“What the hell am I doing?” I mumble to myself for what must be the dozenth time as I peek over the top of a stack of crates. I’ve been sticking to the assassin like a shadow and keeping myself low and out of sight. No one must have been paying attention, ‘cause I got a new skill in the process and leveled it up, too.

Sneak - Lv 3 (34/200)

“If I can’t see you, you can’t see me!”

The ability to move unseen or heard

10% harder to be detected while sneaking

It was definitely helping out. I’ve also been leveling up my Observe skill, as well as any scrap of information I can gain, will be able to help me. Now I just need to… Wait, where’d he go!? I looked around like crazy before spotting his tail disappearing into a nearby alley. Moving quickly to catch up, I peek around the corner and again watch his tail zip around another corner.

“This is the part in the movie where he pops up behind me and I die.” I can hear the sarcasm dripping, even in my own thoughts. I pushed all my senses to their max and continued to follow. It was the same song and dance for a few more turns. It almost ended in disaster when I nearly bumped into him as I came around a corner.

He’d come to a stop and was just standing in the shadow of the nearby wall. I was quietly flailing my arms to not fall on his flank. I luckily got my balance and didn’t reveal myself.

PING!

Lucky you— LUK increased by 3

“Now's not the time!” I thought angrily, swiping the screen away before moving back to a safe distance. As I caught my breath, I took in my surroundings. I followed Silent Night to what seems to be a small garden area. It was quite beautiful if a bit chaotic. Flowers of every shape, color, and kind grew all over the place. There was a small gazebo in the center of the garden, where flowering Ivy clung to one side.

Inside the gazebo, I could see the shape of a pony curled up on the stairs. I could just barely make out a pair of wings on its sides, marking it as a pegasus. I listened closely, and the faint sound of crying could be heard wafting through the air. I realized that it was the pony crying.

I was so caught up in my thoughts I’d missed the Assassin moving up till he was right next to the crying pony. I started to panic.

“Melody River?” I heard assassin ask, his voice cold and even. The ponies' head snapped up and big, fear-filled eyes locked onto the assassin. The fear quickly turned to anger and face became a snarl.

“What do you want!? If you’re here to take me back to father I’m not going back! I will not have my life dictated by someone who has more money than others!” A feminine voice snapped out. The assassin let out a chuckle that made me shiver.

“Don’t worry, you won’t be going back there… Alive that is.” He said before his horn ignited in a blackish aura and a very sharp looking knife appeared and hovered next to him in the air. I felt the whole world slow down to a crawl as my mind flew through ideas and plans and just as quickly discarded them.

“What the fuck am I gonna do?!” I thought before I felt what can only be described as a massive vice clamping down on my rampaging emotions and thoughts. It bestowed a chilling calm on my mind and gave me focus.

“Fuck it! Bullshitting powers to maximum!” I declared and made myself known.

“I wouldn’t do that is I were you.” My voice calm and quiet but it carried far. The assassin whipped around his eyes darting left and right before they focused on me. I slowly stepped out of the shadows, lazily strolling forward. The female Pegasus eyes widened with shock, she probably didn’t see me before.

“Who are you?” Silent night demanded brandishing his dagger at me. I cocked an eyebrow at him and let a smirk cross my lips.

“My name is of no consequence, but killing this lovely mare here, now that is,” I said placing my hands in the pockets of my pants like this was a casual meeting. I looked at the pegasus and muttered a quiet Observe on her, her information was quite interesting.

Level: 12
Name: Melody River
Occupation: Merchant in training
Race: Pegasus

HP: 1300
MP: 2100
STR: 13
END: 19
DEX: 19
INT: 21
WIS: 13
LUK: 3

Melody Song is the only child of prominent merchant Pay Day, one of the most powerful merchants in Kol. She’s not much older than you and enjoys reading, gardening, and music. At the moment she is upset because she’s being forced into an arranged marriage with another merchant family to increase trade and profit.

She is hoping that she’ll live through this.

“Damn, that’s rough.” I think.

PING

“ugh.”

Observe has reached Lv 15

Now reveals targets HP, MP, Stats, Information, Current thoughts, One hidden fact.

“Not ugh!” I dismissed the window and used Observe on Melody River again. I got the same info and thought but the hidden fact almost made me face vault in shock.

Melody finds you to be very handsome.

I lock that can of worms away for another day and use Observe on the assassin. His hidden fact made me crow internally for finally catching getting some leverage.

Silent night is in love and planning to marry a Diamond Dog named Ruby against his family wishes.

A plan started to take shape in my head. It would be a complete dick move but it would hopefully save this mares life. I look him straight in the eye as I speak.

“All choices have repercussions you see, given your form of employment I have no doubt you know this?” I ask I see his head give a minuscule nod in confirmation.

“Well, your employer wants this lovely lady to die…” I said with a casual wave of my hand. I see Melody stiffen and feel a twinge of sympathy.

“But we want her to live, so you can see how we have a conflict of interests.”

“Indeed,” Silent says and starts to turn around, likely to do what he was paid to do. The iron was red hot and I struck.

“How is Ruby doing these days?” I ask He froze mid-step, his eyes wide in shock.

“I’m actually surprised you and she are together, given your... family pedigree .” I put emphasis on family. He started to shake and his eyes showed a glimmer of fear in them. Now to drive it home.

“Yes, we know who you are… Silent Night.” I smirked as I saw him start to shake hard.

“It would be such a shame, to see such young love, Exposed in the light of day. It makes me wonder how your family would react.” I felt like a complete douchebag doing this. It twisted in my gut like a hot knife but I pounded the last few nails into the coffin.

“And what would become of your carrier, with such news spreading far and wide no one would ever hire you again. Such a travesty, wouldn’t you say?” I ask him. His eyes are shadowed by his mane and he’s shaking hard. I can see his teeth grinding hard as his lips are pulled back into a brutal snarl.

“How do you know this?” he growled. I can hear the anger in his voice, like a caged beast wanting to get loose. I just smile at him and put the finishing touches onto this whole story.

“The Illuminati always know. It’s what we deal in. Truth, unbiased, cold, hard, absolute truth. And the truth will out Silent night.” I said. A shady organization that deals in information to cover my complete bullshit, a match made in hell.

I blink and suddenly find myself on my back with his knife pressed hard against my throat. His eyes blazing with barely suppressed rage flashing at me. I feel panic and fear bubbling up but that same vice pushes them back down and I’m able to keep calm.

“Now now, my dear Silent Night, remember actions have consequences. Making hasty decisions based on anger could land you into trouble.” I say more calmly than I should have been able to in a situation like this. His eyes narrowed dangerously.

“And what trouble would I get into from killing a simple messenger?” He asked hotly. I felt a small prick on my neck and something warm trickle down. I just gave my best smile. It seemed to unnerve him quite a bit as the knife's pressure lessened.

“There’s a special spell attached to me, specifically to my vital signs. My heartbeat, the electrical signals of my brain, the heat my body gives off.” I explained. I see the wheels in his head-turning.

“If any of these should show signs of… me dying, just to give an example, my employers would know and they’d assume you didn’t listen to the warning and act accordingly.” I stated. I could almost see the answer click in his eyes as he paled considerably. I let my smile grow to creepy proportions as I locked eyes with him.

“As you can see it would be in your best interest to simply walk away.” Silent Night swallows hard and slowly gets off of me and I get to my hooves.

“And if I leave, this information stays hidden?” he asks carefully. I nod.

“Of course, we didn’t get to where we are today by going back on our deals,” I tell him and he nods. Neither of us taking our eyes off each other he starts to leave the garden.

“A little advice from me to you if you’ll take it,” I called out to him just before he reached the alley. He stopped and waited. I didn’t like tricking the guy like this, even if he had a sickening profession, So I’d help him out a little. I just hoped my luck held out

“When you get back to Ruby, take her and run. Keep your head down and don’t raise it for a long time. Knowing your employer, he won’t take this lying down. We’ll cover your track here so don’t dally.” I tell him He gives me an odd look before nodding his head. He started to turn but stops and looks back.

“Since I’m out of a job now, where could I find your organization? It seems like a good place to work.”

PING

Attempt at extracting information failed

“I love this power!” I cheer I my head as I lock eyes with him again. Time to be ominous.

“The Illuminati are never found when you want something… We find you.” I said staring him down hard. His gaze broke away soon after and he fled down the alley at a gallop.

PING

New skill created

Intimidation - Lv 1 (56/100)

“What did you say!”

The ability to make other cave through sheer presence alone

-20 chance at being cheated when using intimidation

+20 chance of better information when using intimidation

+15 Chance enemies will back down from a fight when using Intimidation

Okay, now this is an OP skill. I swipe the window away an focus on the alleyway for a few more moments. Now sure he was gone I turned back to Melody River and she was gawking at me with wide eyes. I used Observe again and her thought and fact changed.

She is nervous but thankful you saved her and is extremely impressed.

Melody River now has a massive crush on you

“What the FUCK?!” And why the hell isn’t my name coming up? I know it’s me the windows are referring too. It’s not that important right now. I dismiss the windows with a deep sigh and let my shoulder sag with relief. I give Melody the kindest smile I can muster at this point as whatever clamped down on my emotions let go and they came rushing back.

“I can’t believe that he actually bought that,” I said with a small laugh. Melody just blinked at me before I could almost hear the gears in her brain crunch as they halted. She stared wide-eyed at me before as sickly sweet smile formed on her face and I felt pure dread fill my soul. It was like someone had dumped ice water down the inside of my spine and the grim reaper had run his fingers down my back simultaneously

PING

PING

PING

New skill

Detect Bloodlust - Lv 3 (47/200)

“I can smell your fear”

Radius of 20 feet

Detect Bloodlust - Lv 4 (56/250)

Radius 25 feet

Detect Bloodlust - Lv5 (59/300)

Radius 30 feet

I just watched in stunned fear as the window kept popping up. I felt a hoof on my shoulder and I turned and saw the face of death.

“Did you just risk my life on a fib?” Her voice was sweet but behind the sweetness was the devil.

“Yes?” I squeaked out. she became enshroud in a blood-red aura. I felt the bloodlust skyrocket.

PING

“THAT’S NOT HELPING!!!”

Author's Note

Out of the frying pan and into the fire indeed. Just a quick note for all you readers. I plan on putting his stats, skill and their respective level updates here in the authors notes around every 5 chapters.

So if you don't feel like hurting your brain with annoying math and want me to do it for you you bunch of sadists just wait for the next chapter and see it there.

We I hope you've enjoyed this so far, cause I've certainly enjoyed writing it. I hope you continue to enjoy it and don't forget...

Evil, always finds a way.