Li Mei stood among the crowd, her sharp eyes fixed on the platform where Lin Yu sat, surrounded by his guards. The competition was underway, participants clashing with each other in a display of brute strength and martial prowess. But Li Mei's mind wasn't on the contest; her thoughts were focused on how she would get close enough to Lin Yu to take his life. The crowd's cheers and roars blurred in her ears as she strategized.
Beside her, Michael appeared casual, hands resting in the folds of his dark cloak. But inside, his mind was busy—busy talking to his invisible companion.
"System," Michael muttered quietly, his lips barely moving.
"Yes, Host?" The voice of the System rang in his mind, calm and clear.
"Remind me again, no one can hear or see you, right?" Michael asked, his eyes lazily scanning the crowd.
"Correct, Host. I exist solely for your benefit. Only you are aware of my presence. Even the most powerful beings in this world cannot perceive me," the System responded confidently.
"Good." Michael's lips curled into a smirk. "I'd rather not explain why I'm talking to thin air in the middle of an assassination."
The System's voice chimed in again. "Are you planning to participate in this competition, Host? There are other ways too—"
Michael cut it off with a chuckle. "Participate? No. I'm not here to fight for show. I'm here to kill Lin Yu and get out. That's all."
There was a brief silence before the System spoke again, this time with a hint of curiosity. "I see. And what of your... temporary ally? Li Mei. What's your plan for her?"
Michael's eyes flicked toward Li Mei, who was standing a few paces ahead, her attention fully on the platform. She looked serious and determined, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Michael's smirk deepened.
"I'll use her as a distraction," he said calmly. "She's determined to kill Lin Yu, but she's too focused on doing it up close. I'll handle it from a distance, and when the chaos starts, she'll be the perfect bait to cover my escape."
The System hesitated for a moment before replying, "Ruthless, Host. She is rather beautiful. Using her as bait, though effective, could be seen as... cold-hearted."
Michael's grin widened. "I'm not here to make friends. Beautiful or not, she's a tool for now."
Satisfied with his plan, Michael shifted his attention back to Lin Yu, who sat confidently on his high throne, watching the competition unfold with a smug grin. The man had no idea that today would be his last.
As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the competition grounds, Michael's hand slipped inside his cloak. His fingers brushed against the cold steel of his AMT Hardballer, the weapon hidden from view. He looked up, his sharp blue eyes locking onto Lin Yu. The target was sitting comfortably, unaware of the death that had already marked him.
"System, status check," Michael whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Target is within range. No other participants or guards are aware of your presence," the System confirmed.
Michael's heart rate remained steady as he slowly drew his gun, careful to keep it concealed. The suppressor on the barrel ensured that no one would hear the shot. His eyes narrowed, calculating the perfect moment. Lin Yu's head bobbed slightly as he watched the competition, oblivious to the danger.
In one smooth, fluid motion, Michael raised his gun, aimed with precision, and squeezed the trigger. The soft pfft of the silenced shot was lost in the noise of the crowd. A fraction of a second later, Lin Yu's head snapped back, a perfect bullet hole in the center of his forehead. Blood splattered across the stage, but no one immediately noticed. Lin Yu slumped in his chair, lifeless.
"Mission complete," the System chimed in.
Michael didn't even glance at Lin Yu's body. He had already stowed the gun back in his storage ring, his movements so swift and subtle that no one around him suspected a thing. His eyes scanned the area for Li Mei. She was still focused on the platform, unaware of what had just happened.
"Perfect," Michael thought. Without a sound, he slipped away from the crowd, disappearing into the shadows.
Moments later, Li Mei sensed something was wrong. The crowd near the stage had gone eerily silent. She glanced toward Lin Yu's throne, and her eyes widened in shock. There he was—dead, slumped over, blood pooling under his chair. The shock turned to anger as she scanned the area, searching for Michael, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did that bastard go?" she thought, her fists clenching.
Before she could make sense of what had happened, a shout rang out from the guards near the platform.
"There! It's her! The assassin Li Mei! Capture her!"
Li Mei's heart pounded in her chest as the guards began rushing toward her. She realized what had happened. Lin Yu had put out a bounty on her head before, and now with him dead, they assumed she was the one who had killed him.
"Damn it!" Li Mei cursed under her breath. "He used me as a scapegoat!"
She wasn't going to stick around to explain herself. Without hesitation, she turned and bolted through the crowd, her speed and agility allowing her to easily evade the guards. People screamed and scattered as the chase began, the guards shouting orders and trying to keep up with her.
High above, on the rooftop of a tall library building, Michael watched the scene unfold. He leaned casually against a pillar, his eyes following Li Mei as she sprinted through the streets, a horde of guards on her tail. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
"Looks like they took the bait," Michael said, amused.
The System's voice echoed in his mind, slightly disapproving. "Host, you are indeed ruthless. Using such a capable woman as bait… especially one as beautiful as Li Mei."
Michael shrugged. "She's tough. She'll manage. Besides, she's the one who wanted Lin Yu dead too. I just gave her the perfect opportunity to take the blame."
The System was silent for a moment before responding. "You are efficient, Host, but such methods may create more enemies than allies."
Michael's smile faded slightly as he continued watching the chase from above. "Allies? They're just liabilities. I prefer predictable enemies."
Below, Li Mei disappeared into the maze of streets, the guards still hot on her trail. Michael turned away, satisfied that his plan had gone off without a hitch. Lin Yu was dead, and now the province would descend into chaos. It would take time before anyone pieced together that the real killer had never drawn a sword.
Meanwhile, Li Mei dashed through the narrow alleyways of Xianwu, her heart pounding, and her mind racing. She wasn't just angry at the guards—she was furious at Michael. He had set her up and used her as a distraction while he made his escape. The realization only fueled her determination to find him.
"I won't let him get away with this."
As she ducked into another alley, blending into the shadows, her thoughts sharpened. She had two missions now—find Michael, and then, deal with him.
To be Continued...