CHAPTER 157: ASSASSINATION SCHEME (2)

The black smoke gradually faded before disappearing completely.

But then, something unexpected happened—Nolan was no longer where he had been. Instead, he found himself standing in the middle of a vast grassland.

What’s going on? Why am I here? Was I suddenly transported? Nolan wondered in silence.

Strangely, he hadn’t sensed any magic fluctuations or anything unusual. That could only mean one thing—he was inside an illusion.

An illusion, huh? he muttered, narrowing his eyes. It’s so real... I almost didn’t notice it.

Illusion magic was a branch of sorcery that manipulated the mind of its target.

Anyone caught in it would be unable to break free—unless they managed to locate the core of the illusion.

"Tsk... Just as expected from the foolish prince of the Great Velmora Empire—you’re as careless as ever."

A mocking voice echoed from ahead.

Nolan looked up and saw a woman in a skin-tight black outfit appear out of thin air.

She had a tall, slender, and seductive figure.

Her eyes were a striking deep blue, but her face was concealed behind a black mask, making it impossible to tell whether she was beautiful or not.

Her dark red hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and her overall appearance reminded Nolan strongly of the ninjas from his previous world.

But one thing was certain—the aura she gave off was overwhelmingly dangerous, especially the immense magic power surging from her.

Nolan gulped, his face showing a mixture of panic and fear. He stepped back and nervously pointed a finger at her.

"W-Who are you? And... where am I? What do you want from me?"

"Oh?" The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his reaction.

She narrowed her eyes, as if trying to determine whether Nolan was just pretending.

But there was no sign of an act. He truly looked frightened.

Looks like this mission will be easier than I thought, she murmured, lightly licking her upper lip.

According to the information she had received, Nolan was supposed to be a reckless troublemaker who didn’t care for rules.

He would fight anyone who opposed him—even his own father, the Emperor.

But the person standing before her now was nothing like the rumors.

He looked more like a coward—an ordinary young man who posed no threat at all.

Running her fingers through the strands of hair at her temples, the woman chuckled softly, her voice smooth and seductive.

"There’s no need to be afraid, Your Highness. I don’t intend to hurt you as long as you’re willing to fulfill one small condition."

"One condition?" Nolan echoed, stunned and suspicious. "What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, the woman began walking slowly toward him.

Every movement she made radiated natural allure—especially her generous chest, which swayed subtly with each step. It was a sight that was hard for any young man to ignore.

Nolan stole a glance, and his face instantly turned red. He swallowed hard, his eyes betraying a desire he struggled to suppress.

She noticed it easily—but instead of getting angry, she smiled in satisfaction. In fact, she deliberately slowed her pace, allowing Nolan to take in the view.

She was fully aware of her physical allure and didn’t hesitate to use it. After all, keeping Nolan distracted and off-guard was part of her plan.

When she finally stood right in front of him, she gazed intently at his handsome face, her eyes filled with something close to obsession.

If I look closely... he really is extraordinarily handsome,

she muttered, swallowing hard.

As an assassin, she had encountered many handsome men—targets and allies alike.

But this was the first time she had seen someone with such flawless features.

Unconsciously, her throat went dry, and her heart began to race.

Just as men are drawn to beautiful women, women can also be captivated by strikingly handsome men.

"So... What’s the condition you mentioned?"

Nolan’s hesitant voice broke the silence, snapping the woman out of her thoughts. She gave a faint smile.

"Don’t worry—it’s simple," she said calmly, raising a finger. "I want you to kill your sister, Elina Lorian."

The moment those words left her lips, Nolan’s eyes widened. He instinctively took several steps back, his face turning pale.

"Kill my sister? Are you insane? I would never do that!" he shouted.

At his refusal, the woman’s expression shifted—her smile vanished, replaced by a cold, grim look.

"Are you sure you want to refuse? Think carefully about my condition," she said in a coaxing yet threatening tone. "Otherwise... don’t blame me for being cruel."

Snap!

With a flick of her finger, five magic circles—each a meter in diameter—materialized in the air, all locked onto Nolan.

Nolan swallowed hard. A wave of dread surged through him, and cold sweat trickled down his temples.

"Wait! Don’t release your magic!" He cried out in panic. "Isn’t there another condition? I... I can’t do that to my sister."

But the woman simply shook her head, her voice detached and calm.

"No, no. That’s the only condition. But if you agree, you get to live. And..."

She slowly licked her lips, then whispered in a flirtatious tone, "I wouldn’t mind letting you play with my body, Your Highness."

She leaned in slightly, and her enticing pale cleavage immediately filled Nolan’s view.

He was momentarily stunned but quickly caught his breath and regained composure.

He gritted his teeth, remained silent for a moment, then finally gave a reluctant nod.

"...Alright. I agree," he said softly.

"Good!" the woman exclaimed with delight, ready to continue—but Nolan suddenly interrupted.

"But before that... Can you tell me who you are? And where are you from?"

The question immediately put her on alert. Her eyes narrowed, and her expression turned sharp and wary.

Sensing the shift in the woman’s demeanor, Nolan quickly tried to calm her down.

"Wait... don’t get mad. I just want to know who you are and where you came from. I mean... we’re going to do that afterward, right?"

The woman blinked, briefly confused by what Nolan meant by that. But in the next second, she understood—and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Your Highness, you’re really innocent."

The more Nolan acted like that, the easier he was to manipulate.

After a brief moment of thought, she decided to humor him. This man was just a weak pawn she could dispose of at any time.

Once her mission was complete—after she had her fun—she would discard him and return to the base.

And when that time came, not even the Great Velmora Empire would be able to trace her or her organization.

"Well, I suppose I can tell you," she said casually. "I’m Code 06 of the Blood Moon—the most infamous assassin organization on the Eastern Continent. My original mission was to kill both you and Princess Elina. But after seeing you... I changed my mind. I fell in love and decided to make you mine, Prince. Is that enough of an introduction?"

Her gaze turned mischievous and seductive as she locked eyes with Nolan.

Nolan swallowed hard and quickly looked away, flustered.

"A-Alright, I get it... That’s enough teasing," he muttered awkwardly.

His bashfulness only fueled the woman’s desire further. But she held herself back and said softly, "In that case, let’s go find Princess Elina... and you’ll kill her with your own hands."

But the moment those words left her lips, Nolan’s expression shifted.

The nervous look vanished in an instant—replaced by eyes cold and sharp like a blade.

Before the woman could react, Nolan’s right hand shot out and gripped her neck with lightning speed. A faint, mocking smile played on his lips.

"Kill her?" he whispered darkly. "Heh... who do you think you are, ordering me around like that?"