Lord of Mysteries: The Assassin's Dark Path

Emerging from the VIP passage, the leader tossed the cloak back to the bartender without a word and left in silence.

He had gained no assurances from the cloaked individual upstairs.

Frustration simmered within him.

Just a few days ago, the same person had explained the rules of their organization, rules he had found commendable for the sense of security they offered clients.

But in just a few days, his perception of the organization had soured.

"Eugene!"

All of his pent-up anger converged on one name.

Storming toward the exit, the leader barked orders to Kirk and the others waiting for him.

"You lot stay here and keep an eye on anyone coming out of the VIP passage."

"Focus especially on anyone who looks like a first-timer."

"If someone seems suspicious, take action."

Kirk, eager to redeem himself in his boss's eyes, pounded his chest in confidence.

"Consider it done!"

---

At 6 p.m., workers at the Sirren Textile Factory clocked out for the day.

After bidding farewell to his coworkers, Varina finally regained his freedom.

He followed his usual routine, stopping by a nearby café for dinner. However, tonight he treated himself to an extra serving of oyster soup, a small indulgence to improve his spirits.

After his meal, Varina set off for Greenfield Road, just as he had planned the night before.

An hour later, he arrived at the Boiling Blood Bar.

Stepping inside, Varina took his time surveying the bar's layout. Amid the bustling crowd, he spotted the chip exchange booth near the casino entrance.

Unlike the quiet lull of the afternoon, the bar was now at its busiest. It took some effort for Varina to push through to the counter.

Once the two customers ahead of him completed their transactions, he stepped forward and presented the assassination contract, specifically the emblem marked on its header—the "Party B" insignia.

The attendant gave it a cursory glance, showing no surprise or confusion, and simply instructed, "Please wait over there."

Raising his voice, the attendant then called out to the line behind Varina:

"Next!"

Though forced to step aside, Varina felt a surge of satisfaction. The attendant's indifferent reaction confirmed that he had come to the right place.

Once the stream of customers at the counter dwindled, the attendant finally turned back to Varina.

"Password?"

Varina had anticipated this scenario and prepared accordingly.

Frowning in annoyance, he raised his voice in irritation.

"A password? Nobody told me about a password."

"I'm going in—this is the boss's business, and it can't be delayed!"

The attendant froze, momentarily stunned.

In all his time working here, this was the first time he had encountered such a "guest" who didn't know the password.

Given the crowded bar, with more people bound to arrive at any moment, the attendant had little time to think.

Faced with Varina's insistent demeanor, the attendant reluctantly relented, opting to avoid unnecessary complications.

"Fine. Go on in."

The attendant stepped aside, handing Varina a cloak as he explained the password.

"The password is the price and quantity on the bar's special offer board. Don't forget it next time."

After sending Varina into the passage, the attendant sighed in relief. He had resolved the issue.

From his perspective, the emblem on Varina's document was proof enough that he was indeed a "guest." As long as that criterion was met, nothing else mattered.

After all, the crowd upstairs was diverse, and newcomers were accepted without scrutiny.

---

On the other side of the door, Varina found himself momentarily taken aback.

He had passed through?

Though he had hoped his performance might get him some intel, he had primarily prepared to negotiate further if necessary.

But since he was already through, he decided to press forward and see what lay ahead.

Putting on the cloak, he stepped forward into the unknown.

Soon, he emerged into the massive attic space above the pub. A quick glance around gave him an impression of the scene.

"This… this is a flea market?"

The sight before him exceeded his expectations.

In his mind, he had envisioned a dimly lit room, its only illumination focused on a small desk where a shadowy figure dressed in black received visitors like him.

That would have fit the style of a proper assassin organization.

In his imagined scenario, Varina's identity would have been that of a slightly reckless underling, handling a contract for his boss—a role he had already played earlier.

However, in this bustling flea market-like setting, that persona was clearly out of place.

In the few steps it took to enter the space, Varina quickly adjusted his plan. Based on his observations, he settled on a simpler identity: a newcomer.

Which, in truth, he was.

Adopting a posture of curiosity, Varina began to wander between the makeshift stalls as though browsing a flea market.

From what he could see, the market had thirty or forty vendors.

Each stall was unique—some displayed jars and bottles, others showcased exotic plants or carved runestones.

Plenty of people milled about, weaving between stalls, ensuring that Varina didn't attract undue attention.

He suspected this might be a market for extraordinary materials, similar to the Dragon's Den Pub mentioned in Lord of the Mysteries. Unfortunately, his lack of knowledge about such items made it hard to confirm.

As he wandered, Varina realized something:

"If I could get in, then there must be a stall belonging to 'Party B.' It might even be a permanent fixture."

With this in mind, he quickened his pace, focusing on finding "Party B."

After passing by most of the stalls in the hall, Varina stopped in front of one particular vendor.

This cloaked figure had no items for sale. Instead, there was a spare chair beside them, holding a stack of blank contract templates.

Varina was almost certain this was the person he was looking for. But to be sure, he decided to probe first.

"Is this stall only selling blank contracts?"

The cloaked figure let out a disdainful snort.

"If you don't know, don't ask. Get lost!"

Hearing this, Varina's lips curled into a smile beneath his cloak.

"Found you."

Without hesitation, he pulled the stolen contract from his pocket, spread it out before the vendor, and said:

"Is this how you treat your clients?"

"To be honest, I'm not impressed."

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