Chapter 134 Chapter 134 I can’t believe you feel that you…
"So you're going to investigate this?"
Jacob asked after the meal. But even after the Harkers and their escort had left, Elio seemed determined to speak in riddles. "I don't know what you mean," he replied.
"International Freedom Army!" Jacob immediately spewed out a bunch of key words. "Assassins! Why did they want to assassinate Jim Hack? Was he a bad guy?"
"Are those assassins the same kind of assassins as us?" Evie also asked, "Or are they just 'killers'?"
The twins, "clever and playful," lived up to Elio's description. They pressed against him, one on each side, peppering him with questions. Trying to pretend he was just strolling, Elio sighed helplessly and paused. "I think they're just 'Killers,' Evie. After all, our fraternity never names ourselves anything else, nor do we act with political intent. And, I don't know, Jacob, whether Huck is a villain or not."
"So you know why they wanted to kill Huck?" Jacob asked sharply.
"And it's for political purposes?" Evie pressed.
Elio was speechless for a moment. He held his cane, silent for a moment under the twins' intense gaze, even blinking in surprise. The shadows of the leaves cast a shadow on his face.
"Well," he finally smiled, "you two really do work well together. If only I weren't your target. Yes, I can probably guess why they wanted to kill Hake. I heard there's going to be a cabinet reshuffle soon, so that might be the reason."
Before the twins could ask more questions, Elio waved his hand. "If you don't understand, don't ask me again. I've never understood these political struggles, and I suggest you don't try to understand them either. That's not the job of an assassin."
But Elio made a mistake. While the Frye twins he faced were his students, they weren't his own assassins. While the Frye twins would obey his every command, even his suggestions, students wouldn't necessarily follow his lead. Especially with energetic children like the Frye twins, telling them "don't do something" was tantamount to encouraging them to "do something"!
So, Evie and Jacob looked at each other and quickly continued their questioning.
"So what's our job?" Evie said.
"We kill the bad guys, right?" Jacob said. "And we protect the good guys from getting killed by the bad guys. That's our job, Elio. That's your job in Italy! Don't you dare say it?"
Elio was practically cornered by them. Now, he had to rethink his answer. The Master Assassin silently rubbed the handle of his cane for a moment, and Jacob, under his gaze, silently took a step back, as if he thought Elio was going to hit him.
"You won't resort to violence just because you can't convince us, right?" Jacob asked warily.
“I thought you’d consider that a reward.” Elio laughed. “But yeah, I wouldn’t do that. I’m just thinking.”
"Thinking about what?" Evie asked. She rolled her eyes at Jacob.
"I was thinking about our Creed," Elio said seriously. "When we say 'Nothing is true, everything is permitted,' we must also adhere to three unbreakable rules; when we say we advocate freedom, we require Assassins to follow orders; when we..."
"Stop, stop, stop," Jacob said, feeling overwhelmed. "Stop talking like your father!"
Evie sighed. "That's what Altaïr said, Jacob."
"Who is Altaïr?"
Evie stared at him in disbelief. Elio burst into laughter. But just as Jacob suspected he was trying to change the subject, Elio's expression shifted to seriousness.
"That's a complicated question, Jacob, and I can't answer it for you," he said. "It's not a 'yes' question. But you're right, maybe I should look into it."
Jacob cheered up. But Evie looked worried. "You just said it was a political struggle."
“Yes,” Elio said, “but as you both just reminded me, even though I’ve been trying to stay away from it, the truth is, I’m already deeply involved in it.”
"I can't believe you think you're outside of politics," Jacob said with a pompous salute. "Your Excellency!"
This time, Elio smiled, picked up his cane, and smacked him on the buttocks, neither too hard nor too soft. Jacob yelped. Evie chuckled.
"Well, future Lords of Frye," Elio said, "why don't we get started?"
Jacob played dumb, "Start what?"
"It's not too far to catch up now." Evie pierced him mercilessly.
"I'll have a reward for the first assassin who catches up to Harker," Elio said. Then, with a sly grin, he rushed out before the twins could ask any more questions.
He didn't even yell three, two, one. The outcome of the race was self-evident, if Elio himself was included; as he crouched on the Starrick billboard on the rooftop, smiling as he watched the twins scramble and push each other toward him, Elio found that he had indeed experienced the same joy that Alvin had once experienced.
"I win!" Jacob declared breathlessly.
Evie also bent over, holding her legs to catch her breath, and took the time to glare at Jacob, looking like she wanted to kick him down.
"We'll talk about the reward when we get back." Elio ignored the twins' eye contact, which threatened to turn hostile. "Huck's down there, see? First of all, I want to make one thing clear: we absolutely, absolutely cannot be discovered."
"That's easy!" Jacob said confidently. He took off his hat, tucked it into his pocket, and pulled up his hood. With just that simple movement, he seemed to melt into the shadows. Evie reassured Elio, pulling up her hood and crouching low; the two of them looked like two cats ready to take action, even if you ignored the fact that this was the first time they had actually done anything.
"Good," Elio continued. "Secondly, we won't kill anyone unless absolutely necessary. It's too early for you now."
"Not to mention we don't even have a Hidden Blade," Jacob complained. "If I had known what would happen today..."
"Then I wouldn't have brought you out at all," Elio said.
Jacob gave an exaggerated, "Ugh!"
"Just think of this as training," Elio patted them on the shoulders. "Watch out for rooftops and terraces, and try not to land on the ground. If there are snipers, they'll probably be in those places."
"What about the ones on the ground?" Evie asked.
"Huck better hope there aren't any assassins on the ground." Elio shrugged. "You're kidding. Do you think those agents around him are just for show? Don't worry, if they fail, I'll take action."
Jacob said, "Wow," "I don't know if I should be looking forward to that scene."
Evie patted him. On the ground, Huck was moving, and they all saw him get into the car. Elio smiled. "Game on. Go, assassins."
The Frye twins began to move. They first landed on the roof with a thud, but without Elio's prompting, they quickly learned to modify their landing pattern to reduce the noise. It was no wonder Elio often gave them admiring glances; they were truly a pair of rapidly improving geniuses. Soon, like cats on paw pads, their voices had become much more dexterous.
They followed Huck's car for a while. During this time, Evie said, "It's really strange for an assassin to be tracking someone they call an 'assassin'."
"They're not assassins," Jacob said. "They're just killers."
"Even though people just call us and all assassins 'Assassins,'" Elio said, "it doesn't matter. We just know what we are."
"Are you taking time out to teach us?" Jacob said.
"Jacob!" Evie said.
"I think you should at least know who Altaïr is, really," Elio said. "I guarantee you'll be interested in him if you listen to the beginning."
Jacob, who had just jumped down the chimney, gasped, "Oh?"
"He broke three rules in one mission," Elio said.
This was truly explosive news. Jacob nearly slipped and fell off the roof. As soon as he steadied himself, the first thing he did was turn his head and look at Evie, who was following behind him, retracting her hand that had just reached out to grab her brother's collar. Perhaps knowing why Jacob was looking at her, Evie awkwardly confirmed, "What Elio said is true."
Elio followed them. He came out from behind the chimney, deliberately ignoring Jacob's eager eyes, and glanced down. The Harkers and the agents were following the crowd toward the theater.
"Oh," Elio said pretentiously, "it seems our target is going to see a play. Do you want to see it?"
"Macbeth?" Jacob hissed. "We don't want to see that! Tell us about Altaïr!"
Elio smiled.
"As we all know," he said slowly, removing the hidden blades on both arms and handing them to the Frye twins squatting on either side, "the three rules, counting from the back to the front, are 'Never implicate the Brotherhood', 'Never expose the blade in public'..."
Three or five "assassins" from the International Freedom Army were strolling down the streets from all directions. The Frye twins noticed them and donned the Hidden Blades Elio had given them. With two clicks, they each tried to unsheathe their blades, excited to hear the beautiful music.
"...and 'No killing of innocents.'" Elio drew his sword-staff. The cold blade gleamed in the London moonlight. "Do you understand? I gave you the Hidden Blade for temporary protection, not for killing. We're going to capture you alive this time."
"I thought you were telling a story," said Jacob.
"Don't worry, Elio," Evie said. "We won't mess this up."
"Very good," Elio selectively ignored Jacob's words. He lightly slashed the sword and staff in his hand downward, pointing it at the International Freedom Army on the ground. "The 'story' begins."
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Author's Note: I won't go into detail about Altaïr's story in this article. Those interested can check out the Assassin's Wiki or directly read the official novel, "The Secret Crusade." But since I'm here, I'll try to avoid spoilers by providing some information about him here... (I'm a real fan of the Grand Master...)
A long warning! If you're not interested, feel free to skip ahead.
Altaïr is initially portrayed as a youthful, cocky character. As the youngest Master Assassin ever (age 24), he certainly has reason to be proud. When praised, "Your blade must be blessed by luck," he replies, "It's not luck, it's skill. Watch more, perhaps you'll learn something."
When he was 26, Altaïr was tasked by Al Mualim, the Mentor of the Assassins in Masyaf and the man who had raised him, to retrieve a "treasure" (the Apple of Eden). It was during this mission that the proud Altaïr murdered an elderly man in prayer, then, upon discovering the Templar Grand Master's presence, leaped forward to confront him, only to be swiftly swatted away. His actions also led the Templars to Masyaf, endangering the Brotherhood's safety...
Therefore, Altaïr, who violated all three codes, was publicly executed during the trial at that time.
He soon regained consciousness and was surprised to find he was not dead. Al Mualim gave him a list of nine names and told him that if he could kill them, he would regain everything he had before.
Altaïr naturally accepted the order. Initially, he traveled with resentment, relegated to the rank of "Novice," forced to once again search for intelligence leads and plan assassinations on his own, tasks that had been performed for him during his time as a Master Assassin. However, as he assassinated nine men, Altaïr gradually became confused: each of those killed by him deserved their fate, yet they were fiercely loyal to a particular faith, almost as devoted to their Creed as the Assassins themselves are to theirs.
In fact, Altaïr was constantly thinking while murdering the Templars. This "thinking" trait was evident from a very early age, and perhaps this is why he always seemed so "insubordinate to authority", and Al Mualim had no better people to use - and Al Mualim was unable to control him. Al Mualim had shown him the Apple of Eden, but Altaïr was not as easily succumbed to its magic as others.
From the arrogant man who murdered innocent people just to prove he could, just to prove he was a Master Assassin, Altaïr gradually transformed into a true Master Assassin with a heart of compassion.
There is a clear contrast between the previous and next sentences. Altaïr once said, "The thrill of assassination still lingers in Altaïr's heart. He really wants to take the life of the man in front of him immediately, but he can't do it." By the way, he mentioned earlier that this person is a member of the Brotherhood...Altaïr, what are you thinking.jpg
But the change is evident later in the story. Altaïr begins to face and value death, as well as the techniques he mastered to cause death. He feels pity and regret for those who died at his hands. "Although he knew that he was a traitor and had sold information to the Templars to harm, capture, and torture his companions, Altaïr still felt regret for his death."
There is also the original text, "Altaïr could not help but wonder if the man was homesick, thinking of his hometown in England or France, and regretting his impending death. ... (Description of Altaïr killing him) ...Altaïr wished he had another choice.
"'My God,' the soldier uttered, and then he died. Altaïr was stunned."
There is also the original text of Altaïr's apology to Malik, "All this time... I have failed to apologize to you properly. It's all that damn pride. Because of me, you lost an arm and also lost Kadar. You should hate me."
Malik: “I don’t accept that.”
Altaïr: "I understand."
Malik: "No, you don't understand. I don't accept it because you are no longer the person who entered Solomon's Temple with me, so there is nothing to be sorry about."
When the dictator who died at his hands said, "If you had such power, you would do the same thing as me. Such power!"
Altaïr said, "In the past, perhaps. But now I know what happens to those who presume on others' worth."
The dictator asked, "What is the outcome?"
Altaïr said, "Come, I'll show you."
(And then Altaïr killed him... This Eagle has such a subtle sense of dry humor...)
Another cute part is that Altaïr fell in love with his wife Maria at first sight, but he didn't know it. He tried every way to strike up a conversation with Maria, and ended up asking her, "Have you studied philosophy?" "(a series of inexplicable philosophical thoughts), isn't it interesting?"
(With your chat skills, I can quickly enter Masyaf...)
At the same time, Altaïr subtly retains a bit of his old prideful tone, which I find endearing. In the original story, the king challenges Altaïr to a duel with the captain. After Altaïr wins, the king remarks, "It seems the gods have favored your life more today." Altaïr responds, "It has nothing to do with the gods; I'm simply stronger."
Then there was the Templars talking trash during their duel with Altaïr, to which Altaïr replied, "I killed the last person who said that." "Let me go, I'll show you what action is!"
(At this point, my weird cuteness has been fully demonstrated...)
If this was just the beginning of his journey to becoming a "true" Master Assassin, the elderly Altaïr was the Master Assassin among Masters, the Mentor among Mentors, the one who was loved by the people... When he left Masyaf, an Assassin attempted a coup, and upon his return, Altaïr declared, "Under the leadership of an old man like me, the Assassins will never kill each other."
"I do not wish to herald our new dawn with the blood of assassins. Today, those loyal to Islam are our enemies, but tomorrow they will be our allies. If our victory is one of grace, we will earn their friendship. Never take human life unless it is absolutely necessary. We will bring peace to Masyaf, not death."
He said so, and he did so. Thus, the assassins of Masyaf offered almost no resistance to his return. They "put down their longbows one after another," "throwing down their swords, giving up the fight, and raising their hands in surrender"...
The guard slowly pushed open the castle gates, dropped his sword, and nodded in obedience to Altaïr.
Throughout his life, Altaïr invented several new items that significantly advanced the Assassin Order. He improved the Hidden Blade, eliminating the need for subsequent Assassins to amputate their fingers. He also invented the Hidden Gun and the Armor of Altaïr (both of which can be used in Assassin's Creed II), changing the Assassin Order's methods and establishing Assassin Guilds around the world. He led the Assassin Order to prosperity.
Regarding the well-known creed, "Nothing is true, everything is permitted," Altaïr believes that "the creed does not guide us towards freedom, but towards wisdom."
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