Chapter 76: Answer

Chapter 76: Answer

Inside the violent tornado, Viscount Stratford was like a helpless leaf blown down by a gale, liable to be torn to pieces at any moment.

In this state, he could not make any response at all, let alone open his mouth to speak. He could only rely on the powerful body of a Disciplinary Paladin to hold on bitterly, hoping that he would not lose an arm or a head inside the terrifying hurricane.

He had originally thought that this hunt had already succeeded, that Trissy was about to be captured, and he was absolutely certain the other party had no helpers. Because of that, his attention had been focused on Shermane. Who could have known that he would suddenly become prey again, falling into a trap that had no warning whatsoever?

Seeing the tornado begin to weaken and sensing that he had only taken a degree of damage from the impacts without suffering any fatal wounds, Viscount Stratford hurriedly tried to control his body in preparation for the battle that might follow.

At that moment, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his head, as though a keen dagger had stabbed inside and stirred several times.

This sensation was both familiar and unfamiliar to Viscount Stratford, because although he had never personally experienced it, he had “tested” it on many targets and observed their reactions.

It was one of the Beyonder abilities he had once used most proficiently:

Psychic Piercing!

Bang!

Viscount Stratford, who had been attacked and had failed to adjust his body’s state, slammed heavily into the ground. The copper-green cross fell several meters away with a clang.

Thud, thud, thud. Carrying the Icy Blade, Xio strode forward in a charging posture, rushing toward Viscount Stratford, who was struggling blankly and attempting to stand.

Before Xio had charged out, Fors had already skillfully flipped Leymano’s Travels, opening it to a textured page that resembled parchment.

As her fingers slid, the shadows that had reappeared around Viscount Stratford came alive, condensing into black chains that wrapped around the target ring after ring, binding him firmly in place.

Viscount Stratford had just recovered somewhat and regained a measure of clarity. Before he had time to select the target of punishment and forbid something to a certain degree, he once again lost his freedom. Even the position of his mouth was bound by a shadow chain.

Abyss Shackles!

Abyss Shackles, a mid-sequence Beyonder power originating from the Sanguine or Moon pathway!

After using this Beyonder ability once, Fors had taken quite a liking to it and found it very practical. Afterward, she had spent some pounds and asked Mr. Moon, who had already become a viscount, to record it again.

Bang!

At this moment, Viscount Stratford suddenly erupted with strength surpassing his previous level, snapping the shadow chains around him inch by inch.

He had designated the “restraints” around him as the target of punishment!

But by then, Xio had already charged before him like a steam locomotive moving at high speed and thrust out that transparent three-edged dagger.

With a soft pfft, the Icy Blade stabbed into the target’s lower abdomen.

Viscount Stratford’s body stiffened again. His gaze turned dull, and he seemed to become an ice sculpture.

Xio released her grip, leaving the Icy Blade inserted in the court guard captain’s stomach, as though intending for the “wraith” possibly contained in the weapon to continue “possessing” the target and forcefully control him.

Immediately afterward, she swung her arm, clenched her fist, and struck Viscount Stratford beneath the ear with a bang.

Under the double blow, Viscount Stratford fainted without even making a sound. His rigid body collapsed once more.

After completing that strike, Xio left her back to Fors, directly crossing past Viscount Stratford—whose abdomen still held the swaying Icy Blade—and rushing toward Shermane, who remained seated on the wooden crate.

Fors again flipped through Leymano’s Travels and added another layer of restraint to Viscount Stratford with another Beyonder ability. Only then did she leave the row of wooden crates where they had been hiding and first approach the ancient copper-green cross.

The scene she had witnessed earlier made her suspect that this was a demigod-level item—what official Beyonders would call a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact.

And the way Viscount Stratford had carried and used it made her believe that this cross’s negative effect was not too direct, making it possible to try picking it up.

Of course, as a former Astrologer, Fors took out her pure crystal ball while walking and quickly performed a divination.

“There is no problem…” Fors glanced at the result and quickened her steps.

By then, Xio had already rushed before Shermane. Looking at this friend who had become so beautiful, she found herself temporarily unable to speak.

In her eyes, Shermane’s state was extremely abnormal.

Every strand of this Demoness’s hair floated up, each becoming very thick, like slender snakes.

At the tips of those “slender snakes,” some grew eyes while others split open into mouths, making them seem extraordinarily bizarre and terrifying.

On Shermane’s face, mysterious patterns resembling black oil paint emerged from the texture of her skin and swiftly spread in every direction and across her body.

Her rather hollow eyes soon reflected Xio’s figure. They gradually recovered some light, gaining a little confusion and pain.

She then opened her mouth and said brokenly,

“Xio… I’m in so much pain…”

Xio’s vision blurred all at once.

Although she still had much detailed common sense of the mysterious world to accumulate—after all, the Tarot Club’s discussions were too high-end, while the information provided by MI9 leaned toward secret organizations—she knew quite a lot about losing control. In the circles of wild Beyonders, this was something one could not avoid.

Therefore, Xio knew that Shermane had already begun losing control. It could not be reversed. The degree would only grow more and more severe.

Shermane seemed to realize her own state. She breathed out, revealing a sad yet beautiful smile, and struggled to say,

“Kill me… I have done… many wrong things that require repentance… I also obtained… what I wanted…”

Tears fell one by one from Xio’s eyes. Without hesitation, she reached behind her and pulled out her backup weapon—an utterly ordinary revolver.

She then pressed the revolver against Shermane’s forehead.

Shermane smiled. An enchanting light returned to her eyes.

“Call me… call me Shermane…”

“Shermane.” Xio’s face wrinkled uncontrollably, her eyes covered in mist.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

She pulled the trigger repeatedly, firing the bullets inside.

Flowers bloomed one after another, vivid red and beautiful.

Watching this scene, Fors unconsciously pressed her lips together.

After two seconds, she let out a long sigh, bent down, and reached toward the copper-green cross.

The moment her fingers touched the item, it was as though she had touched flame—scorching hot, burning even her soul.

Fors instinctively withdrew her hand, shocked and puzzled.

She remembered that Viscount Stratford had not shown any similar reaction earlier!

As her thoughts raced, Fors glanced at Viscount Stratford, then used her foot to kick the copper-green cross toward that position—toward Xio nearby.

“You try.

“Also, we have to leave immediately. The noise just now will definitely draw official Beyonders here! And we have no idea what the one who left the ‘message’ will do!”

Eyes red, Xio said nothing. She directly bent down and picked up the copper-green cross. Throughout the entire process, she showed no discomfort whatsoever.

Uh… Fors did not ask anything. She walked to Viscount Stratford’s rigid body and warily glanced left and right.

After putting away the copper-green cross, Xio lifted Shermane’s corpse and returned in two steps to Viscount Stratford’s side.

“That item is very valuable, and his status is also important. We will definitely become key targets pursued by the royal family. We need to create interference…” Fors lowered her head and looked at Viscount Stratford, speaking half to herself and half in thought.

She soon made a decision. Raising both hands and lowering her head, she devoutly recited Mr. Fool’s honorific name.

She did not believe that abandoning the copper-green cross would reduce how seriously they would be treated, or make the royal family stop pursuing them. Therefore, without hesitation, she directly prayed to Mr. Fool for help.

To her, even sacrificing that item to Mr. Fool would be better than leaving it at the scene.

Almost at the same time, she saw a holy angel with twelve pairs of flame wings on His back.

This angel shed an illusory shadow and descended from the sky, wrapping her and Xio layer after layer within His flame wings.

When this scene faded, Fors was just about to say something when her body suddenly trembled. She sensed a terrifying, evil feeling flowing out from the void.

Her gaze focused. Without hesitation, she crouched down and stretched out both hands, grabbing Xio’s and Viscount Stratford’s lower legs respectively.

At the same time, on the bracelet worn around her wrist, the last dark-green stone marked by burn scars emitted pale-blue, illusory light.

In an instant, Fors, Xio, Viscount Stratford, and Shermane all turned transparent and vanished from where they stood.

Within two or three breaths, they left the dock area and appeared in the outskirts of Saint George Borough.

During this process, Fors also relied on her own Scribe Beyonder ability to successfully “copy” Traveling once.

After examining the surrounding environment and confirming that this place was quiet, deserted, and belonged to a wooded mountain area, Fors released Xio’s and Viscount Stratford’s lower legs and straightened.

“With Mr. Fool’s angelic blessing, there should not be any danger now. The one who left the ‘message’ definitely cannot lock onto us anymore either.” Fors breathed out in relief, sounding somewhat fearful. “The one who descended at the end was at least a Saint. Thankfully, we escaped quickly…”

Xio gently laid down Shermane’s corpse and said thoughtfully,

“If the one who left the ‘message’ was Shermane’s monitor, then she may very well have already investigated our residence. We cannot go back there.”

“Mm. We’ll change places.” Fors said this with practiced ease, then turned her gaze toward the unconscious, rigid Viscount Stratford. “Now we can question him. We must hurry.”

As she spoke, she handed Leymano’s Travels to Xio and reminded her,

“It has Mind Reading recorded on it. Use it with candlelight. Also, start with simple and unimportant questions to lower his resistance.”

Xio had just accepted the magic book with a solemn expression when her wrist suddenly shook, and she could no longer hold Leymano’s Travels.

Pa!

The bronze-green notebook fell to the ground. Xio frowned.

“It feels like fire…”

Fors, who had experienced something similar earlier, thought briefly and said,

“Try throwing away that cross.”

Xio followed her suggestion. After doing so, she successfully picked up Leymano’s Travels.

“It repels other mystical items…” Fors nodded slightly upon seeing this.

Xio did not dwell on the problem. She quickly prepared a lit candle.

Then she drew out the Icy Blade, letting Viscount Stratford no longer remain stiff and dull, like someone possessed by a wraith.

Once the court guard captain slowly woke, she activated the corresponding page of the “notebook.”

Viscount Stratford instantly became dazed, his eyes containing only that dim yellow candle flame.

“Why did Shermane approach you?” Xio asked the question she had prepared earlier.

Viscount Stratford answered blankly,

“She wanted to investigate who I truly serve.”

Xio froze for a moment, then instinctively asked,

“Who do you truly serve?”

Viscount Stratford slowly said,

“His Majesty the King, of course.”