160 THE DEACON OF DEATH
[In the Temple of Assassin]
Leo was blindfolded and guided through a labyrinth of corridors leading to the fabled Temple of Assassins. He was invited here by the temple and he had no reason to refuse. It was impossible to refuse the Temple of Assassins when they require an audience.
Despite the fabric obscuring his vision, Leo moved with calculated ease. His mini-map—an invaluable feature embedded in his system interface—displayed every turn and hallway in vivid detail, allowing him to chart the entire maze in his mind.
By the time they reached their destination, Leo had mentally mapped the layout.
The blindfold was removed, and his eyes adjusted to the dim light of a massive cavern.
The temple walls were a haunting masterpiece, adorned with intricate carvings, looming statues, and grotesque displays of skulls and macabre relics. The air was heavy, carrying a mix of incense and decay.
Leo recognized this place. He's been here before spying but now he was invited here.
As Leo stepped toward the center of the cavernous temple, a figure emerged from the shadows. Clad in flowing black robes with a hood obscuring most of his face, the man radiated an aura of authority or dark malice.
"You are Lilleo Gullee, the so-called Demon of Gullee?" the man asked, his voice cold and even.
Leo met his gaze with calm confidence. "And you must be the Deacon of Death."
The man chuckled softly, the sound echoing ominously off the cavern walls. "Most people who meet me for the first time are far less confident than you."
"That's because they fear you," Leo replied casually.
"And you do not?" the Deacon asked, tilting his head slightly.
Leo's vision flickered with a glowing box marker hovering over the Deacon, providing basic stats and information:
Name: UnknownMagic: UnknownAnimosity: 50%
The description intrigued Leo.
Unlike players or NPCs he couldn't read much into the Deacon of Death from his description. He only managed to read his emotional ratings.
Leo decided to test the waters with provocation, gauging the Deacon's reaction.
"Why should I fear you? You and I are of the same kind. We thrive on other people's fears."
The Deacon remained silent for a moment, his masked face betraying no emotion. But something changed. Leo glanced at the marker again.
Animosity: 40%
Leo smirked inwardly. "Interesting. He wasn't offended by my defiance, he was pleased by it," he thought.
"Some people call you a demon," the Deacon of Death said, his voice calm yet probing.
Leo smiled faintly, "Embarrassingly, I come from a household where danger lurks at every corner. My enemies nearly killed me more than once, and that gave me a realization: to survive, I needed to make myself untouchable. Fear became my weapon. I made my enemies fear me—and they, in turn, started calling me a demon."
"Understandable," the Deacon said, his tone measured. "But how do you account for your rapid advancement in magic? Talent like yours doesn't develop overnight."
Leo shrugged, his smirk growing. "There's only one explanation: I'm a latent genius. You're welcome to test me with a crystal ball if you think I'm practicing forbidden magic. You'll find nothing unusual."
The Deacon's gaze remained steady, though the marker in Leo's interface shifted:
Animosity: 20%
Things were going smoothly so far.
"Will you accept a position in our Assassin Workshop as one of our operatives?" the Deacon asked suddenly. "It's a highly coveted role, granting access to resources and influence across Sodom City and most importantly the protection of the Assassin Workshop."
Leo paused, considering the offer. A position like this could deflect suspicion from him as a demon, but he decided to take a risk instead.
"No," he said firmly. "A menial job as an operative isn't for me. You have plenty of others to fill that role."
The Deacon's voice chilled. "Are you refusing me?"
Animosity: 30%
The increase in animosity wasn't good, but Leo stayed calm. "Perhaps we should consider being partners instead. Together, we could accomplish far greater things."
"Partners?" The Deacon raised an eyebrow beneath his hood. "That's a bold rebuttal."
Leo grinned. "It's because I'm not like your so-called agents. What I can achieve surpasses their abilities. You wouldn't harness a thoroughbred to plow a field, would you?"
Animosity: 20%
The Deacon crossed his arms, intrigued. "What exactly can you offer me?"
"Many things," Leo replied smoothly. "It depends on what you want. Does the Assassin Workshop seek to expand to another city, conquer an empire, or even discover the secret to immortality?"
The Deacon's head tilted slightly. "And you claim you can help us do all that?"
Leo's confidence didn't waver. "Nothing is impossible. A few months ago, I was a nobody in this city. Now, I possess the wealth to rival a major family."
Animosity: 10%
The Deacon seemed to weigh his words, and Leo could sense the spark of interest. There was a latent ambition stirring in the man—a hunger for something more.
"Assuming we wish to expand the influence of the Assassin Workshop, what would you propose?" the Deacon finally asked.
"First, you need information. Then, you need people skilled at manipulation. Control those two elements, and Sodom City will be yours. From there, the other cities will follow."
The Deacon folded his arms. "We already have spies scattered across the continent."
"True," Leo acknowledged. "But there's one place your spies haven't infiltrated, not fully at least."
"And where is that?"
"The Court la Mood—Sodom City's most prominent brothel and entertainment hub. Its courtesans have access to merchants, politicians, and travelers from across the land. They can gather secrets, manipulate targets, and even spread misinformation to dismantle your enemies."
The Deacon's silence stretched, his expression unreadable.
Then he spoke again, his tone sharper. "Just like how you scared the Koresh Guild of Brothers into inactivity by inventing a non-existent enemy for them?"
Leo's smirk widened. "You already know everything, don't you? The real reason you summoned me wasn't to recruit me as an operative. You want the Court la Mood's cooperation."
A faint chuckle escaped the Deacon, a sound so unexpected it caught Leo off guard.
Animosity: 0%
"Perhaps I underestimated you," the Deacon admitted. "Let's discuss terms of cooperation."
Leo's grin grew sharper. The gamble had paid off.