Hitman with a Badass System

Gaya, unable to contain her curiosity, leaned forward eagerly. "Who is it?" she pressed, her voice laced with anticipation.

The assassin, enjoying the suspense, let out a low chuckle before revealing, "Borgin Ironfist, the leader of the Ironfist Beast Tamers."

The name struck both Michael and Gaya with a mix of shock and intrigue. However, it was Gaya who couldn't hide the grin that quickly spread across her face. As the Goddess of Monsters, she had a bone to pick with the Beast Tamers, who had inflicted unnecessary pain and suffering upon innocent beasts and monsters. To her, Borgin Ironfist represented the epitome of cruelty towards those creatures she vowed to protect.

Recalling the system's quest to assist Gaya in settling her scores with the Beast Tamers to unlock her godhood in this realm, Michael couldn't help but smile inwardly. The assassination mission seemed to align perfectly with their personal vendettas, serving as a means to achieve multiple goals with a single action.

Intrigued by Gaya's evident excitement, the assassin raised an eyebrow. "You seem thrilled," he observed, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Without missing a beat, Gaya snatched the wooden strip from his hand, her eyes scanning the name to confirm its truth. "Hell yeah, I am," she retorted with a fiery zeal. "Borgin is an asshole. It's about time he got what's coming to him."

The assassin, unaware of their divine status and the depth of their grudge against the Beast Tamers, found himself caught between surprise and fascination at Gaya's reaction.

Catching the assassin's chuckle, Gaya sensed that the path to Borgin Ironfist wouldn't be as straightforward as she had hoped. The assassin's earlier mention of the initiation needing to be carried out on the guild's terms lingered in her mind. She understood that the method of execution would likely be dictated by the very Angel of Death standing before them.

Then, it was Michael who broke the silence, his voice steady with an underlying layer of excitement barely perceptible to those who didn't know him well. "How do you want him killed?" he inquired.

Internally, Michael was buzzing with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. Having been Earth's deadliest hitman, the idea of delving back into the world of assassination, albeit in a realm far different from his own, invigorated him. His moral compass, once rigid in its refusal to harm the innocent, found itself in a world where innocence was a rare commodity. Moreover, Michael harbored no delusions about Borgin Ironfist's guilt; the man and his Beast Tamers had ensnared countless creatures, both harmful and peaceful, all in the name of profit.

Unfazed by Michael's question, the assassin delivered his requirement with a cold precision that belied the cruelty of the request. "I want Borgin to be killed in public, by the very beasts he's caged. Wouldn't that be an ironic and fitting end?" he proposed, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

The twisted irony of the assassination method wasn't lost on Michael and Gaya. To have Borgin meet his end at the hands of the creatures he'd wronged was not just poetic justice; it was a stark reminder of the guild's merciless humor and the cruel fates they engineered for those marked by their hand.

After hearing him, Gaya couldn't help but express her twisted appreciation for the plan. "That's a sick plan, and yeah, I get the irony," she admitted with a hint of excitement in her voice. Michael, however, remained the picture of composure, his mind already weaving together the threads of a strategy.

The assassin wasn't finished, though. "That's not all, my dear newbies," he added, causing Gaya's anticipation to spike. "I knew there had to be more," she said, her eyes gleaming with the challenge.

With a knowing chuckle, the assassin tapped his temple. "An assassin's deadliest weapon is his brain, not spells nor the weapons he carries. So, for this assassination, I want you to go old school—no spells allowed."

Gaya's excitement was promptly replaced with concern. "No spells? Do you know how difficult that's going to make things?" she protested. "We're talking about getting past his guards, dealing with the beasts, and then there's the crowd to consider."

The assassin's chuckle deepened at her list of difficulties. "I'm sure you'll figure it out and get the job done," he said confidently.

Then, the assassin took a moment to lay out the specifics of their mission, his voice never losing its calm edge. "For this assignment, the guild will not provide any assistance. This is your initiation, after all. However, you'll have a deadline of four days to complete your task. The only aid we'll extend is a thousand gold coins for accommodation in the city where your target resides." Handing them a silver space ring filled with the promised gold, he watched their reactions closely.

"Big help," Gaya couldn't help but let out a sarcastic remark while rolling her eyes.

"We'll manage," Michael assured, taking the ring from the assassin.

The assassin's laughter filled the room once more. "I knew you'd say that. Succeed, and I'll welcome you into the Death Merchants officially. But remember, our guild is structured by ranks. Each assassination brings the opportunity to ascend these ranks."

"And climbing the ranks means better rewards, right?" Gaya, intrigued, leaned in.

"Indeed," the assassin confirmed with a nod. "But it's not just about the rewards. The higher you climb, the closer you get to meeting the God of Death himself. Impress him, and you might even earn the title of an Angel of Death. For now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. You're just starting out, and there's a long road ahead before you reach those heights."

After laying out the requirements for their task, the assassin simply gestured at them to follow him. Trailing behind, Michael and Gaya exited the hall, stepping back into the dimly lit hallway. The assassin broke the silence with new information. "Borgin is on his way back to Goldspire to deal with some griffins," he stated matter-of-factly.

While Michael had access to travel runes and a portable dive portal, he kept this detail to himself and probed.

"Any thoughts on how we might get to Goldspire?"

"That's exactly where I'm leading you," the assassin replied with a chuckle, hinting at his preparedness for such inquiries.

Guiding them to a different room, he pushed the door open, revealing the interior where a divine portal stood, its eerie crimson red glow dominating the dark ambiance. "This is where we part ways," he announced, his voice carrying a mix of solemnity and anticipation. "I'll be watching. Don't let the guild down."

Michael and Gaya nodded in understanding, their determination reflected in their steady gaze. As they approached the portal, the assassin tapped on a nearby console, activating the vortex within.

"Just step through, and you'll find yourselves in Goldspire," he instructed, his eyes tracking their movement.

With a final nod to the assassin, Michael and Gaya stepped into the swirling vortex, their figures dissolving into the crimson glow as they were whisked away to Goldspire, leaving the shadowy confines of the guild behind.

Emerging into a dimly lit alley, Michael and Gaya found themselves momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift in location. Michael glanced around, realizing the lack of a physical portal entry or exit point, but shrugged off the anomaly with a focused mindset. "Time to kick this off," he declared, turning to Gaya with a grin.

Gaya, bubbling with anticipation, couldn't help but share in the excitement. "Never thought Borgin would be facing his fucking karma this quickly," she said, her voice laced with a mix of glee and surprise.

"First things first, we need a base of operations. Let's find a room with a good view of the beast tamers' headquarters. It'll give us the upper hand in planning our move." said Michael.

He understood all too well the importance of meticulous preparation in the world of covert operations. Even the tiniest snippet of information gleaned from surveillance could prove invaluable during an assassination.

Nodding in agreement, Gaya and Michael stepped out from the shadows of the alley, their eyes scanning the bustling streets of Goldspire for a suitable inn or tavern. As Michael and Gaya weaved through the bustling streets of Goldspire, their search for a suitable base led them to a tavern that caught Gaya's attention. "This place looks promising," she pointed out, her gaze fixed on the establishment across the street from the beast tamers' location.

Michael nodded in agreement, taking note of the tavern's strategic positioning. "It's perfect. The upper rooms should give us a clear line of sight to the beast tamers," he articulated, his eyes evaluating the tavern's exterior. The building was older, with a worn facade that spoke of years standing witness to the comings and goings of countless patrons. Its sign, creaking gently in the breeze, bore the name "The Griffon's Rest."

Upon entering, they were greeted by the warmth of the tavern's interior, a stark contrast to the alley they had materialized in moments before. The air was thick with the aroma of roasted meats and ale, the chatter of its patrons creating a lively atmosphere.

Approaching the counter, they were met by the proprietor, a burly man with a welcoming grin. "How can I help you folks today?" he asked, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the worn wooden surface.

"We're in need of a room. Preferably one with a nice view," Michael stated, straightforward in his request.

Gaya, seizing the opportunity to negotiate, jumped into the conversation. "And at a decent price, mind you. We're not looking to buy the place, just sleep in it," she said, her tone edgy, a hint of her less-than-patient nature peeking through.

The tavern owner, taken aback by Gaya's forthrightness, chuckled nervously. "Well, our corner rooms have the best view, but they're a bit pricier due to the demand."

"Pricier? For that old thing?" Gaya shot back, her voice rising. "You should be paying us to stay there, considering we'll have to endure the noise from those beast tamers!"

After a few moments of spirited haggling, where Gaya's colorful language and fiery temperament were on full display, Michael intervened, smoothing over the conversation. "We'll take the corner room. Just ensure it's quiet, and we're not disturbed," he said, finalizing their arrangement with a nod.

The proprietor, relieved to conclude the negotiation, handed over the key, a small price adjustment made in their favor thanks to Gaya's persistence.

Ascending the stairs to their room, they found it modest, lacking the opulence of the "Corn Bread's" diamond room. "Well, it's no diamond room, that's for sure," Gaya remarked, scanning the simple furnishings and the less-than-luxurious bed.

Undistracted by the room's lackluster appearance, Michael moved straight to the window, pulling back the curtains. The view it afforded of the beast tamers' building was unobstructed and clear, just as they needed. The building itself was a stark structure, functional with minimal embellishments, a hub of activity even at this hour.

"This will work," Michael stated, his gaze fixed on their target, the gears of strategy already turning in his mind. The room, while not lavish, was their strategic advantage—a place from which they could watch, plan, and execute their mission with precision.