Leoni

Next, if we can get Bulukka to talk, we can obtain information about Saxon, learn about his cunning ways and his extensive network of safe houses, and thus completely shrink the sorcerer's living space and range of activities.

When dealing with a slippery and cunning enemy like the Saxon, patience and intelligence are undoubtedly the most lethal weapons!

However, just as the dust settled and everyone relaxed slightly, Ruixiuli's pupils suddenly contracted to needle size, and an extremely subtle energy fluctuation, like the throbbing of a dormant volcano before it awakens, suddenly erupted from the imprisoned Bulukka!

"Danger!" Ruixiuli reacted the fastest, lunging at Jielusi was closer and roughly pulling her away.

As he passed Bowers, his right foot lashed out with lightning speed, striking Bowers squarely in the side and sending him flying through the air!

Bulukka rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on the sorcerer's belt around his waist, a gift from Saxon that he had once been so proud of.

His eyes were filled with disbelief, a complex mix of shock and despair.

"Master, you--?!" Bulukka's heart-wrenching question was only half-uttered.

Boom--!!!

A deafening explosion suddenly erupted, and the violent energy instantly engulfed Bulukka! His entire body disintegrated like fragile pottery in the blinding flash and shockwave, completely shattering into a thick cloud of blood mist that filled the air, emitting a burnt and pungent smell, mixed with countless flying, charred pieces of bone and flesh.

****

On the other side of Green Thorn Port, in the central district.

Zijin and Su Ming pursued the trail, but Saxon's aura, like a cunning fish, sometimes vanished without a trace and sometimes suddenly appeared, eventually leading the two to this chaotic area.

The houses in the central district were far less orderly than those in the port and upper districts; they were crooked and crammed together, as if they might collapse at any moment. The air was thick with the smell of corrosive metal, mixed with some indescribable, nauseating stench that pressed down on one's chest.

Su Ming frowned, carefully avoiding a sticky stain by the roadside that shimmered with an eerie glow, and warily surveyed his surroundings. Zijin, on the other hand, hovered dozens of meters above the ground, like a light elf, her sharp gaze sweeping over the maze-like streets below.

The scent of Saxon lingered nearby, like an invisible spider's web. Su Ming looked around and saw various short, hunched figures weaving in and out among the piles of debris and low buildings. Sharp, piercing shouts rose and fell, hawking inferior mechanical parts, suspicious-smelling potions, and charred meat of unknown origin. The cacophony was a headache.

With so many goblins here, which one is their target?

"What is Saxon doing?" Su Ming asked, puzzled. "He should have had the chance to shake us off completely a long time ago."

"[I think he's observing our characteristics and collecting our behavioral patterns.]" Zijin calmly replied. "[This guy is petty; he's definitely looking for an opportunity to ambush us!]"

Even Saint Rank Trickster would find it difficult to inflict fatal damage on Su Ming and Zijin with a single sneak attack. However, such an act was extremely disgusting. Moreover, the fact that Zijin described the other party as petty meant that this guy must hold a grudge to a considerable degree!

Su Ming gritted his teeth inwardly, [That really is a troublesome bastard!]

[And even if Saxon chooses to endure now, he will surely seize the opportunity to strike again and retaliate tenfold later.] Zijin said, equally annoyed. [No matter what, we must find a way to bring him out!]

Su Ming quickly considered a solution. The technology and equipment available to them would hardly help them distinguish such a master of disguise from the ordinary goblins around them.

The Zijin suddenly descended and landed lightly on the muddy ground beside Su Ming.

Wasn't it agreed that he would explore from below while she would keep watch from the air? Su Ming was puzzled. He glanced back at the girl, and then he froze.

At this moment, Zijin was already wearing the newly bought cat-ear woolen hat!

The hat, worn on the girl's head, exudes a vitality that cannot be felt when held in hand. Its soft, milky-grey tone further radiates a warm, fuzzy aura.

The two meticulously designed cat ears were not perfectly symmetrical; one tilted slightly forward, as if listening, while the other tilted back slightly, exuding a playful and lazy feel. They complemented her everyday oatmeal-colored duffle coat perfectly, creating a warm, healing, and innocent atmosphere for this girl who usually had a cool and aloof demeanor.

It inevitably evokes images of a cat curled up on a windowsill on a warm winter afternoon, the soft touch of a ball of yarn, and its comforting purring.

Even more outrageous, the matching cat paw gloves have also been put on by Zijin, with her pink and realistic paw pads peeking out from between her fingers.

The surrounding noise paused. The goblins who were busy at work, whether they were vendors or passersby, were involuntarily drawn to the beautiful girl who had descended from the sky with her unique temperament. Even goblins with their different aesthetic tastes have an instinctive and shared appreciation and curiosity for pure and uniquely beautiful things.

The scholar had absolutely no idea what boundaries were. Her small hands, clad in pink cat-paw gloves, were curled up in front of her chest, and she let out an unusually soft, sweet "Meow~"

That wasn't all; she even playfully winked at Su Ming, who was standing right next to her!

Su Ming's heart felt as if it had been struck by an invisible hammer! He completely lost consciousness.

At the same time this scene unfolded, a goblin vendor who had been unremarkable selling parts nearby suddenly raised his rough hand, slapped his thigh hard, and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Hahaha! Miss Belladonna, you've really got it! I surrender! I surrender!"

As the vendor laughed, his ordinary coarse cloth clothes slid off like peeling skin, revealing an old, tattered, dark robe covered in suspicious stains, and the cunning, hunched figure of an old goblin.

Su Ming suddenly turned his head, "Lord Saxon?"

"It is I." The old goblin, the sorcerer Saxon, gave a perfunctory bow, his movements exaggerated. As he straightened up, his tattered robe seemed to come alive, the light and shadow on its surface began to distort and sway violently, and his figure became blurred, as if several translucent shadows overlapped and flickered around him, making it difficult to pinpoint his location.

Su Ming's hand, which had been instinctively reaching for the holster at his waist, stopped. Faced with this strange situation, even if a bullet missed, it might not actually touch the hem of his clothes.

With a blank expression, Zijin removed her fluffy cat-paw gloves, but still wore her adorable hat. With a flick of her wrist, the Divine Favor Scepter, radiating a mysterious, eerie light, appeared out of thin air in her hand. She twirled it lightly, the tip of the scepter drawing a cold arc of light.

Su Ming had now roughly figured out the reason behind Zijin's actions.

An ordinary goblin, upon seeing a cute girl wearing a cat-ear hat and meowing like a cat, would surely find it novel and interesting, perhaps even appreciating the beauty of things.

The problem is, to those who know her identity, this woman is none other than the infamous Belladonna!

Even for a professional actor like Saxon, who is used to seeing bizarre and outlandish sorcerers, his psychological defenses collapsed instantly when he witnessed the extreme contrast of the scholar lady's forced cuteness, and he could no longer maintain his disguised merchant persona!

But if this exposes Saxon's weakness, then the reaction of another person on the scene is equally suspicious.

The three of them simultaneously turned their gaze to a simple tea stall on the street corner. There, a human who had been sitting there was now clutching his stomach, his shoulders shaking violently, clearly trying to suppress a burst of wild laughter.

Seeing the three men's gazes shooting towards him like arrows, the human also suppressed his smile and calmly stood up.

"A pleasure to meet you." He nodded slightly to Saxon, his voice steady. "Your Excellency, the Trickster."

"Oh?" Saxon was quite surprised. "Why did you come all this way here—have you recovered from your injury?"

Su Ming quickly sized up the other person: their skin had a pale hue from being exposed to little sunlight. Their facial bone structure was relatively flat, their nasal cavity was wide, their eyes were long and narrow with obvious epicanthal folds, and their eye sockets appeared unusually deep due to thicker subcutaneous fat.

These are typical characteristics of people who have lived in high-latitude, cold regions for a long time. Su Ming, who had just left the Northern Lands, was very familiar with them.

The goblins who had been watching the commotion finally realized something was wrong and began to scatter in panic.

But they didn't leave completely. Instead, they searched for gaps in the wooden crates, behind rags, and in the corners of low walls to hide. Pairs of curious and fearful eyes peeked out from the dark corners, accompanied by chattering, incomprehensible whispers and arguments, adding a layer of chaotic and unsettling background noise to the suddenly empty space.

Zijin frowned slightly, then raised her hand without hesitation, and an invisible dark energy spread out instantly like ripples.

Shadow Shock!

A chilling sense of fear, like a tangible tide, unexpectedly overwhelmed the minds of those who were spying.

These ordinary goblins were completely unable to resist the power of Zijin's magic. They were instantly gripped by terror, letting out short screams as they rushed out of their hiding places and scrambled away from the area. After a moment of panicked commotion, the surrounding area quickly became deathly silent and empty.

Only a few withered yellow leaves remained, swirling silently from the bare branches as they drifted down.

The man, who appeared to be from the Northern Lands, deftly picked up the quiver full of arrows from the greasy wooden table, slung it over his shoulder, and pulled out an antique-looking longbow from his baggage.

He placed one hand on his chest and gave Su Ming and Zijin a simple yet standard bow.

"Leoni, the Forest Ranger, Bone King and Bay Owl, it's a pleasure to meet you!"