"Someone got to it first. Damn it."

Rog said loudly. Unaware of the fact that the one who had received the lot was standing behind him. He sighed before speaking up.

"Seems like you found the friend you were looking for. My mission is over. It's about time we settled our deal so I can be on my way."

Rog heard Eren's voice from behind him and realized that he wasn't alone inside the underground space. His eyes shined with cold light while forming a gentle smile on his face.

"Of course my friend."

Rog said while getting up from his position. He withdrew a pouch that supposedly contained Eren's commission he was promised for the mission plus some bonus.

As he continued to speak, Rog walked toward Eren with a melancholy smile on his face.

"Death is eternal silence, Eren. That's why the dead can't ask for the things they might need. Jacob is no different."

Eren raised his eyebrows and wore a confused expression on his face. His shoulders were relaxed and his posture was casual, letting Rog know that the young man in front of him still wasn't aware of his intentions.

"Maybe Jacob needs some company on his journey to the afterlife. The testing ground would be very lonely if my "friend" didn't have anyone with him to accompany him.

So you'd have to forgive me.."historical

Jacob didn't complete his sentence and vanished from his spot. He had the element of mist and his class as an assassin had allowed him to take full advantage of his element.

In the next moment, Rog was seen piercing his knife through Eren's heart with a wild smile on his face. But his smile soon turned to surprise when he found out that the heart he had pierced belonged to an afterimage of its owner. This afterimage dissipated in the air with a few lightning streaks lingering around.

Rog was shocked when he turned around only to find out that Eren was approaching him from behind him. He quickly sent his mana circuits into hyperdrive to tackle Eren's attacks who he considered his victim just a moment before.

Clang!

Rog's mist-coated daggers clashed violently with Eren's Tachi before he was pushed back. The assassin used that momentum to create a distance from Eren along with his movement spell before stopping at a safe place away from him.

"Oh? I thought you were just a normal brat who didn't know shit about Gilaahan. What gave me away? My acting?"

Rog wasn't stressed that Eren had managed to save himself from his assassination attempt. He had plenty of tricks up his sleeves to finish the young man off. Instead, he decided to have a casual conversation before knowing about his next victim. A courtesy he extended to only a few before their deaths.

"None of those. I'll tell you more about that in a while. Can you tell me why you are attacking me for a few Mana Quartz? You could've just said you are broke and we would have opted for some other solution."

"Hahahaha!"

Rog started laughing after slapping his free hand on his thigh when he heard Eren's words. It was as if he had heard the joke of the day. He maintained his defensive stance, controlled his laughter somehow, and looked at Eren interestingly before responding.

"Haha. it's not about the money, boy. Do you even know where we are standing? Look around you. This place is one of Hexers' test grounds. And from the looks of it, it hasn't been explored by anyone."

"So?" Eren's expressions remained stoic as he expressed his apparent confusion. He wanted to know all that Rog knew about the test ground and Jacob before taking any further action.

Fortunately, his ruse was working on Rog as he thought he was the one driving Eren into a corner. His delusion of control was not letting him see that Eren was leading him by his nose.

Rog chuckled and looked at Eren with a look of pity before adding up.

"So? The unexplored test ground presents loads of opportunities for an explorer like me. Why would I let someone else know about its existence when I can finish them off here and keep it a secret only known to me?

Do you understand your circumstances, Eren? Gilaahan is not the dreamland you thought it was.

You are in the fourth stage of Meta rank while I'm close to breaking into my seventh stage. The environment here suits my class in every way. I have more experience under my belt. And there's nobody here who can help you.

I suggest you give up and lower your weapon. Let me give you a swift death. Why make it difficult for both of us when we both know what the result of our duel is going to be in the end?"

Rog said while smiling at Eren cunningly. He had absolute confidence in finishing Eren off in one way or another. He was just trying to mess with Eren's head and see if the newbie ranker breaks under pressure and makes his job of killing him any easier.

Eren looked at Rog with a bemused look on his face. As if he was angry at him for the things he had said to him. He spoke quickly, his voice laced with suppressed anger.

"I don't understand when did this mission become about silencing me from finding out about your friend? Didn't you want to perform the last rights for your friend over there? Why should I care about some test grounds?"

Rog pursed his lips this time and sighed. He looked at Eren and shook his head in denial before responding to his queries.

"You really are a newbie, aren't you? The Hexers' test grounds are a treasure trove for all rankers, be they Hexers or normal rankers like us. The rewards for the first few explorers are always higher than for the rest of the visitors who come afterward.

Of course, I wouldn't want this testing ground to be found by other rankers. And no. Your assurance to not tell anyone about it won't work either.

I believe in the dead to keep a secret. And speaking of the dead.."