147: Choose the way you want to die

Choose the way you want to die

Hearing what Ren said the assassin felt all the blood in his body turn cold. Still, he acted like he was confused, hoping that Ren was simply probing him and didn't really know who he was.1

"Sorry sir, I don't understand what you're talking about. I think you have me confused for someone else. I'm just a normal merchant if you want I can show you my papers, proving my vocation. Even if you check and ask around you'll only get the same answer." The assassin said acting concerned and confused. He did create a fake persona when he entered the city and he did it with his actual face, just in case he needed it. So now he felt good that he prepared for this eventuality. 

"Oh, a merchant... What do you sell I'm quite curious? Is it fish perhaps?" Ren spoke with a smirk on his face. He was clearly taunting the assassin. 

"No, what I sell are talismans for good luck. I also sell an assortment of charms that range from childbirth to finding a lover." The assassin wasn't baited by Ren's taunt and continued to act oblivious to his situation. 

"Talismans for good luck, are you kidding me? An assortment of charms? That's hilarious, if you did this on purpose, I might even think you have what it takes to be a clown." Ren couldn't help himself as he laughed heartily while drinking his mug of beer. He found the whole situation truly hilarious. Even though he was a cornered rat the assassin still tried to trick him. 

"I really don't know what you want from me?! PLEASE-" The assassin was about to shout as loud as he can to get the attention of the other patrons and make a scene. But before he could do anything, Ren's killing intent made him swallow the words he was about to say. Just being in front of such bloodlust made him feel like he was drowning. He couldn't even open his mouth as he trembled.

"You see, Mr. assassin, right now I'm trying to get a better reputation amongst the citizens. But if you keep on forcing me then I can drag you out of here and hand you over to my companion over there."

Ren pointed at Hilda who was sitting with Valdel watching them talk. She was still, unaware of the who Ren was talking to, as she obediently waited for Ren to finish his talk. If she finds out this was the assassin that was responsible for all her misfortune she would have raged.

"You see right now, the only reason you're alive is because I'm interested in the one who hired you. Also, there's no use lying to me about your identity. If you were in hiding and were far from me, you might have had a little chance to elude me. But as you are right so close to me, I can sense your mana that has the same mana fluctuation of the person that tried to probe me."

'What the hell?! Does that mean he can differentiate people by their mana? That means no disguise will work on this guy...' The assassin gulped dryly learning this new fact. 

"If I tell you who hired me, will you let me go?" When the assassin saw Ren's reaction he immediately added, "I will also remove the curse I placed on the children. If you kill me they will forever be under the curse." 

The assassin used the last hand he could play in this situation. It was the truth that he was the only one able to remove the curse from the girls, and if he died the curse will remain. But for some reason, he still felt uncomfortable. 

Ren chuckled again as he got another mug and chugged it. 

"I think there's a misunderstanding happening here. We're not having a negotiation, and no matter what you say you'll die today. I'm just here to give you a choice on how to die." 

When the assassin heard what Ren said, he felt fear had its iron grip on him. He couldn't hold it any longer and started to cry. Ren seeing the assassin that dealt with Hilda's family crying like this made him feel disgusted. He wasn't expecting someone who dealt with curses to act like this. 

"Stop crying it's shameful. You're going to die soon, at least in your final moments act like a man." 

"Please, I don't want to die. I don't want to die, please spare me." 

"What kind of third rate assassin are you?" 

"That's it, the truth is I'm not really an assassin. I'm just a curse master's assistant. I simply stole a volume of the book of curses my master had and learned a bit from it. The most I can do is what you have already seen. In front of someone as powerful as you, none of those will work. So to you, I'm nothing but a harmless ant."  

"So this is how you act in the face of death... Pathetic!" Ren wanted to summon his death scythe and kill this worthless piece of trash, but he already told him he would give him choices. 

"Tsk, fine even though you are a disappointment I will still give you a choice on how to die." The assassin wanted to beg and plead, but Ren's killing intent intensified making him unable to utter a word. 

"The first choice, you lift the curse you placed on Hilda's little sisters and tell me who your employer is. If you do this I promise you a swift and mostly painless death, a death that's a luxury to worthless scum like you." The way Ren said this was so full of bloodlust that the assassin felt like he was already killed.

"The second choice, you don't tell me what I want to know, you don't lift the curse from the sisters. If you choose this I will hand you over to Hilda who will torture you until you wish you were dead. You might think I need you to lift the curse, but the truth is, it might take a long time but if I devote myself to figuring out the peculiarities of this kind of curse, I'll be able to lift it on my own. It's also possible that I might find the book of curses you stole. I can also wake Hilda's little sisters, and wait for them to lift the curse you placed on them with their own will. See there are so many options on how to save them, yours was just the most convenient and less time-consuming." 

Ren shrugged his shoulders while shaking his head at the now despairing assassin. 

"I was going to give you a third choice, that would make you my slave, but seeing how cowardly you are I changed my mind. So pick either the first choice or the second choice. Which do you want?"

"Please allow me to be your servant! Please, I beg of you, I promise to serve you with all my might!"

Ren sighed when he heard the assassin's answer. Ren then stood up and stealthily did a chop to the assassin's neck making him faint. The other patrons noticed a man faint looked at Ren and the assassin. Ren wasn't bothered by their gazes as he lifted the assassin onto his shoulders and said, "my friend has too much to drink, so I'll be going first. You guys can continue drinking, I already paid for it all." 

After saying that with the assassin at hand Ren's group left the pub. 

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