Chapter 216 Today is Isabella's Death Day
The three of them quickly packed their things.
"We need to keep it clean when we make our move tomorrow. We just got to Lumaria, so it's best not to leave any evidence behind," Milo said.
They were all from Novaria, where they had also worked as professional assassins.
But during one mission, they offended a powerful family in Novaria. Tate had a pinky finger cut off, and Rhys had half his face torn off while he was still alive.
They would never forget how those people tore off Rhys's skin directly through the air, without anything touching his face.
It was too cruel, too domineering.
If they had known that the mission would offend the most powerful family in Novaria, they never would have taken it.
But it was too late for regrets now.
Anyway, after offending those people, they didn't dare stay in Novaria anymore. Because Novaria was different from Lumaria—everything in Novaria, whether politics or economics, was controlled by those ancient and mysterious families. Offending them meant offending all of Novaria, leaving them no place to hide.
They could only flee to Lumaria like rats in a gutter, making a living with the skills they had learned.
Either way, they were ancient martial arts professionals, and as far as they knew, Lumaria had no ancient martial arts professionals. So in a country like this, they had a huge advantage when it came to both survival and making money.
Fortunately, the first job they got in Lumaria was easy.
They just needed to take out a high school student and they'd get eighty thousand dollars.
This was a good start.
——
Because she was going hiking tomorrow, Isabella went to bed early.
Early the next morning, the regular class students gathered and took a bus to the foot of the mountain.
Looking at the towering mountain before them, everyone's expressions weren't exactly happy.
"Whose idea was this anyway? We have the SAT test coming up and we still have to go hiking. This is not relaxing at all, okay?"
"This mountain is way too high. Won't we be exhausted by the time we reach the top?"
"I heard the international class has an activity today too, but why do they get to go play at the beach? This is so unfair."
"I want to go to the beach too! I don't want to climb a mountain!"
Complaints filled the air.
"Alright, everyone, perk up!"
Hannah was also dressed in hiking gear today, with a sports bag on her back.
She clapped her hands and looked at her class. "Don't underestimate hiking. It not only exercises your body but also builds your willpower."
"Everyone should climb as high as you can. I'm not requiring you to reach the summit, but at 5:30 PM, everyone must meet back here! Got it?"
"Got it!"
Everyone answered in unison while breathing a sigh of relief. "Good thing we don't have to reach the summit, or that would be torture."
"But I still hope some students from our class can make it to the top," Hannah said. "There are staff members at the summit who will give prizes to those who reach it. Students who are interested can give it a try, but don't push yourselves. If you run out of energy, just rest where you are."
After Hannah went over the safety instructions, the students formed small groups of three to five and started climbing.
Most people just wanted to pass the time, so they walked slowly along the mountain path, in no hurry, chatting and laughing along the way.
After all, nobody really wanted to reach the summit.
If they wanted to reach the top, they'd have to keep moving the whole time, spending an entire day going up and down the mountain. If they injured their knees, it would be even worse.
Isabella naturally walked with Violet and Scarlett.
"Isabella, do you want to climb to the top?" Violet asked.
Isabella looked up at the endless stairs ahead. "Since we're here, I'll go to the top."
She said it so casually, as if reaching the summit was guaranteed as long as she wanted to.
Violet didn't doubt Isabella's stamina at all.
She could normally climb 10 flights of stairs in one go, so maybe she really could make it to the summit.
"It's just that Scarlett and I probably don't have the stamina to go all the way to the top with you. When we can't go on anymore, we'll wait for you along the way, okay?"
"Okay."
By 11 AM, when the sun was at its hottest, most people turned around and started heading down.
Isabella and Violet found a shady spot, ate the lunch boxes and fruit they'd brought, rested for about ten minutes, and then continued climbing.
After climbing for about another hour, Violet ran out of energy, and Scarlett just sat down and refused to move. So the two of them stuffed the remaining energy drinks from their bags into Isabella's hands and waited for her there.
"Isabella, if you haven't reached the summit within two hours, head back down right away. Otherwise you won't make it back to the meeting point at the foot of the mountain by 5:30," Violet reminded her.
"Got it."
Isabella continued climbing toward the summit without looking back.
——
At the beach.
The international class students were sunbathing, swimming, very relaxed.
In the past, at times like this, Bianca would be surrounded by admirers.
But now, there was no one around her.
Even Abigail and Evelyn had probably received warnings from their families and were keeping their distance from her.
Not far from Bianca, under another beach umbrella, several girls were chatting together and suddenly started talking about the SAT test.
"How many people from our school do you think can score above 1450?"
"Ms. Taylor from Class 11 scores above 1430 on every practice test. I bet she can score over 1450 on the actual SAT. Who else in all of Lumaria has that kind of ability?"
"Ms. Taylor is so amazing. I really don't know how her brain works—she didn't have access to good educational resources but still studies so well."
"Her grades aren't the only amazing thing about her. Her temperament and looks don't seem like someone from the mountains either. Did you go to Isabella's birthday party? I was there, and you have no idea—when she appeared, she practically blinded me. She looked absolutely stunning in that gown! She outshone all the socialites there!"
"And her piano playing was beautiful too."
"Too bad I'm a girl, otherwise I'd definitely fall for her!"
The girl got a bit emotional and her voice grew louder.
Another girl tugged at her and glanced toward Bianca. "Keep your voice down, if certain people hear you, they'll get jealous again!"
That girl was clearly doing it on purpose. When she said this, she didn't lower her voice at all, but raised it instead, deliberately saying it for Bianca to hear.
"Exactly, keep it down. If she gets jealous again, who knows if she'll go find some man to ruin Isabella's reputation!"
"..."
Bianca listened to their sarcastic remarks and clenched her fists.
Isabella probably wouldn't have a chance to score 1450 on this year's SAT test.
Because today was Isabella's last day.
The professional assassins she hired were from Novaria, with extraordinary skills, able to kill without a trace.
Isabella couldn't possibly survive today.