[Dante's POV]
Florence's underbelly was alive even at this hour.
The city never truly slept—especially not its hidden corners, where whispers carried more weight than gold, and shadows held secrets only the wise could see.
As I navigated the quieter streets, I relied on instinct more than anything. My Parkour Proficiency was still at level one, but the system's passive assistance helped. My steps were lighter, my awareness sharper. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to move unseen.
The marketplace had been crowded during the day, but now, only a few figures loitered in the alleys. Some were beggars, some were drunks, and some… well, some were watching.
I felt their eyes before I saw them.
Thieves.
And not just any thieves—Florence's network of pickpockets and cutpurses. The ones who knew the true veins of the city, slipping between the cracks of noble wealth and common poverty.
I needed to find the boy from earlier.
Or, if I was lucky, the ones who trained him.
...
I reached a narrow street lined with aging stone buildings, their balconies sagging slightly from time and neglect. A flickering lantern cast long shadows, and a distant voice hummed a tune from a nearby window.
Then, from the darkness—
"You shouldn't be here, ragazzo."
The voice was rough but amused.
I turned slowly.
The pickpocket from earlier leaned against a wall, arms crossed, that same knowing smirk on his lips. He wasn't alone this time.
Two older boys flanked him, dressed in similar ragged clothes but with sharper eyes. One toyed with a dagger, flipping it lazily between his fingers. The other simply watched me, silent, assessing.
"You found me fast," I said evenly, keeping my stance relaxed but ready.
"You made it easy," the boy shot back, pushing off the wall. "Not many nobles sneak around the slums at night. Makes you stand out."
He took a step closer, squinting slightly as if trying to see through me.
"But you're not like other nobles, are you?"
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I let the silence stretch.
Let them wonder.
Finally, I tilted my head. "Maybe I just wanted to talk."
The boy chuckled. "Talk? That's a new one. Usually, nobles send guards after me, not come looking themselves."
"Maybe I'm not like most nobles," I replied.
His grin widened. "That much is clear."
A beat passed, then he extended a hand.
"Call me Luca."
I shook it without hesitation.
"Dante Auditore."
Luca's smirk didn't falter, but his eyes glinted with something sharp. "Yeah. I know."
Of course he did.
I was an Auditore—Florence's golden family. But in a few years, that gold would turn to blood.
And I wouldn't let it happen.
But first, I needed allies.
And if Florence's underworld had already taken notice of me…
Well, maybe it was time I took notice of them, too.
...
Luca led me deeper into the slums, weaving through winding alleys and hidden pathways most nobles wouldn't dare enter. It was a test—one I understood immediately. They wanted to see if I'd hesitate. If I'd flinch.
I didn't.
Finally, we arrived at an old courtyard, half-hidden by a collapsed building. A few torches flickered, illuminating a gathering of thieves. Some leaned against walls, sharpening blades. Others huddled in conversation. The air smelled of damp stone and something else—secrecy.
And at the center, sitting atop a broken crate like a king on his throne, was a man cloaked in deep brown. His hood shadowed most of his face, but I caught the gleam of his eyes as they settled on me.
Luca stopped short and gestured toward him.
"This," he said, voice almost reverent, "is La Volpe."
The Fox.
A name I knew.
A name every Assassin's Creed player knew.
Master thief. Shadow of Florence. And, more importantly…
A hidden member of the Assassin Brotherhood.
He studied me for a long moment before finally speaking. His voice was smooth, deliberate.
"You have sharp eyes for someone so young."
I met his gaze. "And you have sharp ears for someone so old."
The thieves around us tensed, but La Volpe…
He chuckled.
"Bold," he mused. "I like that."
He leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Now, tell me, Auditore… why are you here?"
I took a slow breath.
Because the city is changing. Because danger is brewing. Because I refuse to let my family die.
But I couldn't say that. Not yet.
So instead, I gave him a different truth.
"Because I want to learn."
"Hahahaha... Does your father know about your 'night walk'?" La Volpe's chuckle held an edge, his eyes never leaving mine. The thieves around us watched with thinly veiled amusement, some curious, others skeptical. I could feel the weight of their scrutiny pressing down on me, but I didn't flinch.
I met his gaze steadily. "No," I admitted. "And I'd like to keep it that way."
That earned another chuckle, softer this time. "Ah, a boy with secrets. How fitting." He leaned back, fingers tapping idly against the crate. "What do you even know?"
"Nothing is true, Everything is p—"
But before I could even finish, Swish! a dragger rested at my throat.
The cold bite of steel pressed against my skin, halting the words in my throat. The reaction had been instantaneous—faster than I could have anticipated.
La Volpe's smile didn't waver, but his eyes darkened with something unreadable. "Careful, ragazzo," he murmured. "Those are dangerous words to speak so freely."
The thief who had drawn the dagger was one of the older boys from before, the one who had been watching me silently. Now, he held the weapon with practiced ease, his grip firm but controlled.
I didn't move. Didn't flinch.
La Volpe studied me for a long moment before nodding slightly. At once, the blade was withdrawn, disappearing into the folds of the thief's ragged clothing.
"You're bold," La Volpe said, his tone carrying both amusement and warning. "Too bold, perhaps. That phrase means nothing to most—but to those who know, it means everything." He leaned forward slightly. "Where did you learn it?"
"Heard my father muttering these a few times," I lied smoothly, keeping my expression unreadable. "He speaks in riddles sometimes when he thinks no one is listening."
La Volpe's gaze sharpened. "Giovanni Auditore is not a man given to idle words. If he spoke them, he understands them."
I held my silence, letting the implication hang between us. Letting him come to his own conclusions.
Finally, La Volpe exhaled through his nose, studying me like a puzzle missing a few pieces. Then, his lips curled slightly.
"You wish to learn," he repeated. "Then tell me, ragazzo—what exactly do you think I can teach you?"
I could have said stealth. I could have said pickpocketing, deception, the art of blending into the shadows.
But instead, I met his gaze head-on.
"How to see."
The courtyard fell into a hushed stillness.
Then, La Volpe laughed—genuinely laughed, the sound rich and knowing. "Oh, I like you," he admitted. "Very well, little Auditore. If you truly wish to learn, we shall see if you have the eyes for it."
A notification flashed before me.
[New Mission: The Fox's Lesson]
[Objective: Pass La Volpe's first test.]
[Reward: +300 AP, ???]
[Failure: Lose La Volpe's favor.]
I clenched my fists slightly, anticipation thrumming through me.
This was my first real step into Florence's underworld.
And I wasn't going to waste it.
...
"Do you see it?" La Volpe said as he pointed at a deal being conducted in the shadows of a nearby alley.
A merchant, dressed in fine but slightly worn clothing, was exchanging a heavy pouch with a cloaked figure. The latter moved with a practiced ease, their face obscured beneath a deep hood. The way they shifted their weight, the subtle movements of their hands—it was careful, calculated.
Most would assume it was a simple business transaction. A late-night deal, nothing more.
But I knew better.
I focused, narrowing my gaze. Something was off. The merchant's eyes darted too quickly, his fingers twitched against the pouch. He was nervous. The cloaked figure, on the other hand, was eerily still, almost unnaturally so.
A setup.
"The merchant is scared," I said quietly. "He's out of place here. And the other… he's too calm. Too controlled. He's done this before, but not as a trader."
La Volpe's smirk deepened. "Go on."
I exhaled. "The merchant is being forced into this. Maybe blackmailed, maybe bribed, but he doesn't want to be here. The cloaked man—he's a professional. Not a thief, not a simple thug. Someone who works in silence."
La Volpe chuckled. "And who do you think he works for?"
I hesitated, watching the exchange continue. The way the hooded figure carried himself, the rigid precision in his movements—
"Not a merchant," I murmured. "Not a common criminal either. He's too disciplined." I turned to La Volpe. "A patrol guard. Only they know the streets this well at night. Only they have the authority to oversee transactions like this without fear."
La Volpe's expression didn't change, but I caught the slight gleam of approval in his eyes. "Clever," he murmured. "Most would have stopped at 'a simple exchange.' You saw deeper."
I didn't let the praise distract me. "But that means this isn't just a deal," I continued. "It's a bribe. The merchant is paying for protection—or silence."
La Volpe's smirk widened. "Very good, ragazzo. Now tell me—what should one do with such information?"
I knew this was a test. Knowledge was power, but only if you used it correctly. The wrong move could make enemies I wasn't ready for.
I considered my options.
1. Expose the bribe to my father – Giovanni Auditore was already suspicious of corruption in Florence. This could serve as proof, but it might also draw attention to me.
2. Use it as leverage – The merchant was scared, which meant he was vulnerable. If I could find out what he was paying for, I could use it to my advantage.
3. Do nothing—for now – La Volpe was testing my ability to observe, not act. Rushing in without understanding the full picture could be reckless.
I met his gaze. "For now? I watch. Learn. See how deep this goes."
La Volpe chuckled again, nodding. "Smart answer." He gestured for me to follow. "Come, ragazzo. The night is young, and there is much more to see."
[Mission Completed: The Fox's Lesson]
[+300 AP Earned]
[New Skill Unlocked: Eagle Vision (Level 1)]
I immediately focused on the Eagle Vision.
—
[Eagle Vision (Level 1) – Awakening the Sight
• Type: Passive / Active (Toggle)
• Range:2 meters (6.5 feet)
• Cooldown: None
• Duration:5 seconds (active use)
Description: The Assassin has just unlocked the ability to sense the intentions of those nearby. While rudimentary, this skill allows basic detection of allies and enemies.
Effects:
• Aura Perception: Faintly distinguishes individuals by intent:
• Blue – Allies / Neutral
• Red – Hostile entities
• Gold – Important figures (targets, key individuals)
• Instinctive Awareness: Can sense if someone nearby is watching or following them.
• Hidden Object Glimmer: Important objects emit a weak glow when in line of sight.
Limitations:
• Very short range and weak clarity.
• Does not work through walls.
• Cannot detect hidden enemies or stealth techniques.
—
Hahahahahaha!!!
In my mind, I couldn't help but laugh. This was it—Eagle Vision. The defining ability of an Assassin. It was weak now, sure, but I knew what it could become. I had taken my first real step into the Brotherhood's path.
La Volpe being obvious leaped onto a rooftop, his movements effortless. "Well, ragazzo?" he called, glancing back with a smirk. "Do you intend to keep your feet on the ground forever?"
I exhaled sharply, adrenaline still humming through me. Eagle Vision had unlocked, but it was just the beginning. If I wanted to survive the future, I had to push myself—now.
I bent my knees, gauging the distance, and leaped.
The landing was rough—my footing slipped slightly, but I caught myself, rolling forward to absorb the impact.
Ding!
[+10 EXP – Parkour Proficiency]
La Volpe chuckled. "Not bad. Not good, but not bad." He nodded toward the rooftops stretching ahead. "Let's see if your eyes are as sharp when you're moving."
Another test.
I grinned. "Lead the way, Volpe."
And with that, I ran.