Chapter 10 - Assassin vs Bat

"Darn... this pathetic Sebastian. I ordered the Assassin to kill him, and he was sent by my father. How could he have failed in his mission?" Victoria muttered, frustration and disappointment clear in her tone. It was Victoria who had intended to end her younger son's life.

"Amelia, fetch the Assassin and bring him to me," Victoria commanded her personal maid, instructing her to summon the Assassin who had failed in his mission.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will bring him to you," Amelia responded, bowing her head respectfully to Victoria before setting off to carry out the order.

"How did this happen? Sebastian is still alive, and I missed my chance to eliminate him. That foolish Duke insists on his younger son marrying the princess, when it should have been my older son – the one capable of being the princess's husband. I've known this for a long time, a secret held close. He is not my true son, but rather the child of the first illegitimate wife. She died giving birth to him, and he was substituted for my own son, who had died at that time," Victoria's thoughts swirled within her, her mind consumed by the weight of her own hidden truths.

After some time, the maid entered Victoria's room, ready to hear any news about the Assassin as per her instructions.

"Your Highness, I bring unfortunate news. I found the Assassin death body in forest. He had been killed by someone, a sword pierced through his back, " While bowing respectfully to Victoria, the maid conveyed the unsettling news with a demeanor of deference.

"What? How could this have happened? Who killed the Assassin? You can leave now. I believe I need some time alone to process this." Victoria exclaimed, her voice laced with shock and frustration.

The maid nodded respectfully and quietly left the room, leaving Victoria alone to grapple with the unexpected turn of events.

"How could this have happened, is someone knows about my plan and hindered it? Who could know about this? Only my father knows about it and no one knows this dark secret, " Victoria's thoughts raced while she nervously bit her nails, the unease in her mind manifesting in her unconscious actions.

In a sudden flashback to the past, the memory of Sebastian tormenting his younger brother resurfaced. Meanwhile, Bong, utilizing his 'Sonic Sense' to grasp the situation, detected not only the altercation between Sebastian and Charles but also sensed the presence of someone lurking in the shadows, perched on a tree.

"Wait, who is that person? Dressed in dark clothing with their face concealed? Could it be an assassin, lurking in the shadows like me?" Bong wondered, his thoughts racing as he observed the mysterious figure from a distance.

"Oh, great! Just what I needed - a mysterious shadowy character in dark clothes. Is this some kind of assassin convention, and I missed the memo? Well, if I go rescue that boy, I might as well show this human shadow a thing or two about being a stealthy critter. Let's see who wins the 'Best Assassin' showdown - a guy in a cloak or a bat with attitude," Bong thought with a sense of playful amusement, entertained by the unexpected situation.

Utilizing his 'Shadow Stealth' to conceal his entire presence, Bong stealthily advanced toward the assassin from behind. Flying silently, he easily positioned himself behind the assassin who was perched on a tree branch.

With a swift movement, Bong activated his 'Shadow Manipulation' skill, conjuring a sharp sword made of shadow. He drove the sword into the back of the assassin, incapacitating him. Without wasting a moment, Bong sank his fangs into the assassin's neck, draining his blood to replenish his own MP. It was a calculated move to ensure his own survival while neutralizing the potential threat.

[ALERT]

[LEVEL UP]

[LEVEL UP]

[Skill activated: Gluttony]

[New Skill Acquired: Dark Flight]

[Description: Provides the ability to move through shadows, effectively teleporting between shadowy areas over short distances]

Bong couldn't help but grin as the notifications popped up, announcing his level up and the acquisition of a new skill.

"Well, isn't this just fantastic? Dark Flight, huh? I'm ready to rock and roll in the shadows!" Bong thought with enthusiasm, excited to explore his newfound teleportation ability.

"Show me 'Status'," Bong requested to the System.

[Name: Bong Jum]

[Species: Immortal Bat]

[Class: Shadow Bat]

[Level: 15]

[Health: 600/600]

[Mana: 200/200]

[Innate Skill: Gluttony]

[Skills: Shadow Stealth (Skilled), Sonic Sense (Adept), Shadow Manipulation (Proficiency: Novice), Dark Flight (Proficiency: Beginner)]

[Passive Skill: Soul Siphon (Novice)]

Bong's anticipation was met with satisfaction as he checked his updated status:

"Level 15 With Dark Flight in the mix, I'm becoming the ultimate shadowy trickster," Bong thought with a playful chuckle, his confidence soaring as his abilities continued to grow.

"But hey, you were a pretty lackluster assassin. Now, the title of 'Best Assassin' clearly belongs to...well, me!" Bong exclaimed with a touch of playful arrogance, relishing in his newly acquired skills and the successful takedown of the mysterious figure.

In the present, within Victoria's room.

"I must send a message to my father immediately. Someone may have become aware of our plan to make my older son, Alexander, the husband of the princess," Victoria thought with a sense of urgency, realizing the need to inform her father about the potential threat to their carefully laid-out scheme.

In a rush, Victoria hastily penned a letter to her father, detailing the potential threat to their plan. Unaware that it was Bong who had eliminated the threat, she believed that someone else might have uncovered their intentions.

"Amelia," she called, summoning her personal maid.

Amelia entered Victoria's room, standing silently with a maid's demeanor.

"Take this letter and deliver it to my father discreetly, without letting anyone know. Leave quietly, ensuring no one notices your departure," Victoria instructed urgently.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will leave immediately," Amelia replied, nodding respectfully and understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Now I must go and check Sebastian's condition. I need to feign my tears, ensuring that Duke doesn't suspect me of any conspiracy," Victoria thought with a calculated plan in mind, intending to maintain a façade of concern in front of Duke.