This is a place that lies a hundred miles away, a desolate land with overlapping mountains.
In a valley that cracks open between the mountain ranges, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, this is a place where the influence of all nations cannot reach, a place where laws and morals are deliberately ignored. It's also a breeding ground for massive illegal transactions that occur beneath the surface.
It’s located in the Seatherian Desert, beneath the Diaset Mourntains.
As the name suggests, this is a forgotten place, but it's also one of the few large-scale illegal slave trading hubs on the continent. Those heinous criminals from the western nations find their way here, escaping into this secluded place.
A decrepit and abandoned building in this town, tainted by the dust of the desert winds, appears quite inconspicuous.
Inside, a red-haired girl kneels on the ground. She cannot stand, nor does she dare to, because there is a foot pressing on her back, emitting a thick smell of gunpowder.
A man in a dark green short jacket sits with his legs crossed, a smirk on his face, as he gazes at a crystalline projection.
Through the projection, a pair of fierce brown eyes in the darkness glare hatefully at this man in the dark green jacket.
"Brother Lou... don't mind me... at this rate..." the red-haired girl says hoarsely, her ears drooping weakly due to malnutrition caused by prolonged hunger.
"Kandilu, you really are insane..." a hoarse and deep voice echoes from the darkness in the scene.
"Heh, are you praising me? Should I respond to your praise by turning your sister into a work of art right away?" The man named Kandilu laughs heartily, raising his right hand, and a series of sparks appear with his movements.
"Why wouldn't I dare? I even blew up the king's palace! Where do you think I got that one billion gold coin bounty? Why do you think I haven't been caught after all this time?" Kandilu boasts arrogantly.
Yes, Kandilu has the needed strength to back up his arrogance.
Kandilu was born with the natural talent for stealth, yet, the man also possesses the talent of bomb making, not only that, this man also has a penchant for grandeur—the combination of these qualities have made him a legend in the assassin's profession, time and time again.
Assassins typically involve themselves in contract killings, but Kandilu is truly a different breed.
Once, there was a prince embroiled in a power struggle, eager to eliminate his older brothers to ascend to the throne. He searched for someone who could complete this task discreetly, someone powerful enough to bypass the king's guards but not too powerful to escape the subsequent "cleanup." In the end, he found a young boy from the slums to carry out the mission.
To the prince, the hired assassin needed to possess great strength to breach the king's inner circle. Yet, they couldn't be too strong, as it would make the "cleanup" operation difficult. So, the young boy with a natural talent for stealth infiltrated the palace using his cat-like agility, and then, he blew up the entire royal palace.
He destroyed the political center of the nation, severed its economic lifeline, and shattered the symbol of the people's spirit. He did complete the mission—only for his employer to die beneath the blades of a rebellion leader three months later.
Since then, his head was valued at nine zeros in gold coins, and wanted posters covering the streets and alleys. The boy, harboring dark intentions and madness, ventured deeper into the shadows, pursued by all corners.
That was three years ago, and now he lazily sits in a rickety chair, watching the scene with great interest.
"...Is this the target? What do you want to ask?" the deep voice finally conceded.
"Huh? Do you think I really want you to listen to that trash Orlan? I don't care about the life or death of this [Villager] and that third-rate potion of his. What interests me are his companions."
"Make sure to find her before those hindrances do! If she gets taken away, it will be troublesome... Oh, and of course, you should maintain your reputation. So, when you catch her, you can also complete the mission for that useless guy. Hehe."
"...What are the names of the boy and the girl?"
"Hey? Why are you asking so many questions?"
"At least, there's someone I can apologize to when I feel guilty in my heart."
"You're really annoying! Whatever! One is called Walson, and the other is called Grace!" Kandilu said disdainfully, rolling his eyes and casually destroying the crystal projection with his hand, then reclining with both hands behind his head. ...
The girl with the ability to do spatial jumps, the [Black Dragon Mage]...
"I'm really looking forward to meeting you more and more!"