Chapter 539 540-Silencing

Chapter 539 540-Silencing

That is to say, Gick's true intention was solely to take Code 19's body.

All the discussions prior were but a ruse to divert Ali and Roronora's attention, seeking an opportunity to clandestinely abscond with Code 19's corpse.

There must be something of paramount importance to Gick on Code 19's body!

This realization struck Ali without a moment's hesitation, prompting immediate action.

As expected, Gick showed no intention of resistance.

Code 19's body was swiftly bound.

He was acutely aware that the strength of Code 19's battered form stood no chance against the blockade formed by Ali and Roronora.

"My attempt to bluff has indeed failed," Gick sighed, "This round, you've won, half-elf."

As his voice faded, Code 19's body jerked violently, and two trails of blood streamed down from the corners of his eyes.

Ali froze momentarily, her expression darkening instantly.

She hadn't anticipated Gick would act so decisively—eliminating Code 19 at the first sign of failure to transport him.

Undoubtedly, Code 19 must have been privy to secrets of immense significance, so crucial that Gick preferred to kill him rather than let these secrets fall into their hands.

But now, that lead was severed.

With a sigh, Ali watched as the golden glow in her palms dissipated, and countless mana ribbons vanished, leaving Code 19's body to collapse, devoid of strength.

"I should have joined you in taking action," Roronora remarked, eyeing Code 19's lifeless form and then Ali's grim visage.

"Had I acted, there might have been a chance to stop him."

"It's futile, Gick employed methods aimed at the soul; it would have been too late regardless of who acted," Ali gestured dismissively.

"Ultimately, the reason he left such a contingency within Code 19 indicates he always entertained the notion of eliminating him at any moment. I surmise it's not just Code 19—every key subordinate of his is likely rigged with such a failsafe."

"What a dangerous individual."

Glancing at Code 19's corpse, Ali hesitated for a few seconds before stepping forward.

Even if Gick had completely obliterated Code 19's soul, whatever was on Code 19's person remained, potentially harboring useful intelligence.

Gick had spouted much nonsense, yet amidst the drivel, truths lurked.

Pure fabrications fool no one; it's the lies laced with truths that deceive.

Perhaps the village in the forest held no hope for subhumans, but it surely concealed significant ruins or something of equivalent value.

Gick's target must be that very thing.

If Ali could locate it before Gick, the upper hand would shift to her grasp.

This represented the best strategy for turning the tables.

Ali began attempting to bypass the identity verification spell on the ring, a standard security measure for every Space Ring designed to prevent theft.

Even if a magus were to lose their ring, it would remain inaccessible to others.

Although accessing items within a Space Ring requires mana, there's no stipulation on the source of this mana, meaning even non-magical individuals could theoretically use a Space Ring.

However, encryption adds a layer of protection by verifying the user's physical makeup and soul.

Only after passing this verification can one successfully access the Space Ring.

Cracking such encryption is no simple feat, yet Ali is not without her methods.

While other elven tribes might lack the means, Ali, as a master of spells, possesses a vast array of tools at her disposal.

As she caressed the Space Ring, she pondered the most appropriate approach to tackle its encryption spell.

Different encryption spells employ varied methodologies, necessitating distinct countermeasures.

Although Ali has many targeted decryption spells at her disposal, some, due to their complexity or her inability to cast them personally, are stored in scroll form within her Space Ring.

These items are exceedingly precious and should not be squandered lightly.

Moreover, such encryption spells might possess self-destruct capabilities.

Should one attempt to break them down one by one, there's a risk they might self-destruct before any progress is made, rendering the endeavor futile and potentially destroying valuable contents within.

After several preliminary attempts, Ali began her formal effort to decrypt the spell.

The first decryption spell she tried, predictably, failed—not because it was the most complex or most effective spell she knew, but rather an obscure one.

Its strength lay not in the act of decryption, but in analysis, providing a deeper understanding of the encryption spell and paving the way for a more targeted approach.

Armed with more detailed intelligence, Ali prepared her second decryption spell.

This one wasn't the most widely known or traditionally effective, but it was a suboptimal solution from her repertoire that she had modified to suit the specific structure of this encryption spell.

If Ali's assessment was correct, this adapted spell should prove most effective against this particular encryption.

The spell, ultimately condensed into a matrix no larger than the tip of her finger, was aligned directly against the ring's encryption spell.

A flash of white light followed, and Ali felt the encryption dissipate, her mana successfully integrating with the ring.

A smile broke across her face as she stood up, anticipating the most exciting part: the unboxing!

With a flick of her wrist, the contents of the ring spilled out in a cascade.

First to hit the ground was a pile of shimmering coins, a mix of denominations from various nations, making them uneven in value.

Even by a rough estimate, the total hovered around a thousand universal gold coins—a fortune, indeed.

Next came several bottles and jars, all intermediate spell potions.

Another heap of gold coins followed.

After the spell potions were a few scrolls, and lastly, the item Ali had been most eager to find: another small booklet!