532 Chapter 532 - Violent and Cruel (1/2)
The twang of a bow could be heard, but the wrist holding the bow was jerked away in the last moment. The Archer, who was caught off guard, watched as the arrow he had shot sailed entirely off its mark and into the sky, as if he were aiming at the birds from the very start…
”What was that for?” Royal God Call turned his head in astonishment as he looked at Young Master Han, whose hand was still holding his wrist.
”No need to do that,” Young Master Han calmly replied.
”What happened?!” Brother Assist and War Without Wounds were anxiously standing at the side this whole time! They were unable to see anything from such a distance unlike Young Master Han who was holding a spyglass and Royal God Call who possessed Eagle Eye, but these two men could tell that they had just missed an important occurrence.
”Sword Demon's about to be killed by someone; I was trying to lend a hand…” Royal God Call trailed off. It was apparent that the arrow he had fired off moments ago was his attempt at helping Sword Demon, but Young Master Han ended up disrupting his shot.
War Without Wounds and Brother Assist turned to look at the man with suspicion. He was the one who had privately messaged them upon leaving the tavern about his certainty of a follow-up attack from their enemies.
”From the fact he got a bunch of random players to act as bit players in a bid to bluff us, we can tell that he didn't have the strength to suppress us directly right now. As such, if he is to make any move, it will surely be when we are alone in an attempt to divide and conquer us,” Young Master Han said. ”I don't intend to be at his arbitrary mercy. He may have his business to come knocking, but it won't be so easy for him to waltz by casually and leave as he pleases.”
”So, you believed that they'll target Sword Demon first?” The four convened again without Sword Demon. Brother Assist could guess what Young Master Han's plan was; it was to use Sword Demon as a bait while they secretly tailed him. Furthermore, Sword Demon was not supposed to have any idea what was happening. If that had not been the case, they could have discussed this openly over the mercenary channel. By choosing to convey all this via private messaging, it was clear that he wanted to keep Sword Demon in the dark about all this.
”That's right.” Young Master Han nodded.
”Why?” The three could not make sense of it.
”Because the person they have tailed the first time around was Sword Demon,” Young Master Han replied.
”How did you know?”
”When talking to those bit players back in the tavern, I asked each of them when they were approached, and I matched it according to our respective time of arrival. There were already people being 'hired' around the time when Sword Demon reached the tavern, but before Brother Assist arrived. Thus, without a doubt, the one they tailed was Sword Demon, and since he was the first one to reach the destination, they probably realized that the rest of us were meeting there,” Young Master Han expounded.
The three instantly made the connection as they indeed recalled Young Master Han questioning those bit players regarding the time, and they were all right beside him while that was happening, though none of them thought that such a method would uncover who was the one that got followed.
”Well, even if Sword Demon was the one being stalked the first time around, what has that got to do with him being followed and targeted the second time around?” Brother Assist asked.
”That's not it. The issue is that Sword Demon was bound to respawn back at the Thieves' Union upon death, and he made sure to check if there's anyone trying to ambush him or secretly attempting to follow him, but he didn't see either of these happening in the end,” Young Master Han said.
”So?”
”So, the other party might have other means that would allow them to learn of Sword Demon's coordinates sans following him.”
”Is there such a thing?” Brother Assist asked.
”Considering who we are going up against, is it really strange for him to acquire something we have no knowledge of?” Young Master Han asked.
”But… Isn't it a little too much to use such methods against one player?” Everybody was feeling disgruntled at this possibility.
”Which is why I say that there's no such thing as balance in this world. He openly claims to be protecting the game's balance, yet he's using such imbalanced means. What a joke.” Young Master Han scoffed. ”Honestly, even if he uses a more balanced method, he's nothing more than an absurd idealist, which still makes him a clown.”
”We get it; you just see him as a laughing stock no matter what he does!” The three were already used to this, summarily understanding that Young Master Han had nothing but contempt and derision for that low-level Priest. It was tough being human, and it was much harder to be someone whom Young Master Han would snidely regard with disdain.
”Anyone who talks about balance is a joke. Hey, the three of you, didn't you complain about his methods just then? You guys won't possibly be chasing after balance as well, right?” Young Master Han turned to regard the three men.
”What the heck, man. We're all having an amicable conversation here; why did you suddenly set your sights on us!” The three were immediately affronted. Look; without them realizing it, they became this man's objects of ridicule once more.
”Enough of all this nonsense. Just how is Sword Demon doing?” Brother Assist changed the subject.
”It's only just one man. There's absolutely no need for us to worry about him,” Young Master Han replied.
”But—” Royal God Call could clearly see that Sword Demon was severely handicapped right now, seeing as his opponent had successfully sent him sprawling on the ground. In the end, before he could finish uttering out that one syllable, Young Master Han leaped off the roof coolly.
”Where are you going?” the three hurriedly asked.
”I'm out of booze,” Young Master Han replied, leaving the three to look at one another.
”Is it really going to be fine?” Young Master Han's judgement was rarely wrong, yet Royal God Call could not help but worry as he continued to watch the fight intently with his Eagle Eye.
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Back on the street, Sword Demon got up after being sent flying with that kick.
”Don't you even know about the technique of skill canceling?” Cool Apple mocked. Sword Demon could only quietly admit this to be true, for he had indeed forgotten about it entirely.
Shadowstep was indeed a movement skill that sent the user circling around to the target's back, but it would not transport the user instantly like how Blink worked. With a sufficiently precise control of timing and speed the skill provided, it was possible for the user to cancel it at a crucial moment and the user would naturally find him or herself stopping at the position they needed.