Chapter 23 A Shocking Contract

“Let me get change first, Ember.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you outside.”

After Ember stepped out of the healing chamber, Anna went over by the mini-table which hosted clean underwear along with the golden necklace. She slipped on her panties, applied her bra around her heavy chest then donned the arcane necklace. She immediately began inspecting its contours.

“This is the latest style armour. Master Odok must have gone all out creating this one. Let’s see how it looks when active.” [Press!] Anna interacted with the hidden switch on the arcane necklace. Moments later, a well-designed armour consisted of golden-black coating began to manifest around her tainted mien. [Whoosh!] The dim room became brighter.

“Wow, this new armour isn’t half bad. It feels a bit tight though. Did I gained weight during my break period?” Finished admiring her new skin, Anna walked to the chamber’s exit. Coming outside she bumped into Ember.

“Your new armour looks gorgeous, boss.” Ember circled around Anna, fondling her every curve with her observatory eyes. “It really suits you. Oh, yeah. Master Odok is waiting for you in his private dojo. Want me to accompany you?”

“That’s fine, I’ll go by myself. He would want to speak with me alone after all.”

“Understood. Then I’ll be waiting at the training grounds. I haven’t gotten accustomed with my new powers yet.” Ember left Anna’s side to go practice her move-sets.

“That girl is so full of energy. I wonder what sensei wishes to speak with me about. He’s not going to tell me to give up seeking revenge on Crimson Scorpion is he?” On her way to Master Odok’s dojo, Anna walked by a lot of curious Black Scorpions who formed gossips about her.

“Hey, isn’t that Golden Scorpion?”

“Who?”

“You know, that assassin who is said to be next in strength to White Scorpion. I believe she commonly goes by the moniker, Tainted Scorpion.”

“Tainted Scorpion? So that’s her? I recently joined the league so I don’t know much, but I heard that she died a while back.”

“Me too. I heard the Demon Triads did her in. Were they just false rumours?”

“Not entirely. It isn’t the first time I’ve heard that she died.”

“What do you mean, senior sister?”

“Tainted Scorpion is a special assassin among us. I heard from Sapphire Scorpion that she has two powerful Psionic Scorpions dwelling inside her head.”

“Two Psionic Scorpions? How is that even possible? Shouldn’t her head have exploded by now?”

“That’s why I said that she is special, stupid. Come on, let’s be on her way before she lashes out at us for staring.”

“Alright, let’s go.” [Chep! Chep! Chep!]

When the gossiping crowd finally left, Anna’s feet stopped directly outside Master Odok’s dojo. Only elite Coloured Scorpions had access to this area. The entrance of the dojo had two duplicated mythic creatures guarding it. These statues were half arachnid and half reptile, a violent combination of vicious species.

“I’m coming in.” [Creek!] The moment Anna set foot into the dojo, a sharp object slashed her in two. Luckily, only her afterimage was chopped. Anna’s reaction speed to danger was inhumane, she eluded the sharp object with such adroit movements, it was almost as if she was expecting to be assaulted.

“What the hell? Was that a glaive just now?” [Whoosh!] Anna didn’t get any time to breathe. From the shadow atop the pillar she was leaning against, a dark silhouette descended towards her head with a deadly kick.

[Boom!] Anna managed to block the attack with her forearm, but in doing so, she was pressed 7-feet underground. “Sensei?” After identifying who it was attacking her, Anna no longer restricted her Tainted Scorpion.

“Shadow Crawler.” [Voopf!] Anna’s golden figure vanished into the shade below her feet then quickly reappeared behind Master Odok. Furthermore, she unleashed a rapid barrage of fists. [Pow! Pow! Pow!]

“Fhm, you have to do better than that if you want to land a hit on me.” [Swoosh!] Master Odok shrugged off Anna’s furious fists like mosquito bites. With his arms still bound behind his back, he flipped over her fists while aiming another one of his deadly kicks at her face.

“Got you!” Anna waited until Master Odok’s kick grazed her face; grabbed his leg then slammed him into the nearby pillar. [Splash!] As his back caressed the concrete column, Master Odok transformed into splashes of shadows which assimilated into the darkness. He and Tainted Scorpion shared similar abilities.

Ten seconds later, Master Odok surfaced the ground’s darkness upon an elevated platform where his throne was. “Not bad. You’ve improved since we’ve last sparred, Tainted Scorpion.”

Identifying where her master was now situated, Anna shifted her vision there then responded. “I’m not worthy of your praise, sensei. It was only by a fluke why I was able to score a hit on you.”

“Nonetheless, a hit is a hit.” Master Odok alighted the elevated platform, stepping closer to Anna. “Now that I’ve confirmed that you’re in peak condition, it is about time you start taking your assignments.”

“Assignments? Oh, I remember now. You did say that you had a pending contract for me. What is it about?”

An envelope came out of Master Odok’s chest. It fell into Anna’s grasp. “See for yourself. Due to you being out of commission for so long. This contract has become a non-exclusive. Thus it is now open for whoever completes it first.”

“Oh, who might the target for assassination be this time?” Anna ripped open the envelope; dragged out the important documents. When her eyes met with one of the targets’ identity, her heart jolted in shock. “This person is…?”

“Hmm?” Master Odok noticed the slight shift in Anna’s eyes and asked: “Do you know any of these people?”

Anna took a while before making a reply. “Ahm, this person here visited my shop a while back but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I know him. Who might they be, sensei?”

“The details are there in the contract.” Master Odok explained. “27-year-old Chemist, Deleon Shaw; 32-year-old Bio-Chemist, Wade Blackwood; 40-year-old Scientist, Monika Simpson; 31-year-old Doctor, Kate Phillips. There personal info and addresses have been printed underneath. These individuals all work for Bio-Ace Pharmaceuticals.

A hit has already been carried out on several others. However, these are the ones who have survived and is currently under the protection of the AGPD. Whoever finishes the remaining targets first will claim the rewards. If you want to reclaim your reputation as a pro assassin I suggest you head on out. Another Coloured Scorpion has already accepted this unfinished contract.”

“Who?” Anna had a hunch who it was but she still asked.

“I believe you two have a rich history. Crimson Scorpion is already on the move towards the remaining targets.”

“Crimson Scorpion….” Anna was vexed to her core, not only because of her rich history with Crimson Scorpion but because the man she recently went on a date with was on the list of targets to be assassinated.

“Sensei before I go, could you please tell me who issued this contract and why?”

“You know I can’t divulge information of the client. Why are you asking me this all of a sudden? If you’re not up for the task then leave it to Crimson Scorpion.”

“No, I’ll accept this contract and claim the reward. Sorry for being so nosy. I’ll leave right away.”

Master Odok realized that something was off with Anna, thus stopped her before she could set foot outside his dojo. “Tainted Scorpion wait.”

“Huh? Did you need something else, sensei?”

“You’re not wearing your combat gears.”

“Oh?” After being reminded by Master Odok, Anna noticed that her arms were missing her versatile vambrace, moreover, her sword attachment was empty.

“The armour I crafted you doesn’t support integrated weaponry as yet. You will have to apply them manually. I have some gears suited specifically for you inside my armoury. Make sure you stop by on your way out.”

“Yeah, I’ll do just that. Thanks for your instruction, sensei.” [Creek!]

The moment Anna stepped out of the dojo, a bright figure appeared beside Master Odok’s left shoulder. “Master it appears that little girl has a lot on her mind. Why was she so concerned about the issuer of the contract? That’s unlike the Tainted Scorpion that I know. Do you need me to handle her?”

“Don’t act rashly, White Scorpion. Let us just observe her progress for now.”

“I understand, master. I will do just that. But if you don’t mind me asking, why do you have such high expectations for that child? Is it because she assimilated with that Gold Psionic Scorpion?”

“Fhm…” Master Odok gave no explicit reply to White Scorpion’s enquiry. He spared her a non-visible glance then vanished his presence into the shadows. [Fwoosh!]