The Blood Hounds
Zoltan, the Master Assassin in the military garrison stationed in the 3rd layer of settlements revealed the existence of a special squad for those with Ghostblade Assassin squad called the Blood Hounds.
"And what do these Blood Hounds do?" asked Vlad while maintaining his calm.
[He isn't surprised, excited or even shows a sign of vigilance towards this as if he had let go of all his defenses.
Either he is truly talented and has the means to deal with me in case I attack him…
Or he is just a naive moron who would foolishly trust a stranger in the first meeting.
I just hope he is the former.] spoke Zoltan to himself.
"Blood Hounds is the elite Ghostblade Assassin squad where newly recruited youngsters like yourself are trained and raised to become the next reliable team that serves the kingdom.
I'm a part of a superior assassin squad called the Death Hounds where there are other Ghostblade Master Assasins like me.
The difference is that the Blood Hounds are like trainees whose main work is just smelling the blood." spoke the handsome and rugged Zoltan as he leaned on his chair carefreely.
"And by smelling blood, I mean intel gathering and reconnaissance at most.
Young children and teenagers are a very good choice to do these things than the obvious adults whose physical stature can easily be recognized as warriors or assassins." stated Zoltan, shedding details on the existence of Blood Hounds.
"However, they aren't allowed to act up or assassinate the target. That is a part where professionals like me who have tons of experience in covertly killing people come in." he iterated.
"And you, young lad… will be considered part of future main squads if you survive and prove your skills as a member of the Blood Hounds.
You will be trained and provided the resources to increase your strength based on the results such as the success of missions you are given." explained Zoltan.
"Is that so? And what are the benefits for me?
Training is not exactly an enticing factor for me. So why should I feel inclined to join?" asked Vlad with a serious but calm demeanor.
Obviously, there was a catch to the story. One wouldn't waste the talented young people for petty things like information gathering even if they were assassins.
At a young age, someone like Vlad could be sent undercover in a powerful organization or an enemy faction to provide them with inside intel for years to come. It was far more important than just teaching them how to infiltrate a place and gather intel.
"How about serving your country?" asked Zoltan.
Pfft!
Vlad scoffed at the very notion of things called patriotism and servitude to the nation.
"Don't try to waste my time, mister. We're at war with an empire.
Our kingdom might as well get erased out of existence tomorrow morning. And I sure as hell don't want to be among the corpses.
I prefer Individualism and Capitalism than surrendering my life to Communism." replied Vlad without a shred of guilty consciousness.
As Vlad spoke with unwavering conviction, his words echoed in the room, cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. His strong stance on individualism and capitalism, even in the face of a looming war and potential annihilation, demonstrated his fierce determination to protect his way of life and freedom.
"I would rather live and die for my own sake than serve a cause I don't believe in." he stated his modus operandi to the master assassin.
His refusal to surrender his life to what he viewed as an opposing ideology showcased his strong sense of self-preservation and his determination to make his own choices.
"I see. You're not the gullible kind despite such a young age.
It pleases me more than annoying me, to be honest." said Zoltan with a light smirk.
"Why is that?" asked Vlad with a sense of skepticism.
"In our line of work, fools who operate based on their morals and feelings don't last long.
In the end, you should be alive to actually be useful. Otherwise, you're just an irrelevant burden." said Zoltan, almost acknowledging Vlad for his honesty.
"Then let me tell you about the true benefit… the Stigmata Jades." he stated with a wicked smile.
"What?! You're giving stigmata jades to them?" asked Vlad, his face laced with surprise and a hint of excitement for the first time.
What were Stigmata Jades?
From the books Vlad collected information from, there was one specific about Stigmatas.
Stigmata Jades were natural resources found in the world of Redros, with spherical core-like stones imbued with magical properties that enhanced the strength of Stigmata.
Stigmata themselves were special markings or symbols that granted individuals unique abilities and powers. These markings were typically found on the bodies of powerful warriors, granting them extraordinary skills and talents.
Stigmata Jades were named for their jade color and were considered a basic and harmless way to improve the additional strength of Stigmata and the physical abilities of their bearers. They were highly sought after by warriors and adventurers seeking to enhance their combat prowess and gain an edge in battles.
When a Stigmata Jade was properly attuned and integrated with a warrior's Stigmata, it could unleash hidden potential and amplify the effects of their abilities. It acted as a catalyst, enhancing the magical properties of the Stigmata and enabling the user to access greater levels of power.
"But like everything else, nothing is free in this world.
You will have to fight for it and even after you win it, there was no rule saying that others couldn't steal it from you." stated Zoltan with a mischievous smirk.
Vlad understood that the Blood Hounds was a squad meant only for those who wished to survive and also had enough strength to protect themselves.
In simple words, these rules were also a way of training the recruits through and through.
"I can give you a recommendation. Every Master Rank is allowed to give 3 such recommendations.
I have already used 2 and you might become my last." spoke Zoltan, presenting Vlad an irrefutable opportunity.
However, instead of acting like a child who just received their favorite candy, Vlad did not jump to conclusions or outright accepted this chance.
Instead, he calmly asked the most important question…
"And what are you getting out of it?"