4:30 a.m., Hongfang Street.


    The ghostly figure of Le York, the fearsome killer of the Brotherhood, appeared on the rooftop of a civilian house. The next moment, he was in a nearby alley, and the moment after that, he rushed towards the wide avenue.


    On the ground stained red with blood, dozens of corpses lay. There were elite members of the Brotherhood wrapped in black cloth, as well as members of the Blood Bottle Gang wearing red scarves on their heads.


    Le York let out another roar, and his figure disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already on the signboard of the opposite shop.


    It was as if—as if he was desperately trying to get rid of something that was following him.


    The sounds of fighting continued in the distance.


    Suddenly, on Le York''s originally anxious face, an expression that combined calmness and fierceness emerged.


    In the next instant, Le York''s scimitar passed through under his left armpit at a strange angle. Like an anaconda hunting its prey, it stabbed towards his left rear with lightning speed!


    There was no one there, yet—


    "Rip!"


    The sound of cloth tearing came!


    "One strike hit the mark."


    "The ''Ghost in the Wind'', Rolf."


    Le York raised his scimitar and wiped the blood off the tip of the blade. The anxiety and anger on his face had disappeared, replaced by a cold-bloodedness that hinted at madness.


    "The ''Silent Killer'' Le York. Is it just your luck that''s too good, or did you really sense my position?" A strange, sinister and soft voice drifted from all directions.


    Le York just静静地 maintained his original posture and remained silent.


    "A killer like you is a pity in the Brotherhood."


    As the voice faded, a figure appeared on the road in front of Le York.


    A man with green hair, wearing a gray tight-fitting outfit and with tattoos on his face, smiled and touched his left collarbone. There, a wound was slowly oozing blood.


    Le York''s pupils suddenly shrank. His strike should have perfectly pierced his opponent''s heart, and then he should have pulled out the knife the moment the blood vessels in the atrium were pierced. However, his knife had only grazed the opponent''s collarbone?


    Le York was surprised for a moment, but quickly regained his calm state and silently prepared for his next strike.


    A killer should always have the confidence to deliver a fatal blow with their next strike.


    If Rick were here, he would definitely scoff at Le York''s nickname of the "Silent Killer". That annoying killer was the one who used the most sarcastic words against him, wasn''t he?


    Even the time traveler Thales would nod his head: Le York when fighting with Belicia like a fairy battle wasn''t exactly "silent".


    But at this moment, Le York''s eyes were sinister, and he remained completely still, standing on the signboard like a statue, truly exuding a terrifying "silence".


    But the next moment, the face of Rolf, known as the "Ghost in the Wind", changed.


    "Forget it," Rolf snorted. "I didn''t expect that that guy Kalka would actually be killed by Morris. Should I say that the fat guy really lives up to his reputation as one of the six great leaders of the Brotherhood?"


    "I''ll hide for a while. But don''t get me wrong, our game isn''t over yet, ''Silent Killer''."


    The next moment, Rolf disappeared.


    At the same time, Morris—one of the six great leaders of the Black Street Brotherhood, the person in charge of the human trafficking business—led a team of elites and appeared at the corner with a fierce expression.


    "Boss!" Le York instantly floated down from the signboard and saluted Morris.


    "It was the ''Ghost in the Wind'' Rolf."


    The chubby Morris nodded and threw a corpse in his hand to the ground.


    This was a sturdy man, but he seemed to have been in great pain before his death. If the Brotherhood''s exclusive black doctor—the strange doctor Ramon were here, he would quickly analyze that before his death, the sturdy man''s lips were purple, the corners of his eyes were congested, and his nails were pink.


    Kalka, the supernatural warrior from the Kiseri Grassland in the Eastern Continent and a member of the nomadic tribe, known as the "War Wolf", died of suffocation.


    "Have you found the others?" Morris asked with a serious expression, showing no joy at getting rid of a powerful enemy—especially since the opponent was a supernatural warrior.


    Le York shook his head with a heavy heart: "No. But I encountered obstacles that seemed to be ''air walls'' in several places. According to the descriptions I''ve heard in the past," the killer paused and said with great solemnity and worry, "I suspect that a ''Qi Magician'' may have taken action."


    "A Qi Magician? An air wall. Damn it!"


    Morris spat angrily. No matter which supernatural being it was, upon hearing that the enemy they were facing was a magician, and especially a magician who could suppress their own abilities, they wouldn''t be too happy.


    For this foolproof surprise attack, the Brotherhood had gathered almost all the elites from the headquarters in Eternal Star City, organized them into groups, and aimed to catch the enemy off guard and deliver a fatal blow. However, at the very beginning of the attack, the Brotherhood''s elites were scattered by several huge forces and strong winds. Some places on Hongfang Street were even no longer passable. The originally powerful elite troops were instantly split into a multi-headed snake whose head and tail couldn''t take care of each other.


    In the poems sung by bards, the monster multi-headed snake Kilika was finally killed by the hero Nekaru, who cut off its heads one by one.


    Now it seemed that it was undoubtedly the "Qi Magician" who scattered them.


    That terrifying guy, I hope we don''t run into him head-on. Morris listened to the continuous sounds of fighting in his ears and tried to identify the direction.


    "It was supposed to be us gathering our elites to attack the Blood Bottle Gang''s branch on Hongfang Street. In the end, it turned out that they set an ambush for us—damn it, it''s really embarrassing, as if we''ve brought shame all the way to the Kingdom of the Dark Night God."


    "One of the only two magicians on the other side has already been dispatched, and we were still stupidly rushing forward to our deaths! Our brains are duller than the Dark Night God himself!"


    Morris cursed with words that were blasphemous to the gods, but his mind was constantly turning.


    "There must be an informant! When we get back, I''ll squeeze out Lancer''s lungs! That old bastard, how did he do the intelligence work!"


    Le York lowered his head and smartly didn''t follow his superior, one of the "six great leaders", in cursing another "six great leader" of the Brotherhood.


    Morris took a deep breath and quickly made a clear judgment:


    "Since the enemy is a magician and we don''t have any masters above the Extreme Realm here—the operation to attack Hongfang Street has already completely failed. You all disperse and pass the order to all our own people: abandon the target, return the way we came, and break through with all our might!"


    "We''re going back to the Black Street!"


    *（分隔线保留）*


    Yara looked at Thales, and the expression on her face gradually faded.


    Time seemed to have passed a long time.


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    But Thales just stared at her without moving.


    Until the other party exhaled a breath and gently lowered her head.


    "You little brat."


    Yara had no expression on her face and just looked at the dim ground in the cellar.


    It made Thales not even dare to breathe.


    But then, the young female bartender quickly said quietly:


    "You—you—has anyone ever told you—"


    Thales listened attentively.


    "—that you''re very precocious?"


    This time, it was Thales'' turn to be stunned for a moment.


    Precocious?


    Well, as a time traveler—haha.


    Quickly think, how did the senior time travelers manage to get through it when they were suspected by the locals?


    Then, this time traveler touched his head, blushed, and said embarrassedly:


    "Hehe—Am I very precocious? Haha, well, Yara, I understand what you mean, but I still really enjoy my current single life and don''t want to—"


    "Bang!"


    Yara''s expression instantly twisted, and she viciously poked Thales'' forehead with one finger!


    "Little brat, you''d better know when to stop!"


    "And, call me Sister Yara!"


    Thales rubbed his forehead in pain, but a memory faded into his mind.


    It was a sunny afternoon.


    "Wu Qiren! Dota 2 can still operate without you! You''d better know when to stop!"


    "Why do you keep saying the same sentence recently?"


    "Hey, this is a famous saying in the world of two-dimensional! Of course, I have to—Why are you still queuing up for the next game!"


    "Ah, my friend asked me to play together. I''m sorry, I can''t refuse."


    "With your Dota skills? Bah! You''d better know when to stop!"


    "Again the same sentence—Hey, my gaming mouse!"


    Thales rubbed his head and buried this memory deep in his mind.


    What''s wrong with me recently? The memory flashbacks are getting more and more frequent.


    Although it''s a good thing, as I can retrieve a lot of knowledge and wisdom that I only had in my previous life, but I can''t keep having flashbacks at crucial moments, can I?


    He shook his head, looked at Yara whose expression had changed, and said clearly and firmly:


    "I don''t ask for much. As long as we can get through Hongfang Street, we can escape to the territory of the Blood Bottle Gang. After that, we can take care of ourselves. No one will know about you, and you won''t get into trouble! Now it''s the night before dawn, the darkest time. It shouldn''t be a problem for you to sneak past the eyes of the Brotherhood from the Lower City to Hongfang Street."


    "I can''t say for other places. In fact, as soon as we show up, we''ll be noticed by the Brotherhood. But Hongfang Street is the border between the Brotherhood and the Blood Bottle Gang. There, it''s our only chance to escape! The Brotherhood will definitely spend time chasing after the scattered orphans. By the time they react, they won''t be able to chase us across Hongfang Street!"


    At this moment, Thales, confident and determined, slightly raised the corners of his lips.


    "Huff!"


    Yara let out a sigh and closed her eyes.


    "When the other orphans scattered and fled, you headed straight for Hongfang Street. It''s a good plan. With my skills and experience, I might have a chance to divert the attention of the Brotherhood."


    When she opened her eyes again, her gaze suddenly became sharp and shrewd, fierce and terrifying, as if she had instantly transformed back into the female killer she once was.


    Thales rarely saw Yara like this.


    "But, will you be safe once you reach the territory of the Blood Bottle Gang? You can outwit the Black Street Brotherhood for a while, but it''s only temporary."


    "The Brotherhood has countless capable people and outstanding combat power. Even the Blood Bottle Gang, which opposes them, is at a disadvantage. It''s only a matter of time before they find the real culprit."


    "And then, where else can you go? As long as you''re still in Eternal Star City, the Black Street Brotherhood will always find you."


    "Even if you leave Eternal Star City, how do you know that the power of the Brotherhood won''t be even more terrifying and unscrupulous outside the city?"


    Yara''s words seemed to instantly hit Thales'' weak point.


    Thales swayed with a pale face.


    Yes, his plan didn''t go that far. With limited abilities and wisdom, he had no idea what would happen after reaching Hongfang Street.


    But they had nowhere else to go, didn''t they?


    They could only go to Hongfang Street.


    "That''s our business then." Thinking of this, he said stubbornly.


    Yara, the killer Yara with a shrewd and fierce appearance (not the lazy and indifferent female bartender Yara before), shook her head.


    "But, it''s impossible—"


    Seeing that Yara was still shaking her head, Thales became anxious.


    In order to get Yara''s help, he had used all his tricks, from appealing to emotions to building relationships, and even launched the "justice speech". Could he still fail? This wasn''t fair!


    "I know that compared to providing food and giving me a dagger, this request is too much. But, please look at those three children over there. Their hopes are all in this bar! Yara, please help me! And—"


    Thales said with difficulty.


    Yara raised her eyebrows.


    The time traveler really didn''t want to say the following words because, in his opinion, it was completely blatant coercion and torture.


    "And—you still owe me a favor, don''t you!"


    Thales said firmly.


    "Huh?"


    Yara''s eyes were filled with confusion and surprise, but then, she let out a laugh.


    The female bartender placed a wolf leg knife on her lap in front of Thales.


    "A favor? You mean that you once suggested that I change the weapon to this form, and you think that''s a favor? Well, okay, that counts, but you''re really taking advantage of this favor."


    Thales saw the wolf leg knife.


    Immediately, memories of Yara from the past came to his mind.


    It was a long time ago.


    "Yara, Yara, I''ve thought of a way to make up for the power and speed of your knife strikes!"


    "How many times have I told you to call me Sister Yara! Go away. A little brat who doesn''t understand combat, has no supernatural abilities, no divine arts, and doesn''t understand magic either, don''t bother me while I''m training."


    "Yara! This is it! Look at this picture!"


    "Eh! The style and curvature of this knife—Little brat, where did you get it? It seems quite interesting."


    "This is called a dogleg knife! Believe it or not, it''s a weapon from another world!"


    "Pfft, what dogleg. Even if we use it, can we change it to a nicer and more imposing name? Also, call me Sister Yara! And, what another world? Stop going to the Dark Night Temple to watch plays. The people there are all crazy."


    Thinking of this, Thales shook his head and drove away the memories.


    He firmly and slowly said the following words one by one:


    "No, it''s not based on this favor. It''s based on—on the favor that you provoked Quaid to this extent, made him lose his mind and go crazy, causing heavy casualties among the orphans, and forcing us to flee."


    Thales said this sentence heavily.


    As the words fell.


    Yara stared at him with wide eyes, in disbelief, and her beautiful eyelashes kept trembling.


    "You—How did you—"


    Thales was originally a bit nervous, but seeing Yara''s expression, he finally made a judgment in his heart.


    "Yes."


    Thales nodded, and his heart felt somewhat heavy.


    "You cut Quaid''s hand before, right? While he was cursing, he kept calling your name. Also, when Quaid''s greatest shame was mentioned, he might have been angry, but he was more ashamed. How could he go crazy and massacre the orphans? I don''t know what happened, but Quaid must have come to the Sunset Bar to drink and offended you. Then, somehow he went crazy and lost his mind, rushed into the abandoned house, and killed—killed half of the orphans."


    "Is that right?"


    "The lives of those half of the orphans are actually related to you, aren''t they?"


    At this moment, Thales truly saw the trembling in Yara''s eyes.


    That damn little brat.


    Yara cursed in her heart, but the wolf leg knife in her hand kept shaking, revealing her current state of mind.


    He''s a bit too smart.


    It''s just dozens of orphans. Yara thought with a tremble in her heart. It wasn''t me who killed them with my own hands. It has nothing to do with me.


    It''s all that Rick, that damn accountant.


    It has nothing to do with me.


    Does it really have nothing to do with me?


    Suddenly, in Yara''s mind, there appeared a baby covered in blood, wrapped in a precious blanket, and then she raised the knife in her hand.


    At that moment, her heart seemed too heavy to pump blood.


    "So, please help these four remaining orphans in front of you, because this is a favor that you—that you owe us."


    Thales felt extremely uncomfortable, but still painfully said these words.


    Yara tightly closed her eyes and inserted the wolf leg knife back into her boot.


    "Of course, if the design of the wolf leg knife also counts as a favor, then let''s count it. When you have many debts, you don''t worry about one more."


    Thales seemed to think the atmosphere was too oppressive, so he forced a smile again.


    Just, very reluctantly.


    After a long time, Yara opened her eyes.


    She gently raised her head.


    "Thales, you''re really a special child."


    "You always manage to hit someone''s weak point with one strike."


    "Quaid was probably killed by you in the same way, with one fatal blow."


    Her tone was somewhat listless, making Thales feel uneasy.


    But her next words made Thales'' heart sink like falling into an ice cellar.


    "But, it''s useless. Even if I''m willing to help you and sacrifice my life to protect you—you still won''t be able to get through Hongfang Street."


    Yara said each word slowly.


    Each pause was like it was taking Thales'' life.


    "Because, tonight, the Brotherhood is going to attack Hongfang Street."


    "It has already started. Hongfang Street will become the most terrifying battlefield in Eternal Star City tonight."


    Time around them seemed to spasm, and it took a long time to return to the normal time and space.


    "What did you say—" Thales asked with trembling lips and a pale face.


    "So, give up. You also know that since Hongfang Street is already a battlefield, no matter how powerful I am, even if I have the strength like the ''Wrath of the Kingdom'', it''s impossible to lead four wounded children through the battlefield of the two major gang leaders."


    Yara said dejectedly.


    Thales stared at Yara in shock, then looked at the three children in the distance who had almost finished their bread. Coria saw him looking and happily waved her hand. Four-year-old girls are always quick to forget pain.


    "Don''t worry," Sinti licked the breadcrumbs off her hands and patted Ryan, who was still trembling with fear: "Thales will take us to escape."


    "Yeah, Thales is the smartest. He can do anything!" Coria raised a small piece of bread and added happily.


    But on the other side of the cellar, in front of Yara, the time traveler who carried the orphans'' confidence and hope buried his face in his hands in despair.


    "How could this happen…"


    "Why would the Brotherhood attack Hongfang Street today…"


    "Why tonight…"


    "This shouldn''t be…"


    "Haha, an accident, an accident…"


    "Haha…"


    "We can''t go anywhere else…"


    "Except for Hongfang Street and the subsequent West Ring District, the Brotherhood has informants everywhere…"


    "Unless we go straight to Lower City District 1, from there to the sewers, to the诡道, which is the territory of the Iron Bat Gang…"


    "No, the Iron Bat Gang has long submitted to the Black Street Brotherhood…"


    "Go back to the abandoned house? Destroy Quaid''s body…"


    "Impossible, the other children already know…"


    "They''ll eventually find us…"


    "What should we do…"


    "What should we do!"


    Thales'' face was铁青, his lips were pale, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.


    Yara felt a bit sorry, but could only shake her head and pat his shoulder.


    "Stay here with me," Yara sighed, "I have someone I trust who can hide you for at least a month."


    "I can go to the old man," Yara paused and said embarrassedly, "The Brotherhood respects the old man''s influence. You—at least you won''t die."


    But it will be worse than death—Thales added silently in his heart.


    "Sometimes," Yara looked at Thales'' dejected appearance and sighed, thinking that even this intelligent boy had reached a dead end, "we have to accept our fate."


    Thales'' vision suddenly blurred again.


    "Qiren,唉, she''s gone. You, you, you must take care…呜呜呜…"


    "I… I''m fine. Don''t worry… Don''t worry, Auntie, I''m fine… really fine."


    "I know, Qiren. Hehe, sometimes, we have to accept our fate. Since she''s gone, this is a hurdle we must overcome, no one is exempt,呵呵."


    "Auntie… you… she…"


    "We have to accept our fate…呜呜… accept our fate…呜…"


    Accept fate.


    What is my fate?


    To be transported to this world just to be killed?


    Am I destined to accept it?


    Ridiculous.


    I''ve read so many books.


    Conducted so many studies.


    Written so many papers.


    How can I accept my fate!


    How can I believe in so-called fate!


    Thales suddenly raised his head, startling Yara.


    His eyes were filled with determination and anger.


    "Little brat, are you—are you okay?" Yara asked tentatively. For some reason, she was suddenly afraid of this seven-year-old boy.


    "Let them stay here with you."


    Thales suddenly blurted out.


    "All three of them stay, and you must stay to protect them. You can say that you captured these three orphans."


    Thales said emotionlessly, as if everything in front of him had lost its color.


    "What?" Yara asked in surprise, but Thales ignored her.


    "I''ll coordinate the testimony with the three children. I''m the one who—who single-handedly killed Quaid."


    Thales continued expressionlessly, emphasizing the word "single-handedly", "When the Brotherhood comes, tell them that."


    Yara frowned: "What about you? Do you want me to hand you over?"


    "I''ll go alone."


    For some reason, Yara suddenly realized that this child had made up his mind.


    And no one could go against his resolve, let alone stop it.


    But she couldn''t let him go to his death like this.


    After all, he…


    "You won''t even make it out of the Lower City, little brat. When the sun rises, the Brotherhood will definitely notice something''s wrong, and their informants will capture you. Then, you''ll only regret not begging me to kill you now."


    Yara said with a complicated expression.


    Thales turned his head, his eyes as cold as ice.


    "Yeah," Thales said coldly. Having spent a year in the Brotherhood''s郊外 base and four years in the Lower City since his穿越, he knew the Brotherhood''s methods and capabilities well, "I probably won''t escape."


    "But they can survive and avoid the suffering Quaid left behind."


    No, Quaid has already left them with unforgettable pain for life, he thought silently.


    Yara reached out and placed her hands on his shoulders, but turned her face away.


    But Thales felt Yara''s hands—hands known for their stability and precision, the hands of a killer—trembling slightly.


    No, there''s one place left.


    The only place.


    And I''ve known it all along, haven''t I?


    Thales suddenly laughed.


    Fate, it''s all just a game.


    It toys with you.


    You can toy with it too.


    He looked at the three children who had just finished their bread and were looking at him hopefully—they were no longer orphans.


    The time traveler turned back and looked at Yara with determination and calmness.


    Looking at Yara with a gloomy face and red eyes, Thales spoke softly.


    "It''s 4:30. Dawn will come soon. There''s still a distance to Hongfang Street. Tell me the locations of the Brotherhood''s informants."


    "It''s time for me to go."


    "To Hongfang Street—let''s go."