Chapter 216: Another S-Ranker! Golden Ticket Bonus 3/5* ** Looking at the defeated assassin pinned under his boot, Moon’s expression changed, a slight smile crossed his features. "So, tell me, how much are you going to pay for your life?" The assassin’s eyes, widened with sudden hope. He’d thought he was dead for certain. Outcasts had no protection, no backing, no legal recourse. If Moon killed him here in this soundproof room, there would be no consequences. No investigation. No punishment. In fact, Moon would probably be rewarded for eliminating a known danger to society. But the question about payment meant there was a chance. A possibility of survival if he could offer enough. "Everything!" the assassin gasped out, his voice rough with pain and desperation. "Just let me go! I’ll give you everything I have!" Moon’s eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. He’d expected the assassin to offer half his wealth, or perhaps specific valuable items while trying to retain enough resources to survive. That was the typical negotiation, the victim demanded payment, the attacker tried to minimize losses while preserving their life. But this man was offering everything without even attempting to bargain. Either he was extraordinarily desperate to live, or he simply understood that someone who could casually break an A-rank’s arm had no need for negotiation. "Your sincerity touched me," Moon said, though his tone suggested amusement rather than actual emotion. He lifted his boot from the assassin’s chest, stepping back to give the man room to move. "Give me your things and I will you go." He gestured toward the silencing artifact still active on the floor. "Also, I’ll let you keep the artifact. It’s too weak to be useful for me." "T-thank you for your mercy!" The assassin scrambled to his feet, cradling his broken arm against his chest as he hurriedly began removing his equipment with his functioning hand. The armor came off first, decent B-Rank quality protective gear enchanted with basic defensive runes. Then his weapons, the poisoned dagger he’d attacked with, a backup knife from his boot, and a small collection of throwing needles from a hidden bandolier. Finally, with visible reluctance but no hesitation, he pulled the storage ring from his finger and placed it in Moon’s extended hand. Moon activated [Appraisal] on each item as he received them, his skills immediately revealing their properties: The armor was solid B-rank gear, nothing exceptional but well-maintained. The throwing needles were coated with a paralytic poison of reasonable quality. The backup knife was unremarkable. But the main dagger... Moon held it up to examine more closely, genuine appreciation entering his expression. --- [Assassin’s Fang] 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶 [Order: First] [Rank: B+] [Durability: 94/100] [Details: A masterwork dagger forged specifically for lethal strikes. The blade holds an edge exceptionally well and can channel poison more efficiently than standard weapons. +10% Damage Against Unarmored Targets. +50% Poison Application and Potency. Self-Sharpening enchantment maintains edge quality over time.] --- "Not bad," Moon said, his voice carrying genuine approval as he tested the weapon’s weight and balance. "A powerful B+ Rank dagger. Definitely better than mine." His current weapon a C-Rank dagger that he had bought when he gained his first paycheck after leaving the hidden realm. This assassin’s blade was a significant upgrade, and the poison-enhancement properties would synergize well with his [Dagger Arts] skill even if he didn’t typically use poisons or daggers. The assassin watched his prized weapon change hands with an expression of profound loss, but he didn’t dare protest. His life was worth more than any equipment, no matter how valuable. "You can leave now," Moon said, gesturing casually toward the door. The assassin didn’t need to be told twice. He scooped up the silencing artifact with his good hand, deactivated it with a press of the button, and turned to flee from the room as quickly as his injured state would allow. But before his functioning hand could even reach the door handle— THUD! A powerful strike landed on the back of his head, rendering him unconscious. The assassin’s body went limp, collapsing to the floor in a heap. Moon looked down at the unconscious body with an expression of mild satisfaction. He grabbed the assassin by the back of his collar and dragged him toward the door. Moon opened the door and soon stepped into the main reception, still dragging the unconscious outcast behind him like an inconvenient piece of luggage. He became the immediate center of attention. The inn’s common area had several patrons—merchants, awakeners, travelers—all of whom turned to stare at the scene unfolding before them. Shocked silence descended. The outcast’s face had become widely known throughout Rocketer Base over the past few weeks. Wanted posters bearing his likeness were plastered at every checkpoint and guard station. Everyone knew to avoid him, to report sightings to authorities, to flee rather than confront. He was an A-rank killer who’d evaded capture for years, leaving bodies in his wake. And yet here was some young man casually dragging the outcast’s body across the floor like he was nothing more than a mild annoyance. The young man didn’t even appear injured. No blood, no torn clothing, no signs of struggle that should accompany capturing an A-rank assassin. "Hey, isn’t that kid the same one the beautiful girl brought here?" one of the inn’s patrons whispered urgently to his companion, his voice low but still audible in the stunned silence. His friend nodded vigorously, his head bobbing like a chicken pecking at grain. "Yes, it’s him! He’s managed to catch the A-rank outcast so easily... he doesn’t even look injured. Not a scratch!" A third patron’s eyes suddenly widened with realization, his voice carrying excited certainty. "He might be an S-ranker... just like that lady! D-do you think they staged the whole unconscious act to lure the outcast in and capture him?!" The theory spread through the gathered crowd like wildfire. "That makes so much sense!" "A trap within a trap... brilliant!" "They pretended he was helpless to draw out the assassin, then caught him effortlessly!"