By then, Jiang Jie had entered Stealth again, leaving behind only a clear, firm, convincing voice:
"Focus on defense! Attack those three Warriors!"
"As for the high-ranking Rogue and the low-ranking Rogue, leave them to me!"
Jiang Jie was not boasting.
With his current strength, he was not even a match for a mid-ranking Warrior in a head-on fight. But Rogues were what he feared least!
The main things Rogues relied on to earn their reputation as "walkers in the shadows" and "reapers in the darkness" were Stealth and Vanish. These two skills were the very foundation of their class, and many extremely terrifying skills, such as Ambush and Cheap Shot, could only be used while in Stealth.
But now, under the gaming pod's scans, Stealth was completely useless. With a Rogue's frail body, a single stab was all it would take to kill one!
Of course, Jiang Jie did not think he could kill that high-ranking assassin by dragging things out. Someone at that level had extremely keen perception, making it very difficult for him to get close. He would even be detected instantly if he came within five meters, leaving him no chance to attack.
Time ticked by. Harold and Basil struck in fury, and the mid-ranking Warrior and low-ranking Warrior could not withstand them at all. They could not even escape and were soon killed.
Suddenly!
Harold felt death descend upon him!
A blade had sliced through his throat and had almost severed his neck!
Just then, another dagger suddenly blocked the blade. Jiang Jie appeared!
He blocked the high-ranking Rogue's strike, and by then, the Paladin Basil had arrived as well. The high-ranking assassin could only immediately use Sprint, then Vanish.
"Nicholas, you saved my life!" Harold looked at Jiang Jie and said quietly, "I owe you my life!"
The kingdom's knights strictly followed the knightly code and never forgot a life-saving debt. Harold was certain that if Jiang Jie ever needed him, he would risk his life for him at any time!
Jiang Jie entered Stealth again, because the high-ranking Rogue had not left, nor had the other novice Rogue.
Suddenly!
The novice Rogue attempted to attack a royal guard, but Jiang Jie silently approached him and immobilized him outright with Pegasus Meteor Finger!
Everyone was horrified at the sight. How could a Rogue in Stealth be instantly immobilized, unable to move at all?
Were you a Mage, Priest, or high-ranking Rogue with exceptionally keen perception?
Or did you possess a magical item such as a Gem of True Sight?
How else could you possibly do it!
And how had that strange, incomprehensible finger strike rendered a Rogue unable to move?
It was also this strike that terrified the last remaining high-ranking assassin, forcing him to choose to retreat.
He was very fast.
When a high-ranking assassin was intent on fleeing, stopping him was truly difficult.
They had won!
"We really... won?" a royal guard murmured to himself.
He truly could not believe it!
Facing a siege by seven class holders and forty or fifty woodland wolves, especially with a high-ranking assassin and a mid-ranking Mage among them, they had still won. Apart from the high-ranking assassin who had escaped, everyone on the other side had been killed, and they had even captured a novice Rogue. A result like this...
It really was an incredible surprise!
Then, had they themselves been the ones who won this victory?
Granted, they were well trained, well equipped, and worked seamlessly together, but why had they managed to hold out until now, especially against that high-ranking assassin's attempts on their lives?
Wasn't it all because of Nicholas's performance!
If Nicholas had not killed that mid-ranking Mage, how could Mage Nolan have successfully cast his spell, weaving a magical barrier around them all to withstand the assault of so many forest wolves and class holders?
If Nicholas had not killed that Hunter who specialized in beast control,
why would forty or fifty woodland wolves have scattered just as Mage Nolan was about to reach his limit? And if Nicholas had not blocked the high-ranking assassin's strike, then captured the low-ranking assassin in Stealth against all possibility, intimidating that high-ranking assassin, why would he have fled?
Every last bit of it was because of Nicholas!
In other words, Nicholas had saved all their lives, including those of the Paladin Basil and Mage Nolan!
Despite his reluctance, despite his pride, despite normally thinking nothing of Rogues who hid in the shadows, Mage Nolan still took the initiative to walk up to Jiang Jie, give a mage's salute, and say with great sincerity, "Nicholas, thank you!"
With Mage Nolan taking the lead, the others gathered around one after another to express their thanks.
"All right, that high-ranking assassin may not have gone far. Everyone still needs to stay vigilant. Mage Nolan, please set up the magical alarms and spell traps again with your students. It's still very dangerous here. That battle may have alerted some terrifying dark creatures, such as bloodsucking night bats."
The Paladin Basil walked up to Jiang Jie, gave a knight's salute, and said solemnly, "Nicholas! Once we reach Tirisfal Monastery, I will report everything that happened today to Highlord Mograine! Your achievements will soon be reported to His Majesty the King, and you will be rewarded!"
"My orders were to protect Mage Nolan on his journey to Tirisfal Monastery as a member of the escort. That is my mission, and also my class advancement quest." Jiang Jie smiled. "Only by completing the quest can I become a full-fledged assassin of the Lordaeron Royal Assassins, so there's no need for such courtesy."
Hearing this, the others looked at Jiang Jie with even greater warmth, their eyes full of respect!
With such great achievements, he did not boast of his contributions and remained so humble and courteous. Were you really a Rogue, or a knight of the kingdom?
A noble man, free of vulgar interests, who honored the knightly code!
At that moment, a thought even arose in Basil's mind: Should I introduce Nicholas to my teacher Uther and guide him onto the path of a Paladin? Perhaps one day, Nicholas could become a Paladin as outstanding as Fina Goldensword!
Harold walked over, patted Jiang Jie's shoulder, and said, "Nicholas, I believe that even if you received a mid-ranking Rogue class advancement quest right now, you could complete it without trouble!"
Next came setting up defenses and alarms, while keeping the captured novice Rogue under close guard and conducting an intensive interrogation overnight. They would take him along to Tirisfal Monastery when they left tomorrow. There was a young Priest there named Jimmy Vishas who was extremely skilled at interrogation...
"Nicholas, you killed these people. According to the rules, their loot all belongs to you." A few minutes later, Harold walked up to Jiang Jie and handed him a large pile of items.