Levi froze, eyes wide with shock. Then he looked below, at the gleaming knife half deep into his chest.
He took a step back, and then another.
His eyes turned to Xander and Gato. Their faces were filled with horror.
He fell backwards, eyes rolling into their sockets.
"LEVI!!!"
Xander and Gato screamed rushing forth.
"Ah ah ah..." The uninvited guest pointed at Xander and Gato. "Don’t move. My Blade still sits in the boy’s chest. If I take it out, his lungs will be filled with blood in seconds." He shook his head in pity.
"We wouldn’t want that to happen, now do we?"
Xander and Gato froze.
"Sit." The Univited guest ordered, hand hovering on the hilt of the knife still in the chest of the fainted boy.
Gato breathed heavy, but Xander was different.
His eyes scanned his evironment. A weapon, something he could use to either defend or attack.
The Serving spoon on the table. Or even better, what lay under the table.
But reaching them was going to be a problem.
This was an experienced Assassin.
Xander moved first, slowly, sitting.
Gato turned to him, but also sat.
The uninvited guest stepped forward, closing the door behind him.
From within his coat lining, he slowly brought out another knife. This one was long, slender at least 9 inches in length.
The moment Xander saw the blade, he remembered its name.
A Stiletto.
As the uninvited guest stepped into the light, Gato spoke first.
"Cornerstone!?"
Even Xander recognized him. The scar on the face, the bearing.
This was the man Linda had sold him to. The same man that had come months ago searching for a negative profession that had escaped the incinerator.
However, Xander shook his head, "No. It’s not him." His eyes fell on the Stiletto again. "It’s a Negative profession. An Assasin."
Cornerstone’s eyes brightened. He chuckled lowly. "Good, very good. Of course, I expect my dear prince to instantly recognize me."
"Prince?" Gato turned to Xander.
Cornerstone observed tge body language between Xander and Gato.
"Oh, he didn’t tell you? Tsk tsk tsk."
Cornerstone shook his head in pity, as he walked over consciously, boots kissing the hard ground in the announcement of his arrival.
He walked around the table, the Stileto a subtle threat.
"That’s not fair, now is it. I should punish you for that." Cornerstone licked his lips.
By now, he was standing behind Xander. Close enough to smell the sweat, and blood off his clothes.
He leaned in besides Xander’s ear.
However, Xander’s calm remained. His eyes were fixed on Levi across the room.
Levi’s chest rose. Fell. Rose again.
Still breathing. Still breathing. Xander counted the movements between Cornerstone’s words.
—while his left leg moved to reach for the Femur under the table.
He did not know how long he had, he did not know how long Levi had.
But he had to do something.
Currently, Xander’s bonus skill was in effect.
[Bonus Effect: Psychological intimidation attempts against host reduced by 80%.]
This Assassin was dangerous, but the danger the Scavenger Alpha offered was more.
Cornerstone noticed Xander’s reaction. It made him frown.
He moved to Gato. "What do you think? Should I punish him for not telling, or you for not asking?"
Cornerstone brought his Stiletto towards Gato’s neck.
The sharp edge kissed the old man’s skin—gave a small tear, and a drop of blood slid down.
"What do you want? Who... Who sent you?" Xander asked.
Cornerstone’s attention was pulled back to Xander.
"Well, my dear prince, if you must know, i don’t mind telling you, but I’d like to get a taste first." He leaned closer.
Xander swallowed. He understood what the Assassin meant.
Gently, he placed his left hand, face down on the table.
The Assassin moved.
Woosh... Thud.
The Stiletto stabbed through the back of Xander’s hand, splitting wood through the table.
"Urh!" Xander moaned in pain.
[New Absorbtion Gauge Target Detected]
[Physical Connection Depth: ▓░░░░░░░░░ 5/100]
Xander got Alerts from the system. But he was not the only one.
"Hahaha.... Would you look at that." Cornerstone mused. "I got Ten points just for stabbing you. Ten points for causing you harm.
I have killed other negative professions before, but nothing so rewarding. This is just too exciting.
You know, I am very tempted to just lock you in a box and milk you. But—"
"Who sent you?" Xander asked again, a mix of pain and fury.
"I was getting to that." Cornerstone Rolled his eyes.
"...Your Brother, Prince Leopold."
Xander’s eyes widened. Of course, how could he have forgotten.
He did see Leopold command his shadow in Alex’s memories.
But he did not think too much of it. Also, it was a really long time ago.
"Of course, you are not my only target." Cornerstone added, as he walked towards what had formerly been Levi’s seat.
Xander stared at Cornerstone, and then back at Gato.
He knew there was no need to beg. There was no way this assassin would allow Gato survive.
But right now, he had already managed to pick the femur under the table with toes. All he needed to do was raise it to his right hand.
He needed a distraction.
"Please, you can have me. Don’t touch old man Gato. He has done nothing—"
"That’s not what he means, Son." Gato interrupted. "I am also on your list, ain’t I?" Gato raised his head to Cornerstone.
"A smart man you are." Cornerstone nodded.
Gato’s frown deepened. "Then why not just kill me. What did my boy do to deserve this?"
Cornerstone turned to Levi. "Oh, him. Yeah, he is also on the list."
Now, Xander was also shocked.
"I know right?" Cornerstone explained. "It shocked me too. The Mission was simply to ensure the young Prince died, and do it myself if need be.
And I do remember seeing him hang." His gaze moved to Xander. "However, on getting back to the capital, your Life Lamp said otherwise."
’Shit!’ Xander cursed in his mind. That was an essential detail he had forgotten.
A Life Lamp.
It was connected to a worm in the gut.
Every royal family member had one.
If the host dies the worm dies.
He had forgotten. He had completely forgotten.
Three months. They had known he was alive for three months.
.....