Yang Zicang fell silent for a moment.

“Borrowing the spear… for the person I used to be, it might have been hard to refuse. But I’ve come to realize that I seem to… no longer be completely dependent on it. “

As he spoke, a spinning black hole appeared in Yang Zicang’s hand, from which a long, silver spear slowly extended. Amidst the dim light of the room filled with large oakwood furniture, it reflected a faint glimmer of candlelight.

The smile on Zorro’s face faded.

“You’re really willing to lend it to me? Not afraid I might lose it to some accident and be unable to return it to you? “

“That kind of thing, ” Yang Zicang mused, then added jokingly, “let’s talk about it when it actually happens. I believe you’re not unlucky enough to lose my gun to someone and not get it back, right? “

Zorro let out a hearty laugh and reached out to pat him on the shoulder.

“Brother, rest assured. This time, I originally only intended to try out this weapon. In fact, I had already made my efforts in a very critical event. If I hadn’t seen your newspaper, I would have left from a certain country in the central continent by now, heading westward. Sorry, it’s not that I don’t want to say where that place is, but this matter is of utmost importance. “

-｛Distributor February. Di’an states with rich experience that I participated in a glorious prelude event.｝

“How important? “

“If it succeeds, you’ll definitely gain something as significant as Color Radiance. Uh, do you know about Color Radiance? “

Yang Zicang lowered his brow slightly and asked, “Do you mean ‘Iridescent Brilliance’? “

He took off his necklace, and the emerald in the golden skull pendant quickly lit up with a faint, colorful speck of light.

Zorro looked at it in surprise. With Yang Zicang’s authorization, it revealed perceptible “catalog ” information.

｛-Iridescent Brilliance: Warrior Who Wields Pen to Plunder Fate｝

Zorro clicked his tongue, then looked up at Yang Zicang.

“You, of all people, actually participated in a flash-tier event. “

“Participated? “

Yang Zicang was taken aback.

“That’s right, the so-called ‘Radiance’ refers to the event glow born from the collective actions of all assistants participating in a ‘Heroic Flash.’ Although it’s not a flash itself, its value is definitely not lower than a flash! And what’s more, it’s considered advanced hard currency. “

“What does that mean? “

“Based on the intelligence I’ve gathered so far, some special items—like Temple Trait objects and Saint Trait objects, as well as certain high-end alchemical treasures—require ‘Radiance’ as a material for their creation. “

A look of sudden understanding dawned on Yang Zicang’s face.

Yet he saw Zorro place his hands on his hips, take two strides, survey the surrounding décor, and let his gaze sweep over a bookshelf before continuing:

“Three Radiances, along with a Wish Charm at the millennium level and above, can even be used for a flash-grade investment. “

“Good heavens!! ” Yang Zicang finally looked at the little light point in his hand with newfound awe.

“But don’t get too excited just yet, ” Zorro said with a chuckle, casually pulling a detective novel from the bookshelf.

“The so-called three Radiances refer to Radiances from the same epoch-continent. Plus, Radiance has another special effect, and it’s also related to investments. “

“What is it? ” Yang Zicang approached as well.

He’d already casually leafed through this bookshelf over the past couple of days. Since this place counted as a hotel in the Mist Folk’s leased territory, these bookcases were set out for people like himself to learn about the world’s customs, history, and culture—an extra living perk.

“If you want to impose extra constraints on the development of a certain matter while making a Flash Investment, you’ll need to consume Radiance for ‘Outcome Targeting.’ The more specific your wishes for the outcome, the more Radiance it consumes. “

A glint of wonder flashed in Yang Zicang’s eyes.

Flash cannot be broken down into Radiance — at least, he hadn’t received any information suggesting otherwise. So this meant that, in certain critical moments, Radiance was actually even more consumable than Flash.

Suddenly, he remembered Boboli’s investment in him. Could it be that Boboli had also used Radiance to target his investment?

After all, in his one and only experience with Flash Investment, there was never an opportunity to refine expectations further.

“So that’s how it is… ” Yang Zicang lifted his gaze to the young man flipping through a book before him. “You mean that by lending you the weapon, I was effectively part of your event. And the reward would be… a share of Radiance? “

“Mm-hmm~ “

Zorro sighed and gave a weary smile. “Looks like I’m going to have to walk into danger again. This is normally the kind of thing someone like me — with no awakened bloodline to speak of — would never get to participate in. But now that I have this weapon, maybe I can actually play a key role. “

“It’s that dangerous? “

“A bit dangerous, yes. But if I don’t gather every bit of help I can get for this, the odds wouldn’t be in our favor anyway… So, I’ll just make do. If everything goes well, in a few days you’ll know exactly what this is all about. “

“I see. “

Yang Zicang gently closed his eyelids and sensed the release of the ｛Gravitational Arc Light｝, and then the model materialized from his chest.

｛I, the Great Quadrilateral, begin to strip away the control over the “Gravitational Arc Light “.｝

｛I invested 1000N.｝

｛The entity bound to the Gravitational Arc Light will persist for a thousand years in this unclaimed state of the Track of Fate.｝

The young man solemnly handed over the silver spear in his hand.

Zorro closed his book and casually placed it on the bookshelf. Taking the shimmering silver spear, he sensed it, let out a breath, and looked up:

“Thank you for your trust. This journey has been the most enjoyable thing for me lately. No matter whether I reminisce about the departure or the outcome, it’s worth remembering. “

“I can’t stand it. “

“Hahaha. ” A series of fine, flickering folds on Zorro’s hand flashed and vanished into the weapon in his palm.

-｛The distributor, May Valkyrie, expressed that I participated in nurturing a complete radiance of brilliance.｝

-｛The distributor, May Valkyrie, looks forward to trading with me.｝

-｛February Di’an, the branch representative, expressed eagerness for me to trade the “Radiance of Brilliance ” at the Four Jacket Yinhao Mist Ocean Trade Supplies Depot.｝

“Oh, right, ” Zorro, who was beginning to master the weapon, looked up. “On the way here, I helped you settle a matter on your behalf. “

“What matter? “

“There’s a guy named Stone. You promised you’d heal his severed limbs, right? “

Yang Zicang, racking his brain for any unfinished business, felt a sudden jolt of alarm in his heart.

“I’ve taken care of that matter for you. He’ll be boarding the train to Freiburg in a couple of days, handled by one of our friends. “

“So you actually found Stone. No wonder you… were able to find where I live. Does your associate know anyone with healing abilities? “

“I know you’re thinking of acquiring an Ability Sphere to solve the problem with him. That could work, of course. But to completely reverse something that has already physically occurred, it’s better not to resort to that. Do you know why? “

“Hmm… the causes related to those who cross storms—that’s exactly what I wanted to remind you about. Looks like we’ve both gathered intel on these matters pretty quickly. Our work effectiveness isn’t bad at all, huh? Ah, by the way, the cost of treating a severed limb is definitely not cheap, and along the way, we’ve got to trouble our fellow townsfolk for help. Let me pay some compensation for that. “

Zorro was still mulling over the remark about ‘pretty quickly’ when he heard the latter part and immediately laughed:

“Haha, what are you thinking? Our friend is helping out—of course they wouldn’t charge you. And don’t worry about travel expenses either; the ‘Village Self-Governance Committee’ of Bridge Stone Village has already raised funds for Stone. “

“Self-Governance Committee! “

Yang Zicang couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward the direction of White Violet City.

That little village he had somewhat neglected, those villagers… they had truly begun to govern themselves, taking charge of protecting their own neighbors…

As he was thinking, a sudden flash zigzagged toward him.

｛He Yishu wants to conduct a 1N active investment on me.｝

｛He Yishu has invested 1N in me.｝

{President Buchen, it’s exactly as you predicted—some people are still after Mr. Ebiser. They’re attacking the courtyard right now, and those city guards are absolutely no match for them. }

—{Bang! }

In the sensory feed, He Yishu was gripping a dark, dimly crimson Mauser pistol. An orange bullet sliced through the night sky like lightning, shattering the head of a man cloaked in a faint red, illusory flame from beside the courtyard wall.

—{Take out that bastard first! }

—{Damn it, you sneaky ambusher! }

The courtyard was in chaos—men in identical uniforms attacked each other viciously in the dark.

{Who’s the real sneak? Don’t tell me you’ve been casing this place for the past two days just for the sake of “patrolling_”! _}

—{He’s over there—kill him! }

In the sensory feed, a blur of high-speed motion leaped straight toward the edge of the courtyard, charging at the silhouette nearby.

｛I am making an active investment in He Yishu.｝

｛I have invested 10,000N in He Yishu.｝

Just as the dark figure came within striking distance, a “bang” rang out as another orange bullet blasted forth. The bullet seemed to have a mind of its own—even as the man frantically dodged, it still grazed his thigh, tearing away a huge chunk of flesh and blood.

That shadowy figure collapsed to the ground in an instant.

“The ones stationed on the concession land are your people, aren’t they?! Even if you’ve taken an oath, as long as you know where they are and what they’re doing, combined with what happened before in Light Marina, it’s easy enough for you to determine where that Secret Box is, isn’t it! “

Hiding inside the house, Ebiser and the butler, both gripping their muskets, watched in shock as the familiar figure suddenly appeared outside the chaotic courtyard wall.

That Fogfolk man who had scrambled to get his papers at the concession, then rushed headlong to catch a train and leave the country—he hadn’t gone after all!

He had been concealing himself near this compound all along, protecting them!

Lienna, who was hiding behind the two men, had already covered her face and was weeping uncontrollably, staring at that figure outside the window whose two bullets had crushed the wild bravado of these rampaging thugs.

“He definitely did that, the ‘Hero,’ ” the excited girl whispered, biting her lip so hard she could barely speak, desperate to dash right now, into the “Hero’s ” embrace… to go and… she didn’t know what, though she had no idea why.

But suddenly, they all lifted their hearts in unison.

From a gigantic shadow sweeping down swiftly from the sky, bringing a gust, a wind claw slammed down, its violent force sending He Yishu, who had been aiming his gun at the defeated men on the ground, staggering back two steps.

Whomp!

From a speck of sun overhead clicked roughly word; Whinny rushed who has a corner now…actually four change happen blurriantly— What do hit! For birds turning force send flight circle and spear slash shape on group in.

He Yishu had, into his glimmer hour suddenly burning fell to weaker shine on being stabbed utterly from blazing coat sound clip explosion glinting stab he threw with all color.

He Yishu, whose chest and lungs were almost pierced through by the blow, rolled to evade the spear’s next strike.

{He has a Chrono Weapon! }

The figure on the bird’s back had already switched from spear to bow, drawing the longbow and aiming at He Yishu, who was scrambling up from the ground, with an arrow blazing with intense orange Radiance, interwoven with flickering earth-yellow arcs.

{Bu Chen, can you invest a bit more? }

His own chrono was nearly exhausted, and this was already the vast majority of his principal chrono. Yang Zicang wanted to ask Zorro by his side, but time was no longer on their side.

But…

｛I, Xū, invest 850,000N in He Yishu’s Chrono Zero!｝

The figure on the giant bird’s back released his fingers, and the radiant orange arrow shot through the darkness like a thunderbolt, landing right behind the man who had already turned to flee.

It was at that moment that He Yishu suddenly crushed a small, cyan fruit-like object in his hand.

Bang!

The pale-red, dark-mat finish Mauser pistol in his hand rang out with a shot. The bullet, glowing with an earth-yellow brilliance even brighter than the orange light, arced in a bizarre trajectory towards a point diagonally above and behind him.

The man who had just shot the arrow was astonished to see his perfectly straight arrow, the moment before it touched the back of that fellow, suddenly knocked aside by some invisible force and buried into the ground beside him. In that same split second, the smaller, faster, tawny light-particle had already zipped up to his face.

Bang-thud!A muffled explosion.

The man on the bird’s back plummeted headfirst to the ground amidst the mournful shrieks of the beast. The man wounded in the thigh stared in shock as his brains-bursting former comrade landed not far away—the same expert whom everyone looked up to.

{God-fucking-DAMN it! } A roar of fury erupted from the yard.

Another Mist-man who had already rushed into the courtyard amidst the chaos, about to grab the Secret Box, felt an overwhelming killing intent surge from that gunshot and charged out of the yard.

{Don’t! Stick to the mission! }

Shouted another man deep in the chaos of the courtyard.

{That bastard’s gun is off. It’s definitely some uncanny nightmare mold-device that hasn’t been blinded. Let’s get the Secret Box. }

Within these mere few breaths, He Yishu had slipped from an advantage into danger, only to turn and slay the powerful enemy.

But right now, Ebiser and the others were mired in crisis.

Yang Zicang had foreseen that Mr. Ben’s backers might not let this go easily, but he never expected them to call upon so many of their countrymen to lend a hand.

He had originally thought these people would mostly accept the offer of land from the Fog People, choosing to protect those who needed to carry the Secret Box and board the ship. It was his own fault for taking things too idealistically.

“You have something to do?” Zorro looked at Yang Zicang beside him, who had suddenly turned serious after receiving a Telepathic Link. He even inexplicably had a hat in his hand now, from which he was rapidly and cautiously pulling out a cloth blanket and a few other items.

“My friend is secretly protecting a gentleman and his daughter. But now a situation more severe than we anticipated has arisen. The strength of those trying to seize the artifact is considerable.“

“Considerable?” Zorro asked, puzzled. “Since you suspected a powerful enemy might appear, why not go handle it yourself?“

Yang Zicang sighed and looked up at him.

“These past two days, I’ve been in contact with that father-daughter pair. The reason I’m not staying there is because they know I have valuable items. If I were present, the power of any enemy coming would likely be magnified several times over. Of course, I was originally counting on the city defense forces here and the specially hired experts from the leased territories, but it seems their train was delayed.“

Zorro pursed his lips and shrugged.