[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-story":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-story-the-villain-s-story-chapter-423":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Villain's Story",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},746548,986,"Chapter 423 [423] Dead before even trying.","the-villain-s-story-chapter-423",423,"\u003Cp>\"I would like to bet one billion studs on Alan Peccator successfully clearing the tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I repeated, but the dubious expression on the staff's face did not disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How infuriating, it seems the man is shocked to his core. I wonder why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A billion is not a significant amount of money, my parents and even Grandpa usually deal in billions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why the surprise?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hmmm.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surveying the surroundings, I found out that it was not only the staff member, but most of the people also mirrored his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How strange, I had thought that maybe the Capitol, the wealthiest and largest human city would possess people of great repute and wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seems I was wrong, or maybe those individuals are not present in such an establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sighing, I pushed the card towards the staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just scan the damn thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ordered, disappointed at the sudden turn of events. I sighed inwardly, lamenting at myself for expecting something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took the card, and the dubious look on his face slowly changed into one of utter shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not just him, a few of the intelligent ones here also realized when they saw his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The employee stood up immediately from his chair and handed me the card whilst bowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Now he gets it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought, taking my card with a slight grin on my face. Thankfully, the mask I was wearing hid it, lest these vermin would know I was laughing at their ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, what can I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wish Alan and the rest were here, at least I have some fun conversing with them, but money is important as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I retrieved my card and after thanking the shocked man, prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back, I noticed a large number of people staring at me, both men and women. The most common type of stare was greed, followed by shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The journey home isn't going to be easy it seems.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I muttered as I exited the gambling den.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could already feel a few presences stalking me and for goodness sake!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was not even in a secluded alley, but the damn street! And they were still chasing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha…such things would have not occurred had Alan been here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I miss him already. His figure alone was enough to deter most reckless idiots, and whenever he sensed something amiss, just releasing his aura would do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that worked in Shield and most places I visited with him by my side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just reliable, and scary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are really intent on following me, aren't they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Skill: Dark Sense has been activated.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Total of 17 idiots, four A rank…and the rest don't need to be mentioned?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I used a skill to observe them and identify their ranks. The ones that needed to be mentioned were the A ranks, the rest don't qualify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four A ranks…three specialize in combat judging by their attire and terrible stealth skills…whilst one is a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Troublesome.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought it would have been troublesome taking care of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why do I need to worry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am not the one taking care of them, I don't need to give a single damn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan was my trusted bodyguard in \"Shield\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandpa did not want to offend the Sage, Sir Oliver, so he had to make some arrangements in Shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside of Shield? An entire troupe of assassins follows me from the shows wherever I go outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each and every one of them is A rank…and the Leader?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An S-rank killing machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money is truly the best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gambling den, John Doe, A-rank hunter of Railways Guild.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is my lucky day!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought as I activated all my stealth items and skills, intending to rob the woman who had just bet one billion studs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...My life will be set once I do this…I need to execute it perfectly.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a sense of uneasiness inside my heart, but I dismissed it, the amount of money had fooled me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If, by any chance, she had more money in that card…or even belonged to a reputable family…Just the thought of it sends chills down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I can manage to get that card, or even her…I can live a happy life, devoid of hunting and killing those savage beasts that roam the dungeons and plains of Earth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I knew the amount of Risk involved in such a plan…But I must execute it perfectly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lest I live like a machine, doomed to hunt for all time until my contract expires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it is not like I am approaching her without any caution or without a plan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have activated all my stealth skills, and provided that I am an assassin I believe I can do this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I can manage to get that card of hers, I can easily crack it with the use of an item or by other means…I think. If I cannot do that, I will just sell her to the demons or any demonic human guild if she is from a reputable family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I hope she is a virgin…value will increase a lot if she is.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought, my eyes blinded by greed. It's easy to discern the individual is a woman, even if she is covering her entire body. If she is beautiful and a virgin…the amount of money I will make will skyrocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Beep!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, one of my items warned me about the presence of other bastards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Tch.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clicked my tongue, an expression of annoyance appeared on my face and I cursed in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Fucking greedy bastards…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought, ironically, I was in the same league as them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Skill: Assassin's sense has been activated.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I activated one of the most prized and crucial skills of us assassins and accurately discerned the identity and ranks of the other chasers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mumbled, a grimace formed on my face as I realized I was not the only A rank here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>4 other A-ranks, with terrible skills in stealth, and about a dozen B and C ranks were also approaching the woman with greedy eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Damn you! This is my treasure.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cursed and waited for them to go ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Well, I will just use you then.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even in this dire situation opportunity is still present! I am not stupid enough to believe that a woman, who is probably from a reputable family, has no bodyguards around her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those fodder will fight her bodyguards, and I will reap the reward, the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If by any chance she does not have any bodyguards, the only logical conclusion is that she is strong enough. If that is the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why change the plan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She can just fight them and tire herself out, And then I move in when she is exhausted and knock her unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, my plan is foul-proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idiots trailing her don't even know of my existence, their stealth and detection skills are terrible! Just terrible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least I have some class! I am, at the very least, qualified!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those bastards are just doing whatever they can to hide themselves, with no skill and items worth notice! They are a shame to my existence. They are a shame to us assassins!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well…what can I do…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mumbled, clearly annoyed, but I was right, no?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What can I do? Wait!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will just wait for the opportune moment and strike! Like the assassin I am.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, with my thoughts and plans all set, I slowly but surely marched forward, always behind the group of others…but not too far behind lest I lose the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Ah.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing a change in the women's movement, and the movement of mana in the atmosphere, I concluded that she is aware of the existence of the people trailing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for me of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Just a little more…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I prayed for it to end quickly, I wanted to go take a shower. An entire day of hunting those monsters has made me sweaty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hmm..?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, something caught my eye. Did I just see movement?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…It can't be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No…I definitely saw something in between the other idiots…something humanoid. Moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...are there more?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How shocking, I failed to identify them…It seems I will face a little bit more trouble…Worry not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have some items to back me up…hehe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surprised look appeared on my face…as in front of my very eyes…Everyone was gone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had only blinked…and every greedy bastard was gone…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Skill: Night vision has been activated.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After activating my skill, I saw a few drops of blood where the greedy bastards were previously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could think any further, or even process what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A searing pain was felt in my neck, blood seeped from my body like rain, and my throat became filled with my own blood…along with a strange metallic taste. The taste of a blade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...ahh…ahh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to speak…but only guttural sounds came out, and I only felt pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just then, As my dying mind finally processed what had happened…did I realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...I…messed…with the…wrong…per-'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*THUD!*\u003C\u002Fp>",1523,"2026-06-02T11:57:26.352Z",1,"novelbin.me","7ae0df73082328e72800b0e1b2cbe091cbc9b762cacb8de430c4caf2a389753f","the-villain-s-story-chapter-424","the-villain-s-story-chapter-422",910,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-story-cover.jpg"]