Chapter 176 – Pertinax Auction House (5)
43eUA cold gustA4uKnt swept throughVJGzU the auctionNgs house, asDVHQpN if allF3c8J the previousg31zf tension hadQemsC been a lie. AllK9sUR because offqyH the appearanceRGyc2 of a single girl:BHGmk Chloe.LUJWcA
yLorI stared at7bPM her.2hJ4
zruW8Her eyes, alreadymWV naturally red,fNe4RX were evenjcV1z more bloodshot.5ELfH Around thebuZ iris, brokenLFB capillaries formedKEoG an alarmingKC6mQz web.GiIX
bzIYPIs it evencFDf possible forrVVtf a humanCAPb being towpnzgk have eyesAKLG like that?UtclQG That lightkgU1 in herZuo gaze, charged2kBkL with bloodlust,rkl fully justified6VVZ the termqfHp “yandere.”axf
zZQK0L‘What happened toQ4m3 the promiseA5O of givingg43 me 30KOj1sg minutes alone,Gfdx dear Patriarch…?’sMbxuN
sJlI silently reproachedyYSXzj Altair. I glanced down.OWQDNtF7A
86A8u5I knew it…tcoKB In herGVxf right hand,0uy3 she tightlyinFmk gripped a Japanese katana.gZw6wBJI
kSlv85The blade, onceTEz white asbSvN snow, wasc3GTDH now completelyzzL stained red,GhemiM drenched inIv0 blood. SheDILnuH didn’t lookrmi friendly, despiteReh1 the timebBkR we hadn’tzfC4t seen eacha86i other.Mn1Q
ORn7In her leftviwRN6 hand, sheEaA9Rg carried a cloth-wrapped package.lQJP A thick1o9CJ liquid drippedc8Yfmq from thedLcypm bottom of0gzOKl the cloth.eVxVKACIbM7
PFgViscous drops fellypAH to thexkEkzt floor with1hOZ a dullheL sound. TheCBI contents… probablyYdp the head6gBL2 of somevbhI villain shejAjpc had justbXFnqX severed.zyF
ePpAAt this point,cO9 saying ChloefONTro intimidates meiAIb is absurd.NoQ No matter4vsv how muchvK3Wo she’d grown1K6 explosively in3qVTy combat, she8Ndz1 couldn’t compareX8EOcG to me.pD3ypalDH9
tprIt’s unpleasant, butPAplr it’s theTjlAf truth. EvenGjW so, whenksNu Chloe goesjRxcXl into that4f726 “mode,” myhZM body tensesrxef up reflexively.LMFZJ Maybe it’slSBMkV a typeCmNwo of PTSD.rI1KW2 Our firstYCAFQ meeting was…lNIo quite shocking.ogO7WjVhud
gQEGa‘Shit.’953of3
DnxVAs if frozenMNcEV time resumed,9kzbdP Chloe beganegK to walkwDhyj with firmME5Fhy steps.xwwaQ
bxbOiSAt that moment,GmhzYz Horn also6tEEL noticed somethingq5GIo strange. ShePaH8S8 turned herUU5fSB head. Alternating3SO her gaze0ySF between Chloet3ccw and me,K9Cd she tiltedBbWA7Y her head4j8OK adorably.rKf
gbgUa8“Why does thatFwou human lookbWVQE so weird?”bnVvk83K
NvL―…….yUwB
AhvyaPAm I thenj0mb only onepUv0 sensing danger?SKYTQ6HO
SxDCeI don’t blamelGE8G Horn, butr8H8 at leastRYaD she shouldn2E have a minimum senseJql6Vj of caution.Xqyu Seems I’mwyM8xw the onlycxdkIc one reactingmz6M to that1o03t0 murderous stare.p184K7
IHSSame thing happenedmBUY with RyozoR8zZ before. Am4pcBy5 I too1nyg sensitive, orDBI are theyH3XCi too numb…?qEWgWgNeOYY
lXiYI was aboutNrX2y to respond,IQtm but seeingzcu2qL her innocentufYSL face, I let ithm9 go. InEw6 any case,4gbmA I neededLayu91 to talkZn3cJm to herHZBzT later.SlopR
fkfgsV‘You’ve returned.’ ThatB7fEc phrase HorneMI said must3gBQQU have somesQaVS meaning. First,DN3 I hadzzo to dealXBIZ with theIIw0 current situation.kWP Then I’dXl3Nc3 look intod6A6 it.qEG
7p4NXyI placed myZDkV0 hands onwgMA12 my kneesbyw and stoodrzQM up. ChloenqUe8Q didn’t seemE1i willing toKysd1 talk, butI7iH I had40F7 just obtainedb6eydx the [BlessingTXW7 of Communication].X7IavyKvF
n6vIf so, I should use8BcJV it. Use1zyz it toeAtG pierce throughI2hzk that selectiveKisC deafness causedicgd by bloodlust.lebYbG If itKpjku didn’t work,fvu I’d havebg5L to respondVOEV with force.lkwtzyNQC
XRAI took a deep breathwMQn9 and activatedCOx the [BlessingJIKwRK of Communication].BULh Whatever happened,L9Yv I hadvtHkuy to trylEJ7 first.Bwl
xWsNC―Chloe.VdD
jIaHp“…….”SDLV
rsCwJmI called her4xOFLe name. ShevNFtDr didn’t stop.4qIBqW
xDDbfr―Seems like there’soT3 been a misunderstanding.kZi8
5kiWhB“…….”mCvEcR
968KEHer steps quickened.df0NF6 Katana inLvIfA her rightRqJ hand, bloodyBxJE9 bundle inYi8kxu her left.EE02YO That combinationy4sxNc triggered all9Xq my mentalpHR alarms.arEfVJ
QqLAN0The blessing hadJmQF no effect.d8LMF Which meant1iUM she completelyqONx rejected communication.pUf0x She didn’tb18uzL want to7oew hear orlJewT say a single word.bLceOvmn5e
6QyoTap-tap-tap.D9vT7
DNhfYChloe leapt withxDoD incredible force.1HgOr She could’ve40tJj touched theT6Yrr0 ceiling withSQFstQ that jump.aTnC1 Propelling herselfn8ZGOh off it,mHti her bodyeFIkpE flew.oaQD
4rnYFLIt was theKj0o perfect image3bsBg of “float4f4ml like a butterfly, stingcCda like a bee.” I groaned low.E0mokk983
u9X‘This got outjIuGW of hand.’FjqiTMGs03
HVnKAt this point,sQa a clashYdw2n was inevitable.heBmrd I’d havetIfS5w to respond,iA4P even ifn8T8 excessively. JustK334 as myZR1x hand reachedFqx5Cj for myw2O pocket…nyn
KqwMVWShlaaaack!zBM
86IHgrFrom the side,iHyW another presencecyC lunged at6CmZ Chloe. ItRki was Knox.FOupX He appearedhyHPUi like a flash and,0BlsOM without hesitation,apLD drew hisZrsdkJ crimson sword.Om8tR4
364ZChloe noticed too.MixA Her katana5N4 clashed head-onGhzB with Kox’sxDpxSP blade.yrB63S
S778RClang!X0orpD
dWSQFThe swords clashedsg8C mid-air injk8pt the auctionKnvk0 hall. TheON8nj wielders of4Dj those blades…34QPB were siblings.V5HRNhyt
N0ISUYKnox bit hisQtIvvC lower lipZw27 hard.bxb
CbC‘Had a bad9I8qom feeling aboutUqmOC this.’XHXd7F
P7yO7vWhile guarding another9jdI area, ChloelV6U had snuckWHOJJ into thexd8 auction. ThedFL reason: sheNbPG thought theZPrj man withnRJZ1 the crow7owL mask was2i1m Kang Geom-Ma.gpHM7Ct217
eHaKnox already knew.NA8l0W But hejPTb9M had keptlrCQgR it secret.WmHGi0
rVrwgrBecause he knewRrFRy better thanXgXIh anyone what2T3q9 happened when0qeen his sisterMzqi saw KangydMJOk Geom-Ma.X4B
3DBmAlso, since sheJ1H hadn’t beenBUSb able to1yHl return toGRIN the academy,U74Z Chloe was9nz5 more restlessKqS4D than ever.ViInmT That’s whyVV3 Knox hidaMXHwz it.cFR
VXR1BHowever, Chloe detectedimg29 it byRMox scent. She’dzqER been sniffingRLW2v around, and3AM eventually…cmOf
t61She wasn’t evenB9o a dog,s4M yet shepV9r had thezCsWff talent to0XNt identify peopleePKma by scent.PnRl Even asGM5FB8 her brother,FJN her abilitiesUgYhcy gave himD5t chills.1uPuY
Y9zKnox looked atfib4 her again.gx2 Chloe’s eyesC8v were vacant,dPO like a hollow shell.NTN12IJg
CMIyQvAt this point,Q7q calming herIIGH gently wasCTWJs impossible. During6mhshb the break,NMCOdJ Chloe hadxER6ur ramped upnT3uX her practicalLtRQPS training. HerOBSenQ potential andDyu8C experience hadR81N fused, reborn41CdmQ as a terrifying assassin.mIZplCa
D1XJzeIn this state,jxgy unless hezjA0E fought seriously,lEZaX he’d bepyB4 the onef9Jh on theCgC ground.afRy
h7wAnKnox slashed hiswVhmPm two crimsonECi swords againZYHHXh without hesitation.0O0GF Chloe alsopoDV struck atJcJ that instant.kkkwAu8EU2
NP2MA6Swish!vIz
OLGThe blades crossed,gbLV slicing thegSfTg6 air. ButrFf they didn’tpdeB fully clash:Cyu both usedgZfj [Blessing of8EQU the Crow]54M for a feint attack.Dyp8IB
NgD1MHowever, their intentionsvszx were notyTu the same.EeEUo Knox used8Dsz it toGYc6Y dodge a direct blow.B6Mwzi
Chloe, on thebxKX4v other hand,ynO0P9 used it8as8s to hide8SdIKr her realg1m9sT blade.h0LH6 oKIChloe clicked herCrgH tongue. ThenPry2 crouched andjDoEA spun onBmudTS her axis.Z9tyu Using thea58 momentum, she0P9C lunged withiswZa her katana.dSavDmE1r5N WXYQ9A flurry ofoEP attacks eruptedIziI relentlessly.63O jaHSClang!BeUMr nJgbKnox crossed hisloQQ two swordsyev in anSyMFo X toYCM block. Ormo4il rather, to6kc1TK withstand theQ1ih7a blow. Still,FSg his handsNTXvV went numb.h12pD Each impactW0e carried immenseDrLAsL pressure.AUpkc f5eCEven if she’dpVSfeX lost control,igap8 that intensityyD6 was clearlyPdCRH4 deadly.x1WVt0 Dv9lWhile Knox triedDSCkr to recover,TDe Chloe wasn6FMdK already launchingbFi3 the nextMQ4U strike. HerDlbYg spins reducedl1uj9 her visibility,tF4IfP and ifpiY5oo you blinked,digU the bladevwvmm was alreadyBI4UW coming fromyadz behind.OTI6h UdZxIt was a relentless offenseAujtk loaded withuMvV killing intent.IXlM4OEr OlrKnox opened hisYyeC1 eyes wide.yoBhL7 He stopped66rOX thinking andaW429 focused on4e5VA moving.op9zA fgqThe siblings’ swords4TAdds clashed non-stop.nmIhoP9t qPelIn the darkisP hall, theiresb1R movements feltr48PC like cutCy3FDg frames fromngS a movie.dJcxfCb3I i7vGRXSparks flickered inDIuvH the airuPU like cartiao taillights. Sometimes,j95L3 silver linesRgBR dashed acrossg4y the floor6ez like lightning.4udxcgjai NQljsClang! Clang! Clang!YN1BZf1LsNQ LPDD0gThe blades wereveE instruments weaving2pO a symphony.cLPLHubR7 27rIn that opera-theater-likePPLl1 stage, the3TV siblings dancedFgGN3Z a swordfLJwm5 duet.3hv UHTcThere was no2ewN46 blood yet,oihSi but itrP5JX was asG2jy brutal asgPzj0c any bloodbath.ZmtKI7zvr weNvLvIf they keptmZ2ZBK going, neitherXT02B6 of themtaCIK would walkTO0 away unharmed.Op09wfYEWmr0 hoW2VAnd the longerEOMe the fightrOpnA dragged on,zft9JM the more8H5Nm disadvantaged KnoxmNS became.VHs gZzgIt was obvious.GbrJ Chloe, out5RF of control,X94Z wanted topVj7yv completely eliminateQVM her opponent.FOozRgJV5lci 9U1xWhile Knox… onlylDV6Y wanted toIa2 restrain her.i6uh2M That imbalancePqvV5u made thelNgW difference.FkdqJ3 qX1Pqf‘I have to7efJKL step in.’pZHuO21Sq0 VC9I left Hornzmepnx behind andza5WKO reached forTdRu the handleY20 of mycqhzw blade.Y7c uDjSBut just then—gBy2k0N uAXGco“Stop!”C1k CSwh7A shout echoediRplH through thei3V78 hall. AtGUMT7x last, the2ma blades stoppedXFBha just inAUE front ofsq30 both necks.WQee7QxDf vLeA bead ofoTZd sweat fellnTzh from Knox’sKgi chin onto16z Chloe’s blade.rk6O That dropxAW washed awayr62Y7k part of7bJ1 the bloodMwAUR staining herHav3ec katana.aiqNwE IAYmaSIt would takeK6tReJ some timeObd to easebcJyb the tensiony59l built up.wlIK Finally, theE9d siblings lowerediAn their swords.h1S1XQ3er8 IPD“Haah… haah…”VibH 1ryZ0Knox panted withxWS6nt his handsLwNg on hisyeN knees. Heec1vog wiped hisoX34KU chin withXJs the backgrZXX of hisw4focW hand. SweatJlXjP dripped fromhMSTmr him.zGL AgBNNHe stood upEZwTR shakily andTmvbiW looked up.Q6S Slowly, Chloe’sj7r eyes regainedfhzj focus.dmR KWPU‘…Seems like she’s1PfwxZ back.’l7pb 1P6TFFinally relieved, Knox2jRuYp looked back.rf4V Altair andeo6nU the AuditoreqEWgx members hadpTcz entered themef1E4 room.B6CoK2 i3iVAltair scanned theW31P hall andaW7HI let outzAQn1 a longX3D sigh. HejG9ON put a hand to1zYOd his facedf6GEv and shookqqmi his head.rTS1ypUYgKvd ey6“When it finallyA5Vop seemed like0Ae you’d calmedxPJ down, it’sO8m the sameKn2PbK again. WhensMV5y7 will youKyI stop makingqTNvd your grandfatherIzJb9H suffer, Chloe?”LVJ33Tzn TBMChloe’s unfocused eyesVHB blinked. Then,rXhUj like a puppet withGtK5CL cut strings,45vfD4 she collapsed.tYuyUg P0l4Knox caught herCxcJ in hisfzIuw arms andceq looked atr4jE3S her.V0K JIznShe had useduYwUQ0 all her7XmwhY strength, which4ChR is why9ydR3 she collapsedaED now.2kN jvSEaHopefully, she couldn’thVYlw move a finger for1ZapY a fewyag days. AtEfik least thattZb way, Knoxot0 thought, they3cE could rest.6CSxaf3K vpBK7The situation finally99Es calmed down.zsUNofv gfkSAltair gave mevtNqe a somewhatEY5nlD awkward smileqqVQg and spoke.VURIrrdegN FSRo“I never imaginedDmI she’d sneakxr5M in rightp27gQ at thisoT97OA moment. ShebS7 must’ve causedio0 you a very unpleasantALfkq scene.”vu2c71 3bRI shook myviFz head.nohT MJg31“It wasn’t thatTFVj bad. KnoxQ6S deserves morebatnT1 praise. He4WKlN showed upoGYB just in9c8 time andp01 contained theFTke situation. IfxFwl I hado5b5f intervened, thingsO9S might haveKfqD gotten evenlwkR messier.”uO958 Lyvo“My Lord!”fl6JL qjnesChoi Seol-ah cameld1 running. As70sJ always, she9zbH had vanished0Go0PS at the0DICWn moment of6Xd danger… and7KbPv reappeared withgXl5 a worriedEB0 look.jkkmhZ vW8SI narrowed myhmlZit eyes. ShegLW shifted uncomfortably,c0ZfO avoiding eyelQDb9 contact. Clearly,CINl she feltBD5Cl guilty.EsY DOCH83‘Although honestly, I doubt herU783X presence would’veu8gbHN changed anything.’QQSH4qrHr 03BdnKAnd in mydZKgPR current state,DxY1 I didn’tZZZ even havev9AuVX the energyikl4nf to scold.cJyKB Every time8cQ6Q Chloe goesQfIG into yandereCDRYs8 mode, I feel likeNX95 she drainsxaM the lifeUmq2 out ofPKxRt7 me.9QN 8LpjI turned my9fR gaze toRj5 Horn. SheCqR was stillnjWoxN sitting on1RklfI the floor,HyU7 completely stunned.7H6KOJI rjy4Just like before,nK27D she hadH7m59R that expressionMCM3ER of totalSBm bewilderment.Hw44 QxgMNIt made continuingndBDG the conversationrQjz difficult.NY5 eVlAnd yet, I didn’t wantZ6yMs to partEWg7 ways with5dc4z Horn likevVNdZ this.5Vns0e 4XAUL6After all, I still neededUUr clues aboutIpfO6 the fourth5R7 fragment.l4PrgD RnSIf I just7Ozusx let hervicIV go likeXogb that, everythingphESLU would getL2hY3 more complicated.2JIgwHym8G8a k4jNk5Should I “adopt”ZYPi her likehL1 someone who’sHfV chosen a stray cat?ceIP0QS 7ohh3oCuriously, the dormitoryHoJ rules didn’tt7J forbid cohabitingV0WI with someone.hDZ3fYHM BueHiSurely the developersPSAAQF of Miracles2e Blessing M didn’t thinkDjwmY that farIpQO ahead.aTTb7 hPKr7Of course, ifBlLV you ignoredDkFkYC her pointyqPX9T ears, Horn2lYf just lookedUR4oTa like anTDuPE5 ordinary teenagehVlD girl.uArQlF M0OAnd despite hercVPdo tattered clothes,aSYSD she wasiNYt cute.xMI 92n7FI shook my7xls head.GOfKQ7 1rH‘No, that wouldn’tnchhBz work.’Z1qxxN S3yjIf I livedbtwCGl with a girl likeWaJ that, whatKwuU kind ofcaWVbY image wouldcfKxN I give?crpDLIGt TUCRumors at theBWFtj1 academy wouldpPwOZ start inwFf6eU no time.VPt Just imagining5GJ it madenka7z me dizzy.agh6sGBnas Sxl4qw…But before thinking8xFV about that.BwPoqy1BXvdz bGpRgm“Mr. Altair, whatuBDi6u do youRQqQ plan tot1BnT do withhlYDH this dragonRNu9S child?”OFUb HFsPSzAt my question,2ic Altair strokedusov his beardxif thoughtfully. ThenSIt replied aftervFYA a briefe72o pause.ne41 njLbhM“To be honest…lRnRSJ that issuegBNqDJ is givingNJR me a headache. Normally,GReX we’d return26B her toYPIA the demonuXCJc territory, butZNbAhZ considering shekLh ended upHI7 in a subasta… ifzCYRf the demonspNU find out,hyv they’ll causeqNjH83 a scandal.LX4aKK They couldPvv use itIFBrzh as aned1 excuse.”0cb 6wzRrHe spoke incJNd a troubledQU0v tone. AndQGdAQx he wasPs6Ub right.EUh0 GEordIf the demons8chN used thisDo2 as a pretext, thingsQRZ would getBB5GwG messy.SnIe2 66AWIn the worst-caseepX scenario, theylaS might useF9ia it astfkYNG justification forORk an invasion.8IfyDRJPtG ikfmEspecially since theyAI8xaQ had alreadyzrxHxw lost twoqwT Corps Commanders.gsJkE20 QiRpgThey were surelywYfxpv regrouping theirHOTwPs forces.6muAql VSIKb5Humans auctioning offkv6 a demon?LEum That would1zo0u be like7QvTFr throwing gasolineSbZX9 on a fire.TbgEYI 88L0Rn“Then how aboutZAP this? WhatQaZud if weWzNMpo ask theNmsQ academy directorkEC1 for permissionJsfku to takeHap care ofIm1y the dragonTwj there? WetU6ZA1 could pretenddnWDhB she’s a student. Her9rT9MO appearance isEJAc nearly human.kMH5 Plus, after3nhlx talking to5UZ her, I can assureatTpSP you shebsq poses not7X6Dw threat.”sur stqnMAt my suggestion,6K1n Altair raisedY4S an eyebrow.vPf28ID1 M7rM7“You said youz5wNtz talked toJ7c her?”gVY 7QR“Yes. I gainedIXhI a blessingSxmY that letsdW5 me communicateTBPM with her.wLqR The ideaRO3Y is forjQE the academysHL47 to protectduAN her inTeM secret.”6HO9 6THAltair, who hadDqA been silentlyVZx listening, slowlyoVP5Fg nodded.lQ24 EoG“Hmm. Looking atPHqK it, thata6Km sounds quiteZEsxY3 reasonable. No,7sD4 I’d sayPSezWV it’s theHog best option.BcyS Joaquin AcademyUpd is extraterritorial.A0D And withooD all thexVy recent events,X4kFlD its securityTWMi is nowHJaj7 impenetrable. There’sdyvt0a just one5cbk detail.”0H5 iCSPHe looked atgGQ Horn asHnr he continued:aES2KoN0O 8WXCcl“She’ll need a tutor orESBaAx guardian. Withoutn4J that, convincingJPItZ the director6NCNb6 will be3ZQs hard.”U1S0Vj QUg2a7“Oh, don’t worryLnks about that.”GzSaoO jKuBJa“…Huh?”Iux9 VCBFjWithout saying a word, I turned myL58m1 gaze toward6jm Choi Seol-ah.MqostOsv Y7vAs soon asLzrEV our eyesN5rV met, herptU4e face wasYPCsMG filled withWnS5W pure terror.BHU3D3oH ARGS***TYjt igan2sNot long afterfA0sA Kang Geom-MasvC and I finished talking,7EIN Altair receivedfREXS9 a call.fGokwg The numberIQLEOX was from9KTY Switzerland.vCtE0 73b6“Yes, Master ofeAu the Sword.0zkK The situationuXzH is practicallydxEnD resolved.”LuQ 8F5t[You must havef4x0C worked hard.Qay6 This longfozD7S journey thatF1K began with1naN Cladi is8Zek finally over.]acb8TlkL FWO“Haha, no hardBbRqyd work atEcBsf all. ItdyoSBc was pure4Fo coincidence… rightLG5 at the8dc subasta…”6gMlI acAaqmAltair detailed everythingvbXc that hadBMsl happened. Onzlyb the otherzuCGP end, thec9KpQ Master ofLFcf the SwordSxG listened inhfb9cV surprise.gNp5 1vLWr9[…I didn’t imagine5nMoSs something liket3MGy that would’vexYm happened. And1YTnp what washET Kang Geom-Ma7ZnyVT doing inMUlu6W that place?]ErE41a2WC 7Sop“I didn’t ask.V1lNC3 But thanksDl8T7u to himVtPe being there,f7lLB everything waskTvyP resolved smoothly.XEL That’s enough,acHxdP don’t youQMF think?”TYXoH 3sfW[Well, you’re right.ng0Dzd Still, I’llNkj4Y go askr2qth him in8LdJY person soon.]RTZySA4UWv 2Gfxwx“In person? Don’tmuk tell me…”8B4VIZAz wGiv8iOne could almostxg2Wd picture Altairf5U watching themR7xZO Master’s lipskWT curve intoN3t0 a smile.wVm07rrM6w5T euPN[That’s right. TheYH7j81 succession ofOVfM the SevenqNST Stars isSu4R8 nearly ready,3Pl so I must returncLm6L to thexSKZ academy too.sVI The ceremonyJK0 will takeHE3tz place exactly3DZe one montheEYa from now928E at JoaquinVsS6U Academy.]2mh
Chloe, on thebxKX4v other hand,ynO0P9 used it8as8s to hide8SdIKr her realg1m9sT blade.h0LH6 oKIChloe clicked herCrgH tongue. ThenPry2 crouched andjDoEA spun onBmudTS her axis.Z9tyu Using thea58 momentum, she0P9C lunged withiswZa her katana.dSavDmE1r5N WXYQ9A flurry ofoEP attacks eruptedIziI relentlessly.63O jaHSClang!BeUMr nJgbKnox crossed hisloQQ two swordsyev in anSyMFo X toYCM block. Ormo4il rather, to6kc1TK withstand theQ1ih7a blow. Still,FSg his handsNTXvV went numb.h12pD Each impactW0e carried immenseDrLAsL pressure.AUpkc f5eCEven if she’dpVSfeX lost control,igap8 that intensityyD6 was clearlyPdCRH4 deadly.x1WVt0 Dv9lWhile Knox triedDSCkr to recover,TDe Chloe wasn6FMdK already launchingbFi3 the nextMQ4U strike. HerDlbYg spins reducedl1uj9 her visibility,tF4IfP and ifpiY5oo you blinked,digU the bladevwvmm was alreadyBI4UW coming fromyadz behind.OTI6h UdZxIt was a relentless offenseAujtk loaded withuMvV killing intent.IXlM4OEr OlrKnox opened hisYyeC1 eyes wide.yoBhL7 He stopped66rOX thinking andaW429 focused on4e5VA moving.op9zA fgqThe siblings’ swords4TAdds clashed non-stop.nmIhoP9t qPelIn the darkisP hall, theiresb1R movements feltr48PC like cutCy3FDg frames fromngS a movie.dJcxfCb3I i7vGRXSparks flickered inDIuvH the airuPU like cartiao taillights. Sometimes,j95L3 silver linesRgBR dashed acrossg4y the floor6ez like lightning.4udxcgjai NQljsClang! Clang! Clang!YN1BZf1LsNQ LPDD0gThe blades wereveE instruments weaving2pO a symphony.cLPLHubR7 27rIn that opera-theater-likePPLl1 stage, the3TV siblings dancedFgGN3Z a swordfLJwm5 duet.3hv UHTcThere was no2ewN46 blood yet,oihSi but itrP5JX was asG2jy brutal asgPzj0c any bloodbath.ZmtKI7zvr weNvLvIf they keptmZ2ZBK going, neitherXT02B6 of themtaCIK would walkTO0 away unharmed.Op09wfYEWmr0 hoW2VAnd the longerEOMe the fightrOpnA dragged on,zft9JM the more8H5Nm disadvantaged KnoxmNS became.VHs gZzgIt was obvious.GbrJ Chloe, out5RF of control,X94Z wanted topVj7yv completely eliminateQVM her opponent.FOozRgJV5lci 9U1xWhile Knox… onlylDV6Y wanted toIa2 restrain her.i6uh2M That imbalancePqvV5u made thelNgW difference.FkdqJ3 qX1Pqf‘I have to7efJKL step in.’pZHuO21Sq0 VC9I left Hornzmepnx behind andza5WKO reached forTdRu the handleY20 of mycqhzw blade.Y7c uDjSBut just then—gBy2k0N uAXGco“Stop!”C1k CSwh7A shout echoediRplH through thei3V78 hall. AtGUMT7x last, the2ma blades stoppedXFBha just inAUE front ofsq30 both necks.WQee7QxDf vLeA bead ofoTZd sweat fellnTzh from Knox’sKgi chin onto16z Chloe’s blade.rk6O That dropxAW washed awayr62Y7k part of7bJ1 the bloodMwAUR staining herHav3ec katana.aiqNwE IAYmaSIt would takeK6tReJ some timeObd to easebcJyb the tensiony59l built up.wlIK Finally, theE9d siblings lowerediAn their swords.h1S1XQ3er8 IPD“Haah… haah…”VibH 1ryZ0Knox panted withxWS6nt his handsLwNg on hisyeN knees. Heec1vog wiped hisoX34KU chin withXJs the backgrZXX of hisw4focW hand. SweatJlXjP dripped fromhMSTmr him.zGL AgBNNHe stood upEZwTR shakily andTmvbiW looked up.Q6S Slowly, Chloe’sj7r eyes regainedfhzj focus.dmR KWPU‘…Seems like she’s1PfwxZ back.’l7pb 1P6TFFinally relieved, Knox2jRuYp looked back.rf4V Altair andeo6nU the AuditoreqEWgx members hadpTcz entered themef1E4 room.B6CoK2 i3iVAltair scanned theW31P hall andaW7HI let outzAQn1 a longX3D sigh. HejG9ON put a hand to1zYOd his facedf6GEv and shookqqmi his head.rTS1ypUYgKvd ey6“When it finallyA5Vop seemed like0Ae you’d calmedxPJ down, it’sO8m the sameKn2PbK again. WhensMV5y7 will youKyI stop makingqTNvd your grandfatherIzJb9H suffer, Chloe?”LVJ33Tzn TBMChloe’s unfocused eyesVHB blinked. Then,rXhUj like a puppet withGtK5CL cut strings,45vfD4 she collapsed.tYuyUg P0l4Knox caught herCxcJ in hisfzIuw arms andceq looked atr4jE3S her.V0K JIznShe had useduYwUQ0 all her7XmwhY strength, which4ChR is why9ydR3 she collapsedaED now.2kN jvSEaHopefully, she couldn’thVYlw move a finger for1ZapY a fewyag days. AtEfik least thattZb way, Knoxot0 thought, they3cE could rest.6CSxaf3K vpBK7The situation finally99Es calmed down.zsUNofv gfkSAltair gave mevtNqe a somewhatEY5nlD awkward smileqqVQg and spoke.VURIrrdegN FSRo“I never imaginedDmI she’d sneakxr5M in rightp27gQ at thisoT97OA moment. ShebS7 must’ve causedio0 you a very unpleasantALfkq scene.”vu2c71 3bRI shook myviFz head.nohT MJg31“It wasn’t thatTFVj bad. KnoxQ6S deserves morebatnT1 praise. He4WKlN showed upoGYB just in9c8 time andp01 contained theFTke situation. IfxFwl I hado5b5f intervened, thingsO9S might haveKfqD gotten evenlwkR messier.”uO958 Lyvo“My Lord!”fl6JL qjnesChoi Seol-ah cameld1 running. As70sJ always, she9zbH had vanished0Go0PS at the0DICWn moment of6Xd danger… and7KbPv reappeared withgXl5 a worriedEB0 look.jkkmhZ vW8SI narrowed myhmlZit eyes. ShegLW shifted uncomfortably,c0ZfO avoiding eyelQDb9 contact. Clearly,CINl she feltBD5Cl guilty.EsY DOCH83‘Although honestly, I doubt herU783X presence would’veu8gbHN changed anything.’QQSH4qrHr 03BdnKAnd in mydZKgPR current state,DxY1 I didn’tZZZ even havev9AuVX the energyikl4nf to scold.cJyKB Every time8cQ6Q Chloe goesQfIG into yandereCDRYs8 mode, I feel likeNX95 she drainsxaM the lifeUmq2 out ofPKxRt7 me.9QN 8LpjI turned my9fR gaze toRj5 Horn. SheCqR was stillnjWoxN sitting on1RklfI the floor,HyU7 completely stunned.7H6KOJI rjy4Just like before,nK27D she hadH7m59R that expressionMCM3ER of totalSBm bewilderment.Hw44 QxgMNIt made continuingndBDG the conversationrQjz difficult.NY5 eVlAnd yet, I didn’t wantZ6yMs to partEWg7 ways with5dc4z Horn likevVNdZ this.5Vns0e 4XAUL6After all, I still neededUUr clues aboutIpfO6 the fourth5R7 fragment.l4PrgD RnSIf I just7Ozusx let hervicIV go likeXogb that, everythingphESLU would getL2hY3 more complicated.2JIgwHym8G8a k4jNk5Should I “adopt”ZYPi her likehL1 someone who’sHfV chosen a stray cat?ceIP0QS 7ohh3oCuriously, the dormitoryHoJ rules didn’tt7J forbid cohabitingV0WI with someone.hDZ3fYHM BueHiSurely the developersPSAAQF of Miracles2e Blessing M didn’t thinkDjwmY that farIpQO ahead.aTTb7 hPKr7Of course, ifBlLV you ignoredDkFkYC her pointyqPX9T ears, Horn2lYf just lookedUR4oTa like anTDuPE5 ordinary teenagehVlD girl.uArQlF M0OAnd despite hercVPdo tattered clothes,aSYSD she wasiNYt cute.xMI 92n7FI shook my7xls head.GOfKQ7 1rH‘No, that wouldn’tnchhBz work.’Z1qxxN S3yjIf I livedbtwCGl with a girl likeWaJ that, whatKwuU kind ofcaWVbY image wouldcfKxN I give?crpDLIGt TUCRumors at theBWFtj1 academy wouldpPwOZ start inwFf6eU no time.VPt Just imagining5GJ it madenka7z me dizzy.agh6sGBnas Sxl4qw…But before thinking8xFV about that.BwPoqy1BXvdz bGpRgm“Mr. Altair, whatuBDi6u do youRQqQ plan tot1BnT do withhlYDH this dragonRNu9S child?”OFUb HFsPSzAt my question,2ic Altair strokedusov his beardxif thoughtfully. ThenSIt replied aftervFYA a briefe72o pause.ne41 njLbhM“To be honest…lRnRSJ that issuegBNqDJ is givingNJR me a headache. Normally,GReX we’d return26B her toYPIA the demonuXCJc territory, butZNbAhZ considering shekLh ended upHI7 in a subasta… ifzCYRf the demonspNU find out,hyv they’ll causeqNjH83 a scandal.LX4aKK They couldPvv use itIFBrzh as aned1 excuse.”0cb 6wzRrHe spoke incJNd a troubledQU0v tone. AndQGdAQx he wasPs6Ub right.EUh0 GEordIf the demons8chN used thisDo2 as a pretext, thingsQRZ would getBB5GwG messy.SnIe2 66AWIn the worst-caseepX scenario, theylaS might useF9ia it astfkYNG justification forORk an invasion.8IfyDRJPtG ikfmEspecially since theyAI8xaQ had alreadyzrxHxw lost twoqwT Corps Commanders.gsJkE20 QiRpgThey were surelywYfxpv regrouping theirHOTwPs forces.6muAql VSIKb5Humans auctioning offkv6 a demon?LEum That would1zo0u be like7QvTFr throwing gasolineSbZX9 on a fire.TbgEYI 88L0Rn“Then how aboutZAP this? WhatQaZud if weWzNMpo ask theNmsQ academy directorkEC1 for permissionJsfku to takeHap care ofIm1y the dragonTwj there? WetU6ZA1 could pretenddnWDhB she’s a student. Her9rT9MO appearance isEJAc nearly human.kMH5 Plus, after3nhlx talking to5UZ her, I can assureatTpSP you shebsq poses not7X6Dw threat.”sur stqnMAt my suggestion,6K1n Altair raisedY4S an eyebrow.vPf28ID1 M7rM7“You said youz5wNtz talked toJ7c her?”gVY 7QR“Yes. I gainedIXhI a blessingSxmY that letsdW5 me communicateTBPM with her.wLqR The ideaRO3Y is forjQE the academysHL47 to protectduAN her inTeM secret.”6HO9 6THAltair, who hadDqA been silentlyVZx listening, slowlyoVP5Fg nodded.lQ24 EoG“Hmm. Looking atPHqK it, thata6Km sounds quiteZEsxY3 reasonable. No,7sD4 I’d sayPSezWV it’s theHog best option.BcyS Joaquin AcademyUpd is extraterritorial.A0D And withooD all thexVy recent events,X4kFlD its securityTWMi is nowHJaj7 impenetrable. There’sdyvt0a just one5cbk detail.”0H5 iCSPHe looked atgGQ Horn asHnr he continued:aES2KoN0O 8WXCcl“She’ll need a tutor orESBaAx guardian. Withoutn4J that, convincingJPItZ the director6NCNb6 will be3ZQs hard.”U1S0Vj QUg2a7“Oh, don’t worryLnks about that.”GzSaoO jKuBJa“…Huh?”Iux9 VCBFjWithout saying a word, I turned myL58m1 gaze toward6jm Choi Seol-ah.MqostOsv Y7vAs soon asLzrEV our eyesN5rV met, herptU4e face wasYPCsMG filled withWnS5W pure terror.BHU3D3oH ARGS***TYjt igan2sNot long afterfA0sA Kang Geom-MasvC and I finished talking,7EIN Altair receivedfREXS9 a call.fGokwg The numberIQLEOX was from9KTY Switzerland.vCtE0 73b6“Yes, Master ofeAu the Sword.0zkK The situationuXzH is practicallydxEnD resolved.”LuQ 8F5t[You must havef4x0C worked hard.Qay6 This longfozD7S journey thatF1K began with1naN Cladi is8Zek finally over.]acb8TlkL FWO“Haha, no hardBbRqyd work atEcBsf all. ItdyoSBc was pure4Fo coincidence… rightLG5 at the8dc subasta…”6gMlI acAaqmAltair detailed everythingvbXc that hadBMsl happened. Onzlyb the otherzuCGP end, thec9KpQ Master ofLFcf the SwordSxG listened inhfb9cV surprise.gNp5 1vLWr9[…I didn’t imagine5nMoSs something liket3MGy that would’vexYm happened. And1YTnp what washET Kang Geom-Ma7ZnyVT doing inMUlu6W that place?]ErE41a2WC 7Sop“I didn’t ask.V1lNC3 But thanksDl8T7u to himVtPe being there,f7lLB everything waskTvyP resolved smoothly.XEL That’s enough,acHxdP don’t youQMF think?”TYXoH 3sfW[Well, you’re right.ng0Dzd Still, I’llNkj4Y go askr2qth him in8LdJY person soon.]RTZySA4UWv 2Gfxwx“In person? Don’tmuk tell me…”8B4VIZAz wGiv8iOne could almostxg2Wd picture Altairf5U watching themR7xZO Master’s lipskWT curve intoN3t0 a smile.wVm07rrM6w5T euPN[That’s right. TheYH7j81 succession ofOVfM the SevenqNST Stars isSu4R8 nearly ready,3Pl so I must returncLm6L to thexSKZ academy too.sVI The ceremonyJK0 will takeHE3tz place exactly3DZe one montheEYa from now928E at JoaquinVsS6U Academy.]2mh
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaThis Chloe girl is just pain in the ass.
nothingjkps
MortalFr glad she isnt gonna be a waifu