Chapter 39: A Man Can’t Say He’s Not Good Enough!
“Fear, regret, confusion…”
The dangerous woman stood still. Her nose twitched, and her expression shifted.
She narrowed her eyes, nodded, and spoke slowly.
“A fine piece of work.”
[Artistic Approval]
[Conquest Progress: 11%]
“And… there is another piece of work here.”
As she spoke, she looked down at Parker’s corpse at the foot of the building.
Huh?
HUH!!!
This was a huge problem!
Having been ambushed so many times today, Shelley hadn’t disposed of every body!
“I’m in deep trouble!”
That was her companion! This felt like a murderer leading the victim’s family to the body… and then taunting them.
“Look what I did! Aren’t you mad? Hehehe!”
I really didn’t mean for this to happen!
[Do you think she’ll believe that bullshit?]
I should just use this weird scroll now while I have the chance!
“A predator does not relax its guard during a hunt.”
Shelley froze, unsure if she was implying something. After a moment’s thought, he replied quickly, “Everyone dies. Both the hunter and the prey.”
Even though they were standing over a corpse, Shelley felt as if the two of them were engaged in a battle of wits.
Hearing this, the woman tilted her head. She was silent for a moment before speaking.
“…”
“You are the mission target. The prey. And prey needs to be…”
Keenly sensing the killing intent, Shelley quickly interrupted her.
“What do you think is more important? Art? Or the mission?”
“I believe nothing can compare to art!”
“And I can be a hunter, too!”
Looking into her eyes with sincerity, Shelley even reached out to take her hand.
Come on, feel my sincerity!
Dodging his hand with a quick movement, the woman sized him up and said with a hint of mockery, “Are you capable of that?”
Are you good enough?
[The opponent used Taunt!]
Shelley’s movements paused. His expression became placid as he withdrew his hands and rested them loosely on the hilts of his daggers. His muscles began to tense, and he watched her through narrowed eyes.
[Oh? It actually worked?]
[Perhaps because of all the fighting, your patience today is not what it usually is.]
A man can’t say he’s not good enough!
“Tsk, I’ve had about enough of this.”
Her inscrutable and fickle temperament was starting to get on his nerves.
Shelley unleashed his killing intent and said, enunciating each word, “What do you think?”
“And another thing. Do you think you’re so strong?”
“Miss Hound?”
Any being who reached the legendary realm, whether a native or a player, had undoubtedly been through countless battles and slaughters. And because they had the advantage of three lives in the game, players were far more reckless than the native Professionals.
Sometimes, two players would come to blows over a single piece of suitable equipment. They might even fight to the death over a simple argument.
“What are you lookin’ at!?”
“I’m lookin’ at you, what about it!?”
“Let’s go!”
“Fine!”
Some players, mostly of evil alignments, would use the game to vent their dark desires. Robbery, murder, and even slaughtering entire villages and cities were common occurrences.
While Shelley wasn’t one of those Chaotic Evil lunatics, he definitely had a lot of blood on his hands. There were positive figures among rogues, like the chivalrous thieves, and even some who could become kings, like Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings. But the majority of rogues were assassins, killers, and thieves who walked in the shadows.
A dense killing intent draped over him like a veil, and the murderous glint in his eyes was almost tangible.
Like a startled animal, the previously composed female rogue leaped to the side, staring at Shelley with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
The killing intent vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Shelley composed his features, once again revealing a brilliant smile.
“Can we have a proper talk now?”
“…You… Huh!?”
“!!!”
Swish! Swish!
The two opponents simultaneously sensed danger. In perfect sync, they tilted their heads, dodging two crossbow bolts.
“Why didn’t you pin down the target!” Moore yelled furiously from a distance as he sprinted closer. “If the mission fails because of you, you will face the harshest punishment!”
“…I…” Lilith frowned and was about to speak, but Shelley cut her off.
“He’s lying, you know.”
Things were getting interesting.
Internal conflict! An opportunity!
“You were his target from the very beginning.”
“His killing intent, his expression, his eyes, his movements… even stepping out to create a distraction was all aimed at you.”
Shelley flicked a piece of rubble, sending it flying to a spot not far behind the other rogue, forcing a small figure out of hiding.
“…Gil.”
Gil?
What a name.
Seeing that their plan was exposed, Moore stopped in his tracks. After a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice, “…How did you find out?”
Only the three of us knew about this mission. We were just one step away from success!
With an elegant noble’s bow, Shelley smiled. “Deception and performance are the means by which I survive, Hounds of the Dark Brotherhood.”
Ignoring the changing expressions on Moore and Gil’s faces, Shelley turned his head to Lilith and said, “Care for a competition?”
“To see who is more qualified to be the hunter?”
His gentle and refined smile held a hint of madness. Lilith tightened her grip on her twin blades.
“Are you looking down on us!?” Moore shouted upon hearing this.
“No. I simply don’t consider you a threat.”
That part was true.
Of all the people he had met so far, only Nadia and Elena were stronger than the female assassin before him. Even that priestess from the Church of Pain couldn’t compare to her. If she made a move, these two wouldn’t stand a chance.
“She’s probably close to touching the edge of the legendary realm… around professional level 17.”
The professional level divisions in Godhood were quite clear.
Level 0-4: First Rank. City guards, peripheral gang members. Or fledgling adventurers who could only make a living by fighting slimes.
Level 5-9: Second Rank. The main force among Professionals, making up more than half of their total number. The mainstream of adventurers, the middle class who were neither at the top nor the bottom.
Level 10-14: Third Rank. Could be considered minor leaders and military officers. As adventurers, they would be well-known in a city.
Level 15-19: High-Rank (Fourth Rank). Secondary leaders or even the heads of a faction, heroes of the kingdom. Their fame, whether for good or ill, would be sung throughout the kingdom.
Level 20 and above: Legendary (Fifth Rank). World-class powerhouses who could roam the map freely, the true trump card behind a major faction. They were figures of legend, whose deeds were known even to the gods.
Of course, this was also a bluff. He was goading them, trying to create an opening before the fight began. He was also pushing the woman to compete with him, to set them firmly against each other.
Moore saw that Lilith was tempted and quickly shouted, “You’d better think this through! We…”
“Is what he said true?” Lilith’s slightly hoarse voice was devoid of any emotion.
“…No! Of course not!”
Lilith nodded with understanding, and the next moment, she grabbed Shelley’s arm.
“Good! Pin him down… What are you doing!?”
Allowing Lilith to grab his arm, Shelley didn’t resist. Instead, he used her momentum to fling himself forward, straight toward… Gil!
Lilith, in turn, raised her blades and charged at the furious Moore, shouting in a low voice:
“The hunt… has begun!”
