Reincarnated Assassin

It took Ritzy five minutes for him to finally calm down after leaving the room. The order to send him to fight the underworld black market guild gave him a great shock. Luckily, his mind tried to rationalize what was happening and that everything would be okay..

Ritzy mind,

'Okay, okay. They won't be sending me to fight the black market guild for no reason. Yeah, they should have a plan. There's most likely a story to this. They wouldn't be sending me on such a mission if meant certain death'.

'Most likely the black market guild lost their control in this city so they want to wipe out the people who took control. Yeah, that must be it. I bet I will be in a team with capable people tasked with helping the black market guild retake their place in this city'.

With his mind cooled, Ritzy walked down the hallway and entered the room Grasso mentioned. Going inside the room, he saw many young up and ready nobles and knights. There was also what seemed really experienced elders.

Even though this seemed like a team with the youngsters being lead by the elderly, something tick Ritzy in the wrong way. He felt there was something more to these bunch of people. What especially felt strange was that there were strong and capable people here, but also very weak people.

Walking around, examining people, Ritzy felt something familiar with his Mana Presence.

Ritzy looked to his left and saw the young girl from the banquet who was talking with Junger. The girl also was holing a necklace with a wooden ring.

What Ritzy felt familiar wasn't particularly the girl, but more the ring. It was the same ring sold to the commoner at the city next to the Reds' Manor. The ring was made out of the local tree wood. A dark red tree called hornbeam.

Seeing the ring, Ritzy realized that Junger was in an intimate relationship with her.

Looking at her again, Ritzy examined her more, seeing what caused Junger to fall for the woman. Examining her, Ritzy was surprised.

Her face seemed to be injured, that it was punched many times. Her arms had more bruises then skin. This made Ritzy curious what happened but then Ritzy's Mana Presence picked up trace amounts of healing magic.

Ritzy was really confused about this information. He thought about why a healer would be sent to fight, why would a healer who's most likely a noble be injured, and how is this related to Junger.

Being filled with questions and having time, he decided to investigate. Ritzy then showed a friendly smile and walked up to the young girl.

Ritzy,

"Excuse me for my rudeness but I'm Ritzy of the Leaf County. I wanted to ask if you're the browned haired woman who spoke with my knight at the banquet?".

Dayla woke from her stupor of staring into the ring with her bruised face and looked at Ritzy.

Dayla,

"I'm sorry, can you repeat what you said".

Ritzy cough and then spoke again,

"I'm Ritzy of the Reds family. I was just asking if you're the young lady who spoke with my knight Junger".

Dayla hearing Junger's name again, she began to cry and said,

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to involve your family. Take out your anger on me if you must".

Ritzy's mind,

'She thinks I'm angry at her and somehow something she did got my family in trouble. It seems like she knows something I don't. I need to get this information out of her without her realizing I don't know. Showing that I don't know is dangerous to show'.

Ritzy,

"What's done is done, I just here for an explanation".

Dayla looked at Ritzy with a sad face and showed regret,

"I guess, that the least you deserve. What happened was that your knight and I fell in love with each other. We enjoyed a night together after the banquet. Unfortunately, I was already a betrothed woman with a Margrave family".

Ritzy,

"So they caught what you did that night".

Dayla,

"Yes, it seems someone saw Junger escape my tent and reported to my ex-fiance".

Ritzy,

"So they beat you senseless and threw you and me in this dangerous mission. Wait, wouldn't Junger be punished as well?".

Dayla,

"No, they don't know it was Junger who I was with. They just know it was one of your knights but I gave the excuse your knight committed suicide the day after I said I wouldn't run away with him. Wait, did you tell them I was with Junger that night!?! Please tell what happened!".

Ritzy,

"Don't worry, he's with the rest of my knights safe and sound. In reality, I'm someone who believes in true love and how no one should be forced to marry. Good thing I didn't give him up and guessed correctly this was a matter about love".

Ritzy was lying. In reality, he had no idea why he was sent here and that it involved Junger.

Dayla,

"You're a good lord. Sorry about ruining your family and having you sent in this suicide mission filled with the unwanted people".

Hearing those words, Ritzy started to panic in his mind. This talk confirmed that this wasn't a simple thing, it was a mission to get rid of them.

Ritzy,

"Wait, you're a healing magician, why haven't you healed yourself yet?".

Dayla,

"I don't know, I feel like I should suffer or be punished".

Ritzy,

"You shouldn't. Junger wouldn't want it and I wouldn't want my only friend in this godforsaken team to be injured. Let me heal you".

Ritzy then controlled healing magic into his palms and he hovered his hand over her. The mana then spread around her body and healed her completely.

Ritzy,

"I know Junger would want to see you again and we wouldn't want him to see you in such a sorry state. Also, I need a partner in peak condition if we want to survive".

Dayla spoke desperately and worried,

"You mean it? Junger doesn't hate me and wants to see me?".

Ritzy smiled and didn't respond.

Dayla cried from joy seeing Ritzy's response. It gave her hope and a drive to survive.

Ritzy didn't know anything that Junger wanted, he just wanted a partner he could trust in, especially if that partner is a healer.

After she calmed down from crying, they started talking again.

Ritzy,

"I want to know something about this team"

Dayla,

"What is it? I'll gladly answer them to the best of my ability".

Ritzy,

"Even though this mission is supposed to be our demise, don't you think they're too many capable people here? I know it's possible that the reason there killing them is because they're capable, but if there too many skilled people in one area. I don't think anyone is in much danger in taking this mission".

Dayla,

"What you speak is true but not in this situation. What we're facing is a black market guild branch or the branch that could survive the beastkin reconquering the city. What there capable of is much more than what this team could do combined".

Ritzy,

"Makes sense. They should've lost control of their part of the city when the beastkin reconquered, but they didn't. It makes you think about how much strength they have".

Dayla,

"From what I know, each branch has people strong enough to become Margraves at least. It makes you think how strong their strongest is".

As they continued chatting, an old man entered the room and walked to the center of everyone. In the middle of everyone the old man spoke.

Old man,

"You've been gathered here today because the higher-ups believe your right for this important mission. If you look around you, you'll see some of the best of the best".

The old man started listing names while pointing at people.

Old man,

"...."

The old man points at a muscular male,

"####, first son of a Margrave and a valiant swordsman".

The old man points at Dayla,

"Dayla, third daughter of the Doddery family and our emergency healer on the field".

The old man points at Ritzy,

"Ritzy, fourth son of the Reds family and a blessed magician".

The old man spoke with pride,

"This team has been provided with the best of the best because it's the most important. I hope we were right in picking you for this mission, do not disappoint us".

The crowd cheered and Ritzy was impressed by the old man's words. The capability of lying in such a matter was something he rarely has seen.

Old man,

"To get right to the point, we'll need you guys to go clear out the black market district. Do not worry, it's the only imposter trying to take their land".

"To do this, we'll have your form into different teams and scavenge the area. You'll be tasked to eliminate any imposters and bring any valuable items".

"Before you start forming teams, a couple teams have already been made. The first team will be #####, ###, ###, and ####. The second team will be Ritzy and Dayla. The third team will be ###...".