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nAs time slipped away, with Code 19 responding to the threat, Roronora also closed in!

nWithout any hesitation or attempt to rescue Ali, Roronora’s dagger was thrust directly at Code 19’s face.

nIt was an unadorned, straightforward stab, characterized solely by the momentum and speed of a dragon emerging from its cave.

nThe wrist’s flick caused air turbulence, the raging airflow under the force’s pull formed a vortex at the tip of the dagger, promising to tear the target apart upon impact.

nA hit would result in injuries far beyond mere severity.

nRoronora intended not to leave Code 19 any chance of recovery, aiming to utterly destroy Code 19’s brain.

nBut, did he not fear for Ali’s life?

nThe moment Code 19 understood Roronora’s intent, a flicker of hesitation crossed him, his gaze landing on Roronora’s face.

nTheir eyes met precisely.

nWhat kind of eyes were those?

nDeeply crimson, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, Code 19 was reflected in them as though he were mere stone or rotting flesh.

nThe utmost calmness, bordering on cruelty, pure rationality governed all of Roronora’s actions.

nAs long as Code 19 could be killed, any sacrifice was permissible!

nJelia’s safety was his highest priority! In that instant, Code 19 faltered, a moment’s hesitation yielding an irreversible flaw.

nThe short sword, which should have been positioned faster, was delayed by a fifth of a second, ultimately missing Ali as she twisted her body to dodge.

nThe sword gradually realigned with the red trajectory, and as Ali rolled away, the sword tip grazed Code 19’s chest!

nSimultaneously, Roronora’s dagger was inches from Code 19’s throat.

nDespite a moment’s hesitation, Code 19’s reflexes were unmatched; at the last second, he leaned back seeking a sliver of survival.

nBut Roronora had anticipated this, his initial thrust at Code 19’s face veering off to skim past his throat instead.

nWithout pause, Roronora turned and kicked, sending Code 19 flying, a crimson arc trailing in the air from the scattered blood droplets.

nBoth the blood and Code 19 hit the ground almost at the same time, with Ali landing just before.

nCatching her breath, she stood up, sword in hand, staring at the motionless Code 19, her eyes filled with a mix of shock and disbelief.

n“I really thought I was about to die.”

nAfter catching her breath, Ali tightened her grip on the sword and took a step forward.

n“I’ll go and make sure he’s finished. Just to be sure he’s really dead.”

nBut Roronora stopped her.

n“Don’t go!”

nHis gaze now carried seriousness, the previous cold rationality mixed with a more human touch.

n“He’s not dead.”

nPositioning himself in front of Ali, he spread his hand open, the dagger spinning on his fingertip.

n“That man won’t die so easily. My last strike felt off; although I slashed his throat, the wound likely isn’t fatal.”

nWhile the throat is crucial, death typically results from asphyxiation unless a major artery like the carotid is severed.

nJudging by the amount of bleeding from Code 19, that possibility seemed unlikely.

n“Ha, ha—quite perceptive, aren’t you?”

nCode 19’s voice turned hollow and eerie, mixed with labored breathing.

n“Worthy pupils of that man.”

nStruggling to his feet, one hand on the ground for support, Code 19 stood unsteadily, his throat smeared with blood. 𝘪𝘳.𝘤𝑜

n“Had that half-elf come over just now, she would be dead by now.”

nThe moment Roronora and Ali saw Code 19’s face, they were taken aback.

nHis eyes rolled back, clearly in a state of unconsciousness!

nYet, unbelievably, the person who should have been knocked out by Roronora’s strike was standing, speaking, and moving!

nSomeone was directly controlling Code 19’s body! Ali thought of Gick.

nIf there was anyone capable of such a feat, it was Gick alone! Code 19, who should have remained unconscious under Roronora’s heavy blow, suddenly opened his eyes, standing shakily but with stiff limbs and eyes rolled back.

nHe was being controlled, his body invaded by a consciousness not his own from afar.

nRoronora and Ali exchanged glances, each harboring a seed of fear.

nThis method of controlling a person out of thin air was baffling, but clearly, if the adversary could take hold of Code 19, they might just as well take control of them.

n“You’re not Code 19… Who are you?”

nAli took a half step back under Roronora’s tug, her gaze still fixed on Code 19.

nShe had a vague suspicion about the foreign consciousness inside Code 19.

nGick.

nIn such a scenario, to accomplish this silently and unseen, only Gick had that capability.

n“Me? Haven’t you been looking for me all this time?”

nCode 19 raised his hand, extracting monochromatic mana from the ambient free-floating mana, swirling it into a vortex.

n“We just met in Oak Village not too long ago, have you forgotten me already?”

nGick!

nIt was indeed him!

nAli’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous alertness surfacing on her face.

n“Roronora, be careful, this man orchestrated the attack on the village with those cloaked assailants, and Code 19 is one of his underlings.”

nNo further explanation was needed; with those words, Roronora understood the magnitude of the threat they faced.

nHaving the power to mobilize dozens of magi within the Silverwind Kingdom, Gick’s influence was no less significant than any lord’s, even surpassing some of the smaller city lords.

nMuch like the city lord of Breeze City.

n“What do you want? I’m just an ordinary adventurer!”

nAli truly didn’t grasp Gick’s original intent in hiring her.

nIf his initial decision was to attack the village, reducing the village’s combat strength would have been the logical move.

nYet, because of Ali’s presence, a third of the attackers he sent were lost, and the majority of the village’s inhabitants survived.

nIt couldn’t all be credited to Ali, but clearly, if she hadn’t been there, wiping out the entire village in one strike was definitely achievable.

n“What do I want? I simply desire power.”

nGick, controlling Code 19’s body, raised his hand and clenched his fist so hard that the veins on his hand stood out from the exertion.

n“Without power, everyone can only look up.”

n“And looking up for too long will strain the neck.”

nGick paused before continuing, “You might not be aware of the origins of that village.”

n“Are you planning to give us a history lesson?”

nAli sneered, her gaze fixed on Gick, who was hiding within Code 19’s body, contemplating if there was a way to strike at his true form directly.

nMana is a force capable of creating miracles; with the right application, it can achieve almost anything.

n“A history lesson? Well, that’s not entirely off the table.”

nSurprisingly, Gick nodded, sat down cross-legged on the ground, and touched the wound on his throat.

nDue to the wind leaking through his throat wound, Code 19 himself couldn’t speak; the voice Ali and Roronora were hearing was Gick using mana to simulate his own.

n“Since you know nothing, let me enlighten you about the past of this land.”

n“Wait a minute!”

nAli abruptly interrupted Gick.

nSomething was off.

nWasn’t the person in front of them supposed to be the final boss?

nIt was odd enough he showed up halfway through, but now he started giving a lesson?

nWhy couldn’t he just wield a knife and attack?

nA swift confrontation, the blade entering white and leaving red, and the matter would be resolved.

n“What are you really after? You attack the village, arrange for my assassination, and now you’re planning to ‘educate’ us right here? What do you take us for?”

n“Wasn’t it you who wanted me to conduct a lesson?”

nGick rubbed his head but, upon raising his hand, realized the body wasn’t his own and lowered it again, resting his palm on his ankle, tilting his chin up slightly.

n“I’ve made my purpose clear from the beginning; I seek power.”

n“You must have noticed what that village conceals. And no, I’m not talking about the legacy left behind by some individual. While that legacy might hold value, the usefulness of ancient knowledge in our era remains uncertain. I wouldn’t risk so much for an unknown.”

nNot for the village’s legacy?

nAli furrowed her brows, sensing the situation might be veering off her initial assumptions.

nGick was aware of the legacy, but did he know Roronora was brought from within it?

nDid he know Jelia had entered the legacy?

nAnd, ultimately, was he speaking the truth now?

nSuddenly, Ali grew concerned for Jelia’s safety.

n“Hmm, Monka clearly kept quite a few secrets from the other villagers. Rudo might know something, but it’s definitely not everything.”

nUndoubtedly, the signs suggested Gick had a unique familiarity with the subhuman village, even likely having lived there for a considerable period.

n𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝑚

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