Yun Fan leaned down and whispered a few words into Sampo's ear. The latter's expression shifted from an ingratiating smile to astonishment, then from astonishment to sheer terror.
"Mr. Yun Fan, y-you can't be serious, right? I just barely escaped from that woman named Topaz! Are you sending me back to deliver myself on a platter?" Sampo instantly felt like his whole world had turned upside down. Not long ago, in the upper districts, he had heard commotion coming from the snowy outskirts. Thinking it might be some treasure manifesting, the ever-opportunistic Sampo had eagerly rushed over to investigate.
Who would have guessed that a woman from the Interastral Peace Corporation would suddenly ambush him? If he hadn't used Path energy to leave behind a puppet decoy, he would probably have been captured by her by now.
If he were caught, all his hard-earned Mora would be confiscated to pay off his debts.
"Heh, aren't you a follower of Aha? Surely you're not this spineless?" Yun Fan chuckled lightly and shook his head. As for Sampo's words… well, if he asked a question and his dog Wangcai barked twice in response, even that would hold more truth than anything Sampo said.
"Fine, I won't send you empty-handed. Take this—consider it your reward." Casually tossing a badge to Sampo, Yun Fan resumed sipping his red wine.
As a descendant of Lu in Blue Star, Yun Fan deeply understood the principles of "convincing through reason" and "winning hearts through virtue." Sampo was the type who wouldn't lift a finger without benefit. Giving him a little incentive would make it easier to get him to work. While absolute force could coerce him, that would ultimately be a last resort.
"This is… an Interastral Peace Corporation insignia badge? No… there seems to be something else inside." Sampo quickly noticed the peculiarity of the badge in his hand. Beneath its cold, glossy metal exterior, there seemed to be a strange power hidden within.
"I've imbued this badge with the authority of causality. Using it will temporarily make you a Pathstrider of the Path of Causality," Yun Fan said indifferently. To him, this was nothing more than a trivial matter.
Hearing this, Sampo's eyes lit up. He hurriedly wiped away the nonexistent dust from the badge, then bowed and took his leave.
After exiting the tavern, Sampo finally relaxed slightly. However, a question lingered in his mind: Why does this Aeon want me to kidnap that corporate woman? Could it be… this lord has an interest in human females?
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That night…
"He's here." In the Goethe Hotel in the lower districts, Dan Heng, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. His sharp gaze fixed on the window. Through his senses, he could tell that Blade had arrived on Jarilo-VI and was now moving toward the lower districts.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Dan Heng decided to handle the matter of Blade alone. There was no particular reason—Blade had come for him, and he couldn't involve his companions in danger.
Leaving a note for March 7th and Stelle, Dan Heng departed the hotel alone. As for the girls' safety, though Yun Fan's whereabouts were unknown and he wasn't traveling with them, Dan Heng could sense that Yun Fan's gaze had never left them. He trusted that Yun Fan wouldn't let March or Stelle fall into harm's way.
Meanwhile…
"Outsider, halt your advance."
At the entrance to the lower districts, Lynx and Blade had just stepped out when they were intercepted by a group of mechanical soldiers. Leading them was a humanoid robot wearing pants and a fur-lined coat, while the others resembled bizarrely shaped machines—some like traffic lights, others like fists.
Tch. Honestly, even Svarog's outfit looks pretty weird when you think about it.
"Oh? Heh. Are you trying to stop me, you pile of scrap?" Blade's voice was devoid of emotion as he addressed the mechanical soldiers blocking his path.
"Outsider, you do not belong in the lower districts. Return immediately, or the units will automatically execute the annihilation protocol." Svarog issued a warning to Blade, simultaneously charging the laser cannon in his hand, ready to initiate combat at any moment.
"Ha ha ha ha! How amusing. Let's see if you can give me a pleasant surprise, then!" Blade burst into maniacal laughter before spreading his arms open toward Svarog.
Seeing this, Lynx, who stood behind him, immediately sensed danger and quickly retreated, putting dozens of meters between herself and Blade.
The petite girl hid behind a barricade, peeking out timidly with half her head as she watched the confrontation unfold in fear.
"Hostility level of target confirmed… Negotiation failed! Activating annihilation protocol!"
Svarog's mechanical voice reached Lynx's ears. A crimson laser shot from his palm, aimed directly at Blade's heart. At the same time, the mechanical soldiers behind him unleashed a barrage of artillery fire, engulfing Blade in a storm of bullets and explosions.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM…!
A series of explosions kicked up clouds of dust, the relentless blasts forcing Lynx to clamp her hands over her ears. She could hardly believe it—had that man, who had effortlessly defeated her brother, really died just like that?
"Annihilation protocol complete. Initiating recovery sequence—"
"Ha ha ha ha…!!!" Before Svarog could finish, a deranged laugh erupted from within the dust.
"Other Shore—Funeral!"
In the next instant, a massive crimson blade of wind tore through the haze, slicing toward the mechanical soldiers. In the blink of an eye, every last one of them was reduced to scrap. Even Svarog, their leader, suffered severe damage, his body crackling with sparks.
Talent Skill: Sudden Bestowal!
"Error in protocol execution… Repeating sequence… Error…" The giant red eye on Svarog's forehead flickered incessantly—Blade's attack had dealt critical damage.
"Tch. Just a heap of junk, after all." Blade didn't bother finishing him off. In his eyes, it would be a waste of time. After all, would a human bother delivering a coup de grâce to an ant?
"Hey, shorty. Come here. Keep leading the way." Blade waved dismissively at Lynx, who was still hiding behind the barricade, his tone icy.
"Ah? Y-yes, sir! I'll—I'll keep guiding you right away!" Lynx stumbled out from behind cover, trembling. What she had just witnessed had nearly made her jaw drop.
What kind of monster is this?! He took all those attacks head-on and didn't die? I saw that laser pierce straight through his chest! How is he completely unharmed? How is that even possible?
Noticing Lynx's mix of fear and curiosity, Blade smirked faintly. "Are you wondering why I'm not dead?"