While the nobles awaited good news from their subordinates, Navia led her forces in a direct assault on their estates.
Having dispatched most of their combat-capable n, the nobles' estates were sparsely guarded. Combined with Navia's surprise attack, the estates fell one after another with astonishing ease. The nobles themselves, still reeling from the shock, were dragged from their rooms like dogs and publicly beheaded before the assembled crowd.
In their final monts, the nobles pleaded desperately, each trying to outdo the others in tearful self-pity and lodramatic posturing. Yet without exception, after confessing their accomplices and detailing their vile deeds, the executioner's blade fell without hesitation.
As previously stated, blood debts could only be repaid in blood!
Witnessing the once-lofty nobles reduced to corpses on the ground, the crowd felt a profound sense of catharsis. Their resolve strengthened, and their fighting spirit surged anew, fueled by righteous fury.
Even the torrential rain couldn't wash away the blood spilling from the nobles' bodies today.
It wasn't until one noble realized sothing was amiss that the onslaught slowed slightly. The other nobles, unaware of the full extent of the chaos, simply ordered their Gardeks to fortify their estates while frantically dispatching ssengers to gather information.
Inside his mansion, Marquis Relf paced like a trapped animal, the sounds of battle echoing outside. He cursed his subordinates' incompetence, unable to handle even this simple task.
Marquis Relf wasn't worried about the Fleuve Cendre forces breaching his estate's defenses—not even a fly could penetrate them. His true concern was that this situation had escalated far beyond his control.
Earlier, when targeting the crowd, he had cleverly delegated the operation to other nobles, keeping his own hands clean. This allowed him to maintain plausible deniability, regardless of whether the Fleuve Cendre forces seized this opportunity to retaliate. Even if they did, his estate's defenses were impenetrable.
"Monsieur Relf," a mocking voice cut through the air, "aren't your n a bit useless? They couldn't even handle this minor task."
Hearing the voice behind him, Marquis Relf felt his head about to explode. He whirled around to find the mastermind behind the serial suicide case standing there, having infiltrated his estate undetected until that very mont.
Does this an he could kill effortlessly if he wanted to?
An overwhelming wave of terror surged through Marquis Relf, making him question even the effectiveness of his personal safeguards.
Suddenly, he rembered sothing and glanced at the intruder's body. As expected, there was no Hydro Vision.
"Those wretched commoners have completely lost their minds, daring to attack my estate! As my partner, are you just going to stand by and watch?" Marquis Relf demanded, barely restraining his fury, his voice dripping with barely concealed rage.
"Of course I'll intervene," Lofan replied. "Our partnership is built on trust."
"But those worthless pawns have outlived their usefulness anyway."
"You can't even handle sothing this simple? Marquis Relf, are you not taking our collaboration seriously? Did you send these useless pawns to deceive ?"
"Perhaps I need to reassess our partnership."
Sensing the danger in Lofan's gaze, Marquis Relf inwardly cursed him as a capricious madman while stamring an explanation.
"The forces I deployed were more than sufficient! There must be another reason for this."
"Don't forget that I've already proven my trust in you."
Pressed for ti, Lofan abandoned his psychological gas. He feigned contemplation before nodding.
"Indeed."
"Then I'll stretch my legs a bit."
With that, Lofan casually leaped out of a nearby window under Marquis Relf's horrified gaze, instantly respawning nearby.
When Lofan reappeared, the clown mask he'd customized remained affixed to his face, a permanent part of his character customization. A Hydro Vision materialized at his waist.
"Now for so personalized tutoring from your beloved Teacher!" Lofan chuckled, his figure vanishing into the rain.
-
Navia swung her claymore violently, smashing one Clockwork ka after another. It seed this was the only way for her to vent the fury boiling inside her, fueled by the tragic deaths of so many innocents and her Teacher's near-fatal injury.
Lofan had nearly died protecting her. If his heart hadn't been located differently from most people, Navia couldn't bear to imagine how devastated she would have been if she had lost him.
"Miss Navia, please don't push yourself so hard," lus said with genuine concern, having watched her grow up and sensing her unusual intensity. "You've been fighting nonstop for far too long. You should rest for a bit."
"These Clockwork kas pose little threat," Silver added, panting slightly after shattering another one. "Leave them to us."
Navia stubbornly shook her head. "Everyone is exhausted, but I can't rest now."
"This operation must be swift. If we hesitate, soone will surely intervene. I can't afford to rest yet."
Not all nobles were corrupt. If respected figures demanded they cease their actions, continuing to press forward would erode public goodwill and sympathy for their cause.
This was exactly what Lofan had warned them about before they set out: no matter how far they went, they had to know when to stop. Navia kept his words firmly in mind.
"Besides, I'm not tired yet. You don't need to worry about ," she insisted.
In the end, lus and Silver couldn't dissuade Navia. With a sigh, they redoubled their efforts on the Clockwork ka, hoping to lighten her burden.
As the trio focused on clearing the Clockwork ka to secure a path for their comrades advancing into the Noble Estate, Navia suddenly sensed a chilling killing intent.
She swung her sword, shattering the incoming Hydro arrow. Then, she froze, montarily stunned.
In an instant, Navia regained her composure, but a surge of fury threatened to consu her.
If she hadn't already obtained her Geo Vision, she might have gotten a Pyro Vision at that mont.
"It's you!"
Navia swiftly scanned the battlefield, finally locking onto the figure. At last, she had cornered the culprit who had nearly killed her Teacher!
This ti, the figure made no attempt to hide. Standing motionless in the rain-streaked distance, they held a Hydro-infused bow. Beneath a grotesque jester mask that concealed their entire face, their icy gaze, brimming with pure malice and madness, locked onto Navia with chilling intent.
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