it to Ke Lai En's home.

It's meant as a protection for Ke Lai En, though Leike Dun thinks it's unlikely to be used.

Leike Dun herself heads to the area near the Inditis Embassy in Beikeland West District, traverses the Spirit Realm into an unoccupied inn, waiting for the right moment.

Night quickly arrives; the embassy is brightly lit, various perfume and liquor aromas accompany a lilting melody, spreading through every corner.

In a concealed state, Leike Dun quietly leans in a corner of the balcony, holding a glass of red wine passed from the banquet. She swirls the wine glass, silently watching the clinking of cups in the hall.

Until a stray glance spots Beikelong moving toward the balcony, Leike Dun, standing in the corner, curves her mouth; the perfect assassination moment appears.

A server in the hall accidentally spills a drink on a guest, causing a small incident at the banquet.

Beikelong merely glances back, then, indifferent, turns his head, walks onto the balcony, letting the slightly cool evening breeze disperse some of his alcohol odor.

While the hall's crowd is distracted, a crow flies overhead and drops a paper person folded from several pale‑yellow sheets edged with gold sunflower patterns.

While enjoying the evening breeze, Beikelong suddenly cannot hear the sound from the hall behind him, and his alertness sharply rises.

The next moment, intense flames suddenly burst from his body.

One star after another materializes around him, countless and dazzling.

These stars shed beam after beam of radiance, merging into a grand Light Giant Pillar that blankets the entire balcony.

Beikelong, astonished, discovers the layers of flame on his body being dissolved by the starlight, collapsing and disappearing.

The flames surge with a whoosh, forming a blazing wall that separates the starlight from Beikelong.

Then a flock of flaming crows bursts out, scattering in all directions, randomly bombarding the surrounding buildings.

Leikedun's figure, hidden in the corner, was forced to reveal itself, moving away from here. The Fire Crows' attack range covered too wide an area, and they were also mixed with Beikelang's own spirituality; to some extent, these Fire Crows could be considered an extension of his vision.

"Why aren't you continuing to hide in the corner? Is it because seeing fire makes you unable to resist rushing forward?"

Beikelang's voice came through the blazing wall of fire.

Leikedun felt a burning anger, wanting to rush forward and smash his face with his fists.

Soon the emotional turmoil was suppressed; for readers adept at thinking and deciding rationally, this was not difficult.

After Leikedun revealed himself, many Fire Crows immediately swarmed to attack him, while another part flew off in all directions, seemingly trying to draw others' attention.

Leikedun ignored the scattered Fire Crows; his figure instantly turned transparent, as if becoming a statue formed from countless gathered starlight. The statue shattered instantly, brilliant starlight points surged, quickly appearing in another direction, with fragments of starlight re‑gathering inside to re‑form Leikedun's figure.

"Hmph, you coward, do you only know how to dodge and weave?"

Beikelang's voice made Leikedun irresistibly feel the urge to rush forward and engage in a head‑to‑head battle.

「Seal」 — he uttered a single draconic word, and the brilliant starlight swirling around Leikedun flew off strand by strand.

This was a battle sequence Leikedun had preset in advance, etched into his mind through self‑hypnosis and suggestion, unalterable by his own emotional fluctuations.

As these starlights neared Beikelang, they instantly condensed into a huge transparent amber that encased him, locking him in place.

Leikedun's eyes glowed blue‑white; the next moment, shafts of crystal‑clear light poured down from the air, crushing every Fire Crow that lunged at him again, leaving only a mist of vapor hanging in midair.

Once again he tossed out a paper figure from his pocket, Leikedun summoned a paper‑effigy avatar, and at the same time, through meditation he activated his Sage trait.

The paper‑effigy avatar reached into the void and drew out a long spear; the spear tip was etched with mysterious symbols, and its shaft resembled a tree branch.

Beikelang sensed the deadly threat, heedless of the blazing white flames bursting forth, he frantically struck the transparent amber that was sealing him.

The next moment, the spear was hurled by the paper‑effigy avatar; a blazing white trace like a lightning flash appeared between the avatar and Beikelang. The spear reappeared in the avatar's hand, while a huge hole appeared in Beikelang's left chest.

Mystery reappears, the spear 「Ganggeni'er」: it can be thrown as a long spear that will surely hit its target, pierce anything it strikes, and then automatically return to its owner's hand.

Beikelang's eyes were filled with intense disbelief; he wanted to lower his head to glance at the wound on his chest, and he even suspected that this scene was merely a nightmare.

The next moment he collapsed heavily to the ground, losing all consciousness.

The spear‑holding paper‑effigy avatar turned back into a few sheets of pale yellow paper, which spontaneously ignited in the air and turned to ash.

Gazing at Beikelang's corpse collapsed on the ground, Leikedun flipped a gold coin and made a brief divination.

The next moment his figure instantly turned transparent, becoming sparkling starlight points that drifted to Beikelang's corpse, where they re‑condensed into his form.

Leikedun pulled a dark glass bottle from his coat pocket, opened it, and a blue‑white fluorescence covered his eyes.

An invisible spirit drifted out of the glass bottle and seeped into Beikelang's corpse.

Soon, specks of light began to precipitate from Beikelang's corpse, rapidly coalescing into form, ultimately becoming a crimson, brain‑like object covered with many tiny blinking eyes.

After picking up this Schemer's trait from Beikelang's corpse, the surrounding silent environment fell like a huge curtain. From the balcony came the sounds of music and conversation from the hall, along with the scents of perfume and alcohol.

(End of chapter)