The First Magic World War

If he had the chance to meet her once, Charles considered, her "cousin" would undoubtedly expand his connections and might even secure a powerful supporter for his marriage to Anne.

As for whether it would offend the other party, that was not in Charles's consideration. Decent people do not abandon their tasks just because they might fail—they do not hold back, do nothing, but prepare thoroughly and then bravely face the consequences of failure.

Anne nodded vigorously and said, "In a few days, when my cousin returns to Strasbourg, I'll arrange for you to join him for afternoon tea."

Charles handed over a cup of brewed coffee and said, "Miss Anne, you're truly my lucky star!"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Blushing slightly, Anne accepted the coffee and sipped it with ladylike grace.

Charles invited Anne to the third-floor terrace to enjoy the view of the Lucavaro River, and Anne happily agreed. They spent an afternoon together on the terrace.

Although Charles still did not gain the privilege of dining with the lady, he escorted Anne away before dinner. He took Anne to the entrance of the alley and watched her carriage depart before he was about to find a place to eat when suddenly an intense chill pervaded his body, and his insight automatically activated.

A strange man with a fierce killing intent, disguised as a passerby, was rapidly approaching him.

The man was already very close. Charles instantly judged that at such close range it was too late to use the Antispace Sniper Rifle—loading the rifle required a process. With a flick of his wrist, the Blood Rose sliced through the air and was "thrown" directly.

The assassin had not expected Charles's response to be so direct and intense. He thought he was well-hidden, that his target could not possibly notice him. Unable to respond properly to the Blood Rose hurtling through the air, he leaned back in a move similar to a limbo dance, his body nearly parallel to the ground.

The Blood Rose nearly shot past his nose. However, the Vampiric Rapier miraculously turned lightly and circled back, looping around the assassin's neck.

Ding Ding Ding!

Three sharp clangs rang out.

The assassin now held a dagger in his hand and clashed with the Blood Rose three times in the blink of an eye, breaking Charles's lethal move.

Charles activated his Blood Flame Qi, controlled the Blood Rose to alter its attack, and simultaneously whipped out the Vampiric Hand Axe, hurling it fiercely at the assassin's thigh.

The assassin could no longer hide his identity, his Fighting Spirit erupted, and he kicked away the Vampiric Hand Axe. The dagger in his hand changed positions several times, clearing away the Blood Rose. Then, he twisted his body and sprinted away.

The assassin had come knocking on his door.

How could Charles let him live?

The assassin was full of tricks, his power was even greater than Charles's. Last time, sensing the danger, he had retreated. This time, he could even alter his appearance.

Although temporarily repelled by the skill of weapon control by Blood Flame Qi, it was just the assassin's caution. If he had fought relentlessly, he would definitely have overwhelmed Charles.

If this assassin was prepared and returned, the newly promoted Clerk Chief might not have a way out.

Charles planted the alchemical staff on the ground, took out the Antispace Sniper Rifle. The enemy was too close before, and he hadn't had time to draw the rifle. But now that the enemy had run far enough, he had just the right shooting distance.

Charles crouched down, his upper arm resting on his knee, assuming a standard shooting posture. He hadn't imagined that when he fired, his hand would be so steady!

The first Magic-Breaking Bombshell Bullet flew out and struck the assassin's left shoulder.

The specially made Magic-Breaking Bombshell Bullet was powerful enough to kill a Titan Demon in one shot, and even high-level Transcendents like Ferdinand and Lord Leo couldn't withstand a single shot.

The assassin's body was blown in half, and the remaining half was flung a great distance by the aftermath of the Magic-Breaking Bombshell Bullet.

Charles slapped the Antispace Sniper Rifle into his alchemical staff, recalled the Vampiric Hand Axe and Blood Rose, and quickly ran to the assassin's side. The assassin gave him a vicious look, trying to say something, but died before he could speak.

Charles rummaged through the assassin's body and retrieved a wallet, a dagger, an alchemical pistol, and was just about to get up to notify the City Patrol Army when a thin object fell from the assassin's face.

A thin human face!

Under this thin face was another unfamiliar face.

Charles slightly realized and muttered to himself, "So he used this magical item to change his appearance, impersonating Aubrey Barrington Atwood at Sparrowhawk Street No.1, and this time he transformed into another face."

"Sadly, he didn't know that I have Insight!"

"Nor did he know that Insight also has the feature of automatically activating against murderous intent."

"This special ability has saved my life again!"

Charles waved to several newspaper-selling boys by the road and said, "Anyone willing to go to Lucavaro District, Sparrowhawk Street No.1, City Patrol Army Office can start now. Let Dobin bring at least fifty men. The first one will get five Sheng Dings, the second will get four Sheng Dings, the third will get three Sheng Dings, the fourth will get two Sheng Dings, the fifth will get one Sheng Ding, and there are no rewards after the fifth."

The newspaper boys ran off, each hoping to be the first to claim the reward of five Sheng Dings.

In less than an hour, Dobin and a contingent of the City Patrol Army came jogging over. Seeing the dead assassin on the ground, he couldn't help but say, "Chief! Did you use that rifle from last time? The power is too great."

Charles shrugged and said, "Send the body to the chaotic burial mound outside the city, no need to register it!"

The City Patrol Army is responsible for the city's public safety. Though this is the Pi Kardi District, since the Pi Kardi District's fierce battle with the City Patrol Army didn't get here, Charles managing some unofficial business across territories is not much of an issue.

Having taken the spoils of war, he no longer wanted to investigate the case. After all, the main culprit was the Liemar Detective Agency, and the feud between the two sides was deepening. Charles believed that a duel couldn't solve the problem. Even if the Liemar Agency was willing to cease temporarily, once he gained enough power, he would uproot the Liemar Agency altogether.

The group of newsboys returned as well, Charles called them over, asked for their ranks, indeed gave them their tips, and even gave each an additional Sheng Ding as a consolation prize, even the children who ranked after the fifth place received a Sheng Ding.

He lived on Elysian Pastoral Street, and these keen-eyed newsboys, with his generous reward this time, would easily be called upon for tasks in the future.

Dobin, who typically handled many such cases, wrapped the assassin's body in a shroud and took it away, and once the City Patrol Army left, Elysian Pastoral Avenue was bustling once more.

This era was just like that.

No one cared about the lives and deaths of strangers. Incidents of people being killed in the streets were all too common for the residents.

Charles returned to Elysian Pastoral Avenue No. 58, took out the newly acquired spoils of war — the wallet contained fifteen ten-Fu Er bills and some change, and aside from that, there was a piece of paper with an address written on it: Alcatraz District, Dragon Fortress Street No. 5, Chelsea Detective Agency.