Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 505: The Deal

Marino's body finally fell. The headless corpse looked incredibly bizarre, but it all happened too quickly for Catherine to even scream.

"The only way to prove I'm an assassin is by killing. Are you satisfied now?" Thirteen said softly. His left hand was stained with blood, and the blood droplets scattered in the air left both of them speckled with red spots.

For a moment, the scene was deathly silent.

Catherine, her beautiful eyes red from crying, instinctively reached up to wipe her face. Looking at her hand, she murmured, "It's... blood..."

Thirteen didn't give Catherine much time to react to what had just happened. Killing Marino seemed as routine as eating a meal for him. While shaking off the remnants of flesh from his hand, Thirteen said, "Catherine, Princess of the Welsh Royal Family, and Jane, the Crown Princess. I didn't get it wrong, did I?"

Catherine's body trembled. Thirteen's nonchalance made her feel her life was incredibly cheap.

"Although this task is quite easy, since I happen to be on vacation here, I might as well kill you both for the million pounds. After all, dying by my hand won't be painful. If you fall into the hands of the English Royal Family, some torture is inevitable," Thirteen said, almost to himself. He looked at the unconscious Jane and remarked, "Such a pretty little girl. It's a pity she won't get to grow up; she would have been a stunning beauty."

"No!"

Suddenly, Catherine raised her head, her previously fearful eyes now sharp as blades, staring directly at Thirteen. "Mr. Thirteen, my daughter will have a chance to grow up!"

"Hmm?" Thirteen paused, then smiled wickedly. "Tell me more."

Catherine took a deep breath, straightened up, and despite her bloodstained and alluring face, exuded an irresistible charm. "Since you can kill me for a million pounds, if I offer a higher price, can I hire you?"

Thirteen squinted. "This is a bounty, not exactly me being hired by the English Royal Family. If your offer exceeds the bounty, I can be hired by you."

"Then I want to hire you. I want to return to England, kill those who want to kill us, and become the Queen!"

Catherine's voice rose from low to high. The previous panic and fear had vanished, and the bloodstained woman stood tall, as if she truly became a queen in that moment, not a fugitive.

Thirteen looked at Catherine with great interest. "Although I don't know why you trust me to do what you ask, I'm curious—what do you have to offer to hire me?"

"Rip—"

With a tearing sound, Catherine ripped her clothes apart with her fingernails.

Underneath the rough fabric, a vast swath of velvety beauty was revealed, instantly making the dim room infinitely alluring.

"If you can truly accomplish what I've asked, I believe someone like you wouldn't be solely motivated by money," Catherine said, her natural allure evident as she smoothed her amber hair. She smiled and continued, "I possess noble blood, a legitimate royal heir. I have a beautiful appearance. If I die, I'm just a pretty corpse. But if I live..."

Catherine extended her pink tongue, licking away a spot of blood from her lip, her eyes filled with seductive charm. "If I live, my body and my future wealth can offer you far more than just a million pounds."

The stark contrast between nobility and degradation heightened the woman's feminine allure, making the entire room seem tinged with a rosy hue.

Thirteen stepped forward, reaching out with his right hand to gently grasp Catherine's chin. He leaned in, his breath brushing against her proud, fair neck, inhaling the rich scent of the mature woman, which was irresistibly tempting for the young man who had already experienced many romantic encounters.

"I admit, among the women I've met, you are one of the most alluring. But that doesn't mean your offers are enough to make me travel to England and kill a bunch of royal family members," Thirteen sneered, facing Catherine. "Even though I'm not afraid, it would be quite troublesome."

Suddenly, Catherine kissed Thirteen, biting his lip like a wildcat.

"You will agree because I believe you won't refuse my other identity," Catherine's eyes were filled with final determination.

Thirteen closed his eyes, enjoying the intense sensory stimulation this woman provided.

"Give me one last reason. If it doesn't convince me, I don't mind enjoying your body before killing you and your daughter," Thirteen said calmly.

Catherine bit her red lips, all her seductive expressions fading away, her eyes clear like blue seawater, leaving only a faint sadness and regret. A slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. "I am a mother, a mother who will do anything to ensure her child survives..."

The white, lace-trimmed hotel curtains swayed gently in the breeze. Morning light poured into the room, revealing the chaotic scene.

A new day in Paris had quietly begun.

Clothes and shoes were scattered on the floor, most of the furniture had been moved out of place, a bedside lamp had somehow fallen to the ground, and the large bed in the center had shifted several inches from its original position.

On the soft bed, two naked bodies lay entwined, covered only by a thin sheet.

The amber-haired woman lay languidly, her bare skin exposed to the air.

"Mm—" The woman stirred, drowsily opening her eyes, finding herself unable to move, her body held tightly by the man behind her.

Catherine pouted, "You're such a big bully. My little Jane always dreamed of being your woman. If she really became your woman, wouldn't she be bullied by you just like I am?"

Yang Chen was taken aback for a moment, the mischievous smile fading from his face as he sat up in bed. "Catherine, you should talk to Jane. In her eyes, I might be the benefactor who helped you reclaim your throne and eliminate your enemies. I think a lot of what she does for me is out of gratitude. But every time, I feel a bit hesitant to face her because, after all, the reason I helped you was due to a deal we made."

Catherine smiled softly at Yang Chen's words. "Do you think my dear Jane doesn't know about the nature of our deal and what we did together?"

Yang Chen frowned. "So she has always known?"

"Of course. I'm not as clever as Jane; I can't hide things from her," Catherine said, laughing as she too sat up in bed. After a night of passion, she felt light-headed and decided to rest at the edge of the bed for a moment. She continued, "Actually, do you know what you mean to us? You are not just someone who made a deal with us. In fact, without you, my daughter and I would have been abandoned by the world."

Yang Chen looked up, staring at Catherine's flawless back, lost in thought.

"I am the legitimate daughter of my family and was married into the Welsh royal family for the benefit of my family. However, when we were persecuted by the English royal family, my family abandoned us for their own interests. Even our own relatives abandoned us. Who else could we rely on?" Catherine turned around and smiled brightly. "If it weren't for you foolishly making that deal with me, we wouldn't even be considered human."

Yang Chen opened his mouth but found he had nothing to say. He chuckled lightly, "So, in that case, I am more like a priest."

Catherine laughed heartily too, clearly reminiscing about those past events with a sense of fondness rather than sadness.

Just then, the doorbell to the room rang.