After school, streams of students poured out through the school gates.
Having picked up his employer, Argenti was just about to escort her home when Yunli hurried over.
"Miss Yunli, is something wrong?" Argenti asked.
"My employer is missing."
"…What?"
Argenti was startled.
How did you manage to lose your employer?
"Do you have any leads?"
"Yes." Yunli nodded quickly. "Her classmates said that earlier, a man and a woman wearing black suits called her out of the classroom… and she never came back."
"I see…"
Argenti immediately sensed trouble.
A man and a woman in black suits—could that be Blade and Ningguang?
His suspicion wasn't baseless. Both of them had already lost their employers, and the system had publicly announced it.
That meant they had both motive and time to team up and cause chaos.
"Don't panic," Argenti said calmly. "Go search on your own first. I'll take the Mage home, then I'll help you look."
A Knight of Pure Beauty always rushed to help those in need—this was a favor Argenti wouldn't refuse.
"Thank you."
After thanking him, Yunli hurried off.
She still hadn't received a system notification saying her employer was dead—meaning there was still hope.
If she moved fast enough, this crisis might still be resolved.
Meanwhile…
Outside an abandoned factory in the outskirts.
Lin Ao, the so-called Dragon King, stared intensely at the building in the distance.
"Heh. Kidnapping, huh? Guess you're unlucky to run into me."
Yesterday, he'd just received news that his fiancée had been killed.
Today, he happened to see a man and a woman hauling a large sack while sneaking around.
No need to think—it was obviously a kidnapping.
For some reason, Lin Ao felt a surge of confidence.
He had a strange feeling that if he rescued the victim, something beyond mere friendship might bloom.
So he quietly followed them.
As for calling the police?
Please.
When the Dragon King saves someone, why would he need the police?
Inside the factory.
Xiaowen was tied to a chair, staring in terror at the two people before her.
She couldn't understand it.
They wore the same black suits.
They came from the same company.
So why did these two look nothing like good people?
Holding a gun, Ningguang took a deep breath and aimed at Xiaowen's head.
"Mm—mm—mm!"
Xiaowen was terrified, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. Her mouth was taped shut, leaving her only able to whimper helplessly.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
Ningguang kept taking deep breaths. Her arm had gone numb from holding the gun up for so long—but she just couldn't pull the trigger.
"…How about you do it?"
She had sounded resolute before, but when it came down to it, she simply couldn't go through with it.
"Move aside. I'll do it."
Diluc shot her an annoyed look and pulled out his own gun.
You were the one who came up with the plan.
You were the one who insisted on carrying it out.
How could you freeze up at the critical moment?
He pressed the gun against Xiaowen's forehead.
"Mmm—!"
Diluc's hand began to tremble too.
"…Maybe you should do it instead."
"…Uh."
Now both of them were stuck.
Everything had been planned perfectly—but when it came time to act, both of them choked.
"…What if we just let her go?"
"No!" Ningguang snapped. "Blade killed my employer. If he could do it, why should I let her live?"
She still hadn't calmed down.
"Then what do you want to do?"
"How should I know?!"
The two stared at each other in silence.
[Valerius: This is hopeless… these two could debut as a comedy duo.]
[Keqing: Hahaha, Ningguang is way too funny right now.]
[Hu Tao: LOL, told you they're unreliable—completely choking at the key moment.]
[Kaeya: Damn it… Diluc is cursed or something.]
[Jing Yuan: This… really is unexpected.]
Jing Yuan almost laughed himself breathless. He'd been worried about Yunli earlier, but this outcome was beyond imagination.
[Zhongli: Heh. Not bad.]
[Raiden Ei: Do it already! Just do it!]
[Furina: Cold-blooded.]
[Asta: So what now? They can't kill her, but they won't let her go either?]
[Trailblazer: This is painful to watch.]
BANG—!
Just as the two were completely stuck, something unexpected happened.
The factory doors were kicked open.
Lin Ao strode in arrogantly.
[Yae Miko: Oh? The Dragon King appears?]
[Valerius: As expected… a Dragon King never misses a key plot point.]
[Xilonen: Is that backup?]
[Seele: Next should be the Dragon King heroically saving the girl and starting a romance.]
[Bronya: …I don't think he can win.]
After all, Lin Ao couldn't even beat Ningguang alone—now there was also Diluc.
"Listen up! Release that girl immediately!"
Lin Ao declared loudly, acting as if he had everything under control.
But the moment Ningguang and Diluc turned around—
His expression froze.
"W-Why is it you?!"
His voice shot up an octave.
He never imagined that the person he least wanted to see would appear here—Ningguang.
Earlier outside, he couldn't see clearly. He'd only noticed two silhouettes.
Who would've thought his first attempt at being a hero would be set to hell difficulty?
Right now, Lin Ao felt like he was facing two demon lords.
The princess was tied up, waiting to be rescued.
And he?
A pitiful level-one character without even the village's starter sword.
There was no way he could fight this.
"Uh… you guys carry on. I was just passing by."
He turned around, ready to leave.
"Stop."
Ningguang's sharp command made his entire body stiffen.
He turned back awkwardly, forcing a flattering smile.
"I didn't see anything…"
He even tried to smile nicely at Ningguang.
Unfortunately, with both his upper and lower front teeth missing, the smile looked ridiculous.
"Have you killed before?" Ningguang asked coldly.
"No, no!" He shook his head furiously. "I've never even killed a chicken!"
"Then you're useless."
She raised her gun and aimed at him.
"Wait! I have! I killed people back when I was a mercenary—plenty of them!"
"…Fine."
Ningguang nodded in satisfaction and stepped aside, revealing Xiaowen behind her.
"Kill her, and I'll let you go."
"…Huh?"
Lin Ao was completely dumbfounded.
Wasn't he here to save the damsel in distress?
How did it turn into him committing murder instead?
But he couldn't beat Ningguang.
So he walked toward Xiaowen with a miserable expression.
"I'm sorry."
He raised his fist and punched down with full force, determined to end it cleanly and painlessly.
At the very instant his fist was about to land—
Diluc moved.
A single kick sent Lin Ao flying three meters away.
"You bastard—
you actually went through with it?!"
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