There’s Something Special About Her - Chapter 7

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 7.
I rushed into the Guard Post.
A visitor being directed to the Guard Post meant something was wrong.
“Senior, is there a problem?”
“Ah, this man claims he had an appointment, but he’s not on the visitor list.”
Jake scratched his forehead in exasperation as he answered.
“The list must be wrong. We scheduled this meeting more than a month ago. Anyway, he’s the Merchant Leader of the Green Merchant Guild.”
The man claiming to be a merchant leader made no effort to hide his displeasure as he pressed Jake repeatedly.
“May I ask who you had the appointment with?”
“Decken Gold.”
Hmm.
At the mention of Decken Gold, one of the seven Executives, Jake’s face grew even more troubled.
Decken Gold and the people of the Gold Family were the ones who moved Nox’s money, true to their name.
Among them, Decken Gold was also the Merchant Leader of the Nox Merchant Guild.
All the Executives wielded considerable influence, but he was one of the most powerful in Nox.
“Here, I have the Merchant Leader’s letter of introduction.”
The man drew out a letter from his jacket with an air of smugness.
When I took it, the letter bore Decken Gold’s signature and seal unmistakably.
“Regardless, since he’s not on the list, an Action Squad member should escort the Merchant Leader Gold to his office to verify the appointment…”
Jake gestured to the empty Guard Post as he continued.
“As you can see, we’re short-staffed today. You’ll need to wait a moment.”
“Wait? The appointment is in minutes. If this falls through because Gold takes offense, will you take responsibility for losing the deal?”
“It’s protocol. If I explain the situation, the Merchant Leader Gold will understand—”
“I’ll go, senior.”
At my words, Jake’s brow furrowed.
“Can you handle it?”
Escorting an outsider temporarily into the Main Building was normally something the more experienced seniors did.
Aside from new recruits not knowing the vast internal geography of the ducal estate, they lacked the ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances.
“What choice do we have?”
“I suppose…”
After a moment’s hesitation, Jake nodded.
“You went yesterday, so you know roughly where the Main Building is, right?”
As if just the Main Building.
I’d memorized the labyrinthine layout of Nox Castle long before I was hired here.
More importantly, I needed to verify something about this man calling himself the Green Merchant Leader.
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
I answered while observing the man’s shoes.
***
“I’ve been expecting you, Merchant Leader Green.”
A handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes greeted the Green Merchant Leader.
“Decken Gold.”
The Green Merchant Leader, who had been scowling the entire way here, suddenly broke into a wide smile and clasped Decken Gold’s hand.
Then he wheeled around and glared at me.
“What do you take me for!”
“I apologize for the inconvenience.”
I bowed my head slightly and offered what I hoped was a respectful apology.
But my gaze never left the man’s shoes.
During my time as an assassin for Wickers, I had created various assassination tools.
There were limits to waiting until nightfall and slipping in with a single dagger to cut a throat.
Shoes that could conceal a poisoned blade in a hidden compartment along the sole were one of the weapons I’d developed during that period.
Later, that design evolved into concealing blades on both sides.
After that, the assassins of Wickers began using the same method.
While it didn’t require extraordinary skill to construct, it was nevertheless one of Wickers’ valuable trade secrets, so few people outside Wickers’ assassins knew much about these shoes.
‘But why is this so-called merchant leader wearing them?’
And the early model, with a blade on only one side at that?
Could he be targeting me?
On the way here, I had deliberately chosen paths where few people passed, keeping only myself and this man.
There had been several perfect moments for an assassination attempt, but the man had simply urged me to walk faster.
The face of the Green Merchant Leader standing before Decken Gold showed nothing but lingering displeasure.
I was meticulously scanning Green for any other suspicious signs when it happened.
“Ah.”
My eyes met Decken Gold’s.
I looked away as casually as I could.
The gaze seemed to hold no particular significance, and Decken Gold spoke to the Green Merchant Leader.
“Now let’s go meet the Duke.”
What?
I froze momentarily.
‘An appointment with Killian Nox?’
I had hoped, in my heart, that whoever this merchant leader was, he wasn’t targeting me.
But the appointment was with Killian Nox.
If those shoes really were the ones I’d made, and if this man was after Killian Nox, the situation changed entirely.
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue softly.
If I made one wrong move, the consequences could blow back on me.
First, I was the one who had escorted the Green Merchant Leader here.
A lowly Action Squad member who had guided a would-be assassin into the ducal estate would certainly be killed first while they investigated.
Of course, I could slip away before that happened.
But if by some infinitesimal chance Killian Nox were to die…
I had decided to hide in Nox because as long as Killian Nox was here, Edward could not touch me.
But if Killian Nox were compromised, that shield would vanish as well.
In other words, this peaceful life would be over, no matter what.
‘Or maybe it’s just protective gear?’
But my instinct—the kind that was never wrong about bad omens—prickled at the nape of my neck.
Hell. I wanted to keep watching, but what excuse could I use to follow along?
As I was wrestling with this dilemma, my eyes met Decken Gold’s once more.
“Follow us to the Duke’s Office. I’ll have you handle the guest’s farewell.”
“…Yes, understood.”
I quickly fell in step behind them at Decken Gold’s unexpected offer.
Listening to the two of them talk as we walked, the Green Merchant Leader seemed to have genuinely important business.
“At last I meet the Duke!”
The Green Merchant Leader said with a brilliant smile.
‘Was I being too paranoid?’
I could never let my guard down about anything related to Wickers.
Though no one could possibly know about my circumstances, I found myself slightly embarrassed, biting down on my lip.
“Your Grace.”
Decken Gold knocked lightly on the already-open door to the Duke’s Office.
Beyond the threshold, an imposing Office Desk came into view.
Killian Nox and Dupon Clansher stood before it.
Killian Nox gave this way only a brief glance before returning his focus to the documents in his hands.
In his stead, Dupon Clansher, standing beside him, gestured for us to enter.
“Come in.”
Decken Gold ushered the Green Merchant Leader inside.
Thud, thud-thud.
I was listening intently to those still-grating footsteps when something seized my attention.
Killian Nox’s Office Desk.
‘Have I seen that desk before?’
A sharp déjà vu washed over me.
Especially the moon and crow within the Nox Family Crest—rendered in a different shade by gently charring the wood—looked strangely familiar.
I was frowning slightly at this vague, tantalizing sense of recognition when Decken Gold turned back to me.
“Wait here.”
“But—”
Just as I was about to respond, the Green Merchant Leader’s back came into view from the corner of my eye.
Walking alone toward Killian Nox, he rolled his right foot slightly in a distinctive motion.
And with a small click, a tiny blade emerged into view.
‘He’s an assassin after all!’
I scanned the room rapidly.
But Decken Gold was still watching me, Killian Nox and Dupon Clansher were focused on the documents, and even the guards stationed in the corridor remained alert.
No one had noticed the assassination attempt.
I clenched my fists and held back.
‘Don’t interfere.’
Someone would notice soon enough.
The Green Merchant Leader took another step.
Still nothing changed.
One of the guards standing before the door tilted his head slightly, but he didn’t seem certain.
The Green Merchant Leader—the assassin—took one more step.
‘Killian Nox is some kind of monster. He’ll dodge on his own.’
But the Duke’s sharp dragon’s eyes, which could catch even the most carefully hidden spies, were too busy reading the documents in his hand.
‘Look up, damn it!’
Thud, thud-thud.
Killian Nox was now within the assassin’s effective range.
‘Please, please!’
I clamped down on every curse threatening to spill from my lips and waited until the absolute last second.
But the moment the assassin finally raised one foot.
“Damn it!”
I shoved Decken Gold aside and bolted forward.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————