Book 9: Chapter 3


    I had never seen Achilles in such a pitiful state before. He used to keep his face clean, wear a polite smile that hinted at hispetence and a straight torso topliment his rather tall physique. With his cape and coat on, he looked tall, big and confident. Now, however, he looked as if he had been transformed into a demon. He rested the teacup on his mangled hands; his visible joints were scary. He now had stubble on his originally clean shaven face and a tan. He had bloodshot eyes and the stare of a vulture. The Elven Queen wouldnt have been able to sit opposite with a calm smile if she could see. Heaven knows how long it had been since Achillesst changed his cape now covered in grey dirt. As a matter of fact, I spotted dried blood on it. His boots were filthy with solid mud.


    I pondered What exactly did Achilles go through? He looks worse than when I went bankrupt. Only someone who haspletely given up on life would look that way. Even fat NEETs who lounge around at home for two decades would, at least, shower before they left the house. What caused Achilles change?


    I strode to the Elven Queen and patted her shoulder, whispering for her to leave. She acknowledged she heard me with a cheerful touch on my face and then departed with Ciara. I waited for them to be out of earshot then asked, Achilles, whats the matter with you? Did something happen?


    Lets talk in private.


    The man scared the living daylights out of me with his eyes that literally looked as though they protruded from his head. Fearful, Ipacted my body: Lets talk in the room, then. Ross, Leah, leave us alone.


    Understood.


    Achilles introduced Ross to me, so he was bound to care and sympathise with the former to some extent. Achilles didnt look as though he wanted to talk to anyone, unfortunately. He nned to inform him that I was getting married before we said anything else, but his appearancepelled me to withhold the thought. I felt as though he wouldnt even care if I was getting married. He, in fact, mightve told me something to do with his life.


    We went inside the room and Achilles sat down at table, while I sat at the bed. He took out a contract from his shirt and ced it on the table. Voice solemn, he stated, This is proof of ownership of my building in the imperial capital. Sign the contract, and its yours.


    Before I could say anything, Achilles presented a small book and exined, This is my book for thepany I operate. Sign the contract, and youll have the rights to run it. In addition, theres this. This is the factorys bnce of payments. Although the majority belongs to Queen Sisi, theres still a fair amount left. Further, you and Sisi are close, so youll get more.


    Hang on, Achilles. Hold your horses! I stood up and seized Achilles hand.


    There was no way there was good news when the first thing he did was start giving me things. Achilles wasnt arranging his post-funeral. I didnt believe he was bankrupt and wanted to donate his things to me; nobody gives you money for nothing. Hed rather sell all of that to pay his debt for freedom than give them to me. As such, there was definitely more than what met the eye. The more money he offered me, the greater the responsibility.


    Without any foreshadowing or hesitation, Achilles bluntly implored, I want you to go to south and destroy someone for me. Destroy his business and bury him. I dont have much support left in the South, but he killed my one and only love. Ill give you everything I have. I beg you: you have Her Majesty backing you, and Veirya can kill. Moreover, his wifes brother is with you. You have the best means and conditions to destroy him.


    You want me to kill Albert?!


    I had quite a good impression of young Albert. Therefore, imagining him as a killer was impossible. Additionally, Lilia wouldnt allow her husband tomit murder by my estimations. Achilles and Albert were also on decent terms. Albert came to visit me at the behest of Achilles, after all.


    Alberts business should be in the South, not the imperial capital. I couldnt see how they were associated in business. Achilles focused on helping Queen Sisi. I hadnt heard of him nning to develop at the colony. Albert wanted to construct ships, which couldnt be done in the imperial capital. Why would he harm Achilles?


    Correct. Kill Albert. Destroy his business. Destroy everything that he has. He burnt the subis building down to the ground for a darn share of the shipyard and killed the subus I loved. Im doing this for her, the woman I love most. She died in the fire to satisfy his desire for a tiny amount of money. I want him bodied. To my chagrin, he escaped before I could kill him. Thats why Im here to plead you. You can take everything I have. I want him cold in the ground. I want to witness him dying before my eyes even if it costs me my life!


    Calm down Achilles I dont get it


    The news hit me too suddenly; I couldnt process it right away.


    I deliberated, So, apparently, Albert burnt down the subis ce for some shares of the shipyard. The subus Achilles liked was killed. What does her death have to do with Alberts shares? Why did he have to burn their ce? I need to get these things straight before making a call. Albert and I have no enmity. Achilles needs a murderer, not me. Im a businessman, not a murderer.


    Long-story short, he killed my lover to get in someones graces and then absconded with his wife. Please, Lin Dongqing, help me get revenge. I cant do it. I believe you can, though. I beg you. It doesnt matter what method you use, just please destroy him!


    Achilles grabbed my hand so tightly that it hurt. I pressed my other hand on his and pushed his hand away: Sorry, Achilles, but Im getting married. Im getting married with Veirya, so I dont want to leave the North before that. Besides, Im not an assassin. Achilles, youve misunderstood something. Albert never did anything to me. I wont kill for money. Heed my advice, Achilles. Go see Sisi. It would be more useful for you to give this to Sisi and me. Im not a murderer. Achilles, I wont kill someone innocent  rtive to me  for money.