Black Gate Captain, while revealing all the secrets of the Sect without hesitation, was quietly observing the Hero's face, gradually becoming more convinced of his own beliefs.
He enjoyed disemboweling his victims in a face-to-face confrontation, but because of this preference, he had to learn how to launch stealth attacks from the shadows, and cowardly hide in the darkness.
In this world, those worthy of being dissected often proved to be the toughest opponents, just as the most colorful creatures in nature were often the most dangerous. Those with Extraordinary Charm usually had an extraordinary level of power.
For someone like him, living in the gutters yet unable to control his predatory hunger for delicious prey, learning to judge people was a must.
Bravely attack the weak, stealthily strike the strong, and decisively flee from opponents who overpowered him.
Now, faced with an opponent he could neither defeat nor escape from, yet exhibited no intention of extermination, he was left with only one choice: to drop all dignity and fully comply with the kind person's demands.
He had never believed such people actually existed in the world, but now faced with reality, he wouldn't hesitate even for a moment.
It was precisely this admittedly flawed survival philosophy that had transformed him from a skilled duel proxy to a notorious fugitive, and now to a squad leader of some repute among the True Saint Disciples.
From what it seemed now, his continuation with the Black Gate was no longer possible...
"Thank you for your information," the Hero nodded in gratitude towards the forthcoming squad leader.
"You can take your comrades and leave now."
The squad leader almost betrayed a look of disbelief, but he quickly controlled himself, obediently hoisting his sole surviving comrade onto his back, not minding that this made it difficult to move.
If this young woman before him wanted to kill him, he would have been torn to pieces by now,
And while disposing of a body up on the Highlands to the Magic Creatures would likely leave no trace, he thought he'd try to get this guy off the highlands; otherwise, if a corpse were discovered halfway and he encountered her again, he really wouldn't survive.
This lady clearly was excessively kind, and though he didn't know the full extent of her plans, usually one would inquire a bit...
"Please rest assured, I will safely take him down. Plus, the Sect generally does not forgive traitors. I just joined recently, so I do not have any emotional attachment to them, so I will definitely not expose any of your actions or harbor thoughts of revenge. I'll leave the Highland immediately without any delay."
Without waiting for the Hero to say more, he very cooperatively made his stance clear.
The squad leader feigned a dutiful expression, nodding and bowing to the Hero as he asked for leave, wishing he could disappear from her sight immediately.
Watching the squad leader's retreating figure, the Hero hesitated for a moment, her clenched fist loosening slightly, but ultimately, she held back from striking.
"...Because I'm not a good child either, I'm willing to give you a chance."
The girl's voice whispered gently.
"Although I don't think punishing you would be of much use, I hope not to see or hear about you doing bad things in the future."
She watched the back of the Black Gate squad leader, her tone carrying an earnestness that could not be ignored.
"Otherwise, I'll have to treat you as a Goblin, and at that time, I definitely won't let you go."
[Hero activates Skill: Intimidation (Calamity +30, above 90 success (Compliance 100-94)*10 + Villain 30), below 90 possible retaliation, above 200 possible re-encounter]
2d163+30=d163(67)+d163(55)+30=152
Her voice was soft, neither fierce nor filled with foul language.
But those gentle words brushed past the squad leader's neck like the fangs of a wild beast, nearly snapping shut to crush him completely.
The Black Gate squad leader's footsteps trembled to a halt.
Although he didn't understand the reference to a Goblin, it didn't stop the chill rising in his heart.
She was serious; once she heard rumors of his wrongdoing, he would face endless pursuit by this ferocious Magic Creature.
He didn't dare turn around, only hurriedly nodding like a pounding garlic, desperately signaling that he would not engage in any further misdeeds.
"Mm, that's good then. You may go," the Hero's expression softened slightly, waving her hand at him.
Only then did the squad leader dare to continue moving, with the Hero's gaze following him as he carried his only surviving comrade past the Fog Stone Forest area, heading in a different direction, and finally disappearing beyond the horizon.
"Then let's continue on our way as well."
The Hero cast one last glance at the empty distance before turning to look at the Gleaming Scale Serpent beside her.
[Hero has defeated the Black Gate assassination squad, Hero advances: 6, remaining distance to Forbidden Melting Peak: 1]