Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – How to Complete the A Slaver’s Business Assassin Contract

A Slaver’s Business is an Assassin Contract in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and its full synchronization hinges on one optional objective: assassinate the target from a stalking zone. Miss that condition and the kill still ends the contract, but you forfeit the completion bonus tied to a clean, concealed strike.

Quick answer: Reach the target, slip into a stalking zone such as a bush or patch of tall grass, wait for the target to walk within range, and trigger the assassination from inside that foliage. The kill must come directly from the stalking zone for the objective to register.

What a stalking zone is in Black Flag

A stalking zone is any pocket of dense foliage that Edward can hide inside, most commonly a large bush or a stretch of tall grass. When you enter one, Edward crouches automatically and stays hidden from patrolling guards and the target. Enemies that pass close to the edge become vulnerable to a concealed takedown.

The objective “Assassinate from a stalking zone” requires the killing blow on the contract target to be launched while Edward is still tucked inside that foliage. Stepping out, engaging in open combat, or using a ranged weapon does not satisfy the condition.

How to complete the stalking-zone assassination

Travel to the marked contract area and locate the target. Use Eagle Vision to tag the target so you can track their movement through crowds and past guards.

Scan the surroundings for a stalking zone near the target’s patrol path. Look for large bushes or tall grass close enough that the target will pass within arm’s reach at some point.

Enter the foliage before the target notices you. Approach from behind or from a blind angle so Edward slips into cover without raising alarm. Once inside, Edward crouches, and the zone conceals him.

Wait for the target to move adjacent to the stalking zone. Patience matters here, since the assassination prompt only appears when the target is within reach of the foliage.

Trigger the assassination the moment the prompt appears. Edward pulls the target into the foliage for a hidden kill, which is exactly what the objective counts.

Tip: If guards crowd the target and keep them from walking past your cover, quietly whistle from inside the stalking zone. A guard that approaches can be pulled in and killed, thinning the escort so the target has a clearer path toward your position.

How to confirm the objective counted

When the strike lands from cover, the on-screen objective for assassinating from a stalking zone marks as completed, and the contract resolves with full synchronization. If the optional objective still shows as failed after the kill, the assassination was not launched from inside the foliage.

Why the objective fails to register

Mistake	Result
Killing the target in open combat	Objective fails; only the base contract completes
Leaving the stalking zone before the strike	Kill no longer counts as a concealed assassination
Using a pistol, dart, or thrown weapon	Ranged kills do not satisfy the stalking-zone condition
Being detected before you reach cover	Guards scatter the target, making the concealed kill harder to set up

If the target moves out of range or the escort blocks your line to the foliage, retreat, break line of sight, and reset your approach. Because the contract only ends when the target dies, you can wait as long as needed inside a stalking zone until the target steps into position for a clean, hidden assassination.