Chapter 66
Zilgeork remembered that assassin. A Hakan-born killer from a slave background. Though nameless, the boy already had the eyes of a murderer at a young age.
Richmond had once boasted to Zilgeork about the many assassins under his control, but he especially praised that one unnamed killer as a “finished product.”
Still, that was decades ago. There was nothing particularly notable about the man now, other than his Hakan heritage. Yet Zilgeork remembered him clearly for one reason.
That killer had disappeared during one of Richmond’s missions.
Richmond, out of pride, insisted he had gone “missing,” but Zilgeork could tell by the way he seethed in quiet anger—it was obvious the boy had run away. At the time, Zilgeork had chuckled inwardly.
‘You bragged so much, and yet he fled mid-mission. So much for proper training.’
Perhaps sensing Zilgeork’s smugness, Richmond began nitpicking everything he did afterward. For a while, Zilgeork suffered from the fallout, and the bitter memory still made his stomach churn.
Thanks to that, he had the nameless assassin carved into his memory. And now, unexpectedly, that knowledge was proving useful.
Imprisoned in a solitary cell beneath the mansion—repurposed into a dungeon by Pierre’s soldiers—Zilgeork couldn’t stop smirking. His lips wouldn’t drop from the thoughts crowding his mind.
“Right, it’s ridiculous for someone like me to die in a place like this.”
Valdir Richmond was a relentless perfectionist. If he found out that the assassin who once ran from him was still alive, he’d move heaven and earth to hunt him down.
Even if not Richmond, the fact remained—one of his assassins was now by the side of the Niberius noble lady.
If Zilgeork passed this information to Grand Duke Cardinand, the man wouldn’t be able to hide his fury. Even a mere Hakan assassin could open up several escape routes. If things played out well, Zilgeork might not only avoid execution—he could even reclaim his former position.
“Just let me get my status back, and I’ll crush those two vermin with my own hands….”
Gripped by that delusion, Zilgeork stared at his clenched fist and muttered to himself—when suddenly, the door above the solitary cell creaked open.
Creeeak.
He’d been told there would be no dinner. Had someone changed their mind?
He looked up—
…!
A man dressed like the Grim Reaper stepped into the cell. His body was fully covered, save for his eyes—but Zilgeork instantly recognized him.
One of Richmond’s assassins.
“H-Hey, listen to me for a second.”
Panicked, Zilgeork jumped to his feet and backed away. He glanced at the door as it closed behind the man—strangely, there were no guards outside.
He had known Richmond would try to kill him, but to do it inside the Grand Duke’s own mansion?
Zilgeork’s knees began to tremble violently.
“W-Wait! Killing me here won’t do you any good!”
The assassin silently drew a dagger. The glinting blade made Zilgeork’s legs go weak. One stab to the heart and he’d be dead in seconds.
Vision spinning, Zilgeork dropped to the floor. Just as the assassin raised his dagger for the kill, Zilgeork curled up and screamed in terror:
“I know where the Hakan assassin who ran away from Richmond is!”
The assassin’s hand froze midair.
Realizing he was still alive, Zilgeork slowly straightened and looked up. Seeing the blade stopped just inches from his face, he recoiled in fear.
It dawned on him—this assassin had also been raised by Richmond. He would likely know the fugitive killer. That brief hesitation proved it.
Zilgeork seized the opportunity with a twisted grin.
“Go. Tell your master. Tell him I know where that Hakan assassin is hiding.”
At the Richmond estate, Valdir swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand as he looked out the window. He had just received a report on Grand Duke Cardinand’s latest move.
To negotiate before the war, the Grand Duke had spoken directly with the Hakan tribe. The security was so tight that the contents of the conversation remained unknown—but something felt off.
The conflict between the Empire and the Hakans was already deeply rooted.
‘No way this ends with a few words. Why do I feel so uneasy?’
Everything had been going according to plan. The cowardly, greedy king and the Grand Duke who had become his loyal dog. Even the barbaric tribes—utter fools.
While the Grand Duke and the savages destroyed each other, Richmond planned to dig deep into the Empire’s core power.
Once that was achieved, all the pieces of the puzzle he had long desired would fall into place.
But the unease kept growing. Like the time when one of his most prized assassins betrayed him during a mission. That bitter memory crept up again and again.
Maybe it was because none of the assassins he’d trained lately had performed properly. But once he disposed of Zilgeork, everything would be back on track.
‘Yes, that’s all it takes.’
He was about to down the whiskey when he suddenly felt a presence by the window. Turning his head, he saw a black-clad assassin bowing in return.
Richmond, still holding his glass, asked in a low voice:
“You completed the job without mistake, I trust.”
But instead of the expected confirmation, the assassin hesitated before speaking:
“…There’s a problem.”
Richmond crushed the glass in his hand. In his eyes, these so-called assassins were worse than trash.
To think those he had trained from childhood had turned out to be so hopeless—it filled him with rage.
He rose and drew a sword that had been resting beside the table.
“Fine. If the dog is useless, the master must do the culling himself.”
The assassin, long conditioned by fear and training, kept his eyes fixed to the floor.
Richmond’s eyes sharpened as he asked coldly:
“Go on then. Since it’s your last moment, I’ll grant you a final wish. What could be more important than following my orders?”
His expression made clear—whatever the answer, he’d show no mercy.
Finally, the assassin spoke.
“Zilgeork has a message.”
“…”
“He says he knows where the fugitive Hakan assassin is.”
“…What?”
Richmond slowly raised his head. At the mention of the runaway Hakan, a certain face instantly filled his mind.
A boy with red eyes—exceptionally gifted even among the Hakan tribe.
His rebellious nature had forced Richmond to tame him with whips and torture. Having raised the boy with his own hands, Richmond had grown deeply attached.
Which is why, when the boy betrayed him, the rage he felt had been beyond imagination. On top of that, the boy had stolen something very important from him before fleeing.
Only Richmond knew just how much money and manpower he had poured into tracking him down.
Eventually, with no trace found, he had concluded the boy drowned at sea and took his own life.
But now—he might be alive?
‘And Zilgeork claims to know this?’
It was too specific a statement to be a desperate bluff. Which meant Zilgeork must’ve seen something.
Richmond asked, voice low as death:
“Where is Zilgeork right now?”
“At the Grand Duke’s temporary residence.”
If the fugitive had been near the Grand Duke, Richmond would’ve known. He had already memorized everyone around the Grand Duke.
So it wasn’t the Grand Duke. It had to be someone else.
“Did he see anyone else in the mansion?”
After a pause, the assassin replied:
“The Lady of the Niberius family was there as well.”
“…!”
Richmond’s eyes widened.
He had already accounted for everyone around Kargo, just as he had with the Grand Duke. But this changed things.
If the boy had hidden himself by her side… it was possible Richmond had missed him.
To think he would dare flee to the Niberius family—he would’ve known full well how much Richmond despised them.
Perhaps the boy had chosen that path precisely because of it. If his goal was to stand against Richmond, blending in with Richmond’s enemies would have been the best move.
“That little rat bastard.”
Richmond’s eyes gleamed with deadly coldness.
