Galeat, who had been so badly injured that he could only lie on a makeshift stretcher, rushed toward the tree like the wind.
But Qin Ran was faster.
Or rather, he had been ready all along.
Holding Mary in one arm and carrying the case containing [Words of Arrogance] in the other, he reached the tree a step ahead of Galeat.
Then he swung the case.
Bang!
The sturdy, heavy case slammed into Galeat's raised arm, stopping his charge cold and sending him staggering backward.
Qin Ran gave him no chance to catch his breath.
He drew the dark-red two-handed greatsword from the case and brought it down at Galeat's head.
Whoosh!
The blade's roaring passage stirred Galeat's graying hair and beard, leaving even his body swaying precariously.
But just as the edge of [Words of Arrogance] was about to reach his head, Galeat flashed backward more than ten meters.
Mary, who had already climbed onto Qin Ran's back, immediately narrowed her eyes at the sight.
Though others still saw her as a child, her mother's teachings, combined with her own precocious intelligence, had already made Mary far cleverer than most could imagine.
What she had just witnessed was enough for her to understand.
"Galeat, were you the one who assassinated my mother?!"
Mary demanded loudly.
But Galeat did not answer.
It was not out of guilt, nor because he had nothing to say.
He simply could not speak.
Having just dodged away, Galeat was "yanked" back again.
At some point, a strand of spider silk had stuck to his bandaged left arm.
Qin Ran, holding the other end, gave it a sharp pull.
Galeat's seemingly sturdy body flew back as though borne on clouds.
Naturally, the edge of [Words of Arrogance] awaited him.
Clang!
A cold gleam flashed in