Chapter 404: Has Your Boss Ever Risked Their Life for You?

Chapter 404: Has Your Boss Ever Risked Their Life for You?

“I had no idea that working overtime could involve battle rounds.”

As dozens of wild mages suddenly emerged from a fissure in the distance, Ashe and Harvey, who were working late, dashed into the nearby forest. Ashe quickly donned his Twisting Mask to avoid detection, while Harvey’s skin rapidly cracked, resembling that of a corpse-effectively rendering most conventional Miracle scouting useless against them.

“So, if we get caught, the Pact gets terminated just like Annan said?”

“Exactly. The Pact stipulates that Belldate has to protect us, and if we get caught, it can’t be fulfilled, so no ransom needs to be paid.”

“Tsk,” Harvey grumbled. “I should have spent those 950 bell points sooner...”

“If we can’t gather the ransom in a day, we’ll remain Yvaren’s property for that day. She’d be more than happy to have us work for free forever,” Ashe replied. “This malicious ransom setup is just like that. We’ll gain some experience now, so next time when we break ties with Annan, we’ll be prepared.”

“Huh?” Harvey was surprised. “I thought you and Annan were getting along so well lately. I figured I’d need to prepare a coffin for you if we ever sought revenge.”

“No matter how well we get along, she won’t compromise on the Divine Sovereign’s Wish,” Ashe said, feeling a bit troubled. “Lise is the same way...”

“So why bother getting close to them in the first place?” Harvey asked. “In the end, it all comes down to a final battle, with blood marking the conclusion. The more feelings you have now, the more pain you’ll feel in the future.”

Ashe paused, staring blankly at the dark-skinned necromancer. “Is that why you...”

“Exactly. If you only have feelings for the dead like I do, you won’t face such inner turmoil,” Harvey replied. “Come on, join me as a lackey under Haagen-Dazs!”

“No thanks. I prefer things hot.”

Boom!

Suddenly, the shadows of the surrounding trees twisted and contorted grotesquely. Both men immediately used their Miracles to rush forward—Ashe’s Rush and Harvey’s transformation into a mist spirit—narrowly escaping the crushing shadows.

However, as the entire forest area was cleared, their figures were fully exposed under the night sky!

“They’re here!”

Shadow Sect... sorcerers from the Mercury Family!

“Hey, weren’t there supposed to be only Red Hats...?” Ashe glanced back. “I’m seeing a lot of people without hats... and Mercury isn’t even Mephila’s family!”

“Annan guessed wrong,” Harvey said coldly. “Yvaren never intended to show mercy.”

Days ago, Annan had analyzed Yvaren’s next moves. She concluded that once they gathered the ransom to leave Mephila, Yvaren, unable to keep them, would try to distance herself from them.

Sheltering Ashe and Harvey was equivalent to offending most of the Gospel. The two of them were practically ‘universal enemy triggers.’ If Yvaren could make them her subordinates, it would be fine; if not, she would try to minimize the negative impact—such as ‘voluntarily’ handing them over.

The five Sanctuary sorcerers used Movement Miracles, almost instantly closing the gap behind Ashe and Harvey, employing various restraining techniques to capture their prey—

Pop!

Ashe vanished with a popping sound, and Harvey collapsed into a pile of flesh.

A Substitute and a corpse!

At the same time, the Sanctuary sorcerers realized they were in yet another scenic spot—Belldate’s replica of the Golden Flow area!

As the golden droplets floated up, the sorcerers found their spellforce becoming incredibly heavy, turning their vast spellforce into a burden that immobilized them!

“Angelic Heritage, Belldate...” Except for ‘Weeping Sand Red Cap’ Cleos, the four family sorcerers exchanged cold glances. “Interesting...”

Meanwhile, Ashe and Harvey successfully regrouped with the others.

Lise ran straight into Ashe’s arms, clinging to him like an octopus.

Banjeet pulled a coffin out of his suitcase, and Harvey clung to it like an octopus.

After comforting Lise, Ashe asked, “How do we get out of here?”

“We’ll retrace their path. There must be a car parked nearby,” Annan said, her face extremely grim. “Even though Yvaren is holding them off for us, we don’t have much time-“

“You have no time left.”

With the words came the sound of bullets whistling through the air.

Three dull thuds, and Banjeet, Harvey, and Ashe fell instantly. Only Lise, whom Ashe hugged, and Annan, shielded by Banjeet, were unscathed.

“Lise, check their injuries!” Annan quickly transformed her earring into an Assault Gun and fired, but the opponent used a single bullet to shatter the wind barrier, deflecting all her shots!

The attacker was already close. With a sudden whistle, high-heeled boots slashed like razors. The Purple Moth dodged instinctively, raising her Assault Gun to counter!

Dodge, elbow strike, and then seamlessly pushing Annan against a nearby tree, the attacker aimed the gun at her waist!

“Come with me quietly, and I’ll ensure you all live,” Qenna said calmly. “I’ll even help you get married.”

“No way!”