I Am the Number One Killer: The Psychology of Crime and Punishment

There are different levels of assassination. Low-grade assassins train in martial arts. They may kill with a single blow, but the authorities can investigate and trace the crime, earning them the contempt of the great clans. Third-rate assassins kill silently in a crowd, strike lethally, and clean up the traces. They are meticulous, but still risk being caught and convicted by skilled investigators. Second-rate assassins use external means such as food and spices to carry out traceless assassinations, a rare skill. First-rate assassins rely on no external means: through psychological games, they make their targets burn themselves to death, without a sound. This is the pinnacle of the art.

I am a first-rate assassin skilled in this craft. By day, I run a teahouse or flower shop, hiding in plain sight. All it takes is an introduction from someone I know and the purchase of one painting made by my own hand, and I will put my skills at your service.

When I make a move, no one can stand against me.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.