Trade? What do you mean?
Lola froze when she heard “Furnace Hook’s” words. She hadn’t expected him to bring up something like that.
She looked at “Furnace Hook” suspiciously as he slowly approached her. With her right hand, she quietly grabbed a handful of dirt. If “Furnace Hook” intended any harm, she would throw the dirt to create a distraction and escape.
Whether this would work or not, she didn’t know, but she had no other options. “Furnace Hook” was far stronger than them all. If he really decided to attack, everyone here would be killed.
“Heh, so you’re their leader, huh.”
“Furnace Hook” looked at the small, fox-shaped beastman in front of him. He had already noticed that this little slave was the first to throw stones at him. The other beastmen only acted after she made the move. Even when the others were preparing to leave, she was the one leading them. It was clear she was the mastermind behind this escape plan.
Although “Furnace Hook” despised the smell of beastmen and didn’t want to negotiate or trade with them, he suppressed his disgust for the sake of survival and spoke to Lola as kindly as he could, “You want to leave here and regain your freedom, right? No problem! I can set you free, but before that, you need to do something for me.”
Do something for him? What does he want us to do? Could it be dangerous?
Upon hearing “Furnace Hook’s” words, doubt began to creep into Lola’s mind. She couldn’t trust this slave trader to actually set them free. He must have some ulterior motive.
At that moment, Lola suddenly remembered that ever since arriving at this grassland, they hadn’t seen the pursuing guards. Could something have happened back at the manor? That must be it! Otherwise, this guy wouldn’t have come here alone!
With a rough idea of what might be going on, Lola pretended to listen carefully while secretly signaling the others to move away. She stayed here to stall time with “Furnace Hook.”
“So, may I ask, what exactly do you need us to do before you’ll let us go?”
But how could such a trick fool “Furnace Hook”? His once somewhat friendly expression instantly darkened.
“Hmph, just as I thought—stupid beastmen. If you won’t even accept my generous offer, I can’t understand how your brains are wired. If that’s the case, then you only have yourselves to blame for being so foolish!”
Before Lola could react, “Furnace Hook’s” hand shot toward her neck at an impossible speed. She tried to throw the dirt to stop him, but it had no effect.
Of course—it was just some dust. If you’re prepared, “Furnace Hook” wouldn’t fall for that.
Just as his hand was about to grab Lola’s neck, a shadow dashed out of the nearby grass at blinding speed, aiming straight for “Furnace Hook’s” neck.
Unfortunately, the shadow’s attack failed. It slammed into a sudden circular barrier around “Furnace Hook,” sending ripples and cracks across the surface, but it did not break through.
Still, the attack forced “Furnace Hook” to pause, allowing Lola to escape his grasp.
“Furnace Hook” stared suspiciously at the shadow. If it weren’t for the “Floral Stone Bead’s” barrier reactivating just in time, he might have lost his head. Too bad the teleportation cooldown was so long; otherwise, he would have already escaped into the forest.
Liyami was also shocked. She clearly remembered that the barrier around “Furnace Hook” had been broken by that demon tribe member earlier. So why was it active again?
Could the barrier be reusable? Had it recovered already? So quickly? This magical item was truly extraordinary.
Liyami hadn’t expected the barrier to be functional again so soon. Normally, such items were single-use or required long recharge times. Where had this little slave trader found such a powerful magical tool?
She didn’t know the answer, but there was no time to dwell on it. Her mission was to kill “Furnace Hook,” by any means necessary.
Seeing that her first strike hadn’t succeeded, Liyami didn’t give “Furnace Hook” a moment to recover and slashed again. The barrier’s cracks deepened.
Just as Liyami prepared for another strike, “Furnace Hook” pulled something from his clothes. She quickly moved behind him and kept retreating.
The spot where she had stood was suddenly engulfed by flashing bolts of lightning.
Seeing his attack evaded, “Furnace Hook’s” face drained of color.
Those lightning bolts were from the “Thunderstrike” magic scrolls he had paid dearly for. They were his last trump card and only means of attack. If not for the sudden chaos forcing him to use them impulsively, he wouldn’t have revealed them now.
Now, he had no means of counterattack. Once the barrier was broken, he would be at his enemy’s mercy.
But “Furnace Hook” hadn’t given up yet. The teleportation cooldown still had time left. Until then, he had to buy himself more time.
Clearing his throat, “Furnace Hook” tried to use words to dampen the enemy’s aggression.
Liyami didn’t give him a chance. Noticing no other moves from him, she guessed that the previous lightning attack was his last. Now all she needed was to break the barrier.
Liyami manipulated the shadows again and charged toward “Furnace Hook.” Seeing this, he panicked and tried to dodge by moving side to side.
But if he really managed to dodge attacks by just moving like that, Liyami would have to question whether she was even an assassin.
Just as Liyami was about to touch the barrier, a sharp scream suddenly rang out nearby, freezing both her and “Furnace Hook” in place.
By their side, Lola was staring in terror as small fiends swarmed and viciously tore into one of her companions.
With more fiends appearing, a figure emerged in front of Liyami and “Furnace Hook”—a man with long horns on his head and a missing left arm.
“Hey hey, how can this be? How can you leave me, the main character, out of this play with just the two of you? Such a great show—why don’t I join in?”
The one who appeared before them was none other than the wounded demon—Gavasa.