The Thief

Saxon was not good at head-on confrontations. If he were to get entangled with this powerful figure nicknamed Curse Blade, and with the possibility of the Bay Owl and Bone King returning at any moment, he would definitely not come out on top.

"No, no, no," the goblin sorcerer spread his hands, feigning nonchalance, "A ship as impressive as yours must hold many treasures. I'm just making a routine 'visit'—isn't that only natural?"

Given Ruixiuli's famously decisive nature, his appearance without immediately swinging his sword was an unusual sign. Saxon's mind raced, and he instantly understood the other's concerns.

The sorcerer's cunning gaze swept over the ordinary students around him, who, though on high alert, were clearly not strong enough to participate in a battle at their level, and he immediately understood.

Ruixiuli didn't want to involve these people and cause unnecessary casualties!

"Womanly compassion!" Saxon scoffed inwardly, filled with disdain for Ruixiuli's actions.

"That's just how goblins are!" Ruixiuli scolded him.

"Ha ha!" Saxon burst into laughter. "Then, Ruixiuli, could you please clear up a small doubt for me?"

"Spit it out." Ruixiuli's voice remained icy, and the eerie light on the bone blade flickered slightly.

He didn't mind Saxon seeing through his thoughts. Similarly, he was certain that, given Saxon's extremely cautious and selfish nature, he would never choose to fight him head-on just to kill a few ordinary students.

Sometimes, knowing your opponent too well can make the confrontation dull and uninteresting.

"This is a top-tier disguise spell; I'm confident there won't be the slightest Magic Power fluctuation leaking out!" Saxon pointed to the strangely shaped alchemical device connected to the conveyor belt, his tone filled with intense curiosity. "How exactly did this bizarre alchemical contraption of yours discover the weapons and explosives hidden in my backpack and on my person?"

"This is a sophisticated detection array personally designed and crafted by Scholar Bay Owl." Ruixiuli casually pointed with his bone blade at the device, its outer shell still clearly marked with the square characters "X-ray Baggage Security Scanner," and explained to Saxon with a serious expression, "It utilizes the latest ultra-sensitive rune sensing technology. Even someone like you, a sorcerer, would find it wishful thinking to try and bypass its detection silently!"

"Heh." Saxon said no more, and then his figure, like smoke and dust blown away by the wind, became blurred and thinned in an instant, and finally disappeared completely.

Ruixiuli raised his head, his sharp gaze fixed on the vast expanse where the sea met the sky. In fact, the moment his identity was exposed, Saxon's true form had already quietly floated into the air and disappeared into the distance.

Tricksters are always slippery and extremely difficult targets.

However, it is only polite to reciprocate. A cold glint flashed in Ruixiuli's eyes, and his pair of pitch-black "Gossamer Wings of Darkness" suddenly unfolded behind him. He turned his head and gave a wink to Jielusi beside him, and the two of them simultaneously took off from the ground, transforming into two streaks of light and flying swiftly towards the Green Thorn Port docks.

****

Behind the wall of people noisily watching the Pansy at the Green Thorn Port dock area.

A phantom figure landed silently like smoke blown away by the wind, but in the blink of an eye, the figure completely dissolved into the air, as if it had never existed.

Nearby, a porter wearing a coarse cloth vest and covered in sweat appeared out of nowhere, casually draping a dirty towel over his sweaty shoulders and lazily moving outwards in the crowd.

Suddenly, without warning, a deep, dark black magic circle appeared between the cracks in the stone slabs beneath the porter's feet! The porter clearly hadn't expected the attack to be so precise and swift; there was no time to dodge, and he could only hastily choose to take the hit!

Boom!

A powerful magical shockwave suddenly erupted, violently sending dust and debris flying. After the impact, where were the porters? The figure of the sorcerer Saxon appeared, enveloped in a magical shield that shimmered with a pale blue aura, protecting him firmly within it.

At the same moment the spell was unleashed, Bowers appeared at the other end of the dock. Upon seeing this, the goblins on the dock screamed and scattered in all directions, creating chaos.

"Tsk, this ship has quite a few troublemakers!" Saxon spat in dissatisfaction. Some money really is hard to earn.

The man who is now intercepting him, Bowers, is the seventh Grand Magus Mentor on the Undead Wanted List! Although his combat prowess in direct combat may not be as dazzling as that of Curse Blade Ruixiuli, this old guy's methods are not to be underestimated, and he is by no means an easy target.

Moreover, Bowers was clearly prepared and determined to keep him occupied!

Fortunately, Saxon wasn't without a backup plan. Without hesitation, taking advantage of the moment when Bowers was slightly hindered by the chaotic crowd, he chose a direction and leaped away. Bowers' eyes sharpened. Knowing that his opponent's strength far surpassed his own, he still didn't hesitate at all. He pushed off with his feet and resolutely chose to give chase!

When facing the enemy in battle, one should act cautiously when one needs to protect oneself; but when battle is unavoidable, one should have the determination to face the challenge head-on and go even against a powerful enemy!

Otherwise, it's impossible to truly gain a foothold in this cruel world!

However, just as Bowers began his pursuit, a short and wiry goblin figure appeared beside him like a ghost, without warning! A dagger coated with a dark, menacing light gleamed in its hand, and it lunged like a venomous snake towards Bowers's ribs!

They're goblin thieves!

To this, Bowers was not surprised at all. He let out a low shout, and his Magic Power surged and erupted instantly, forming a powerful repulsive field!

Bang!

The Magic Power and the force of the dagger collided violently, and both figures were violently thrown back by the force!

Bowers staggered a few steps to regain his balance on the other side, while the newly appeared goblin thief landed lightly not far away. Without even glancing at Bowers, the goblin instantly transformed into a blurry afterimage, swiftly chasing after Saxon in the direction he had fled!

"Master, where are we going now?" The young goblin thief asked Saxon was running ahead, while pushing himself to the limit and weaving nimbly through the narrow alleyways.

"Split up and shake them off!" Saxon commanded decisively, "Then head back to the safe house in Green Thorn Port!"

"Alright!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the two figures suddenly veered apart at the street intersection, like streams parting ways, each shooting off in completely different directions!