Chapter 42

As the palm was about to touch the coat pocket, Qin Ran suddenly grabbed the hand and twisted it slightly.

Crack!

The sound of a joint dislocating echoed.

[Grapple: Suppress the opponent by two levels, causing 20 points of life damage, dislocate the opponent's joint...]

"Ah!"

"Let go! Let go! My wrist is broken!"

The intense pain made the thief cry out.

In the face of the pain, the thief made no attempt to hide, shouting loudly and kneeling down, tears streaming down his face.

The sudden shout and change drew the attention of everyone around.

The hostage-taker and Carl, who was confronting the killer, were no exception.

However, the former reacted more quickly.

He suddenly pushed the hostage towards Carl, blocking Carl, and then wildly swung the dagger, running towards the crowd.

The people around, in the face of the sharp dagger, all avoided it.

A green channel was thus formed.

But at the end of the channel, Qin Ran's figure slowly appeared.

"Get out of the way!"

Facing Qin Ran, who was blocking his escape, the killer had no intention of holding back, stabbing the dagger straight at Qin Ran.

The dagger was fast and fierce.

But it lacked accuracy and the necessary skill.

To Qin Ran, who had mastered [Cold Weapon. Dagger], the stab was full of flaws.

Apart from having some strength, it was utterly useless.

And such strength was only compared to ordinary people.

Compared to Qin Ran, whose strength had reached the E- level, it was far too weak.

Qin Ran stood there, calculating the opponent's attack, not dodging or avoiding.

To the onlookers, it seemed that Qin Ran was completely scared stiff.

Poor guy!

Pity appeared in the eyes of many onlookers.

Of course, this was the limit of their compassion.

As for saving him?

Just look at how they moved further away, fearing that the blood about to spurt out would splash on them, and you would know their choice.

However, not everyone was indifferent.

"Be careful!"

After pushing the hostage in front of him aside, Carl saw this scene and immediately shouted loudly.

At the same time, he struggled to get up from the ground and rushed towards Qin Ran's position.

But just as the young police officer stood up, the crazily charging killer was suddenly thrown back, falling in front of him, vomiting blood.

What happened?

Carl was stunned.

The onlookers around him had the same expression.

It was too fast, everything happened in a flash, and no one saw what happened clearly.

Only Qin Ran, as the party involved, knew what happened.

As the killer was about to approach him, Qin Ran slightly moved his feet, then lifted his leg and kicked straight. The dagger grazed Qin Ran's coat, but Qin Ran's kick landed squarely on the killer's abdomen.

Qin Ran's strength had already reached the E- level.

When using his legs to attack, triggering the [Hand-to-Hand Combat] special effect, which increased his leg combat proficiency, his strength increased by +1, reaching the E level.

Such strength was far beyond that of a normal person.

According to Qin Ran's exchanges with 'Lawless,' using 'Strength' as an example:

F-: Less than an adult male, the strength of women is at this level.

F: The strength of a normal adult male.

F+: The strength of those who exercise regularly, such as laborers at stations and docks.

E-: Amateur weightlifters.

E: Elite professional weightlifters.

E+: Absolute champions among weightlifters.

And above E+, entering D, was the realm of innate strength.

Qin Ran's strength, of course, did not count as innate strength, not even reaching the E+ level of 'absolute champions among weightlifters.' Even reaching the E level of 'elite professional weightlifters' was due to triggering the [Hand-to-Hand Combat] special effect, but this did not negate Qin Ran's strength, which was already far beyond that of a normal person.

Just look at the killer lying on the ground, vomiting blood, unable to get up.

[Direct Kick: Caused 70 (Hand-to-Hand Combat [Proficient]) points of life damage...]

"Carl, I think he's the killer you're looking for!"

"Take him back to John. I think John, who is in a mess, will be very happy!"

"By the way, this guy is one of a group of thieves nearby! You should be able to catch a pickpocket gang from him!"

If they don't offend me, I won't offend them.

Initially, Qin Ran chose to ignore these thieves.

Because Qin Ran knew that around the train station, such people were like weeds. If one disappeared, others would quickly take their place, just like how wild grass never dies and grows again in the spring.

But in the end, these guys attacked him.

And almost ruined his original plan.

Now that it had come to this, Qin Ran would not remain indifferent.

Qin Ran was not someone who was used to enduring humiliation.

He was more accustomed to taking the initiative to solve problems.

"Yes, sir!"

The young police officer came to his senses at Qin Ran's words, but his stammering indicated that he was still in shock.

This, of course, had nothing to do with Qin Ran.

[Side Quest: The Corpse in the Police Station! (Completed)]

Seeing the notification of the completed side quest, Qin Ran quickly walked to the side, raising his hand to hail a carriage.

Qin Ran did not forget that he had more important things to do.

"St. Paul's School!"

Qin Ran said to the driver.

...

St. Paul's School, the prefix alone was enough to explain its nature.

A church school.

Like all church schools, St. Paul's School was known for its strict rules and high-quality education.

Especially the latter, which made the parents of the city very willing to send their children to study there. This became even more so after the 'No Forced Faith' decree was issued.

However, in response, St. Paul's School also raised its tuition fees.

From a low price, it became an expensive semi-public, semi-church school.

But the strict rules and high-quality education remained unchanged.

In short, it had become an elite school in the city.

Children from wealthy families were the only ones who could think about entering.

Sitting in the carriage, Qin Ran recalled everything about St. Paul's School.

Qin Ran did not give much evaluation.

Whether it was the 'No Forced Faith' decree or the changes in church schools, it was all inevitable.

With the appearance of gunpowder and firearms, and the spread of knowledge, all of this was bound to happen.

But, privileges were still retained—

Qin Ran's carriage had not yet truly approached St. Paul's School when it was stopped by a police officer.

At both ends of the street where the school was located, there were guard booths.

Inside, there were patrol officers on duty 24 hours a day.

And this was not all of St. Paul's School's security forces.

Inside the school, there was a 'Campus Guard Team' that was completely under the school's command.

The latter was the focus in Qin Ran's eyes.

After all, Altria Hunter could not have spontaneously learned swordsmanship and shooting, and the weapons were definitely not something she could obtain. Given the businessman Hunter's concern for his daughter, he would never allow his daughter to get close to such things.

Altria Hunter understood this as well.

So, she hid the things very secretly.

And the method of hiding, Qin Ran believed, was taught by someone.

At least, creating a hidden compartment in the floor without damaging the ceiling below was not something an ordinary person could do.

Someone must have taught Altria Hunter swordsmanship, shooting, and how to hide—both objects and herself.

Deceiving her parents was not an easy task.

Qin Ran believed that the person who taught Altria Hunter would be a key clue.

It was clear that Altria Hunter trusted this person, and after 'running away from home,' she would most likely contact them.

With these thoughts in mind, Qin Ran did not react slowly. Facing the patrol officer's inquiry, he immediately took out his appointment letter.

"Sir, you may pass, but only on foot!"

"Okay!"

Qin Ran did not argue with the officer.

For Qin Ran, who was going to investigate and search, he did not want to cause any unpleasantness before he even truly entered the place.

He settled the fare with the driver.

Qin Ran quickly walked towards the school gate.

The old school gate displayed the history of St. Paul's School, while the new teaching building showed its vitality.

"Sir, please stop!"

As Qin Ran approached the school gate, he encountered a second check.

The man was middle-aged, clearly a member of the Campus Guard Team, wearing a loose cassock. But Qin Ran, with his keen senses, noticed that the man was likely carrying a weapon under the cassock.

Not a dagger or short sword, but probably a flintlock gun.

"Strict security!"

Qin Ran thought to himself, but he cooperated, stopping and explaining his purpose: "I am Qin Ran, a police consultant, here for some matters!"

Qin Ran was unsure if the man knew about Altria Hunter's disappearance.

But considering the impact on Altria Hunter, Qin Ran chose to be vague.

Faced with Qin Ran's vagueness, the man frowned.

However, seeing Qin Ran's appointment letter, the man did not press further, just gesturing to the side.

Immediately, another guard in the same attire ran into the school.

"You need to wait! I cannot let you enter the campus on my own— even with a police appointment letter!"

The man said.

"Of course!"

Qin Ran smiled.

Time passed minute by minute.

Qin Ran patiently waited in place.

About ten minutes later, the guard who had left returned, followed by an elderly lady.

From her attire, she was a nun.