The group stopped just as they were about to charge.
They might not have cared if it had been anyone else, but the gleaming sword in Werther's hand gave them pause.
Seeing the rival groups stop in their tracks, Werther felt a little disappointed. These people had too many reservations.
"Doffy, how many Beli are you looking to get?"
Doffy was plainly taken aback by the question.
"Fuffuffuffu! Werther, don't tell me you're going to... Never mind. Beli are just bargaining chips to me."
A smile spread across Werther's face.
"Sugar, go to your Young Master."
Werther set a puzzled Sugar on the ground and loosened up.
Crack. Crack. His joints popped.
"It's been a long time since I had a proper fight. Lucky me—so many strong people gathered in one place."
Since Intent Blood had evolved, he hadn't fought to his heart's content. He hadn't even used his full strength against Marco and his companion earlier.
"I can't wait. Heh heh heh..."
Werther looked around at everyone, his face wearing that peculiar, unhinged smile of his.
"Hey, Werther, you're not about to... Calm down."
"Thunder Swordsman, don't forget your agreement with our boss. We're supposed to head there in a few days. If you do this now—"
Doffy and Jack tried to dissuade Werther at the same time. Doffy had been his ally for years, so of course he knew him.
And the moment Jack saw that smile, he remembered the madman in blood-red armor who had wielded two swords and slashed at him without end.
"This is bad, Sabo. I think I've seen the Thunder Swordsman like this before. Should we retreat?"
Koala, too, remembered how terrifying Werther had once been.
"Erin, what's wrong with him? He's giving me the creeps. There's something off about his state of