Second floor of the Black Castle.
Minori stood in front of the empty wooden window, his eyes deep in thought.
"Verdant, send someone to the Holy Kingdom to deliver a message and inquire if the Regeneration Potions I gave them before have been lost."
"Yes, Lord," the Verdant Witch responded respectfully, her heart trembling slightly.
Is Lord plotting something again?
It seems the Holy Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy have, unknowingly, fallen into Lord's trap once again.
The Verdant Witch looked at Minori's back with reverence before carefully retreating.
"Those Clerics of the Slane Theocracy, I didn't expect them to be so impatient. The true effect of the Fusion Potion must have satisfied these people greatly."
Minori was also curious about the information regarding the Fusion Potion that the Theocracy possessed.
"It seems the trip to the Theocracy might have to be brought forward."
Minori sighed softly.
He wasn't sure if revealing the Fusion Potion early was the right or wrong thing to do, as there were too many things in the Slane Theocracy that made him wary.
Clementine?
Thinking of Clementine, who had reappeared in the Theocracy's team, Minori couldn't help but feel a little amused.
"I thought she had defected, but I didn't expect her to still be in the Theocracy."
"Perhaps, it might even be beneficial to me."
A faint smile subtly appeared on Minori's face. His cold attitude towards the people from the Slane Theocracy just now had a deliberate element to it.
"I wonder if they'll take the bait?"
"If they really take the bait, it means the Theocracy's attitude is debatable. To be on the safe side, I must involve the Holy Kingdom as well."
Minori's eyes became obscure and deep.
Due to the complete failure of the invitation, the Slane Theocracy's team could only stay for the night temporarily.
Late night.
The bright crescent moon was obscured by a thin layer of dark clouds.
Clementine walked gracefully through the first-floor hall, heading towards the stairs.
The entire castle's architecture was predominantly dark, and without perpetual lights, it was pitch black in the late-night environment.
For most Demi-humans with "Night Vision," this was obviously not a problem, but as a Human,
Even after deliberately adapting in the darkness for a while,
Clementine could still only make out the general outlines of some objects in the darkness: "Just follow my memory, and it'll be fine."
Her slender, rounded legs moved agilely on the ground, as silent as a cat.
"Invitations are too troublesome."
"Just tie him up and take him. Anyway, the Clerics only need to bring the person back."
Clementine grinned, a dangerous smile on her face, and stepped onto the stairs, using one hand to steady the four enchanted short daggers hanging from her waist to prevent them from making noise while moving.
She actually had an enchanted morning star as well, but the current situation wasn't suitable for carrying it.
"Should I finish this quickly?"
"I really want to have a good 'romance' with the little brother." Clementine's grin widened slightly, and her shoulders involuntarily trembled a few times.
"The little brother's strength isn't bad. If he hadn't summoned two Angels, the commotion would have been much bigger."
A hint of regret arose in Clementine's heart.
She nimbly ascended the stairs and quickly reached the second floor, where faint moonlight shone through the window.
Clementine quickly scanned the environment of the second-floor hall.
Empty!
There weren't even a few decent pieces of furniture.
"Four rooms, it doesn't look like anyone is living here."
Clementine tilted her head and took out a crystal-like triangular bell from her pocket, silently approaching the first room.
This was a magic item called the "Trap Dispel Bell," which could dispel vigilance and trap magic, preventing accidental triggers from being discovered.
In a moment, the four rooms were checked, and she didn't find any sign of the person, or even any trace of normal habitation.
"I was being cautious for nothing. No vigilance magic was used at all."
Clementine glanced at the unresponsive magic item in her hand, then her gaze moved upwards, landing on the stairs.
The entire castle was four stories high. Since she hadn't seen Minori leave the castle, it meant he was on a higher floor.
Clementine leaped forward, her body lightly stepping onto the stairs, moving towards the third floor.
The result was still no sign of anyone.
"Then he can only be on the fourth floor!" An evil and impatient aura emanated from Clementine. Having searched two floors for nothing was somewhat frustrating.
She planned to be a bit rougher when she made her move later!
"I really want to tie up the little man!"
Clementine's eyes became increasingly dangerous as she slowly walked up the stairs.
The hall was still in the same style, but compared to the second floor, the third floor lacked signs of life. She could smell a faint scent of medicinal herbs in the air.
Clementine grinned, like a Black shadow silently approaching the nearest room in the Darkness.
A room full of various ores.
A room storing supplies,
A room piled with medicinal herbs and some magic materials.
Empty!
Clementine looked at the last empty room. Even in the dark environment, her face was so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it.
"Nobody, when did he leave the castle?" Clementine stood at the doorway, her eyes cold and puzzled.
Suddenly.
The thin mist covering the bright crescent moon dispersed, and moonlight shone through the window, casting a rapidly lengthening shadow onto the floor of the empty hall.
"Are you looking for me, Clementine?"
A calm voice sounded.
Clementine's shoulders stiffened, then she slowly turned around, her purple pupils landing on the figure sitting on the windowsill.
Since the person was silhouetted against the moonlight, she couldn't see Minori's expression at that moment.
"Hi, little brother."
Clementine put on a cute expression and greeted him with a smile, her Golden short hair swaying slightly:
"I thought you were gone and made your sister worry."
"Coming to my room alone so late, Clementine, isn't that a bit rude? It seems, Clementine, you haven't married yet, right?"
Minori said with a faint chuckle.
"Finding a suitable marriage partner is very difficult, especially for excellent people like me and the little brother."
When Clementine mentioned the word "marriage," she raised her hand and rubbed her Golden short hair, putting on a troubled expression.
Immediately after.
Clementine suddenly lifted her chin slightly, her purple pupils looking towards the windowsill, slightly gleaming in the moonlight:
"How did the little brother do it? I clearly observed just now, there was no one in the hall at all."
She was certain that there was no one on the windowsill before, or rather, no one in the entire hall, and Minori had appeared suddenly.
Some kind of magic?
Or he had already discovered the anomaly from the beginning and used "Invisibility" magic in advance.
Second-tier "Invisibility" is Magic Power System magic. The other party is an Alchemist, also belonging to the Magic Power System, so it seems normal for him to master this tier of magic.
Minori said, "I'm quite curious, Clementine, that you didn't die at the Leader's hands..."
"Wind Acceleration"
"Wind Dash"
In an instant!
Clementine's entire body tensed. From her original cat-like state, she transformed into a bloodthirsty, dangerous beast. The conversation just now was nothing more than finding an opportunity to strike.
She knew Minori could summon two fourth-tier Angels, making him a formidable specialized summoner!
Once Minori was given the chance to summon, not only would she be unable to take him down quickly, but it would also cause a huge commotion, and her goal of taking Minori away tonight would not be achieved.
--Swoosh!
Since the hall was quite empty with no obstructions, a straight attack path was quite advantageous for Clementine.
Her fluffy Golden short hair spread out in the darkness, like a yellow lightning bolt, disappearing into thin air in the black environment.
In the accelerated world.
All of Minori's movements and speech speed became extremely slow in Clementine's eyes. The other party didn't make any gestures to chant magic at all.
Minori's clean face was clearly visible in Clementine's eyes.
Too careless, little brother!
The short dagger in Clementine's hand had already thrust out, her eyes curved, revealing confident victory in her pupils. Even if the other party summoned Angels now, it was already too late.
As a top-tier Warrior, in terms of thrusting techniques, even the [Black Scripture] had no one who was her match.
A Magic Chanter simply couldn't block it!
The short dagger aimed at Minori's heart, slightly deviating to the right by a fraction, which could both severely injure Minori with one blow, causing him to lose consciousness and any ability to resist, without killing him instantly.
In a normal person's view.
Clementine appeared out of thin air in front of Minori, greeting him: "It~ will~ hurt~ a little."
Swoosh!
The short dagger unceremoniously pierced forward.
And then--
The short dagger stopped in front of Minori. It wasn't that Clementine had given up her attack, but that two fingers had suddenly clamped down on the short dagger.
An attack as fast as lightning!
Top-tier thrusting technique!
All these techniques, at this moment, were as laughable as a child's movements.
No matter how hard she tried, the short dagger couldn't advance even a millimeter!
Clementine's dangerous smile froze on her face. As if electrocuted, a chill that enveloped her entire body ran down her spine.
Looking at Minori, who was still smiling faintly at her, the moonlight in the night sky outside the window suddenly seemed incomparably dazzling in Clementine's eyes.
That was a feedback of excessive stimulation, like being pricked by needles, that her brain couldn't process the information before her.
"What kind of stupid thing are you doing?" Minori said softly.
Clementine's brain even stopped thinking at this moment. The shocking fear made her instinctively activate the magic on the enchanted short dagger.
Even if activating magic attacks would cause a huge commotion, she couldn't care less now—Monster!
The other party was simply a monster!
"Crack!" A sound!
Clementine's forearm holding the short dagger was easily snapped like withered wood. The enchanted short dagger fell to the ground with her broken, loosened hand.
"Ah... Ugh--"
Intense pain struck. Clementine opened her mouth, preparing to scream, but in the next moment, her voice abruptly stopped.
Minori reached out with one hand and, like an afterimage, pinched Clementine's smooth neck. With a slight force, he cut off her scream.
He casually lifted Clementine from the ground.
"Shh, Clementine."
Minori raised a finger and gently pressed it against Clementine's somewhat tender lips:
"Be quiet, shouting so late will disturb others."
A sense of suffocation surged.
Clementine's face turned red, her entire body trembling with fear. Her rosy mouth was open, unable to make a sound or breathe. She raised her hands and legs, wildly hitting Minori's body and face.
As a strong person in the Hero Domain, even a thrust-type Warrior, even without using weapons, the punches they threw were not something ordinary Warriors could withstand.
However, these frantic attacks landing on Minori's body felt like the powerless punches of a child hitting tough cowhide.
"Really, can't you be a little more honest?"
Minori said expressionlessly, facing the punches that were swinging towards him and hitting his face.
His physical defense value was 520 (40%) points, which in a normal Warrior class build, was roughly equivalent to the defense level of a Level 40 Warrior.
The Hero Domain is (Level 29~35). Clementine's level before him was around Level 32 or 33. With her strength, she simply couldn't break his defense.
Using a weapon was another matter!
The future Brian, at the cost of his life, unleashed a blow that far exceeded the limit of his strength, reaching an attack level of approximately 40Lv for an aberrant.
That blow should be able to break his current defense and cause damage.
Of course, real combat doesn't just compare stats, but when the difference between the two is large enough, the side with higher stats is completely overwhelming.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dull thudding sounds kept ringing in his ears.
In this environment before him.
Minori's thoughts were inexplicably stirred, and he thought of Brian. When he came to his senses, he realized that this mentality was really inappropriate.
Is this the so-called "abundance of the strong"?
Clementine's purple pupils began to turn white. Under the influence of suffocation, her flailing fists gradually lost strength.
Her legs and arms gradually drooped down, dangling in mid-air and swaying slightly!
Bang!
Minori casually threw Clementine to the ground.
"Ha-- Ha--"
Clementine was completely limp, lying on the ground and gasping for air, her expression pale. Suddenly, she opened her mouth: "Ugh~"
Excessive fear and tension caused her to vomit uncontrollably.
"You really look like a cute little cat now."
Minori looked at Clementine, who was lying on the ground in front of him, her shoulders trembling: "To be able to survive at the Leader's hands."
"It's a bit suspicious. Could you be a member of [Zurrernorn]?"
"You, you, aren't Human?"
Clementine rolled over, propping herself up with one hand on the ground, the panic and fear in her eyes still not disappearing.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm a genuine Human, just a little stronger than you." Minori immediately corrected her seriously.
"No denial, it seems you are indeed from [Zurrernron]. So why did you join [Zurrernorn]?"
Facing this question.
And this man before her, who was so powerful that she couldn't resist.
Clementine thought of the Captain in the [Black Scripture], and that extraordinary second-in-command who surpassed Human imagination, like an abyss.
"Heh, hehehe!"
The fear in Clementine's eyes gradually faded, her expression revealing madness and resentment as she stared at Minori without reservation.
A moment later.
After listening to Clementine's explanation.
Minori looked at the other party strangely: "You're really crazy. You're a person from the Theocracy, yet you're thinking of destroying the Theocracy?"
"So what!"
Clementine lifted her head, her tone frantic: "I was going to defect anyway, now it's just that you've found out!"
"Are you going to hand me over to the Theocracy, or are you going to kill me now because of [Zurrernorn]?"
"I completely didn't expect—the strongest person hidden behind the Hills incident was actually you!"
"Ha, it seems you've misunderstood."
Minori leaned forward, smiling at Clementine:
"Why would I kill you? Defect? What's the point of defecting? Clementine."
"You..." Clementine was startled.
"Nothing happened tonight, Clementine," Minori said softly.