It was almost insulting to be sent after someone so weak.The leader of the Last Order felt a vague sense of discontentment as he examined Levi Ironwood’s sleeping form through the polished window. He was adhered to the exterior wall of the Ironwood Manor, his magical signature suppressed so tightly that not even the most skilled of mages would’ve sensed even a flicker of mana from his form. His true name had been purged from the records of history. These days, he simply went by the moniker of Shade. A bit melodramatic, to be sure, but considering what he was the leader of, he doubted anyone would object.They were one of the few groups of individuals said to be capable of assassinating even a king. Indeed, Luminarche’s royal government paid them a hefty sum every year to not take any jobs against the royal family, with the promise of doubling any potential offers they received. In fact, there were even talks of getting them on retainer to streamline the negotiations. It even included royal healer benefits…Individually, they weren’t the strongest. But working together as a team? They were one of the even fewer groups of individuals acknowledged to be able to take down an Ascendant. With that in mind, being sent after a fresh Institute graduate – one whom, according to their intelligence gathering, hadn’t even crossed level 14 yet – was a job far beneath them. Now granted, the Last Order had determined that Levi Ironwood was stronger than his level suggested; there were quite a few rumors floating around the Institute of Ascension that raised some questions.Enough rumors, in fact, that Shade had a small inkling that Levi Ironwood had, somehow, someway, managed to hoodwink (...)