Chapter 2930: A Troublesome Foe

“You are indeed very strong.”

Jiawen ignored the sword edge resting on her shoulder. The aura that had been closely resembling ‘Black Vatican Priest’ vanished instantly, and her lips curved into an elegant smile: “But I’d like to struggle a bit more~”

Bang! Bang bang!

A shot of a strong control effect [Floating Bomb] and two high armor-piercing [LV3 Penetrating Bullets] screamed towards Motan’s chest. At the same time, Jiawen’s form, which was initially pressed by the longsword, suddenly flickered and appeared several meters away with a stack of decorative playing cards in her hand.

“Struggle, hmm?”

Motan casually flicked his [Dawn·Ruthless Sword] and said with a grin, “I don’t mind it at all.”

Instantly, a burst of chaotic sword light flashed through the air without warning. He deftly sliced the three excellent rounds into six pieces, then walked leisurely towards Jiawen with a faint smile on his face.

“It’s been three days… quite impressive indeed…”

Although she knew herself to be less powerful in terms of sheer strength, Jiawen hadn’t expected Motan to effortlessly intercept her extremely fast-paced [Fire]-[Switch]-[Fire]-[Rapid Reload] combo. Stepping back slowly, she asked with slight surprise, “Silent Brother, did you not use your full strength in that tournament?”

“Not quite.”

Motan shook his head, continuing to approach Jiawen unhurriedly as he replied calmly, “Though I’m indeed taking it more seriously now, the main reason is that you and the Snow Bathing Sword are two entirely different opponents in style.”

Jiawen didn’t continue to retreat, instead dazzlingly shuffling the cards. As she tossed them into the air, her figure vanished from the spot with a faint laugh, “Naturally, since he is a top-ranking strong figure, while I’m just an insignificant person.”

“That’s not entirely true.”

Motan didn’t chase the voice that brushed past him and gradually faded away; instead, he moved to the center of the flying cards, slowly closing his eyes: “Different styles and strength are not the same concept. In fact, even at an equal power level, I’m more adept at dealing with enemies like you than at teaching Miss Mu a lesson.”

“Oh?”

Jiawen’s mocking laughter echoed from the alley entrance, filled with disdain despite being in ‘Black Vatican’s tone: “For example?”

An ebony dagger whizzed by, tearing through the silent air, the flying Spade ACE, Jiawen’s sleeve, and skin, pinning her left arm to the wall beside Motan.

“For instance, I’ve dealt with quite a few cunning people.”

Motan withdrew the dagger, unleashing a knee strike that bent Jiawen’s form into a shrimp-like arch, then lifted his left arm to pin her neck against the wall with force, speaking calmly and steadily, “So I’m not unfamiliar with your agile combat style.”

“Ugh, cough!”

The nearly suffocated Jiawen instinctively coughed up blood, then struggled to flick two dice from her sleeve and forcibly activated [Dice Trick] to shift her position a few inches, narrowly escaping before Motan almost snapped her neck, now half kneeling on the ground and gasping heavily, wiping the blood from her mouth while managing a dry laugh: “You…ugh, cough! Weren’t you going to… ask me a question?”

The implication being, if you intended to question me, why aim to kill?

Heaven’s truth, had Jiawen not desperately used an escape skill just now, she’s likely to have had her neck forcibly broken by Motan, facing a character respawn.

“Indeed, I wasn’t planning to kill you.”

Motan retracted his left arm that had cracked the wall, turning lightly to Jiawen, “Though… I have great confidence in you.”

“You have great confidence in me?”

“Yes, I believe opponents like you will certainly reveal their intentions in a situation of complete desperation.”

“In other words… unless I obediently surrender and comply, you’ll assume I still have unexhausted means, so you’ll never show any mercy, correct?”

“Yes, more or less.”

Motan smiled with an infectious, spring-like warmth, nodding lightly. It must be said, under his current persona, his smile is exceptionally convincing, prompting any friend familiar with him to subconsciously relax.

However, for Jiawen, who is currently in an adversarial relationship with Motan, his cheerful and sunny smile is far less appealing.

It’s noteworthy that, although in most circumstances, under his current persona, Motan is a man of stability, fairness, objectivity, friendliness, thoughtfulness, sincerity, compassion, and reliability, this doesn’t mean he’s indecisive, nor does it imply his patience is limitless.

In fact, when his limits are breached, Motan, under his current persona, is no less lethal than in ‘Absolute Neutrality’ or ‘Chaotic Neutral’ states, and perhaps even more terrifying.