Ronald glanced at the four Neville warriors advancing toward him and let out a loud laugh.
“Tristan, I’m just an old man who stepped away from this world long ago. Let the young ones take care of these affairs.”
With contempt, Tristan shot Ronald a disdainful glance, then looked over at Kyler and the others.
Just as the Nevilles martial arts experts neared, Jason gave a cold snort and said, “Hold on, I’ll go first!”
He stepped forward to the middle, instinctively glancing at Robin. “It’s time for certain people to see the real power of a martial arts family.”
Jason had spent the entire day bottling up his frustration, eager to prove himself in Robin’s eyes.
This day had been the most exasperating of his life.
On his first outing representing his family, he ran into such a humiliating situation, leaving him utterly disgraced.
Had it not been for his grandfather’s scolding, he would never have backed down.
To him, no matter how skilled Robin might be, he couldn’t measure up to the might of the warriors from the foremost martial arts family.
As the heir to the Nevilles, he was filled with frustration.
Before Tristan could say a word, Jason had already stormed to the front, pointing at the members of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance. “You outsiders dare to brag in front of our martial arts family? How absurd “Warriors like you, who only focus on external martial arts, are nothing more than a shallow appearance. Compared to the internal martial artists in the ancient martial arts community, you’re just insects. “Whoever steps up first, I will demonstrate the real power of a martial arts family today!”
Jason pointed at Ronald, Kyler, and the leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance, boldly daring them to respond.
Ronald laughed and said, “Tristan, your grandson has some guts, but he hasn’t experienced true martial arts yet. Who will show this kid what it’s all about?!”
Knox glanced at Ronald and Kyler. “Mr. Quinn, Mr. Kyler, let me handle this kid from the Nevilles first!”
He didn’t regard Jason as a threat at all, launching punches straight at him.
Looking at the two, it was clear that even though Knox wasn’t as tall as Jason, he was three or four times larger in build.
When it came to sheer presence, Knox easily outmatched Jason.
To his surprise, just as he was about to move, Jason harnessed his martial arts family’s internal energy and hit Knox with a palm strike from 16 feet away, launching him back about 15 feet. Before Knox could even come close to landing a blow, he clutched his chest and began spitting blood uncontrollably.
Jason’s palm had damaged Knox’s heart meridian.
Knox had assumed Jason was merely a spoiled rich kid from the Nevilles.
He never anticipated that Jason could strike at his heart from afar using internal energy.
A chilly mountain breeze swept through, bringing a curtain of cold rain.
As the scene before Knox grew more and more unclear, he fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
A trace of pride flickered across Jason’s face as he turned to Robin with a sense of accomplishment.
Jane clapped her hands with delight, exclaiming, “Jason, great job! Haha…”
In the quiet valley, laughter rang out like silver bells.
Jason thumped his chest confidently and declared, “Naturally, the internal energy of the leading martial arts family is more than just a name.”
Tristan observed his grandchildren’s enthusiastic faces with a sense of indifference, showing no signs of excitement.
The six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance, witnessing Knox being struck down by Jason in a single blow, charged forward, eager to confront him.
Anthony let out a mocking laugh, saying, “You members of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance think highly of yourselves.”
“Jason, you should take a break for a bit.”
Jason’s brow furrowed as he said, “Mr. Anthony, I’m not ready to stop having fun yet. I want to keep playing for a bit longer!”
Without hesitation, he launched himself into the center of the six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
This time, he poured all his abilities into the fight, but it wasn’t as effortless as when he took down Knox earlier.
The six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance surrounded him, forming an impenetrable barrier like a wall of iron and bronze.
No matter how hard he tried, his genuine vital energy and internal energy just couldn’t penetrate their defenses.
As the rounds went on, Jason began to feel increasingly uncertain.
When two faction leaders struck at the same time, he felt as though he had collided with an impenetrable stone wall, sent flying back with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
In that instant, he finally grasped the truth of what his grandfather had warned him.
Horizontal martial arts were not to be underestimated; if mastered to a certain extent, they could elevate a practitioner to the level of a grandmaster.
Martial arts weren’t just about the techniques; they depended on the practitioner’s skill and talent.
Jane was ready to jump in, but four warriors stood in her path, saying, “Ms. Neville, we’ve got this covered.”
The four warriors moved forward, saving Jason and rushing at the six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
Jane wiped the blood from her brother’s mouth and sighed. “Jason, I keep telling you to train harder, but you’re so lazy. Can’t you see? You lost to them! Remember, you need to put in the effort from now on. You’re the one who will lead in the future!” Jason’s face turned red as he whispered, “Jane, there are so many people around. Can you keep your voice down? It’s so embarrassing. I promise I’ll train harder from now on.”
While the siblings exchanged words, the six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance were all defeated and tumbled off the cliff.
Kyler stared at the scene, his eyes filled with rage.
This represented half of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance’s strength, and it had all been destroyed by the four warriors from the Nevilles.
Fueled by a whirlwind of anger, Kyler charged at the four warriors.
Kyler, known as the legendary Southernfist King from Draconia, was undeniably a master of martial arts, with his external skills nearly at their pinnacle.
Even though the four warriors had attained a decent level of cultivation, they still couldn’t compete with the formidable martial arts master, Kyler.
Filled with intense hatred, Kyler launched a furious barrage of attacks.
The four warriors from the Nevilles were left incapacitated-two were dead, and the other two were injured.
Anthony couldn’t help but gasp at the sight before him.
The power of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance was truly impressive. “Mr. Tristan, allow me to take care of this!” Tristan nodded, his expression serious.
He glanced at the Four Heavenly Kings standing behind Ronald.
Their presence revealed that they were the strongest force within the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
If the two sides kept facing off like this, the Nevilles wouldn’t be able to endure a combined assault from the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and the Phoenix Vanguard with just their manpower.
Anthony positioned himself in front of Kyler and remarked, “Mr. Kyler,
04. D
I’ve heard that your martial arts have reached the highest level. After witnessing the might of the Southfist King today, I can see why that reputation is well-earned. I haven’t put my skills to the test in years, so let me demonstrate a few techniques!”
Taking a deep breath, Anthony focused all his internal energy into his palm and brought it down forcefully. Kyler responded by blocking with a punch.
With a resounding crash, Kyler was sent flying back 30 feet.
Anthony also stumbled slightly, a wave of fierce energy surging in his chest.
He struggled to hold back the urge to vomit blood and took a deep breath.
As he gazed at Kyler across from him, Anthony was filled with astonishment.
Kyler’s power was even greater than what had been rumored.
If Anthony didn’t have any hidden agendas, it might have been hard for him to remain standing after that recent blow.
From a distance, Tristan was equally astonished.
Should Anthony be defeated once more, the Nevilles’ situation tonight would become quite dire.
At that moment, Anthony inhaled deeply, readying himself to launch a full-force attack on Kyler.
Seizing the opportunity while Kyler was off-balance, Anthony leaped toward him and struck his chest with a powerful palm.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Kyler couldn’t evade in time, and the blow pierced his chest!
He let out a scream as blood sprayed everywhere, and he collapsed instantly.
Ronald’s lips twitched, his eyes flashing with deadly intent.
The Four Heavenly Kings charged at Anthony as a group.
Anthony quickly summoned his internal energy to defend against the assaults from all sides.
The techniques of the Four Heavenly Kings were incredibly elusive, and two of them landed punches that sent Anthony flying backward.
He struggled to regain his balance.
However, the blows from the two Kings were incredibly forceful.
A spray of blood burst from Anthony’s mouth.
The Four Heavenly Kings had been absent from the martial society for many years.
Now, they had returned.
Even Anthony, an internal energy master with nearly 40 years of training, couldn’t withstand their strength with a single hit.
Tristan, observing from afar, was left in utter shock.
It appeared that Anthony wouldn’t be able to endure another hit from the Four Heavenly Kings.
Tristan’s eyes brightened.
He glanced at Jane and Jason and said, “If something happens to Grandpa, you two need to get to Mr. Ramsey right away.”
Without hesitation, Tristan turned to Robin and charged at the Four Heavenly Kings.
With a powerful palm strike, he sent the Four Heavenly Kings flying.
Even though Tristan’s palm strike sent the Four Heavenly Kings reeling, they were unharmed.
They shared a quick look and simultaneously prepared to attack, jumping up and striking at Tristan with four palms.
Tristan let out a sneer, lifted his palm, and sent the Four Heavenly Kings flying once more.
Tristan didn’t allow them a moment to recover. He quickly delivered two more palm strikes, making the Four Heavenly Kings stagger.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tristan suddenly noticed a dark figure rising from a wheelchair.
“Ronald, you can stand?!” he exclaimed.
Ronald let out a hearty laugh,
replying, “Tristan, I stepped back
from the world when I was at the height of my power to give the Brookhaven Martial Alliance a chance to grow. In this fight, if don’t take you down, all my years of
solitude will have meant nothing!”
“Stop the chatter and take this punch!” Ronald shouted as he swung his fist.
Tristan realized it was too late for him to block the attack.
In that instant, the Four Heavenly Kings also launched their punches simultaneously.
Tristan found himself overwhelmed, propelled back several feet by the combined force of the five strikes!
Tristan coughed up blood, completely immobilized.
“Tristan, this is all the leader of the martial arts family amounts to!” Ronald mocked as he jumped and aimed a slap at Tristan.
Despair washed over Tristan as he shook his head!
“Grandpa!” Jane sprang forward, placing herself in front of Tristan.
“You foolish girl, you’re asking for death!” Ronald’s eyes glinted dangerously as he swung his hand toward Jane’s head!
Jane believed she still had enough energy to fight back.
Even though she knew she couldn’t defeat Ronald, she was determined to protect her grandfather.
However, she found herself completely immobilized, as Ronald’s immense strength held her in place.
Clenching her teeth, Jane resolutely stood her ground in front of her grandfather.
Ronald glanced at the four Neville warriors advancing toward him and let out a loud laugh.
“Tristan, I’m just an old man who stepped away from this world long ago. Let the young ones take care of these affairs.”
With contempt, Tristan shot Ronald a disdainful glance, then looked over at Kyler and the others.
Just as the Nevilles martial arts experts neared, Jason gave a cold snort and said, “Hold on, I’ll go first!”
He stepped forward to the middle, instinctively glancing at Robin. “It’s time for certain people to see the real power of a martial arts family.”
Jason had spent the entire day bottling up his frustration, eager to prove himself in Robin’s eyes.
This day had been the most exasperating of his life.
On his first outing representing his family, he ran into such a humiliating situation, leaving him utterly disgraced.
Had it not been for his grandfather’s scolding, he would never have backed down.
To him, no matter how skilled Robin might be, he couldn’t measure up to the might of the warriors from the foremost martial arts family.
As the heir to the Nevilles, he was filled with frustration.
Before Tristan could say a word, Jason had already stormed to the front, pointing at the members of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance. “You outsiders dare to brag in front of our martial arts family? How absurd “Warriors like you, who only focus on external martial arts, are nothing more than a shallow appearance. Compared to the internal martial artists in the ancient martial arts community, you’re just insects. “Whoever steps up first, I will demonstrate the real power of a martial arts family today!”
Jason pointed at Ronald, Kyler, and the leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance, boldly daring them to respond.
Ronald laughed and said, “Tristan, your grandson has some guts, but he hasn’t experienced true martial arts yet. Who will show this kid what it’s all about?!”
Knox glanced at Ronald and Kyler. “Mr. Quinn, Mr. Kyler, let me handle this kid from the Nevilles first!”
He didn’t regard Jason as a threat at all, launching punches straight at him.
Looking at the two, it was clear that even though Knox wasn’t as tall as Jason, he was three or four times larger in build.
When it came to sheer presence, Knox easily outmatched Jason.
To his surprise, just as he was about to move, Jason harnessed his martial arts family’s internal energy and hit Knox with a palm strike from 16 feet away, launching him back about 15 feet. Before Knox could even come close to landing a blow, he clutched his chest and began spitting blood uncontrollably.
Jason’s palm had damaged Knox’s heart meridian.
Knox had assumed Jason was merely a spoiled rich kid from the Nevilles.
He never anticipated that Jason could strike at his heart from afar using internal energy.
A chilly mountain breeze swept through, bringing a curtain of cold rain.
As the scene before Knox grew more and more unclear, he fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
A trace of pride flickered across Jason’s face as he turned to Robin with a sense of accomplishment.
Jane clapped her hands with delight, exclaiming, “Jason, great job! Haha…”
In the quiet valley, laughter rang out like silver bells.
Jason thumped his chest confidently and declared, “Naturally, the internal energy of the leading martial arts family is more than just a name.”
Tristan observed his grandchildren’s enthusiastic faces with a sense of indifference, showing no signs of excitement.
The six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance, witnessing Knox being struck down by Jason in a single blow, charged forward, eager to confront him.
Anthony let out a mocking laugh, saying, “You members of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance think highly of yourselves.”
“Jason, you should take a break for a bit.”
Jason’s brow furrowed as he said, “Mr. Anthony, I’m not ready to stop having fun yet. I want to keep playing for a bit longer!”
Without hesitation, he launched himself into the center of the six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
This time, he poured all his abilities into the fight, but it wasn’t as effortless as when he took down Knox earlier.
The six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance surrounded him, forming an impenetrable barrier like a wall of iron and bronze.
No matter how hard he tried, his genuine vital energy and internal energy just couldn’t penetrate their defenses.
As the rounds went on, Jason began to feel increasingly uncertain.
When two faction leaders struck at the same time, he felt as though he had collided with an impenetrable stone wall, sent flying back with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
In that instant, he finally grasped the truth of what his grandfather had warned him.
Horizontal martial arts were not to be underestimated; if mastered to a certain extent, they could elevate a practitioner to the level of a grandmaster.
Martial arts weren’t just about the techniques; they depended on the practitioner’s skill and talent.
Jane was ready to jump in, but four warriors stood in her path, saying, “Ms. Neville, we’ve got this covered.”
The four warriors moved forward, saving Jason and rushing at the six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
Jane wiped the blood from her brother’s mouth and sighed. “Jason, I keep telling you to train harder, but you’re so lazy. Can’t you see? You lost to them! Remember, you need to put in the effort from now on. You’re the one who will lead in the future!” Jason’s face turned red as he whispered, “Jane, there are so many people around. Can you keep your voice down? It’s so embarrassing. I promise I’ll train harder from now on.”
While the siblings exchanged words, the six leaders of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance were all defeated and tumbled off the cliff.
Kyler stared at the scene, his eyes filled with rage.
This represented half of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance’s strength, and it had all been destroyed by the four warriors from the Nevilles.
Fueled by a whirlwind of anger, Kyler charged at the four warriors.
Kyler, known as the legendary Southernfist King from Draconia, was undeniably a master of martial arts, with his external skills nearly at their pinnacle.
Even though the four warriors had attained a decent level of cultivation, they still couldn’t compete with the formidable martial arts master, Kyler.
Filled with intense hatred, Kyler launched a furious barrage of attacks.
The four warriors from the Nevilles were left incapacitated-two were dead, and the other two were injured.
Anthony couldn’t help but gasp at the sight before him.
The power of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance was truly impressive. “Mr. Tristan, allow me to take care of this!” Tristan nodded, his expression serious.
He glanced at the Four Heavenly Kings standing behind Ronald.
Their presence revealed that they were the strongest force within the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
If the two sides kept facing off like this, the Nevilles wouldn’t be able to endure a combined assault from the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and the Phoenix Vanguard with just their manpower.
Anthony positioned himself in front of Kyler and remarked, “Mr. Kyler,
04. D
I’ve heard that your martial arts have reached the highest level. After witnessing the might of the Southfist King today, I can see why that reputation is well-earned. I haven’t put my skills to the test in years, so let me demonstrate a few techniques!”
Taking a deep breath, Anthony focused all his internal energy into his palm and brought it down forcefully. Kyler responded by blocking with a punch.
With a resounding crash, Kyler was sent flying back 30 feet.
Anthony also stumbled slightly, a wave of fierce energy surging in his chest.
He struggled to hold back the urge to vomit blood and took a deep breath.
As he gazed at Kyler across from him, Anthony was filled with astonishment.
Kyler’s power was even greater than what had been rumored.
If Anthony didn’t have any hidden agendas, it might have been hard for him to remain standing after that recent blow.
From a distance, Tristan was equally astonished.
Should Anthony be defeated once more, the Nevilles’ situation tonight would become quite dire.
At that moment, Anthony inhaled deeply, readying himself to launch a full-force attack on Kyler.
Seizing the opportunity while Kyler was off-balance, Anthony leaped toward him and struck his chest with a powerful palm.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Kyler couldn’t evade in time, and the blow pierced his chest!
He let out a scream as blood sprayed everywhere, and he collapsed instantly.
Ronald’s lips twitched, his eyes flashing with deadly intent.
The Four Heavenly Kings charged at Anthony as a group.
Anthony quickly summoned his internal energy to defend against the assaults from all sides.
The techniques of the Four Heavenly Kings were incredibly elusive, and two of them landed punches that sent Anthony flying backward.
He struggled to regain his balance.
However, the blows from the two Kings were incredibly forceful.
A spray of blood burst from Anthony’s mouth.
The Four Heavenly Kings had been absent from the martial society for many years.
Now, they had returned.
Even Anthony, an internal energy master with nearly 40 years of training, couldn’t withstand their strength with a single hit.
Tristan, observing from afar, was left in utter shock.
It appeared that Anthony wouldn’t be able to endure another hit from the Four Heavenly Kings.
Tristan’s eyes brightened.
He glanced at Jane and Jason and said, “If something happens to Grandpa, you two need to get to Mr. Ramsey right away.”
Without hesitation, Tristan turned to Robin and charged at the Four Heavenly Kings.
With a powerful palm strike, he sent the Four Heavenly Kings flying.
Even though Tristan’s palm strike sent the Four Heavenly Kings reeling, they were unharmed.
They shared a quick look and simultaneously prepared to attack, jumping up and striking at Tristan with four palms.
Tristan let out a sneer, lifted his palm, and sent the Four Heavenly Kings flying once more.
Tristan didn’t allow them a moment to recover. He quickly delivered two more palm strikes, making the Four Heavenly Kings stagger.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tristan suddenly noticed a dark figure rising from a wheelchair.
“Ronald, you can stand?!” he exclaimed.
Ronald let out a hearty laugh,
replying, “Tristan, I stepped back
from the world when I was at the height of my power to give the Brookhaven Martial Alliance a chance to grow. In this fight, if don’t take you down, all my years of
solitude will have meant nothing!”
“Stop the chatter and take this punch!” Ronald shouted as he swung his fist.
Tristan realized it was too late for him to block the attack.
In that instant, the Four Heavenly Kings also launched their punches simultaneously.
Tristan found himself overwhelmed, propelled back several feet by the combined force of the five strikes!
Tristan coughed up blood, completely immobilized.
“Tristan, this is all the leader of the martial arts family amounts to!” Ronald mocked as he jumped and aimed a slap at Tristan.
Despair washed over Tristan as he shook his head!
“Grandpa!” Jane sprang forward, placing herself in front of Tristan.
“You foolish girl, you’re asking for death!” Ronald’s eyes glinted dangerously as he swung his hand toward Jane’s head!
Jane believed she still had enough energy to fight back.
Even though she knew she couldn’t defeat Ronald, she was determined to protect her grandfather.
However, she found herself completely immobilized, as Ronald’s immense strength held her in place.
Clenching her teeth, Jane resolutely stood her ground in front of her grandfather.
The Phoenix Vanguard Loyalty Hall was located on Hydra Island in the Yaspian Ocean.
Drogo, the newly appointed Dragon Leader, sat at the center of the hall with a gaze as sharp as a blade.
Gathered around him were key figures from around the world, each representing a branch of the organization.
An intense silence filled the Loyalty Hall as they waited, every eye fixed, expecting news that would change their course.
At precisely 3:40 a.m., Walter sent them a message from Harmonfield in Draconia, bearing grim news. ‘The Seven Evils has fallen. In two days, Divine Drakebane will arrive at the Phoenix Vanguard.’ Drogo’s lips twisted upon reading the words.
For a moment, he sat still, then lifted his head to meet the gaze of the expectant crowd as he relayed the message.
A ripple of shock passed through the room.
“Divine Drakebane hasn’t lost his edge! Even after years of seclusion and training, the Seven Evils couldn’t defeat him.” One of them sighed.
“The Seven Evils was our best, the pride of the Phoenix Vanguard,” another added. “Yet even they couldn’t bring down Divine Drakebane. I’m afraid Phoenix Vanguard is in danger this time!” “The Seven Evils was personally trained by the Vice Dragon Leader. They have been a secret weapon, a trump card hidden all these years, waiting for the right time to strike back.”
“They allied with the Four Heavenly Kings of Brookhaven’s Martial Alliance and two generations of Southfist King, yet none of them could touch Divine Drakebane. What’s our next move?” “This time, if we want to beg for mercy again, I’m afraid that person won’t agree anymore!”
One man whispered with grim resignation, “If we fail to take down Divine Drakebane in these two days, we’re staring down another massacre like the one three years ago.”
The room buzzed with heated murmurs as everyone weighed their options and calculated their survival.
Memories of that bloodbath flashed in their minds, along with Divine Drakebane’s infamous promise: “Those who betray will never be forgiven.”
There was no retreat this time. They had followed Drogo in the plot to dethrone Cassian and Mavis, imprisoning their leaders to end Divine Drakebane once and for all.
Now, the Phoenix Vanguard was trapped with him, facing the wrath they had invited.
The Phoenix Vanguard’s headquarters were located on a magnificent little island, which boasted the world’s most formidable defense system and the most powerful top-tier guards. The defenses seemed as fragile as paper shields. However, against the sheer terror of Divine Drakebane, Phoenix Vanguard’s defenses are simply insufficient to stop him.
Drogo watched the unease building in the room. His face turned stern. “So, have you already been scared after the Seven Evils’ were killed? What future does Phoenix Vanguard have with this kind of weakness?” A heavy silence followed.
Then, a short, dark-faced man with an odd, scowling expression finally exploded, “Drogo, I told you before, Divine Drakebane isn’t someone we can take down!”
“You have provoked him at the instigation of the Dark Night Alliance, and now you’ve brought disaster down on the entire Phoenix Vanguard!”
“Huh, Austin is right, Drogo! You’re playing games with the future of the Phoenix Vanguard!” rumbled a towering man over two meters tall, his muscles taut as if they could burst with the smallest flex. Drogo let out a low mocking laugh. “Cowards!”
After the word left his lips, a shadow flickered past, and in the next instant, the short man and the giant man dissolved into a mist of blood.
The heavy air of the Loyalty Hall grew thick with the scent of blood.
There was only a dark red haze lingering where the men once stood.
Standing in the hall’s center was a masked figure cloaked in black. He sneered, his voice icy. “The Dark Lord is the Supreme sent by God to save this world. This is the fate for anyone who dares defy him!”
The Dark Messenger vanished with a wisp of black smoke, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
Drogo let out a cold laugh. “Ladies and gentlemen, Divine Drakebane’s killing of the Seven Evils was… unfortunate, but nothing we didn’t anticipate. Since the Dark Night Alliance and I have agreed to take revenge, we’ve already had the perfect plan.” A sultry woman cast Drogo a wary glance. “Lord Dragon, Divine Drakebane is a demon. We’ve already provoked him. What’s our next move?”
Everyone in the Phoenix Vanguard Loyalty Hall turned their gaze to Drogo.
When Divine Drakebane slaughtered his way through the Phoenix Vanguard three years ago, Drogo had been secluded with the Seven Evils on a remote island in the South Panacea Ocean, training in isolation.
He hadn’t witnessed the horror firsthand.
The so-called “Divine Drakebane” was a legend but not an unstoppable one in his eyes; with the full force of the Phoenix Vanguard, they undoubtedly could surround and kill him.
Each of the Phoenix Vanguard Leaders was a formidable force in their region, capable of matching any major dark organization in strength.
Combined, they could rival the military might of a small nation. And with Drogo, the Clan’s fiercest warrior, standing guard, surely they stood a fighting chance.
Before Drogo could respond, a lean, elderly man with a hawk-like gaze spoke up. “If we’re going to take down Divine Drakebane, it would be wiser to focus on defense.”
“Last time, none of our most powerful forces were at the headquarters, and Divine Drakebane took us by surprise.
“But now that Seven Evils has enraged this demon, he’ll come to attack our headquarters, accusing Phoenix Vanguard of betrayal.
“It’s better to wait here on Hydra Island and focus all our strength on him. We’d have at least a fifty-fifty chance.”
The sultry woman scoffed, casting a smirk at the elder. “Lord Chronos, let’s not forget: Divine Drakebane has the powerful dark web’s killers backing him. This time isn’t like before. I’m afraid that Divine Drakebane will give us an even more terrifying blow.” Drogo gave a sharp, disdainful snort. “No. We strike first! We’ll catch him off guard!”
The others watched his rigid form with growing dread. This man has lost his mind!
They might at least stand a chance of holding off Divine Drakebane with Hydra Island’s defense system.
But taking the offensive? That was a suicide mission.
Still, no one dared to say another word.
Drogo slowly turned to face the group. His gaze was as hard as steel. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Dark Night Alliance has already been in secret contact with the world’s major dark organizations. Starting tomorrow, warriors of the Dark Night Alliance, silent for decades, will receive the Dark Night Curse. They will hunt down Divine Drakebane and will not rest until he’s dead.”
…
The next day, at 7 AM, a flurry of troubling news reached Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division. The Brookhaven Martial Alliance’s headquarters, along with six of its regional branches, had vanished overnight without a trace.
The Phoenix Vanguard’s Seven Evils, who had sneaked into Draconia, also had mysteriously disappeared in the Dawnspire Mountain Dragon Ridge Valley. There was no sign of life and not a single clue left behind.
At the same time, 13 top martial arts experts from the World of Darkness slipped into Draconia with evil intentions.
This news reached Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division, and Talia as a division head was immediately assigned.
She was going to Harmonfield to
uncover the truth behind the
Brookhaven. Martial Alliance’s sudden disappearance and the mystery of the Phoenix Vanguard’s Seven Evils. Her orders were also to
monitor 13 martial arts experts from the World of Darkness.
Talia was just twenty years old and already a colonel.
She had joined the elite training center of Draconia’s Special Forces at 18. Graduating at the top of her class, she went straight into the Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division.
In just two years, her exceptional field record made her rise from a trainee investigator to the position of division head.
She was the youngest person to hold the division head position in the Bureau’s history. Her skills had earned her respect from the highest ranks of the Bureau.
However, Talia’s ambitions extended beyond her current role.
Her ultimate goal was to join Draconia’s military elite, the legendary War Wolf Special Forces unit.
Gaining entry into the War Wolf Special Forces required a rigorous selection process.
The assessments weren’t only from a candidate’s previous achievements but also their performance in a final round of hands-on trials.
In these trials, only the best would survive to earn their place.
So, when this new assignment came from her superiors, Talia’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
This mission was a rare chance, her most challenging in the past two years.
Apart from the incidents involving the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and the Phoenix Vanguard Seven Killers, the one that excited her most was the order to track the 13 top martial arts experts who had infiltrated Draconia.
If she could engage and capture some of the World of Darkness’s most formidable martial arts experts, she’d have a fighting chance to pass the War Wolf Special Forces’s first-round qualification.
After accepting her orders, Talia’s sharp investigative skills quickly came into play. She had pieced together events leading up to the Brookhaven Martial Alliance’s disappearance within an hour.
The day before the incident, during
the Brookhaven Martial Alliance
branch celebration, an unusual event had taken place at the Harmonfield Hotel involving a man named Robin Ramsey, who had a dispute with the Quinns, the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
Talia swiftly compiled a profile on Robin Ramsey with this lead.
By 7:30 AM, she was en route to Harmonfield, flying on a military helicopter from the capital and landing by nine. She quickly pinpointed Robin’s location.
In civilian clothes, Talia and two colleagues from the Investigation Division discreetly drove to Robin’s workplace at the Eastvale Development Group.
At precisely ten o’clock, they arrived in the company’s parking lot, ready to make their move.
From their car, Talia watched the steady stream of people entering and leaving the front doors of the Eastvale Development Group.
She turned to the young man beside her. “Tobias, is the intel accurate?”
Tobias is an intelligence officer at Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division.
He nodded confidently. “Yes, Ma’am. Our informants confirmed it. Robin, our target, left the Dawnspire Heights Estates at 9:10 and is en route here. If the timing’s right, he should arrive… in about two minutes.” “There! That Hummer,” Tobias pointed out just as a Hummer rolled into the parking lot. He pushed open his door, ready to charge.
Talia’s eyes sharpened. “Hold on! We need to confirm before we move in. If Robin Ramsey could openly clash with the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and gain the upper hand, he’s no ordinary opponent.”
After relaying further instructions for a careful approach, the three officers headed towards the lobby of the East City Development Group.
Meanwhile, Robin was just stepping out of the parking lot when a lively figure bound toward him-Vera.
“Robin! I tried calling you last night, but your line was dead! What happened?”
Robin raised an eyebrow at her breezy, cheerful expression. Last night’s ruckus at the Harmonfield Hotel hadn’t unsettled her one bit.
This woman just has a good spirit and always looks happy.
He glanced at the pale, almost invisible scratch on her neck. The wound scratched by the necklace had been treated. “Looks like you’re in a great mood today.”
Vera, catching his gaze, tilted her head playfully and laughed. “As long as I get to see you, I’ll be in a good mood anytime. Hahaha…”
Then, as if to tease him, she stretched her neck toward him. “Does my neck look good? Do you want to see more? Hahaha…”
Laughing, she hooked her arm through his, resting her head on his shoulder as she sighed contentedly. “I rushed over right after my morning meeting. I wanted to ask you to lunch.”
Robin glanced at his watch. “It’s only ten, and it’s too early for lunch.”
Vera still spoke with a smile, “I know, but I didn’t want to risk coming later and finding you already lunching with some other woman. Now I’m here to stand guard. If any girls try to ask you out, I’ll shoo them away until you’re off work!” “Vera, what are you doing here?” Their conversation was being cut in as Alice and Zachary approached them.
Alice gave Robin a disdainful look. “Vera, didn’t I warn you to stay away from people like him? Be careful”
Vera’s face immediately darkened, remembering the lecture she’d endured the previous day.
“Alice, say one more word, and we’re not friends anymore!” She set her jaw. “I’m only going to get closer to Robin, and if he’s willing, maybe one day I’ll walk down the aisle with him.”
She gave Robin a playful grin. “So, what do you say? Ready to make an honest woman out of me?”
Alice and Zachary exchanged glances, shaking their heads in exasperation.
She checked her watch. “Alright, alright, I’ll drop it. I’m actually here to deliver an invitation from Ms. Shirley Dunn. In a few days, Zachary and are holding our engagement celebration. Currently, we’ve been busy with all the preparations…
“Are you Robin Ramsey?” Talia cut in sharply as she strode up with her two colleagues, instantly seizing everyone’s attention.
Robin didn’t seem surprised. He’d already received intel that Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division had been investigating him since early morning.
He gave Talia a once-over, then smirked. “Sorry, I don’t take kindly to random introductions.”
Vera burst into laughter at Talia’s stunned slightly offended expression. “Hahaha… ”
Talia shot Vera a sharp look, silencing her with just a glare. She turned her icy gaze to Robin and commanded, “Come with us!”
Tobias and another detective, Dustin, moved instantly, positioning themselves on either side of Robin.
Vera’s laughter abruptly died.
She looked at Talia and the two men, sensing they weren’t bluffing, and they seemed ready to act against Robin. “W-What are you guys doing?”
Robin nudged Vera behind him, his expression unphased as he raised an eyebrow at Talia, who wore a cool, aloof look. “What’s this about?” he asked.
Talia replied icily, “Yesterday, at the Brookhaven Martial Alliance’s celebration at Harmonfield Hotel, you had a dispute with the Quinns. And overnight, the entire Brookhaven Alliance dissolved, and the Quinns vanished without a trace.” Her eyes narrowed. “We suspect you’re closely related to these events. Come with us now for further investigation.”
Vera’s eyes widened, her shock visible.
Only now did she realize Talia and the two men didn’t have the look of gangsters. They appeared more like public officials.
The entire Brookhaven Martial Alliance and the Quinns were gone in a single night?
According to the woman’s words, Robin was the one responsible for the annihilation of the entire Brookhaven Martial Alliance and the Quinns.
Caught off guard, Vera’s gaze shifted to Robin’s imposing figure. Her heart raced.
Who is this man? He’s able to take down an entire martial alliance overnight!
If that were true, he must be incredibly powerful!
Alice and Zachary had also frozen in place. Now they were noticing Talia, Tobias, and Dustin.
From the way they carried themselves, these three were likely law enforcement agents from some official department.
It was clear they came after Robin because of the Brookhaven Martial Alliance yesterday.
They must have evidence of Robin’s crime in their hands.
A slight smirk crossed Alice’s lips.
She stepped forward, her tone dripping with mockery. “True, he’s Robin Ramsey. I was at Harmonfield Hotel yesterday too. He had a confrontation with the Brookhaven Martial Alliance …” “Alice! What are you talking about?” Vera intervened.
Alice shot her a cold, mocking smile. “Vera, don’t cover for him. Do you know how serious the crime Robin’s do if the Brookhaven Martial Alliance is really … gone?”
“What are you arguing about?” Talia snapped, cutting them both off with a withering look. “Did I ask you to speak? Silence!”
She turned back to Robin, her voice steely. “Let’s go. We’ve verified everything that happened yesterday at the celebration. There’s no question. You’re involved in their disappearance.” Robin scoffed, unimpressed. “Who do you think you are? Get out of my way.”
Talia was momentarily taken aback.
In her two years on the job, this was the first time Talia had encountered someone like Robin.
Most suspects either resisted arrest in a fit of desperation or simply complied and came quietly for questioning.
Yet here was Robin, looking down on her as if he were the one in control, as if she were beneath him.
Her anger flared, and she jabbed a finger at Robin’s retreating figure, barking, “Stop right there!”
Robin didn’t even glance her way, striding toward the hall indifferently.
Frustrated, Tobias and Dustin stepped in front of him to block his path, while Talia slipped to his side, reaching to grab his shoulder. Yet her hand met only air as Robin sidestepped her easily. Robin shot her a cold glance, his voice dripping with disdain. “Enough already. Move.”
Taken aback, Talia’s mind raced. Not only had he evaded her effortlessly, but his arrogance was infuriating.
Clenching her fist, she swung at him.
Robin shifted to the side before quickly extending his right foot.
Her punch hit nothing but empty space as she stumbled over his outstretched foot, barely managing to catch her balance after several steps.
Flushed with anger, she pointed to Tobias and Dustin, commanding, “Arrest him!”
The two detectives reached for their guns, but before they could draw, a commanding voice called out from behind, “Hold it! Just who do you think you are?”
Turning, they saw Jack, accompanied by two younger men, striding toward them.
Tobias and Dustin froze, subconsciously releasing their grip on their weapons as they took in Jack’s imposing presence. His dignified authority was undeniable. However, Talia was far from ready to back down.
Humiliated by her slip-up in front of Robin and now confronted by new interference, her temper flared even more.
She pointed furiously at Jack and his companions. “Who are you? Stand down! We’re in the middle of official duties!” Before she could finish, the two men with Jack stepped forward, positioning themselves protectively in front of him. Their stance only stoked her anger further.
With an exasperated huff, she pulled out her ID, thrusting it at them. “Do you see this?” she demanded, holding it up for emphasis. “This is my ID! Interfere with my work again, and I’ll have all of you detained!” The two men glanced at her ID without so much as a twitch of respect, standing firm, unyielding.
Her irritation intensified, and she raised her voice again, “Do you even understand what this ID represents? Stand aside, or I’ll arrest you, too!”
One of Jack’s men spoke coolly, “Mr. Grayson said you’re not allowed to arrest him.”
Talia glanced at Jack with a derisive snort. “Since when is there anyone the Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division can’t arrest? Was this just because he’s a corporate worker?”
She motioned to Tobias and Dustin, “Do it!”
However, Jack’s two guards were immovable, standing like towers, blocking their way.
“Hold on. Send a message to the Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division,” Jack said calmly, raising his hand in a placating gesture.
He gestured for his men to photograph Talia’s ID and send it over to the Security Bureau Division Seven.
Tobias and Dustin exchanged confused looks, unsure of Jack’s intentions.
Talia herself was perplexed by this old man’s composure.
Does he think he has any connections in the Seventh Division?
He looked like some minor, retired local official.
Perhaps he has no idea about what the Security Bureau Division Seven is, right?
She glanced at her men with a wry smile, giving Jack and his group a scornful look. This old guy… it’s laughable.
Does he think he can just “get in touch” with the Security Bureau Seventh Division?
But as she and her men scoffed, Talia’s official phone buzzed.
She glanced down and saw the caller ID: Simon Cross, the Director of Draconia’s Security Bureau Division Seven.
“Mr. Cross,” she said, answering the call, “I’m on assignment at Harmonfield. Do you have instructions?”
A low voice came through the
receiver. “Immediately stop pursuing
neo
the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and Phoenix Vanguard’s Seven Evils case. Shift focus to monitoring the who have
13 top martial arts experts who
infiltrated the World of Darkness of
Draconia.”
Caught off guard, Talia blurted, “Sir, we’ve already identified a suspect related to the Brookhaven Martial Alliance-Robin Ramsey. We were about to bring him in for questioning…” “Chief Cross, I’m ordering you to drop the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and the Phoenix Vanguard’s Seven Evils case immediately. Do you understand?”
Talia bristled. “Mr. Cross, what’s going on? I’m just starting to uncover some evidence, and I plan to see this through!”
“Enough! Defy this order, and I’ll strip you of your position,” Simon thundered.
Talia clenched her teeth, frustrated and confused. Reluctantly, she muttered, “Dad, just let me pursue this! I’ve barely scratched the surface_”
Simon on the other end of the phone scolded sharply, “I’m not your dad right now! Call me Mr. Cross,” he barked. “If you don’t back off, I’ll demote you now!”
“Mr. Cross! Huh! bureaucratic old man! Understood!” She muttered under her breath as she hung up.
Turning on Robin, she pointed a finger at him. “Don’t get too comfortable. You can’t escape. I know, deep down, that you’re tied to the Brookhaven Martial Alliance case. I’m not letting you off the hook!” Robin just shook his head with a mocking smile. “Any man who ends up with you is done for.”
Fuming, Talia’s face turned red, her finger trembling as she pointed at him, “Y-You…”
Talia stepped forward, ready to lash out.
Robin smirked, “What’s the plan here, huh? You wanna bite me?”
“You … you j*rk!” Talia was nearly beside herself with rage, stepping right into his path, her voice shaking with fury.
Robin shook his head, feigning seriousness. “Resorting to insults now? How about this? You’re a j*rk. You and your whole family are j*rks too.”
“You-ugh!” Talia looked like she was about to explode.
She pointed at him, ready to unleash a tirade of curses, but the words died on her lips.
She could tell Robin was fully prepared to go head-to-head in an insult match, and something told her he’d probably outmatch her.
Fine! She huffed, deciding it wasn’t worth sinking to his level.
I’ll just wait for my chance to catch him and give him the punishment he deserves.
Watching her face go red, Jack laughed out loud. “Hahaha … ”
Furious, Talia whirled on him, pointing. “What are you laughing at, old man?”
Jack’s two guards stepped forward, ready to intercept her, but Jack chuckled and waved them back. “No, no, let them be. Let them leave.”
As Talia and her two agents brushed
past, Alice, trying to be helpful, piped up, “Miss, yesterday at the
aven Martial Alliance event,
fought with the Quinns. There plenty of witnesses
Talia stopped, gave Alice a piercing look, and jabbed a finger in her direction. “What’s your point? Get out of my way!”
Taken aback, Alice immediately stepped aside, intimidated by Talia’s intense glare.
She glanced at Robin, who had just reached Jack.
Robin gave Jack a friendly clap on the shoulder. “So, old man, you saved me back there? Guess I owe you a meal, huh?”
Jack’s smile broadened, about to accept, when Robin’s next words wiped the smile clean off his face.
“Just kidding, old man. Not a chance. See ya.” Robin waved him off dismissively.
Vera was taken aback for a moment, looked at Jack with a confused face, and laughed. “Hahaha…”
She followed Robin forward. “Thanks for the help, though! I’ll invite you to dinner another day.” She waved cheerfully as she and Robin walked away.
Jack shook his head with a chuckle as he watched them leave.
His two guards exchanged frustrated glances, ready to go after Robin, but he stopped them. “Let’s go.”
Meanwhile, Robin and Vera had just
arrived at the plaza outside the
Ine
Eastside Development Group. From a distance, they spotted Rosalie struggling against a short, dark-skinned man in his forties who was gripping her arm tightly
Nearby, an older man in his fifties stood watching.
“Let go of me!” Rosalie shouted, struggling to break free.
Vera nudged Robin. “Look, isn’t that Rosalie? She’s in trouble. Let’s go check it out.”
Robin and Vera pushed their way into the crowd gathered around.
The onlookers were all coworkers from the company, and they were murmuring to each other while watching Rosalie and the man harassing her.
“Apparently, that man’s Rosalie’s father, a real lowlife.
“I heard her saying earlier that he ran off years ago, leaving her, her mom, and her little brother to fend for themselves. Took up with a widow and never looked back, not even when her mom fell sick.
“And now he shows up, doesn’t even visit her mom in the hospital. Instead, he’s here, pocketing a betrothal gift of 10,000 dollars and trying to force her into marriage with some guy in his forties, who, by the way, has a limp.” “What kind of father does that? He’s worse than sc*m!”
“There are all kinds of folks in this world, but a guy like that? He’s not even human!”
“It’s such a shame. Rosalie’s a star student from a top school, young and beautiful. To be married off to someone like that would be a tragedy.”
Robin listened to the conversations, then looked through the crowd, spotting Rosalie being harassed by the man in his forties. In broad daylight, and he’s that bold?
Seeing that Rosalie wouldn’t budge, the man reached out and grabbed her by the hair.
“Your dad sold you to me! You’re my woman now! I’m taking you back to give me kids! You refuse to come, and I’ll beat you!”
He raised a thick hand and swung it down at Rosalie as he yelled.
Robin quickly grabbed the man’s wrist before he could land the blow.
The man winced, releasing Rosalie’s hair. “Who… who are you? Let go of me!”
Ignoring him, Robin turned to the battered and tear-streaked Rosalie. “What’s going on here?”
Rosalie looked at Robin, too ashamed to meet his gaze, and whispered, “Robin … sorry you had to see this.”
“Just get to the point!” Robin barked.
“She’s my woman,” the man spat out angrily, trying to shake Robin off.
Robin tightened his grip, making the man drop to his knees in pain, unable to speak.
“All right, nobody’s going to touch you now. Start talking! What’s going on?”
Shaken by Robin’s icy tone, Rosalie pointed at an older man standing off to the side. “That’s my father.”
Following her gaze, Robin saw a man around fifty lingering at a distance.
“Robin, when my brother and I were little, he abandoned the three of us and left my mom to run off with some widow from the neighboring village.
“He’s been gone for over a decade. Not a dime to support us in all that time.
“Now, the widow’s son is getting married but lacks money for the betrothal gift. So, he came back and sold me to a man with a disability in his leg, taking 10,000 dollars as a betrothal gift from him.”
Just then, a few security guards from Eastvale Development Group arrived.
One of them, spotting Robin, quickly stepped forward, gesturing at the 40-something-year-old man.
“Mr. Ramsey, that man who claims to be Rosalie’s father, has already caused a scene at our company several times, and Rosalie has been avoiding him. I heard he even went to the hospital a few times to make a scene in her mother’s room, but the hospital eventually threw him out.
“He’s been camped out at the company entrance every day this past week.”
Rosalie nodded. “The security guard is right, Robin.
“This man’s no father of mine! Every time he comes back, it’s only to bully money out of my mom.
“She’s barely kept us afloat, and almost everything she earned, he’s wrung out of her!
“When Mom got sick this time, I tried calling him, hoping he’d help us with some money. He didn’t just refuse but cursed me out, saying she should hurry up and die. He… he’s a …”
“A brute,” Robin growled, striding toward Rosalie’s father, Neil Grant.
Seeing this, Rosalie rushed to follow him. “Robin, he… he’s tricky to deal with. He’s a total scoundrel.”
Robin glanced at Neil and gave a faint, icy smile. “I specialize in dealing with scoundrels.”
When he reached Neil, he asked, “Are you Rosalie’s father?”
Neil sized Robin up. “Yeah, I am, and you are…
Robin ignored him, nodding toward the scruffy man. “You sold her to him?”
Neil bristled. “Sold? What a word! I found my girl a respectable husband!”
Just then, Shawn, flanked by a dozen others, muscled his way through the crowd.
“What’s going on, Mr. Ramsey?” Shawn looked from Neil to Rosalie, puzzled.
“This old piece of trash took 10,000 dollars in betrothal gift to sell off his daughter,” Robin said, pointing at Neil. “Shawn, what would you do with a scoundrel like that?”
Shawn blinked, then answered without hesitation, “Mr. Ramsey, if it were me, I’d be even nastier than he is!”
Robin nodded. “Good! This scoundrel’s all yours. Just don’t kill him, but do as you please.”
“Yes, Mr. Ramsey!” Shawn answered with a bow, grabbing Neil by the collar, whose face twisted in shock.
Smack! A hard slap landed on Neil’s weathered face.
“You! Who are you? Why are you hitting me?” Neil shouted, flailing his legs in the air.
Shawn leaned in close, smiling grimly, giving his face a pat. “Me? They call me the Devil. And if I can’t straighten out a demon like you, what good am I?
“Selling your daughter like some kind of animal? Even I wouldn’t stoop that low, but you did!
“Oh, you think you’re tough, huh? Well, I’ll make you regret every second you’ve spent in this world. Come on; I’ll show you what real scum looks like.” Shawn turned and bowed respectfully to Robin. “Mr. Ramsey, I’ll take this trash out of your sight so he doesn’t offend you any further.
“Ms. Grant, sorry for the trouble. I’ll ensure your father never bothers you or your mom again.”
Neil could feel the thugs’ menacing presence all around him, making his legs turn to jelly.
Clearly, he’d ended up in the hands of some seasoned bruisers who lived by their fists, and he knew it was over for him.
He quickly groveled and pleaded, “Sir, please, let me go. I-I have no grudge against you. I don’t want to go with you.”
“It’s too late for that! You messed with Mr. Ramsey!” Shawn jabbedza finger at his face and barked, “You
end up in the Devil’s hands, and up-in
going home won’t be in this lifetime!
“Today, my men will show you things worse than death. You’ll know exactly what it means to suffer.
“Next time you dare come to Harmonfield to harass Rosalie and her family,” Shawn said with a harsh glare, “every time you come, you’ll taste this again!
“Let’s go. You don’t want to come along? Too bad-it’s not your choice anymore!”
With that, he tossed Neil and the other man into the car, and they drove off without looking back.
Rosalie watched Neil disappear with Shawn and suddenly grew nervous. “Robin, they won’t kill my father, will they?”
Robin replied coldly, “No, they won’t. All you need to know is he’ll never trouble you or your mother again.
“Now, return to work and focus on living a good life with your mom. Forget people like him.”
After hesitating for a moment, Rosalie nodded. “Thank you, Robin.”
Robin patted her shoulder. “Get going. And remember, if you ever need help, come to me.”
“Okay, Robin!” Rosalie’s eyes filled with tears. At that moment, she was at a loss for how to thank him.
From a chance meeting, this almost mythical man had shielded her from every disaster. Each one could’ve destroyed her and her family, who were barely holding on.
It was Robin who had given her a new start.
Robin nodded. “All good now. Get back to work before you’re late. I’m still waiting for that bonus you promised to treat me with.”
“Got it! Robin!” Wiping her tears away, Rosalie smiled at his tall figure in the morning light.
She used to think the world was unfair and that all she’d known since childhood was hardship. But not anymore.
Now, she felt like the luckiest person alive.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she’d meet such a good friend in this vast world.
She swore to live her best life, following in Robin’s footsteps.
Watching Rosalie’s retreating back, Vera sighed, “There are way too many ‘fathers’ like that out there!”
Seeing her serious expression, Robin added, “Plenty of mothers like that, too.”
Vera was taken aback and then broke into laughter. “Robin, you’ve got a knack for words! Fathers who are scum, mothers who are scum-perfect parallel!”
Robin smirked as Vera laughed excitedly.
Her thinking is definitely not the same as that of normal people.
This woman saw the humor in everything. Even this could make her laugh?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Vera checked her outfit nervously. “Do I look weird or something?”
Robin shrugged. “Not at all. I just wondered why you’re so cheerful.”
“Well, since Mom left, no one’s there to care for me anymore. I’ve got to make myself happy. Should I just wilt away like some tragic heroine every day?
“So, I look for little ways to feel good. Maybe someday I’ll find someone who’ll look out for me too!
“And I did! That great hero with his golden armor, riding his chariot through the clouds, really showed up.”
Robin caught the twinkle in her eyes and chuckled, “That monkey’s here to pick you up?”
“Get lost!” She shot him a look, then glanced at Rosalie with a hint of jealousy. “If you’d treat me as well as you treat her, I’d be even happier.”
“Come on, stop daydreaming.” Robin shook his head, heading for the company lobby.
As he and Vera entered the lobby, they ran into Alice and Zachary coming down the stairs.
Alice raised an eyebrow. “Robin, I just heard that Brookhaven Martial Alliance had a major incident. Do you still dare to show your face here? Aren’t you worried those three will come for you?” FindNovel
Vera snapped, “Alice, whatever’s going on with Brookhaven Martial Alliance has nothing to do with Robin, so stop spreading rumors.”
Alice scoffed, “He got into it with the Quinns yesterday, and now they’ve all disappeared. Who else would be a suspect?”
Vera froze, looking anxiously at Robin.
Robin said nothing, merely sidestepping Alice and Zachary and heading straight for the elevator.
“Wait up, Robin!” Vera ran after him. “Robin, is it true? Are you involved?”
Robin placed the bank card Ronald had given him into Vera’s hand. “Here, take it. It’s the Quinns’s payout for you. Treat me to a feast tonight.”
Meanwhile, as Rosalie, Robin, Vera,
and the others, walked into the
ve
Eastvale Development Group lobby, two disciples from the Poison King Sect watched from afar. “The one name@Rosalie lives in the Graceview Apartments. We’l go grab her tonight,” one said. “The master ordered that we must capture her.”
At six in the evening, Vera and Robin arrived at the newly opened Hot Pot Haven on the outskirts of Harmonfield.
The restaurant was bustling with people, and every table was filled.
“This newly opened hot pot restaurant is doing quite well,” Robin said, smiling as he glanced around at the bustling scene, where nearly every table was occupied.
At that moment, he noticed several pairs of eyes filled with murderous intent fixed on him. It seemed that the assassins from the dark world had indeed arrived in Harmonfield.
Taking in the enticing aroma, Vera hooked her arm through Robin’s, proud. “Of course! Only the best for my recommendations!” A few days ago, the company executives raved about this place the food was fresh, affordable, and top-notch service. “So, I thought I had to bring you here to try it,” she said excitedly. “Come on, let’s go in! It’s on me today you can order whatever you want!”
Before long, a staff member from the hot pot restaurant approached them, leading them to the front desk to register. They received a table card for Table 9.
Savoring the rich smells wafting through the air, Vera closed her eyes in delight. “Just the aroma’s making me hungry!”
“Waiter,” she called, “we’ll start with a mixed pot, and then bring us a selection of your best dishes!”
The server hesitated momentarily and cautiously asked, “Miss, we have hundreds of dishes on our menu. Won’t it be too much to order one of each?”
Robin nodded in agreement. “It would be a bit excessive. Let’s start with twenty dishes-ten meat and ten vegetables. And make sure the hot pot base has a strong flavor. Also, grab a few bottles of drinks for us.” Vera pouted. “With such good food, why no alcohol?
“You can drink a little if you want,” Robin replied, “but keep it limited! I don’t want to end up carrying a drunk home.”
As the waiter left, Vera grinned mischievously. “So, no drinking because you want a clear head for something, hmm?”
Snap! A plastic toy bullet suddenly flew toward Vera’s eye. Robin’s hand darted up, catching it mid-air.
He looked over to see a ten-year-old boy holding a toy gun, ready to shoot again, while his parents praised him non-stop.
Vera stood up and addressed them politely. “Hi, excuse me. You’re his parents, right? With so many people here, a toy gun like that could hurt someone.”
Vera’s words were interrupted as the boy’s mother immediately reacted defensively.
“What do you mean by that? It’s just a toy gun, and the bullets are only made of plastic pellets. What’s the big deal? You’re being overly sensitive!”
Vera froze, not expecting such a reaction. “I was just giving you a heads-up for your own good. You don’t need to be rude.”
The boy’s father frowned and jabbed a finger at her, “What are you gonna do about it? You’ll regret it if you say another word about my kid.” Robin glanced at the family, then calmly pulled Vera back to their table.
“Don’t pull me! They’re so … ” Vera was frustrated, shocked that the parents were so unreasonable, and Robin just pulled her away.
“Forget it,” Robin said, motioning for her to relax. “We’re here to eat. It’s not worth getting upset over people like that. Our food’s almost here.”
Vera rolled her eyes at Robin and reluctantly sat down, muttering, “I was just trying to give them some friendly advice about their child. What if he ends up hurting someone with a bad temper? The kid could be in real trouble.” Robin chuckled, “His parents don’t seem to mind. Why should you?”
After a moment, she took a deep breath and conceded he was probably right. Around them, other diners shook their heads at Robin.
“This guy has no backbone. Letting his girlfriend get treated like that?”
“Yeah, what a pushover!”
“Not really. You saw how unreasonable that family was. He’s probably just avoiding a scene.”
Meanwhile, seeing Robin and Vera back down, the boy’s parents continued praising their son. “Our baby is amazing!” Clap! Clap! Clap!
Under his parents’ encouragement, the boy kept running around the restaurant with a toy gun in hand, creating chaos.
The security guard at the hot pot restaurant saw the boy running around and hurried over to his parents, advising, “Please keep an eye on your child. The hot pot broth is very hot; it could cause serious burns if he runs into it.”
Immediately, the boy’s mother became furious. “Isn’t this hot pot restaurant supposed to be a combination of leisure and dining? My little angel is so well-behaved; what could possibly happen? If you keep talking nonsense, I will file a complaint against you!”
The boy’s father quickly joined in, defending his wife and berating the security guard as well.
The guard, reluctant to argue further, backed down to avoid losing his job.
Just as he finished speaking, a server carrying a steaming pot of broth walked by.
The boy was having a blast, dashing around the crowded aisles of the hot pot restaurant.
He ended up crashing right into the server, who was balancing the hot broth.
The server was taken aback.
Given the angle and position, that scalding pot of broth would surely drench the boy from head to toe.
With such hot broth, the child would either end up with severe burns or worse.
In a panic, the server quickly turned, spilling the pot of boiling broth onto her foot.
Thankfully, it only scalded half of her foot.
She ended up sitting on the floor in shock.
Seeing this, the boy deliberately started to cry loudly.
His mother rushed over, drawn by the sound of her child’s wails.
Completely ignoring the injured server, she immediately checked if her son was hurt.
Once satisfied he wasn’t hurt, she pointed at the waitress furiously. “How could someone as incompetent as you be working here? You scared my poor baby! Can’t even carry a pot without spilling it-useless! If he’d been burned, you’d be paying for it!”
The server was a college student working part-time to pay for her tuition.
She never expected the boy’s mother to refuse to apologize for her child’s unruly behavior and lash out at her.
Feeling wronged, she started to tear up, mumbling, “Your kid is running all over the hot pot restaurant; he bumped into me, and now my foot is burned.”
Hearing her words, the boy’s father
immediately grabbed her by the collar. “You better watch your mouth about my son! Do you want me to knock you out? People like you looking so pathetic and lacking any manners, shouldn’t even be working here! Did you get burned on your foot? It’s your own fault!”
At that moment, the restaurant manager rushed over and helped the waitress up. “Vivian, go to the back; I’ll arrange for someone to take you to the hospital.” Apologizing to the boy’s parents, the manager managed to calm the situation. However, the parents continued muttering insults as they returned to their table. “This place is awful! Next time, we’re eating somewhere else! Can you believe the low standards of their staff?” The boy’s father and mother grumbled. Watching all this, Vera was speechless. “Robin, did you see that? How could they act like this? Don’t they realize they’re only harming their own child in the long run?” Robin, unfazed, took a bite of food. “They’ll get what’s coming sooner than later. People like this have never faced the consequences.”
“Sooner than later?” Vera glanced around, puzzled by Robin’s comment, then noticed three familiar faces at the entrance.
Bowing her head slightly, she whispered, “Robin, those three from the office this morning-they’re here.”
The three, two men and a woman, were none other than Talia Cross, Tobias Marsh, and Dustin Pierce from Draconia Security Bureau Seven’s Investigation Division. Robin nodded. “Right on time.”
“What do you mean?” Vera asked, watching him closely. “Are you okay? You’re acting strange today.”
Robin ignored her.
He understood that Talia had tracked him here, likely in connection with the assassin from the dark world.
At that moment, a man at table 13 caught Robin’s attention.
The man was of average build, with a thin face, and wearing wide-rimmed glasses.
Sitting across from him was a girl, around 17 or 18, who looked pure and quiet.
Every now and then, the man would glance at the young girl, his eyes shimmering with a strange light.
It wasn’t sleazy or perverse but a mix of longing and sadness.
The girl noticed his gaze and smiled back at him.
A warm smile spread across the man’s cold, handsome face.
This harmonious and warm scene was abruptly shattered by a ball of dirty tissues.
Behind the girl sat the family of that boy with the toy gun.
After eating for a bit, the boy started causing trouble.
He spit on the napkins from their table, smeared them with chili oil, and deliberately threw them at the girl. Each time the tissues landed on her pristine white dress, leaving red oil stains, he burst into delighted laughter. The girl was quite uncomfortable, but knowing the family was unreasonable, she chose not to confront them. She shifted her position slightly.
But the boy continued to wrap leftover bones and scraps from their dishes in the napkins, tossing them at her. One of those bundles even ended up in the girl’s hot pot.
Fuming, she glanced back at the boy, who was excitedly dancing around.
With a sigh, she shook her head in resignation, deciding to eat from the other half of the pot instead.
The man sitting across from her furrowed his brow slightly.
Seeing that the girl wasn’t saying anything, he let it go.
She thought the little boy would stop after a while.
However, to her surprise, the boy grew even bolder.
He stuffed more trash-cigarette butts, bones, and toothpicks-into the napkins and dumped them into her pot with a loud laugh.
The girl was trembling with anger but dared not speak up.
The man at table 13 suddenly exuded a menacing aura.
But when he saw the boy was under ten, he took a deep breath, stood up, and addressed his parents. “Excuse me, could you please keep an eye on your child? He’s being too naughty and throwing trash into that girl’s pot.”
Then, gesturing to the waiter, he added, “Please bring the child a plate of snacks. I’ll treat him.”
As he said this, the boy’s father
glanced at the thin man wearing glasses and said, “What’s the big
deal? It’s just a dirty pot! I’ll pay for My kid’s still just a child; you’re all adults, so why are you being so petty?”
it!
“Waiter, replace her pot; it’s on me! What’s wrong with people these days? Can’t even tolerate a child? Such poor manners!”
The girl in the white dress felt embarrassed as she noticed everyone in the restaurant staring in her direction.
Gathering her belongings quickly, she stood up and declared, “Never mind, I’m full. No need to change anything.” She then politely nodded at the man in the thick glasses, saying, “Thank you!”
The man with the thick glasses realized that the girl was clearly upset by the unreasonable behavior of the boy’s family. Anger flickered in his eyes as he coldly remarked, “Control your son!”
Immediately, the boy’s father erupted, “What’s it to you whether I control my son or not? You have no right to lecture me!”
The man merely shook his head with a disdainful smile.
The girl, feeling the tension rise, quickly grabbed his arm. She urged, “Mister, let it go. I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me. I really am finished eating.” Taking a deep breath, the man smiled indifferently. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Ignoring the rudeness of the boy’s father, he returned to his seat.
Everyone thought the impending conflict had been diffused, but just as the girl was about to leave the table, the boy, seeing his father arguing with her, suddenly dashed over. In a fit of rage, he flipped the steaming pot of hot broth right onto her.
The boiling liquid splashed across the girl’s arms and legs.
Vera, who was nearby, let out a shrill scream.
The boy’s ferocity equally stunned Robin.
How could a ten-year-old child be so cruel?
The scalding broth burned the girl, causing severe injuries.
The man in thick glasses hurried to her side, cradling her as she started to faint.
He swiftly assessed her injuries and hurried her towards the faucet.
The scene unfolded so rapidly that no one had time to react.
Vera stood up and shouted, “Your child has burned her! Someone call for an ambulance!
She exclaimed, “That boy is absolutely despicable!”
Seeing the chaos unfold, the father did not want to linger any longer; he scooped up his son and headed for the exit.
“Stop!” Vera blocked their path.
The mother swung her hand toward Vera, but Robin grabbed her wrist. “Nobody leaves! This matter isn’t settled yet; how could you leave?”
“Mind your own business! Get out of the way!” The father shouted, trying to push Robin aside.
Unbeknownst to everyone, the man in thick glasses had approached the father silently.
Without uttering a word, he snatched the boy away from his arm.
Before the parents could react, he shoved the boy’s head into the boiling broth at their table.
The father stood frozen in shock as the scene unfolded.
By the time he regained his senses, he rushed over to save his son.
Before he could approach them, the man with the thick glasses caught him off guard by swiftly stabbing a fork into his throat.
At that moment, the father realized that this seemingly weak man was a ruthless figure.
It was too late for him to realize this.
Not only was his son being cooked in the boiling broth, but he himself was now on the ground, bleeding out from a fatal injury. The mother stood frozen in horror.
Her son had always been rude, and no one had ever dared to stand up to him.
How could this happen today?
Her husband was dead at her feet, and her son’s life hung in the balance!
Yet the man in thick glasses had no intention of sparing her.
He dragged the lifeless boy before her, walked coldly up to the woman, and stabbed a fork into her throat.
With that, he tossed the boy’s body aside and scooped up the injured girl, rushing toward the exit.
In an instant, chaos erupted in Hot Pot Haven.
Meanwhile, Talia and her companions, who had been watching from the entrance, realized something was terribly wrong.
They immediately locked their sights on the man with the thick glasses.
Robin recognized him from a photo sent via the Dark Web.
The World of Darkness, code-named Viper, sent this man as an assassin.
Originally from Kofror, his real name was Jabez Orlov.
He appeared frail, but his methods were merciless.
Rumor had it that he was once a doctor.
After an heir of a wealthy Kofror family brutally murdered his sister, he abandoned his medical career and spent five years honing his skills.
He single-handedly wiped out the tycoon’s entire family, thus embarking on the path of an assassin.
Earlier, Viper had been kind to the
girl at Table 13, perhaps because she reminded him of his own sister with her gentle demeanor and quiet beauty.
Otherwise, he would never have sacrificed his mission for such an incident.
The World of Darkness would issue him a death warrant for his unprofessional error, guaranteeing an endless pursuit.
Talia stepped in front of Jabez.
She warned, “Stop right there!”
Jabez nodded politely and pointed at the girl in his arms.
In an instant, he darted to the left.
Talia and her colleagues immediately pursued him.
Jabez fired a shot at the ceiling, causing all the patrons to duck for cover.
As Talia passed Robin, he caught her arm.
“You” Talia pointed her gun at Robin and roared.
“Let me go! Or I’ll have you executed for obstructing my duties!”
Ignoring her, Robin pulled her into his embrace. He scooped her up and spinned her around in place.
Talia kicked and clawed, shouting, “Let me go!”
Suddenly, she saw a flash of silver hurtling toward her.
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Three silver-throwing daggers whizzed past and narrowly missed her eyes.
Talia could almost feel the chilling aura of death radiating from the blades.
Having worked in law enforcement for years, she recognized the lethality of those daggers; they had taken many lives, leaving behind pools of blood.
It had seen blood, which explained its chilling aura.
Robin’s hands firmly grasped all three daggers at that moment.
Talia stared at him and was momentarily entranced by his effortless grace.
In the next instant, Robin tossed the daggers with the precision of a magician.
the
set
Two daggers sliced through the chaotic air, maneuvering around stone columns and piercing the side of a cloaked man on the eastern side of Hot Pot Haven.
“Chief Cross, watch your right!” Dustin yelled.
Talia noticed a tall Rashea man raising a gun, preparing to shoot at her and Robin.
Panic surged within her, but it was too late to dodge.
The Rashea man pulled the trigger, sending a bullet racing toward them at unimaginable speed.
“Bang!” The sound of the gunshot echoed throughout the restaurant, followed by a wave of terrified screams.
Everyone ducked low, fearing the bullet would strike them.
Vera stood frozen in disbelief, clearly shocked by the unfolding chaos.
Gasping for air, she shouted, “Robin!”
“Quick, the gun’s under my arm!”
In a moment of panic, Talia shouted at Robin, signaling him to pull out her pistol from under her left armpit to retaliate.
“Do it now!” She urged as Robin was hesitating.
Robin glanced toward Vera as he reached into Talia’s chest area on the left.
After searching for a while, he still couldn’t find the gun.
Instead, he felt he grabbed something that was distinctly wrong.
Talia’s attention was on the assassin to her left. She suddenly felt a strange sensation in her body. She looked down to find Robin’s hand gripping her tits. “Hey! You jerk!”
“Ah!”
She blushed with embarrassment and fiercely kicked Robin.
“D*mn it!”
Robin quickly blocked Talia’s attack, holding her in his arms while leaning slightly to dodge a bullet that whizzed past.
“What’s wrong with you, woman? Why are you attacking me? Where’s your gun?”
Talia is desperately wiggling her body. The redness of her cheeks had spread all the way to her neck. She chided, “You pervert! Let go of me!” “How am I a pervert? You’re the one …”
Only then did Robin realize he had grabbed the wrong thing.
“Ughhh! You *sshole!”
Talia resembled a lioness in heat, shaking her head and biting down hard on Robin’s arm.
“Are you a puppy now?” Robin released her and pushed her away.
A bullet from the assassin on the left zoomed past Talia’s eyes.
With a fierce glare at Robin, Talia drew her gun from her armpit and fired a barrage of bullets at the attacker.
The patrons in Hot Pot Haven had fled in terror.
As she shot, Talia moved forward rapidly. Her whole body exuded a deadly aura.
After a flurry of fierce exchanges, she reached the imposing assassin in a flash.
Talia unexpectedly engaged the assassin in close combat, taking him by surprise.
Robin shook his head as he watched Talia’s agile figure.
Though her skills were fierce and powerful, honed to perfection within the ranks of the military, her combat techniques were truly exceptional. Her fighting abilities could only be described as top-tier.
The assassin she faced was no ordinary warrior.
He was a master of hardening techniques.
After several exchanges, Talia found herself on the defensive.
Meanwhile, a surge of murderous intent erupted around the restaurant.
Robin sensed that several hostile presences were quickly approaching Vera.
Could it be that these assassins weren’t after him, but Vera?
He quickly moved to Vera’s side and took her hand.
In her panic, Vera relaxed slightly at this gesture.
She looked at Robin and smiled, “Aren’t you naughty? Is it comfortable to grab her … you know?”
“You mean her tits?” Robin shrugged and admitted, “Very!”
Bang! Bang!
Two low gunshots echoed through the restaurant, shaking the very walls.
Startled were several assassins who lurked at the corners. One of them shouted, “Run!”
Talia sprinted after them with the speed of an arrow.
Robin led Vera out of Hot Pot Haven.
He glanced back at the scene outside with a light laugh; the team was still lacking in many ways.
As he passed by Tobias and Dustin, they shot him an annoyed look before quickly joining the fray.
Facing the Rashea assassin alongside Talia, they found themselves at a disadvantage.
The three of them were forced to retreat, firing their weapons as they did.
The assassin standing opposite them was tall and muscular, yet incredibly agile.
As he faced the gunfire from Talia
and her companions, he darted around with remarkable
skillfully dodging their bith
pinpoint accuracy.
He was clearly a mid-level practitioner of ancient martial arts.
While he couldn’t physically block bullets with his cultivation level, he could anticipate their paths with precision.
This skill allowed him to predict the bullets’ fatal trajectories at the moment the trigger was pulled.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Talia and her companions continued their intense firing.
Yet the Rashea assassin remained elusive, narrowly avoiding the barrage of bullets.
Talia noticed something strange about his movements.
Feigning a shot, she deliberately delayed her aim compared to her colleagues, firing a split second later.
This shot was fierce and aimed straight at the assassin’s forehead.
The fleeing assassin suddenly realized the danger.
If he hadn’t dodged just in time, half his face would have been blown away.
He halted abruptly, his eyes flickering with the remnants of fear.
Evidently, he had personally experienced Talia’s sharpshooting skills firsthand.
Vera gripped Robin’s arm and gasped.
“Ms. Silva, quickly come over here!”
Talia shot a glare at Robin, then shouted at Vera.
In that instant, the Rashea assassin noticed Vera and Robin.
“Oh?” His eyes lit up.
Robin felt a flicker of delight in the assassin’s eyes upon seeing Vera, while the assassin seemed unfazed by him.
These assassins were not part of Jabez’s crew; their real target was Vera!
What a twist of fate!
Robin glanced at the distant Jabez and the two ghostly figures hiding among the crowd.
They were the assassins of the Dark Night Alliance, recently assigned a mission by the Phoenix Vanguard.
But the ones engaging with Talia had an entirely different agenda.
They were here to kill Vera.
Who would attempt to get rid of Vera?
When Talia called out for Vera, she didn’t move closer.
Instead, she stayed tightly by Robin’s side, knowing she was safest there.
“They’re here to kill you!” Robin warned.
“What? Who are they? Why would they want to kill me? Vera asked, bewildered and terrified.
“With me here, no one dares touch you!” Robin reassured her, sensing her fear.
Vera was so touched she nearly cried.
When did this bad guy become so gentle?
The assassin realized Talia was out of ammo and quickly moved toward Vera.
He exploded into action, his internal
erupting as he powered off the hard marble floor and creating
cracks in his wake.
Like a cannonball, he launched himself at Vera.
In midair, he suddenly drew a sharp dagger, its blade gleaming with deadly intent, aiming straight for Vera’s neck!
“Get down!”
Talia couldn’t believe this assassin
had the audacity to ignore the threat
posed by her gun, instead continuing to charge towards Vera, sway his
weapon, and prepare to take her life.
She raised her weapon to fire, desperate to stop him midair.
But to her dismay, she found her gun empty!
IMS
Despair washed over her as she looked at Robin, and Vera was caught in the deadly flash of the blade.
Talia knew that in that very moment something terrible was about to happen.
“Urghh!”
In that split second, Talia let out a desperate scream.
Like a fierce leopard, she swiftly drew her military dagger and raised it to block the assassin’s incoming dagger, bracing for one last struggle.
A thunderous clang rang out as the two blades collided, sending sparks flying.
However, it was clear that Talia’s strength was no match for the burly assassin before her.
The dagger slipped from her grasp and clattered to the ground.
A wave of panic gripped Talia. “F*ck! I’m done for!”
In that instant, she caught sight of more cold, lethal auras closing in from all sides both to her left and right, and even behind her.
The assassins who had been lurking nearby were now charging at Vera and Robin.
The advancing killers quickly knocked down Tobias and Dustin when they attempted to intervene.
That’s it! It’s over!
Despair washed over Talia as she glanced desperately toward Vera.
She had never imagined that during this mission in Harmonfield, not only would she fail to apprehend the assassins, but she might also lose her own life here. The thought that she would have to watch the target be murdered right before her eyes was unbearable!
Such humiliation had never plagued her throughout her years in this profession.
No matter how unwilling she was, there was nothing she could do.
In that moment, the assassin’s blade was dangerously close to her neck.
Just a fraction of a second, and it would be all over!
Just as Talia braced for her final moments, a loud crash echoed through the air.
What unfolded before her was astonishing.
Robin had wrapped his arms around Vera.
With a casual wave of his hand, he sent the muscular Rashea assassin hurtling backward, as if he had collided with a truck.
“Thud!” He crashed into a tree across from a restaurant, falling to the ground with a thump.
His massive body lay twitching, every bone shattered within.
The assassin lay on the ground, twitching like a pile of mush.
Was this some kind of illusion?
The other four assassins reacted. The two at the front were thrown back as if they had hit a steel wall, howling in pain.
The remaining two came to an abrupt halt, their eyes locked onto Robin in shock.
Grizz, a Rashea assassin, teamed up with them.
He was reputed to be the strongest and most ruthless member of their organization.
Yet Grizz couldn’t withstand a light blow from Robin.
Could this seemingly ordinary young man be a hidden combat expert?
After a brief moment of horror, the two assassins took a step closer and asked, “Brother, which path do you walk?
“We are assassins from Hellclaw. You’ve ruined our mission; do you not fear Hellclaw’s retribution?
“Hellsclaw? What’s that?” With a smirk, Robin patted the startled Vera in his arms.
His gaze drifted toward two shadowy figures lurking in the crowd.
He felt their faint, concealed presences and was in the middle of gathering all of their strength.
Those two were preparing to launch a lethal strike at any moment.
When Robin first entered the restaurant, he had discovered a few hidden assassins.
At the time, he thought they were members of the Dark Night Alliance benefiting from the Phoenix Vanguard’s bounty.
Now, it seemed purely coincidental.
From the tone of these two assassins, it was clear that Hellclaw’s target wasn’t him, but Vera!
The ones he needed to worry about were Jabez and those two lurking in the crowd.
After a moment of stunned silence, Talia quickly reloaded her handgun and aimed it at the assassins.
Robin was unfamiliar with the style of this small assassination group.
However, when he spotted Talia’s cautious demeanor, he casually asked, “Is Hellclaw that powerful?” “Hellsclaw is a notoriously evil assassination organization,” Talia replied.
They thrive on receiving
commissions to carry out killings for their employers. Over the past two years, their assassins have been committing crimes domestically. To date, they have been responsible for over one hundred murders,
employing extremely brutal
methods.
“Last year, I handled a family massacre case that was also committed by Hellclaw’s assassins. The main culprit was Grizz!
“I’ve searched for him for over a year, only to find him here!”
Robin looked up at the passionate and indignant Talia.
He could sense just how much hatred she held for Hellclaw.
However, judging by the combat skills they had displayed, these assassins were warriors of the Ancient Martial Realm.
While their skills were nothing impressive within that realm.
Talia, as a security officer, was certainly no match for them.
“Chief Cross, since we’ve met today, I’ll pass along a message from our boss,” one of the assassins said.
“You’ve been causing us trouble for years, and it’s getting tiresome! If you don’t stop, the next targets for our full-scale extermination will be you and your family! Or we might sell you off for a good price! Hahaha!”
A bald, tanned-skin assassin sneered, leering at Talia’s chest.
Instantly, Talia felt a chill run down her spine, as if a venomous snake was staring at her. Reflexively, she raised her gun and fired twice.
Yet, the two assassins merely tilted their heads slightly, easily dodging the bullets.
As the assassins prepared to counterattack, Robin stepped forward and pulled Talia to his side.
“Let go of me!”
Talia struggled fiercely, but she couldn’t break free.
The mere thought of the way in which this individual had previously grasped her breast caused her to feel a surge of rage.
Ignoring Talia’s attempts to break away, Robin held her tightly and looked at the two assassins with indifference.
“Who hired you to assassinate Vera? Answer me, and I’ll make your deaths less torment.”
“Brother, we know you’re a combat expert.” One of the assassins said it coldly.
“But I want to remind you, Hellclaw is one of the few top assassin organizations in the country. If you insist on opposing us…
“Are you threatening me?” Robin stomped his foot on the ground.
The marble floor beneath him erupted, a fissure opening up and creeping toward the assassin who had spoken.
“Pfft!”
The assassin who spoke turned pale, blood spurting from his mouth as he collapsed on the ground.
“Y-You are…”
It was only at that moment, as he lay dying, that he realized what kind of terrifying being he had encountered.
The other assassin, witnessing this bizarre scene, turned white as a sheet, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
With a thud, he dropped to his knees,
burying his head deep into the grass,
trembling so violently that he
couldn’t even muster the words to beg for mercy.
Having navigated the assassin world for so many years, he had certainly heard of the legendary Divine Drakebane.
There was only one person in the world capable of killing without a trace using such means a mythical figure who seemed to appear and vanish at a whim.
He must be Divine Drakebane!
Encountering such a formidable figure left them with only one fate-a dead end.
“Lord Drakebane, the employer is Mr. Jamie, heir of the Lynches!
“Please, Lord Drakebane, grant me a quick death!”
The Hellclaw assassin knew all too well the truth of his situation. Escaping alive in the presence of someone like Robin, the terrifying Divine Drakebane, was utterly impossible. Years ago, this man had reduced the Dark Lord, the Phoenix Vanguard, and the Drumskulls-all notorious gang factions-to mere ants.
The former Dark Lord, Caym, had reached the pinnacle of the Ancient Martial Realm with millions of followers worldwide.
However, he ultimately met a gruesome end on top of a church.
Legend had it that the one who ended this top-tier figure in the Ancient Martial Realm was none other than Divine Drakebane with a single blow.
Even a figure as legendary as the former Dark Lord fell to a single strike from Robin.
What chance did an insignificant Hellclaw assassin like him stand?
If he didn’t die from torture, that would already be the best outcome he could hope for.
At this moment, all he wished for was a quick death at the hands of the Divine Drakebane. “What?!”
The scene unfolded before Talia was beyond her comprehension.
“How can a vicious Hellclaw’s assassin show such fear in the presence of Robin?
“Is this some kind of illusion?”
As an elite member of Draconia’s Investigation Division 7, Talia found it impossible to accept what she was witnessing.
The Hellclaw assassination organization had risen quickly in less than a decade, yet this notorious group had already caused countless bloodbaths across Draconia.
Most of its members were hardened criminals who had escaped from the prisons of Draconia and Southeast Aurientia.
Once they joined Hellclaw, they underwent brutal training to become assassins, reaching a level of skill that allowed them to participate in the organization’s missions. As a result, each member was a formidable fighter.
Ordinary police officers and even special forces struggled to survive against Hellclaw assassins.
Talia had once trained in special forces.
Not only was she skilled in combat, but her marksmanship was also sharp.
Although she couldn’t match the elites of Draconia’s War Wolf Special Forces, she was still considered top-tier among regular officers.
Despite her prowess, she could barely hold her own against an average Hellclaw assassin.
Encountering someone like Grizz would likely leave her struggling to escape.
Yet here was Robin, who had not only severely injured Grizz but had also killed three Hellclaw assassins.
Now, he had rendered the assassin before her so terrified that he knelt, trembling as if he had seen a devil. Who exactly was Robin?
What made him so fearsome that even the Hellclaw killers were terrified?
Even more puzzlingly, Robin had a conflict with the Brookhaven Martial Alliance at the Harmonfield Hotel just a few days ago.
The next day, the Alliance mysteriously vanished.
Rumor had it that it was all the work of Robin alone.
But Talia couldn’t believe it.
No matter how formidable one person was, they couldn’t stand against the most powerful alliance in Draconia, let alone destroy it. Talia secretly scanned Robin’s handsome face, feeling a sudden wave of disdain.
To label this guy a rogue seemed more fitting.
If anyone called him a combat expert, she would never believe it-especially after his earlier lewd behavior of groping her.
It was clear enough that this guy was up to no good.
At best, he was a slightly more skilled rogue.
However, she was puzzled as to why this Hellclaw assassin was so afraid.
Vera was equally astonished.
Having been by Robin’s side through many adventures, she recognized his impressive skills.
Talia had once said that the Hellclaw was a group of ruthless killers.
Could it be that these notorious assassins feared Robin?
Vera doesn’t get it.
Yet she didn’t want to overthink it.
Being with such a formidable man brought her joy, and every day was rich and colorful.
But when she recalled that her cousin had hired these people to assassinate her, her anger flared! That b*stard is malicious!
After failing in Harmonfield, he spent a fortune and attempted to get rid of me.
Since mom severed ties with the Lynches, I had nothing to do with them or with Jamie.
When Jamie saw the Silva Group thriving, he wanted to take advantage of it.
Because of this, he seeks to take my life?
Hmph! Jamie, you’re dreaming!
The Silva Group is my mother’s life work and a gift from Robin.
No one will take it from me!
Robin sensed Vera’s inner turmoil and held her hand tightly.
He kicked a dagger on the ground.
The dagger glinted coldly as it plunged into the neck of the Hellclaw assassin.
“W-why did you kill him?!” Talia shouted as she put her gun into its holster, her voice full of disbelief.
Robin cast a quick glance at Talia,
whose shirt was on the verge of
burstin
He pursed his lips and said, “Why should I keep him around?”
Before Talia could unleash another tirade, a wave of murderous intent suddenly erupted from the crowd,
shaking the onlookers to their core.
A shadow shot out from the darkness of the crowd, a dagger slicing through the air, and shot toward Talia and Robin.
This hidden expert took advantage of Talia and Robin’s distraction to launch a surprise attack.
Caught off guard, Talia barely had time to react.
“Watch out!” Tobias and Dustin, both injured, yelled in unison.
Talia saw the movement from the corner of her eye and instinctively wanted to counter.
However, the assassin was too fast; she didn’t even have a chance to draw her weapon. “Perfect timing! I was worried you wouldn’t dare to come!”
Robin chuckled, pulling Talia aside.
He reached under her left armpit and drew her gun, placing it in her hands.
Talia trembled in shock. She reflexingly turned around and fired at the assassin. The assassin dodged with ease.
He swayed his body as bullets whizzed past his ears, not even grazing him.
Frustrated, Talia pulled the trigger until her magazine was empty, but nothing hit.
The assassin approached Robin and Talia, grinning smugly at them.
Robin swiftly snatched a dagger from Talia’s waist and drove it into the assassin’s throat.
“Spurt!” Blood erupted from the wound!
The strike was a flash of movement, so quick that neither Talia nor the assassin had time to react.
When a distant assassin in the crowd witnessed this, he lost all desire to attack.
His body curled in an odd manner, bending low as if coiling like a spring.
Then he shot out into the darkness of the night, disappearing without a trace.
Robin squinted as he recognized the fleeing figure.
This was a Skeola assassin-extremely agile, capable of running at speeds twice that of the fastest human.
However, now that this person had revealed themselves, there was no escaping Robin’s grasp.
Robin let out a playful smile for the still-shocked Talia. He led Vera toward the parking lot.
“Hey! Stop right there!” Talia rushed in front of Robin, commanding him to halt.
“I still have questions for you. Come back to the station with me to cooperate with our investigation.”
Robin chuckled lightly, sidestepping Talia.
“I just helped you out. Instead of
me, you want me to
vel
+ bxication? Get real!”
the station for your investigation? Get real!”
As he passed her, he sneaked a glance at her ample chest and grinned, “Nice feel!”
“Urgh! You j*rk!” Talia covered her chest, her face flushing red.
She shouted at the retreating Robin, “You b*stard! Just wait, I won’t let you off so easily!”
