Chapter 60: Within the Plan, Beyond Expectations

In the fading eyes of the personal guard, the last thing reflected there was a face smeared with blood and grime, burning with fury. He did not even have time to scream before a hand clamped over his mouth and dragged him silently to the ground. 

At almost the same moment, three muffled groans rang out in quick succession. Beneath the cover of the chaotic-looking shoving match among the “private soldiers,” death had already completed its harvest. 

Hank’s sword struck like a venomous serpent, piercing cleanly through the back of one guard’s neck and instantly destroying his central nervous system. Little Donnie’s dagger silently slit another man’s throat. The movement was swift and precise, the Nightingale technique Vivi had taught him. It was the boy’s first real battle, and he succeeded beautifully. 

The last guard was run straight through the heart by Nolan’s sword. 

Each of these personal guards possessed at least beginner Silver-rank strength, but caught off guard amid the confusion, none of them even had the chance to react. 

The four corpses collapsed limply to the ground within moments. The disturbance at the gate abruptly ended. 

A few passing residents caught sight of the scene and instinctively hurried away, lowering their heads even further as though they had seen nothing. Watching dogs tear each other apart might be entertaining, but getting dragged into it yourself was another matter entirely. 

“Well done.” 

Nolan handed Rehanna a healing potion. She took it and drained the bottle in one gulp. The wounds covering her body healed at a visible speed, leaving no trace of weakness behind.

“Where’s the Nightingale?” Rehanna asked in a low voice. 

Disguised as the “private soldier leader,” Nolan jerked his chin toward the side of the manor. “I saw her make her move. Now it’s our turn to make some noise.” 

He cleared his throat, then shouted toward the depths of the lord’s manor with all his strength, “The personal guards are stealing credit and murdering people! Lord Haus! Lord Haus! You have to stand up for us brothers risking our lives out here!” 

***

Inside the lord’s manor, in the master bedroom— 

On the luxurious bed, a young woman had been spread out in the shape of a cross, her wrists and ankles tightly bound to the four bedposts with silk restraints. She was completely naked. Terror and despair filled her tear-streaked face, while a cloth gag stuffed into her mouth reduced her cries to helpless whimpers. 

Bound to a nearby pillar was a blood-covered man. He had been beaten so badly he barely looked human anymore, hanging there limply with his head lowered. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest proved he was still alive. In his unfocused eyes burned powerless hatred. 

Baron Haus shook the blood from his fists, sick excitement written across his face. 

Just as he reached to undo his trousers, a burst of infuriating noise erupted outside. Someone was shouting his name. 

“Those damn swine!” Haus exploded in rage and bellowed toward the door, “Yuri! Go cut the tongues out of those flies outside!” After a brief pause, he added in an even more vicious tone, “No, kill them if you want! They’re pissing me off. Just be careful not to get their filthy blood on my carpet!” 

No answer came from outside, only the sound of heavy footsteps rapidly moving away. With his concerns gone, Haus turned back toward the bed with a disgusting grin. 

“Trying to run, little beauty? In my Coldsteel City, the right of first night belongs to me! Run? Where exactly do you think you can escape to?” 

His rough hand seized the woman’s chin, forcing her to look toward the half-dead man tied to the pillar. 

“I’ll make your dear husband watch what happens to anyone who defies me! I’ll let him see how you serve beneath me!” 

His loud laughter filled the room. 

“Today’s really my lucky day. Once I get tired of you, there’s still another little beauty I caught earlier waiting for me to enjoy! Hahaha!” 

***

Inside the manor, Nolan and the others charged forward almost recklessly, dragging along the seemingly half-dead Rehanna as they rushed toward the lord’s bedroom before the other on-duty guards could properly react. 

As they ran, they continued shouting loudly, making sure everyone knew they had arrived. 

But very quickly, on the only path leading to the master bedroom, a tall figure stepped out and blocked their way. 

The man moved with long, steady strides. The moment he stopped beneath the corridor archway, it felt as though his entire body had become a drawn bow ready to unleash itself, the whole courtyard falling within his killing range. More importantly, the ruthless killing intent radiating from him was something the guards outside could never compare to. 

This man had killed before. 

And not just once. 

That was the only thought that entered Rehanna’s mind the moment she saw him. Nolan and the others felt the immense pressure as well. This was likely the strongest enemy they had faced head-on so far. 

“Stop,” the man’s cold voice rang out. “I am Yuri, captain of the personal guard. Take one more step forward, and you die.” 

Him? 

Nolan’s heart skipped slightly. In his memories, the captain beside Haus should have been Fenrir the Frost Wolf. This man was Yuri the Executioner, the strongest of Archduke Demont’s three Gold-rank elites. Why was he here? 

Thoughts raced through Nolan’s mind, but his face instantly shifted into one of terrified submission. He immediately released Rehanna, snapped upright, and gave a clumsy military salute, his voice trembling, “R-report, Captain! We captured the Fire Fox mercenary captain plotting rebellion and were bringing her to Lord Haus!” 

Yuri’s icy gaze swept over the limp Rehanna sprawled on the ground without the slightest emotional reaction. “Leave her. Then get out.” 

He could not even be bothered to spare Nolan another glance. 

“I’ll count to three. Anyone still inside the manor after that dies.” 

“One…” 

“M-my lord, wait!” Nolan shouted anxiously. 

“Two…” Yuri completely ignored him, continuing in the same emotionless tone while his hand settled onto the hilt of his sword. 

“I… I have an urgent report! A message from Shiva! It concerns Archduke Demont’s ‘Nightfall’ plan!” 

Yuri turned sharply, gray eyes locking onto Nolan. “What plan—” 

Before he could finish speaking, Nolan exploded forward like a streak of golden-red light. 

This was Nolan’s tactic. Strike with absolute force at the exact moment the enemy’s mind was most distracted and their guard weakest. 

Radiant Sun Charge!

Divine Infusion.

Every aura activated at once as Mountain’s Resonance left its sheath, golden holy flames blazing along the blade. The goal was simple: kill in one strike. 

Everything happened too suddenly. Even a battle-hardened Gold-rank warrior like Yuri was momentarily distracted by Nolan’s lie. His only reaction was pure instinct forged through countless battles: reaching for the sword at his waist. 

But how could drawing a sword possibly be faster than Nolan’s all-or-nothing charge? 

At the same moment, Rehanna, who had been dragged along pretending to be barely conscious, suddenly unleashed the tension already coiled in her legs. The instant Nolan attacked, she launched herself forward as well, gripping the sword Hank had prepared for her as she followed right behind him. 

Hank did not hesitate for even a heartbeat. Roaring furiously, he unleashed his strongest sword technique. “Blood Lion’s Fang!” 

A crimson sword-wave burst forth, roaring toward Yuri. 

Struck by the impact of Radiant Sun Charge, Yuri’s vision flooded with golden-red light, leaving him stunned for half a second. And his sword had only been drawn halfway. Within that opening, three lethal attacks arrived from three separate angles almost simultaneously. 

Yet just as the blade of Mountain’s Resonance neared Yuri’s throat, a barrier composed entirely of dark energy suddenly materialized before him. 

Clang! Clang! Boom! 

Nolan’s slash, Rehanna’s thrust, and Hank’s Blood Lion Fang all crashed violently against the shield. Ripples spread wildly across its surface as countless cracks appeared instantly, but somehow the barrier still withstood the deadly combined assault. 

Less than a second later, the magical shield shattered with a sharp sound like breaking glass. Violent streams of mana exploded outward. Nolan and Rehanna, who stood closest, were blown backward several steps before they could regain their footing. 

Yuri also snapped out of his daze. Looking at the shattered magical shield before him, the cold indifference in his eyes shifted for the first time. 

Nolan stared at the black fragments drifting through the air, disbelief written all over his face. 

Almost simultaneously, both men shouted in shock, “What?!”