"A secret? What do you mean?" Riza still didn't react after hearing Jane's words. The latter, seeing this, couldn't help but laugh again.
"Haha... such petty-mindedness, such a boringly pathetic ambition... just to fight for a power as insignificant as being the king of the street cats... how laughable!"
Riza, who was already enraged from losing face, how could he listen to such ridicule? "That arrogant attitude, that嚣张 (xiāozhāng - arrogant/aggressive) aura, that's what I hate about you. But it doesn't matter. I have plenty of time now. Let me teach you my rules!"
With a roar, he swung his fist again, wanting to strike Jane. But just then, the terrified screams of his subordinates came from behind him, followed by a tremendous force landing on his chest. "Huh? You are..." Jane looked at the figure standing in front of her, her face showing a look of bewilderment and confusion.
Riza, however, clutched his slightly dented chest and roared again. "Who are you? How did you get in!"
And who else could it be standing in front of Riza but Wise? At this moment, he wasn't making any attempt to hide himself. He was even wearing the same set of clothes as before, standing there openly. But Jane couldn't recognize him. Wise then spoke indifferently.
"Who I am is not important. But I cannot stand by and watch you try to harm this lovely young lady."
"What?" Riza frowned tightly.
But Jane, being protected behind Wise, felt her heart stir. Not far away, Bangboo-Belle, listening to all this, subconsciously clutched her chest. Unlike Jane, who was the one involved, this wasn't a feeling of being moved, but rather... How can brother say something like that so casually?! It's so cringey, my second-hand embarrassment is kicking in!
And what supported Wise in saying such a thing was the talent he had just purchased.
[Cognition Tampering Magic (A-Rank): When facing a target whose charm value is lower than the Master's, the target will be unable to perceive the Master's true identity.]
(Note: Similar to how a magical girl isn't recognized after transforming. Inspired by Gushing over Magical Girls.)
"You're right! I don't know who you are, brother, but you did the right thing! This villain who puts on a righteous face but is consumed by greed and casually sacrifices his companions should be taught a lesson!" The one who said this was Seth. He didn't feel awkward at all and instead gave Wise a look of approval.
"Jane, you see clearly now, right? The filthy nature of these gangs! Now that we have help, as long as you agree to my conditions, everything can still be salvaged..."
"I agree to your conditions."
"Eh? Wh-what?" Seth turned his head and looked at Jane with a dazed expression, obviously not reacting in time. The latter continued, "I agree to your conditions. To abandon the dark side and turn over a new leaf, right?"
Jane said this, but her eyes were constantly observing Wise, as if trying to see something. But her brain kept telling her that she had never seen this person before. But what was that strange feeling of familiarity? Jane didn't understand, and Seth on the side also didn't quite understand. However, the painful cries of the subordinates in the distance interrupted their thoughts.
"Is that... an Ethereal?!" Seth's eyes widened slightly as he looked at the gang members being chased on the platform not far away. Behind them were two strangely shaped but very powerful Ethereals. It was Aurelia and Odette. Before the operation, they had said they wanted to help Wise, so they were sent to deal with potential troubles. And to avoid the possibility of being recognized later, the sisters had reverted to their Ethereal forms. Incidentally, they also rescued Mu Mu, who had been buried under a pile of things.
"How is that possible?! Ethereals of this level shouldn't appear nearby!" Riza gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with solemnity. From the single exchange with Wise earlier, he had sensed that the other party was very strong. To be safe, he had wanted to call his subordinates below to come up together, but now that he couldn't get help, the trouble was much bigger.
"You dare to be distracted at a time like this? Do you even have the resolve to be a villain?" Hearing this, Riza's pupils immediately constricted, but it was already too late. When he looked back, Wise's fist had already landed before his eyes. The powerful force instantly shattered his helmet, knocking him to the ground, half-dead and unable to move.
"Wow, brother, you're so strong! Um, can you help me untie this? I was injected with a muscle relaxant, so... eh, how did it open?" Seth looked at his freed hands with astonishment. He had just used a little force, and the restraints had broken so easily.
"It's normal. You drank a lot of water before, which sped up your metabolism enough to metabolize the drug's effects." Jane said as if it were a matter of course. She then got up and slowly walked over to Wise.
"Hey, my lifesaver, we need to retreat now, right? Although those two Ethereals have temporarily tied down the Mountain Lion Gang members, their numbers are not limited to this. Or do you have some other plan?" Jane held the place where Riza had struck her earlier.
Of course, Wise had no other plan. Coming here was an accident in the first place, so how could he think of so much? Of course, he would save the people and leave.
"Understood. Then let's go quickly." Jane clearly sensed that Wise had no plan and decided to retreat according to her original plan. As they were leaving, she deliberately lagged behind a little. Unseen by Seth, she finished off Riza. Although Wise knew, he didn't say anything. After all, the man had only been knocked out by him. If he received medical treatment, his life wouldn't be in danger. And as long as he, the leader, was around, the Mountain Lion Gang might make a comeback. Jane doing this was also to eliminate a hidden danger. There was no problem with that.
"Wait a moment." As Wise spoke, under the two's puzzled gazes, he reached his hand towards Jane's waist. The skin there had already turned purple and bruised from the previous blow. He didn't directly place his hand on it, but rather activated his ability from a slight distance.
Jane, the one involved, immediately felt a warm current at her waist. The wound quickly stopped hurting, and even the bruised part of her skin turned snow-white again.
"Alright, let's go." After doing all this, Wise didn't explain much, nor did he need to. The technology of this world was very advanced; the advanced tech of this world would explain it away.
The three of them then immediately left the platform. Under Wise's guidance, they bypassed the areas with many gang members and returned to the rift they had come from.
"By the way, may I ask for my benefactor's name?" On the way during their strategic retreat, Jane suddenly asked for Wise's name.
Seth, hearing this, immediately chimed in. "That's right! For this brother to so righteously save us, I will definitely report it to the Public Security Bureau and fight for a corresponding reward and honor for you!" Seth's words came from the heart.
Jane on the side still thought he was an idiot, but she carefully observed Wise's every move.
"Phaethon."
"Phaethon? That sounds a bit familiar... wait, how did they catch up so quickly!" Seth noticed the pursuers coming from behind.
Jane on the side frowned slightly, also feeling it was a bit strange. That shouldn't be. Based on the strength shown by those two Ethereals, there's no way the Mountain Lion Gang could bring so many people to chase after us so quickly.
Jane didn't know that after they returned to the Balai Building Hollow area from the rift, Aurelia and Odette had also returned from the rift under Belle's notification. The remaining Mountain Lion Gang members, after realizing their boss was dead, began to chase after them under the leadership of a confidant.
"These guys... are too persistent! Why are they so eager to avenge that villain?" Seth, who had already run a long way, really couldn't understand why.
Jane on the side pursed her lips without speaking. She had underestimated Riza's influence. Although doing so was beneficial for striking a blow against the Mountain Lion Gang later, it was very disadvantageous for them at this moment.
"Hah... finally reached the end..." Jane noticed the rift ahead. Just as a look of joy appeared on her face, several gang members suddenly appeared near the exit. They aimed their firearms at the three of them.
Seth, seeing this, took out his shield and weapon, protecting the two behind him. Wise also didn't act rashly at this time. Although he had the ability to take out the enemies blocking the exit, if they all opened fire at once, Jane and Seth might get injured. Of course, the most important thing was that he had just received a message from Belle, who said that after leaving the Hollow, she saw that the Public Security Bureau had already arrived.
"Jane, I can't believe you dared to murder Boss Riza!! I knew you were trouble from the beginning—!"
"Ah, ah, alright, alright, save the pre-battle shouting. What? Riza's not here, so you think you're the boss now, getting all arrogant?" The confidant, who was about to say more, was interrupted by Jane and immediately became enraged.
"Ha! Still talking tough when you're about to die? I'll make you regret laying a hand on the boss—!"
"You can't go three sentences without mentioning the boss. You stick to him like a little sycophant every day. What do you even like about him? The fact that he shouts really loud when he's scolding you?"
"...You...! You shut up—!"
"Oh? I'm just telling the truth. I've never seen Riza give you a good look. And you still like him so much? Do you see your father's shadow in him?" Jane looked at Riza's confidant not far away with a disdainful gaze. Seeing the latter was so angry he could barely speak, Seth on the side couldn't help but whisper a reminder.
"Uh... Jane, I think that's enough."
But Jane clearly didn't want to let him off so easily. So, under Seth's astonished gaze, she continued to speak. With this one taunt after another, even a Bodhisattva would get angry.
"You shut up! You... you traitor, I'll make you pay! Sons of the Mountain Lion..."
"Mhm, it's about time. I should be going too. Also, Miss Jane, could you please return this to me?" Although he had interrupted someone again, Wise didn't care about the other party's anger at all. Instead, he pointed to the protective charm Jane had placed in her chest pocket.
"Hm? This is yours?" Jane took the charm out of her pocket and handed it to Wise without much hesitation. Compared to this, she was more concerned about the 'time' he had just mentioned.
Wise took the charm and put it in his pocket, while answering her question. "It's mine, I guess." Although it belongs to Aurelia and Odette, they belong to me, so it's not wrong to say it's mine.
But at this moment, the Mountain Lion Gang confidant, who had been ignored all this time, could no longer bear it. "Bastard, interrupting me again and again, completely disregarding me! Sons of the Mountain Lion, get them!"
"Uh, that... 'sons' is a bit inaccurate, isn't it? I don't really see Riza as a father..." The confidant, already filled with anger, immediately kicked the subordinate next to him after hearing him say this.
"I know—it's just a metaphor, don't you get it?! Don't let them lead you by the nose! We have them surrounded! Get them!"
With his roar, a group of subordinates began to move. However, just then, the space rift not far away suddenly burst with an unstable purple light. Then, a group of Public Security officers led by Zhu Yuan and Qingyi came out of the rift, including the guard kid from before.
"You have the right to remain silent. But from this moment on, every word you say will be used as testimony in court." Hearing Zhu Yuan's righteous words, Jane breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. They finally made it...
That's right, the words she had said before were precisely to stall for time and wait for support. Seeing the still-living guard kid, the little worry in her heart also disappeared. Seth on the side was also overjoyed. But when they looked back at Wise, they found that there was no one there.
"Hm? The one who was just there was..." Qingyi frowned. When she came out of the rift, she happened to notice the scene of Wise disappearing.
"You are surrounded! Surrender now!"
With Zhu Yuan's words, plus the grenade launcher-like pistol in her hand, and a group of Public Security officers, the Mountain Lion Gang members present lost their will to resist.
As the arrest operation here came to an end, Wise on the other side also used his talent to directly return to the video store via the network line. Belle was a little surprised by Wise suddenly appearing in front of her. At this moment, she had just disconnected and was about to get up from her chair when he pushed her back down.
"Brother, get up quickly, this position is so uncomfortable."
"Sorry, I'm still not proficient enough with this ability." Wise explained as he got up and pulled Belle up as well.
After handing the charm to the sisters, the two were both happy and moved, so they took the initiative to offer to serve him. They even specially changed into the clothes Wise had bought for them before. He, of course, had no objection to this.
It's also worth mentioning that Jane's affection for Wise had already reached 60. This was because she still didn't know that the person who had saved her this time was Wise. Otherwise, her affection would probably be even higher.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (380 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (254 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (130 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (140 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (370 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (140 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (160 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(80 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (200 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (170 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (120 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (90 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (130 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (140 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (140 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (Ending)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (70 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (80 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (140 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (148 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (70 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (100 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (100 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (80 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (80 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (40 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (40 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (150 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (150 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (130 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (100 Chapter)
Type-Moon: Reincarnated in a Lostbelt, I Became the Alien God (60 Chapter)
The Way These Horse Girls Look at Me Is Terrifying! (110 Chapter)
Naruto: Tsunade's Deskmate (120 Chapter)
I Just Want to Live a Normal (50 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: A Hundred Confessions? It's Just a System Task (60 Chapter)
OnePiece : Starting as a Veteran of the Roger Pirates (60 Chapter)
Uma Musume : I Have Special Horse Taming Techniques (60 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.