Chapter 84

"But killing me is one thing—why kill my dog?" Tang Luo asked, stroking the Heavenly Hound's head.

"Your dog?"

The vagrant turned his head, saw a husky, and his face showed a strange expression: "No one wants to kill your dog... The last person who did that is already dead. That's why you've returned, isn't it?"

"Wait a moment."

Tang Luo suddenly thought of something.

He remembered a movie he had watched before crossing over.

The movie's protagonist was a retired assassin who was formidable as a killer, completing various assassination missions others couldn't.

Moreover, most importantly, he actually managed to dodge the curse of "After this job, I'll go back to my hometown to get married," successfully retired, married his wife, and lived a life of abusing dogs.

Unfortunately, he was born under an evil star.

His wife died of a terminal illness, the legendary assassin fell into despair, living a decadent life, until his wife's prepared dog arrived—only then did the assassin find his spiritual refuge.

But before he could enjoy peaceful days with the dog.

An accident occurred: several petty thugs sneaked into his house, stole his car, and killed his dog.

Thus, the martial world became turbulent once again.

In the second film, the protagonist finally killed someone in a place where killing was absolutely forbidden.

He violated the rules, was hunted by every assassin in the assassin world, took his new dog, and embarked on a fugitive's path.

"This is my new dog." Tang Luo pointed at the Heavenly Hound and said, "Someone wants to kill it, right?"

"No one wants to kill it." The vagrant emphasized.

The Death Warrant is for killing people, not dogs.

"No one can kill my dog!" Tang Luo completely ignored the vagrant's words.

"... You violated the rules—you're the one who will die."

"Dogs are humanity's best friends! You bunch of villains, actually want to kill dogs!" Tang Luo was filled with righteous indignation.

The Heavenly Hound also barked "Woof."

Don't you know all beings are equal, and every life should be treated kindly?

After barking "Woof," it took another bite of roasted chicken.

So fragrant.

"Listen properly when people speak! And are you crazy?" The vagrant suspected the famed Death Messenger—Wayne Kate—had gone mad under the pressure of the Death Warrant.

"No, it's you who are crazy—anyone who wants to kill my dog must die!" Tang Luo said, "My dog is the best dog in the world; it never bites people."

"... You damn bastard!" The vagrant was furious.

A scholar may be killed but not humiliated.

We assassins regard life lightly, but that doesn't mean we lack dignity.

We kill people! Not dogs!

Even if you were once formidable, you can't insult people like this.

Wait, the vagrant suddenly remembered.

Long ago, when he first debuted, he seemed to have indeed taken on a dog-killing mission.

But that mission was merely a prelude; the ultimate goal was still to kill people.

"What rule did I break that caused others to want to kill my dog?" Tang Luo asked.

"I... you killed someone at a chain hotel." The vagrant was utterly desperate.

Wayne Kate went mad—from a dangerous assassin to a dangerous madman.

For assassins like us, this is not good news.

The Death Warrant is nearly a compulsory order: in the "Shadow World," it is the highest wanted notice issued by the "Chain Hotel," the rule-maker, enforcer, and absolute neutral party.

Anyone who sees Wayne Kate has the duty to kill him.

Seeing him and not acting, deliberately letting him go, will get you listed by the Chain Hotel as an "undesirable," and you won't enjoy any of its services for a period.

If you actively help, once confirmed, it's the same as the Death Warrant above.

As for personnel related to killing Wayne Kate, they will receive rewards from the Chain Hotel.

Exemption from various fees, plus other benefits.

Wayne Kate is dangerous but not bad—everyone knows this. At least such assassins leave traces.

But if he becomes a madman, no one knows what he'll do.

"So I'm Wayne Kate, not Todd. Chain Hotel sounds impressive. Come, tell me what your assassin world is really like."

Tang Luo's eyes lit up—he suddenly became very, very interested.

So-called Shadow World, put bluntly:

It's composed of a group of assassins, gangsters, and similar organizations, secretly doing things behind the scenes.

The rulers are a council called the "High Platform Table." Seats are divided among major gangster families, who carve up territories.

The Chain Hotel is the absolute neutral party, the rule-maker.

The rules they set are numerous—for example, seats on the High Platform Table cannot kill; killing anyone there triggers a Death Warrant.

Also, the Chain Hotel's jurisdiction prohibits mutual killing; violating this also triggers a Death Warrant.

At the same time, the Chain Hotel also handles issuing missions and providing various assistance to everyone—from intelligence to equipment.

"I see." Tang Luo nodded, "The poor monk has already understood."

"Huh?" The vagrant blinked, "What the hell is a 'poor monk'?"

"You don't know, benefactor? Last night I bumped my head, suddenly gained great enlightenment, decided to lay down the butcher's knife, become a Buddha on the spot, and now I've already retreated into the empty gate." Tang Luo explained.

"I believe your ghost! You just said you had amnesia! Now you're suddenly greatly enlightened?" The vagrant regretted deeply—he shouldn't have gotten into this mess from the start.

"Then let me, the poor monk, help the benefactor lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha instantly." Tang Luo laughed as he grabbed the vagrant's head.

Assassins, a pile of assassins.

No, in Tang Luo's eyes, the people of the Shadow World are not assassins.

They are walking merit values!

"Only thirty days? That's too short; it should be three years." Tang Luo sighed.

Isn't this a survival mission?

Why can't the difficulty be higher? Only thirty days?

If you're a man, persist for three years, thirty years!

"Amitabha Buddha." After chanting the Buddha's name, Tang Luo began to ferry souls.

The vagrant felt himself floating in midair.

Before him was a strange monk with a kind smile and light behind his head, yet he gave him a feeling that made his blood run cold.

Before he could even figure out what was happening, the other party slapped him across the face.

The vagrant let out a miserable cry.

As an assassin, he should have long been accustomed to pain.

But why does it hurt so much! He has never felt this much pain in his entire life!

"Do you know you were wrong?"

"Are you still going to be an assassin?"

"Are you still going to kill my dog?"

"Where did you go wrong?"

"Will you dare to do it again in the future?"

Tang Luo beat the vagrant while shouting overhead, letting him feel the profundity of the Buddhist Dharma.

"I was wrong! I had no choice before! Now I want to be a good person!"

Tang Luo slowly withdrew his hand, solemn and dignified in appearance.

Good, successfully converted an assassin—what a perfect start.

"Master..." the vagrant knelt beside the bench and kowtowed three times heavily, "After being enlightened by the Master, today I finally know my sins are deep. Thank you, Master, for giving me the chance to mend my ways and start anew."

"Good." Tang Luo nodded.

The heavenly dog beside him whimpered, as if recalling some unpleasant experience.

"Master, this is the phone of us sinners." The vagrant took out an old, sturdy-looking phone.

Assassins in the Shadow World almost all have one.

This is the task release platform of the chain hotel.

All tasks are sent via mobile SMS; assassins can see them, and after completing a task, they go to claim the reward. If they don't want to bother, they can simply ignore it as spam.

Of course, except for the death warrant, which is a notice, not a pure task.

"Go, remember to do more good deeds and cleanse your sins." Tang Luo said.

Successfully converting this assassin, the merit power absorbed by the merit jade lotus exceeded that gained from killing Sun Ang and Li Shufen.

Tang Luo was still quite satisfied.

He stood up, stretched his body: "Let's go, doggy; our conversion journey begins."

"Woof!" The heavenly dog finished the last bite of roasted chicken and jumped onto Tang Luo's shoulder.

Another corner of the city.

A group of people suddenly appeared, all Western-faced, three men and two women, each looking like not someone to be trifled with.

"Killing him or his dog—what kind of task is this?"

"Just a name and a appearance, Wayne Kate—hard to find. Ah, I seem to have already forgotten what that guy looks like."

While complaining about this mission, they mutually sized each other up.

"Kill the dog?" someone sneered.

"Master Nero?" a blonde woman spoke, her tone tinged with doubt and humility.

"It's me." The white-haired young man called Nero spoke.

This person is handsome, with a head of white hair, wearing a jet-black coat, exuding an air of unruliness and defiance.

"For this mission, listen to me—do you have any objections?" White-haired Nero glanced at the remaining four and asked.

Someone wanted to say something, but the blonde woman pulled him slightly and whispered a few explanations.

Soon, the five reached a consensus.

This mission will follow the lead of this Nero sir.

Others are powerful fate-holders, and their fate is still the demon hunter Nero, whose strength is formidable.

The man holding the Nero fate took the lead, walking out of the alley.

"Gather intelligence yourselves; meet back here in two hours." Nero issued the order.

The five dispersed; all are veteran drivers who have experienced several missions, capable of acting independently.

They scattered to investigate and understand the basic situation—this is simplicity itself for them.

But—

Directly bumping into the mission target—wouldn't that be too simple?

One hour later, Delorice turned sideways, using her peripheral vision to observe the person not far away.

She was inside an internet cafe.

This is a modernized task world; to find someone, going online is a good method, and Delorice happens to be skilled at this.

However, as soon as she entered Wayne Kate's name, she suddenly saw that, three seats to her right, a person was sitting—a man who bore an extremely strong resemblance to their mission target.

Most importantly, in front of the person, beside the keyboard, lay a small husky fast asleep with loud snores.

Wayne Kate and his dog? Had the mission target just appeared like that?

Deloris, however, felt little joy.

Even if it were the mercy of gods and demons, it wouldn't go so far as to deliver the reward directly into her hands.

Mistaken identity……or, this Wayne Kate is incredibly powerful!

Deloris's eyes flickered; she leaned more toward the second possibility.