What kind of organization is the Assassin Alliance?
Strictly speaking, the Assassin Alliance isn’t an official organization. It was originally created as a joke by the heads of the six great assassin organizations of the jianghu, but it persisted and now holds a paradoxical status in the assassin world.
Of course, the reason the Assassin Alliance is so unique is that while it seems to wield great power, in reality it has none at all.
The Assassin Alliance doesn’t control assassins or life and death, but its existence restrains the major assassin organizations, preventing them from slaughtering each other or turning to robbery when work is scarce.
Even now, the Assassin Alliance is still led by the six great assassin organizations of the jianghu, and it gathers the most formidable killers in the assassin world—those who stand at the very peak of their craft.
As masters, they are lonely; as assassins, they are old—not wanting, nor able, to live that knife-edge, blood-licking life of endless pursuit. Having spent so long in the shadows, they can’t adapt to the sunlight, so they remain in the Assassin Alliance, keeping it alive as the assassin world’s apex meeting ground.
Besides that, the Assassin Alliance also accepts contracts from outsiders. For those outside the assassin world, assassins are mysterious—ordinary people, even if wealthy, can’t find the assassin organizations.
The existence of the Assassin Alliance solves this problem. As long as you have silver, you can go to the Alliance and hire an assassin, and clients usually won’t meet the killer in person—this ensures their safety.
Whether acting alone or as part of an organization, assassins take contracts from the Alliance. The bounty system is unique to the Assassin Alliance—and it’s their greatest hallmark.
As long as you can pay, you can post a bounty at the Assassin Alliance. Of course, posting a bounty doesn’t guarantee completion—it depends on how much you offer, and whether the assassins are interested.
The bounty system is a signature of the Assassin Alliance, and there are plenty of amusing examples: a sky-high price of two hundred thousand taels of gold for Serena Feng’s life as a lone orphan; a bounty of ten thousand taels of silver for a rat; and the most interesting, the master of Heaven’s First Consortium posting a one-coin bounty for Lance Quinn’s life.
Ahem... Of course, that Storm Cloud Bu bounty has been posted for years. Bounties in the assassin world are ranked from highest to lowest, so Storm Cloud Bu’s has long been buried at the bottom, ignored by everyone, while Irene Lu’s bounty sits firmly at the very top.
As long as Serena Feng is alive, and unless someone posts a higher price, the bounty to kill Serena will always be number one, making her the most coveted target in the entire assassin world.
Seriously, what a twisted organization.
Hearing William Wang Jinling’s explanation, Serena Feng could only feel a wave of frustration. She silently looked up at the sky, on the verge of tears: “How did I get so unlucky? After all this effort, the only blood relative I find turns out to be a lunatic.”
Serena’s forced look of worry made William burst out laughing: “Qingchen, you’re just not cut out for brooding.”
“But I really am worried right now.” Serena wanted to be calm and unruffled, to accept things as they came, to be as serene as a chrysanthemum. But knowing her name would be remembered by hidden assassins for a lifetime—anyone would react.
After all, she’s not yet so formidable that she can claim she’s unafraid of being hunted by the assassin world.
“Worrying won’t solve anything. If you’re afraid of being hunted by the assassin world, then do as I said—bring the entire assassin world under your control. Then, even if your name stays at the top of the Bounty Board, no one will dare touch you.” William loosened the reins and walked over to Serena.
They stopped moving forward, so Serena dismounted. After all, sitting on horseback together but not riding was a bit odd. William didn’t mind—he just held the reins and stayed by Serena’s side.
Serena turned her head and shot William a look. “Easy for you to say. I’m not an assassin—I don’t know the first thing about the assassin world. Besides, if the Assassin Alliance were so easy to control, the Four Kingdoms’ emperors would have done it ages ago. What chance do I have?”
To control the entire assassin world—not even the emperors of the Four Kingdoms, the former Lan royal clan, or the Phoenixfield war-king have managed that.
Assassins are shadows who never see the light, but they’re the sharpest weapons. Assassination may be dishonorable, but it’s undeniably effective.
“Precisely because it’s difficult, it’s valuable. With the entire assassin world as your backing, your future path will be much smoother. The power structure of the Four Kingdoms and Nine Cities is already set. If you want influence, you’re at the mercy of the emperors.
You’ve offended Westlyn, Southlyn, and Night City. If nothing unexpected happens, that Chu City heiress who wants to marry Ninth Royal Uncle won’t let you off either. When you’re surrounded by enemies, you need your own means of survival.” William was utterly sincere—he just wanted Serena to have her own power. Nothing in this world is more reliable than strength you control yourself.
What others give you is always theirs; they can take it back whenever they want. Only what’s yours is truly yours.
“Uh... So I’ve unknowingly offended all these people? I don’t think I did anything.” Westlyn’s grudge is because of Dongling Ziluo, Southlyn’s is probably because of Zhou Xing, Night City’s is because of Wendy Summers, and Chu City’s is because of Ninth Royal Uncle.
Everyone she’s offended—it’s never been because of herself.
“Unless something changes, once Princess Serenity marries into Northlyn, they’ll treat me as an enemy too. Prince Quentin of Northlyn seems to like Serenity quite a bit.” Serena suddenly realized she had another potential adversary.
“Exactly. If Princess Serenity is clever, Northlyn’s displeasure with you is only natural. I forgot to mention—Eastlyn’s Emperor doesn’t like you either. You’ve managed to offend more than half the major powers in the Nine Provinces Realm. You really are surrounded.” William couldn’t help but laugh at the situation.
A woman regarded as a public enemy by the Four Kingdoms and two cities—across the Nine Provinces Realm, Serena Feng is the first. To offend so many and still be alive and well—she’s also the first.
“Ah...” The more William spoke, the worse Serena’s mood became. She finally clutched her forehead in despair: “Stop! If you keep going, I’ll want to kill myself. I wonder if I’d get the bounty if I committed suicide.”
Looking at the Nine Provinces Realm, it seems everyone is her enemy. Serena never realized she was so disliked.
“Nope. But if you did kill yourself, I wouldn’t mind taking your body to claim that two hundred thousand tael gold bounty. Supposedly, even Northlyn’s royal family is tempted by it—so you don’t need to worry about Princess Serenity. Even if she doesn’t marry into Northlyn, they’ll still treat you as a rival.” William grinned, knowing Serena would never actually go through with it.
“What? Even the royal family is in on it?” Serena whipped around, staring wide-eyed at William.
Damn, how many people want her dead?
William blinked innocently. “You didn’t know Northlyn’s always been poor? With that two hundred thousand tael bounty, their national strength would jump a whole level. For that kind of money, Northlyn wouldn’t hesitate to send top experts to kill you.”