Chapter 1 Viewing the Shoulder Guard's Stats

Nie Yan glanced at the Shadow Killer's shoulder guard; it was an item that boosted a Thief’s concealment.

Ederly Phantom Shoulder Guard: Requires 620 Agility.

Description: A shoulder guard once worn by the phantom Ederly. It bears the traces of Ederly's soul and possesses great power.

Stats: Agility +50, Speed +20, Stealth +20, Concealment +10, Reflex +10. Grants Level 7 Phantom Skill. Phantom Skill: Grants an additional 60 points to Stealth and Concealment, Movement Speed +50. Cannot be detected by pupil-based or light-based skills for ten seconds. Skill duration: thirty seconds. Cannot attack while in this state.

After seeing the Ederly shoulder guard's stats, Nie Yan suddenly understood how Shadow Killer had escaped his pursuit several times! This skill was pretty good; it was a rare and valuable skill.

He equipped the Ederly shoulder guard and glanced at his equipment slots. The equipment he wore was basically all Legendary and Sub-Legendary grade.

At this time, Shadow Killer had already revived in the graveyard. His expression was somewhat dejected. This was the first crushing defeat he had ever experienced, losing to Mad Rogue Nie Yan. Although Nie Yan had used some special methods, the outcome was undeniable.

Nie Yan's killing techniques were much more skillful than his. When Shadow Killer killed, it was often a straightforward exchange relying on skills to win. But Nie Yan almost completely utilized external factors like items and the terrain, making his attacks unpredictable and hard to defend against.

"You haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?" Nie Yan said as he connected to Shadow Killer's voice channel. He was the victor now.

"I admit I lost. According to our previous bet, I'll kill three people for you. Tell me, who are the three people?" Shadow Killer said with some disappointment. He always kept his word and wouldn't go back on a deal. Shadow Killer had a premonition that Nie Yan wouldn't let him off easily.

Nie Yan remained silent for a moment. Bringing up the issue of recruiting Shadow Killer was obviously not the right time. After a second thought, he had a plan. He would make Shadow Killer break with the Century Financial Group and Angel Corps first!

Nie Yan originally wanted Shadow Killer to assassinate Crazy Magic and Holy Flame, but since War God Tribe and Sun were already going to assassinate Crazy Magic and Holy Flame, he didn't need Shadow Killer to act.

"The first target is Angel Corps' Angel Feather. Let's start with just this one. Complete it first," Nie Yan said. As long as Shadow Killer went to assassinate Angel Feather, whether he failed or succeeded, the result would push him to the opposite side of Angel Corps and the Century Financial Group.

Shadow Killer clenched his fist. Nie Yan was forcing him down a dead end. Once he assassinated Angel Feather, he would inevitably be besieged by several large forces such as the Century Financial Group and Angel Corps. If he was alone, it wouldn't matter, but he had a studio behind him. By doing this, he would plunge the studio into a complete predicament. But if he didn't do it, he would undoubtedly destroy his credibility.

From the moment he was successfully assassinated by Nie Yan, he was destined to be manipulated by Nie Yan.

Seeing that Shadow Killer hadn't answered for a long time, Nie Yan revealed a slightly mocking expression and said, "If you think my request is impossible for you to fulfill, or you simply don't have the strength to complete it, then forget it. Let's pretend we never had such a bet. Shadow Killer's name is nothing more than that."

Nie Yan's words were hurtful, trampling Shadow Killer's dignity underfoot.

"I'll give you an answer," Shadow Killer said with some grief. He couldn't make a decision for the time being.

Nie Yan smiled indifferently and said, "I'll wait for your reply." Nie Yan understood that Shadow Killer was now forced into a corner. He would face two choices: First, assassinate Angel Feather and break with the Century Financial Group and Angel Corps; second, go back on his word. If he went back on his word, he would undoubtedly become a laughingstock.

After finishing the conversation with Nie Yan, Shadow Killer hung up the voice chat and walked around aimlessly. He was still considering and hesitating. Dark Omen Studio was his painstaking effort, and he didn't want it to be destroyed because of him alone. If it was just him, he wouldn't be afraid even if he faced the endless pursuit of Angel Corps and the Century Financial Group. But as the leader of Dark Omen Studio, he was destined to have some bonds and couldn't be so carefree.

Nie Yan's actions were ruthless and extreme! But as a superior, there were some things Nie Yan had to learn, and that was to be cold and merciless to his enemies.

Before being recruited by Nie Yan, Shadow Killer was his enemy.

If Shadow Killer couldn't be recruited, then he could only be eliminated completely, cut down to the roots!

Shadow Killer was conflicted, wondering how to make a choice. At this time, several members of Dark Omen Studio were teaming up to grind and level, including Haus and Soha. A team of twenty people crossed steep mountains and began to deal with an Level 80 Elite monster.

"Are we betraying Boss too much...?" Haus said with a hesitant and ugly expression. He still felt a little guilty about what he had done behind Shadow Killer's back.

"If you were loyal to Boss from the beginning, then don't betray him. Since things have already been done, we can only go all the way! And we have no choice. Are we going to fight the Century Financial Group? Shadow Killer is going his own way and leading us to a dead end. We can only find our own way out," Soha said from the side. Compared to Haus, he was more calm and ruthless.

They didn't care about the teammates around them when they were talking, and these teammates didn't look surprised at all when they heard it.

"The boss is contacting us." Soha's voice rang. Seeing that it was Cao Xu, he quickly connected to the voice channel.

"Has Shadow Killer made any moves recently?" A low voice sounded from the voice channel.

Soha immediately became respectful and said, "Shadow Killer recently asked us to find out information and locate Mad Rogue Nie Yan."

"Since that's the case, let him continue to play," Cao Xu said. Shadow Killer was like a rock in a latrine, smelly and hard.

Soha suddenly glanced at Shadow Killer's level dropping by one on the friend list and exclaimed, "Shadow Killer is dead!"

"What's going on?" Cao Xu frowned slightly.

"I don't know." Soha shook his head and said. He just found out.

"Go ask." Cao Xu ordered in the voice channel.

"Yes." Soha quickly responded.

After cutting off the voice channel, Soha wiped the sweat from his forehead. Chatting with a big shot like Cao Xu was still very stressful. As early as when Shadow Killer failed to assassinate Nie Yan, Cao Xu had secretly bought off Soha, Haus, and others. Everyone, including Dark Omen Studio, was already a member of the Century Financial Group. Shadow Killer had long been reduced to a figurehead. Shadow Killer had always been unwilling to transfer Dark Omen Studio to Cao Xu, but in reality, Dark Omen Studio had long been dead in name and become an appendage of the Century Financial Group. Soha, Haus, and others had been reporting Shadow Killer's movements to Cao Xu. Cao Xu knew everything about Shadow Killer's actions, even his perfunctory attitude towards the Century Financial Group. This was the terrifying aspect of Cao Xu. The capital of the Century Financial Group was omnipresent.

Cao Xu should have guessed that Shadow Killer was killed by Nie Yan. Besides Nie Yan, basically no one could kill Shadow Killer. People like War God Tribe and Sun could only fight Shadow Killer to a draw at most.

After a while, Cao Xu learned about the agreement between Shadow Killer and Nie Yan from Haus and Soha, and that Shadow Killer had just been defeated by Nie Yan.

"What kind of choice do you think Shadow Killer will make?" Cao Xu asked.

"Based on my years of experience, according to Shadow Killer's personality, he will never break his promise," Soha said cautiously, trying to guess Cao Xu's possible reaction through the voice channel.

"You mean, Shadow Killer will follow his bet with Nie Yan and assassinate three people?" A cold killing intent flashed in Cao Xu's eyes. Shadow Killer had always been unruly and difficult to tame. With this bet between Shadow Killer and Nie Yan, Shadow Killer could no longer be used. If someone couldn't be used, then he could only be completely eliminated!

"Yes." Soha nodded.

Cao Xu was silent for a moment and sent some messages to his subordinates. Under his arrangement, a conspiracy surrounding Shadow Killer unfolded.

After Nie Yan killed Shadow Killer, he knew that War God Tribe and Sun had infiltrated the Mage Alliance's guild headquarters and were staring at Crazy Magic and Holy Flame. There were at least twenty people in the conference hall at this time, and they couldn't find a suitable time to strike. They could only patiently lurk.

Nie Yan rushed over there, preparing to cooperate with the actions of War God Tribe and Sun. Shadow Killer was dead. If they could successfully assassinate Crazy Magic and Holy Flame and post the video on the website, what kind of sensation would it cause?

A guild leader being assassinated by hostile players in his own guild's most heavily guarded fortress would undoubtedly be an indelible shame. This would be a heavy blow to the morale of the entire Mage Alliance.

Nie Yan stealthily walked towards the hall. Just as he was approaching the hall entrance, he suddenly received a voice message from Guo Huai.

Guo Huai sending him a message at this critical juncture must mean something important, so he connected to the voice channel.

"What's the matter?" Nie Yan asked.

"Dao Guang just sent me a message. Someone from the Century Financial Group contacted him and sent him a five-year employment contract with a salary of two million per year, saying that if he was willing to sign and join the Century Financial Group, they would provide Dao Guang with the best benefits. Dao Guang rejected them and sent me the contents of the contract. Here's the contract, take a look. In addition, those people from the Century Financial Group have also contacted some of our members of Nirvana Guild," Guo Huai said, sending Nie Yan all the contents of the contract that Dao Guang had sent.

Nie Yan received the contract and read it. The various conditions on it were obviously extremely favorable. Only the Century Financial Group could have such a big hand. Nie Yan's heart sank. The thing he was most worried about had finally come! A large financial group like the Century Financial Group would obviously not be willing to be squeezed out of the Grinol Empire bit by bit by Nirvana Guild. They would definitely take some action, and the strongest point of the Century Financial Group was their capital. The War God Tribe, which was once extremely powerful in his previous life, collapsed under the slow corrosion of the Century Financial Group's capital. Would Nirvana Guild repeat the same mistake?

~ ~ I'm getting dizzy from sitting in the car. I took a car from Zhejiang to Shanghai for an annual meeting, then flew to Nanning, Guangxi, then took a car to Beihai, and then had to return the same way. I'm about to collapse.