Chapter 96.

I came to a steakhouse with Evandel . It was supposedly a famous restaurant and as expected, it was jam-packed with people .

“I’ll help you with your order . ”

“Ah, yes, can we have eight steaks in the most expensive order . ”

“…Yes?”

The waiter tilted his head . Evandel and I could easily finish eight dishes . Three for me, five for Evandel .

“Eight?”

“Yes, and all in medium please . ”

“Uh… yes . ”

After ordering, I noticed that other customers were giving us strange looks . Even though Seoul had many foreigners, it seemed Evandel’s appearance naturally drew people’s attention . For this reason, I didn’t take off my sunglasses . That way, people would think Evandel was a child of a Western noble and I was her guard or attendant .

“Here you go . This is garlic steak . ”

Our first order came out, a steak accompanied with garlic . Evandel’s eyes glistened at the steak’s savory smell and appetizing plating . I cut the steak in bite-sized chunks and gave it to Evandel .

Evandel’s hands trembled in excitement as she stabbed her fork into one .

Then, a piece of steak entered her mouth .

“…!”

Evandel quivered with a face of ecstasy . Afterwards, her hand busily moved from piece to piece .

I stared at her silently, then spoke when I saw the chance .

“Evandel, do you think you could stay home alone for the weekend?”

Evandel, who was chewing on a piece of steak, suddenly stopped . She looked up at me silently . She wasn’t chewing on the steak in her mouth and was only staring at me with a fork in hand .

For some reason, I felt uneasy . To think she would stop eating… . She’s not going to cry, right?

“…In exchange!”

I spoke up before I could confirm my suspicion .

“I’ll buy lots of toys for you today . ”

“…Lots?”

“Yes, lots . ”

I was overflowing with money, so I planned on buying anything and everything as long as they could keep her company .

Evandel looked at me, then nodded with a half-sulking, half-sad face . She stopped eating steak . When she was about to put her fork down… .

“Next is the Tomahawk steak . ”

The waiter brought a gigantic piece of meat . It had an overwhelming size that was just as big as Evandel’s head .

“Uwhoa! What’s this!!”

Evandel quickly regained her energy .

*

After eating at the steakhouse, we went to the New World Shopping Mall .

At first, I planned to take her to the floor selling toys . However, Evandel fixed her attention on a strange place . Evandel stared at this place silently and didn’t respond to me calling her .

What caught her attention was a pet store on the first floor and a white cat sitting in a glass cage .

“… . ”

In a daze, Evandel exchanged looks with the cat . I also turned my attention to the pet store . Admittedly, the white kitten was adorable .

Cat… I immediately calculated the size of my dorm room .

A 60-square-meter room with two rooms .

It was enough to raise a child and a cat .

And well, I’ve always wanted a dog or a cat as well .

“Hajin, Hajin . ”

After staring at the cat for a long time, Evandel pulled on my sleeve . It was easy to tell what her intention was .

Evandel pointed at the cat with her finger . She had even given the cat a name .

“Hayang? You mean that cat?”

“Un!”

Evandel replied with a bright smile . I glanced at the cat .

Meow— When our eyes met, the cat raised its tail and meowed .

I couldn’t help but smile . I went on my knees and got on Evandel’s eye-level .

“…But Evandel, if we raise Hayang, what are you going to do about your ghost friends?”

“Ghost friends?”

“Yeah . They might fight . ”

There were ten or so animals that Evandel made .

Evandel fell in thought at my words, then spoke resolutely .

“I’ll make sure they don’t fight . ”

“…Really? Then, promise . ”

I raised my pinky . Evandel moved her hand clumsily and promised me . I rubbed Evandel’s squishy cheeks with my fingers and got up .

Then, I went into the pet store and asked the employee .

“Hello, how much is that cat?”

**

Two days later, Friday 5 P . M . , end of classes .

Before I opened the door and left, I looked back .

“Hayang, you… why did you bite this! Do you want me to scold you?!”

Evandel was training our new cat with a stern face . I wondered if it was possible to train a cat, but that cat cost 6 million won . It would only make sense for it to understand a few human words .

In fact, it wouldn’t be strange if it could talk .

“Evandel, I’ll be back soon, so have fun with Hayang, okay?”

“We’re not having fun . ”

Evandel corrected me with a glaring look .

“…Uh, right, don’t scold it too much . I’m going . ”

“Un . ”

Evandel didn’t pay much attention to me and only focused her attention on Hayang .

I felt a bit disappointed, but I also felt relieved .

I left the dorm relaxed .

My first destination was Cube’s Portal Station .

“To Seoul . ”

“Yes, cadet Kim Hajin, confirmed . ”

After arriving in Seoul, I took the Portal connecting Seoul to Torino .

To take an international Portal, you needed a passport and a form of identification . I gave the Portal worker a fake identity and a fake passport, both of which were prepared by the Jeronimo Mercenary .

As expected of fake identification created by Chameleon Troupe, they were extremely effective . The Portal worker didn’t give me any suspicious looks, and I managed to arrive in Italy in just 30 minutes .

“…Interesting . ”

Southern Torino looked completely unfamiliar . It was to be expected since it was a foreign country, and even in reality, Italy was a rather special country . The reason for it was obviously the existence of the Mafia .

Italy’s government were anti-Mafia on the surface but the reality was different .

In my setting, Italy’s Mafia weren’t simple organized crime syndicates .

They cooperated with the government if a monster outbreak occurred, and a few large Mafia families operated publicly, disguised as guilds .

In a way, they were freedom-seekers operating within the boundary of the law .

Of course, there were exceptions every now and then .

In any case, the Mafia formed their headquarters in Torino and Milano, which was faraway from the central government .

Important characters of these regions were the Colaion family and the Fermun brother and sister .

The Colaion family was the biggest Mafia family in Milano and Torino, and the Fermun brother and sister were elite soldiers groomed by them .

In other words, I was currently on my way to kill a member of the Italy’s biggest Mafia family… .

Ah, no, this mission could have come from the Colaion family itself . After all, my target used his position to sully the family’s reputation .

“Little Apprentice, over here . ”

When I was stealthily moving to the hotel, someone called me . A lethargic yet deep voice . I turned to the direction of the voice .

“…Eh?”

There, I saw Boss . She raised her hand without even a single change in her expression, almost like a child waiting for the traffic light to change .

**

Same time, Cube’s martial arts training room .

“Ah~ I’m so tired . ’

Chae Nayun let out a sluggish breath and collapsed on the floor . Kim Suho, who was sparring with her until just a moment ago, didn’t know where to place his eyes . Because her training uniform became stuck to her skin from sweat, her breast area was being highlighted too much .

However, Chae Nayun didn’t pay any attention to it and glanced sideways . Yoo Yeonha was sitting nearby and pondering with a serious face .

“Yoo Yeonha, what are you doing? I even went out of my way to find you a sparring partner . ”

“… . ”

Yoo Yeonha averted Chae Nayun’s gaze, then replied briefly .

“…I’m just thinking about something . ”

Currently, Yoo Yeonha was thinking about last night . Why was Kim Hajin with that child, and who was she?

A daughter? No, it was impossible for a 17-year-old to have such a grown up daughter . Then was she his niece? No, an orphan couldn’t possibly have a neice . Then could it be that he’s a… lolicon? No way, Kim Hajin wasn’t such a person .

“Ehhh? It doesn’t look simple~ Is it Shin Jonghak again?”

Yoo Yeonha flinched, hearing Chae Nayun bring up Shin Jonghak .

“W-What about Jonghak?”

“Uh, nothing, I was just wondering if you got rejected . ”

Yoo Yeonha immediately clenched her teeth . She felt rage suddenly rising up from her heart . Mentioning Shin Jonghak… she was annoyed anyways because he rejected her offer of studying together…

Yoo Yeonha blurted out angrily .

“Oh right, Nayun, Kim Hajin says he doesn’t like you anymore . ”

“What? What are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

“Oh, is that true?”

Suddenly, even Kim Suho showed interested . Yoo Yeonha shrugged .

“Of course . He says he likes Rachel more now . You’ve heard the rumors, right? I mean, even if I were him, I would like Rachel more than Nayun . ”

“W-Wha, what? Are you crazy?”

Chae Nayun shot up . However, Yoo Yeonha wasn’t intimidated and continued with a bright smile .

“I’m just saying . It’s not like it matters, right? You said you don’t like him . ”

“… . ”

Chae Nayun was at a loss for words . She simply didn’t know how to respond . After all, it was true that she said that .

“…Tsk . ”

Chae Nayun glared at Yoo Yeonha once, then sat down far away from her . Yoo Yeonha didn’t look at her either .

An awkward atmosphere descended between the two .

“…Hey, guys, don’t be like this . You were getting along until just now . Yoo Yeonha, do you want to spar with me? I’ll help . You came here to train too, right? You too, Chae Nayun . Ah, where did Yi Yeonghan go…?”

Kim Suho, who was stuck between the two, muttered helplessly .

**

Italy, Torino .

I took out my bike in a deserted alley . Boss seemed surprised by the bike that popped out of nowhere, as she rubbed her face filled with curiosity .

I asked her .

“Did you come to help?”

“No, I won’t be helping you . ”

Saying that, she got on my bike . Standing next to it, I tilted my head .

“…What are you doing?”

“Come, Little Apprentice . I want to go driving . ”

“… . ”

I was a bit dumbfounded, but I got on in front of her and grabbed the handle . Woong— The engine noise was soft .

I left the alley and drove into the road .

“Little Apprentice, let’s go around Torino just once . We still have a lot of time . ”

Boss whispered softly .

“…Sure . ”

I did as she said .

===

[Horse Saddle] [Antique]

A horse saddle used by a nameless cavalryman 500 years ago .

If you sit on this saddle, you will be able to handle rides better .

===

Driving was easy thanks to the saddle I bought in Clancy Islet . I glanced back when I had the chance . Boss’ hair was fluttering in the wind .

“…Tonight at 9, there is a fellowship party planned in Torino’s Leolen Mansion . ”

Boss suddenly spoke while we were still driving .

“Your target will serve as the party host . If you arrive around 8:30, he might be preparing for the party in the mansion’s garden . That will be a golden opportunity for your attack . ”

I carefully listened to Boss’ advice .

“There is a forest next to the mansion, and inside that forest is an abandoned church . That church’s steeple is the perfect high-ground to snipe a target . ”

Hearing that, I immediately turned on the bike’s navigation system .

I searched for an abandoned church near Leolen Mansion, and the navigation outputted one result .

I set that place as my destination and turned the handle . It didn’t take long for me to get there . Although the road disappeared in the middle, my bike drove through the forest without problem .

Just as Boss said, there was a church buried inside the forest .

I stopped the bike near the church . The dilapidated church was covered in moss and vines, but climbing to its steeple did seem like it would grant a direct view to the mansion .

I got off the bike and checked the current time .

[8:10 P . M . ]

At that moment, Boss suddenly asked .

“Little Apprentice, can I watch you work?”

My answer was obvious .

“I’d feel uncomfortable . ”

“…There’s no need to . ”

Boss grumbled and got off the bike . She was about to leave, but suddenly stopped and glanced at my right hand and left arm .

On my right ring finger was a ring, and on my left wrist was an obsidian bracelet .

Her gaze was fixed on these two items .

“…Oh right . ”

I suddenly remembered . Boss liked pretty equipment regardless of its function . That was her personality . I remember writing that she loved sparkly items to death .

“… . ”

Then suddenly, Boss raised her head .

Our eyes met .

She gave me a somewhat envious look . When I stared back silently, she smacked her lips and spoke .

“What are those accessories? They look nice . ”

“It’s a normal ring and a normal bracelet . ”

“I’m okay with the bracelet, but that ring… do you want to—”

“It’s not for sale . ”

I gave a stern reply . Boss narrowed her eyes and leered at me .

“I never said I’d buy it . I have many items prettier than that ring in my vault . For example, Persian King Darius’… . ”

“I’m jealous . ”

I cut her off and jumped up to the top of the church’s steeple . As I got used to Parkour, my movements were smooth and nimble even in my eyes .

I looked down from the top of the steeple .

Boss was glaring at me with a somewhat unhappy look .

“You can leave now . ”

“…I was planning to . ”

Only then did she turn away and leave .

I checked the time with my smartwatch

[8:30 P . M . ]

Then, I peered at the mansion using the Thousand-Mile Eyes .

It was about a kilometer away, a distance most Heroes could cover in 30~40 seconds . Factoring in the time it takes to react to the assassination and figure out my location, I predicted that I had about a minute .

In other words, I had to escape in one minute .

“…Huu . ”

I took a deep breath and took out the Desert Eagle .

Fusing with Stigma’s magic power and Aether, the Desert Eagle transformed into a vicious anti-material sniper rifle .

“Scan . ”

Random Consolidation System activated three times .

First was on the Desert Eagle, then Aether, then my bullet .

The numbers I got were 25, 31, and 22 .

“…Today’s luck isn’t that good, huh . ”

Even with a slightly lacking luck, I was using a modified bullet . To erase the evidence that would be left behind on the corpse, I added a property to the bullet that made it vaporize after penetration . Since I also planned to use an ample amount of Stigma’s magic power, a single bullet should be able to finish the job .

[8:35 P . M . ]

I covered my face with the mask I brought and peered at the faraway mansion with the Thousand-Mile Eyes

All kinds of preparations were done in the garden: waiters, champagne bottles, food, music…

Among them was my target .

“… . ”

I held my breath and raised my gun .

I checked my target’s face from a kilometer away . The target was a Caucasian man with a handsome beard and well-defined facial lines . Currently, he was shouting at a group of waiters .

—Andiamo! È una mossa veloce, bug!

I didn’t understand what he was saying .

But I had to kill him before the fellowship party began and the number of eyes watching increased .

I placed the man’s figure in my eyes and put my finger on the trigger .

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