Jealousy completely contorted Fantes's face.
Li Xiuman, who was highly perceptive, naturally noticed Fantes's jealousy.
So, feeling incredibly smug, he leaned in close to Fantes's ear and added a line.
“I've touched every single part of Teri's body. Not just her hand, you know.”
Fantes felt a rush of jealous rage flood his brain.
Even he... Even he had only ever been able to fantasize about her!
Why?! Why could a guy like this...?!
“Kid, answer my question.”
“I've never seen you before. There shouldn't be any grudge between us!”
Fantes gritted his teeth, squeezing the words out of his mouth.
“True.”
“There really isn't any irreconcilable grudge between us.”
“But you see, your plan to destroy White Bear City makes me a bit unhappy. Since I could easily deal with you along the way, I did.”
Li Xiuman pressed the Rib Sword he had taken from Number Zero against Fantes's neck.
“Kid, my goal isn't to destroy White Bear City!”
“If you're not satisfied with my current plan, I can stop that monster from causing any more destruction!”
“You're right, there's no irreconcilable grudge between us!”
“Once we clear up this misunderstanding, we might even raise a glass together!”
Fantes seized every possible chance to preserve his life.
“Tsk, tsk.”
Looking at Fantes, whose desire to survive was so intense, Li Xiuman sighed.
However, he had no intention of letting Fantes live.
After all, the man was incredibly wealthy.
Besides, this bastard had committed countless atrocities; Li Xiuman had already received reports from Number Zero regarding Alice's family.
But none of that really mattered.
Li Xiuman wasn't some righteous hero—he wasn't even human, after all.
Still, there was no way Li Xiuman would let such a golden opportunity slide.
Once Fantes was dead, Li Xiuman could claim all the wealth the man had accumulated.
The thought made his non-existent heart flutter.
Ultimately, it was just a simple conflict of interest.
“I think I'll pass, Viscount Fantes—or should I say, the future Count Fantes.”
“I'm actually quite interested in the plan you prepared.”
“I am more than willing to help you carry it out.”
Li Xiuman said with a smile, trying his best to make his voice sound gentle.
After all, friendly customer service was all the rage nowadays, wasn't it?
“However, there might be some minor changes to the plan.”
“The hero who saves White Bear City won't be you anymore. It'll be me.”
“I am very curious, Fantes. How exactly does your plan stop that monster?”
“After all, you seemed so confident.”
Li Xiuman asked Fantes.
Fantes's mind raced. He knew this was his only chance of survival.
He absolutely couldn't just tell him.
He had to use it as leverage to bargain for his life.
The guy before him was cut from the same cloth. If he were in this man's shoes, he would never let a threat live.
Once you offended someone to this extent, they had to die.
He was certain the man holding him hostage thought the exact same way.
“Sir, if you want it just like that... Ahhh!!!”
Before he could finish his sentence, one of his arms flew into the air and landed on the ground.
“All you need to do is answer my question, the future one-armed Count.”
Li Xiuman rested the Rib Sword against Fantes's other arm and spoke.
Pain, rage, and sheer terror flooded Fantes's mind.
Li Xiuman took the opportunity to release his skeleton aura, letting the stench of death and monsters play with Fantes's nerves.
“Speak, or don't.”
Li Xiuman pressed on.
“It's blood!”
“My blood! I implanted a fear-based slavery mechanism inside her body!”
“My blood can weaken its strength!”
Li Xiuman cut off Fantes's other arm with another swift slash.
“Don't try to deceive me.”
“Ahhhhh!!!”
Fantes almost passed out from the excruciating pain.
Spoiled and pampered his entire life, when had he ever experienced such agony?
“It's true, I'm telling the truth!”
Fantes's voice already carried a hint of sobbing.
It seemed he was telling the truth. To lie under these circumstances required either an incredibly ruthless person or a complete lunatic.
The Li Style Lie Detection Method—tried, tested, and utterly reliable.
“In that case, you still have some use.”
“Then again, killing you and draining your blood would serve the same purpose.”
As Li Xiuman spoke, he cleanly lopped off Fantes's head and began collecting his blood.
Fantes's guards rushed in all at once.
“Perfect. I can use you guys to warm up before dealing with that monster.”
Li Xiuman threw the Rib Sword to Number Zero and drew Crystal Orchid.
Then, with Crystal Orchid in one hand and his wand in the other, he charged into the oncoming wave of guards.
Blood and minced flesh flew in every direction.
Number Zero had already gathered intelligence and techniques on all the guards beforehand.
Meanwhile, the guards knew absolutely nothing about Number Zero. Halfway through the fight, because they had lost their leader, the remaining guards fled in terror.
Within the abandoned church, the statue of an unknown deity was now splattered with fresh blood.
Li Xiuman flicked the blood off Crystal Orchid, sheathed it, and looked at the statue.
He pulled back his hood, exposing his blood-spattered, ivory-white skull to the open air.
The cold blue flames flickering in his eye sockets stared straight at the blood-stained statue.
“May the Goddess watch over us.”
The skeleton offered a “pious” prayer, almost as if mocking the Goddess.
Then, he pulled his hood back over his head and departed from the abandoned church, leaving behind a floor littered with corpses.
Back on the monster's side.
The beast was still running rampant.
The Mages and Warriors organized by Count Wit were still desperately battling the creature, trying to stop its path of destruction.
Li Xiuman, however, was in no rush to deal with it.
As for the citizens slaughtered by the monster, the incredibly “merciful” Li Xiuman wanted to shed tears of sorrow for them.
He wanted nothing more than to wake up in the first half of the night to wash his face with tears.
Then wake up in the second half of the night to slap himself.
But that was a matter for the first and second halves of the night. Right now, Li Xiuman only wanted to take advantage of the chaos to raid Fantes's home.
He would thoroughly sweep up all of Fantes's treasures and gold coins.
Nobles of this sort made their fortune by exploiting the populace, so they always had the best loot.
This would allow him to stock his own dungeon with some chest advertisements.
It would also let him outfit his vampires with a fresh batch of equipment, enabling them to generate even more gold coins for him.
Plus, a massive heap of gold coins would enrich his personal treasury.
So, dear citizens of White Bear City, hang in there a little longer. Your sacrifices are highly valued!
During the first half of the night, I will conscientiously wash my face with tears for you.
During the second half of the night, I will conscientiously slap myself for you.
He stormed into Fantes's manor-fortress.
Guided by Number Zero, Li Xiuman quickly began his sweeping raid.
All he could say was that nobles truly lived up to their reputation—this guy was far wealthier than a certain immature red dragon who wished to remain anonymous, namely Orfen Rory Gould.
Blast that red dragon. Just thinking about it spoils my mood again.
Li Xiuman had a sudden moment of profound enlightenment.
What was the point of slaying dragons for treasure?
If you really wanted to strike it rich, slaying nobles was the way to go.
Rate on N.U.
