Chapter 16

"Does it hurt?"

"Nope..."

"Then I'll make it a little heavier. You can tell me when you can't stand it."

"Okay. Uhk-!"

Alexander and Noah were alone in a room with various torture devices.

They were in a room that wasn't very bright. The inside was filled with a strange smell that could burn even one's eyes, and blood and bone fragments were all over the room. But what stood out the most was the table next to Noah and what was on it.

The table wasn't very big, but what was on it could cause pain that wouldn't fit into a lifetime.

Alexander was hung on the wall with iron stakes stuck in his joints. Noah lifted the skin on Alexander's chest, making a fine cut to Alexander's muscular chest with the scalpel he was holding. Then he began to peel the skin with slow movements.

His slowness was not due to his kindness. On the contrary, the slower they slowed down, the more the other side suffered.

Noah noticed that there was no sound even after peeling the skin off Alexander's chest with a sad face. Sighing and grabbed the cream box on the table. Although it looked like a simple cream box, it was very rich in e capsaicin.

It was a cream that was quite loved by the torturers.

It was prepared from a special mixture that burned the place it came into contact with and caused a feeling of pain.

Noah rubbed the cream with the help of a spoon on Alexander's bleeding chest. Alexander struggled at first, and strange noises began to come out of his mouth. But Noah continued without pause. He knew he couldn't knock a monster like him unconscious with it.

Continued.

---

The training was continuing at full speed.

Even months later, the only thing that changed was that all the children except Alexander had moved to the third level. Alexander, for his part, had only formed the thirtieth burglar despite his best efforts. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep up.

So he was far behind the rest. Although he was far ahead of the others in terms of technique, the techniques were of no use. Although he could use Shadow Step and Shadow Pulse, there was a progression level limit for the third stage of Wind Blow.

This caused him to lag behind the others.

The pain of the tortures he suffered could not be compared with that of the thirtieth burgundy. Although he was mentally outperforming the others, physically he was in last place. So much so that if it were not for his technical and combat intelligence, he would have been killed long ago.

The second level of the training program ended earlier than expected.

---

Shadow entered the meeting hall with calm steps. The Cloud Demon, Blood Afreet, and Jade Dragon sat in chairs around a table, respectfully staring at the man sitting in the head chair.

The man had a bamboo hat on his head. His lifeless red eyes, reminiscent of a ghost, made those who looked at him shudder. He had an ordinary face except for his red hair and eyes. Those who didn't know who he was might not bother to take a second look.

"Greetings to the cardinal."

The shadow fell to its knees and prostrate. The cathedral could also be prostrated to only three people. The first was the Black Dragon who took care of the internal management of the cathedral. the second was the Wise Dragon, who took care of the external affairs. The third was the Shadow Dragon, the cathedral's deadly weapon.

The person in front of them was the deadly weapon, the Shadow Dragon.

These three people were the ones who had reached the peak of the assassination. Elysium knew them as the Shadow Cardinals. If a Shadow Cardinal took action, even the emperors were not safe. For they were the only and true rulers of the shadows.

"The training process is going very well."

The shadow quickly began to report. The person who was interested in the Shadow Cardinal training program was the Shadow Dragon himself.

"Tomorrow we will move to the third level and start field missions. We chose as our first place of duty a group of middle-level bandits called the Golden Hunters, one hundred and fifty kilometers southwest of the Bloody Monastery. The goal of the mission will be to kill the Golden Hunter Herald. He's known for being very resourceful."

It was a mission with high mortality, but the Shadow didn't care. Anyone who had gone through these pieces of training was able to take down the Golden Hunter Herald.

"I don't care about the others. Tell me about the boy who passed the Secret Dragon Test."

The shadow paused for a moment.

"The Secret Dragon Test... You're talking about Alexander. He's a very resilient person. Even though he's far behind in terms of development, his intelligence and skill make a difference to others."

"Nice."

"..."

After staring blankly at the shadow man's face for a while, he began to vomit blood. The Shadow Energy that had always been moving with it was suddenly cut off. There could have been only one reason for this.

He had overstepped his bounds.

"I want to move to the fourth level as soon as possible. I don't care about the difficulty of the tasks. If we want a competent cardinal, he must go to bed with death. Shadow, because you are one of the greatest geniuses of the last hundred years, I have appointed you as the head of the training program of the Shadow Cathedral. But in the last few years, you have begun to overstep."

"Yes, sir. I'll make up for my mistake."

After wiping the blood from his shadow mouth, he got up from his seat and bowed his head one last time. The third level of the training program was about to begin.

"I expect good things from you."

"You command, sir."

---

The next morning, Alexander received a set of uniforms, unlike his predecessors. They had learned that the third level of training was a series of tasks. They would survive these tasks and improve themselves with the rewards of the missions.

If they failed, they would die.

"Your first task is to eliminate a bandit camp. They are also known as the Golden Hunter Bandits. The ringleaders of a lot of bad deeds. They have also been involved in human trafficking, organ trafficking, arson, assault on caravans, and partnerships with corrupt government officials. Their death will make the world a better place."

The shadow gave them various equipment with a scroll containing the details of the mission. A short sword and Kunai were the main equipment.

'Our target is the Gold Hunter, huh...'

The Golden Hunter was known as the bandits' leader and was a dangerous warrior who reached the fourth level. His past was not very clean.

After examining the man's face for a bit, Alexander listened to what the Shadow had to say.

"Your main target is the Gold Hunter. His death will determine the success of the mission. Since the assassination will take place at night, you have to leave now."

Noah raised his hand.

"Are you going to appoint a leader to the team?"

When there was no one to lead them, conflicts would arise and differences of opinion would form. Therefore, there must be someone at the head of the group of people who acts for a certain purpose.

The shadow shook its head.

"Yes."

Alexander felt the Shadow's gaze.

"Your leader is Alexander."