Extraordinary Voyage

Under everyone's gaze, Aiven carefully recounted his experience of "encountering" a suspected "Hammer Following Mad Demon" last night.

"In the end, that guy disappeared without a trace like a phantom, along with the corpse and even the hammer."

It's not that Aiven wanted to intentionally stand out at this time, but in such a major operation concerning the safety of over a hundred thousand residents of New Inn Port, any intelligence oversight could lead to significant errors and further severe consequences.

Aiven didn't want to cause a waste of personnel deployment due to his concealment, sending out people to search for a "person" that is no longer alive was simply impossible.

"Why did we all happily attend the short training course, yet only you are so exceptional?" After hearing his account, the classmates who were in the same batch as Aiven, having just experienced the medal incident not long ago, once again faced this soul-searching question...

"That's right, the 'Killing Ghost' you slew that day should be the 'Hammer Following Mad Demon', because not only the main characteristics and victim group match, but in follow-up investigations into the victims, only this guy injured fewer than ten people, which doesn't match the documented intelligence.

It might have been its first day of committing crimes, possessing only the power of someone new to the Knight Tier, which is why you could easily slay it.

I didn't expect the first kill would fall on our Navy Academy. I will report this to the principal to ask for credit for you!"

Paul's face had a mix of solemnity and relief, allowing Aiven to sit down again.

During this period of anxiety, the appearance of the first kill was greatly inspiring to all the tracking personnel. Moreover, the fact that his own student completed the first kill significantly reduced the pressure on Paul.

"Now, I command you to form teams freely and then report the list to me. I will serve as the overall commander for this operation.

Normal courses will be suspended during the pursuit of the 'Killing Ghost'. Those who perform excellently will receive additional study points.

Even this year's 'Maritime Practical Class' will be replaced by this mission. Perform well, as the outcome of this operation is very important for your future advancement in the Navy! Be fully prepared!"

Paul knew circles had already formed among the students and did not force partitions. He believed that as long as they didn't exceed the seven-day limit, the top officers among this batch of Navy contemporaries could handle the Killing Ghost alone.

"Yes, Commander!"

The night was still long...

Street gas lamps had already lit up, and through decades of Kingdom's vigorous effort, New Inn Port had somewhat become a city that never sleeps.

At least in bustling commercial districts, that's certainly the case.

After a romantic dinner and an interesting circus performance, Margaret, a bit tired, held her boyfriend Ted, walking along the path lined with pink and white rose flowers on both sides.

"Today that clown was so funny, riding a unicycle with six balls in his hands, yet also having to walk a tightrope. When he fell, I almost screamed.

Didn't expect he did it on purpose, such a fat clown yet so agile, flipping over and standing up without dropping a single ball, so many kids liked him."

Margaret felt she was truly enchanted, usually indifferent to men, but couldn't stop talking when with Ted.

At one moment, she even had the thought of dropping out now and marrying this man she'd known for less than two days.

Handsome, courteous, genteel, and a top student at the Law Academy, possessing all the qualities she liked, as if a dream lover appeared in reality.

"Margaret, are you tired? Look, there's a bench over there, let's sit for a while."

Ted truly lived up to being a "perfect lover", noticing the fatigue of the delicate literary girl beside him, he proactively suggested taking a break.

"Mhm." Being cared for meticulously by her beloved made the girl deeply in love feel endless sweetness in her heart.

Under the warm yellow light, the rose flowers were also veiled with a faint glow, a pair of young lovers like a perfect match leaned against each other on the bench. This affectionate scene, if depicted in a comic, could undoubtedly heal many people.

Unfortunately, from the start, this story was destined to be a dark fairy tale...

"Margaret, you're beautiful!"

Bathed in light, the Law Academy's top student, handsome as a prince, gazed tenderly at the beautiful girl beside him and said softly.

"Ah, what are you talking about?!" Though she had long been mentally prepared and even faintly anticipated this scene, her modesty stemming from good upbringing still made her a bit shy.

"Close your eyes, will you? I have a gift for you." As if not noticing the girl's shyness, the boy gently continued.

Filled with an indescribable anticipation, the girl long fallen in love hesitated slightly before agreeing to her lover's request. If it's Ted, anything is fine, right?

Closing her beautiful eyes, slightly raising her snow-white chin, the girl's jade-like beautiful face shone brightly in the night, making thousands of roses nearby pale in comparison.

Then amidst the intense heartbeats of "boom boom", one second, two seconds.....

"Uh..."

Waiting for the girl was not a lover's affectionate kiss, but a rope, a black rope tied around her slender neck.

"Gasp... gasp...."

The rope suddenly tightened, the feeling of suffocation instantly snapped the girl out of her beautiful fantasies, leaving her in disbelief at the scene before her eyes.

The lover, handsome and gracious as a prince from fairy tales, still gazed tenderly and smiled, making it hard to believe his hands were pulling tighter a black noose, doing unspeakably horrifying things to his "lover".

He even approachingly whispered in the girl's ear with deep affection: "Dear, could you die for me, please?"

"Ah... gasp... help..."

The girl with a noose around her neck couldn't utter a complete word, her delicate hands desperately trying to pry open the man's hand, only to find that those seemingly not robust arms were unyielding like iron clamps.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

Even as the girl's two small feet in beautiful high heels kicked with all their might against his body, it was as if striking a rock without the slightest effect.

The speed of the tightening noose around her neck neither slowed nor accelerated, as if "Ted" didn't care at all about the girl's resistance, merely enjoying the process of killing her.

Endless despair shrouded the girl's heart, with every tightening of the rope, death approached step by step.

It was only at this moment that she suddenly realized.

What refinement, what talent, it was all just his perfectly handsome face that caught her eye, she was no different from those shallow women she had laughed at in the past!

"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad! Margaret is going to the Goddess's Celestial Kingdom first."

Two crystalline tears slipped from the corners of her eyes; she seemed to have already heard the creaking of her neck bones.

At this moment, her vision suddenly darkened.

Bang—!!!

A massive roar opened the nearly fading girl's eyes wide again; the noose around her neck lightened.

"Cough cough... cough... puff... puff...!"

The girl leaned on the long bench, gasping desperately for breath. Somehow, the noose around her neck had silently loosened. For the first time in her life, she found each breath of fresh air so delightful.

"Ted Bundy, you are under arrest, surrender now!"

A thunderous shout in her ear brought Margaret back to her senses, and she looked toward the direction the voice came from.

A figure dressed in dazzling full coverage heavy armor, holding a heavy shield and giant sword, stood like an indestructible Iron Wall before her; the light from the gas lamps cast a vast shadow that completely enveloped her.

On the ground, there were shattered bricks and two deep footprints, evidently the loud noise at the start was made when this Steel Knight leapt over.

Noticing the movement from the girl behind him, the knight slightly turned his head and asked, "Miss, are you alright?"

His voice was not gentle like Ted's, but carried a heavy steel sharpness, making Margaret feel a deeply reassuring weight.

"No... I'm alright, thank you for rescuing..."

The girl who had just experienced life's highs and lows was still stunned when suddenly interrupted by an enraged shout.

"Ah! Meddlesome fool!

I only intended to grant you a painless death, but now you're unlucky, I've changed my mind, it'll be dismembering instead!"

The first part was directed at the knight who had just appeared, and the latter naturally at the girl who had just narrowly escaped death.

Incredulously looking toward the handsome-as-a-prince man speaking the most terrifying and venomous words, Margaret still didn't understand why he wanted to kill her: "Why, Ted? Why do you need to kill me?"

"Don't ask, miss. This guy is a murderer, countless beautiful girls like you have died at his hands. He doesn't need a reason to kill."

The Heavy Armor Knight turned back to calm the agitated girl, without telling her the truth. The youthful face under the lamplight was full of resoluteness; if Aiven were here, he would definitely recognize the person as Ambrose, the Knight Captain he encountered at Crow Market earlier.

Having caught the "Killing Ghost's" trail, he was ready tonight to completely end this villain's path of crime.

"The Top Student Murder Prince, huh?"

Ted's killing intent was evidently stronger than Ambrose's, initiating the attack first, unforgivable for interrupting his hunting.

Sa—

A strange syllable, cold and viscous, slipped from his mouth.

Countless thumb-thick black ropes surged from his cuffs and pants hems, like innumerable black venomous snakes darting forward, rushing at the only obstacle before him... Ambrose!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...

[Witchcraft: Hanging Execution]

Facing this clearly wizard-like method, Ambrose didn't panic at all; as a member of the Church Iron Wall Knight Order, he was familiar with hunting wizards and other magical transcendent beings.

"Faced with a strong enemy, fearlessly!"

"Brave in loyalty, deserving of divine grace!"

"Honest and upright, preferring death without submission!"

"Protect the weak, defying heaven's reason!"

[Divine Skill: Knight's Oath]

With each phrase of the oath, the Iron Wall Knight stepped forward and a golden halo exploded from him, his aura surged with each step.

As the strongest armed force directly under the Church, apart from physical power from the knight path, the Iron Wall Knight Order also had the protection of the Goddess!

This granted them overwhelming advantage when facing wild transcendent beings.

If the opponent were a formal wizard level, Ambrose would certainly treat it with caution; the opponent was merely a fractured evil spirit capable of using witchcraft, which he disregarded.

"Ha! Merely an Evil God's beloved, dissipate under the Goddess's Radiance!"

The steel shield in his hand transformed into dazzling gold, lowering his body like a speeding heavy-armored tank, he directly crushed through the black ropes.

Bang—!!!

The glorious Holy Light illuminated the night sky!