Assassin's Strike is the 84th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Ten is nervous at the sight of nine assassins from Clan Kensen, but Shin simply reassures her as he tells Ten to leave it to him.
Meanwhile, Shou Bun Kun is told by Shi Shi that Shin is at currently the palace, which surprises him, while they are rushing to it. Shi Shi explains that it would be impossible to send one of his own men to the royal palace as they are still under heavy watch for any suspicious movements due to their roles in Sei Kyou and Ketsu Shi’s coup.
Shou Bun Kun then asks Shi Shi why he chose Shin of people to inform first. Shi Shi elaborates that he spent a great amount of time analyzing the failure of his late lord and Sei Kyou’s coup and came up with a variety of factors. The difference between the leaders of both sides, Ei Sei and Sei Kyou where the biggest contributors but there was also another factor as well. A single person who continuously foiled their faction’s plans time after time as he single-handedly defeated the Shukyou Clan’s assassin, Muta and Sa Ji which he found hard to believe. Shi Shi offhandedly insult Shin as he calls him an infuriating brat and after asking around, he found that Shin was nothing but lowly servant boy that had no connection to the royal palace at all. With a chuckle to himself, Shi Shi states that because he suffered defeat at Shin’s hands that he can appreciate his skills as he states that there’s no one as troublesome as him to have an enemy.
Back over at the palace, Shin begins his fight with Clan Kensen and is somewhat surprised at their use of hidden blades while also annoyed at their agility as they get in hits on his arm and face. But with a chuckle, Shin smiles in a confident amusement as he notices their tricks and the difference from him who just swings his sword around. And he mocks them as “one trick ponies” as he states it wouldn’t be worth anything while on a battlefield against hundreds of enemies.
Angered by Shin’s boasting, the Kensen assassins dismiss it by calling him a stupid brat and asking why an assassin would even go to a battlefield. The assassins then tell Shin that insulting them is a severe crime and the price for it is a trip to the heavens as penance as they get into a formation. Shin then laughs at them and proclaims that he will send all of them to hell first and charges them. With a signal from one of them the Kensen leap into the air but are instead left in shock at the sight of Shin out doing them with his ‘’Hi Jump’’ as he kills the first one of them.
Over at Ei Sei’s chambers, Kou is staring at the sight of the moon with a tender expression and Sei asks her if something is wrong as she keeps looking at outside for the entire night. Kou then franticly apologies as she asks Sei if it is bothering him while Ei Sei replies with a no. Kou then explains that ever since hearing of Shi Ka and Ei Sei’s story that she’s started to enjoy moon gazing. Especially with Ei Sei as she thinks to herself. Ei Sei then asks that tonight is only a half-moon. And Kou states that it still shines brightly, nevertheless.
Outside, a member of Clan Gouma spots Ei Sei’s sleeping chambers with the rest of them on top roofs.
Back over, Shin kills two more members of the Kensen as he makes his third and fourth kill and the remaining five stand shocked at the sight of his skill. Shin then angrily proclaims that he isn’t letting single one of them leave here alive after trying to take Sei’s life which leaves the assassins in silence.
Ka Ryo Ten, having been watching from the sidelines, is simply amazed at the sight of Shin’s fight as she comments that he was scary to watch during Sei Kyou’s revolt as she felt her heart would stop but it feels reassuring to have him by her side now. And that it's not like his opponents are weak but because Shin has become stronger than he was half a year ago and stares at Shin with a somber expression on her face. But she spots dark figures running across rooftops and warns Shin. Shin then tells her to go on ahead and warn Sei as he probably hasn’t realized what’s going on yet.
While running ahead, Ka Ryo Ten ponders to herself on how incredible Shin is as he charges forward like a single-minded idiot while amusingly calling him an idiot while commenting that she can't keep up with him. She then unexpectedly runs into the Clan Kakuriki members and is caught by them. Before they can kill her Kyou Kai then suddenly appears before them.
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ei Sei
- Shin
- Ka Ryo Ten
- Kou
- Shou Bun Kun
- Heki
- Unnamed officials
- Sei Kyou Faction
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Clan Gouma
- Unnamed leader
- Ou
- Mei
- Unnamed others
- Clan Kensen
- Unnamed members
- Clan Kakuriki
- Unnamed members
- Clan Shiyuu
- Clan Gouma
- Ei Sei Faction
Zhao
- Zhao Black Market
- Shi Ka (Mentioned)
High Points
- Shou Bun Kun is told by Shi Shi that Shin is at the palace.
- Shi Shi spent a great amount of time analyzing their failure of Sei Kyou and Ketsu Shi's coup and came up with a variety of factors.
- Shi Shi appreciates Shin's skills.
- The Clan Kensen members use hidden blades as they're main weapons.
- Outside the royal chambers, Clan Gouma assassins spot Sei's chambers.
- Shin asks Ten to go ahead and warn Sei.
- Ten runs into Clan Kakuriki assassins.
- Kyou Kai makes a reappearance.