Chapter 39: Assassination, Bring More

In the pitch-black room, pair after pair of ferocious golden eyes burned in the dark. An eerie silence lingered, heavy with an unspeakable tension—the demons were thinking, deliberating.

"猛鬼众" (The Demon Spirits) was undoubtedly a fitting name for their organization. Everyone standing here was a monster, their hands stained with more blood than they could recall. These villains, plagued by unstable bloodlines, were inherently volatile, prone to rage, and thirsty for slaughter.

Subjugating such creatures was incredibly difficult, yet it became simple once the trick was mastered: their minds were occupied solely by revenge and carnage, leaving little room for complex schemes. They were far easier to control than the high-and-mighty Serpent Clan, though they projected a level of menace that far surpassed those yakuza who had long since sought to whitewash their reputations.

Regardless of how ferocious those golden eyes appeared, Tang Xi remained perfectly calm. She seemed indifferent to their thoughts and unconcerned by the possibility of a sudden, violent outburst.

The corpse of the "Wang Jiang" (The King) lay on the floor, his dark blood soaking the soles of Minami Chimei's shoes. Chimei stared blankly at the body in the pool of blood, then suddenly began to laugh.

In the deathly silent room, only the man’s laughter remained. It started as a faint chuckle, slowly escalating into a manic roar. He stomped fiercely onto the severed head of the Wang Jiang; with a sickening crunch, the skull shattered into pieces.

Everyone turned to look at the man who had suddenly descended into madness. Tang Xi was no exception, though her gaze remained unperturbed, even tinged with a hint of mockery.

*Was he really that hard to kill?* she thought. *I didn't notice. I thought he was just a speed bump.*

To her surprise, Minami Chimei’s laughter lasted for a long time, and finally, as if he had fulfilled a long-held wish, he bowed slightly toward Tang Xi.

His movement was subtle, but clear enough for everyone to see. Almost the moment he bowed, Sakurai Kogure followed suit, and then one by one, others joined in, until everyone was bowing. Throughout it all, Tang Xi watched quietly, as if everything were entirely within her grasp.

[Lord Skill triggered. Subjugated 53 hybrids. EXP +439. Gun owner bloodline slightly improved. Durability +15.]

With their acknowledgment, the system notification popped up. Tang Xi was satisfied and opened her system interface.

Weapon Name: Gungnir (Clone Version)
Owner: Uesugi Erii
Status: Intermediate (5520/10000)
Durability: 30/100
(Intermediate Gungnir clone: possesses partial abilities of the original. 60% damage bonus against Dragonkind. Skill unlocked: Inverse Manipulation, size alteration, temporary spirit autonomy, selective spirit control.)
(Next Stage: Advanced. May obtain clues regarding the original weapon and a chance to unlock the original's abilities.)

Satisfied, she closed the panel. Her initial objective was achieved. As she pondered her next move, an agitated voice rang out: "When are we attacking the Serpent Clan?"

As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes turned to Tang Xi. Revenge was truly the only meaning for the existence of the Demon Spirits, the only thing these monsters cared about. Denying them their revenge would likely be harder than subjugating them in the first place.

Tang Xi thought for a moment. Since she couldn't stop them, letting them fight was fine. "The Serpent Clan should be quite busy right now," she replied. "If you’re willing, go ahead and stir up some trouble for them."

"However, I’m not particularly skilled in that area. Let your 'Dragon King' lead you." She gestured toward a frowning Minami Chimei with an encouraging wave. "Don't you want to prove yourself to your brother? Go."

"From now on, who is the original and who is the shadow depends on what you do today. I look forward to your good news."

These few simple sentences not only ignited their fervor but also shifted the burden of leadership onto Minami Chimei. Chimei’s eyes narrowed dangerously; his estimation of this Uesugi family head grew deeper. She was truly a sharp-tongued, eloquent girl.

Before he could argue, Tang Xi headed for the door. "We’ll talk later. I have other business to attend to."

Her demeanor, much like someone washing their hands of responsibility, bothered Chimei. He interrupted, "What else are you doing?"

"Forget it. Regardless of your plans, I must warn you," Chimei said, his voice grave. "The Wang Jiang is not so easily killed. I have killed him countless times before, but every time, he reappears the next day. I still don't know what kind of monster he is—an immortal demon..."

"You are in danger if you go out alone. He will likely come for you."

"I see. Don't worry, I’m not leaving," Tang Xi smiled at him. "I just need to rest. Is there a vacant room?"

"Yes, I want to be alone for a while. If he intends to assassinate me... that would be wonderful."

The last sentence was whispered. Chimei felt he must have misheard; why would anyone be happy to hear they were being targeted for assassination? *It must be an illusion,* he comforted himself.

***

Meanwhile, at Cassel College in the United States.

It was the day many had been waiting for. Countless students had set alarms, camping out on the "Watchdog" discussion board because today was the day Caesar was set to challenge Chu Zihang again.

Following his defeat as a freshman, this was Caesar’s second challenge. Having spent the intervening time training his sword skills, he clearly intended to wash away his shame.

It was said that Chu Zihang initially refused, but Caesar remained relentless, even involving the tensions between their two societies, finally forcing Chu Zihang to accept.

As the most popular figures since their enrollment, both were highly anticipated. The "Revenge Match" and the "Battle for the Strongest Male Freshman" drew the attention of even professors and mentors, all curious to see if Caesar could succeed.

Yet, despite the massive hype, the fight never happened. It was said they were already drawing their blades when Professor Schneider suddenly appeared, claiming the Principal had an urgent mission.

The two top freshmen were whisked away, and by the time news broke, they were already on their way to carry out the mission.

The destination was a place that caused a headache for every student at Cassel College—the branch that everyone dreaded being assigned to: the Japan Branch.