The communications between the Voidreaper and the allied royals happened rather quickly as Master Reina securely relayed Rui's messages to Area Crina, where it was then relayed to the royals through an untraceable means as a result of the sheer resources and care that the royals had put into not being traced.
"The Voidreaper has a policy of knowing the identity of the commissioner?" Prince Randal narrowed his eyes.
"That was the response that Area Crina supplied us with, Your Highness," Sierra calmly informed him. "It's not unheard of, even if unusual."
"We cannot possibly divulge our identities," Princess Ranea's tone was firm.
"We should cancel our plans to commission him if he is not amenable to not knowing our identity," Princess Rafia remarked.
"However, he is the most desirable candidate out of all the assassins," Princess Raemina remarked as she studied his profile with interest.
"Our identities as the ones who seek to assassinate Rui Quarrier must never come out at all costs," Prince Randal was clear. "At the same time, securing his commission is desirable."
Princess Ranea turned to Sierra. "Are there any circumstances under which both of these can be achieved?"
"In our talks with the Voidreaper, he had revealed that he is willing to learn of the identities of the commissioners after the assassination is complete when he delivers the body," Sierra remarked.
"Do we really require the body?" Princess Raemina frowned.
"The best way to minimize the probability of Your Highness' identities being revealed is to ensure that the body is not discovered. Once the body is discovered, the probability that of Your Highnesses being exposed increases significantly, statistically," Sierra remarked.
"So ensuring that the body is never found is our best course of action?" Prince Randal narrowed his eyes.
"Correct, Your Highness; for that reason, ensuring that we procure the body and then completely and systematically erase it from this world such that no esoteric technology or Martial Artist will ever be able to learn anything from it is an important agenda. About ninety-eight percent of murder investigations successfully solved are those where the scene of the crime and the body are readily available for investigation. In comparison, in those where it isn't, the success rate of solving such cases is only two percent," Sierra explained calmly. "Thus, we need to procure the body after the successful assassination."
"However, there is no guarantee that the Voidreaper will be the one to kill Rui Quarrier," Princess Rafia remarked. "Considering the number of Martial Seniors that we are hiring, the probability that it will be the Voidreaper who will kill him is minimal. In that circumstance, why should we even bother to promise something as risky and dangerous as revealing our identity?"
"The Voidreaper has acquiesced and proposed a compromise," Sierra informed them. "He proposes that as long as he is the one to kill Rui Quarrier, he learns the identities of those who commission him."
"He seems oddly fixated on learning our identities," Princess Ranea narrowed her eyes.
"It doesn't matter," Prince Randal snorted. "We can put him at the last in the line of assassins that will attack Rui. That way, there's almost no way he'll be the one to take on Rui Quarrier."
"…You cannot rule out the possibility that he will be the one to kill Rui Quarrier after the latter somehow survives every other assassin," Princess Rafia remarked. "In such a case, we will have shot ourselves in the foot with the need to show him our identity in order to retain the body of Rui Quarrier to erase it."
The four royals were in a bit of a dilemma.
Revealing their identity was an unacceptable request. If the Voidreaper just so happened to reveal this information, they would suffer tremendously!
It could get so bad that he could singlehandedly cripple their entire political campaign if he had even a shred of proof.
None of them wanted that to happen.
"If I may, Your Highnesses, I have a proposal," Sierra calmly offered, earning a nod of approval from the four royals. "I believe the solution is simple. Once the Voidreaper has been satisfied with learning your identities and offers up Rui Quarrier's cadaver, then we need only kill him afterward."
The suggestion intrigued the four royals.
"…I suppose that's a simple way to fix the problem," Prince Randal mused. "Actually, that is indeed a rather simple and straightforward solution. Once he has delivered the body, the agreement will be completed, and the contract will be voided, including the non-compete clause. Then we can kill the Voider then and there on the spot with our Martial Masters and dispose of the body without anybody coming out the wiser."
"As long as nobody walks away learning our identities, I'm fine," Princess Ranea shrugged. "Even if that means killing the people who do walk away."
"That is an agreeable proposition," Princess Rafia nodded. "The probability that he can survive such a situation is precisely zero. In that case, it would be better to procure the body after fulfilling his request and then kill him then and there."
"Sounds like it will be an exciting spectacle," Princess Raemina giggled. "I look forward to seeing the great Voidreaper struggling against our Masters."
"There won't be any struggle," Prince Randal snorted. "He will die instantly. Not even the might of the Voider will be enough to last a second against a powerful Martial Master. Objectively, there is zero risk."
He turned to Sierra. "Good suggestion."
"Thank you, Your Highness," She bowed.
"Since our agreement is unanimous, let us go with this plan," Princess Ranea nodded, narrowing her eyes. "We will commission the best of the assassins we can within short notice, all of whom will be Seniors because Masters will take years naturally and have them take Rui on in a manner that ensures that they won't impede each other. The Voidreaper will be put last in line, and if he does somehow successfully kill Rui, then he dies after learning our identities."
The four royals nodded with affirmation.
