94: Chapter 0094 Behind the Scenes

The female assassin answered truthfully. It turned out she was a wild Wizard Apprentice who had self-taught sorcery in the borderlands since childhood.

By a stroke of luck, she obtained a Rune Identity Key from the Dark Web, allowing her to enter the underground world's most mysterious platform, the "Dark Web," where she became a lone assassin, making a living by taking assassination missions.

The background of this platform is unknown to anyone; no one knows who its creator is, nor has anyone seen the true face of its operators. They only know it has existed for at least a hundred years and serves as the core trading hub of the underground world.

The Dark Web covers all illicit businesses, including bounty assassinations, intelligence trading, and the exchange of forbidden sorcery items. Identities are completely hidden using Rune Masks.

The platform has an absolutely strict set of rules; any violator will be directly erased by a mysterious force of sorcery, leaving no trace behind.

Accessing the Dark Web also requires a special Rune Key, which only veteran figures in the circle can obtain through covert channels.

Flora received the anonymous bounty mission to assassinate Li Size through this platform:

"This time, I received an anonymous bounty mission. Someone offered 20 Gold to kill Li Size, but the mission details were sparse. I only knew the target's name and general location, but I never expected to end up like this."

Li Size now knew the female assassin's name—Flora.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her slightly exotic features in the dim light, before asking:

"Flora, was the sorcery you just used Lesser Invisibility Spell?"

"But according to records, even at night, one can find flaws when staring closely at Lesser Invisibility Spell. Why was I completely unable to detect you just now?"

His voice carried a hint of curiosity and vigilance, as if he were re-evaluating the value of this newly subdued slave.

Flora obediently lowered her head. The soft moonlight spilled onto her pale skin, reflecting a mysterious sheen.

She replied softly:

"Yes, Master.

I used the Zero-Ring Sorcery, Lesser Invisibility Spell.

Because I possess one-quarter Night Elf Bloodline, I've awakened a talent that enhances my strength at night."

"This talent significantly boosts the effect of Lesser Invisibility Spell when cast at night, which is why it achieved such a result."

Her tone was respectful and clear, every word conveying absolute obedience to her Master.

As a descendant with one-quarter Night Elf Bloodline, Flora carried the mark of this ancient and mysterious race:

Her slender ear tips were hidden beneath her ink-black long hair, her skin possessed the unique pale, cold luster characteristic of the Night Elves, and the faint purple glimmer occasionally flashing deep in her pupils was the talent granted by her Bloodline to coexist with darkness.

The Night Elves are one of the races most adept at concealment in the sorcery world. Their Bloodline is inscribed with Shadow Runes, allowing them to manipulate surrounding Demonic Energy to enhance sorceries like invisibility and Dark Vision.

This was the key to why her Lesser Invisibility Spell could hide her perfectly at night.

This race lives in seclusion in forests perpetually shrouded in shadow or deep underground, inheriting ancient sorceries related to darkness. Bloodline Awakened individuals possess sensory perception in dark environments far surpassing ordinary people.

Although Flora's Bloodline was not pure, it already gave her significant advantages throughout her career as an assassin.

Even though she was severely injured at this moment, the instinct derived from the Night Elf Bloodline still allowed her to maintain a sharp awareness of her surroundings.

This was the second time Li Size had heard a concrete example of a Bloodline's capabilities, and his heart could not help but stir.

Li Size thought to himself, these miscellaneous Bloodlines truly are heaven-blessed, possessing all sorts of miraculous, mysterious talents to assist the host.

Should he transplant a mysterious Bloodline into himself in the future?

This thought made him both excited and uneasy. While the power of a Bloodline was tempting, rumors also spoke of the risks of backlash and rejection, and it might even alter a person's Heart-Nature.

Discussions about Bloodlines have existed since ancient times, with both advantages and disadvantages. Li Size couldn't make up his mind for a moment, so he suppressed the thought and pulled his attention back to the present.

He asked tentatively:

"Can you teach me this sorcery?"

His tone held a trace of expectation, but he was also prepared for rejection, as the inheritance of sorcery often came with strict limitations.

Flora shook her head with regret and sorrow. A flash of tears appeared in her eyes, as if her inability to help her Master caused her extreme sadness. This fragile feeling truly made one pity her.

She said softly:

"Master, I am truly sorry. All the sorceries I learned were bound by contracts and cannot be taught to others.

However, I have a Zero-Ring Sorcery called 'Dark Vision' in my collection. It can enhance the caster's perception in dark environments. Since its effect overlaps with my talent, and I never got around to selling it, I can offer it to Master."

Her voice trembled, filled with apology and loyalty.

She quickly took out a slightly yellowed scroll from her bosom. It was inscribed with complex runes and patterns—it was the sorcery model scroll for the Zero-Ring Sorcery 'Dark Vision.' She respectfully presented it to Li Size.

This truly embodied the truth that everything belonging to a slave belongs to the Master; every action she took demonstrated selfless devotion.

These sorcery model scrolls come with a Soul Contract. When you open it, you sign an oath: you cannot re-teach the sorcery model obtained from the scroll.

Li Size accepted the scroll and felt the faint Demonic Energy fluctuation contained within. He couldn't help but feel a trace of satisfaction regarding Flora's loyalty.

Without hesitation, he directly consumed 240 Energy Points to activate the Pay-to-Win Analysis function, converting the Zero Ring Dark Vision sorcery in the scroll into his own skill.

"Consumed 240 Energy Points, analyzed Zero-Ring Sorcery - Dark Vision"

Dark Vision Entry-Level (0 / 100)

Notes:

Entry-Level Zero Ring Dark Vision allows one to retain 70% of vision in dark environments, reaching a maximum of 100% with the increase of Mental Energy.

Li Size immediately cast the sorcery, and the previously pitch-black Laboratory window outside instantly became clear.

He clearly saw the scene over 400 meters away where the male big merchant was molesting the beautiful woman with his lecherous hands.

He then spent another 320 Energy Points to boost the Entry-Level proficiency to 100/100, and invested 400 Energy Points to upgrade it to Proficient Level.

The Energy Points consumed this time for Pay-to-Win were discounted by 20% due to the Stingy special effect of the Stingy Meditation Method. This special effect of the meditation method truly pairs perfectly with Pay-to-Win!

"Consumed 240 Energy Points, Zero-Ring Sorcery (Entry-Level) Proficiency + 100"

...

"Consumed 240 Energy Points, Zero-Ring Sorcery (Entry-Level) promoted to Proficient Level"

Dark Vision Proficient Level (0 / 100)

Notes:

Proficient Level Zero Ring Dark Vision allows one to retain 77.5% of vision in dark environments, reaching a maximum of 100% with the increase of Mental Energy.

The unexpected gain made Li Size overjoyed. This slave scroll was not wasted. He wondered if he would have a chance to obtain another one in the future?

Or could Pay-to-Win reverse-engineer the production method of a 'slave scroll'?

However, looking at the docile and submissive Flora, Li Size felt a new worry:

Captain Sven had once told Li Size that the covert organization had strict requirements for its members and did not allow them to sign slave contracts with outsiders.

He harbored a concern that Flora's identity might be exposed within the organization due to her signing a slave contract with him, leading to unnecessary trouble.

He raised this long-held question to Flora.

Flora softly explained to her Master that the Dark Web was not an organization in the traditional sense; it was more like a loose and neutral platform.

The Dark Web never directly issued missions nor participated in any actions. It existed merely as an intermediary, extracting commissions from completed transactions and missions.

It adhered to neutrality and maintained a kind of hidden justice, which is why it was trusted by many underground operators.

And she, Flora, was just an ordinary assassin accepting missions on this platform, not affiliated with the Dark Web itself—she belonged to herself, and now, she belonged to Li Size.

Hearing this, the stone in Li Size's heart finally settled.

He nodded slightly, his expression relaxing considerably.

Flora being able to retain her identity as a Dark Web assassin undoubtedly held significant strategic value for him.

The Dark Web, as a platform gathering countless hidden intelligence and rare resources, would become an extremely crucial aid for him.

Through Flora, he could not only obtain information that was hard for the outside world to access but also potentially acquire precious treasures or even dynamics of other factions.

All of this undoubtedly added an important bargaining chip to his next plan.

Li Size had grasped the general situation regarding Flora and the Dark Web; there would be more time in the future to delve deeper into Flora.

But the primary question swirling in his mind at the moment was: who exactly was orchestrating this assassination from behind the scenes?

In his deduction, there were three possibilities:

The first was the business rivals whom Gelia's father, Old Payne, had previously warned him about.

Those industry giants intending to snipe him in the market.

History had precedents; such people had used assassination methods more than once to eliminate obstacles.

For them, if they could completely clear future trouble at a cost like twenty gold coins, wouldn't that be the simplest and most cost-effective choice?

If this assassination truly originated from them, it meant these giants had already initiated a comprehensive commercial attack plan.

They acted fiercely and were seasoned in their methods, often having a systematic sniping scheme.

Assassination was merely the prelude to this war, not the finale.

The second possibility was Bamachi, the former Deputy Director from the Provincial Department of Education who was just 'temporarily' dismissed.

Li Size had personally shattered his crucial promotion plan, causing him not only to lose his dream but also to lose his position.

This resentment was enough to constitute murderous intent.

On the surface, a person who once held the position of Deputy Director and also possessed the status of a Formal Wizard would seemingly disdain resorting to such despicable means.

But precisely because of this, everyone believed 'he wouldn't do such a thing,' which ironically provided him with cover, daring him to act this way.

The third possibility was Gil, who had once sought marriage with Gelia but was harshly rejected.

The pain of losing love and the humiliation were indeed enough to breed murderous intent.

However, based on Li Size's observation and understanding of Gil, this person was essentially a reckless and witless dandy.

It was unlikely he could devise such a meticulous assassination plan, and even less likely he possessed the capability to contact an assassin on the Dark Web.