Mission 116 (
Summary[]
Yor asks Matthew if he and his wife do welcome home kisses
The Garden assassins drive through Ostania's southwestern forest, which Matthew remarks has developed a unique ecosystem due to entry being restricted after the ceasefire agreement. Hemlock interrupts to ask about the falcon that is perched on his head and pecking him. Matthew explains that she is his pet, which they will use to scout their surroundings. Yor is surprised that Matthew is a pet owner and brings up Bond and his intelligence. Hemlock accuses Yor of losing her edge since getting married, but she asserts that it has only strengthened her resolve about their work. Matthew also brings up his marriage, prompting Yor to ask about his wife. Much to the assassins' surprise, she curiously asks if Matthew kisses his wife when returning from work. Matthew shocks Yor as he answers that they did in their younger days, and Hemlock stops the conversation to lecture her on being a professional killer.
The Garden assassins look for the poachers in the forest
He is interrupted by the falcon leaping from his head, signaling to Matthew that they have reached the habitat of the Miteran elk and the poachers' hunting grounds. The assassins proceed to move on foot, skillfully leaping through the forest's trees. When Yor stops to awe at a Geschocran, Matthew warns her to be careful of potentially poisonous plants and venomous creatures that could harm even her. Hemlock says they should have brought Gympie instead of Yor because of her specialty with poisons, but Matthew responds that Gympie lacks the necessary firepower to face the poachers.
Hemlock smiles as he looks forward to killing the poachers
When Hemlock asks if they are allowed to kill all the poachers, Matthew confirms that they are free to kill anyone on the SSS's list, but says they must keep the poacher's leader alive. He adds that anyone else can be used at their discretion, prompting Hemlock to eerily smile as he confirms that it is okay to kill almost everyone. He challenges Yor to a game to see who can kill the most poachers, but much to his disappointment, she declines.
The Garden assassins hear a gunshot
Yor drops down to see a fallen antler and worries they were too late to save an elk. Matthew corrects that the antler before them is a shed one from another species. He then explains that Miteran elk do not shed their antlers, resulting in them growing larger. Because of this, the elk are highly prized and sought after by poachers, which has caused the species to become near-extinct. Hemlock points out nearby footprints belonging to the poachers, so the assassins follow their trail. During their trek, the group spots an elk, at whom Hemlock throws a branch to make it run away from a nearby snare. While observing the trap, they suddenly hear a gunshot, coming from poachers shooting an elk. Yor and Hemlock intervene and kill all the men, except for one that Matthew allows to escape so they can find the poachers' camp.
Hemlock suddenly attacks Yor
The assassins are left to deal with the rampaging elk, who is panicked after being shot. When Matthew says they must calm the animal, Hemlock suggests beheading it, but Yor and Matthew remind him that part of their task is to protect them. Matthew heads off with his falcon to locate the poachers' camp, but not before instructing Yor and Hemlock to guide the elk to a river. He also orders Hemlock not to harm the animal, threatening to report it to the Shopkeeper if he does. Yor continues her attempts to soothe the elk, but to little result as it attacks her and Hemlock. Growing annoyed and refusing to let his work be impeded any further, Hemlock attacks Yor and prepares to fight her, justifying that he was never told to not harm her.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
- It is revealed that Matthew has a wife and a pet falcon.
- The forest that the Garden assassins travel in is revealed to be the same one that Damian and his friends visited in Chapter 104 with the appearance of the Geschocran in this chapter.
- This chapter reveals Gympie's gender as female.
References[]