Everything's a Mess, It's All a Mess!

One minute ago.

After fully adapting to Ebe's onslaught, Maud gradually found some breathing room.

At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at how ferocious this crazy woman Ebe was, and felt fortunate that his physical condition could keep up.

Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

With the defensive pressure significantly reduced, Maud could finally spare some energy to observe the current situation.

He noticed Wolf Rat and Kazt were clashing head-on.

He thought that if Wolf Rat hadn't blocked Kazt, then...

Feeling a pang of fear, Maud silently praised Wolf Rat as a good brother.

But soon, he saw that Wolf Rat couldn't hold on for even three seconds. After a few exchanges, it looked like he was about to be flattened into a pancake by Kazt, and Maud immediately realized this place was not meant to be lingered in.

"I need to leave before Wolf Rat can't hold on anymore."

Having made up his mind, Maud stopped paying attention to the fight on Wolf Rat's side.

Noticing that Maud still had the energy to look elsewhere, Ebe's Blood Essence surged, and veins bulged on her temples.

Her previous seductive charm had vanished completely.

In her rage, Ebe's rapier, which was thrusting at Maud, suddenly quickened its pace, but her technique also began to show signs of disorder.

"Hmm?"

The suddenly faster sword strikes made Maud feel pressure again.

However, the threat level dropped significantly.

"Should I counterattack..."

Maud dodged Ebe's repeated sword strikes, considering the feasibility of drawing his flintlock pistol or the dagger he carried close to his body to counterattack.

The disordered technique meant that if Ebe hastily switched from offense to defense, she would expose a certain degree of weakness.

This was an opportunity to counterattack.

But Maud also considered the risks of counterattacking.

Whether drawing his gun or his dagger, he would have to make several unnecessary movements.

And although Ebe's technique was in disarray, her sword speed had increased.

In such a situation, even one unnecessary movement that couldn't keep up with the speed could turn into an opening.

If the reward was worth it, Maud was willing to take the risk.

Conversely, Maud's priority was to retreat.

"In that case, I can only... use my hands."

Having overturned the decision to counterattack with his gun, Maud formulated his next plan.

The gradually disordered swordplay had lost all its threat.

After defending for tens of seconds, Maud seized an opportunity. While dodging a sword strike to the side, he didn't retreat but advanced, putting force into his feet and charging forward.

As his body brushed past Ebe, Maud used his naturally swinging arm to slap Ebe across the side of her face.

A clear sound suddenly rang out, but it was instantly drowned out by the sounds of swords clashing on the scene.

Ebe was knocked slightly off balance by the slap, and her continuous offensive rhythm was broken.

Maud seized the opportunity, directly escaping Ebe's attack range and running towards the hole in the wall.

Ebe's composure shattered, and she stared blankly at Maud's retreating back.

This scene happened to be seen by Wolf Rat.

However, Wolf Rat's focus was not on Ebe, but on Maud, who was running faster than a rabbit.

At this point.

Wolf Rat accepted everything.

He didn't even have the energy to curse at Maud anymore.

Exhausted, Wolf Rat withdrew his gaze and turned to Kazt, trying to explain.

"Believe me, this is a misunderstanding!"

What greeted him was Kazt's fierce kick.

With a bang, Wolf Rat flew out and slammed heavily against the wall.

"Huh?"

After sending Wolf Rat flying, Kazt was somewhat puzzled by the sensation of the impact.

Had it hardened?

Without time to think, he saw Maud about to escape the tavern and suddenly roared.

"Stop!"

Maud lacked even the mood to look back at Kazt's furious voice.

Is Wolf Rat brother dead?

Maud thought to himself.

Seeing the cave entrance approaching, Maud couldn't help but speed up.

Suddenly, he saw a white skunk also running frantically ahead, but it wasn't very fast because its legs were too short.

Recognizing the skunk as a pet Ebe had brought, Maud scooped it up as he leaped through the cave entrance.

Startled by Maud's sudden lift, the skunk trembled, its dark, beady eyes showing a human-like terror, yet it dared not struggle too much, fearing this inexplicable human might suddenly stab it.

In the skunk's eyes, humans were such sinister creatures.

Stiffening its body and remaining still, the skunk watched as Maud carried it through the hole in the wall and escaped outside.

In that instant, the skunk realized this human was actually helping it escape.

The terror in its eyes instantly melted away like spring snow.

Its perception of humans couldn't help but change slightly.

"Finally, I've met a different kind of human."

The skunk was moved.

Maud was completely unaware that the projectile he casually picked up would have such rich psychological activity.

When he smelled a strange fragrance emanating from the skunk, he was even more surprised.

A fragrant skunk?

I feel like I've seen a similar description somewhere.

At the same time, inside the tavern.

Watching Maud escape with his own eyes, Kazt's eyes widened in fury, and he chased after him.

However, a figure was faster than him, sprinting towards the hole in the wall.

It was none other than Wolf Rat, who had not yet dispelled his beast form.

Seeing that Wolf Rat was fine, a flash of surprise crossed Kazt's eyes.

Just then, a sword light slashed towards Kazt.

Kazt stopped abruptly, dodging the sudden sword thrust.

"Crazy woman, what are you doing?!"

Seeing Ebe, with bloodshot eyes and a ferocious expression, blocking his path, Kazt cursed.

Without a word, Ebe drove her sword towards Kazt again, instantly weaving a large net of sword light.

Kazt, in his beast form, had increased strength but slightly decreased speed.

Facing Ebe's vicious sword strikes, he was speared several times before he could react.

For a moment, Kazt became even more enraged.

After easily wounding Kazt, a hint of satisfaction inexplicably appeared on Ebe's ferocious face.

Her gaze towards Kazt revealed a surging desire to draw her sword.

Looking at Ebe's complex expression, Kazt's cheek twitched fiercely.

Everything's gone wrong, completely wrong!

"Crazy woman!"

Kazt roared, and what greeted him was still a wave of sword energy.

Helpless, Kazt could only retreat and dodge, and then issue an order to his subordinate Wells.

"Wells, take people to chase that brat, alive or dead!"

Hearing his captain's order, Wells left through the main entrance with several gunmen without a word, chasing after Maud.

Outside the tavern, Maud sprinted through the streets, carrying the skunk.

After Wolf Rat emerged from the hole in the wall, he used his physical advantage from his beast transformation to catch up to Maud.

"Usopp, wait for me!"

Seeing Maud's retreating back, Wolf Rat shouted excitedly.

Hearing the shout from behind, Maud instinctively and reflexively threw the skunk in his hand.

The skunk, which had been marveling at meeting a good person: "?"

Wolf Rat, whose eyes were only on Maud's back: "?"

The skunk, thrown by Maud, drew a beautiful arc in the air and then landed precisely on Wolf Rat's face.

With a thump.

Wolf Rat was sent crashing to the ground.

Wells and the others, who had just chased out of the tavern, suddenly slammed on the brakes, looking at the Wolf Rat and the skunk rolling towards them.

The air fell silent for a moment.

Maud cursed himself for overreacting, then glanced back at the Wolf Rat. "Brother Wolf Rat," he called out loudly, "I..."

Then, upon seeing Wells and the others holding guns, Maud's tone shifted abruptly.

"If there's a chance, let me explain."

With that, Maud ran off without looking back.

The Wolf Rat came to his senses and took a deep breath.

His lungs hurt.

The skunk, its head on the ground, looked utterly bewildered.

Humans, humans are so wicked!

Wells frowned slightly, hesitating on whether to waste a bullet on the Wolf Rat.

Amidst the flow of people on the street, a short figure flashed by.

"You brat..."