As the words "Eight Fingers" appeared!
The air fell briefly silent.
"I told you already, no more nonsense." The black-robed man blocking the path behind him, who had not spoken until now, suddenly said in a low voice.
"Heh heh, I didn't say anything." The male Thief gripped his dagger in reverse, his gaze cold and sinister.
Hearing their brief exchange,
Tang Zheng knew he had guessed correctly. Their real target was not his money, but him.
The so-called Eight Fingers was an underground organization with eight criminal divisions. Its influence spread across nearly the entire Re-Estize Kingdom.
There were even faint traces of Kingdom nobles behind it!
The Re-Estize Kingdom did not prohibit the slave trade, which had given rise to an entire criminal network involving child abductions, slave trafficking, brothels, bribery, and more.
Tang Zheng remembered that in another year or two, the Golden Princess Renner would propose an edict banning the slave trade, dealing Eight Fingers a tremendous blow.
In truth,
this was also one of the Golden Princess Renner's schemes, calculated to the utmost.
Among the many edicts proposed by the Golden Princess Renner, this was one of the few that had passed. For an edict tied to such extensive chains of profit to pass at all was inherently unbelievable.
A princess who remained deep within the palace and had never left the royal court, with neither followers nor subordinates, had somehow gained the support of most of the populace through an almost bizarre method.
Then, using the benefits and profits created after the edict passed, she indirectly influenced the Baharuth Empire and wrestled with the Blood Emperor. It was no wonder she was called a [monster].
At that moment!
The dangerous situation made Tang Zheng's body tense.
While gripping his shortsword in his left hand, he pulled the Magic Scroll for the First-Tier spell "Magic Arrow," which he had just bought, from his Item Box with his right hand.
"You really are bold. This place isn't far from the center of the plaza or the Adventurer's Guild. Aren't you afraid that if I shout, none of you will be able to escape?"
Tang Zheng deliberately raised his voice, hoping to draw the attention of anyone nearby.
"You can shout even louder."
"But let me remind you, no matter how loudly you yell, it will be useless. No one will hear what happens here."
A low voice came from behind him.
Tang Zheng's heart tightened. He turned his head and looked back, only to see the other man holding a small wand-like baton about ten centimeters long.
At almost the same instant!
Information appeared on the Attribute Panel in Tang Zheng's vision.
"Skill discovered: 'Silence.' Requirement: Basic Magic Caster-class occupation, level 8–14." "Current requirements not met..."
The moment he saw that information, Tang Zheng knew what the black-robed man behind him was holding.
A Short Staff!
It was a type of magic item, which could be understood as an enhanced version of a Magic Scroll.
If a Magic Scroll was an item infused with a one-time-use spell, then a Short Staff was an item infused with the same spell multiple times.
In the game YGGDRASIL, Short Staffs were magic items with better value for money than Magic Scrolls. Their only drawback was their class restrictions.
For example, a Short Staff infused with the spell Holy Light could only be used by Divine System Magic Casters, while a Short Staff infused with the spell Fireball could only be used by Arcane System Magic Casters.
Magic Scrolls did not have that restriction.
Of course, some Advanced Tier Short Staffs could ignore that restriction as well.
But in the New World,
Short Staffs cost far more than Magic Scrolls, since they already counted as magic items.
After confirming that the black-robed man was using a Short Staff, Tang Zheng was certain that he was an Arcane System Magic Caster.
One Thief and one Magic Caster!
Who he should deal with first was obvious.
"You should just give up resisting, brat!"
The masked Thief held his dagger in reverse. With a shift of his feet, he charged swiftly toward Tang Zheng.
"Execution!"
In an instant!
Not only did the Thief accelerate, but his entire figure even became somewhat blurry.
Seeing that,
Tang Zheng knew he could only gamble!
Without any hesitation or regret,
Tang Zheng immediately hurled the Magic Scroll of "Magic Arrow" at the Thief.
In an instant, the Magic Scroll flashed with light.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three attribute-less magical arrows condensed in the air and shot rapidly toward the Thief.
At the same time, information appeared on the Attribute Panel.
"Skill discovered: 'Magic Arrow.' Requirement: Basic Magic Caster-class occupation, level 1–7. Current requirements not met..." "'Genius' class activated. Basic Class requirements met. Consume 1 Skill Point to learn?"
After releasing the Magic Scroll, Tang Zheng did not look at the result at all. Instead, he quickly turned and charged at the Magic Caster behind him.
As he moved, Tang Zheng saw the information on the Attribute Panel and knew he had gambled correctly. He immediately agreed in his heart.
Skill: Magic Arrow (First-Tier) Cost: 5 MP Description: Cast magic to create three attribute-less arrows that attack the enemy. For every additional point of magic power consumed, one more arrow can be created, up to a maximum of 10!
"Kid, you picked the wrong opponent."
Seeing Tang Zheng turn and charge toward him, the black-robed Magic Caster let out a mocking laugh.
"Acid—"
"Magic Arrow!"
Tang Zheng was faster. Before the black-robed Magic Caster could finish speaking, he had already activated the Magic Arrow he had just learned.
How was this possible?
A stunned expression appeared on the black-robed Magic Caster's face beneath his hood.
Wasn't the other party a Divine System Magic Caster?
Could he also use Arcane System magic?
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three magical arrows had already shot before him.
The black-robed Magic Caster had no time to think and swiftly changed his spell. "Shield Wall!"
Whoosh!
A transparent barrier, invisible to the naked eye, appeared before him.
Bang!!!
The three arrows struck the barrier in unison, and the magical power of both sides canceled each other out and dissipated.
"You've already angered me, you little—"
Fury appeared on the black-robed Magic Caster's face. He extended a Magic Staff from beneath his robes, preparing to cast another spell.
But in the next instant,
the black-robed Magic Caster's face turned pale, because Tang Zheng had already rushed in front of him.
How was he so fast?!
As a Magic Caster, he naturally understood that he had to maintain distance from his opponent under all circumstances.
There had been at least fifteen meters between them. A Magic Caster's physique could not possibly run that fast, unless his opponent was not merely a Magic Caster...
The moment that thought surfaced in his mind!
Tang Zheng's shortsword came slashing down. "Quick Slash!"
A cold glint flashed through the air.
The blade of the shortsword slashed heavily toward the black-robed Magic Caster's neck.
But!
At the instant of contact,
a white light emerged from the black-robed Magic Caster's body.
The blade struck the white light with a dull thud and was successfully blocked!
However, the white light immediately dimmed considerably.
This was...
"A magic item!"
Tang Zheng's expression changed slightly.
"Didn't expect that, did you?" The face beneath the hood was revealed. He was younger than Tang Zheng had imagined, appearing to be only around twenty.
However, before the black-robed Magic Caster could rejoice!
Tang Zheng's gaze turned fierce. He gripped the sword hilt in reverse and forced it downward. The white light blocking the shortsword flickered slightly before rapidly dissipating!
Splurt!
The sword tip slashed heavily across the black-robed Magic Caster's throat. A large amount of blood gushed out, splattering Tang Zheng all over.
"Experience gained: 350"
"Idiot!" Tang Zheng said.
Knowing that he had a defensive magic item, he had actually chosen not to continue casting magic, just so he could watch Tang Zheng's surprised expression.
Under Tang Zheng's attack, the defensive white light had dimmed. It clearly had a certain limit to its strength.
What's more!
As a Magic Caster, he had actually allowed an enemy to get so close to him.
It was clear that this black-robed man had very little experience in close combat.
"You bastard, I'll chop off all four of your limbs!"
A cold roar came from behind him.
The Thief who had just been blocked by the Magic Arrow released from the Magic Scroll had already charged over.
Tang Zheng had not heard any footsteps at all!
Was that an ability of the Thief class? Or a skill?
Tang Zheng hurriedly adjusted his stance and turned to face him. The dark purple glow on the other man's dagger had already reached his eyes.
Another magic weapon!
At the critical moment!
Clang!!
Tang Zheng instinctively swung his shortsword. The blade collided with the dagger, producing a crisp and piercing metallic clang.
A trace of astonishment appeared in the male Thief's eyes. After the collision, he retreated several steps and looked at Tang Zheng with uncertain surprise.
Crack!
Tang Zheng lowered his head and looked at his shortsword. A crack and a chip had appeared where it had collided.
But this time, the grave expression on Tang Zheng's face gradually faded.
"I've realized that you guys are weaker than me."
Tang Zheng wore a somewhat strange expression as he raised his head and looked at the male Thief opposite him.
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