Bait

Bait

Karl was more than happy to leave the banquet early—though it would have been better if it had not been because of a murder case.

A kilometer outside the city, the victim, whose life force had been drained by some unknown method, lay in the grass while the passerby who had reported the crime gave a statement nearby.

The deceased had been identified.

It was Ham, who had come to attend the banquet!

Seeing the Constable he had dealt with just days ago dead in the wilderness, even Karl, detached as he was, could not help but feel anger rise within him. His expression turned extremely grim.

"Same method. The murderer should be the same person."

Fury flashed in Dina's beautiful eyes as she said coldly,

"The previous victims were all women, and pure virgins at that. Ham is the only exception."

"Could Ham have discovered something, and the murderer killed him to silence him?" Kaili was also present today and voiced his guess.

Karl said nothing.

Someone who dared kill a Constable would dare kill an inspector. Karl had always valued his life. Though anger simmered in his heart, he had no intention of rashly involving himself.

"Mm."

Dina nodded and asked,

"Did Ham come to the banquet alone today?"

"No." Kaili's expression turned strange. "Ham's colleagues said he had recently grown close to Madam Annie. They had agreed to attend the banquet together, and he had even bragged about it in front of his coworkers."

"Madam Annie?" Dina frowned.

That noblewoman had an extremely complicated background. Even Dina would not provoke her lightly unless necessary.

But how had Ham gotten involved with Madam Annie?

Was it for the investigation?

Or something else?

As her thoughts turned, she looked at Karl, who was idling nearby. As if remembering something, she suddenly called out,

"Karl!"

"Officer." Karl came back to his senses.

"Help me retrieve something." Dina took out a key. "The address is Number 17, Saffi Street. Give the key to the owner of the room, and he will hand the item over to you. Remember to bring it to me tomorrow."

"You do not want to stay here anyway, do you?"

"Uh..." Karl gave an awkward laugh. He looked up at the darkening sky, then reached out and took the key. "I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

"Mm."

Dina nodded and watched Karl's back recede, her beautiful eyes slowly narrowing.

Night was approaching.

The sky had already grown dim.

Holding a kerosene lamp, the old woman gestured for Karl to take away the package on the table in the faint light.

"These are old clothes Dina left behind. I thought she did not want them anymore and was about to throw them out."

"Take them. Take them."

Old clothes?

Had she mistaken him for some errand-running servant?

Karl shook his head speechlessly, packed the items away, and took his leave.

A curved crescent moon hung in the sky, casting a faint glow that was obscured above the city by a layer of fog.

"I heard North City built a coal-burning factory. All this fog is coming from it. Such severe pollution in just a few months."

"Destroying the environment..."

"Could this world also be heading toward an Industrial Revolution?"

Karl looked up at the sky, allowing his thoughts to wander. Then he suddenly stopped and drew the short sword at his waist.

He had not brought his Greatsword to the banquet today, only the short sword he kept close to his body.

"Who is there?"

Staring into the darkness ahead, Karl's expression turned cold and stern.

"Come out!"

"Huh?"

Shadows shifted within the dark alley, and two figures walked out side by side. One of them spoke in surprise.

"What sharp senses. You actually noticed us."

"Who are you?"

Karl's pupils constricted. The special senses born from cultivating the Poison Wolf Breathing Technique made his flesh tighten.

"What do you want?"

Killing intent!

Danger!

They meant him harm!

But he should not have offended anyone recently. Why would someone target him?

"What do we want?"

The burly man among the two sneered and stepped forward. His gaze paused on the short sword in Karl's hand before he said,

"Put down the package you are carrying."

The package?

Karl raised a brow.

Were they after Dina?

"Fine."

Karl took a step back and said,

"I will put down the package, and then we go our separate ways."

"Good. I like sensible people like you." The burly man nodded with satisfaction. "Put it down, and you can leave."

"Wait!"

Just as Karl put down the package and prepared to leave, the other man suddenly spoke.

"He has to be searched before he leaves!"

"That is true."

The burly man nodded.

"If he hides the important item on his body, would not all our work be for nothing? Trouble yourself to take off your clothes, friend."

"Do not go too far." Karl's face darkened.

"Too far?" The other man's voice grew impatient. "Take them off when told. Why so much nonsense?"

The next moment,

the man moved.

He stomped down hard, shooting forward like an arrow. A cruel, vicious aura rushed toward Karl.

The instant their gazes met, Karl's heart skipped a beat.

Killing intent!

This was the vicious look of someone whose hands had been stained with human lives—perhaps more than one. He attacked at the slightest disagreement.

Karl had practiced martial arts for years to strengthen his body, but he had never fought anyone in a life-or-death battle.

As the distance closed, he could see even more clearly that the man's face was covered by a mask that clung tightly to his cheeks.

Whoosh!

Karl swung his sword, using the Iron Gate Style to intercept.

But his target was not the masked man charging at him from the front.

It was behind him.

Clang...

A black shadow swung a blade into Karl's short sword. The tremendous force of the collision sent both of them reeling back.

An ambush!

There had been another person hiding behind him. The instant the masked man attacked, that person had launched a sneak attack as well.

Fortunately, Karl's senses were sharp enough for him to defend himself in advance.

"Watch out!"

When the ambusher failed to land the blow, he shouted urgently,

"He is a Knight Squire!"

Before coming here, they had not expected their opponent to be a Knight Squire who cultivated a Breathing Technique.

But even if he was a Knight Squire, so what?

As long as he was not a knight, his physical abilities would not differ much from those of an ordinary person.

Besides,

it was three against one now.

Whoosh...

The masked man's charge did not slow. At some point, a steel rod had appeared in his hand, and he brought it smashing down at Karl.

The last man, the burly one, also rushed in soundlessly, thrusting his Greatsword straight at Karl.

Their movements were swift and vicious, and their coordination was seamless. They either did not act at all, or struck with lethal moves meant to kill.

Clang...

Bang!

Karl swung his short sword wildly, blocking their attacks.

But facing three people whose every strike was aimed at taking his life, even though he defended with all he had, he was still forced back step by step.

He had only recently become a Knight Squire. Though his physique was stronger than an ordinary person's, the difference was limited.

Moreover, all three opponents were fierce fighters, and his weapon was ill-suited for the fight. For a time, he was placed at a severe disadvantage.

Ah!

Karl's chest expanded as a surge of strength erupted with his shout.

His short sword swept aside the incoming attacks, trembled slightly in midair, and then three afterimages appeared from nowhere, rolling toward the enemies before him.

Combat technique!

Gale Slash!

Clang, clang...

Pfft!

The short sword sliced through flesh, making one man stagger backward.

But after using the combat technique, Karl also felt the strength drain from his body. Just as he prepared to take the chance to flee, his expression suddenly changed.

Whoosh...

A black shadow descended from above. The slender sword in its hand scattered countless sword shadows, enveloping the burly man.

The sword shadows withdrew, and blood sprayed into the air.

Thud!

The burly man crashed heavily to the ground, completely unable to resist.

"Officer Dina."

Looking at the newcomer, Karl showed no relief at having survived. Instead, anger filled his voice.

"You used me as bait!"

"Now is not the time to talk about that." Dina shrugged, giving him a somewhat surprised look. "Your swordsmanship is not bad."

"Chase them!"

"Do not let them get away!"