When moonlight hung suspended over the forest peak, Liam and Al finally stopped training. All three sat gathered around the campfire, eating a simple dinner.

  "Tomorrow is the final transaction day with Vesper," Theo said, voice lowering.

  "According to analysis there won't be confrontation, but can't be careless either."

  Liam nodded, eyes serious. Both understood that trading with those involved in the black market always harbored risks.

  Morning arrived bringing the forest's fresh and damp air. With new Cyclops hide, Liam, Theo, and Al prepared ready for the upcoming transaction. The gear fit them snugly, providing both a sense of security and flexibility.

  "Old tactics," Theo reiterated, rechecking the medicine quantity in bags.

  "Liam transacts, I support from distance, and Al scouts around."

  Before departing, Theo especially spent time arranging self-triggering traps around the area he'd hide. Thanks to knowledge learned from the book "Basic Traps and Poisons," Theo had upgraded his traps and added numbing essence. According to calculations, just hitting one light trap, the enemy would at least lie immobile for half an hour.

  "Ready?" Theo asked, slinging bow and arrows over shoulder.

  Liam lightly patted the Guardian Wolf Fang carved sunken on chest armor.

  "Always."

  The whole group immediately departed following the chosen trail. Theo's objective was very clear: complete transaction, collect Silver, and then return to base to face the final Mana Absorption attempt.

  They arrived at the meeting location earlier than scheduled time. Liam hid behind a large rock, medicine box discreetly placed at his feet. He checked around once, taking opportunity to practice Hidden Shadow, trying to dissolve into the shadow of bushes.

  Theo advanced to the old position—oak tree at forest edge. He quickly arranged traps around, memorizing possible approach paths. Finally, Theo climbed the oak tree, checked all tools one last time then began focusing on observation.

  Al glided across the sky with abundant stamina, circling the transaction area. Its sharp eyes missed no target.

  Right at transaction time, Vesper arrived. He came alone, as predicted. Al circled clockwise—the safety notification signal according to group convention. Liam glanced, then slowly stepped out from hiding.

  "Money?" Liam asked briefly, voice curt.

  Vesper smiled, face full of satisfaction. He tossed Liam a money bag like before: three gold and 150 silver. Liam also indicated the medicine box position. The transaction proceeded smoothly, Vesper glanced at Liam meaningfully then turned away. Liam exhaled with relief, he turned back retreating into dense forest.

  Reuniting with Theo at the oak tree, Liam showed a victorious smile. He tossed the money bag in hand, showing everything was fine. Theo also smiled. With this money, they'd upgrade new armor one more level and execute the plan prepared this entire month.

  Suddenly—

  Al's shrill cry rang out continuously and persistently, not an ordinary warning sound but a sign indicating many people were approaching.

  Theo and Liam's faces changed, looking at each other. Theo looked at Al's flight direction and tilt angle—he knew they were surrounded.

  Decisively quick, Theo ordered:

  "Liam, North direction! Al's left wing—there are fewer enemies there!"

  Liam nodded, drawing Zaravand Short Spear. His eyes flashed with danger. Footsteps nimble, applying Remnant Wind Method to maximum, sometimes even mixing Hidden Shadow, moving ghost-like as a hunting leopard, running toward the direction Theo just indicated.

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  At this moment Liam was no longer an ordinary hunter boy. Recent adventures had given him confidence. Remnant Wind, Hidden Shadow and Zaravand Short Spear gave him fangs and claws—agile and sharp cold. Liam now was more dangerous than ever.

  Theo observed around, eyes narrowing, took a deep breath. Oak forest scent flooded nasal cavity. Killing intent appeared in his eyes. He smiled wryly:

  "Want to play? I like it."

  Theo moved very quickly to a special trap position near the oak tree. There, he'd set up a simple self-triggering trap. He upgraded it a bit more, attached to the trap a self-made Sticky Glob—just anyone touching it then... aha, would be very interesting.

  Next, he hung on a nearby tree branch the specially made Numbing Bomb. The detonator was adjusted to explode when strongly collided or attacked by arrows.

  Finally, Theo concealed himself in the oak forest bushes, then whistled a long echoing sound with hand whistle. Al immediately understood, flew back to where Theo had hidden before and perched on branch observing.

  A short time passed, rustling sounds appeared at forest edge.

  The first position they advanced to was exactly where Theo had hidden before. Immediately, short cries rang out—but very few. Theo's traps had effect, but not much. As expected, these people had very good combat qualities, definitely mercenaries or professional soldiers.

  Theo calmly listened. Finally, a soft groaning cry rang out. He smiled lightly. Those traps were just misdirection strikes, making enemies underestimate and helping Theo determine their positions through G.

  The most important trap was what he was waiting for.

  Sticky Glob would make enemies unable to move and...

  Theo narrowed eyes, silently counting in head. He needed to wait 15 seconds—time enough for professional attackers to gather rescuing trapped comrades. While counting, he gradually retreated toward Liam but still kept shooting range on the Numbing Bomb position.

  Boom!

  Cries took turns ringing out, this time louder, more intense.

  Theo smiled. He knew he'd succeeded.

  He turned back running toward Liam, blowing a special light whistle from mouth. Al understood, the small Pidgey shot up ahead clearing the way.

  Though never spoken, consecutive failures in two days of Mana absorption testing had created an invisible pressure weighing heavily on Theo's mind. Now, after pouring all frustration and disappointment into this tactic, he felt his whole body lighten, a hot current rolling up from stomach then dissipating, like a safety valve just opened. In that moment, Theo realized a cold truth: he also enjoyed violence greatly, only under the shell of calculation and optimization, he'd transformed it into a sharp tool instead of ordinary action. This release made his footsteps more agile and decisive.

  At this time, Liam was on the northern breakout path.

  His legs moved lightly on the dried leaf ground. Though utilizing Remnant Wind and Hidden Shadow capabilities to fullest, his footsteps still made almost no sound. Zaravand Short Spear with hammer blade already attached ready to fight, held firmly in hand.

  Sweat beading on forehead wasn't from nervousness or fear, but from excitement. Hot blood in Liam boiled surging, but eyes remained absolutely alert.

  Liam's ears twitched. He discovered the target.

  It was a female swordsman—professional mercenary. Black hair tied high, face cold and full of killing intent. Light gray hide armor, tight-fitting and light, reinforced with small metal pieces at elbows and knees, optimizing speed. On her back hung two silver-plated twin shortswords, reflecting dim light in the forest.

  She was also moving quite fast, running while observing, searching for prey. Liam utilized blind spots and new movement techniques so hadn't been discovered yet.

  Liam's head flashed through attack forms. "Must be clean," Liam reminded himself, "No dragging."

  An idea flashed. Liam looked up at a sturdy nearby oak. He decisively climbed up, using Remnant Wind's speed. In moments, the female swordsman had appeared right below the tree trunk, focused looking ahead, completely unaware of danger lurking from above.

  Liam plunged down, not an attack strike, but a decisive smashing blow.

  In the moment of only a tenth of a second, the opponent had reflexed. The enemy was too fast, too experienced! Her eyes full of killing intent widened, footsteps slightly hesitated. Right hand raised high with armor piece on forearm—automatic defensive action of a seasoned warrior. She even leaned body backward, preparing to spin counterattacking. If this was a fatal decapitation strike from high to low, she was ready to trade arm for attacker's life.

  Quite fortunately, Liam initially had no intention to kill her so he'd held back force. Therefore, also following the reflex rhythm already moved by opponent, Liam adjusted center of gravity, even applying body centrifugal force technique he hadn't mastered. The short spear with Zaravand's hammer face struck straight at the female swordsman's shoulder and nape, instead of a full-force fatal decapitation blow. An extremely strong shock made her unconscious immediately, no time to emit any warning sound.

  Thanks to the strike's recoil, Liam for the second time adjusted center of gravity, he flexibly rolled lightly, reducing collision force, creating no excess sound. The entire action was clean, decisive, lasting less than three seconds.

  "Damn, so fast!" Liam muttered, a rare curse escaping his mouth. This opponent deserved respect, and he'd been fortunate for not wanting to kill.

  Liam had successfully broken through. His next task was waiting for Theo, tying up this lady and observing around to see if any encirclement remained.