Chapter 179: The Elusive Targets

“We have already used our intelligence network to roughly probe the situation of the two targets.”

“These two targets control the Chain Market, an illicit industry, and are well aware of which forces might be targeting them.”

“The Mad Hatter began to explain the intelligence gathered by their tea party.”

“For instance, Count Gina’s mansion is guarded by numerous retired Holy Knights, mostly low-ranked, but their sheer numbers are considerable.”

“He also studied at the Academy of the Holy See and holds the rank of a Ninth-Tier Bishop.”

“Though he doesn’t typically travel with bodyguards, he rarely ventures into sparsely populated areas once he leaves his home.”

“His movements are highly predictable: from his residence to his family’s mercantile firm, then to the Ruby Auction House, and finally to a few restaurants and clubs where he entertains clients.”

“All these locations are situated in bustling downtown areas. He departs during the day and returns home at night.”

“It will be difficult to find an opportunity to strike,” Alice Liddell said, her brow furrowing.

Openly assassinating someone in a crowded downtown area carried too great a risk for them. The variables were numerous, escape would be difficult, and there was the potential for collateral damage to innocent civilians.

“I’m afraid there’s even worse news,” the Mad Hatter continued. “The other target, Duke Bedford, is actually far more challenging.”

“As the true power behind the Chain Market, he rarely makes public appearances. Although he serves as a minister in the Ministry of Finance, his advanced age means he is largely semi-retired.”

“His trusted aides manage his affairs, occasionally visiting him for consultations. He almost never appears in public, rarely attends other nobles’ banquets, and is only ever seen within the Chain Market itself.”

“This mission makes it incredibly hard to find an opening,” Alice Liddell said, a frown deepening on her face.

“Alright, as long as our resolve doesn’t waver, there are always more solutions than problems,” the Mad Hatter declared. “I have half a plan already. We can start by eliminating Count Gina.”

“How so?”

“We’ve been monitoring Count Gina’s mansion for some time now. Yesterday, we discovered his servants left for the outskirts and gathered workers to clean the Count’s villa there,” the Mad Hatter explained.

“Does that mean… he’s moving there for a while?” Alice Liddell inquired.

“No, based on what we know, that villa seems to be a meeting place for him. On very, very rare occasions, he entertains guests there,” the Mad Hatter revealed.

“Why go to such great lengths?” Jeanne Decker asked. “Couldn’t he just entertain guests at his own home?”

“Secret meetings, by their very nature, are for discussing matters one wishes to keep hidden from others. Count Gina likely doesn’t want anyone to see this particular visitor at his main residence,” the Mad Hatter said, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

“He’s planning some illicit transaction, isn’t he? Is it related to the Chain Market?” Alice Liddell mused, then immediately realized her mistake. “But if that’s the case, wouldn’t they simply conduct their business at a Chain Market venue?”

“Precisely why the person he’s secretly meeting soon is likely not someone associated with the Chain Market,” the Mad Hatter said, shaking his head. “Therefore, this is a golden opportunity.”

“A secret meeting means he won’t have many people around him, and the location is in the outskirts… It’s certainly ideal for an assassination.” Alice Liddell quickly grasped the implications. “But who is he meeting?”

“That, we haven’t been able to uncover,” the Mad Hatter said, spreading his hands. “We will monitor his movements constantly. The moment he heads to the outskirts, we will act immediately.”

“Based on past experience, his meetings usually take place in the evening or late at night. The best time to strike would be after he and his guest have parted ways.”

“However, if absolutely necessary, we might have no choice but to let Count Gina go.”

“Then what about the other target?”

“When I said I had half a plan, I meant I’d only conceived a method for Count Gina’s elimination. I’d like to discuss the assassination plan for the other target with you both,” the Mad Hatter said, a hint of helplessness in his smile.

“Duke Bedford primarily appears only at the Chain Market and his own residence. The Chain Market is reportedly held beneath the Ruby Auction House, but according to intelligence from merchants, they employ assassins from the Brotherhood of Assassins as bodyguards there.”

“His residence, on the other hand, isn’t heavily guarded, but he does employ a personal bodyguard: a naturalized barbarian, believed to be a Sixth-Tier warrior.”

“Mad Hatter, can’t you really handle this task yourself?” Alice Liddell asked, her brow slightly furrowed.

From a difficulty perspective, the Mad Hatter certainly possessed the strength to accomplish these tasks with near-certainty. However, for Alice Liddell and Jeanne Decker, the risks were considerable.

“My intervention is a last resort. It’s best not to let the Church realize it was the Mad Devil who did it. The more clues left behind, the higher the possibility of the Church exposing me,” the Mad Hatter shrugged. “You’ve already received your reward, is it really appropriate to back out now?”

“I just feel that if we fail, it will be much harder to attempt an assassination again. I can’t bear that responsibility,” Alice Liddell sighed.

“Well, he’s only a Sixth-Tier, which is good. We’ve both just been promoted, so we should be able to win in a direct confrontation.”

“It’s better not to be so optimistic,” Jeanne Decker said, her gaze fixed intently on Alice Liddell’s eyes. “Mid-tier barbarian warriors, the Blessed, are terrifying.”

“Huh?”

“Indeed, truly worthy of a Northern Knight, you understand well,” the Mad Hatter affirmed. “The Warrior class is the most suitable for direct combat.”

“Their Sixth Tier is called a Berserker. Warriors at and above this tier become stronger the more severely wounded they are, the closer they are to death.”

“A Sixth-Tier Warrior, when on the brink of death, can even fight a Fifth-Tier opponent to a standstill.”

“Are you sure this mission isn’t just designed to make things difficult for us?” Alice Liddell suddenly felt a headache coming on.

If they assassinated Count Gina, they would have to quickly put Duke Bedford’s assassination on the agenda. The moment Duke Bedford learned of Count Gina’s death, he would undoubtedly heighten his vigilance.

This assassination mission required a meticulous and easily executable plan, and it could only be achieved through cleverness.

“Is there a way to infiltrate his mansion? One of us could create a diversion from the front, attempting to lure out that barbarian, while the other, already hidden inside the mansion, carries out the assassination,” Jeanne Decker proposed, her mind working swiftly on small-scale tactical operations.

“Although Duke Bedford has few guards and servants, his house isn’t very large, making infiltration extremely easy to spot. Without the abilities of an ‘Assassin’ class, stealth would likely be very difficult.”

“If the March Hare weren’t tied up, I would have wanted her to come to the Imperial City for this job,” the Mad Hatter analyzed. “Even if we successfully lure his bodyguard away, he might immediately try to escape. The infiltrator needs to be close to him, ready to strike at any moment.”

“Wait a moment,” Alice Liddell suddenly raised her hand. “In that case, I might have a way!”