The red-haired woman, who introduced herself as Rosa, wore a red combat uniform and certainly didn’t give the impression of being an assassin. However, Emilia didn’t dwell on it, as it would be strange for an assassin to appear as one.
Still, she remained anxious, wondering if a woman only slightly older than herself could truly eliminate Hannelore and the others when facing Jared, a candidate for Court Mage.
“If you’re the leader’s daughter, does that make you Waalthe’s successor?”
“Yes and no.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am my father Waalsh’s successor, but there are several individuals who could inherit that role. Pfeil, who was recently defeated and captured by Jared Murphy while attempting to carry out your request, is one of them.”
Emilia realized that the assassin her mother had hired was not only a successor within the organization but that the replacement who appeared next was also a successor. This made her believe Waalthe was serious.
Even though she didn’t intend to, she knew it was too late to cancel the request.
“Could you please tell me, Ms. Rosa Roen?”
“You can drop the honorifics. You’re the client, so call me whatever you like. However, I’d appreciate it if you’d overlook my rough language.”
“That’s fine, Rosa. So, I’d like to know, is it likely that this captured person, Pfeil, will talk under interrogation?”
“No.”
Rosa stated with certainty, then continued to the suspicious mother and daughter.
“We at Waalthe undergo training that allows us to endure torture unimaginable to nobles and knights, no matter how much they rack their brains. However, there is a concern.”
“What is it?”
“To obey those stronger than oneself. For us at Waalthe, strength is everything. Not everyone blindly obeys the strong, but Pfeil respects strength. If Jared Murphy were to meet Pfeil again—”
“You mean there’s a possibility he’ll talk without any interrogation or torture?”
“Precisely. However, I will not allow that. Therefore, I will release Pfeil.”
“You’re not going to kill him?”
Emilia was surprised that the assassination organization cared about its members, but Cornelia seemed to think differently.
“You don’t know when or where he might talk, so if he failed, you should kill him!”
“You seem to have a misunderstanding—our lives belong to my father, Waalsh. As I have not been ordered by my father to kill Pfeil, I will not do so.”
“He said that man killed his predecessor!”
“Indeed. Pfeil’s predecessor not only failed but also tried to betray the organization out of fear for his own life. That’s why he had to be killed. However, I have no obligation to report that to you. I only mentioned it now because I found it irritating that Pfeil might be seen as receiving special treatment.”
Met with a sharp glare, Cornelia was silenced before she could throw a tantrum.
Cornelia was strong against those who obeyed but weak against those who defied her. In that regard, she was a terrible match for Rosa.
“So, will you continue the contract?”
“Of, of course! Do you know how much we paid you? To demand such a high price and fail three times, do you have no pride as assassins?”
“Unfortunately, we don’t possess any.”
“What—! Hmph.”
Cornelia recoiled in fear of Rosa, but displeased with her attitude, she tried to speak up, only to be silenced. Instead, a small scream escaped her lips.
This was because a knife Rosa had been holding moments before was now pressed precisely against her neck.
“It seems you still misunderstand, so let me clarify—neither Pfeil nor I are assassins. We are warriors, just like my father, Waalsh. Do not mistake us.”
“I understand, now release my mother. Even if you are the most renowned assassination organization on the continent, do you think you can survive by making an enemy of the Alway Ducal Family?”
“If you’re going to threaten me, do it better. Do you honestly believe the Alway Ducal Family can defeat us, Waalthe?”
“—What?”
Emilia tried to reprimand Rosa for disrespecting her mother, but was instead taken aback. She never expected anyone to refer to the Ducal Family as mere “things.” Only the Royal Family or another Ducal Family would dare to say such a thing.
“With you knowing nothing about Waalthe’s base of operations, our number of members, or our objectives, how do you plan to fight? You’re not just going to put a bounty on our heads as fugitives, are you?”
“Th-that is…”
“Besides, I’m being patient because you said you’d continue the contract. Otherwise, I would have killed you. I dislike people who can’t do anything without relying on others, like yourselves.”
“…You’ve got a lot to say.”
Emilia felt humiliated by being told that the person she asked to perform assassinations disliked people like her, but she had a premonition that any wrong move would surely result in her mother’s death. The cold, passionate, fiery red yet icy woman before her seemed capable of taking their lives with ease.
As she bit her lip in frustration, Rosa, seeing Emilia’s restraint, offered a small smile and removed the knife from Cornelia. Relieved from the brink of death, Cornelia collapsed onto her backside. Emilia rushed to her mother’s side, helped her to a sofa, and then glared at Rosa.
“If you’re going to be so arrogant, you will succeed this time, won’t you?”
“Of course. I intend to kill Hannelore Alway and Olivier Alway.”
Despite Rosa’s confident declaration, Emilia remained skeptical.
“I’m sure that Pfeil, who was captured, said something similar, wasn’t he?”
“Don’t say that. It’s true he probably said similar things. However, there’s a difference in skill between Pfeil and me. I’m not as soft as he is, and I don’t enjoy fighting enemies. He’s inherited all the bad traits of our father. Every successor inherits their father’s bad habits.”
“And what about you?”
“Including myself, we’ve all inherited a tendency to be talkative.”
For the first time, Rosa let out a wry smile. Emilia nodded in understanding. Although she hadn’t voiced it, she had thought they talked too much for people from an assassination organization. However, she said that she and her father were warriors, not assassins, even if they belonged to an assassination organization. Perhaps being talkative was acceptable then, but she couldn’t come to a conclusion.
“Well, it doesn’t matter if I’m talkative. As long as I don’t reveal classified information, that’s all that matters.”
“That’s true. If Pfeil, who is currently captured, feels the same way, then I can be at ease.”
“Then, I will release Pfeil by the end of today. And at the appropriate time, we will carry out the contract.”
“Understood. What do we need to do?”
“You’re quick to get to the point. First, I need you to prepare a floor plan of this mansion. And if possible, having a few places where we can lie low would be helpful.”
“That should be easy. Right, Mother?”
“Yes, that’s right. I can get a floor plan right away, and if small houses or cabins are acceptable, there are plenty in the capital city.”
“Then I’ll count on you. For now, we need to gather information. Killing comes later.”
As Rosa meticulously planned, Emilia and Cornelia hoped that this time, their troublesome target would be eliminated.
