Uproot Them All

"You—"

The young man in brocade robes cried out in shock. "Didn't you say you were from Ulada Magic Academy?"

Bate's expression changed too. "Young master, be careful. He isn't an ordinary warrior—he's a well-trained assassin."

"That was an assassination technique!"

"Good eye." Jonathan looked at them with a smile. His grin made the two men opposite him tremble with fear.

"Now, can we talk properly? I know you're from the Bred Family. What about her? Who is she?"

"What is she to you?"

The young man in brocade robes had been about to curse and ask what it had to do with him, but when he thought of the young man's strength, he swallowed the words that had risen to his lips.

"She's naturally a member of the Bred Family too."

"Her name is Sanita Bred. She's my aunt."

"Your aunt?" Jonathan frowned. "You treat your own aunt like this? You, Bred, have no noble bearing at all. Do you even know what it means to respect your elders and care for the young?"

The guard named Bate said, "Since you know this is a private matter for the Bred Family, could you let my young master and me leave?"

"He's the Bred Family head's son?"

"Yes."

Jonathan hesitated, seeming to ponder it. After a long moment, he smiled faintly. "But this lady is about to become my stepmother—in other words, my father's wife. That puts me in a difficult position."

The young man in brocade robes understood. His opponent had been deliberately toying with them. His spoiled temper, indulged since childhood, flared up, and he could no longer hold back. He cursed, "You're making fools of us!"

"You may be strong, but you should know that Grand Duke Hanna wants her."

Jonathan picked at his ear, looking impatient. "Why is there another Hanna now? Who is he?"

"Grand Duke Hanna is the youngest brother of the Bandas king, and his favorite as well. He wields immense power. If you offend him, you can forget about making a living in Black Phoenix City."

"The king's brother? Why does this plot sound so familiar?"

Jonathan muttered to himself.

At that moment, Sanita's face was streaked with tears. "Jonathan, Abraham, don't get involved. I'll go back with them."

"This is my fate. I can't escape it."

"Abraham, I already feel so blessed by fate to have had your care these past few days."

"Thank you."

Tears the size of pearls slid down her beautiful face, making her seem heartbreakingly pitiful.

"Aunt Sanita, I've called you my aunt, so that makes us family. My old man finally managed to turn his life around. Without you, he'd go back to muddling through each day."

"I wouldn't be happy if that happened."

"And when I'm unhappy, I feel like killing people!"

An overwhelming killing intent poured from him. The young man in brocade robes seemed to be experiencing such bloodlust for the first time. He thought he saw red mist spreading everywhere.

Jonathan vanished in a flash. Unlike the young man in brocade robes, Bate had clearly seen plenty of combat, and his will was strong.

Even so, he couldn't sense Jonathan's presence. He looked around, scanning his surroundings again and again.

Jonathan soundlessly appeared behind the young man in brocade robes and struck him with a palm, making him spit blood. Then he put an arm around Sanita and leaped lightly onto a rooftop. After a few quick movements, he reached Abraham and handed her over.

Under the effect of the Gravity Spell, Bate's speed had dropped several times over, and he could barely swing his greatsword.

"Young master, are you all right?"

Bate supported the young man, who coughed up several mouthfuls of blood. His face twisted with rage. "Bate, kill him! I want you to kill him!"

Bate looked troubled. "Young master, he's both a mage and a warrior, and at least a level-five mage. His warrior abilities are impressive too. I may not be able to beat him."

"I don't care! I want you to kill him, no matter what it takes!"

"Such a rotten disposition. Families raise the sort of people they deserve. No wonder they decline generation after generation."

He turned to Sanita. "Aunt Sanita, I wasn't talking about you. Your manners and bearing are quite good."

"A marquis, a duke, and the king's own brother. We probably can't stay in the Bandas Kingdom anymore," Jonathan said. "Father, once this is over, you and Aunt Sanita should move to the Yulan Empire or the O'Brien Empire. I'll cover the expenses."

Then he looked at the two men in front of him.

"As for you, I can't risk you sending word, so you'll have to die here."

Feeling Jonathan's killing intent erupt completely, Bate hurriedly shoved the young man in brocade robes away and shouted, "Young master, run! As far as you can! I'll hold him off as long as I can!"

Jonathan walked toward Bate step by step. Bate was already under the Gravity Spell, and with his greatsword in hand, he couldn't dodge in time even when he realized something was wrong beneath his feet.

Then he sank straight into the swamp. The young man in brocade robes was trapped as well.

"Trying to escape? Do you really think you can?"

A flash of black light, and the young man in brocade robes died on the spot. Sanita looked sorrowful and couldn't bring herself to look. After all, he was her own nephew.

Bate poured out a large amount of battle qi, trying to free himself from the swamp. Using his greatsword as a foothold, he leaped high, pushed off a wall, and landed on a rooftop.

He glanced at the dead young man, then ran off into the distance.

Jonathan gave a cold laugh and followed at an unhurried pace. Before long, the two of them had left Blackstone Town behind.

Suddenly, Jonathan sped up, turning into a streak of black light as he caught up with Bate and raced past him.

By rights, a level-seven warrior like Bate should have been faster than a level-six warrior.

But Jonathan had deliberately trained his speed since childhood. He had also learned several muscle-bursting techniques from Xue Yan. On top of that, as long as he used the right amount of force, his anti-gravity ability could make his body as light as a swallow.

So, in only a moment, he caught up with Bate.

At his top speed, he was no slower than a peak level-eight warrior.

"Gravity Spell!"

Jonathan cast Earth Style magic again, this time at full strength: a level-seven Gravity Spell.

Bate's expression changed. His footing faltered, and a streak of black light flashed before his eyes. His throat was slit before he could even react.

As he fell, he saw a pair of cold eyes devoid of emotion.

Jonathan took out a vial of Corpse Dissolving Water. After only a few drops, smoke rose from Bate's body, which sizzled and hissed until, moments later, nothing remained.

He had truly been reduced to nothing—not even bones remained.

After dealing with that, Jonathan returned to Blackstone Town. Abraham was taking care of the bodies.

Jonathan stepped forward and used the Corpse Dissolving Water again, then asked, "How is Aunt Sanita? Is she all right?"

Abraham sighed. "It's still shaken her quite badly. I asked her to go inside and rest."

"Oh. What do you think of my earlier suggestion that you two move to the Yulan Empire or the O'Brien Empire?"