Face of Death

The red door vanished behind me, and I found myself atop a rugged mountain peak. The wind roared like an angry beast, clawing at my assassin's uniform as if testing my resolve. The world stretched before me in a breathtaking expanse of endless green—rolling forests, jagged cliffs, and towering mountains, their peaks hidden by thick clouds. This was Reuzia, a realm untouched by civilization, wild and untamed.

The compass buzzed faintly in my hand, the needle twitching erratically before fixing in a direction. It pointed toward Alina, the target of my quest. Or, rather, the individual I hoped to convince to become my first recruit.

Despite the serene beauty of the landscape, I knew better than to let my guard down. Slipping on the monocle from my starter pack, I felt the faint hum of its magic activating. The left lens displayed a swirling overlay of information.

[Mountain Wolf – Qi Beast]

Stage: Body Tempering (Mid-Stage)

Traits: Agile, Strong Bite, Pack Hunter

Below me, a pack of wolves prowled the forest. Their glowing yellow eyes scanned the surroundings, but they hadn't noticed me yet. The monocle gave me an edge, but even with its knowledge, I wasn't eager to test my strength against a pack of mid-stage qi beasts. I pressed forward, the compass in hand, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread.

For three days, I pushed onward. The wilderness tested me at every turn. Wolves stalked my path, forcing me to double back and find alternate routes. Enormous birds of prey circled overhead, their sharp eyes missing nothing. Using the monocle, I identified edible plants and sources of clean water. The information it provided saved me from both starvation and poisoning.

But the dangers weren't limited to wildlife. On the second night, I stumbled into a natural cave for shelter, only to be ambushed by a venomous snake.

[Black Fang Viper – Qi Beast]

Stage: Qi Refinement (Early-Stage)

Traits: Extremely Venomous, Silent Stalker

Its fangs barely missed my throat as I dodged, rolling across the rocky floor. My knife, sharp enough to cut steel, found its mark, but the effort left me shaken. I could only imagine what kind of foe Alina would be, knowing she was likely far stronger than anything I had encountered so far.

On the morning of the fourth day, the compass needle began to spin wildly before stopping entirely. I had reached my destination.

The treehouse was unassuming but cleverly hidden, blending so well into the forest that I almost missed it. It was perched high among the branches of a massive oak, its structure sturdy but simple. There were no visible stairs or ladders leading up to it.

I stepped forward cautiously, scanning the area with my monocle.

[Trap Detected: Net Snare]

Too late. The ground gave way beneath me, and I found myself yanked into the air, suspended by a tightly woven net. Blood rushed to my head as I dangled helplessly, cursing my carelessness.

"Who sent you?"

The voice was cold, sharper than the wind. I twisted my head to see a figure stepping out from the shadows. Alina.

She was younger than I had imagined, with piercing amber eyes that seemed to bore into my very soul. Her hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her movements were fluid, like a predator stalking its prey. A knife gleamed in her hand, its edge reflecting the faint sunlight that filtered through the canopy.

"I'm here to hire you!" I blurted out, struggling against the net.

Her eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable. "Hire me? That's a new one. Usually, they send bounty hunters or assassins. Who do you work for?"

"The Moonlit Hitman Agency," I said, watching her closely for a reaction.

Her brow furrowed, and she tilted her head. "Moonlit... what? Never heard of it. Try again."

Her knife was suddenly at my throat, the blade cold against my skin.

"It's real!" I insisted. "I can prove it. Just let me down, and I'll show you."

Her lips curled into a smirk. "You think I'm stupid?"

The monocle's display shifted as I focused on her.

[Alina – Rogue Qi Cultivator]

Stage: Qi Refinement (Peak Stage)

Traits: Agile Fighter, Skilled Tracker, Highly Distrustful

Distrustful was an understatement. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she tightened the net's grip, making it impossible for me to move.

Desperation fueled my next action. Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I twisted sharply, breaking the net's mechanism. I hit the ground hard but rolled to my feet, knife in hand.

Alina's smirk faded as she realized I wasn't entirely helpless. "Not bad," she said, circling me like a wolf. "But not good enough."

The fight began in earnest. She moved with blinding speed, her strikes precise and unrelenting. I blocked and dodged as best I could, but her strength and experience far outclassed mine. Every attack left me reeling, and it wasn't long before she had me pinned, her knee digging into my chest.

"Talk," she demanded, her knife hovering above my heart.

I coughed, struggling to breathe. "I have a token," I rasped. "A blood-red token. It's proof of my offer."

Her knife wavered slightly, and I seized the opportunity. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the token. Its crimson surface seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow.

Alina's eyes widened ever so slightly, but her expression remained guarded. "What is that?"

"It's a key," I said, my voice steady despite the pain. "A key to safety, to a new life. If you accept it, you'll become part of something bigger. A chance to rise above this."

She hesitated, her gaze fixed on the token. Slowly, she released me and stood, her knife still in hand but no longer aimed at me.

"I've never heard of your agency," she said, her tone skeptical. "And I don't trust you. But... this token feels different. What's the catch?"

"No catch," I replied, handing her the token. "Just loyalty to the agency. You'll be protected, equipped, and given the chance to grow stronger than you ever imagined."

She studied me for a long moment before finally taking the token. The moment her fingers touched it, the crimson surface dissolved into a soft glow that flowed into her palm.

The system chimed in my mind:

[Mission Complete: Recruit Your First Agent]

Reward: 1,000 Moonlit Coins

Penalty Avoided: Loss of Leadership Authority

"I don't know what this Moonlit Hitman Agency is," she said, her voice softer now. "But I'll give you a chance. Don't make me regret it."

Relief washed over me, and I nodded. "You won't."

The crimson door reappeared, its surface shimmering invitingly. Together, we stepped through, leaving the wilds of Reuzia behind.

As we returned to the agency's rundown halls, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. No one might remember the Moonlit Hitman Agency, but its legacy would rise again—starting with us.