Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Red Flower
"I’m thinking of a story."
Drake’s voice suddenly rose.
"Following the Rod Squad’s fate, the Marcus Squad also met its end in the Mist Cave, chopped into a bloody pulp by those ugly goblins."
"And my squad, just happening to pass by, kindly collected your bodies and, while we were at it, took care of that pack of goblins... How does that sound?"
The members of Drake’s squad standing behind him all broke into greedy, cruel smiles.
This was a business deal worth fifty to sixty Gold Coins... Getting their hands a little bloody for that was no big deal, was it?
"You must be daydreaming," Valles retorted coldly.
"Ha, another half-breed mutt."
Drake grinned.
"Think a little Elf blood makes you noble? I gave you and that Mage kid a chance, but you just had to rush headfirst toward your deaths."
Zelir’s expression soured.
’Damn it... Looks like they’re serious.’
There wasn’t another soul around, which meant no witnesses.
Besides, his squad had just gone through a major battle and was low on Physical Strength.
’If a fight breaks out... the situation is extremely unfavorable for us.’
The atmosphere in the forest clearing suddenly grew taut, as if invisible blades were spreading out in all directions.
Marcus slowly raised his Shield, Graygak tightened his grip on the hilts of his sword and axe, and Valles’s hand rested on his Quiver.
Just as Zelir was about to make a move, an angry shout came from the opposing side.
"Hey, Mage kid! Don’t move your hands! Stay put!"
The two Rangers in Drake Squad reacted with extreme speed. They immediately drew their bows and nocked their arrows, two sharp arrowheads aimed steadily at Zelir.
The corner of Zelir’s eye twitched.
Not to be outdone, Valles also drew an Arrow and aimed, locking onto the space between one of the Ranger’s eyebrows. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"SHING! SHING! SHING!"
With the crisp scrape of metal on metal, both sides had drawn their weapons. The situation deteriorated in an instant.
"Keep your eyes on that Mage! If he dares to move an inch, shoot to kill!" Drake snarled.
’Who knows what kind of Magic he might use? Better to be on guard.’
’Damn it...’
Zelir cursed inwardly, not daring to make another rash move.
’Why are they all staring at me?’
He couldn’t keep a straight face while using Energy Storage Magic, and there would be slight Magic Waves around him. Anyone observing closely could easily spot the signs.
"I advise you not to do this, Drake."
Marcus warned in a low voice, "Leave now, and I can pretend none of this ever happened..."
"Are you in any position to say that to me?" The greedy, cruel expression on Drake’s face didn’t fade in the slightest.
His gaze swept over everyone one by one.
’Useless Marcus, the Beastman half-breed mutt, the blond pretty-boy, the Elf half-breed mutt, the Mage kid, and... one more...’
Drake’s expression froze.
’Wait... Where’s the female Assassin?’
’I’m sure I saw her just a moment ago?’
"Looking for me?"
A lazy female voice suddenly rang out from the very back.
Drake and his teammates whipped their heads around.
A dagger was pressed against Richie’s Adam’s apple.
The sudden sharp sensation made Richie’s eyes go wide. Cold sweat dripped down his face, and he didn’t dare make the slightest move.
Hill slowly emerged from the shadows behind Richie, her tone casual yet dangerous.
"I’m right here."
’Damn it!’
Seeing this, Drake was shocked.
’When did she sneak up behind the squad? How did so many of us not notice a thing!’
"Captain, be calm... You have to stay calm!"
Richie begged, stammering, "Don’t do anything rash!"
He could feel the cold blade had already broken the surface of his skin and was gradually pressing deeper.
Soon, Richie wouldn’t even have the luxury of making a sound.
If his vocal cords moved again, the blade would plunge straight in.
Hill glanced around the clearing with an indifferent expression, her gaze a naked threat.
’Useless!!!’
Drake cursed furiously in his mind.
’They’re both Assassins, yet ours was the one taken down first!’
’Absolutely incompetent!’
Richie was cursing his luck as well.
He had just locked onto the Mage and was preparing to use Stealth to launch a sneak attack.
But he never expected that the moment the thought occurred to him, the enemy Assassin’s dagger was already at his throat.
’When did she get here? Why didn’t I hear a thing?’
For an Assassin, this was a complete humiliation. It meant their skills weren’t even in the same league.
On the other side, the members of Marcus Squad felt a surge of confidence.
’Well done!’
’Hill seized the initiative. As expected of a Middle Level Assassin, a player specializing in PvP!’
Zelir was already cheering for Hill in his mind.
"Are you sure you want to fight? You’d better think it through before you decide, Drake!" Marcus took the opportunity to apply pressure.
Drake’s expression was a storm of indecision. He looked at Hill, then back at Marcus, his resolve wavering.
’If a fight breaks out, my side will be down one person immediately. The risk is just too great...’
Finally, Drake gritted his teeth and spat out a sentence, filled with reluctance.
"You win! We’re leaving!"
Marcus Squad let out a collective sigh of relief.
On Drake’s side, the two Rangers aiming at Zelir slowly relaxed their bowstrings.
However, at that very moment.
"SPURT."
A hot, red flower blossomed on Richie’s neck.
He clutched his throat and fell to the ground, convulsing, but he couldn’t stop the column of blood that gushed out, quickly dyeing the grass a vivid red.
Everyone froze. It was as if time had stopped in that instant.
’Hill... She actually did it?’
’She actually killed Richie?!’
Although no one had expected Hill to simply slit his throat, this was no time to dwell on it.
After a brief moment of silence, both sides reacted swiftly.
The balance had been broken. Now, there was only one option left.
"Attack!!!"
Marcus and Drake roared at the same time.
The moment Hill finished off Richie, she didn’t even spare him a second glance, instead charging directly toward her next target.
Her bonelessly lithe body dropped low, and she slithered forward like a viper hugging the ground, aiming straight for the Ranger up ahead!
The two Rangers instinctively drew their bows again, but in their haste, they had no time to aim, firing their Arrows at Zelir based on instinct alone.
"Urgh...!"
Zelir cried out in pain as he fell to the ground.
At almost the same time, a much more ferocious whistling sound tore through the air.
Even without being enhanced by Fighting Qi, Valles’s Arrow still carried power far beyond that of a normal shot.
A cyan stream of light, fired second but arriving first, slammed directly into one of the Ranger’s heads.
"SPLAT!"
The Ranger’s head shattered like a watermelon, sending red and white matter flying everywhere!
As for the other Ranger, a spray of blood also erupted from his neck.
The sharp edge of a blade jutted out from his throat; Hill had stabbed him straight through from behind!
"Kill them!!!"
Drake Squad’s composition was one Vanguard, one Assassin, two Swordsmen, and two Rangers.