Chapter 1979 - 536: Let's See Whose Blood Runs Dry First (Part 4)

"It's Clairte!"

"How did he get involved with the Royal Guard?!"

"I heard... it seems to be because of the 'Encyclopedia'."

The citizens of Roland City whispered among themselves, gathering around the corner. Some had indignation written all over their faces, others were numb, or simply shook their heads and walked away.

Ryan unconsciously stopped in his tracks, temporarily forgetting he had come to buy bread, and moved towards the gathering.

But when he stood at the edge of the crowd, and fixed his gaze at the center, he was confronted with a scene that made his soul fly away.

The sunset, as red as blood, stained a hastily built wooden gallows dark red.

Ten men, dressed in rags, had their hands bound behind them, standing numbly on the precarious platform.

Their clothes were covered in blood-soaked whip marks, clearly having suffered inhuman torture, yet there was a hint of relief on their faces as if their ordeal were about to end.

Standing before them was Sir Skidgin, the guy who always fawned in front of his boss, yet now resembled a fierce Lei-style bulldog.

Taking out a pocket watch from his chest for a glance, Sir Skidgin roared at the criminals, spraying spittle far and wide.

"Last chance! Tell me where that damned 'Encyclopedia' came from! Who gave it to you?"

No one made a sound.

No matter how loud Sir Skidgin's whip sounded, those standing on the gallows were quietly waiting for death.

And this brought a sense of dread to Sir Skidgin, his roaring became increasingly less threatening.

"Don't think staying silent makes you tough! I know you're stone masons! And... your guild chairman has already spoken to me, he told me not to be polite to you! I'd advise you to speak up while you still can!"

Yet, in the face of death, there was only a deathly silence on the platform.

Maybe these stone masons were truly tough, perhaps they couldn't speak, or maybe they simply didn't know.

"Mutes? Alright, everyone's a mute!"

Seeing the last rays of the setting sun about to disappear, Sir Skidgin lost all patience, waving his hand irritably, as if swatting a few pesky flies.

"Hang them! Blessed be Saint Sis, I'm wasting my time!"

With a teeth-gritting sound of the wooden boards flipping, the nooses tightened instantly.

"Squeak—"

The sound resembled the strange noise made by an old oil press, as ten vibrant lives swung like pendulums in the sunset, then slowly became still, the first to perish.

Ryan was terrified, his face pale, his legs weak.

He instinctively blended into the depths of the crowd, using his hands to cover his mouth tightly, for fear of making the slightest noise and attracting the attention of that lunatic.

He actually killed them all!

The crowd's anger was piling up in silence, while Sir Skidgin glared at them unceremoniously, the fierce Holy Energy blooming like the blazing sun.

This shocked the crowd, reminding them that this guy was a Transcendent, crushing a few stone masons like crushing a few ants.

The Royal Guard swaggered away, the crowd also began to disperse, then the corpse collectors pushed their carts over, seemingly bringing the sound of women and children crying from the street corner.

Ryan couldn't remember when he fled, until he was leaning against a wall, gasping for breath, only then did he feel his soul returning to his body.

"Right... I still need to buy bread."

After catching his last breath, Ryan muttered to himself, picking up his spirit again, with a bit more clever composure in his eyes.

He didn't know what the 'Encyclopedia' was, it certainly had nothing to do with him. His main task was to get bread, then find...

What was he supposed to find?

He shook his head, forgetting the unpleasantness, walked into the alley sinking into the night, searching for the puzzle Mr. Newcastle left for him.

Night finally fell.

Ryan inadvertently followed a few hurried passers-by who seemed like "mice", venturing to follow behind those guys, eventually finding the so-called black market in an abandoned underground cellar.

That black market was indeed dark, likely the lawless place Mr. Newcastle had described, yet upon finding it, he felt disappointed.

Turns out Roland City also had places the Royal Guard couldn't enter, not any more sacred than Thunder City. And worse, it seemed there was nothing he needed here, only a few haggard vendors, eyes fierce and vigilant.

They seemed to think he didn't belong, but before he caused trouble, they were reluctant to break the rules of their own turf.

Ryan ultimately didn't find the bread he was looking for, the place seemed not to sell food, but rather things the Royal Guard couldn't see.

However, he did spot the 'Encyclopedia' the Royal Guard was searching for, but strangely no one bothered to stash it, as if casually dumped in the corner of a stall.

Ryan decided to leave.

Because he noticed a few sinister individuals had their eyes on him, possibly because they realized he was only looking and not buying, or perhaps they were coveting what he had.

Just as he was about to leave empty-handed, a soft voice unexpectedly came from the shadows in the corner.

"Sir... are you looking for something?"

The voice was light, laced with a hint of trembling curiosity.

Ryan turned his head, seeing a young woman.

She wore an ill-fitting dress, although washed pale, it still managed to look decent. Her messy hair outlined an elegant profile, and her bright eyes, like the lamp on his boss's table, instantly illuminated his heart.