Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?
Chapter 131 - 35 Assassin Tutor

Chapter 131: Chapter 35 Assassin Tutor

Aske arrived at the edge of the valley.

He then saw a man in white standing in the middle of a clearing.

The man’s pupils were deep brown, his hair slightly curly, with a prominent nose and deep-set eyes, suggesting a Middle Eastern descent from the Ilanian side.

He was holding an old book, and his demeanor was refined as if he were a scholar.

However, a Slaughter Value that instantly climbed to 10 indicated that the man was far from being a mere scholar.

After getting a clear look at his face, Aske put his hand on the Longsword at his waist.

"Do you recognize me?" the man turned his head and asked gently.

"Why do you ask that?" Aske responded.

"Because that’s the look one gives to somebody they know," the man replied. "And I don’t remember having seen you before."

"Perhaps I mistook you for someone else," Aske said.

"Whom did you think I was?" the man asked curiously.

"The Ilanian Assassin Sect, the youngest assassin instructor in history, Rasul?" Aske said.

The man silently closed his book.

"It seems you really do know me," Rasul said. "Do you know why I’m here waiting for you?"

"I would like to hear it," Aske said.

"You killed our people," Rasul answered. "The White-clothed Assassin Jalaluddin was exposed by you during his mission in Olin City, and while attempting to hunt you down, he was in turn killed."

"In accordance with the Assassin Organization’s practices, we should at least seek Revenge once for him," Rasul said indifferently. "So we began to collect information about you, but it turned out to be quite interesting."

"Aske Lepeios Achilles, born into the Achilles family from the East Solomon Empire, and also the last surviving member of your family."

"Early records show that you were nothing but mediocre, your parents wanted you to take exams for law or accounting, but your scores were insufficient. Later, through connections, they secured you a position as a high school teacher, undoubtedly a sign they had lost faith in your future, hoping you would live out an unremarkable life."

"From beginning to end, you had no experience in learning Martial Arts or stepping into the Extraordinary Realm, until your parents were murdered. Only then did you suddenly erupt with strange and superior strength, killing a Lv.2 Transcendent with an ordinary human’s body, and one renowned for their robust Life Force in the Flesh Sequence."

"Then you started to assemble a Mercenary Group, with one individual after another emerging around you."

"The daughter of the Duke of Bavaria, daughters of wealthy Italian families, and even the daughters of two emperors from East Solomon Empire and Seljuk Empire—it seems you might be a collector of noble daughters."

"Yet the petty Thief from the Thief Guild, the desperate Half-elf, the downtrodden mercenary from the North, and the neighbor’s daughter indicate perhaps you merely have an excessive sympathy for the lower and middle classes."

"To be honest, we’ve never seen such an odd Mercenary Group, formed of people from different countries, ethnicities, classes, ages, and personalities. Their only common trait is their gender, and yet, that’s meaningless."

"The most peculiar thing is you yourself. From limited intelligence, we’ve found that you’re proficient in a multitude of weapons and Tactics, from Great Swords, Light Swords, Straight Swords, to Long Spears, Battle Axes, Shields, even Firearms—there seems to be no weapon or skill you do not master."

"While you have chosen the Bloodline of a Weapon Master, which seems to make sense, the exquisite skill you display does not seem to be the result of any Magic Potion."

"What most intrigues us is the Ilanian Instant Step and the multiple Reflex Charges you exhibited while sparring in the Night Watchman corps, assassin skills not available to those outside the Assassin Sect."

"Don’t you have anything to say, Lord Aske?" Rasul finally asked.

"You’ve said it all. What is there left for me to say?" Aske said with a wry smile. "Your investigation into the members of our group is clearer than even my own understanding."

"Hmm, let’s try a different approach," Rasul said after thinking. "We take turns asking questions, with the other providing answers, how about that?"

"Sure," Aske said.

"Let me ask first," Rasul said seriously. "Do you harbor direct or indirect hostility towards the Ilanian Assassin Organization?"

"No," Aske replied. "Did you come here to kill me?"

"Originally, yes, but then I changed my mind," Rasul said with a smile. "Have you acquired the Martial Arts heritage of the Ilanian assassin, whether directly or indirectly?"

"Sort of," Aske answered vaguely.

Having played an assassin character in my past life and mingled within the Assassin Sect for quite some time, can that be counted?

"Have your assassins come here with the intention of destroying Olympia City?" Aske asked.

"Not at all," Rasul replied with his hands behind his back, "Lord Aske, when you brought people here, did you intend to get involved in the conflict between Olympia City and the Latin Crusaders?"

"The reason we came here is merely to purchase the necessary Magic Potion Materials," Aske answered. "However, if there’s an opportunity for real combat training, we don’t rule out participating in the war."

"Lord Rasul, you claim that the Ilanian Assassins did not intend to damage Olympia City, yet in fact, your actions have had a destructive effect. How can this be explained?"

"It means that everything the Ilanian Assassins have done in the city was at the instigation of City Lord Apilius," Rasul said meaningfully.

The City Lord’s instigation? Aske froze upon hearing this. Wait, doesn’t that mean...

"It seems you’ve also guessed as much," Rasul said leisurely. "Lord Aske, who do you think will emerge as the victor among the Latin Empire, the Seljuk Empire, and the remnants of the East Solomon Empire under the current chaotic international situation?"

Is he testing my insight? After pondering for a moment, Aske answered:

"The Latin Empire cannot last long. It is built upon armed power, but it lacks the support of the people and financial resources, and it will be the first to fall."

"The East Solomon Empire also has no chance of recovering the Imperial City. Once the Seljuk Empire completely digests Anatolia, Constantinople will be in the jaws of the beast, with no possibility of escape."

"The only hope lies in the Church Court launching another Crusader Holy War. However, with war imminent between Pope Innocent and Holy Solomon Emperor Otto, there is no possibility of initiating another Holy War."

"The best outcome for the East Solomon Empire would be to retain the Sirius Province, without even hoping to hold onto the Macedonia Province. In the long term, the Seljuk’s dominance in the East cannot be shaken."

"Well said," Rasul clapped softly, his face showing faint approval.

"Then, the question I want to ask," Aske inquired solemnly, "is the Ilanian Assassins causing extensive damage within the city, and in fact assassinating members of the peace faction of Olympia’s upper echelons? Since City Lord Apilius instigated your actions, does this mean he anticipates that the Latin Crusaders will indeed spare no effort to attack the city next?"

"There are two questions there," Rasul replied lightly. "But considering your previous answer, I will respond."

"Our assassination targets were a selection of the more stubborn peace faction members, as well as a few less resolute members of the war faction, otherwise the direction of the assassinations would be too obvious."

"The Latin Crusaders will indeed attack with full force. The reason is that the Church Court has sent instructions, urging the Latin Empire to quickly capture Olympia City and declaring Olympia the source of all evil, the vanguard of the Hidden World’s erosion of civilized society, and the seductive serpent that leads humanity to its downfall."

"Additionally, here is some more information. The reason the Church Court makes these claims is that Emperor Otto recently issued the Valpuga Decree, which states that any Transcendent within the Empire who registers and is recognized by the local Lord can enjoy freedom from arrest by the Heretic Court."

"After this decree was announced, a great number of Divine Luo Empire Lords chose to employ Transcendents as Hidden advisors, which enraged the Solomon Pope."

"He ordered the Heretic Courts, the Temple Knights, and the Demon Hunters in various countries to arrest and hunt down Transcendents within their territories fiercely. Concurrently, he swiftly excommunicated several Earls who openly announced their acceptance of Transcendents."

"The assault on Olympia City is also a significant signal from the Church Court declaring war on the Hidden World, demonstrating the Church Court’s resolve to defend technological civilization."

So, it means that the zealous Crusaders will certainly besiege Olympia City with all their might, and to prepare for the war, City Lord Apilius has hired Ilanian Assassins to purge internally...

Aske rubbed his temples, feeling this scenario was several times more complicated than the one in his previous life’s game.

"The clash between ecclesiastical and imperial power, the rift between East and West, the full-fledged confrontation between technological civilization and the Extraordinary World, will bring about a collision of iron and blood and a slaughter," Rasul said in a deep voice.

"And you? Where do you stand, Lord Aske?"

"We only stand on our side," Aske replied.

"Everyone wishes to stand on their own side," Rasul said, "but in times of chaos, weakness is the original sin."

"Just like camels in the desert coming together in a sandstorm, enduring each other’s coarseness and stench. Those lone camels that stand proudly on the dunes seem free, but they are the fools that die the fastest."

"What role does the Ilanian Assassin Organization wish to play in these chaotic times?" Aske asked slowly, "Mercenaries? Intelligence brokers? War Brokers?"

"You see, we still have common ground," Rasul smiled amiably. "I propose offering you an honorary membership in the Ilanian Assassin Organization, how about it? This way, what happened before would be wiped clean."

"Acting as an ally in various organizations is not my first time doing this," Aske said with a wry smile, "what are the specific rights and obligations?"

"You can pay to buy our intelligence, of course, and you can also sell intelligence," Rasul said. "Occasionally, we will issue some missions, you can choose to take them, of course, there will be a payment. If you don’t accept, it’s also okay."

"It sounds like I have no reason to refuse," Aske said.

"Of course, we only offer this status to special individuals with whom we need to foster good relations," Rasul explained in a mild tone. "After this dream ends, someone will contact you, Lord Aske."

"From now on, we are no longer enemies."