Da Mi Luan Islands, Da Mi Luan City.
While Da Mi Luan City was slightly inferior to the three major human powers of the Red Lotus Empire, the Ancient Moon Dynasty, and the Seven Star Alliance in terms of overall strength, it was undeniably the premier city in the Shattered Sea.
Legend had it that a high-ranking existence had used immense power to merge over a dozen oases with a central super oasis, forming the magnificent metropolis it was today.
The sheer scale of Da Mi Luan City was something even veteran merchants would take ten days and nights to describe.
The entire city was divided into fifty major districts. Districts 1-10 were the Royal City, districts 11-20 comprised the Upper City, districts 21-30 the Lower City, and the rest were the Outer City.
In the eleventh district of Da Mi Luan City stood a large mission outpost affiliated with the Hidden Kill Pavilion.
This mission outpost was of a high caliber, overseeing numerous surrounding outposts. Many missions, whether undertaken by Hidden Kill Pavilion assassins, hired killers, or commissioned by wealthy merchants and nobles, flowed through here.
The assassination missions here were also exceptionally abundant. Powerful assassins of the Hidden Kill Pavilion, such as Silver and Gold ranked killers, often accepted missions at such large outposts.
However, today,
"What's going on? All mission acceptances are on hold?"
"So is mission posting."
"Heh heh heh, it's been suspended since this morning. Haven't you noticed the whole outpost is a bit chaotic?"
The above-ground portion of this large outpost was just a small building, but its underground space was vast. This single outpost alone had hundreds of staff, or rather, servants.
The employees here had signed contracts of servitude. This wasn't unique to the Hidden Kill Pavilion; most organizations, oases, and nobles had a large number of servants bound by such contracts, whom they controlled through various means.
The Shattered Sea was more prosperous than other great regions, but simultaneously, its class structure was more rigid.
Masters were masters, and servants were servants.
The staff at this outpost, engaged in mission handover and outpost protection, occasionally acting as assassins themselves, had mostly had soul imprints placed upon them. However, when the high-ranking officials of the outpost left, they had, according to orders, released these imprints.
The contract imprints that had bound them for years, even decades, shattered that day with a bang.
Yet, most faces showed not excitement, but bewilderment, a lost bewilderment. They followed the orders left by their superiors and their ingrained habits of operation, their minds wandering as they continued to stay within the outpost. However, whispers from outside brought an additional layer of worry to their confusion.
"What on earth happened? Is your Hidden Kill Pavilion still in business!"
A nobleman, entirely clad in a black hooded robe, with a hint of noble adornment showing from his collar, was berating a girl at the reception desk who bowed her head, lips pursed, afraid to speak.
It wasn't until a weathered man, with two swords at his waist and a black eyepatch, stopped him.
"No matter how much you ask, these people can't tell you. They're probably more confused than you are."
The one-eyed man exhaled a smoke ring and continued, "However, I did hear a little something from a friend."
This one-eyed man made no attempt to conceal himself. His distinctive eyepatch, dual swords, and striking fiery red hair quickly led to his true identity being recognized by some in the underground hall.
The "One-Eyed Sword King," a titled Six Senses operative active in the Da Mi Luan Islands region!
The universally acknowledged title containing the word 'King' gave even those unfamiliar with him a sense of his status. Among the titled Six Senses, he was a standout, one of the very few strongest beneath the Mythical tier.
His appearance at a Hidden Kill Pavilion mission outpost was not surprising.
The Hidden Kill Pavilion was the number one assassin organization in the entire Shattered Sea region. While a titled powerhouse like the One-Eyed Sword King didn't need to post assassination bounties, he would occasionally accept missions, especially when the price for assassinating a certain powerhouse, under multiple bounties, kept escalating. When the stakes accumulated to a certain height, even the strongest beneath the Mythical tier would be tempted.
The One-Eyed Sword King was one such paramount individual.
Furthermore, although he hailed from a solitary background, he was known for his magnanimity and had friends throughout the land, including many prominent figures among the titled Six Senses or super powers. This great man's favor was effective in many great and super oases.
Similarly, this influential figure had access to highly reliable information, far superior to the increasingly exaggerated rumors.
Seeing that this prominent figure was about to reveal something, many turned their gaze, filled with curiosity and anticipation.
The One-Eyed Sword King indeed did not disappoint their expectations. He paused briefly before continuing,
"According to some information I've gathered, the Hidden Kill Pavilion has sold off more than half of its business. This outpost is likely one of the ones sold."
"Sold? Impossible. How could a super power like the Hidden Kill Pavilion cripple itself?"
"Perhaps it was out of necessity?"
"Who could force such a colossal entity as the Hidden Kill Pavilion into doing something out of necessity?"
"Not necessarily. While the Hidden Kill Pavilion is powerful, it's nothing compared to the Red Lotus Empire, Da Mi Luan City, and others."
"Could it be a wager between Mythical existences? Think about it, Mythical beings using their own organizations as pawns, and if they lose, they cut off a part. Is that a possibility?"
Some powerful individuals speculated with a chuckle.
The Mythical realm was too distant for them. Even for someone like the One-Eyed Sword King, hailed as the strongest beneath the Mythical tier, he could only glimpse the receding backs of Mythical beings and rarely had the chance to encounter them.
The One-Eyed Sword King shook his head.
He too was speculating, extremely curious, and thus remained in the underground outpost.
As time passed, the confusion and helplessness of the outpost staff grew more pronounced, as if an undercurrent was quietly brewing. Simultaneously, the onlookers, who were intensely curious about the matter, brought new information.
"Latest news, latest news!"
"I've visited over a dozen mission outposts in Da Mi Luan City. Most of them are like this one, with the management coldly dropping a sentence and leaving. However, two of them are still operating normally."
"Yes, they are the outposts on Baishuangye Street and in Minglun Fort in District 6, and those two outposts have already posted announcements."
"'Due to a special reason, many Hidden Kill Pavilion outposts are being sold off starting today. Other outposts will operate normally. The posting of all assassination orders and the acceptance of assassination bounties will remain unchanged as before.'"
A major upheaval within the Hidden Kill Pavilion!
However, the absence of detailed explanation for the "special reason" further fueled many people's desire to investigate.
There were many powerful individuals present, some of whom had connections with the high-ranking officials of the Hidden Kill Pavilion.
"The specific reason, those high-ranking officials seem to be unaware of it themselves. However, their Gold ranked assassins are all still present. I believe the Hidden Kill Pavilion brand name can still be trusted."
"I've also gathered some information. It is said that these abandoned outposts have been sold to a merchant guild called Ranhuo, along with many mid and low-level assassins."
This news was also gathered from the management of the Hidden Kill Pavilion.
However, Ranhuo Merchant Guild? What kind of merchant guild is that? I've never heard of it.
Many exchanged glances and shook their heads. Some looked towards the knowledgeable One-Eyed Sword King, but the red-haired Sword King, after a long and arduous search through his memory, still shook his head.
"At least I haven't heard of any super power called Ranhuo in the Shattered Sea."
"It couldn't be a major oasis power, could it? That's unlikely."
"But Ranhuo Merchant Guild is indeed unheard of. None of the top hundred merchant guilds in the Shattered Sea resemble it. Moreover, the management personnel of the various outposts have been gone for three days, and no one from Ranhuo Merchant Guild has come to take over. This shows that Ranhuo Merchant Guild possesses very limited power."
Powerful individuals like the One-Eyed Sword King, who occasionally moonlighted as assassins, wished for the emergence of an assassin organization comparable in scale to the Hidden Kill Pavilion. This would lead to competition between the two assassination platforms, inevitably lowering bounty commissions, which would be beneficial to them.
But as it stood, Ranhuo Merchant Guild seemed entirely inadequate.
They claimed to have taken over most of the Hidden Kill Pavilion's mission outposts and many mid and low-level assassins, yet no direct personnel from the merchant guild had arrived. How could such a small merchant guild grow an assassin organization large and strong?
Regardless of other factors, with the Hidden Kill Pavilion management gone and Ranhuo Merchant Guild's personnel yet to arrive, this mission outpost was becoming increasingly chaotic.
The One-Eyed Sword King saw an internal staff member of the outpost leaving in a hurry with a large bag. Without a doubt, it contained some strange crystal treasures. He also saw several figures in black robes exchange glances and stealthily follow.
Such scenes were observed in multiple locations within the large outpost.
If not for their apprehension of the Hidden Kill Pavilion's authority and the unknown powerful individuals within the outpost, this underground hall might have erupted into a battle. However, a storm was quietly brewing.
"I don't know how Ranhuo Merchant Guild managed to make the Hidden Kill Pavilion bleed, but it seems that the half of the Hidden Kill Pavilion that was sold is now useless."
"Indeed. Let alone the Gold ranked assassins serving as its emblem, who are all still with the Hidden Kill Pavilion, Ranhuo Merchant Guild likely won't be able to retain many of those Silver, Bronze, or Iron ranked assassins either."
"Without sufficient scale, even with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it's impossible to conquer and digest a super power. It's difficult even to digest a major power."
"Yes, otherwise, why are some Mythical beings still like lone commanders?"
"Heh heh heh, speaking of which, I remember a secret. A Mythical being specializing in poison once used immense power to forcibly occupy a great oasis. However, the direct subordinates that the Mythical being arranged were quickly killed or crippled, and they were simply unable to rule. In the end, the Mythical being himself gave up."
Great power returns to oneself, but scale originates from the multitude.
...
"To swallow my Hidden Kill Pavilion, hehe, a fool's dream!"
Inside a luxuriously decorated pavilion, light spilled onto the carpet. At the far end, the Deputy Pavilion Master of the Hidden Kill Pavilion, draped in a blue cloak, sat in a wide chair, reviewing messages from various regions and emitting a cold laugh.
The Hidden Kill Pavilion's divestment of more than half of its operations was a command from the Ancestor, unavoidable.
However, for Ranhuo Merchant Guild to attempt to swallow it, it wouldn't be so easy. Or rather, they wouldn't be able to swallow much!
How many people were in the entire Ranhuo Merchant Guild? Perhaps they had two esteemed Mythical Lords, but to take over a powerful organization, Mythical Lords alone were far from sufficient!
Mythical beings were merely the pillars. A sufficient number of non-Human tier powerhouses, and Elite Six Senses and Three Senses, those were the cornerstones of governing an organization. Not to mention, their Hidden Kill Pavilion was a super power with outposts spread across the entire Shattered Sea. Every corner needed direct subordinates to be stationed there. Did Ranhuo Merchant Guild have that?
Of course not.
Ranhuo Merchant Guild's own oasis had a rather limited number of patrol personnel. How much strength could they spare to travel to the Shattered Sea?
"This is what happens when the appetite is too large, it will only choke oneself."
"Look, even if the assassins and servants were transferred to Ranhuo Merchant Guild, now that the slave secret methods are no longer binding, whether they stay or leave is no longer the concern of my Hidden Kill Pavilion."
Otherwise, why would he have immediately ordered the forced recall of family members from those outposts, rather than a stable transfer?
He wanted it to be fast.
The faster, the more chaotic.
After all, it was the outposts that were cut off that would descend into chaos.
He could already imagine Ranhuo Merchant Guild in a frantic scramble to clean up the mess. And for their Hidden Kill Pavilion, by sacrificing a small profit, those assassins whose secret methods were lifted would obediently return like dogs.
He presumed the Ancestor thought the same way.
Hee hee hee hee hee—
...
On the night of the fourth day, within the large outpost in District 11 of Da Mi Luan City.
Boom—Boom—
Sounds of explosions emanated from underground.
Taking advantage of the night, several awakened individuals, cloaked in black and of unknown identity, had already stormed the now almost undefended large outpost. Their actions were like sparks igniting dry wood, and instantly flames erupted, and storms surged. Awakened powerhouses hidden in the dark, with their own various intentions, began to act.
Thunder, fire, blood, scythes!
Perhaps fearing escalation that would attract Da Mi Luan City's patrol, the attackers restrained their destructive power, but the hidden killing intent was by no means lacking.
In just a few breaths, two black-robed individuals lay in pools of blood.
More raiders rushed towards the depths of the outpost.
This was one of the highest-level large outposts of the Hidden Kill Pavilion. It stored a wealth of information and treasures.
After several days of observation, it was clear that the Hidden Kill Pavilion had long abandoned this place, and the personnel from Ranhuo Merchant Guild had yet to arrive.
This had led many to gradually entertain thoughts.
They could no longer hold back.
If they could just pry open the treasure vault of this outpost, the gains would be enough to establish a great oasis family, something that even a Six Senses King would covet.
As for Ranhuo Merchant Guild? Let alone the fact that the takeover personnel hadn't arrived, even if they had, what of it? A little-known minor force, no one present cared.
They cared more about their immediate competitors.
As the storm erupted, there were sixty to seventy raiders, with their faces hidden, but they belonged to at least a dozen factions.
They guarded each other warily, they were impatient, and they began to fight.
Watching these people, the red-haired Sword King's eyes showed disgust, but he did not intervene.
He shook the cloak on his body, exhaled a smoke ring, and turned towards the exit.
'This farce is no longer worth watching.'
He suddenly stopped.
His face instantly became solemn.
On the stairs leading to the surface not far away, six figures descended.
Leading them was a woman with ordinary features, her mask pushed atop her head, her eyes alone deep and melancholic, like a channel to the underworld.
Beside the woman, a tall woman with prominent cat ears spoke.
"Ranhuo Merchant Guild, effective immediately, takes over this outpost. Unrelated individuals, please leave quickly."
The main party had arrived!
The black-robed figures, who were about to loot, paused for a moment as if stuck, but the next instant, with great tacit understanding, they redirected their firepower towards the Ranhuo Merchant Guild's six-person strong contingent of awakened fighters.
Furthermore, a powerful assassin burst out from the nearby darkness, their cold blade gleaming with an eerie chill.
Time seemed to freeze.
The red-haired Sword King only saw the ordinary-looking woman close and then reopen her eyes.
The moment those captivating eyes opened, a chilling light transformed into an invisible storm, sweeping through the entire underground outpost. Everyone felt as if their throats were being constricted. The red-haired Sword King was also greatly alarmed, but he immediately realized that the invisible storm merely brushed past his hair like a gentle breeze.
Yet, he clearly saw that four black-robed figures a hundred meters in front of him, and three black-robed figures dozens of meters behind him to his left and right, all collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Simultaneously falling were dozens of raiders who had drawn their weapons.
The remaining individuals, however, were merely gasping for breath, their souls shaken, not a single hair out of place.
What astonishing control this was!
The newcomer was An Jianyou, who had disguised her appearance and physique using the 'Disguise' skill.
Her face was ordinary, but her figure was magnificent.
She found walking with such a body quite unaccustomed.
An Jianyou muttered inwardly, and after clearing the entire area with a single mental shockwave, she spoke:
"The former Hidden Kill Pavilion outpost, as of today, will be renamed the 'Mission Guild' office. Original assassination missions will have an added review mechanism, only posting bounties that pass review. In addition to this, the Mission Guild will introduce several new services, including but not limited to item transport missions, escort missions, extermination missions, errand missions, search missions, and so on."
"Our guild's principle is: Whatever is sought, the mission will be fulfilled."
Her deep, echoing voice reverberated throughout the underground outpost, and like birds with wings, it flew to various parts of Da Mi Luan City, and to the entire Shattered Sea.