When the two assassins saw the old man behind them, they froze on the spot.
Fear exploded inside them without warning; their breath stopped in their chests, and their minds screamed that there was no longer any way to survive.
Of course, it was not strange. Both of them knew this old man. Across the entire continent, there were very few people who did not know him.
Without saying even a single word, one of them reached into his pocket, pulled out a small pouch, and threw a dark powder toward August.
"Run!"
The powder spread through the air, its particles surrounding August like a toxic fog. As they expected, it should have shut down the senses of any living being for several minutes.
But… nothing happened.
"So this was the trump card you were talking about?" August did not even blink. He spoke with a mocking look.
"It seems your masters sent you on a suicide mission." Then he continued in a cold voice.
As soon as he smelled the powder, he realized what it was: the ashes of a very special flower called Uventos, obtained by burning it. It could disrupt the senses of mana users for a few minutes.
But it was useless against someone as powerful as him.
For a single moment, he released his aura and that one moment was enough.
Both assassins collapsed where they stood; their knees bent, their bones groaned, and their bodies were crushed under invisible pressure.
August stepped forward, stretched out his hands, and lifted both of them off the ground as if they were lifeless dolls.
Absolute despair filled them. They felt death. One of them tried to smash his own head, the other moved his tongue toward the poison pill in his mouth.
But the pills stopped in midair… and slowly floated out of their mouths.
"Without the Young Master's order… you are not allowed to die," August said with a blank face.
He took another step and disappeared.
A moment later, he appeared in the palace courtyard, in front of Reinh and Leia, and threw both assassins at Reinh's feet.
"Young Master. Your order has been carried out."
Reinh now had half of his face wrapped in a white cloth. Blood was still leaking from under it, but his gaze was indifferent, and it was clear he did not care.
When Leia saw the drops of blood, she sighed. No matter how much she tried to convince her Young Master to get treatment first, he did not listen.
The assassins' masks had been removed. They were two middle-aged men, completely bald, without even a single hair or beard. It looked strange, but among assassins, such traits were normal.
One of them clenched his teeth.
"We don't know anything. And we won't say anything. So it's better if you just kill us."
Reinh showed no reaction. He had expected this. Assassins were naturally prepared for situations like this, and threatening them was pointless.
He had no intention of interrogating them. He only wanted to know which assassination organization on the continent they came from.
He knew it was impossible for these assassins to know anything about the people who ordered his assassination.
"You were sent to a place protected by that old man. I'm sure you knew him, and you still came," he said coldly.
The assassins' eyes darkened.
"Your master definitely gave you something you thought you could escape with."
"Or at least, you had that stupid belief."
Both of their faces twisted. The powder really was their trump card, something meant to stop any enemy. Unfortunately, it did not work on that old man, and that was how they ended up like this.
But how did this kid know?
A cold shiver ran down their spines. It felt like all their secrets were exposed in front of this twelve-year-old boy.
"This was just a suicide mission. Still… I'll give you a chance," Reinh continued.
His gaze moved to the assassin on the left; he was weaker and more hesitant. Reinh knew very well that only the one on the right was truly experienced, and that all the other assassins sent to kill him were amateurs.
It was stupid to send several inexperienced assassins to kill him, especially when he was protected by August. He doubted an assassination organization could be that foolish.
So what other reason could there be?
"I'll give you a chance to live. Tell me which organization you belong to," he said to the one on the left.
The man clenched his teeth. Doubt clearly showed on his face.
"If I tell you… will you swear to let me live?" he finally said.
"Of course," Reinh replied shortly.
"What the hell are you doing?! This is betrayal—!" the assassin on the right suddenly shouted.
Reinh did not even look at him.
"But X, this is our only—" the assassin on the left opened his mouth, speaking to his partner.
"Shut up."
The sentence was cut short.
A hand moved forward. The right assassin's neck was crushed in an instant. The sound of breaking bone was short and dull. Blood burst out, splashing onto Reinh's clothes and the other assassin's face.
The lifeless body fell to the ground. He did not even understand how he died.
"I don't like noise," Reinh pulled his hand back and said without emotion.
The remaining assassin was shaking. How… how could a child do something like this?
"I'll tell you everything! Everything I know—" he said in a broken voice.
Reinh turned and looked at August.
"I've learned what I wanted. Kill this one too. Remove their skulls and hang them above the entrance gate."
"It will look better."
Leia and the remaining assassin both froze. Even August paused for a moment, but immediately lowered his head.
"As you command."
"And about your punishment…" Reinh continued calmly.