Chapter 48: Assassins Always Go Straight for the Kill
"Mr. Sriel, Mr. Daven, please come this way."
Under the guidance of a stout, broad-shouldered middle-aged maid, the one-eyed man Sriel and the middle-aged merchant Daven silently carried a large iron-bound wooden box. They traversed the winding corridors of the Lord's Manor and arrived at the reception room in the rear.
The decoration of the reception room was exceptionally simple, with nothing more than a few ornamental weapons and potted plants. In the center, seated on an armchair, was a young man with black hair, holding a newspaper and reading it intently.
This man appeared extraordinarily young, but the aura he exuded always made one forget his appearance and age. On the backs of his hands were black tattoos of a sword and an axe, while his robust physique and perfectly defined muscle lines spoke of his outstanding achievements in the warrior domain.
Sensing someone approaching the door, he put down the newspaper and raised his head. His red eyes shifted, giving the impression that he was constantly scrutinizing everything around him.
The moment Sriel and Daven saw this man and met his gaze, they both knew—this was their target.
The master of Moldavia, the lord who repelled the Black Tide, the hero who shattered the dimensional gate—the one recently famed throughout the empire as the Dragon Slayer, Joshua.
"My lord."
"My lord."
The two bowed their heads in unison.
"No need for formalities."
Taking a teacup from the table on his right, Joshua took a sip of hot tea. Noticing that the two seemed about to speak, he raised a hand to stop them. "I don't like nonsense, gentlemen. My steward told me you completed the task I posted at the Imperial Merchant Guild. That's all I care about. I hope this isn't false news."
He paused, softening his tone slightly, and added, "Of course, if you truly completed the task, I won't be stingy. As long as it's genuine, I'll definitely offer a reward that satisfies you."
"Rest assured, Lord Count."
The one-eyed man named Sriel let out a mysterious chuckle. He didn't seem tense about Joshua's attitude; instead, he replied with confident, slightly southern-accented Common Tongue: "The materials I've brought will definitely earn your praise!"
"I hope so."
Joshua made a gesture of invitation, then sat back in his seat, watching their movements with interest.
Sriel wasn't bluffing—he had come fully prepared. At his signal, the ordinary middle-aged man named Daven set down the heavy wooden box. The iron-bound box, inscribed with runes, was slowly opened. Fumbling inside, the two retrieved one material after another.
The first was a turbid, dark red liquid sealed in a translucent crystal vial. It flowed slowly within the bottle as if alive, occasionally flickering with faint points of light.
"Fresh fire dragon blood." Before Sriel could introduce it, Joshua, seated in his chair, muttered to himself: "For fire-type dragon beasts, this is a bloodline awakening material second only to ancient dragon blood. It can also be used to deepen bloodline purity, or at worst, as top-tier magical ink."
"Judging by its activity, it seems to have been extracted from a fire dragon's heart blood within the last twenty days. Not bad."
The warrior nodded with a smile, expressing great satisfaction. "Anything else?"
"...Of course, Lord Count."
Though interrupted, Sriel's expression didn't change; in fact, he seemed even more enthusiastic. Meanwhile, Daven produced another material—a gray stone covered with distinct dark red veins. "This is..."
"Dragonblood Stone. Its effects are similar to ancient dragon bone. Paired with other materials, it can enhance the physical constitution of humans or magical beasts. It's a rare method for rapid improvement without side effects."
Clapping his hands, Joshua interrupted Sriel again, this time with a look of surprise. "Legend has it that this is a fragment formed from the petrified heart of an ancient dragon after death. Impressive—you even managed to find this. You must have spent a long time searching the Dragonbone Wastelands for it."
"Indeed, it took considerable effort..."
Sriel fell silent for a moment, a hint of confusion flickering across his usually calm face. He exchanged a glance with his companion, both sensing something amiss. But unable to pinpoint the issue, they decided to continue.
Daven set aside the fire dragon blood and dragonblood stone, then produced a flower sealed in a special crystal culture dish.
This time, they simply shut their mouths and said nothing. As expected, Joshua's voice came through immediately: "Frovalo Flower, also known as the Universal Flower. I've heard it's not native to this world but a beautiful plant from another realm. With special treatment, it can substitute for most magical potions."
Drawing a sharp breath, Sriel felt the situation slipping out of control—and indeed it was. Every time he and Daven presented a material, the damned human lord stunned them anew. Joshua seemed to know everything; no matter how obscure the magical material, the warrior could effortlessly identify its origin and purpose.
Sea Dragon's Light Orb, Dust Crystal, Twin Inverse Scales... These were materials mostly recorded only in books, things many people would never see in a lifetime. Yet Joshua called out their origins without hesitation, even casually mentioning their places and times of production.
What the hell is this guy?! Why is he explaining everything himself? And didn't the intelligence say he was a warrior? How does he know so much? He's more learned than most mages!
Frowning and gritting his teeth, Sriel took a deep breath, forced a smile, and prepared to retrieve the next material from the box. "The last one is..."
"Alright, no need to take it out."
But Joshua's voice came again, cutting him off. At the same time, a surge of crimson battle qi turned into a gale, slamming the rune-box shut.
The warrior slowly rose from his armchair, his smile gradually fading into calm indifference. He raised an eyebrow. "I never expected you to go to such lengths for me. This truly surprises me."
Shaking his head, Joshua looked somewhat regretful. "I really didn't want to do this. Regardless of the facts, this act is basically banditry."
"My lord, what are you talking about? I don't understand?"
Intimidated by the deepening aura around Joshua, Sriel and Daven couldn't help but step back. Each step the warrior took toward them made their scalps tingle and their muscles twitch involuntarily. An intense sense of tension, like a blade pressed against their foreheads, was utterly uncontrollable.
They quickly scanned their surroundings and were shocked to find that the maids who had been standing nearby had quietly left. A large area around the reception room was eerily silent, devoid of any human sound.
This was premeditated!
—Have we been exposed?! Sriel and Daven communicated rapidly through mental link, but quickly concluded it was impossible.
They were using the most advanced aura-concealing spells. Even if a deity descended or a legendary expert arrived in person, as long as no active detection magic was used, nothing could be seen with the naked eye or sensed by aura alone. Joshua, though powerful, was nowhere near that level!
"My lord, this... I'm not sure what you mean."
With a dry laugh, Sriel decided to gamble—he quickly signaled Daven to open the box and retrieve the final material.
But just as they began to move, a gale swept through the reception room. A blur shot from where Joshua had been standing, charging at them with incredible speed. Sriel and Daven tried to resist, but in an instant, an overwhelming force easily suppressed them. Before they could even raise their arms, a heavy punch sent them spinning through the air. Dazed and dizzy, they were slammed to the ground together.
"Give it up. I know exactly what you're planning."
Pinning down their struggles, Joshua's smile had completely vanished, replaced by sheer coldness. "Fire dragon blood, dragonblood stone, sea dragon's light orb, twin inverse scales—these are just ordinary magical materials. They're only meant to conceal the Frovalo Flower, Dust Crystal, and the Void Dust you were about to pull out."
Under the shocked gazes of the two, Joshua calmly revealed the secret plan buried deepest in their hearts: "These three materials, combined with a specific magic, form a special curse—a poison known as Crystallization Sickness."
The warrior applied more force, suppressing their increasingly frantic struggles. He spoke flatly: "A mutated toxic dust mixed with dragon force and void shadow. It can gradually turn any living being into black negative energy crystals. This is the most incurable poison and curse in this world—at least, no one in this era can cure it."
"If you had succeeded, I would indeed have died from this poison."
"How... how do you know this?!"
By now, Sriel and Daven had no time to worry about being caught. They were so shocked they forgot to resist. "Were we exposed from the very start?!"
This was the most potent toxin recently developed by Dragon Island! If even a trace was touched, even a dragon would be completely poisoned to death! Even a Gold-rank expert's body and organs, honed over years to near-energy form, couldn't withstand this curse-like poison! How could Joshua know this top-secret information, and seem to know even more than they did?
"You didn't slip up. You were just unlucky enough to run into me."
Shrugging at the enemies' confusion, Joshua explained. When they brought out the Frovalo Flower, he had already sensed something off. Though it was a universal remedy, he had no need for it. Connecting it to the current era and his recent actions, he guessed their intentions and played along.
The situation was now clear: they were definitely assassins from the Five-Colored Dragon Clan. He just hadn't expected them to abandon dragon pride, skip sending a strong expert to kill him directly, and instead resort to such assassin tactics. This disappointed the warrior.
As for Crystallization Sickness, this toxin had once caused chaos in the Far South in his past life, killing many human experts. That's why it was recorded, and countermeasures were developed and spread. Joshua believed that if not for its short shelf life requiring on-site preparation, it would be one of the most terrifying toxins on the entire Mycroft Continent.
"Gentlemen."
Increasing the pressure in his grip, Joshua refocused his thoughts. His eyes narrowed, revealing a dangerous glint. "Tell me everything you know, and I'll consider leaving your bodies intact."
"Heh... heh..."
Hearing the warrior's threat, Sriel and Daven exchanged glances, showing no fear. They chuckled softly, then burst into loud laughter. "Dragon Slayer Joshua Radcliffe! Your biggest mistake was not killing us immediately!"
"If not for the disguise spells on us, how could you have suppressed us!"
"True Dragon... Reincarnation!"
The previously silent Daven finally spoke his first words. His voice carried a strange vibration and hum, drawing in magical elements from the air. In an instant, dragon scales emerged on their faces, and their eyes transformed into golden vertical pupils. Sriel roared, his voice like a dragon's cry: "ROAR!!!! Prepare yourself, human!"
In that moment, a ferocious, overwhelming power erupted within the reception hall of the Lord's Manor.
(To be continued.)