After formally sealing the pact with the enigmatic Dark Adventure Guild, Felix found himself facing a query from the receptionist, prompting the selection of his Adventure name. Deliberating for a moment, he settled on the evocative moniker 'Traveling Fox,' a name that encapsulated his desire to traverse the realms and an homage to his affinity for foxes, symbolized by the enigmatic fox mask that adorned his visage.
In response, the receptionist warmly welcomed him into the guild, exclaiming, "Welcome to the Dark Adventure Guild, Mr. Traveling Fox! May your expeditions be as diverse as the horizons you seek to explore!" The culmination of this welcome gift was a sleek and sophisticated device named the Black Shadow phone.
As the receptionist began the comprehensive explanation of this mysterious gadget, Felix absorbed the details. The Black Shadow phone, an epitome of modernity, boasted a smooth matte black exterior, an expansive edge-to-edge OLED display, a discreet fingerprint sensor, and a high-resolution camera. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the device served as a crucial tool for accessing mission details. Binding it to oneself required just a single drop of blood, rendering it impervious to unauthorized access even if stolen.
With these revelations, Felix bid farewell to the beguiling Market Dimension, an escapade that cost him more than five gold coins, leaving him with a meager two gold coins. Undeterred, he embarked on his journey back to the inn he had previously visited in the Duchy. Once there, he activated the Black Shadow phone with a drop of his blood, ensuring that his movements remained shrouded from prying eyes.
The phone's black screen bore a solitary button labeled "Missions." Clicking on it revealed a plethora of F-rank missions, ranging from mundane deliveries to finding people and bodyguard requests. However, a tantalizing E-rank mission captured Felix's attention.
[Mission Type: Assassination
Target: (Image)
Name of Target: Elijah Anderson, son of Baron Anderson
Reward: 100 Gold
Location of Target: Dreadshade Duchy, staying at 'The Velvet Hearth Inn'
Maps Location: (Image of a map)
Information: Affinity is fire, and magical rank is awakened low-high rank
Accept the Mission? Click "YES"]
Perusing the image of Elijah Anderson, Felix discerned an affable-looking man with an unassuming demeanor. Standing at approximately 1.7 meters, Elijah's medium build rendered him approachable. His hazel eyes emanated warmth, complemented by short chestnut-brown hair and a well-maintained beard, adding a touch of rugged charm. Elijah's practical and comfortable attire reflected his amiable nature, making him inconspicuous in a crowd. Felix's smile widened at the prospect of 'easy money' and the exhilaration of a maiden assassination in this new existence.
Motivated by the promise of riches and the thrill of the unknown, Felix decided to change into an all-black ensemble. The attire, allowing only a hint of skin to peek through, served as a testament to his silent and shadowy demeanor. Stealthily opening the window and closing the door with a whisper, Felix executed a nimble descent onto a neighboring house's deck, ensuring his presence went unnoticed.
Running and leaping from one deck to another, Felix stealthily approached 'The Velvet Hearth Inn.' Before plunging into the mission, he took a moment to activate the mission acceptance on his Black Shadow phone, officially registering himself as Traveling Fox for this endeavor.
His perceptive gaze focused on the inn's windows, Felix located his target. To his delight, he discovered that Elijah shared the room with a companion, engrossed in their mutual desires, providing a perfect opportunity for a discreet execution.
As minutes elapsed, the duo's indulgence deepened, granting Felix the ideal moment to make his move. Drawing his sword with a fluid motion, he ascended the wall, suspended on the window rim with a single hand. Applying a subtle infusion of natural mana, Felix swiftly terminated Elijah's life and dispatched his unsuspecting partner. The room, now devoid of life, bore witness to Felix's swift, silent, and ruthless execution.
With an eerie proficiency that bespoke both skill and detachment, Felix swiftly dispatched the lives of two unsuspecting individuals, blissfully unaware of the significance veiled behind the second victim's now-lifeless form. The act unfolded seamlessly, shrouded in the cloak of the night, concealing the tangled web of fate woven in the dimly lit room.
As Felix seamlessly melded back into the encroaching shadows, the gravity of his actions lingered in the air like an unspoken truth, while the weight of the enigma he inadvertently unraveled began to press upon his consciousness. Little did he grasp the intricate threads linking his unwitting victims to a complex tapestry of political intrigue and covert machinations, extending far beyond the confines of that clandestine chamber.
The life he extinguished for the second time, ostensibly a mere bystander in this covert act, bore within it a lineage of influence and authority. Unbeknownst to Felix, the lifeless form belonged to a pivotal figure in the intricate power dynamics of the region – a person whose untimely demise would send shockwaves through the political landscape, setting in motion unforeseen repercussions.
As Felix trod the shadowed corridors of moral ambiguity, each footfall resonated with the consequences of his unwitting actions – a symphony of destiny unfolding in dissonant harmony. The seemingly inconsequential act committed by Felix served as an unwitting catalyst, ushering in an impending upheaval that promised to reshape the delicate balance of power within the Dreadshade Duchy.
The interconnectedness of lives, concealed motives, and the unseen tendrils of influence conspired to construct a tableau far more intricate than Felix could fathom. Fate, in its capricious dance, had guided him into a realm where every action held repercussions beyond the immediate, where the boundaries between right and wrong blurred in a chiaroscuro of moral ambiguity.
Vanishing into the depths of the night, Felix left behind a wake of consequences that reverberated through the corridors of power, initiating a narrative that transcended the simplicity of life and death. Unbeknownst to him, the choices made in the obscure recesses of that inn room would serve as the prologue to a saga where the consequences of his actions as Traveling Fox would resonate through the annals of the Dreadshade Duchy, weaving a tale of intrigue, power struggles, and unforeseen destinies.