Chapter 34: The Penir Family
At two in the morning, in the city of Segona.
Row after row of barracks within the city echoed with the sound of snoring, rising and falling in waves. The doors to the barracks were all left open. After a day of fighting, the soldiers were exhausted, collapsing onto their beds and falling asleep immediately, lacking even the energy to visit the free public baths within the city.
Teams of soldiers patrolled along the city walls and through the streets. They were tired too, but to prevent enemy spies from infiltrating the city, they had to take turns on patrol.
On the city wall, several soldiers carrying torches marched past in formation. As they moved further away, a figure leaped up from outside the wall. Before she even landed, a taut black metal wire pulled her to the inner side of the wall.
Zzzt~
The metal wire was let out, and the figure landed inside the city. She hooked her index finger, and the metal wire flashed with a cold gleam under the moonlight before retracting into her sleeve.
She was a woman dressed in loose black clothing, wearing a red mask. Crouching in the darkness, she touched her finger to the ground.
A few minutes later, the woman began to move forward, stopping and starting along the edge of the wall. She successfully evaded all the patrols within the city, reaching the building area at the rear.
In front of a stone building, the woman in black stood in the shadows, waiting silently. After nearly half an hour, a figure emerged from the stone building, carrying a wooden box.
Zzzt~
The metal wire tightened, and the figure who had come out of the stone building was suddenly hoisted into the air. His mouth opened wide, trying to shout, but not a single sound escaped.
The finely crafted wooden box was also suspended in midair. The woman standing in the darkness slowly clenched her fist. The suspended figure lost all signs of life. This was Fenke, one of Kaisa's men.
Fenke's corpse was pulled in front of the black-clad woman. She pressed her finger to his brow. After a moment, she vanished from the spot.
A few minutes later, the black-clad woman crouched atop a stone building. She pulled a pendant from her neck. When she released her hand, the pendant hung motionless in the air, and a thin film appeared around the stone building.
Having done this, the woman leaned back. The rooftop behind her seemed to turn into liquid, allowing her to silently "sink" into the building.
Inside the stone building, Su Xiao glanced at the ceiling before continuing to read a book by candlelight. It was a historical record of the Flame Sands, containing many secrets, written by a certain ruler of the Secret Lu Kingdom.
The candle flame on the table in front of Su Xiao suddenly went out. Calmly, he relit the candle. When the candlelight illuminated the surroundings, a figure in loose black clothing and a red mask was already standing near Su Xiao.
After glancing at the newcomer, Su Xiao put down his book and placed one hand on the hilt of the blade at his waist.
"I'll leave you a whole corpse. That's what the employer asked me to convey."
This black-clad woman was Red Ji, an alien sent by the Secret Lu King. Red Ji wasn't exactly a subordinate of the Secret Lu King; their relationship was more like an employment arrangement.
Red Ji knew that this assassination mission was essentially a success. The difficulty lay mainly in how to infiltrate the city and silently isolate this stone building.
Zzzt~
Red Ji released five metal wires and vanished from the spot. According to the employer's commission, she was to bring back the enemy's corpse. That shouldn't be too difficult.
A few minutes later, the room looked as if a typhoon had swept through it. The walls were covered with slash marks and traces left by the metal wires.
Red Ji knelt on the ground. Her mask was covered in cracks. One of her arms lay at least five meters away from her. The surrounding floor was littered with broken metal wires, and blood dripped from her chin.
In the dark room, Su Xiao swung his long blade. Red Ji's head was cleanly severed.
An assassin coming to kill Su Xiao—even if they were of equal strength, close-quarters assassination would likely end in failure. Besides, Red Ji was only skilled in assassination; her overall strength was weaker than Su Xiao's. The Secret Lu King could never have dreamed that commanding soldiers was just a side gig for Su Xiao. No, it was just a title plus some experience leading troops—it didn't even count as a side gig. The title was the key.
Having not acted for a while, Su Xiao didn't plan to reveal his combat power yet. He was guarding against both the Secret Lu King and the situation in Sand Capital. The situation there was becoming increasingly unpredictable. However, assassinations like this were welcome in abundance—just not long-range ones.
[You have killed Alien·Red Ji.]
[You have obtained Holy Spirit Chest (5%).]
[Soul Devourer talent activated. You have permanently increased Mana Points by 60.]
...
The gains weren't bad. He had Baha dispose of the corpse. Su Xiao glanced at the sky outside the window; it should be almost three in the morning.
Lighting several candlesticks in the room, Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed and took out a pile of chests from his storage space. He planned to open all the Epic chests he had obtained.
Lighting a cigarette, with the Lucky King buff active, he looked at the thirty-plus war-type chests before him. Of course, he wouldn't open them one by one. Opening ten at a time was the best approach.
[You have opened Epic·War Chest ×10.]
[You have obtained 143 Soul Coins.]
[You have obtained Awakening Book (First Talent Awakening).]
[You have obtained Bull Horn (Equipment/Consumable).]
[Bull Horn]
Origin: Flame Spirit Star
Quality: Epic
Category: War-type Equipment/Consumable
Durability: 3/3
Equipment Requirement: Strength 60 points or above.
Equipment Effect: Morale Boost (Passive). When this horn is blown, it grants the effect of Bull's Gray Soul, temporarily increasing Health Points by 120 to 1000 points.
Tip: This effect can only be triggered when the number of allied units exceeds 50.
Tip: If the number of allies is below 100, the temporary Health Points increase is 120 points.
Tip: If the number of allies exceeds 25,000, the temporary Health Points increase is 1000 points.
Tip: Maximum benefit for 375,000 allied units.
Tip: Each time the Bull Horn is blown, it permanently consumes 1 point of Durability. The effect lasts for five hours.
Rating: 700 points
Introduction: Trample, destroy, kill.
Price: 375,000 Paradise Coins.
...
The [Bull Horn] was quite good, at least for Su Xiao. This was the typical output of war-type chests—distinctive characteristics.
As for the [Awakening Book (First)], Su Xiao no longer needed it. He could sell it at a high price.
There were still 28 Epic chests left. Su Xiao opened another ten in a row.
[You have opened Epic·War Chest ×10.]
[You have obtained 204 Soul Coins.]
...
Only Soul Coins were obtained. With the authority of the Trade Street, more Soul Coins were always welcome. Su Xiao had several pieces of equipment that needed replacing.
Eighteen chests remained. Su Xiao decided to open them all at once.
[You have opened Epic·War Chest ×18.]
[You have obtained 295 Soul Coins.]
[You have obtained Penir Ring.]
[Penir Ring]
Origin: Flame Spirit Star
Quality: Holy Spirit
Category: Ring
Durability: 485/500
Equipment Requirement: Direct descendant of the Penir Family.
Equipment Effect: Activates upon wearing.
Rating: ???
Introduction: All secrets are buried beneath the dust of history. This ring, representing the inheritance of the Sand Emperor, fell into the hands of a Secret Lu soldier, worn as an ornament. When the descendants of the Penir family are extinct, this ring will also shatter. Will the Penir family be exterminated? Or will they regain their glory? Drag the false king from his throne.
Price: ???
...