Chapter 269

"Thank you." Chen Ce pulled the cart over and prepared to leave.

Just before he was about to leave, the bartender hesitated and called out, "Um... sir, I think I must remind you of your generosity—it's a bit chaotic outside, you'd better be careful."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ce glanced at someone in the tavern out of the corner of his eye, then smiled and said, "Okay, I understand."

"Well... goodbye, guest."

"Goodbye."

After leaving the tavern, Chen Ce didn't rush back to find Kai'Sa. Instead, he strolled around the city at a leisurely pace. He needed to buy some more food to take back. He could eat Void creatures to fill his stomach later, but Kai'Sa needed to eat.

On the other hand...

Every time he pretended to turn around casually, he could see a dazzling magical mark.

The mark of Heartsteel.

To be honest, I was really lucky; I encountered two heroes right after arriving in Shurima.

Although he initially came to Uzeris to find the [hero], he didn't expect it to happen so quickly—he had originally planned to spend several days or even a month or two searching for him, but the other party unexpectedly delivered himself to his doorstep.

He slowed his pace, strolling and shopping through the streets of Uzeris.

As night falls, the temperature in the desert drops lower and lower, and there are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the streets.

After bypassing the busiest trading area, the entire chaotic street was practically deserted.

And so Chen Ce's "opportunity" arrived.

He pretended to be tired and wanted to rest, so he sat down on the ground under the dilapidated city wall.

Then, the figure following him drew closer and closer... He didn't even need to look; he could guess who it was just by listening to the deliberately lowered footsteps.

Unsurprisingly, a sharp knife was placed against his neck as he tilted his head back to drink water.

Money, or life?

A threatening voice came from behind. It was a woman, very young, whose fierce tone couldn't hide her youthful and vibrant energy.

Chen Ce calmly finished the water in his canteen, then asked with a smile, "Aren't you a mercenary? How come you're acting like a bandit?"

After speaking, the woman remained silent for a moment—clearly, she was surprised that the other person knew her identity.

But she still said in a self-righteous tone, "To the Shurima people I am a mercenary, but to you greedy and cunning outsiders I can also be a bandit."

"A flexible moral bottom line?"

"It's a flexible monetary bottom line."

"You can do anything as long as you have money... That really fits your persona, Sivir." Chen Ce said with a smile, revealing the other person's name.

So the blade at his neck moved a fraction closer.

It hadn't even broken his skin yet, but he could already feel that bloodthirsty, chilling glint.

"You recognize me, that makes things easier." The young woman with her face covered—that is, Sivir —simply removed her disguise. "Money or your life?"

"Ah... this is a real problem... I wanted both of them." Chen Ce remained unhurried, seemingly not taking the other party seriously at all. "However, if you can answer a few questions for me, I can still reward you with some gold coins."

This disdainful look completely enraged Sivir.

With a flick of her wrist, the dagger in her hand pierced the other person's thigh from their neck—well, although she loved money, she wasn't the kind of ruthless killer.

For these greedy and cunning outsiders, a lesson and their money will suffice.

The blade swiftly pierced down.

Chen Ce simply pressed down lightly on the hilt of his sword.

The raised longsword blocked the blade perfectly, without missing a beat.

Clang! A crisp sound rang out, and Sivir realized that the man in front of her was not simple—at least not the kind of ordinary rich kid who could be easily beaten to his knees and beg for mercy.

She became serious, and swung the dagger in her hand even faster.

Chen Ce, however, remained indifferent.

Just as the blade was about to strike his abdomen, he casually extended two fingers—like making a "V" sign.

Then...

Click!

The blade was held between his two fingers.

No matter how hard Sivir tried, he couldn't stab or pull it out even a fraction of an inch.

Even this battle-hardened mercenary couldn't help but show a look of fear.

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get... The same goes for robbery, Miss Sivir." Chen Ce smiled slightly, and with a slight exertion of force, snapped the ordinary dagger in two.

The sound of metal breaking filled Sivir with fear.

This is a monster... He is definitely not human... Humans could not possibly possess such power...!

After only a moment's hesitation, Sivir immediately fled.

But before she could even run out of a street, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her... the figure she had been following all afternoon.

Chen Ce appeared in front of her almost instantly.

She crashed headfirst into it, and the powerful recoil sent her sprawling to the ground—her nose almost bleeding from the impact.

"You haven't answered my question yet, Miss Sivir."

Chen Ce looked at the strange weapon on the other person's back, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't snatch it and eat it.

Although that cross-shaped blade is imbued with powerful Ascended Power... and although consuming it would bring me a tremendous boost... there's no rush.

This stuff will still be useful to Sivir; it's not too late to eat it after the deed is done.

Have you seen Cassiopeia?

The familiar name caused Sivir to panic for a moment—though she quickly masked it, Chen Ce noticed.

"I don't know who you're talking about... Get out of the way!"

"What, you think you can just come and go as you please?" Chen Ce chuckled, then asked, "Did Cassiopeia give you a commission? Did she invite you to a catacombs to search for treasure?"

"I don't understand what you're saying... you damn monster...!"

"Oh, you're so rude... maybe I should teach you a lesson."

Chen Ce sighed softly, then slowly walked towards the female mercenary who was both terrified and furious.

A terrifying gust of wind swept over her, Sivir felt as if a horrible desert monster was lunging at her... She instinctively closed her eyes.

The excruciating pain I had imagined did not come.

It's just... a little bit...

On the face...

She opened her eyes again and saw that the other person was pinching her chin with one hand.

In the "space" where she couldn't hear, a crisp "clang" rang out.

Chen Ce was greatly satisfied with the +1 passive bonus to Heartsteel.

Looking at Sivir again, she had completely lost her appeal.

I feel... she's not as good as Kai'Sa.

"Alright, I've got the answer I wanted. You can leave now."

Chen Ce ultimately decided not to make things difficult for the other party—he needed the other party to "revive" Xerath for him; that guy was the most delicious food.

The immense magical power contained within Xerath... even absorbing just a few percent would make him incredibly strong.

If things proceed as they were in the original timeline, Sivir would soon be joining Cassiopeia in causing trouble...

She doesn't look like she's already emerged from an emperor's tomb—judging by the timeline, it shouldn't be that far off yet. Judging from her reaction and words, she must have already spoken with Cassiopeia, just unsure of the exact departure date—it probably won't be too long.

Her "usefulness" ends here at this stage; her "residual value" will only be realized after she draws blood in the tomb...

It's actually quite pitiful... she really is destined to work her whole life.

"Let's go, let's go..." Chen Ce waved his hand, watching Sivir flee quickly with a mixture of confusion and caution, and finally added a reminder:

"Beware of women who are like venomous snakes; never turn your back on them."

"..." Sivir didn't reply, nor did she understand.

All she knew was that she had to run.

Little did they know...

She ran from one "fire pit" to another.

Perhaps those who appear hostile to her are the ones who can truly protect her...

It's very late.

The sun had long since disappeared below the horizon, and the desert, deprived of sunlight, suddenly became desolate.

Kai'Sa huddled in her tiny house as usual, using a small, broken plank to block the small door.

It was cold at night, but she still didn't put on any clothes—not because she didn't want to, but because her second skin wouldn't allow her to.

She had already tried it; whatever she put on her body would be devoured by her second skin... just like those damn monsters devour and transform all physical entities.

Her second skin granted her superhuman physical abilities, making her impervious to even the freezing cold of a desert night... but she couldn't escape the discomfort. Fortunately, she had long since grown accustomed to it.

She had long been used to both the coldness and the insults.

She is not alone, because loneliness is her friend.

For more than ten years, she had long since gotten used to living alone.

So...

Even if she were deceived, she wouldn't be angry, nor would she feel sad or disappointed.

She had already guessed that Chen Ce wouldn't come back. That man who always talked big would definitely stay in the city for one night before returning.

After all, this place is dirty, dilapidated, and small. What would he come back for? Someone as wealthy as him would definitely find a large and clean hotel in the city to rest in.

He was just saying it; how could he possibly come back here to sleep?

"Employer and employer... that's all."

Kai'Sa blew away the yellow sand that was drifting onto the "bedboard," appearing quite calm.

She never had any expectations. As long as there is no hope, there will never be disappointment.

She had long suspected that the man was just all talk; how could he possibly genuinely accept a monster?

She had already guessed it.

Real...

Kai'Sa closed her eyes.

Although she doesn't need to sleep, nor can she really fall asleep, closing her eyes to rest is still beneficial for her.

She planned to close her eyes and rest until dawn, just like any other day.

Just then, a soft footstep sounded outside the door.

She opened her eyes wide with alarm instantly.

The person outside the door moved very slowly... but they didn't seem like a timid, hesitant thief...

Kai'Sa's delicate nostrils twitched slightly.

Then her questioning look was replaced by joy.

But just before the man completely entered the room, she turned her head to the other side.

But she shifted slightly, as if to remind someone that she wasn't asleep—or had fallen asleep and then woken up.

"Did I disturb you? I'm so sorry, Miss Kai'Sa..." The person's voice was as soft as his footsteps.

It's... that man.