Chapter 98 – Assassination Peak, yet again

Chapter 98 – Assassination Peak, yet again

Aiko munched on a piece of jerky along the way towards the hidden Shadows Peak. That's how the Assassination Peak was called once you entered it and since Aiko could technically enter, she was supposed to call it like that.

Aiko hid in the shadows and tailed yet another person from the Shadows Peak. He was completely unaware that Aiko was tailing him and even munching on a piece of meat. He could not even escape her when she was in her Human form.

What a poor sod...

...

"Hey, bastard! It's enough that you get tailed once, but twice...!" The guard was left completely speechless when he noticed that small teen tailing this useless bastard.

"I was not tailed! Other than-" The Youth who was tailed once again by Aiko was trying to defend himself.

"Hello~" Aiko spoke near his left side.

"GAH!" He jumped backwards throwing his knives at Aiko. 'Shit! I panicked! I hope she doesn't get hurt.'

Aiko tilted her body and the knives passed by her without injuring her.

The guard and the Youth stared at her strangely.

"I'm back~" Aiko smiled at the dumbfounded duo.

They looked at each other like they were seeing some kind of ghost.

"What's wrong?" Aiko tilted her head. She was unaware that Youth was a rising star when it came to assassinations and he was well-trained in throwing.

"You have tailed him, so you are allowed to enter." The guard spoke slowly after recovering.

"Well, duh, I was already admitted here." Aiko pouted.

"You were?" The Youth stared at her strangely. "My nickname is... Nightingale..."

At first, he introduced himself with fervour, but when it came to his nickname, he trailed those words into oblivion.

"Pfft." *Cough* *Cough* "That's a very pretty nickname." Aiko tried to maintain her facial expression, but it was twitching so much that it made matters even worse than they were previously.

The Youth blushed. It would be something else if a battle-hardened assassin called him that, but when a pretty girl like her called him... He suddenly felt embarrassed about that nickname.

"Well... who did you tail at first?" Nightingale asked.

"You." Aiko smiled sweetly, charming both of them.

"Huh..." Nightingale was charmed for only a moment until his face hardened. "But I was only ever tailed by... a... cub?" He was trying to measure her up and down.

"No way you are that cub!" He rejected that motion, no way that little cub could turn into such beauty.

"Bingo!" Aiko applauded him. "See? It was not that hard." She giggled. They were a funny bunch with ever-changing expressions.

"Fuck! I can't believe I lost!" Nightingale cried out and collapsed on his knees.

Aiko stared at him strangely and shifted towards that guard. "Pst, what is this all about?"

The guard smiled bitterly. "The Peak Elder of this place told him that if he is followed again, he will go through the Assassination Training again."

"Oh..." Aiko felt kind of bad, but only kind of, who told him not to practise his craft and be tailed again.

"So." Aiko slapped his shoulder, at least that's what she tried, but she almost slapped his butt due to the height difference.

Aiko awkwardly coughed. "Why are you so tall." She looked away, embarrassed from misjudging the distance.

The guard rolled his eyes. 'You are just too small.' "Did you need something?" He spoke politely, he was against a Vicious Cub... Vicious Fox? Anyway! He couldn't afford to take this encounter lightly, or his ass... Ahem.

"How do I get inside? Do I have to wait outside?" Aiko asked curiously, trying to look through the locked doors.

She got closer, trying to peek and listen to the sounds inside.

Suddenly, the door opened and slammed into Aiko.

"AGH! What kind of bastard!" Aiko yelped at them since the doors didn't injure her, but she was still startled since she couldn't hear anything.

The Peak Elder stared at the cursing girl and then at Nightingale. "You will have to train again."

"Peak Elder, have mercy! It's the same person!" Nightingale pleaded.

The Peak Elder paused and looked at the cursing girl. "Vicious Cub?"

"Who are you calling Vicious Cub, when you slammed the door into my face!" Aiko roared at the Peak Elder.

The Peak Elder chuckled, she liked her energy. "I thought you would never come."

"I don't intend to stay for long." Aiko shrugged. "I want to see how it works and if I don't like it I will go for the Hunting Peak."

"Please follow me." The Shadow Elder spoke gently, attracting Aiko's attention.

"What was that?" Aiko narrowed her eyes.

The Shadow Elder was surprised and even the Peak Elder paused. They exchanged glances.

"That would be voice seduction." The Shadow Elder answered truthfully.

"Oh." Aiko's eyes shined.

It was an interesting technique since it attracted Aiko's attention. If it was possible to attract someone's else attention like this it would make sneaking around much easier and if there existed some kind of recording crystals... hehe~

"You will be taught in due time once-" The Shadow Elder wanted to explain, but he was cut short.

"She can skip that part of training or our Peak wouldn't last." The Peak Elder's voice drifted into the garden, but Aiko felt confused.

She didn't understand how voice could drift from everywhere without a starting point, it felt like Peak Elder was everywhere around her.

"Yes, Mistress." The Shadow Elder was shocked since that part was one of the hardest on the newcomers.

"Or at least 'that' part, she can practice others." The Peak Elder spoke again, but yet again Aiko could not find her.

The Shadow Elder didn't understand and stood there dumbfounded.

'No sex education you dumb bimbo!' The Peak Elder frowned and sent him a telepathic message since she couldn't bear his stupid face that ruined her prestige.

'But Mistress...' The Shadow Elder wanted to protest since this test was the easiest and most effective for gaining information.

'If you have anything to say, say it to Jade Fox and see her reaction.' The Peak Elder snorted, she was aware that Jade Fox was treasured by the Sect Leader, but even this little one was treasured by the Grandmaster!

If the Jade Fox was displeased not only the Sect Leader but also that terrifying war machine would be going after them, their little hidden Peak wouldn't be able to defend itself!

'I understand.' The Shadow Elder bowed. He would ask Jade Fox later about this matter and skip this part of training for the time being.

"So what are we doing now?" Aiko asked curiously startling the Shadow Elder.

He was so taken in by the conversation that he could barely notice Aiko's approach.

'I will have to train harder, it seems like my basics are lacking...' The Shadow Elder frowned.

"How many assassins are you able to notice in here? And where are they?" The Shadow Elder gave this little one her first test.

"I have counted 21, but I can only find the location of 13 of them." Aiko answered truthfully.

The Shadow Elder raised his eyebrow. "Where are they?"

Aiko pointed straight at them.

'It didn't seem like she was lying...' The Shadow Elder narrowed his eyes. "There are 8 left."

"I know..." Aiko frowned. "I just can't seem to grasp their position, I know they are there somewhere, but I just don't know where." Aiko clicked her tongue.

The Shadow Elder nodded. "You have found all the youngsters so we can say you have passed, as for the others... there are an additional 12."

"Eh? You count even those that are taking a shit?" Aiko was surprised and the Shadow Elder choked.

"What?" The Shadow Elder doubted his ears.

"They are taking a dump? Shitting? Letting out those poisonous bricks?" Aiko repeated in different words.

The Shadow Elder coughed awkwardly. "Yes, they are also counted."

"But I still could only find 11..." Aiko frowned.

The Shadow Elder was amused at this point and clapped his hands.

All the nearby assassins moved outside their hiding spot and Aiko stared at them.

"This one! I couldn't find you at all." Aiko tilted her head. "How? It doesn't seem you are all that exceptional. You don't look even half as good as this grandpa." Aiko pointed at the Shadow Elder.

The Shadow Elder almost coughed up blood. 'I'm not that old!'

"I use illusions to trick my enemies." The Youth smiled, seeing the battle-hardened Shadow Elder choke up. He really did like this little one.

"Hmmm..." Aiko suddenly lost interest. "What's the next test."

The other assassins chuckled, his existence was ignored which brought them joy.

The Shadow Elder clapped again and they returned to their positions, but Aiko could feel them shift around.

"Let's go to the next place." The Shadow Elder spoke, but this time without voice seduction.