An Old Man In The Mansion

Around 20kms away from Ethan's location, a black-dressed man was sitting under a tree. He looked at the torn paper which looked like a Talisman paper. His eyes were full of tears. His heart was bleeding from the loss.

He was none other than the Assassin who tried to assassinate Ethan. He was sure that if Ethan got serious, then he would have been the one who died. Since he was in deep danger and the situation was not in his favour, he suppressed his pride as an Assassin and used the Teleportation Talisman to escape.

He accidentally fell into a cave which happens to be one of the forbidden grounds in the entire Mortal World. He faced many dangers. But he somehow managed to escape with major injuries. He was treated by some nearby villagers. Or else, he would have been dead. And that Teleportation Talisman happens to be his only loot.

The Teleportation Talisman could teleport anyone 20kms away from their initial location. The Assassin decided to use it only when he was in a hopeless situation and there is no way out. But he had to use it against Ethan of all people.

If he was successful in killing Ethan and lost the Talisman, then he wouldn't have felt this sad. He lost his Talisman and even failed to assassinate his target. The loss was massive.

"Those old bastards have given me false details about the target. I have to make them make up for my loss.", The Assassin said to himself. After digesting the fact that he really lost the Teleportation Talisman, he stood up and walked towards the location where his client who hired him to assassinate Ethan was.

…

In the Phoenix Feather City, the Assassin entered a huge mansion. The guards were guarding the mansion tightly. But the Assassin was skilled enough to enter the mansion without drawing anyone's attention. While he was moving, they didn't hear any sounds. The Assassin didn't make any sound of his footsteps. He entered the mansion through a window.

As soon as he entered the mansion, he walked towards a door. There were many doors. But the Assassin knew where he should be going. He knew which door to enter.

There were guards everywhere. But they posed no danger to the Assassin. He skilfully dodged their eyes and entered the room he wanted to enter.

Inside the room, an old man was sitting on a chair. He was reading some manuals. His beard and moustache were so large that they were hanging from his face.

"You are here, my dear little assassin!", The old man was reading the manual. But he still managed to find that the Assassin entered his room.

The Assassin didn't find it out of ordinary. He was well aware of just how terrifying this old man is. So, he wasn't surprised when this old man found him very easily.

The old man closed the manual he was reading and stood up. He then looked at the Assassin and asked, "So, how did it go? Did you kill that Ethan Hunt?"

The Assassin sighed. He said after a while of silence, "It failed."

"Failed?", The old man didn't expect this answer. He asked, "How could the target be any problem for you? How could the 1st Level of Physique Strengthening Stage expert have a problem in assassinating a man with 5th Level of Elementary Stage ant?"

"Are you sure that he is at the 5th Level of Elementary Stage?", The Assassin asked. The old man could find traces of anger in that Assassin's words.

"This information is authentic. He has been tested by the branch union staff two days ago. He admitted that his cultivation is indeed at the 5th Level of the Elementary Stage. You know how strict we are when we test someone's cultivation, right?", The Old man said.

He then continued, "My people were scouting outside the city. It was then they found that young man coming out from that forbidden village. I don't know how exactly he managed to enter that village. After all, no cultivators were able to set their foot in that village. So, my old master concluded that, this brat has a treasure which allows him to enter the village safely. We have to inform you who was in the city by chance to assassinate that person and bring all his belongings to us. Then we have taken his info from the administration house and gave it to you."

The Old Man continued, "The point is clear. His cultivation is at the 5th Level of the Elementary Stage. It was recorded in the administration house three days ago. Even if some miracle happened and he made a breakthrough in his cultivation, he should be at peak 6th Level of Elementary Stage."

The Old Man looked at the Assassin and said, "Even so, he should not pose any threat to you, right? After all, your cultivation at the 1st Level of Physique Strengthening Stage. You have a major level advantage against that brat, right?"

"There is a mistake somewhere. You should've seen our fight with your own eyes. You would have changed your opinion instantly.", The Assassin said with an emotionless face.

"Why?",The Old Man asked confused, "Tell me everything that happened. Don't leave any details out."

The Assassin explained everything that has transpired. He didn't miss any details. He highlighted the part where he had to use his Transportation Talisman multiple times and what kind of loss it was as its usage had no benefits.

The Old Man was very smart. He understood that this Assassin is indirectly asking for extra money for the loss he suffered. That is the reason why he was explaining the usage of the Teleportation Talisman part multiple times.

The Old Man started to think. He started to wonder whether what the Assassin said might be the truth. He started to wonder whether there was any mistake with the data recorded in the Administration Building. But no matter how much he thought, he couldn't accept it. After all, the verification process has always been very strict.

Did that beat encounter something in that forbidden village which raised his cultivation to the Physique Strengthening Stage? That village is forbidden. No cultivators could enter that village. Or else, they will die. No one returned alive after entering that village.

Then how could this brat enter that forbidden village and even come back alive? Did he obtain anything from that village? Something like a miraculous pill which raised his cultivation base to the Physique Strengthening Stage? Was this the intention of that kid to enter the Forbidden Village?

Too many questions were running through the mind of that Old Man. But he couldn't figure out any answers.

He sighed and said to the Assassin, "I will inform the Old Master and give you a satisfying amount for your losses. Don't worry about it. We will inform you once we get accurate data about that kid. You may leave for now."

"Thank you.",The Assassin said with an emotionless face. But the excitement in his heart couldn't be hidden. The Assassin bid his farewell and left the mansion.