Chapter 78 Prepared to be scolded

Marco harbored no surprise at Li Tianming’s sudden appearance.The sniper rifle clutched in his hand, known as ‘Eagle Strike,’ was none other than the Crimson Hawk’s most formidable weapon during the Eastern Crusade.While it could only unleash a single shot before requiring an entire day to recharge, the sheer power and velocity of its projectile neared that of a Duke-tier weapon.During the conflict with Sakura Nation, at least six Martial Dukes had met their demise beneath the might of this very ‘Eagle Strike.’When Li Tianming had first entrusted him with this weapon, Marco had perceived it as a mark of great esteem.Yet, in this moment, it became chillingly clear that the weapon had likely been intended from the outset as a means to surveil his every move.

“You betrayed the kingdom?”

“That is a question I should be posing to you.What became of Wendy, that traitor?”

“She is well, thriving even… and she is no traitor.The evidence proving her innocence is irrefutable.”

“What about you, then?”

“It appears… you haven’t been turned against us.” Li Tianming, shaking his head with a sigh, drew his Crimson Spear.

Upon seeing this particular weapon, the last vestige of doubt within Marco’s heart utterly dissipated.

“As I suspected… you are not the true Crimson Hawk, but merely his deputy, the Crimson Lotus Knight.”

“This is a measure taken by those above to protect the Crimson Hawk.I hardly consider it an act of deception.”

Marco couldn’t help but laugh.

“Your ‘protection,’ then, involves using him as bait?”

Having uttered his words, Marco executed a deceptive feint, discarding the sniper rifle as he simultaneously vaulted backward, plunging towards the street below.To actually fire was a risk he dared not take; who could say what countermeasures Li Tianming might have prepared below?However, keenly aware of his opponent’s identity, Marco imbued the sniper rifle with a potent, conspicuous detonation spell.Indeed, Li Tianming’s immediate reaction was not to pursue Marco, but to surge towards the discarded sniper rifle.Only after swiftly disarming the detonation spell, which possessed enough power to obliterate the weapon, did he finally give chase.While a Martial Duke vastly outstripped a Gold-tier in power, the precious moments squandered had allowed Marco to land and sprint a significant distance, already drawing the attention of bewildered passersby.Under such circumstances, it was simply impossible for Li Tianming to catch up and engage him.

All he needed to do now was reach the Knight Order headquarters, report the recent events, and surely, someone would arrive to apprehend Li Tianming!

Naturally, Li Tianming was acutely aware that he could not allow Marco to escape, which is why he did not give chase.

Instead, he aimed the sniper rifle at Marco.

“What?Has this man lost his mind?”

As he registered Li Tianming’s movements, Marco’s face twisted in alarm, causing him to halt abruptly.

Without hesitation, Li Tianming squeezed the trigger, unleashing a devastating firebird magic projectile.Like a moth drawn to a deadly flame, Marco instinctively launched himself into the sky.

This was an act of desperation.

Wide-ranging attacks from Martial Dukes and higher tiers were akin to minor natural disasters, capable of effortlessly obliterating a large parking garage.This particular strike, however, approached the power of a Duke-tier assault; if Marco did not proactively intercept it, the innocent civilians on the streets would undoubtedly perish.

Naturally, Marco harbored no suicidal intent; he needed to preserve his life and usefulness to expose Li Tianming.

His audacity stemmed from his mastery of a rare deflection magic.

A form of spatial magic, its primary function was to divert incoming attacks, earning him the moniker ‘Immortal General.’If an attack could not strike him, he would, by extension, remain unharmed.By the same token, he could also redirect otherwise accurate attacks to strike his foes instead.This unique ability explained why he rarely employed the Flame Gun, yet confidently intended to deflect the ‘Eagle Strike”s magic cannon.His current intention was to divert the ‘Eagle Strike”s magic cannon to detonate high above the city, thereby minimizing collateral damage.

As the magic projectile hurtled closer, however, Marco found himself paralyzed, unable to even initiate his deflection spell, let alone move a single muscle.

‘A trap?’

Marco’s heart sank.

Nowhere was it stipulated that the ‘Eagle Strike’ *had* to fire a Duke-tier magic projectile.Given that Li Tianming was a Martial Duke, a full tier above him, it would be utterly trivial for him to employ a spell designed to conceal the true nature of his magic.

Precisely as his fears suggested, the firebird swiftly dissolved, reforming into a spear that impaled his chest, pinning him to the earth.His breath soon left him.

Before long, Li Tianming reached the scene.Under the pretext of apprehending remnants of the Sakura Garden, he swiftly dismissed the arriving guards.

Once the Knight Order arrived to retrieve the body, Li Tianming returned to headquarters to recount the incident.By the time he re-emerged onto the street, the sky above was already a vast expanse of glittering stars.

“Truly… what a colossal waste of my time.”

Li Tianming sighed deeply, then set off alone down the shadowy street.Each night, he habitually roamed these thoroughfares, vigilant for any sign of a certain wandering saintess, and to establish contact with Shogunate faction informants, thereby gathering intelligence on the Western faction.

Given that it was still too early for the saintess to be active, he proceeded directly to the Shogunate faction’s covert observation post nearest to his headquarters.

However, the moment he arrived outside the discreet house serving as the outpost, Li Tianming detected an anomaly.

A distinct scent of blood hung in the air from within the house, and no living presence could be felt.

He quickly retreated, then looked around.

“Truly worthy of the title, ‘Crimson Lotus Knight.'”

Beneath the streetlamp, casting a faint yellow glow by the roadside, a dark mass slowly coalesced from the elongated shadows, gradually morphing into a human figure.

“What business does the Western faction have with me?”

Perceiving no intent to attack from the figure, and noting the absence of any sudden ambushes, Li Tianming instantly grasped that their objective was communication, not confrontation.

“We are, of course, here to extend an invitation for you to join our ranks.”

The shadowy figure offered a respectful bow, then spoke.

“Are you jesting?” Li Tianming drew his Crimson Spear. “Surely, you don’t imagine my cooperation with the Shogunate faction is intended to foster camaraderie with your group?”

“Certainly not… yet we discern that your loyalty to the kingdom is not particularly profound.”

“If your intention is to leverage the day’s events as a threat, I would strongly counsel you to abandon that notion immediately.”

“We harbor no doubts concerning the extent of trust the kingdom’s upper echelons place in you… However, your palpable dissatisfaction with the Crimson Hawk is equally apparent to us all.”

“Does the Empire imbue you with such confidence?You cannot possibly believe I would forsake my current standing to defect to a rogue organization such as yours, can you?”

“You are not required to join us; you merely need to act as a representative of the Kingdom of Slovenia.”

Li Tianming’s earlier expression of amusement abruptly vanished.

–What do you mean?

–Was it you who left the Crimson Hawk with such psychological scars?

–And if it was?

–Nothing much, except that to our knowledge, the kingdom’s high command, particularly the Duanmu family, places immense value on the *true* Crimson Hawk.

–And then?How does that affect me?

–If you are willingly accepting a fate where you are first banished to the border, then, having barely returned, are once again used as bait, then consider my words unsaid.

–Do you shadowy figures, hiding your true faces, truly expect to command belief?

–This is merely a necessary measure for outsiders.Should you choose to join us, there will naturally be no more secrets between us.

–I will give it serious consideration.

–We eagerly await your arrival—

Before the shadowy figure could complete its sentence, Li Tianming’s spear pierced straight through its form.

Several kilometers away, within a lavish villa, a subordinate was compelled to cease their spellcasting, casting a look of utter helplessness towards Sakamoto Gyuma, who sat regally at the head of the table.

“It matters not.Our message has been delivered.Now, we simply await his decision to cast his lot with us.”

Sakamoto Gyuma stated with composed assurance.

“Your Lordship is truly sagacious!”

The others, in turn, showered him with praises.

“Let us temporarily set aside the matter of the Crimson Lotus Knight.Moving forward…”

For those assembled, the invitation extended to Li Tianming was nothing more than a minor diversion.The true focus lay in determining the organization’s course of action once Sakamoto Gyuma had arrived in the royal capital.

Before long, however, the shrill whistle of an alarm cut through the air.

Just as they assumed the kingdom’s guards had merely stumbled upon their location by chance, and began preparing to employ concealment magic for a discreet exit through the back door, they were suddenly confronted by the sight of the entire sky enveloped by a dense swarm of summoned birds.

“Duanmu Yun?What in the world?How could we have been exposed?”

True to his position as the organization’s leader, Sakamoto Gyuma swiftly grasped the situation after his initial moment of stunned bewilderment.

“Damn it, this is the handiwork of that Crimson Lotus Knight!He exploited our magic network, used for remotely controlling the shadowy figure, to pinpoint our exact location!”