Fantasy Assassin in a modern world

Chapter 130: The Shadow and the Scorpion

After blowing up a few more things John no longer had any traps available to use in their current positions, and more than that he could no longer spot Fade. He only got a look at Fade’s silhouette once and that was it, he had shot Fade but for some reason his shot actually missed. On the other hand, Fade was able to destroy all of his decoys and most of his hidden cameras. It was then for a brief moment John had but one thought, Fade was better than him. The second that thought of his came to mind he shook his head vigorously.

‘No, I’m already thinking as if I already lost. I can’t think like that, to a true assassin a loss means death. Today will not be my end.’ John calmed his mind as he took his weapon and was about to change his location.

Yet the moment he was going to move he sensed something was wrong and quickly tried to jump to the side. Unfortunately, John was too late as a bullet grazed his right chest. If he didn’t move at all, the bullet would’ve hit him straight in his liver. It wouldn’t be fatal but the injury would’ve been severe enough that he would no longer be able to fight Fade.

John pointed his Scorpion in the direction the bullet came from, yet he could not find a single trace of Fade. It was at that moment his instincts once again kicked in and he moved backward and after a second something whooshed before him hitting the nearby pipe penetrating it.

John needed to get out of this area fast as Fade could somehow see him as clear as day. Since his position has been compromised John took out two stun grenades pulled the pins and threw the two of them into the sky. Under the cover of the blinding lights, John made his escape.

...

Fade who was using the spell [Eagle’s Eye] was rather surprised by how John was able to miraculously evade his attack not once but twice as he was about to shoot once more, John suddenly used a stun grenade. The blinding effect got to Fade and he had lost track of The Elegant Scorpion.

.....

‘Tsk, this guy is more trouble than I thought. I already wasted two shots that weren’t able to disable him. I guess using a new weapon for the assassination wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. Well then, I’ll just do it the good old fashion way.’

Fade disassembled the Rifle and placed it into his bag, he hid the bag in a place he could get after he was done with his assassination.

...

John had changed his location and waited for any signal from Fade. The moment he spots Fade he would sting him with his Scorpion, one shot one kill.

As he waited he started thinking about the shots Fade made. Based on what he saw that one time he spotted Fade, the rifle he was using should be similar to his own, but it was obviously modified in a different way from his.

‘The way he made those shots, and from so many different positions in quick succession. Could it be possible that he shot from the same spot?... That means his marksmanship is better than mine. There was also that weird thing that happened a while ago. I shot him dead center but my bullet swerved and I missed, how could that have happened?... Now that almost all of my traps have either been blown away, used, or been disabled, what can I use to win?’

While John was thinking of what to do next he was checking his equipment. He had only shot once so he still had a ton of bullets, as for his traps and hidden cameras there was nothing left. Even his laptop and phone have been destroyed. The pay he had received for the job could no longer cover the damages he got during the job.

Normally after losing so much, John would simply say that he has done as much as what was paid to him, but he could not do it now. Fade was one of the rising new assassins that could very much take his spot in the Dark Rankings. If he leaves now despite having a legitimate reason, many would not interpret it that way. They would simply think that he was afraid of Fade and fled.

So John was now staying not because it was his job, but because it affects his reputation. He needed to finish off this Urban Legend of Leim City.

“This is a rather nice hiding spot you found.”

John turned a hundred eighty degrees while holding his knife trying to cut whoever was behind him. Yet he wasn’t able to cut anything but air.

“Nice knife.”

John saw that in the corner of his eye was a man wearing a white mask. John didn’t even turn his head as he threw the knife in his hand towards the man. Fade easily caught the knife as John backed away and was going to point his beloved Scorpion at Fade but was unable to, something was stopping him from lifting his rifle.

“Thanks for the knife. So you’re the assassin they call the Elegant Scorpion. You do look like you’re going to some kind of high-class party instead of an assassination mission. Still, you were better than I expected and that deserves some praise.”

“Heh, you were also better than most. I can’t believe an assassin of your caliber remained unknown until now. How unfortunate that you won’t be able to reach your target or live another day.”

John was finally able to notice the wires that were entangling his rifle, so he got the dagger hidden within his sleeves and cut the wires. John then lifted his beloved Scorpion and pointed it at Fade, who was now also pointing a similar modified Barrett m82 rifle at him.

“I think you have misunderstood something. The target has already been dealt with and I just came back here because I wanted to see the assassin they hired to take me down.”

John could not see Fade’s face due to the mask but he felt like he could see his smug smile. Aside from feeling irritated, John was also surprised.

“You already dealt with Catherine Walker, how, when?”