After rushing out of Eden's lounge, Lucius ran toward the concert exit while holding Eden, who was 'unconscious' in his arms.
Behind him, the bandits were also running desperately, feeling like their lungs were about to explode.
This wasn't from anger, but from exhaustion.
"Slow... slow down... Spade 4... slow down!"
As assassins, physical fitness was a basic requirement. The assassins present had basically reached the peak of human physical capability.
But now they still had to desperately squeeze out their stamina just to barely keep up with 'Spade 4' running ahead.
What's more, this 'Spade 4' was even carrying someone, yet still moved as swiftly as flying, with elegant steps and no sign of fatigue—like she was taking a stroll!
Regarding this, Lucius ran while slightly turning his head, giving the people behind him a mockery-filled smile.
"Tsk tsk, you guys are really useless, aren't you?~"
"With this little stamina, what kind of assassins are you? Why not go home and take care of kids instead?"
"You...!!!"
The assassins following behind were about to explode with rage.
Already under extreme tension, being provoked like this, their eyes instantly turned red as they ran desperately, as if wanting to tear apart that woman running at the front.
Lucius withdrew his gaze and continued running toward the planned direction while holding Eden.
Of course, he had no interest in teasing these assassins. Everything he did was to pull them into his rhythm, using one urgent event after another to prevent them from thinking.
So much so that they would forget one important thing—suspecting his identity.
That's right, this was essentially still a theatrical performance.
The purpose was to lure out the mastermind who planned this kidnapping.
These bandits were just doing a job for money, essentially just a bunch of tools. The guy hiding behind the scenes was the real mastermind of this operation.
Feeling Eden in his arms not moving at all, as if she had truly fainted, Lucius secretly nodded.
Working with smart people is so easy.
As a smart person, after the initial confusion, watching Lucius's operations, Eden basically understood what he wanted to do and decisively cooperated.
Of course, the reason she was so compliant was also because of how Lucius looked at this moment.
Eden's eyes opened slightly, seeing the appearance of the person holding her.
Although the hair color was different, the eye color was different, and he wore a mask.
But in the other person's arms, at such close distance, she could easily sense the other person's aura, and this aura... she was very familiar with it.
Ellie, it really is you!
Although you said you didn't have time to support my performance, you still came in the end. You, oh you...
Eden's lips showed an almost invisible smile. Out of trust in Ellie's strength, she wasn't worried about their safety. Instead, she wanted to see what Ellie planned to do.
What to do?
Of course, infiltrate these guys directly. Since that so-called Spade 4 was late, Lucius planned to borrow her identity and mix directly into the bandit team, following them to find their so-called employer.
Because he had plans to recruit Sakura, Lucius had some understanding of these assassins employed by Poison Cocoon.
These guys' identities were uniformly managed by the Poison Cocoon organization. Members didn't know each other's identities and only formed temporary teams when on missions. Even when teaming up, they would basically use fake identities to hide themselves.
Only truly trustworthy Poison Cocoon members would be told each other's identities.
Therefore, there was a high probability that these Poison Cocoon organization members didn't know each other's identities either, only using code words to confirm identity.
So he could use the information gap to impersonate the Spade 4 who hadn't arrived.
As for what if these assassins knew each other's identities?
Then there was nothing he could do. He could only say these assassins were too unlucky. Since he couldn't expose the mastermind, he could only clear out these pawns first.
Anyway, for him, finding the mastermind was just to sell Eden a favor, and then... leverage that favor!
If he could find them, great. If not, it didn't matter.
Fortunately, these people indeed didn't know each other's identities, so he could continue the act.
Lucius's lips pulled into a smile. A faint voice passed from his lips and dispersed in the wind, but Eden at close distance still heard clearly what he was saying.
"ε=('ο`*))) Sigh, you guys just saved your lives."
"Why don't you hurry up and say thank you to Miss Faded Elf?~"
However, even after infiltrating these bandits, there was still one problem.
Even if the other party didn't know identities, such an important operation would definitely have code words and other ways to confirm identity.
He didn't know these people's code words, so he could only find a way to skip the code word verification stage. This was also what he was doing now.
Kidnapping Eden while also calling them to evacuate together, subconsciously making people assume he was their teammate's identity.
At the same time, using crises and various emerging events to pressure their minds, making these people have no time to think about Lucius's identity problem.
Just like now.
Pre-planted bombs exploded, sealing off the forward path.
At the same time, loud siren sounds came from the distance.
Lucius stopped his steps. The bandits following behind him finally got a breather, clutching their chests and gasping for air.
Lucius turned around, his light tone instantly becoming serious.
"Not good, there are enemies ahead. Change direction."
Hearing Lucius's words, the bandits who had just caught their breath trembled.
The captain took out a shot of adrenaline and decisively injected it into himself, then said to Lucius through gritted teeth:
"Spade 4, you carry the target and follow with the others. I'll clear the path next!"
"Don't leave the team without permission, and don't run ahead of me!"
If they let this guy who ran faster than a rabbit continue leading, all of them would probably explode their lungs before escaping the blockade.
Hearing this, Lucius stood up straight, legs together.
"Yes, sir!"
Glaring hard at Lucius, the captain led everyone to evacuate along the pre-prepared route.
Holding Eden and following behind the captain, Lucius secretly thought "plan successful."
As long as he followed these people, if nothing unexpected happened, he would soon find their employer.
Then he could sell Eden a big favor, and then... leverage that favor!
Hehehe, perfect!
Just as Lucius was planning this, he saw someone suddenly roll down from a distant floor, blocking everyone's path.
This person had pink hair, a tall figure, wore urban lady attire, and wore a black mask covering her face.
But what was most eye-catching was the long sword she carried on her back.
Seeing this, the assassins raised their guns ready to start American-style quick-draw, when that person immediately shouted:
"Wait! I'm Spade 4!"
"One of us!"
But what greeted her were gunshots.
"Bang! Bang bang!"
Dense gunfire rang out.
The pink-haired woman on the other side was truly skilled, flashing behind cover by the roadside before the gunshots rang out.
"You're attacking me?!" After the gunfire ceased, an angry voice came from behind the cover. "Fratricide during a mission—are you violating the organization's rules?!!"
The captain sneered and removed a grenade from his waist.
"Idiot! You want to impersonate our identity without doing proper research. Our Spade 4 is right here in the team. If you want to sow discord, at least find a better reason."
He was about to pull the pin and throw it.
"Spade 4 is in the team?" The person behind cover also expressed doubt. "No, you've been tricked. I'm the real Spade 4!"
"AE535, that's this operation's code word!"
The captain's finger on the grenade pin froze. At the same time, all the strange aspects of this operation flashed through his mind.
He suddenly looked toward Lucius in the team.
But saw him tilt his head and say apologetically: "Sorry, I'm the mole."
"Bang!"
The captain decisively quick-drew, but it was easily dodged.
"Hehe, I originally wanted to follow you guys to expose the so-called employer and sell Eden a favor."
"What a pity~"
Bullets rained down, but Lucius easily dodged them.
Watching Lucius strolling leisurely through the rain of bullets, the assassins' hearts sank to the bottom.
"Damn it, is that speed even human?"
At this moment, the pink-haired woman who had been hiding behind cover rushed out, holding a long sword and attacking Lucius.
Her speed was extremely fast, even surpassing human limits, and the blade light she slashed carried electric arcs.
Lucius sensed weak Honkai energy flowing within it. This was a Honkai energy weapon.
Unfortunately, useless.
In this era when MANTIS soldiers hadn't yet appeared, in terms of single combat capability, except for that alien Kalpas and the Herrscher Elysia, he feared no one.
Even while holding Eden, I'm still invincible!
Raising his leg, he kicked the sword from her hand and sent her flying, crashing into a distant wall.
She was just about to get up.
Lucius kicked the long sword that had fallen to the ground with his toe.
The sword on the ground shot out like a bullet, pinning itself next to her forehead. Strands of pink hair fluttered down.
The pink-haired woman's body froze.
Although she wore a mask, through her eyes, she could still sense the mocking expression under the other person's mask.
The remaining assassins saw this scene and exchanged glances.
The captain gritted his teeth and said to the assassins, "He's only one person, and he has to protect Eden. Bring out automatic weapons. If we all attack together, we're not without a chance of winning!"
Hearing this, the others' eyes showed fierce light as they replied in unison: "Alright, let's attack together!"
The assassins' actions were somewhat beyond Lucius's expectations.
Oh ho, they didn't run away directly and still dare to charge at me? Are these assassins who work for money this professional?
Lucius thought this while preparing to make these guys lose their ability to move.
However, before taking action, he saw the leading captain take a step toward his direction, then suddenly turn sideways and rapidly run into the distance.
At the same moment, the others also turned one after another and ran far away.
Instantly, the assassin group scattered like birds and beasts.
Which assassin who had survived until now would be a hothead?
They were all crystal clear about this—this person simply wasn't someone they could beat!
Since they couldn't win, only one option remained.
—Run for it!
The importance of teammates was highlighted at this time. With so many of them, no matter how fast the opponent was, they couldn't possibly catch all of them. They just needed to run faster than the other teammates.
This was the so-called "better my friend dies than me."
But unfortunately, all of them thought this way.
The fleeing captain looked at the teammates catching up and cursed under his breath, then took out another shot of adrenaline and injected it into his body. His speed soared again.
Watching the assassins running for their lives, Lucius didn't chase them. After all, he was just interrogating for intelligence. Now he had a more suitable candidate.
So Lucius looked toward the pink-haired assassin wearing a black mask who he had thrown against the wall.
At this moment, she was quietly moving her body, not even touching the Honkai energy weapon on the wall, trying to quietly slip away.
After being locked onto by Lucius's gaze, her body instantly froze. She stiffly turned her head, meeting Lucius's half-smiling gaze.
Thus, Spade 4, or rather, the girl named Sakura, immediately broke out in cold sweat.
Hmm, is reconciliation still possible now?
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Advanced 30+ Chapters of Honkai: Is this even the Prevoious Era