Chapter 518 Death's Vigil
"You... you weren't poisoned?"
The previously composed Scarlett finally showed surprise. She didn't scream or resist, just stared at James with astonishment.
"My needles contain the strongest toxin available. It won't kill immediately, but it causes complete body paralysis." She shook her head slightly. "Even an elephant would collapse without question."
Over the years, she had killed countless targets, most using poisoned needles. Not one victim, even top-tier targets, had ever neutralized her poison. Yet somehow, James remained unaffected and had managed to break her wrist.
Low-level mission, level-seven target. Scarlett almost wanted to laugh.
"When you came to kill me, didn't you bother checking that I'm a doctor?" James maintained his grip on Scarlett's wrist, speaking casually despite his internal shock.
Anyone else with a broken wrist would instinctively cry out in pain, even if trying not to resist. Yet Scarlett barely reacted. She'd clearly undergone brutal pain tolerance training—a broken hand meant nothing to her.
"I did check," Scarlett replied, maintaining her charming smile. "Not extensively, but I knew the basics. I knew you sell tea and that you're a doctor."
She tilted her head slightly. "But this poison—even if you gathered the world's top medical experts, they couldn't neutralize it in less than three hours. I'm genuinely curious how you managed it."
"Whether it was skill or luck, you lost this round." James smiled at Scarlett. "Now that you're my prisoner, perhaps you could answer a few questions?"
Scarlett giggled. "Do you really think I would?"
"Whether you answer is one thing. Whether I ask is another."
James pressed on. "Who are you? Who sent you to kill me? Tell me, and I'll let you go immediately."
He hoped to identify and eliminate whoever was targeting him, to avoid constantly looking over his shoulder.
"Me? I'm Scarlett, a hitman who came to Sovereign City specifically to kill you." She danced around his questions. "As for who sent me—naturally my boss assigned the job. Do you really think I'd know the client?"
James sighed. "Your lack of cooperation makes this difficult."
Scarlett narrowed her eyes. "Will you kill me if I don't cooperate?"
"You tried to kill me, I try to kill you. Isn't that normal?" James replied with a slight smile.
Before he finished speaking, Scarlett smiled sweetly as her broken wrist contracted like a rubber band. With popping sounds, her arm became snake-like, flexible, as if the bones had shrunk.
She smoothly withdrew her broken hand from James's grip.
Simultaneously, her mouth opened slightly, shooting a steel ball toward James's eye.
James's pupils contracted as he sprang sideways, avoiding the projectile. The steel ball hit a pillar behind him, instantly creating a small crater.
Through the cloud of dust, Scarlett flicked her long hair, sending several flashes of cold light toward James's face.
James dodged sideways.
Several silver needles grazed past his ear.
In the next second, Scarlett grabbed her fallen knife and thrust mercilessly at James.
"Whoosh—"
James sidestepped the blade and countered with a swift chop aimed at her neck.
If she was fast, he was faster.
If Scarlett's knife was a venomous snake, James's hand was lightning.
Scarlett's knife techniques were battle-tested, simple yet lethal, designed to kill with each strike. James countered with soft against hard, his gentle movements radiating killing intent.
They exchanged thirty-six strikes in an instant, strangely without making a sound.
Unlike James's composure, Scarlett was deeply shocked. She realized not only could she not harm him, but he was playing cat and mouse with her. If he had gone all-out, she would have been defeated long ago.
Clearly, James was studying her techniques to identify her background.
'Damn you,' she thought, sweeping her sleeve to release over a dozen silver needles.
James instinctively stepped back to avoid them.
Seizing the opportunity, Scarlett sprang forward, abandoning her attack in favor of a rapid retreat toward the forest's edge.
"Trying to escape?" James smiled faintly and kicked a stone bench.
The bench tumbled toward Scarlett's back with a loud crash.
Hearing the rush of air, Scarlett tried to dodge but had no time. She could only twist her body to face the incoming threat.
As she turned, she saw the bench hurtling toward her with tremendous force.
Her face paled as she let out a sharp cry and raised her uninjured right hand to block.
The bench crashed to the ground under Scarlett's strike, but the impact sent her flying several yards, coughing blood mid-air.
Despite her injury, Scarlett didn't pause to recover. Using her momentum, she rolled out of the birch forest.
James pursued her.
"Help! Assault! This man is attacking me!"
Breaking free of the trees, Scarlett found herself in an open area filled with people—diners and students visible in all directions.
With a cunning smile, she shouted toward the crowd, instantly attracting dozens of onlookers.
"What happened to you?" several students rushed toward the tour guide.
James hesitated.
Gathering her strength, Scarlett darted into the crowd, tears streaming down her face, evoking immediate sympathy.
Her display enraged the onlookers, who grabbed improvised weapons and charged toward the forest.
"Where is he? Where's that bastard?"
They all believed Scarlett was an innocent victim dragged into the woods by a predator.
James could only shake his head before vanishing into the trees.
---
An hour later, back at his villa, James called Olivia while eating noodles Samantha had hastily prepared.
"Olivia, where are you?" he asked, stuffing a large piece of egg into his mouth. "Still in Glowing Oasis?"
"James! Why are you calling? Missing me?" Olivia's intoxicating laugh came through the line. "I'm not in Glowing Oasis anymore—I'm sunbathing in Stardust City. Want to see my legs?"
James smiled helplessly. "Come on, Olivia. Have some class."
"We've slept together. Why so prudish?" Olivia snorted. "By the way, I think Mary went to Sovereign City. Remember our agreement—no cheating without my permission."
"Olivia, I'm calling about something important." James changed the subject, avoiding her temptation. "I encountered a hitman today. Her name is Scarlett. Do you know her?"
"Scarlett?" Olivia's languid voice suddenly turned sharp. "From Death's Vigil?"
James was startled. "What's Death's Vigil?"
"A hitman organization," Olivia replied, her tone growing serious. "They kill without rest until the job is done. And they only accept payment in massive favors or gold."
Her voice turned concerned. "When did you cross Death's Vigil?"
"I have no idea," James replied, frustrated. "This is my first time hearing about them. Is there any way you could contact them?"
The idea of relentless pursuers gave him a headache.
Olivia paused briefly. "I might be able to figure something out. What do you want?"
James took a sip of soup and said coolly, "To ask them—either compensate me in gold, or let me kill them all."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
