8 Tampering with evidence Part 1 (1/2)

TLN*: Mental Message was previously translated as ”Jeone Um”.

After further consideration, we would like to clarify that Jeone Um allows a person to speak and make it so that what is said can only be heard to whom the speaker wishes, like telepathy. We couldn't quite decide on what to go with for the previous chapter but from now on we will translate it as ”Mental Message”. Thanks FudgeNouget!

The hooded men who snuck into the Iphelleta House.

None of them could move a muscle any longer, this was due to the mysterious stranger who just spoke to them.

'Just then…'

It was more than enough to shock them when the stranger managed to detect, listen in and intercept their mental messages.

'How…'

Not to mention he had managed to send the message to every single one, who were all hidden meticulously.

It was understandable that all of them were stunned.

'...And where?'

The leader of the hooded men, Tes quickly turned his eyes around.

No matter where he looked, he couldn't find the mental message's point of origin.

Which meant there was a clear difference in ability between them and the stranger.

'The Iphelleta House had someone who could hide his presence this well?'

As far as Tes knew, the Iphelleta House did not consider assassins as equals.

In fact, the House was a congregation of people who despised and wouldn't hesitate to get rid of them if they ever saw one.

'It's as if...'

Tes gulped nervously.

Considering the skill of the Mental Message, the stranger was at least as skilled and powerful as himself.

It was not easy to remove such a powerful presence.

But...he couldn't sense him at all.

'I'm seeing a ghost...'

Presence, or mana.

Or anything else.

Along with such power, there are distinct features which get left behind. They can be used to distinguish them immediately from the rest.

But even those features could not be found, as if it really was a ghost.

This was a feat only the most skilled assassins could accomplish.

'Tsk.'

Underneath the mask, Tes frowned.

He did not like it.

The situation he was in.

The fact that his daughter was cornered, that he flinched because of some random stranger.

'I don't know who's joke this is, but there must be something holding him back if he decides to hide like this.'

Otherwise there is no reason for him to remain in the shadows.

If he wanted to continue threatening them, he should've kept sending that killing intent at them.

That's what Tes believed.

'Don't...annoy me?'

Tes clutched his dagger as he remembered those words.

He had no intention of annoying him.

In fact, he hated such situations.

All he needed was his colleague's body and the dagger.

Quietly.

Then, all their business in the House would be done.

<We are moving.>

He had come all the way here to help his troubled daughter.

They had to move now, otherwise the mission would become impossible to complete before they even began.

The warning from the previous mental message hadn't repeated since then.

There was no time to waste.

<I will go to the 'son's office' where the dagger is.>

Tes jumped out of the bush he was hiding in.

As he slipped into the mansion like the wind, his subordinates gained heart and followed behind him.

The hooded figures began slipping into nooks and crannies of the mansion like rats.

<No. 2 to 10 will take the body.>

Tes ordered using Mental Message.

<The rest will make some noise to gain the mansion's attention. If in danger, remove all evidence through suicide.>

Bang!

As soon as his second order was given, an explosion occurred somewhere in the mansion.

It seemed the fight had already begun.

***

”You sons of bitches!”

The old man shouted.

He was wearing butler's clothes and held a straight sword in one hand.

It was a normal sword, but it was made of good steel and boasted superior hardness.

The old man swung his blade.

”Uuuck!”

”Kuuck!”

How could a man well into his 50s have so much strength?

With but a single strike two hooded men were knocked back.

”Where do you think this is!”

The old man swung at them once more.

The blade suddenly glowed blue and showed its power despite the gap between them.

”...!”

The aura blade.

The blue light was shot from the blade and cut through the hooded men along with their daggers.

”Hm! Were they just grunts?”

The old man shook his arm and turned around.