The Assassin’s Unfinished Hunt
After driving several kilometers away from the reservoir, the blonde assassin finally eased off the accelerator.
The roar of the engine gradually faded into the quiet night.
Moonlight spilled across the empty highway, illuminating the sleek black sports car as it cut through the darkness.
The Queen kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel, her sapphire-blue eyes fixed ahead.
Yet her thoughts were nowhere near the road.
They were all occupied by one man.
Julian D’Aurelius.
"..."
The silence inside the car only made everything that had just happened replay more vividly.
She had gone there with one purpose.
To kill him.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Yet...
Not only had she failed...
She had escaped alive.
That alone was enough to leave her confused.
Her brows knitted together.
"Why..."
She muttered softly.
"Why didn’t he chase me?"
She had already driven a considerable distance.
If Julian truly wanted to finish her off, he could have ordered those two women who arrived afterward to pursue her.
Instead...
He simply watched her leave.
No ambush.
No pursuit.
Nothing.
The more she thought about it, the stranger it became.
She had accepted a contract worth ten billion.
She had openly attempted to assassinate him.
After gaining the upper hand...
He neither killed her...
Nor imprisoned her.
Even more unbelievable...
He never tried to force himself on her.
The Queen had encountered every kind of man imaginable during her years in the underworld.
Power-hungry men.
Greedy men.
Cruel men.
Lustful men.
Men who enjoyed torturing their enemies.
Yet Julian...
Didn’t fit into any category.
He flirted shamelessly.
Teased her relentlessly.
Humiliated her in a way she would never forget.
But beneath all of that...
He never crossed the line she had expected.
That contradiction made him impossible to understand.
"...What exactly are you trying to do?"
She whispered under her breath.
Her expression remained cold, but uncertainty quietly surfaced in her beautiful blue eyes.
As she shifted slightly in the driver’s seat...
A sharp soreness spread through her rear.
She inhaled sharply.
"...Hiss..."
The stinging sensation instantly reminded her of everything that had happened only minutes ago.
Her cheeks warmed despite herself.
That shameless man...
He hadn’t struck her once.
Or twice.
He had repeatedly smacked her butt while she couldn’t even control her own body.
Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
"That bastard..."
Even now...
She could still vividly remember the smug smile on Julian’s face.
And then...
Another memory surfaced.
The stamp.
Her expression instantly became even stranger.
She could almost picture him pulling that ridiculous stamp from his pocket with complete seriousness.
He had even proudly explained that it couldn’t be washed off.
His intention...
Was to stamp "Safe Travels" on her butt.
"..."
For the first time in years...
The legendary assassin genuinely didn’t know whether she should laugh...
Or kill someone.
Her emotions became an indescribable mixture of embarrassment, anger, helplessness...
And something she refused to acknowledge.
She quickly shook her head.
"No."
"I’m overthinking it."
The steering wheel creaked softly beneath her grip.
"What matters..."
"...is completing the mission."
Then...
Another question resurfaced.
The strange voice.
She clearly remembered it.
Julian’s lips hadn’t moved.
Yet she had unmistakably heard his voice.
Not once.
But several times.
It had spoken thoughts he never said aloud.
It even accurately described her cultivation, combat style, and greatest weaknesses.
That impossible voice echoed once again inside her memory.
Her beautiful brows furrowed.
"...What was that?"
Some kind of illusion?
A hidden martial technique?
Or...
Was she imagining things?
The Queen slowly shook her head.
"No."
"I definitely heard it."
She had never doubted her own senses.
Years of assassination missions had sharpened every instinct she possessed.
If she believed she heard something...
Then she had heard it.
But no matter how she replayed the encounter...
Nothing made sense.
After several minutes of fruitless thinking...
She finally exhaled softly.
"...Forget it."
"There’ll be another chance."
Her sapphire-blue eyes gradually regained their familiar icy calm.
Her expression hardened once more.
Since she had accepted the mission...
She would complete it.
That had always been her principle.
Her success rate remained one hundred percent for a reason.
Once she chose a target...
She never abandoned the hunt.
No matter how long it took.
No matter how many attempts were required.
Even if she had to spend months waiting...
She would eventually strike.
Julian D’Aurelius...
Would be no exception.
The corners of her lips curved into a faint, determined smile.
"Next time..."
"I’ll definitely take your life."
The black sports car disappeared into the distance beneath the pale moonlight.
...
Silverhaven City.
The Ashbourne Household.
Morning sunlight bathed the sprawling estate, giving the ancient residence a dignified yet welcoming atmosphere.
Luxury vehicles were already parked neatly outside the gates.
Servants moved about in an orderly fashion, preparing for the arrival of an important guest.
Right on schedule...
Julian D’Aurelius’s car slowly rolled to a stop before the entrance.
The moment he stepped out...
Felberta Ashbourne was already waiting outside with several members of the Ashbourne Household.
Today, she wore an elegant dress that perfectly complemented her graceful figure.
Her long black hair swayed gently in the breeze, while her bright crimson eyes carried a warm smile.
The moment she saw Julian...
She walked forward gracefully.
"Young Master Julian."
She smiled politely.
"Thank you for taking the time to help our Ashbourne Household today."
"There was no need to wait outside for me."
Julian returned the smile with relaxed confidence.
Felberta shook her head gently.
"A distinguished guest deserves a proper welcome."
Her tone was sincere.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of pretense.
Then she continued,
"I’ve already arranged for people to locate the first piece of the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng."
"It has already been secured."
"It should arrive at the D’Aurelius Household within a day."
Julian’s golden eyes brightened slightly.
That was fast.
He had expected the search to take several more days.
Instead...
The Ashbourne Household had already delivered results.
"Excellent."
A satisfied smile appeared on Julian’s face as genuine pleasure flickered through his eyes upon hearing that the first piece of the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng had been found so quickly.