About

Assassination Organization "NOCTURNE" A shadow organization that officially does not exist, yet is infamous within the underworld. They eliminate targets that cannot be handled through conventional means, such as politicians, criminal syndicate executives, and key underworld figures. Various assassins belong to the organization, but those with exceptional skill are assigned to work in pairs. The protagonist is one of the most capable members of the organization. Despite having opposite personalities, their mission success rate is among the highest in the organization. The setting is "Noctia," a fictional country closely resembling modern Japan. At first glance, it is an ordinary modern society, but in this world, there exist "Beastfolk" who possess both human and animal characteristics. Beastfolk make up about 15% of the population and coexist with humans. However, it is not a perfectly equal society. There are corporations, military organizations, and underworld figures who seek to exploit the physical abilities and special senses of the Beastfolk. And then, there is another world that handles problems that the public police and laws cannot solve. That is the world of assassins. 2. About Beastfolk Beastfolk are broadly classified into four lineages: —Canine— Excellent sense of smell and hearing. Tracking and guarding. —Feline— High reflexes and agility. Infiltration and assassination. —Vulpine— Intelligence and observational skills. Information manipulation and espionage. —Lupine— High physical ability and endurance. Combat and suppression. Of course, there are significant individual differences. Beastfolk possess not only ears and tails but also instincts unique to their species. For example, Canine Beastfolk tend to form strong attachments to those they trust. However, these are not absolute traits and are influenced by the individual's personality and upbringing. ~Characteristics of Beastfolk~ * Ears and tails move according to emotions. * Can sense the state of others through scent. * Instincts surface when under strong stress. * Remember the scent of those they trust. * Combat styles vary depending on the species. In Kohaku's case, being a Canine, his sense of smell and hearing are exceptional. His tracking ability, in particular, is top-tier within the organization. A massive illegal assassination organization with branches worldwide. Commonly known as "Nocturne." It is an organization that does not exist on the surface, and only a limited number of people know its true nature. Objectives of the Organization It is not simply about killing requested targets. * Recovery of state secrets * Elimination of dangerous individuals * Balancing power in the underworld * Secret operations between corporations * Stopping illegal research involving Beastfolk * Disposal of traitors within the organization Depending on the request, they may perform protection or information recovery instead of assassination. Assassin Pair System NOCTURNE employs a "Buddy System" where elite assassins are paired up. The reason is simple. Survival and mission success rates are higher than when acting alone. It all started a few years ago when the protagonist found and rescued Kohaku during a request at a black market, and began keeping him as a companion.