It’s Exciting to Snatch the Supporting Male Lead and Run Away [Quick Wear] - 69

 

IETSTSMLARA | The Assassin is Not so Cold-Blooded | 69

Now someone wants to kill him.

Well, it's quite difficult for them to kill it’s host at their current strength.

However, the information from System 06 is still quite useful. After it transmitted the message, Lin Su's newly tidied ancient and understated castle faced assassination attempts time and time again.

He is the Earl of the Weike Empire. Naturally, those assassins wouldn't use blatant methods like explosives, as provoking a country for one person isn't a profitable deal.

Lin Su walked through the corridors. When he first arrived, the walls were indeed covered with vines and weeds. However, after clearing away the weeds, only beautiful vines remained, forming a natural green barrier that concealed the beautiful walls within, adding to their mystery.

"My lord Count," greeted a maid carrying freshly cleaned cups as she passed by.

In this era, people no longer judge others solely by their status but rather by money. Of course, finding a safe place for a stable life isn't an easy task in this era either.

Lin Su smiled and nodded as he brushed past her.

The maid, who had originally been walking ahead, stopped and looked at his departing figure. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

She knew she wasn't the only one who admired the newly arrived Earl because he possessed extremely attractive looks, exceptionally refined gentlemanly manners, outstanding abilities, and substantial wealth.

They were also newly recruited into this castle but couldn't help being attracted to him unconsciously. Not until his figure disappeared did the maid reluctantly leave. The maids in the castle do not report directly to Lin Su but to a newly appointed steward.

This steward was not as healthy as those in other castles; he was almost skin and bones, with slightly protruding eyes that revealed a clear cunning. 

Abu, who Lin Su had hired while trading at a transit station, valued abilities over appearances.

Wearing an ill-fitting steward's uniform, Abu stared fixedly at the maids lined up in front of him, his gaze unabashedly sweeping from their beautiful faces to their well-proportioned bodies, causing the maids to lower their heads and turn pale.

They couldn't understand why someone as elegant as the Earl would employ such a sleazy person as the castle's steward. 

After scanning everyone, Abu chuckled, confidently taking a seat opposite and saying, "Not bad-looking at all. You all must have some improper thoughts about the Earl because of your good looks, dreaming of skyrocketing to become the Madam one day, right?"

Abu slammed the table suddenly and made the maids tremble. "Let me tell you, give up these fantasies sooner rather than later. Otherwise, when I kick you out, I won't be merciful. Of course," he smirked, "if any of you are willing to marry me, I'd be very open to that."

The maids remained silent, heads bowed. Abu waved his hand indifferently. "Alright, go about your duties." The maids dispersed, each left to ponder his words as they saw fit.

Late at night, Lin Su removed his cufflinks and placed them neatly in a dedicated cabinet. He took off his watch and tie clip, leaving only his shirt with an open collar and trousers. Barefoot, he walked into the bathroom. 

Just as he rolled up his sleeves to start filling the bathtub, he heard a gentle voice behind him.

"My lord, are you going to take a bath? Let us handle filling the tub." 

"Thank you," Lin Su stepped aside to make room at the door. 

The maid, with a pure face and flushed cheeks, removed her shoes and socks, revealing fair, slender legs. She rolled up her sleeves and used the shower head to clean the inside of the bathtub. 

However, she seemed a bit uncomfortable under Lin Su's lingering gaze at the door. Blushing, she said, "My lord, even though this is for your private use, it's still best to disinfect it before use. Please wait a moment."

She bent over, earnestly working, but as she finished arranging everything and prepared to leave, her feet slipped, causing her to fall towards Lin Su. 

He reached out and caught her, their bodies colliding. However, the next moment, the originally gentle maid raised her head with a slightly distorted expression.

When Lin Su gently pushed her away, the right hand that held the dagger made a cracking sound, almost breaking.

"Without your flexible fingers, it won't be so convenient to kill in the future," Lin Su remarked casually.

"You knew?" The maid's gentle gaze turned fierce. She attempted to kick Lin Su's vital point, but he countered with a ruthless kick, pinning her mercilessly to the ground. 

A showerhead, taken off at some point, looped around her neck, ready to end his life with a gentle push.

Lin Su maintained his position and smiled. "Of course I knew. I also know you're not a girl but a boy. But you also don't know that I don't like women. If you had tried to seduce me with your original appearance, I might have taken the bait."

"You!" The disguised female voice had turned into a clear male one. "When did you find out?"

"The Destruction Mercenary Group really has thousands of faces; no matter how well you disguise yourself, I can tell if it's a man or a woman by their bones. Sorry to say, I have some medical knowledge," Lin Su said as he tightened the rope from the showerhead around the person. 

Suddenly, someone broke in.

Abu looked at the person lying on the ground soaked in water and rubbed his hands. "Boss, are you okay? Is this the assassin?"

"Yeah, lock him up tightly with the latest electric mesh lock. Otherwise, they'll slip away sooner or later," Lin Su said, releasing his grip and laughing. "They'll probably only try this trick once; no need to closely watch the maids anymore."

While the most dangerous place is often the safest, once everyone knows this truth, that safe path no longer remains safe.

"I failed, but someday you'll die," the teenager lying on the ground said.

Abu slapped him on the back of the head without mercy. "What nonsense are you talking about, you clearly lost."

"It's okay. Don't hurt him too badly; he might still be useful," Lin Su said, watching as Abu lifted the person up. "Did you know I narrowly escaped death at Tang's hands?"

The boy's eyes widened noticeably. "That's impossible!"

Tang never misses.

"You're lying!" the boy shouted, but Lin Su swiftly knocked him out with a karate chop.

Abu reminded, "Boss, don't damage him too much, he might still be useful."

"If he starts yelling, the whole castle will know by tomorrow," Lin Su chuckled, "Get another shower head installed here tomorrow."

"No problem," Abu grinned and left.

The rule of the Destruction Mercenary Group was to send only one assassin per mission, reflecting their confidence in their operatives. They had always been unstoppable in the past, but unfortunately, they met their battle against Lin Su.

In just ten days, Lin Su captured three of them.

One was Zong, another was Yin, and the third was Hui. 

All kinds of disguised experts, agile fighters, technical geniuses—all met their match in the electric prison beneath Lin Su's castle.

Even within the same organization, top operatives didn't always see eye to eye. After all, everyone had their pride.

"You claimed no one could ever see through your disguise, yet here you are in maid's attire, about to be sent back to headquarters for the boss to see," Zong lounged against the wall nonchalantly.

"And what about you, Mr. 'Nothing can stop me from opening that door'? You're stuck here, aren't you?" Yin fumed, annoyed at his own predicament.

That sleazy man had stripped him of everything useful and left him lying here in wet clothes. If not for his strong constitution, he might have gotten sick.

Would it befit a renowned assassin to die from a simple illness?

"What's the deal with this Carl guy anyway? He's the only one who's managed to escape Tang's grasp so far," Zong said, chewing on a toothpick. "I heard he used to be a con artist."

"Maybe his identity as a con artist is just another deception. His assets could easily cancel out this mission, yet he's captured each of us and locked us up here. What does he want to do?" Yin said irritably.

"He didn't exactly escape from Tang's hands; Tang was urgently recalled to complete a boss-assigned emergency task," Hui interjected. "But if you think we're being taken out one by one like the Calabish brothers rescuing their grandfather, guess who the boss will send last."

They were all top-notch assassins, extremely difficult to cultivate. Naturally, the boss wouldn't easily give up. They couldn't afford more losses, nor could they abandon the mission and tarnish their reputation.

In the end, it would likely fall to Tang again.

"Is this guy out for revenge?" Yin asked. "Because Tang was chasing him before?"

"If someone was chasing after you, even if they gave up halfway, wouldn't you want to take them out?" Hui retorted.

"Absolutely," Yin clenched his fist, then spat after a moment of realization. "So we're just bait, aren't we? Though it's not very tasteful, honestly, I'm quite looking forward to seeing Tang fail. Just thinking about it feels satisfying."

Meanwhile, Tang had successfully brought Jiang Heng to Destruction's headquarters. Despite numerous interception attempts along the way, none posed a challenge. With the cooperation of Destruction Mercenary Group's intelligence network, he arrived unscathed.

"Here," Tang said to the person who came to greet him, tossing over the man he had brought.

"You never fail your missions," Luo Yue remarked, looking at the slender figure of Jiang Heng with ease. "That's him. Welcome, Mr. Jiang. If you need anything, just ask me directly."

She turned to Tang and smiled, "Your share for this mission will be deposited into your account. But since you’re finally back; the boss needs to see you."

"Mm," Tang replied tersely and turned to leave.

Jiang Heng looked at the petite girl who effortlessly carried him and felt numb with his own powerlessness. "Can you put me down? I can't escape."

"Sure can," Luo Yue said, observing him with the same gaze she had followed Tang with. "So, what do you think? Tang is quite charming, isn't he? Did he manage to stir your heart?"

"I just think this line of work is very dangerous," Jiang Heng replied.

After spending so much time together, he simply felt that anyone would have some emotions. Moreover, in this unfamiliar environment, he always wanted to find someone familiar to interact with.

"Oh? Don't worry, Tang is very strong, stronger than you think. But you're not from the same world, Mr. Jiang, so you wouldn't understand," Luo Yue said, extending her hand. "Come with me, I'll take you to rest. You're an esteemed guest here."

After handing over the mission, Tang went straight to a villa deep inside the headquarters. Upon verifying his identity and entering, a man in casual wear seemed to hear the door opening, turned, and smiled. "Welcome back. This mission seems to have taken quite a while. Did you get injured?"

"No," Tang stood firm and replied.

The man poured tea and placed it on the coffee table. Despite the homey atmosphere, it clashed somewhat with Tang's demeanor. "Sit down and talk. Aren't you tired of standing?"

Tang took the tea cup but remained standing. "I heard you have a new mission."

"Yes, normally after this mission, you should have rested, but this time it's a matter of Destruction Mercenary Group's reputation," Lu Yan understood his habits and didn't persuade further, sitting down himself. "Thirty million to kill the person within a month. There's only half the time left now. Zong, Hui, Yin, have all been accounted for, and from their vital signs, they should still be alive. Destruction Mercenary Group can't afford any more losses. We're counting on you."

"To save or not to save?" Tang asked coldly.

He naturally referred to the three assassin’s who had been captured.

"As an assassin, one must rely on oneself from the start, and protect your own life," Lu Yan walked up to him, placing a hand on Tang's shoulder. "First, ensure your own safety. If you can rescue them, do it, but if you can't..."

Even if he was reluctant, there are things that must be let go.

Tang nodded. "Understood. Who is he?"

"The target you previously failed to eliminate," Lu Yan smiled. "But now he goes by the title of Earl Carl from the Weike Empire, residing in Tiffany. He has a net worth over a hundred billion, and he has his own team of bodyguards. Get the specific details from Luo Yue. Only success is allowed, don't fail."

"Got it," Tang responded before turning to leave.

Once the room quieted down, a gentle ringing sounded from the desk. Lu Yan pressed the speakerphone button. "What is it?"

"Mr. Jiang has settled in. When does the boss plan to see him?" came Luo Yue's soft voice from the other end.

"Give him a couple of days to settle in and adapt," Lu Yan replied calmly. "This kind of pure-hearted man needs time to adjust to his surroundings. Take good care of him for now."

...

【Host, be careful,】 System 06 reminded suddenly.

Lin Su, who had been intending to move forward, halted in his tracks. He glanced at the hole that had suddenly appeared in the nearby wall, knowing the person he was waiting for had arrived.

Lin Su observed the bullet hole and followed its trajectory. He waved and smiled in the direction from which the shot had come. "Welcome."

His demeanor was calm and gentlemanly, yet facing a gun barrel, there was a hint of arrogance.

A man unafraid of death.

Tang squeezed the trigger again, but before he could take aim, the man had vanished from the window.

No sign of anyone in the other windows either.

Someone who could stop in their tracks just as his first bullet was fired was certainly more challenging than the one he had faced months ago.

The person who managed to capture three top assassins of the Destruction Mercenary Group was the first. He couldn't be easily overlooked.

"Boss, damn, this hole was made by a pistol, M93A1 model. Not many can handle this type of firearm," Abu studied the bullet and remarked, "There are only a handful of people in this world who can handle it."

"Why?" Lin Su inquired.

Abu chuckled, "This gun is definitely good, but its long range requires predicting the target's movements, and there are many interfering factors. However, someone who can use it well is a major threat. Not many in the Destruction Mercenary Group can handle this kind of pistol. Do you know who it might be, boss?"

"Tang," Lin Su replied with a smile.

"The number one assassin, huh? Impressive," Abu laughed. "Are you planning to kill him to make a name for yourself? If you really manage that, you'll be renowned across the galaxy..."

"I'm a businessman, only interested in deals, not killing people," Lin Su said, looking at him.

"Then why?" Abu was puzzled.

Why bring such a deadly figure here if not to make a name or gain some thrill from an easy life?

Of course, he didn't dare voice these thoughts in front of Lin Su. His boss was formidable—whatever gentlemanly and charming facade he presented to the world, his ruthlessness could outmaneuver them all combined.

Lin Su observed Abu for a moment before suddenly laughing, "To find you guys a Madam."

"What?!" Abu was genuinely stunned. "Who? Tang? You fancy him..." he swallowed hard, "Can you really sleep peacefully with him next to you?"

Having a killer like that by one's side, who can strike in one's sleep, was sheer lunacy. 

"You can find any beautiful woman you want. He might be attractive, but he's dangerous," Abu sincerely advised, "Beautiful flowers often have thorns."

"But a thorny flower only pricks if it can reach me," Lin Su said confidently.

"Boss, you're amazing," Abu exclaimed, realizing that trying to dissuade Lin Su was futile. 

Instead, he thought that if their boss truly managed to win over the number one assassin, it would be an incredible feat.

Lin Su stood up, and just as he moved past Abu, a dagger descended from the ceiling and embedded itself in the sofa where Lin Su had been sitting moments before. The depth of the blade indicated that had it hit Lin Su's head, he would have been dead.

"Boss?!" Abu jumped in shock.

Lin Su didn't even glance back. He simply patted Abu's shoulder and said, "Get a new sofa."

Clearly, Lin Su had anticipated the attack.

Abu looked up at the ceiling, seeing no second dagger, and cautiously moved the sofa away.

Lin Su had grown accustomed to sudden daggers in his home. He didn't need the system's warnings anymore; the slightest sound couldn't escape his keen senses.

But being perpetually on the defensive wasn't sustainable. He needed to take the initiative.

【Host, didn't you say you would let him die?】 System 06 felt like it had been tricked again.

【The true enemy of this original owner's body is the one who hired the assassin, not the hired assassin themselves,】 Lin Su replied as he plucked a brilliantly blooming rose from the garden. 【Just like how people still love roses even if they get pricked.】

Simply put, it was about appearances.

System 06 thought that there was no need to overthink the host's superficiality; the host was indeed only interested in such shallow hobbies.

…

Tang sat on a distant tree branch, watching the man standing by the flower bed. For the first time, he felt that this person was truly different from the one he had seen before.

The person before seemed like just a hollow shell, arrogant and dismissive toward the weak, and obsequious and deferential toward the strong. However, the person now... the actions that avoided lethal attacks were definitely not coincidences. Once might be luck, but dozens of times must be skill.

Those three assassins who got taken down were definitely not because they underestimated him.

Tang raised his pistol, but just as he aimed, he saw the man who had just picked the flower glance lightly in his direction. Without any tools, he had already located Tang’s position and was even holding a rose as if he was about to give it to someone.

Tang prided himself on his excellent vision, but even he couldn't achieve such feats. To say it was a sensitivity to danger seemed far-fetched.

"I picked it," the man said.

Tang instinctively shifted his body, and in the next second, a rapid current surged through him. His body, out of control, blacked out, and he fell from the tree.

His falling body landed directly into a suddenly opened net. The person lying in the net had his eyes closed tightly, his brows slightly furrowed. His long ink-black hair flowed down through the net’s holes, giving him an appearance akin to a dark elf sleeping in the forest, especially with his temporarily subdued yet exquisite face.

Abu smacked his lips, looked around, and thought that their boss really had high standards. The current assassins were each more attractive than the last. Could it be that the ability evaluation for assassins was based on appearance?

Lin Su had already walked over unhurriedly. Abu shouted, "Boss, over here, we've caught the person."

Lin Su approached, placed the flower on Tang's chest, then picked him up and said, "This is the first one."

Abu was confused, "Are you planning to build a harem?"

"Am I that promiscuous?" Lin Su retorted as he carried Tang away.

When Tang woke up, his hands and feet were bound. He instinctively struggled, he felt a faint current passing through, reminding him of the moment he was electrocuted unconscious earlier.

"Awake? The shackles binding your hands and feet can't be opened by human strength alone. They're a newly developed product by my group, and only a password can unlock them. If you try to force them open, they'll explode," came a low and elegant voice from beside him. Tang looked over, his pupils slightly contracting.

"How did you catch me?" Tang asked coldly.

Lin Su walked over, and as he leaned in, Tang fixed his gaze on his hands. However, Lin Su lifted Tang's chin, drawing closer and closer. 

Tang held his breath as Lin Su retrieved a fiber-like object from behind his back and said, "This was stuck to you the last time you tried to stab me at the corner of the corridor. It's a wireless tracker, unaffected by the jammers you carry. It's a new product."

Such a tiny tracker was indeed difficult to detect. Tang had failed before, but never so thoroughly: "Since I’ve lost, it's up to you to deal with me."

"Is that so?" Lin Su bent down, bracing himself with one arm beside Tang, and said, "How about this: kiss me and I'll let you go."

A trace of surprise appeared in Tang's cold eyes, but in the next moment, he leaned in and kissed Lin Su on the cheek, decisively and smoothly, as if kissing him was no trouble at all.

After the kiss, Tang looked directly at Lin Su and said, "You better keep your word."

"Alright. Have you kissed others as straightforwardly and smoothly as you did just now?" Lin Su asked as he entered the password on the ankle shackle.

Tang lowered his gaze and said, "No one has ever made such a request."

Assassins who failed and got captured were either killed or tried to be turned against their boss. If turning them against their boss failed, they faced various tortures and beatings. Even if they returned, some were completely ruined. Gaining a second chance with a kiss was a first for Tang.

He didn't have high hopes that Lin Su would keep his promise, but it seemed that he truly intended to let him go.

Is he a fool?

Someone who could evade his countless assassination attempts was definitely not a fool.

Tang flexed his now freed legs. His body was very agile and powerful; he had often used his legs to strangle people, sometimes even breaking their spines.

Just as his eyes aimed at Lin Su's neck, the man, still focused on unlocking the shackles on his wrists, said, "If I were you, I wouldn't choose to attack here. You might get caught again, and next time, a kiss won't suffice."

Tang’s tensed legs relaxed slightly. Once his hands and feet were free, the man sat back across from him and said, "You can leave now. If you're hungry, you can stay for a meal."

"If you let me go so easily; I'll come back to kill you," Tang said as he left.

Lin Su smiled and replied, "Just don't get caught by me again."

System 06 was increasingly unable to understand its master: 【Why did you let him go again?】

【Capturing someone isn’t a skill; capturing their heart is the real skill,】 Lin Su laughed.

Tang was almost invincible, which allowed him to stand at the pinnacle, looking down on everyone. But when there was someone he couldn't defeat no matter what, it would haunt him, keeping him restless, unable to eat or sleep, with his mind entirely focused on that person.

【Focused entirely on how to kill you?】 System 06 was puzzled.

【It's the same thing,】 Lin Su laughed.

There were thousands of ways to kill a person. Tang had initially thought that killing a liar or a seemingly defenseless businessman was the easiest thing.

But the poison, which required two components mixed in the steak and sauce to react, was evaded by Lin Su. 

While eating compressed biscuits, Tang felt drowsy and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up again, he was shackled hand and foot, lying on a spacious, soft sofa in the castle.

It was clear who had tampered with the biscuits.

Yet, Tang had no idea how Lin Su managed it.

He looked at the man who was sipping coffee and reading a thread-bound book and asked, "How did you do it?"

Lin Su didn't look up but smiled, "Why should I tell you?"

"I can kiss you," Tang said.

"Trading information with your body?" This time, Lin Su looked up.

Tang struggled to sit up from the sofa. Despite being shackled, he sat upright, though his hair was a bit disheveled. His black hair made his skin look exceptionally pale, giving him an alluring appearance. He nodded, "Yes."

"Dear Tang, I’m a businessman. When you make a concession in front of a businessman, be prepared for him to take advantage," Lin Su said with a smile. "This time, a kiss won't suffice. If you sleep with me, I'll not only tell you how I did it, but also let you go and return those three people to you."

"You!" Tang's expression changed.

The man's intentions were clear: he wanted to sleep with him.

As an assassin, Tang had seen all sorts of debauchery. He had even taken lives while people were engaged in such vile acts. But no one had ever dared to want to sleep with him.

This was a trade, offering his own body and dignity in exchange for his life and his three companions.

How to decide—that was the question.

"Are you hesitating?" Lin Su closed his book and smiled.

Tang struggled to speak, "I need to think."

This was the consequence of his carelessness. He had to bear the outcome himself. After such humiliation, could he still remain as calm as before?

"What a pitiable child," Lin Su said with a smile, gently touching Tang's cheek. "Forget it. In front of others, I am a businessman. But not in front of you. This time, I’ll be the one to kiss you."

Lin Su bent down, his breath nearing Tang's lips. Their eyes met, and for the first time, Tang noticed that this man had eyes as deep as water, green and gentle, as if one could easily drown in them.

As the kiss drew near, Tang uncharacteristically swallowed. His mouth felt dry, a sensation he could usually endure, but now there was an indescribable itch in his throat. The kiss almost landed on his lips, but the owner of those eyes smiled lightly. 

When Tang felt a soft touch on his cheek, the man who had almost enveloped him pulled away.

"Reciprocation," Lin Su said, sitting nearby. Because he was leaning on his arm, his collar opened slightly, revealing a strikingly handsome Adam's apple and collarbone. "The method is simple. Tiffany used to be a very desolate place. All the unoccupied shops in town are run by me, while the old, occupied shops are safer. Trying to kill me on my turf requires much more effort."

No one had ever been this close to Tang before—close enough to make his whole body tense, close enough to leave him helpless.

The man had a faint scent of coffee, slightly bitter, but it wasn't unpleasant. In fact, it suited his character.

"You'll let me go again, won't you?" Tang asked.

It had taken him three days to get there, and after two consecutive failures, he had less than three days left.

"Yes." Lin Su smiled as he unlocked Tang's shackles. "I'm looking forward to your next attempt."

"You just want to tame me," Tang said as he stood up and rubbed his wrists.

These strange actions, these special indulgences, and that seductive kiss—all were meant to make him submit.

"Someone like you could never truly submit to anyone," Lin Su laughed. "Why would I want to tame you?"

"No matter what you think, you won't succeed. I already have a master." Tang opened the window, clearly intending to jump out.

Lin Su wasn't worried about him getting hurt; Tang's skills ensured he wouldn't. Just as Tang was about to leave, Lin Su suddenly spoke, "If you had agreed without hesitation earlier, I would have lost interest in you."

He had no interest in someone who could easily trade their body and dignity. If that were the case, he might as well get a beautiful robot.

"If you lost interest, my situation wouldn't improve," Tang said calmly.

No one would easily let go of someone who had tried every means to kill them, especially someone with power and ability.

Lin Su clapped his hands. "Smart. Now leave quickly, or I might just capture you again."

Tang leapt away, swiftly moving between trees and quickly leaving the area. Outwardly calm, his heart was far from cold. He realized that even an assassin's dignity could be valued by someone.

He was merely a tool, a convenient implement for his master. But deep down, he also yearned to be treated like a human being.

Poisoning that man was futile because Lin Su seemed capable of discerning any drug. After all, when he ate the food, he didn't detect any poison, which meant it must have reacted with something. 

Even if Lin Su himself didn't understand medicine, someone around him surely did.

Alternative methods would be necessary.

That night, Lin Su lay in bed. As soon as he closed his eyes, he heard a faint rustling sound. 

When he opened them, the room was filled with fishing lines, one already pressed against his neck, awaiting the controller's command.

Lin Su didn't move. He just smiled and said, "It's impressive you've come this far. This is your last chance. Aren't you going to take it?"

Tang didn't speak, just as before. He hesitated for a moment.

If he took Lin Su's life, he wouldn't have to deal with this constant frustration and humiliation. No one would dare to toy with him repeatedly, and no one would ever mention his dignity to him again.

"If you don't act..." Lin Su smiled, and the next moment, he sprang from the bed, snapping the fishing lines. Tang instinctively blocked, but a line wrapped around his neck. 

The man who had been at a disadvantage now pressed his chest against Tang's back and said with a laugh, "I'll act."

"This should be the last night," Lin Su said, looking at Tang, who was once again shackled on the sofa. "Capturing the number one assassin of the Destruction Mercenary Group three times—such a feat should bring me fame and fortune."

Tang, however, looked at him warily and said, "Your skills..."

Lin Su's abilities far exceeded his expectations. Tang had never seen anyone who could leap effortlessly without relying on anything. He confirmed there were no wires assisting Lin Su.

Even when Tang leapt from buildings, he used various tools, but his speed was so great that no one noticed. Yet this man truly used no tools—he relied solely on his own strength.

Even without any high-tech gadgets or newly developed products, capturing Tang was effortless for Lin Su. This realization filled Tang with a sense of defeat but also a longing for such power.

"Are you really human?" Tang asked.

Lin Su laughed, "If I'm not human, what do you think I am?"

"…A vampire," Tang hesitated.

He lives in a castle, grows lots of roses, he looks very attractive, and is able to fly.

"Pfft, cough cough…" Lin Su choked on his laughter. "When you touched me earlier, you should have noticed I have body heat. Plus, I don't have fangs and I won't bite through your throat."

He opened his mouth and licked his neat, white teeth, which didn't look like they could suck blood at all.

Tang stared at him for a while and said, "After tonight, you will no longer be my target. Whether you are human or something else doesn't matter to me."

This was his third attempt. Headquarters would soon know about his mission failure. Losing four assassins on one person would likely prompt Destruction Mercenary Group's retaliation, even if the target was still alive.

Though they feared the Weike Empire and couldn't openly provoke it, the loss of their people would make the Destruction Mercenary Group's power a significant concern for the Weike Empire's top leaders.

"How about this: I go to Destruction Mercenary Group and buy a hit to have myself killed, within a one-year time frame, specifically assigning you. Wouldn't that mean we continue to have a relationship?" Lin Su suggested with a smile.

Tang looked at Lin Su with a puzzled expression that seemed to convey, Are you crazy?

Hiring someone to kill himself? Does he have a death wish?

"Or... how much would it cost to buy you?" Lin Su asked.

He intended to fulfill his tasks properly and suicide was out of the question. After all, he had worked hard to build a successful life and wanted to enjoy it fully.

"Destruction Mercenary Group's assassin’s are not for sale," Tang responded, returning to his previous cold demeanor, clearly refusing further conversation.

Lin Su shrugged and sat down nearby, picking up a thick, bound book from the table. Tang’s refusal to talk didn’t bother him. He quietly flipped through the pages, as if the assassin sitting across from him was nothing more than a close friend.

"You can relax. When the time comes, I will let you go," Lin Su assured him.

"You'll let us go?" Tang asked skeptically.

"I told you, I'm just a businessman. Businessmen do business, not murder," Lin Su said with a smile. "Besides, I don't want to provoke Destruction Mercenary Group's retaliation over a few lives."

Tang knew Lin Su was a smart man, but his current cold demeanor made it hard to understand his true intentions.

Lin Su didn’t speak again until the clock struck midnight. As the hands passed the hour mark, Tang's shackles clicked open. He looked at Lin Su.

"These shackles have a timed release, just like a bomb," Lin Su explained.

Tang: "..."

"Your friends will arrive soon. Would you like to stay for dinner before you leave? By tomorrow morning, you might struggle to find any food," Lin Su invited.

Tang was about to refuse when he heard a voice behind him, "Tang, you failed your mission too?!"

"Whoa, who exactly are you?" A disguised maid, who had been hiding, approached Lin Su. Her appearance was no longer hostile; instead, she looked worn out.

Destruction Mercenary Group's internal rule was that once the time limit for a mission was exceeded, the task was immediately nullified. Continued vengeance wasn't an option. However, exceptions like Lin Su, who had caused extra trouble, didn't count.

The three assassins, having experienced Lin Su's capabilities and been confined to the point of near desperation, only wanted to wash up and change clothes. They had no energy for anything else.

"Go ahead and wash up and change. We have prepared a sumptuous banquet. We can talk over dinner," Lin Su gestured to Abu.

He was so hospitable that it seemed as though they were esteemed guests rather than assassins who had come to kill him.

The three of them instinctively took a step back. When someone is unusually attentive for no apparent reason, it's either because they have ulterior motives or ill intentions!

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