I Am the Best Assassin in the Nine Provinces Realm

Zane Shore’s hunger for knowledge overpowered everything else. Despite struggling with himself and knowing full well that Serena Feng was up to no good, he still nodded obediently. "I want to know," he said.

Serena didn’t disappoint him—she absolutely had ulterior motives. Pointing at Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan and Commander Harold Han fighting ahead, she said offhandedly, "Kill Harold Han. Not only will I tell you what this thing is, I’ll even teach you how to make a parachute."

Kill Harold Han?

Zane’s eyes went wide. "What does Harold Han’s life or death have to do with me?"

Why should he be the one to kill that old monster Harold Han? Zane was having none of it.

"It doesn’t matter to you, but it matters to me. Kill him, and you’ll get everything you want." If Serena had been the big bad wolf luring Little Red Riding Hood before, now she was the devil tempting souls straight to hell.

The temptation was real. Zane hesitated, glanced at Harold Han locked in fierce combat with Ninth Royal Uncle, and weighed whether to step in.

Ninth Royal Uncle and Harold Han were evenly matched. Even though Harold had taken a heavy blow earlier, Nolan couldn’t finish him off—and of course, Harold couldn’t take Nolan down either.

Neither could kill the other in a short time, but if Zane stepped in, Harold Han was as good as dead. Zane’s strength was on par with Nolan’s.

It wouldn’t even take much effort on his part. Besides, why should he care whether Harold Han lived or died? If Harold’s death could earn him some benefits, that was just good business.

Taking the job wasn’t hard, but Serena’s offer was way too low. Zane looked at her, blinked, and said sincerely, "I’m the best assassin on the entire Nine Provinces Continent."

In other words, Serena was lowballing him for killing Harold Han. He wanted a raise.

Pfft... Only Zane would dare say he’s the best assassin in all Nine Provinces, and demand a price so brazenly. Serena stifled her laughter and said, "I know you’re the best. So besides everything I’ve already offered, I’ll add this: if you ever need special materials for your weapon research, I’ll help you find them."

"You’ll help me find whatever materials I need?" Zane’s eyes lit up as he calculated whether this deal was worth it.

It might look like he’d lose out now, but in the long run, he’d be the one getting the better end of the deal. After all, the materials he burned through every year were astronomical, and he was terrible at business—he could never afford them himself. Now that some fool was willing to pay, of course he was happy.

"Of course. But there’s one condition: anything you successfully invent, I get to use. If you agree, I’ll even throw in some ideas—like the parachute." Serena kept luring in this naive little kid.

The so-called naive kid struggled for a moment, but in the end, desire won out. He nodded. "Deal. I’ll help you kill Harold Han. But if you dare cheat me, even if Eastlyn’s Ninth Royal Uncle and the Wang Clan’s Grand Heir protect you, I’ll still kill you."

"Relax, I’m not that petty. Money’s no big deal for me. You know my medical skills—if you kill me, you’ll get two hundred thousand taels of gold, but if I save someone, I might get a hundred thousand taels per case." She wasn’t joking; when Serena decided to bankroll this money-burning genius, she already had a plan.

Victor Yun’s condition still wasn’t solved, and the Young Clan was loaded. If she could cure Victor, even if she didn’t get two hundred thousand taels, she could at least get a hundred thousand. The Young Clan was never stingy. Though they’d taken a hit lately, she could always let them pay in installments—perfect for raising Zane.

Saving lives, killing people—it was all for the silver, but the results were worlds apart. Even if Zane didn’t want to admit it, he had to concede Serena had the credentials to boast. He knew she charged a thousand taels just to save someone; this woman really could rake in money.

"I believe you," Zane said. He drew the sword from his waist, leaped into the air, and lunged straight at Harold Han.

Harold Han and Ninth Royal Uncle were locked in fierce battle, but Harold caught bits and pieces of Zane and Serena’s conversation. He knew Zane’s reputation and identity, and seeing Zane swayed by Serena in just a few words made Harold furious.

Sensing the killing intent behind him, Harold Han’s heart went cold and his body faltered—he nearly got skewered by Nolan’s sword. He quickly pulled himself together and barely dodged the strike, spinning on his heel to avoid Zane’s first attack.

Zane lunged again. Desperate, Harold Han shouted, "Zane, don’t forget you’re a Westlyn man! How can you help outsiders attack your own people?"

Zane ignored him. His swordwork was simple but aimed straight for the kill. Harold, enraged, swung his heavy blade at Zane and cursed the Princess Royal’s son for being a traitor—never mind that Westlyn had already gotten its due from Zane over the years.

"I’m an assassin. Whoever pays me, I kill for." Zane wasn’t moved by Harold’s words. To him, Harold was just a target—killing him meant the job was done, and he’d be set for life.

Assassins might be cold-blooded, but sometimes they’re simple. Their world is just two things: take the job, finish the job.

"Zane, don’t forget—even if you’re an assassin, you’re still the Left Chancellor’s son. Don’t you realize everything you’re doing will bring trouble to the Left Chancellor?" Harold was furious enough to eat Zane alive, but he knew Zane’s skills. One-on-one, he had a chance; if Zane and Ninth Royal Uncle teamed up, he was doomed.

"Left Chancellor’s son? Who ever acknowledged that? I’ve never traded on the Left Chancellor’s name, and I’m not tied to him." Zane sneered.

He hated when people used his background against him. That identity had never given him any advantage—why should it bind him now?

He was Zane Shore—a man who lived for himself, an assassin who killed for silver.

"Zane, you’ve really let me down. If that’s how it is, don’t blame me for showing the Left Chancellor no mercy." Harold Han, seeing he couldn’t persuade Zane, resorted to threats—but Zane couldn’t care less.

With Zane joining the fight, Ninth Royal Uncle could finally relax and began to pull back, leaving the battlefield to Zane. Serena had paid for a top assassin—of course he had to earn his keep.

Zane didn’t resent Nolan for squeezing labor out of him. In fact, even if Nolan withdrew completely and left him alone against Harold Han, he wouldn’t be angry.

Killing Harold Han was his job. Whether Nolan helped or not didn’t matter—he never expected help from anyone. In this world, no one was obliged to be good to him.

Zane’s coldness and lack of feeling left Harold Han at a loss. Home and country meant nothing to Zane. Under the combined assault of Nolan and Zane, Harold was battered, and in just moments, his body was slashed open in several places.

Harold Han was a mess. Even his armor couldn’t withstand the sharp blades wielded by Nolan and Zane. Forced back again and again, panic crept into his eyes—he knew if this kept up, he was doomed.

He never imagined Nolan’s martial skill would be so high—let alone that Zane would side with Serena and attack him...