"H-how?" Kian asked, strutting.
"I've more than just one trump card," Evan replied. He had used the special effect of the Gauntlet of Invincibility to nullify the damage!
Bam!
A loud bang reverberated through the air.
Kian was shot in the back of the head.
He was facing Evan, so it was evident that someone other than Evan had pulled the trigger.
Kian's corpse collapsed forward.
Evan sidestepped to avoid getting hit by the falling body.
Kian's body hit the water with a sickening splash, face down, and the murky liquid immediately engulfed him.
Searching for the person who stole his kill, Evan scanned the area, and just after a moment, he spotted a shadowy figure descending from a nearby tree.
The shadowy figure landed gracefully on the surface of the murky water, their feet not sinking in and ripples appearing beneath them.
The figure belonged to a young boy, a head shorter than Evan, dressed in a pitch black outfit that blended perfectly into the darkness of the swamp at night. A fox mask adorned his face, adding a touch of mystery to the sophisticated air surrounding him and concealing his identity. The mask was a beautiful, intricate piece of art with sharp, angular features that caught Evan's eye.
Only his hair, which was as white and shiny as the moon in the starry night sky, was visible.
Evan couldn't help but stare at the boy's outfit, which looked like something straight out of an RPG game. The boy wore a black hooded robe with several spatial pouches and hidden compartments attached to his belt for easy access to his weapons and tools. The most striking feature was the metal bracers on his arms, which had intricate engravings and sharp blades that extended from the edges.
'Is this kid suffering from eighth-grade syndrome?'
Evan was forced to wonder.
The leather boots on the boy's feet seemed to hold the ability to nullify sound as he moved without making a sound. The barrel of a sniper rifle peeked out from the back of his cloak, suggesting a deep connection to the army.
Such weapons were strictly regulated in the empire, and not many people could get their hands on them. Their firepower was equivalent to Evan's frost bullet skill, which was why he hadn't bothered to acquire one. Additionally, the weapons emitted energy signals that could be detected by sensors as advanced as Vera or Seraphine, making them impractical for covert operations.
As Evan observed the weapon in the hands of his opponent, he couldn't help but make a deduction. 'Since he's able to acquire such a weapon, he must be from the Frost Blood Household.'
After all, in the Imperial Frost Clan, only members of the main family and the Frost Blood Household had sufficient connections with the army to acquire energy-ranked weapons, such as a sniper rifle for their young master.
It should also be noted that these sniper rifles were not normal, as the shells they used were made of high-purity soul energy crystal. In essence, every bullet was equivalent to a high-purity soul energy crystal, making them incredibly powerful. Depending solely on their personal wealth, only the wealthy elite of the empire could afford to use them in combat, due to their exorbitant cost.
Evan asked, "So, which young master from the Frost Blood Household are you?"
'As expected of the Crown Prince. Intelligent enough to determine which Household I'm from based on my appearance alone.'
The boy seemed hurt and responded, "Can't you recognize me? We used to play together when we were young."
eαglesnᴏνel With that, the boy removed his mask, revealing a youthful face that immediately struck a chord with Evan.
His eyes widened as he took in the boy's features.
The teenage boy had plump lips that curved slightly at the edges, giving him a mischievous look. His almond-shaped eyes were a stunning shade of amber, glinting with a hint of humor as he gazed back at Evan. The teenager's face was slender, with a well-defined jawline that added to his chiseled appearance. His nose was straight and pointed, further accentuating the sharpness of his features.
Adding to his overall appearance was a single earring he wore in his left ear, a simple stud that gave him a touch of rebelliousness.
"Ey, Aiden?"
Evan recognized him immediately.
He was the youngest young master of the Frost Blood Household and the renowned Ice Princess's only sibling.
Aiden was younger than Annika but over a year older than Evan.
As Evan looked at him, memories flooded back.
He recalled that he had been given the opportunity to establish a friendly relationship with the successor of the Frost Blood Household when he was young. Aiden was precisely that successor.
Under the meticulous planning of their fathers, Aiden was pushed to become his study companion.
That was how he became acquainted with Aiden.
At that time, he had the heart of the child, and he quickly befriended him.
He didn't know that he would be saying goodbye to his new friend in just some months.
It had only been six months since they became friends when an unfortunate incident shook the entire empire.
The assassination of countless people had taken place, and no one knew who was behind it or why they had done it. The assassins had been ruthless, killing thousands of people overnight and sparing not a single one of their targets, which included women, children, and toddlers. Their motives could not be discerned as they indiscriminately killed members from both ordinary and extraordinary households. It seemed like their only purpose was to kill. It was announced as such, but who were they kidding?
Everyone knew that there was a deeper, darker reason behind the mindless killings!
However, they couldn't quite put a finger on it, no matter how hard they racked their brains.
The crux of the matter is that Aiden had been a victim of that night. The assassination attempt had failed as his mother had protected him, but she had been severely injured in the process.