The name "The Night Performer" doesn't refer to a troupe performing songs, dances, or acrobatics for entertainment but rather to an assassin organization.
Ron had heard of this organization at the academy. It was said to be extremely large, covering the entire Gust Empire. Not just the Gust Empire, but wherever there were human activities, their presence could be felt.
The members of this organization are known as The Slayer Performers. Whenever they act, they wear masks to conceal their identities. They also use various bizarre tools for assassination, such as buttons, pins, and even playing cards. These are common items that people usually don't think to guard against.
The idea of being targeted by such an organization already gave Ron a headache, but now it felt even worse. The organization's principle is that anyone, from emperors to beggars, can be assassinated if the price is right. Once they accept a contract, they pursue it relentlessly until it is completed. To date, there have been no known cases of them failing to complete a task.
This relentless nature has made countless nobles anxious and filled with hatred towards them. The Emperor of the Gust Empire has even personally ordered several hunts against this organization. However, they are exceptionally good at escaping and disguising themselves, successfully evading the army's encirclements each time.
As a result, these failed attempts not only failed to diminish their power but also increased their infamy. Knowing that he was targeted by such an organization made Ron feel a chill of dread.
"I didn't expect Baron to think so highly of me, hiring The Night Performer."
"And it's a killer who uses playing cards. This likely means the assassin is an extraordinary person; without Qi Force enhancement, how could playing cards kill?"
"This is bad! How can I avoid being killed by this guy?"
"Even if I survive tonight, The Night Performer will keep hunting me. Will my promising life end before it even begins?"
"Damn The Night Performer!"
Ron cursed inwardly, quickly pushing away his anxiety and accepting his fate. Of course, accepting his fate didn't mean sitting idly by.
Ron steadied his emotions, began strategizing, and kept encouraging himself. Even in dire situations, hope must never be lost. Confidence is crucial at times like this.
"Since you have no failed cases, then I'll be the first!"
Ron took a deep breath, drew his sword, and stepped out of the bar.
As he emerged, he scanned the surroundings. Although he didn't see the assassin's figure or sense their presence, he was certain they were close by, waiting for him.
"Right now, my advantage is that the assassin hasn't realized they've been detected. If I can surprise them with a preemptive strike, I might be able to make it a one-hit kill. Of course, this assumes the assassin will approach me."
With this in mind, Ron pretended to be nonchalant, casually walking down the street while recalling the alleyways in Lane Town to find a favorable position.
"If I can't choose the time of the assassination, at least I can pick a beneficial terrain. If the first plan fails, I'll have an alternative."
"The assassin uses playing cards, which means they are an extraordinary person. But as long as they're not using a melee weapon, I should be able to block their cards with my blocking skills."
"Thus, using infinite blocking and counter-attacks should allow me to take them down."
"The only concern is not letting them escape. Otherwise, I'll be on edge every day."
"A confined terrain would be ideal for this. That way, I could eliminate them."
"As for someone else coming to assassinate me, I'll deal with it when it happens!"
As Ron walked and thought, he suddenly felt someone following him.
"Perfect, that's the aura!"
Ron didn't look back. He maintained his pace and breathing, continuing to walk forward casually.
"Come on, follow me. You want to kill me, right? Come on, get closer!"
Ron mentally shouted, his nerves tightening as he waited for the assassin to come within striking range.
However, the assassin behind him maintained a distance of 25 to 30 meters, neither getting too close nor too far, just following without any clear intention.
Ron knew the assassin had patience and assumed they wouldn't be fooled easily without some opportunity. He saw a small stand selling sausages and other snacks up ahead.
He approached, ordered a few grilled sausages, and stood still, waiting.
Not far behind him, in a corner of the wall, Leodo leaned against the surface. Just as Ron had guessed, Leodo was indeed an assassin from The Night Performer and had come to kill Ron.
Orphaned early and losing his family estate to relatives, Leodo had roamed the streets since the age of five. To survive, he was often beaten by older kids. Eventually, he was recruited by The Night Performer and began assassin training.
After awakening his Qi Force at 13, his strength skyrocketed. His first act as an adult was to kill the relatives who took his family's fortune. Though he succeeded, he was nearly killed due to his inexperience, leaving a deep scar on his face as a constant reminder to be extra cautious.
Because of his cautious nature, he had never failed a mission in over thirty years and had become one of The Night Performer's top assassins.
Although today's target was just a sixteen-year-old, Leodo didn't underestimate him. He had hesitated for a long time, unable to find the perfect assassination moment. Assassination isn't about using extraordinary power to fight head-on; it's about surprise and efficiency. The organization's methods prioritize results over style.
Leodo had several chances for a clean kill during their walk. Amid the crowd, he could have disguised himself as a passerby and taken the shot. Yet, his intuition told him it was too risky.
"This is the first time in years encountering such a difficult target, especially a young one!"
"Despite always facing away from me, his vigilance is strong. Even in the crowd, he maintains space to draw his sword."
"It seems he's already aware of me."
"How could he sense me from so far away while I've been hiding my aura?"
"Is it a misconception?"
As Leodo pondered his approach, he saw Ron eating sausages with both hands. The opportunity seemed to present itself, but he quickly dismissed it.
"If he really noticed me and dropped the sausages to draw his sword, it wouldn't take much time. No, that's not feasible!"
Then, Leodo saw Ron turn into an alley, followed by a strange noise.
Fearful of losing the target, Leodo hurried after him but found the alley blocked at the end.
Panicked, he quickened his pace, but as he proceeded, he still couldn't find Ron.
The alley had turned into a dead end.
"This is bad!"
Just as Leodo realized something was wrong, a shadow suddenly descended from the sky...