Chapter 7: Escort and Assassination

After finishing his meal, Mo Xiao wiped the breadcrumbs from the table. He then stood up and asked Mo Xuanyu, "Teacher, is there anything you need me to do next?"

Mo Xiao possessed a very clear sense of self-awareness; he believed that since his teacher had brought him out of prison, there must be tasks for him to complete. Regardless of what those tasks might be, he would execute them without hesitation.

"Not for the moment, but it should be soon," Mo Xuanyu replied, shaking his head as he walked to the window to gaze into the distance.

On the city walls in the distance, teams of soldiers were lighting torches, maintaining a strict guard. Gloomy, oppressive black clouds had shrouded the city sky at some unknown point. Based on the reports Mo Xuanyu had read in the newspapers, he inferred that the eldest prince of the Nora Kingdom had arrived in the main city for an inspection.

As Mo Xuanyu had anticipated, a luxurious carriage slowly pulled to a halt at the Sun Knights' barracks. The Knight Commander, Velen, stood alongside his adjutants and a group of knights to welcome him.

The carriage door opened, and a handsome young man with blonde hair and blue eyes stepped out. His attire was crafted from such extravagant materials that it was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

This man was Prince Eric of the Nora Kingdom, once the celebrated heir to the throne. Unfortunately, everything had changed after the birth of the Child of the Sun. Rumor had it that in the Pope’s prophecy, the Child of the Sun was the only one capable of leading the kingdom to prosperity. The Sun King, overjoyed, personally designated the Child of the Sun as the crown prince.

Eric had been completely overshadowed and lost his position as heir, causing his already cold personality to become increasingly volatile. His inspection of the Seventh Main City was merely a formality, and he was quite impatient with Velen and the others, who were the Sun King’s cronies.

"Don't make the ceremonies so tedious. The inspections of all main cities are complete, and I shall depart for the capital tomorrow."

To Eric, the Sun King sending him to inspect various main cities—a task that offered some illicit profit but no real power—was clearly a move to gradually exile him from the core of power and wear down his will and influence. He would never let that old man’s scheme succeed.

"I understand, Your Highness," Velen and the others responded helplessly.

...

"Lord Velen, a secret letter from the Sun King!"

Inside the office, a secret agent handed Velen a letter brought back from the capital. Velen hurriedly took it and read it; the contents left him astonished. The Sun King had clearly noticed Eric’s determination to return to the capital and had sent this letter to instruct Velen to arrange for Moravenas to be placed by Eric’s side for the journey.

"What is His Majesty thinking? Having Mora serve as a guard for Prince Eric?" Velen, known for his meticulous nature, quickly pondered the implications of the King's move.

He soon reached a conclusion that sent a chill down his spine: His Majesty was using Eric’s life to test Mora’s loyalty and credibility. If Eric died on the road, it would mean Mora was not worth promoting or trusting. At the same time, the Sun King was using Mora’s strength to protect his own child. If Mora wanted to be promoted, he had to keep Eric safe.

No matter the outcome, the operation benefited the Sun King—it was killing two birds with one stone. Velen sighed inwardly, marveling at the Sun King’s ruthless methods; he would even use his own child’s life as a pawn.

"Draft a transfer order. Promote Moravenas to an intermediate knight, grant him independent authority, and dispatch three junior knights to assist him in this mission." Velen waved his hand, and his orders were soon carried out.

...

Before dawn, a secret agent climbed over the eaves and delivered the transfer order to Mo Xuanyu’s doorstep. Inside the house, Mo Xiao’s nerves were taut. He hid himself in the shadows, watching coldly as the agent slid the order through the crack in the door.

After confirming the agent had left, Mo Xiao donned gloves and inspected the document to ensure it wasn't tainted with poison or toxic mist before gently knocking on the bedroom door. The apartment had one living room and one bedroom; Mo Xiao slept on the sofa, while Mo Xuanyu rested in the bedroom.

"Come in."

Mo Xiao waited a moment, then pushed the door open upon receiving permission. Inside, Mo Xuanyu was wearing a white shirt, his black hair falling over his shoulders as he leaned over to light a kerosene lamp. In the lamplight, Mo Xiao could only vaguely see his slender figure, half-shrouded in darkness.

"Teacher, a letter from the Sun Knights."

Mo Xiao handed the letter to Mo Xuanyu, then silently stepped back, positioning himself in a spot where he would not intrude on privacy but could still protect his teacher at a moment's notice.

Mo Xuanyu opened the letter, and the Sacred Geometry system responded accordingly.

[Triggered Phase Side Quest]
Quest: Escort
Difficulty: A-Rank
Objective: Escort Prince Eric to the capital of the Nora Kingdom and ensure his survival during the journey.
Time Limit: 48 hours.
Reward: 1000 points, Blue Equipment Treasure Chest x1.
Special Reward: If the attacker killed during this mission is a God-Chosen, you will receive an additional 1 Free Attribute Point.
Failure Penalty: Deduct 5000 points, significant decrease in favorability with the Sun King faction.
[Note: The success or failure of the side quest will, to a certain extent, affect your main quest. Please decide whether to accept.]

"Accept." Mo Xuanyu folded the letter, accepting the side quest in his heart without hesitation; he did not want to miss this opportunity. Moreover, he had no other choice, as his main quest was closely tied to this side quest.

Mora’s identity was special; under normal circumstances, the Sun King would have kept him in the main city for at least a month to observe him before deciding whether to entrust him with important tasks. However, if Mo Xuanyu stayed here for a month, the mole from the Free Commune would inevitably expose his identity, which would lead to an immediate failure of the main quest. Only by using this mission with Eric could he leave the main city under legitimate pretenses, head to the capital, eliminate the informant, and gain the Sun King’s trust.

"You haven't slept all night, so get some rest. Recharge your energy; we are going to escort Prince Eric," Mo Xuanyu told Mo Xiao the details of the mission.

The latter nodded. He had intended to sleep on the sofa, but Mo Xuanyu left the bedroom, clearly giving up the bed for him. Mo Xiao hesitated for a moment before finally lying down on the bed with caution. A faint fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, allowing his tense spirit to relax.

He slept for about two hours. When he woke up, it was breakfast time, and the two made do with yesterday’s bread and jam.

"I retrieved your weapons for you. Change your clothes; we are ready to depart." Mo Xuanyu handed a long, narrow wooden box to Mo Xiao, which contained the assassin gear that had been confiscated earlier. He had used his knightly privileges to get the items back.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Due to the importance of this mission, Mo Xuanyu, as an intermediate knight, naturally had to wear the knight order’s uniform; the deep black military suit was convenient enough to wear.

"I am... ready."

Mo Xiao, having equipped his hidden blades, looked up and suddenly paused. From his vantage point, he saw Mo Xuanyu standing on a chair, tightening the leather straps on his thigh, slightly adjusting the angle to ensure he could draw the dagger within at the fastest speed in an emergency.

"Is something wrong?" Mo Xuanyu moved with agility, using a hairband to tie back his hair, and looked at him in confusion upon hearing his voice.

"Nothing, I am ready." Mo Xiao silently looked away.

He did not hold a knightly position, so he did not need to wear a uniform, opting instead for a deep black trench coat, which made it easier to conceal his movements and whereabouts.

When the two arrived at the Sun Knights' barracks, Prince Eric had not yet risen, so Mo Xuanyu went to see Velen first.

"The uniform suits you," Velen commented faintly as he sat in his chair, handing the stamped transfer order to Mo Xuanyu. "This mission does not allow for any mistakes. You must ensure Prince Eric’s safety; even if it means you die first, do you understand?"

Mo Xuanyu took the order and handed it to the junior knight beside him, saying calmly, "As long as Prince Eric does not seek his own death, he will be fine."

For this kind of NPC escort mission, Mo Xuanyu wished Eric were senile so he would just listen obediently. The most troublesome thing was when the client refused to listen; if they were attacked while Eric was running around, Mo Xuanyu wasn't sure he could keep him alive.

Velen showed a look of helplessness upon hearing this. He was well aware of Prince Eric’s gloomy and volatile personality—arrogant and conceited.

When Eric arrived at the barracks and learned that Mo Xuanyu was the one escorting him, his expression was indeed very dissatisfied.

"Only one intermediate knight? What if I am attacked on the road?" Eric pointed at Mo Xuanyu. "Is he protecting me, or am I protecting him?!"

During his time as an assassin, Moravenas had always worn a mask, so Eric did not know that the person in front of him was the legendary master assassin. Additionally, due to the Sun King’s previous orders, Mo Xuanyu’s identity was known to only a few and remained confidential.

"Your Highness, please stay calm," Velen attempted to appease him. "The war at the front lines is tense, and all high-ranking and intermediate knights within the order have been dispatched by His Majesty for missions. We truly cannot spare any more personnel."

"A bunch of losers!" Eric felt slighted, but considering his current status, he had no choice but to swallow his pride. After all, he had already lost his place as crown prince.

Finally calming down, Eric boarded the carriage, and Mo Xuanyu, acting as his personal guard, sat inside with him. The three junior knights rode their warhorses, clearing the path on both sides. As for Mo Xiao, Mo Xuanyu had arranged for him to blend in with the administrative staff in the rear, instructing him to act independently as the situation demanded and do what he did best: his work as an assassin.

The convoy drove out of the main city, heading toward the capital. With winter approaching, the Nora Kingdom had suffered consecutive droughts and floods over the past two years. Along the way, Mo Xuanyu saw countless civilians who had starved to death by the roadside, their bodies barely covered, their stomachs empty.

"Peel an apple for me."

Eric gestured to the maid beside him. The latter immediately took a fruit from the basket, peeled it, removed the ends, and handed it to him. Eric only ate the flesh of the fruit, tossing the sour core out the window.