Chapter 331: Chapter 331

「A certain courtyard.」

A few people gathered together.

"Boss, once we miss this chance, we might not get another. As long as we grab what we need, we’ll have a chance to survive the onslaught of the beast tide."

"What’s there to think about? Let’s make our move, shall we?"

The group stirred with incitement. The Advanced Wizard Apprentice seated in the center, his face changing, finally pulled out his Magic Wand.

A few people dressed as shop assistants huddled together.

"I’ve had enough of that old Weber’s arrogance! This is our chance, and we might even make a fortune!"

"Although Weber is an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, he’s already old. His reactions are nowhere near as quick as ours. As long as we get close, even a Knight might have the chance to kill him."

"I know where he hides the good stuff! Kill him and it’s ours! We might even have the chance to become Official Wizards!"

Driven by anger and desire, more and more people left their homes, surging towards the market. Even within the residential areas, battles had begun. Those who looted during the chaos and preyed on the weak were never lacking.

Of course, there were also the cautious and timid, who would only tightly shut their doors or flee towards the outskirts of the market.

The sky gradually darkened, while flames already soared!

「Bodor Restaurant. Second floor.」

A group from Black Swamp came to the window, looking at the crowd frantically rushing towards the market. Their faces went pale instantly, especially Hodgson, who swayed, his face utterly bloodless.

"Hurry and come with me back to the shop! We have Demonized Items worth tens of thousands of Magic Stones there!"

The others turned to look, their eyes filled with pity.

Carl landed on a rooftop, looked towards the market, and shook his head slightly.

Even if the Cape family lost control over Leipzig Market, the chaos shouldn’t have erupted so quickly. Clearly! Someone is fanning the flames from the shadows. The market is full of treasures. The pharmacy he was in alone stocked goods worth several thousand Magic Stones, yet this was insignificant compared to many other shops, where inventory could easily be worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of Magic Stones. Not just Knights or Wizard Apprentices, even those of Legendary rank and Official Wizards might not be able to resist the temptation.

In just a short moment, Carl had already seen several Official Wizards joining in. Thankfully, they were somewhat restrained, concealing their identities without being too ostentatious.

He had little interest in looting and plunder, especially when his power was insufficient; obviously, he needed to stay far away.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. I have a bright future ahead of me; I just need to practice safely, and I can advance to be a Wizard. There’s no need to go mad like the others.

He leaped from the ridge, preparing to find a secluded place to enter the Divine Domain Fragment and hide out for a few days. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝔫𝔢𝔱

He had only taken a few steps when a familiar corpse made him halt.

The guard from Sis Pharmacy... he seemed to be following the person selling flame flowers. And now he’s been killed so quickly? A single, clean sword thrust through the throat. Someone had efficiently killed a Great Knight from the front. That person is indeed no ordinary man, probably a Legendary Knight.

Investigating a mysterious person only to be killed by them was a common trope in adventure novels.

Touching his chin, Carl suddenly sprang back, two broadswords launching from behind him into his palms as he uttered a low shout, "Who’s there?"

"Such keen perception?"

The air rippled like the surface of calm water as a man holding a scimitar appeared. The man stared directly at Carl, a strange smile on his face. "It’s no wonder you’re a disciple from the Six Rings Tower. No wonder you could kill Fire Fox ’Mei’."

Fire Fox? That female assassin?

"You’re with the Hand of Shadow?" Carl narrowed his eyes, numerous clues instantly connecting in his mind. "Was it also you who struck against the Cape family? Exploiting the Monroe family’s hatred for the Cape family, you gradually eliminated the Cape family’s experts. In the end, you lured out the Second Circle Wizard Jefferson, critically injured him with poison, and took over the Cape family’s position in Leipzig Market?"

"No!" He gently shook his head. "You’re an assassin organization. Leipzig Market is useless to you. So, you’re also pawns in someone else’s hands?"

"Tsk tsk..." The man looked surprised. "You’re very smart! Your guess isn’t wrong; the Hand of Shadow did play a part. However, we are not the ones who want Leipzig Market. The Hand of Shadow only knows how to assassinate, not how to run a business."

"Then who is it?" Carl frowned. "Who is interested in Leipzig Market? The Andrew family? The Zachary family? Or someone else..."

The man chuckled. "Do you think I would tell you? You might as well guess why I, an assassin, didn’t strike right away."

Carl’s expression remained unchanged. "It’s simple. You aren’t confident in attacking. That Fire Fox ’Mei’ must have been strong within your organization. Since I could kill her, I can certainly kill you too. You’re waiting for your companions, only confident if you attack together."

"..." The man’s face changed.

Carl sneered and, not waiting for the other to speak, continued, "Why not guess why I know you have companions? Why haven’t your companions arrived yet? They actually arrived a long time ago; they’re just waiting for you to make a move. The killing intent from behind me is even more obvious than yours. They just want you to act first to wear down my strength, or... use me to kill you. Killing you, does it benefit them?"

"Shut up!" the man roared, his figure flickering and instantly vanishing.

Battle Skill—Void Steps!

A top-tier Battle Skill passed down by the Hand of Shadow, it allows one to turn ethereal in the instant the skill is executed. Even a Wizard’s senses would find it hard to detect.

Hmph! Carl snorted lightly, his knees bending slightly.

The Legendary Knight’s Battle Aura exploded thunderously, transforming into a terrifying repulsive force that impacted everything around him.

A figure was forcibly squeezed out.

The man’s eyes widened in horror. Legendary...

He had thought Carl was merely an Advanced Wizard Apprentice. He never expected the man before him to also be a Legendary Knight, while he himself was only a Great Knight. An Advanced Wizard Apprentice who was also a Legendary Knight could even contend with an Official Wizard in close combat.

Battle Skill—Holy Sanction!

The crossed swords descended from the heavens. The whistling Battle Aura made it hard to breathe, and the man’s heart filled with unwillingness. This strength... it couldn’t be weak even among Legendary Knights, could it?

"Don’t kill me, I am..."

A terrible power struck his body in an instant, and the man exploded into innumerable pieces from the inside out.

Carl sheathed his swords and looked back.

Heh... Scared already?

The two Shadow assassins hiding in the dark, prepared for a sneak attack, vanished the moment the man died. Clearly, they had decided not to proceed with their attack.

Carl had no intention of further troubling himself with the Hand of Shadow. He quickly looted the body and, after moving away from the market, found an uninhabited place. Confirming he wasn’t followed, he dashed into the Divine Domain Fragment. Best to hide for a while first.