A month earlier: Assassin Empress (4)

Michael had been preoccupied with the event of Natalia ruthlessly attempting to kill her childhood friend, Lucas. But it was quickly drowned by the thought of her crush standing beside him.

Different from the usual feeling he had towards Natalia, Michael tried his best to change his perspective of her. Natalia was cold, like an inborn killer, and aloof even to the only person closer to her by Michael's understanding.

She seemed like the type of person that preferred solitary not to get attached to anyone. If that was the case, then dating her was also akin to suicide!

But Michael never thought he could acquire her, though, and witnessing her ruthless side, his feeling slightly diminished. Still, his loud beating heart conveyed he was still hopelessly in love with her.

He badly wanted to get rid of these feelings so he could confront her about what she had done to Lucas, but staring at those beautiful eyes, the silvery iris, alluring him not to stop staring at it, and her gorgeous face and model-like body caught by his peripheral vision made him gulped and reluctantly turned his head.

His heart couldn't take it, and he didn't want to talk with her, even with his head lowered as he assumed he would stutter either way. And her voice could turn his mind blank, and arguing with her would also be pointless.

Therefore, since Natalia remained quiet, he did the same and waited until it was their turn to introduce themselves.

Since the other party took the initiative to introduce themselves, it was natural for them to do the same. Right now, Michael was thinking of asking these people who appeared to have a rich background to take care of them.

Of course, he was also aware of the possibility of them being enslaved by the wealthy people of this world, so he was formulating the perfect solution to help his classmates in need.

Consumed by his own thoughts, he was startled when Anbu stood not far from him, patiently waiting for him to introduce himself. It took him some time to regain his clarity, and only then he realized what he had to do.

"My name is Michael, and I awakened the Mythical Class Title, Hero."

This time, who knows how many times they had been stunned or shocked, but they were astonished when they heard the Title. But the shock couldn't amount to what Anbu was feeling, and his mind quickly recalled the history.

Michael perceived the awkward atmosphere and couldn't help but scratch his cheek. He took a glimpse at Natalia and discovered her bore expression was still cold and aloof; it appeared she didn't plan to introduce herself soon.

Anbu was in a daze again, and it was unbefitting of his position.

One of the nobles coughed a moment later to awaken her from his daze, and only then Anbu quickly recollected himself, and his previous bearing returned.

"Michael, no, Hero, please lead your friends to fight against the demon race. Do you think you can do it?"

Becoming a leader also signifies carrying a heavy responsibility. But Michael resolutely nodded and accepted it.

Anbu was delighted, and other nobles felt the same. Louis also decided to teach Michael how to become a leader with his experience as a Royal Captain Guard as he nodded in satisfaction.

Anbu felt something was missing but decided to brush it off, and was about to conclude the introductions by letting them take a rest with the prepared individual quarters when he perceived his senses tingling like crazy.

Anbu swept his eyes quickly and perceived a numerous group of shadows suddenly appearing inside the Teleportation Magic Array.

Louis unsheathed his sword with a frown, and the guards surrounding him did the same. Nobles were quickly frightened, and their jelly legs prevented them from running away. After all, they recognized those groups of shadows covered with black clothes from head to toe, except their eyes.

'How could they be here? How audacious! Who ordered them to assassinate the Otherworlders?!'

They wanted to cry it out loud, but they didn't dare.

Meanwhile, Anbu quickly looked toward Louis, hoping he would take action before things turned sour. But he was surprised to see him still standing and fixated his gaze on a single shadow. He was calmed, and his face appeared relaxed, but Anbu was aware of Louis' fighting style.

To appear calm and collected at all costs!

Or maybe he was only emotionless when battling.

Therefore, he quickly calmed down and looked back at the group of shadows with an emblem on their left chest. Naturally, he recognized them.

'The Reapers.'

The Reapers were formed by a group of people solely to cleanse the Empire of corrupt nobles who treated their citizens or ranked below them unjustly. Naturally, these people were not treated right by the noble.

Their existence had been a cause of headache for the Emperor, but the Emperor himself appeared to neglect them. It, of course, gained dissatisfaction from the noble circle, but they couldn't raise it against the Emperor.

The Emperor had a decisive method to the nobles who questioned and complained about his decision and treated it as a rebellion. Therefore the nobles could only do their best not to gain the attention of the Reapers.

At first, probably five hundred years ago, The Reapers were only a small group, but it couldn't be compared to now.

Their progression was absurd, and their reputation, even though their modus operandi of killing people, was astonishingly positive, and their achievements appeased the citizens.

Right now, their ideology has slightly changed as they have also started targeting the demon race, which has additionally increased their fame. Some people could also hire them to kill someone at a cheap price, that is, unless the reason was stated as valid, and only then would they accept the mission.

They were feared, but they were also respected.

Such a strange prestige that only they possessed.

Of course, with how abundant their members were, the latter were divided by rankings. And that was exactly why Anbu feared them right now, even with the Emperor and the Royal Captain Guard being present.

After all, the emblem that each of them carried and attached to their chest indicated they were at the highest rank, and the single person that the Royal Captain Guard was staring at had the same class as himself.

"Anbu and Louis, we came here not to cause any trouble. Our arrival is to welcome the Assassin Empress," said the man in a cold voice.

His emblem differed distinctly from his members. The emblem had a full-face view head covered by a black hood, obscuring his or her face. There was a curved weapon atop its head akin to a scythe. And a different image emblem has a different amount of small skulls below.

Coincidentally or intentionally, the emblem was placed on the left chest, exactly where the heart was, and only the members of the Reapers knew why.

"Zedd, I didn't know you would come here by yourself," said Louis with furrowed eyebrows.

Zedd's mask moved slightly, and his eyes conveyed he smiled. Louis didn't continue, while Anbu was shocked. It appeared his guess was right.

Zedd abruptly disappeared and appeared beside Natalia and suddenly genuflected with his head bowed.

"Assassin Empress, by the order of the Empress, we will escort you to our headquarters. I assure you, with my life at stake, that we meant no harm, and this exhibition was solely prepared for you."

Contrary to his usual cold voice, his speech was filled with reverence and humbleness. Natalia stared at him indifferently despite being aware of how strong this man was, who was kneeling before her. But since he stated her Title must convey that their purpose of coming here was authentic.

From Natalia's observation, the short greetings of Zedd and Louis indicated they don't have a good relationship. It also represents the relationship between the Empire and this group of people she still wasn't aware of.

For them to take a risk just to ask to escort her to their headquarters showed their sincerity. She could still reject them, and she doesn't care if some of the other shadows couldn't make it out alive.

But suddenly, a thought appeared in her mind. She took a moment to stare at Michael and then returned her focus to the kneeling Zedd.

"Is the group behind you as strong as this Empire? And introduce at least its name."

Zedd quivered slightly and hurriedly replied:

"We are the Reapers Guild, and yes, we can rival the Empire. Without a doubt, we are feared and respected by many."

Natalia quickly gained her interest, and before she could reply, a stuttered voice drifted through her ears:

"M-Madam Natalia, that is not true. They are only a bunch of people with cold-blooded hands. Sure, they are the strongest guild, even surpassing the Adventurer's guild, but they surely can't rival the Empire. If you choose us and trust us with your growth, your potential will not be wasted."

Zedd was furious when he heard what Anbu said, so he retorted, "What nonsense were you spouting?! You are an Imperial Advisor, so you must know most of the information about us! Why are you deceiving the future Empress?"

"That's enough," said Natalia in a cold voice.

The two words alone silenced the two authorities, and her stare directed towards Anbu sweated with bullets, still trembling.

"You are not focused enough."

Anbu was confused by what she meant, and Natalia walked towards Zedd and said, "Let's go. Bring me to your headquarters."

Zedd was delighted and quickly signaled for his other members to surround them. Louis has already sheathed his sword, knowing there was no bloodshed to start.

Meanwhile, Anbu was still agitated and felt indignant from the fact that a Mythical Class had gotten away just like that. He wanted to chase them when he was startled to see a text of fire appearing before him.

It was the message of the Emperor stopping him from doing foolish acts, so he could only stare hopelessly at the disappearing Natalia and the Reapers.