Chapter 30

As everyone watched, he had just raised his hand, and in the next moment, his figure instantly disappeared. The bright and dazzling sword blade, accompanied by the sound of breaking air, flashed forward, directly piercing towards Orland's right hand.

What incredible speed!

Faced with Rod's sudden attack, Orland was greatly alarmed. Although he had mentally prepared himself, what he saw with his eyes and what he actually experienced were completely different. He only felt a blur before his eyes, and then he saw Rod's sword blade already piercing towards his right hand.

To avoid the attack, Orland had no choice but to retreat, forcing him to leave Helen. At this point, he no longer had any hope of completing the mission. The gap in strength between the two sides was too great, and now the only option was to flee. With this thought, Orland no longer hesitated. He rolled backward in the face of Rod's attack, then suddenly leaped up and dashed towards the nearby bushes.

However, Rod clearly had no intention of letting him get away.

Rod, who had missed with his sword, did not choose to retreat. Instead, looking at the rapidly fleeing figure, a slight smile flashed across his lips, barely noticeable. Then, the long sword in his hand paused for a moment before thrusting forward again.

The shining beam of light, which had been ready to burst forth, erupted from the sword, swirling and splitting as it howled forward, as if it had been prepared all along, aiming at Orland not far away.

Rod's sword stroke was clearly unusual, as the Broken Blade did not shoot straight at the figure not far ahead as others had expected, but instead veered upward at an angle, seemingly missing. This thought was not only held by Ben, who was standing at a distance, but also by Lise and Mace, who had poked his head out of the carriage.

But in the next moment, they all widened their eyes in surprise.

At that moment, Orland, who had been running backward, suddenly jumped up, actively moving towards Rod's attack.

In fact, as he jumped, Orland had already sensed something was wrong. This was a habitual action of thieves, who, to avoid attacks from pursuers, instinctively made some evasive movements while retreating. Orland jumped to avoid Rod's attack, but he did not expect Rod to have predicted his move. This jump not only failed to dodge the attack but also placed him right in the path of the blade!

At this moment, Orland was greatly alarmed. He wanted to change his position, but it was too late.

The Broken Blade, with Orland's "selfless" cooperation, hit his right shoulder and back without missing. The poor thief only managed to let out a scream of agony before flying straight out and crashing into the bushes.

It was only then that Rod sheathed his sword and slowly walked towards Orland.

"Ugh... Ah..."

Lying in the bushes, enduring the pain in his shoulder and back, Orland gritted his teeth. Hearing the footsteps, he instinctively tried to flee, but before he could stand up, the white blade pierced through his right hand like a bolt of lightning.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Orland's heart-wrenching scream made everyone's hearts tighten. In contrast, Rod remained calm, as if it were nothing. This further changed everyone's perception of Rod. Clearly, this young man's composure in such a situation was abnormal.

However, Rod did not see it that way. His actions were not out of deliberate cruelty but rather a habit from the game. After all, in the game, players' underhanded and shameless ambushes were even more professional and vicious, and these people in the game did not fear pain. The only way to keep these guys from fleeing or logging out was to keep them in combat. Rod's sword stroke was simply a continuation of his habit from the online game. Seeing the other party about to run, he instinctively thrust his sword, to prevent the other party from "forced logout."

However, after the sword was thrust, and hearing Orland's scream, Rod realized this was reality, not a game—but it didn't matter.

Putting aside the idle thoughts in his mind, Rod approached the black-clothed man, then reached out and slowly pulled the sword out.

"Aaaaah... Aaaaah!!!"

Orland was almost rolling his eyes in pain. His right hand, unable to bear the extreme pain, began to twitch uncontrollably. Even his left hand, which was free, could not stop Rod, and could only instinctively pound the ground. This scene made everyone's hearts chill; they had never seen such a cruel sight. Although the other party was their enemy, seeing him meet such a fate was truly terrifying.

Lise stood at a distance, quietly watching Rod, who remained calm. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes. At that moment, she recalled what Rod had said to her in the inn.

"I'm not saying this to repay your kindness, Lise. I've already brought you out, and in this regard, we no longer owe each other anything. You don't owe me anything, and I don't owe you anything. I can tell you that my purpose is not to repay your kindness. I have my own goals, and that's why I need strength. This is the reason I proposed this. I can assure you that in two years, I will develop it into a powerful mercenary guild, but I must also warn you that I might take some means you cannot accept. So, I hope you will think carefully, Lise. If you accept my proposal, you must first be mentally prepared. I will not allow anyone to obstruct me. I have my reasons, but you don't need to know them... I understand your feelings, so I won't force you to agree, but I must warn you about the consequences of agreeing—it might exceed what you can bear."

At that time, Lise did not fully understand Rod's words, but she admitted that she was indeed shocked by his statement. On the other hand, deep in her heart, she felt a bit of relief. After all, Rod's admission that he had ulterior motives, though hard to accept, was more convincing than unconditional help. However, she still did not understand what in a nearly dissolved mercenary group had caught Rod's eye. Since Rod was unwilling to explain, she could not continue to ask.

Now, seeing this scene, Lise's heart began to waver. His attack on Helen was something neither Ben nor Lise had expected. Her timely casting of the Guardian Shield was a flash of inspiration, not a result of默契配合. Through this battle, Lise seemed to finally understand Rod's meaning.

She had thought it was simple: just recruit more people, bite the bullet, and take on missions to save the mercenary group. But was it really that simple? Lise had been a mercenary for years and knew how cruel the mercenary world was. Everyone fought for survival. The Moonbow Mercenary Group had once been a medium-sized group, but now it was in this state. She had seen with her own eyes how the mercenary group, which felt like her home, had declined.

Could she do it? Rebuild the mercenary group?

Lise asked herself, and she knew she could not. Even the original leader, Carter, who was usually easy to get along with, would occasionally show a cold and determined side. Lise felt she could not do this; she lacked the ability and was unwilling to do it.

Thinking of this, Lise involuntarily turned her gaze to Rod.

He had not told her what he wanted, but his expression was so firm, without a hint of confusion or doubt.

What about her? For her dreams, for her goals, how should she act?

Thinking of this, the girl bit her lower lip tightly and clenched her hands.

As Lise decided her future, Rod had already leisurely pulled out his long sword. He glanced at the blood on the blade, flicked it off, and then looked down at the black-clothed man writhing in pain on the ground.

"Although I think you understand what I want to ask, to avoid you pretending, I'll ask one more time. Who are you, and what do you want?"

"Ugh... Ugh..."

Orland curled up, the pain in his right hand making it almost impossible for him to form a complete sentence. He looked up at the young man before him, unable to understand why he had been so unlucky to provoke such a person.

"I... I... I am..."

Fear of the enemy and the pain in his body had already worn down Orland's will. He had almost no resistance left and could only answer Rod's questions in a low voice. But before he could finish a sentence, the intense pain in his right hand made him gasp. However, in Rod's eyes, this seemed to have a new interpretation.

"You don't want to say? Fine, I'm not that interested anyway."

"I, I am Vice President Clayte's subordinate!!"

Hearing Rod's words, Orland forgot the pain in his hand and hurriedly shouted. He could accept dying with dignity, but he did not want to die because he couldn't catch his breath. He did not want to go to the other world so soon.

"Vice President Clayte?"

Hearing this name, Rod's sword paused slightly.

"Merchant Association?"

"Yes, yes."

"What is your purpose?"

"K, kidnap Miss Helen. I only know that much..."

The sharp, white blade of Star Trace pressed against Orland's face, the cold touch making him swallow involuntarily. He had completely lost his composure and only hoped the young man would show mercy. At that moment, he saw Rod nod and say, "I see."

Then, Orland felt a chill on his neck, and as the cold air invaded, darkness enveloped his world.

Sheathing his sword, Rod turned and returned to the carriage. At this point, everyone's gaze towards him was completely different. Helen, supported by her attendant, sat nearby with a complex expression, looking at Rod. Ben coughed and then walked forward hesitantly.

"Thank you for your help, sir."

Although Rod's actions did not seem like "help," the result was good.

"You're welcome, it was nothing."

Rod nodded slightly and did not say more. Ben, however, hesitated for a moment before asking.

"May I ask... who were they?"

"They said they were sent by Vice President Clayte to kidnap Miss Helen."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Ben was greatly alarmed. As the head of security for a merchant family, he was well aware of these matters.

"You mean these people were sent by the Merchant Association?"

"That's what he said, but I don't really care."

Rod waved his hand and then turned away.

"I was just asking out of curiosity."

Rod then turned and walked back to the carriage. At this point, everyone's gaze towards him was completely different. Helen, supported by her attendant, sat nearby with a complex expression, looking at Rod. Ben coughed and then walked forward hesitantly.

"Thank you for your help, sir."

Although Rod's actions did not seem like "help," the result was good.

"You're welcome, it was nothing."

Rod nodded slightly and did not say more. Ben, however, hesitated for a moment before asking.

"May I ask... who were they?"

"They said they were sent by Vice President Clayte to kidnap Miss Helen."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Ben was greatly alarmed. As the head of security for a merchant family, he was well aware of these matters.

"You mean these people were sent by the Merchant Association?"

"That's what he said, but I don't really care."

Rod waved his hand and then turned away.

"I was just asking out of curiosity."