Chapter 94

"Your Highness, the entire sixth team responsible for the target is dead."

In the early morning, in Sassor's study, Bedwin respectfully reported to Sassor.

"Dead?"

Sassor's hand paused while reviewing documents, and he looked up at Bedwin calmly and asked, "Who killed them?"

"If I haven't misjudged, the one who killed them is the target himself."

Bedwin's head was lowered, making his face hard to see, but his words carried a faint anger.

"Ha ha—" Sassor paused his work, showing a half-smile, and said, "What an interesting young man, shouting loyalty with his mouth, but doing the opposite in reality."

"Your Highness, since the target is so uncontrollable, why don't we—” As he spoke, Bedwin made a gesture symbolizing death.

Sassor shook his head and said, "Bedwin, sometimes we can't always think the worst of things."

Seeing Bedwin's puzzled expression, Sassor gently tapped the desk and explained, "I believe many people know that the young man and I have met. Perhaps subconsciously, they already consider him one of mine. But now that he has suddenly done this, it will undoubtedly confuse them—whether he is really one of mine or not."

"Your Highness is wise." Bedwin seemed to understand and said, "Perhaps we can use this incident to uncover more secrets."

Sassor nodded and said, "I hope the next team you send won't make the mistake of underestimating the target again. After all, he is an upper-class swordsman."

"I know my mistake," Bedwin said with regret.

Sassor stood up and looked out the window at the vibrant morning scenery. He liked the morning the most in a day.

He was already quite old, and he didn't know if he could live as long as his father. Even if he could ascend to the throne, how long could he rule the kingdom?

In the eyes of the world, the king is a position of the highest power and glory, but who knows the immense pressure the king faces every day.

Busy with state affairs, dangerous political struggles among the nobles, and even facing assassination and rebellion in secret... Such constant vigilance and mental exhaustion, how long could a king's life last?

And since he had the ambition to sit on the throne, he must be prepared to bear everything.

He liked the morning because it made him feel young and full of energy.

"After his identity is confirmed, report to me immediately... Also, what's happening with Volans?"

Turning around, Sassor exuded a commanding presence and looked down at Bedwin.

"Your Highness, there has been an unexpected event concerning the Fourth Prince." Bedwin said.

"What happened?"

"Fourth Prince's close advisor, Roslin, ordered the capital guard to surround a person's residence in Gertdan District yesterday afternoon. According to the orders they received, it seemed to be for the arrest of the murderer in the Ambefin case."

"Tell me more—"

"Yes!"

Seeing the Prince's interest, Bedwin's voice became more animated, "After Ambefin's death, the Fourth Prince assigned Roslin to investigate the murderer. At the time, the entire capital guard was involved. Perhaps to find the murderer quickly, Roslin approached Delov, who originally belonged to the investigation department of the capital guard. However, the Ambefin case remained unsolved... Yesterday afternoon, Delov seemed to have found some clues and approached Roslin, which led to the unexpected event..."

"Ha ha—" Sassor chuckled and said, "Where was the target at the time?"

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, my people lost track of him at the time." Bedwin's voice also fell.

Sassor didn't mind and asked, "Whose residence did they surround?"

"Your Highness, Roslin and his men surrounded the residence of Andien in Gertdan District. Andien has strong underground influence in Gertdan District." Bedwin reported truthfully.

Sassor paced back and forth a few steps and said thoughtfully, "I've heard that there's a remarkable person in Gertdan District, someone called Old Shaker?"

Bedwin nodded and said, "Your Highness is correct. The person with the strongest underground influence in Gertdan District is indeed someone called Old Shaker."

"What kind of person is he?"

"According to the intelligence I've gathered in the capital, Old Shaker has been around for decades. No one knows who he is, but it's clear that he is a very powerful person. Many nobles in the capital have some connection with him in various ways."

"Hmm?"

Clearly, Bedwin's explanation had piqued Sassor's interest.

Sassor shared a common trait with many nobles: they didn't pay too much attention to those who controlled the underworld. Perhaps in their eyes, those people were just ants to be crushed at will.

But not paying attention didn't mean he didn't care.

He knew that social stability often depended on the balance between the light and dark sides, so he entrusted these matters to Bedwin. Otherwise, Bedwin wouldn't have been able to establish an intelligence network throughout the capital.

The name "Old Shaker" was occasionally mentioned at noble gatherings, and in general, they considered him a competent "servant"... So he didn't pay too much attention to Old Shaker. However, after Bedwin's detailed account, he decided to reassess this person.

There were many people in the capital who controlled the underworld, but those who could stand out and even collaborate with many nobles were rare. How could he not take such a person seriously?

"What is the relationship between Old Shaker and Andien?" Sassor suddenly asked.

"Andien is Old Shaker's public representative. In a sense, Andien is the visible ruler of Gertdan District." Bedwin said.

"What happened to Volans' men in the end?"

"From the scene, it seemed that the Fourth Prince's close advisor knew Andien. After Andien returned, the guards withdrew. The details of their subsequent conversation are unclear." Bedwin explained.

"Is there any way to make Old Shaker work for us?" Sassor asked, seemingly having an idea.

Bedwin showed a troubled expression and said, "Your Highness, it's probably very difficult."

"Why?" Sassor's eyebrows slightly raised.

"Your Highness, I once tried to recruit Old Shaker, but he refused." Bedwin stammered.

"Tsk tsk... I didn't expect such a person to exist." Sassor shook his head and asked, "What was his reason for refusing?"

"Your Highness, he said he only wanted to live a peaceful life in the capital and didn't want to get involved in the royal mess." Bedwin said.

Sassor sat back in his chair, picked up an unreviewed document, and said, "A smart man. This way, we don't have to worry about him having any connection with Volans, but we can't let our guard down. That's all. Don't disturb me unless it's something urgent."

Bedwin quickly bowed and left, knowing that Sassor didn't like being disturbed when he was busiest, especially after the king entrusted him with more state affairs.

...

On the oak avenue in the capital.

In a closed tavern that hadn't opened for business, Niniro yawned, clearly very tired.

If someone hadn't had a full night's sleep, they would feel the same way.

Niniro hadn't slept because she was too excited, busy, and nervous, and she hadn't slept all night.

When something long desired is about to be realized, anyone would be excited, and Niniro was no exception.

"How many more days?" The middle-aged man behind the counter asked, wiping a silver wine bottle. Even though he had been working all night, his tone was calm and showed no sign of fatigue.

Unlike Niniro, he looked a bit strange, but it wasn't strange because he was used to a nocturnal lifestyle.

"Five days." Niniro said lazily, sitting at the counter without drinking as usual.

"Want a drink? I think a good drink could help you have a good sleep." The middle-aged man shook the liquid in the silver bottle.

"Sleiter, I'm like you; I don't drink before important things." Niniro smiled weakly. "What about you? The incident at the Royal Central Academy couldn't have happened without you, right?"

The middle-aged man stopped his actions, carefully put away the bottle, and said, "There were some unexpected events, but things went relatively well."

"Now it seems you have to wait again." Niniro played with a strand of purple hair and smiled lightly.

"Perhaps—" The middle-aged man sighed, seemingly regretful.

"This might be our last meeting." Niniro smiled and leaned on the counter.

"When are you leaving?" The middle-aged man looked at the alluring beauty in front of him.

"Maybe that night, or maybe the next day." Niniro answered casually.

"Are all the arrangements made?" The middle-aged man seemed to be concerned.

"Everything that needs to be done has been done. Whether I live or die on that day, I have made arrangements." Niniro smiled bitterly, and the smile quickly disappeared.

"Do you think we'll meet again in the future?"

"If both of us survive, perhaps we'll meet again someday." The middle-aged man said calmly.

"Then, I look forward to the day we meet again..." Niniro stood up and left the tavern without looking back.

The middle-aged man shook his head and took out a ring from a hidden drawer under the counter.

It was a simple silver-gray ring.

He suddenly smiled.

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