To a certain extent, the industry’s own screening mechanism had long since filtered out those "kind" and "weak" people in the traditional sense.

These veteran experts, who had started as ignorant, naive rookies, and become as seasoned as they were now, were products of the hidden rules behind the "adventurer" trade.

Seli did not feel any regret.

Nor did she think that abandoning Xia Nan, who had just helped her, was something shameful.

If she really managed to escape today while Xia Nan died on this island, Seli might feel a trace of guilt deep down, but that "trace" would never be enough to change anything, not even enough for her to build Xia Nan a grave.

At most, when she was in high spirits at some future drinking table, she’d use it as conversation material, recounting to the drinkers beside her, in a tone that sounded regretful but was actually boasting, her battle on this island against Fishmen and pirates, and the story of some young teammate whose strength hadn’t been up to par.

Of course, that was only "if".

Judging from the present moment alone, the Ranger Seli, who had abandoned Xia Nan and fled on her own, had not received the favor of the Goddess of fortune.

She had just turned around, had only taken two steps forward, hadn’t even completely swung her arms out.

The shadow under her feet suddenly squirmed.

That was a Level 1 Wanderer from the Ebbtide Gang.

His Name was likewise not worth mentioning. Born a street orphan, he had suffered from long-term hunger as a child, leaving him scrawny and frail even in adulthood.

Fortunately, his talent was decent. Over several decades, through all kinds of means, he painstakingly scraped together three of the most ordinary Battle Skills, and at the age of forty‑five became a proper professional, leaping into the upper ranks of the Ebbtide Gang.

His years of scurrying about the streets like a rat had given him extremely rich combat experience, and taught him to lurk deep in the shadows and wait, with a patience far beyond ordinary people, for the perfect moment to appear.

From the moment the fight began, he had been hiding along the edge of the field, slowly closing in, searching for prey.

His innate gift for Shadow Energy, combined with his short and thin body, granted him a natural concealment ability far superior to others.

So much so that even Seli, whose Perception Attribute was fairly decent, failed to notice this danger that had silently crept up on her.

Not until she made her decision and turned to run.

Exposing her completely unguarded back.

That keen Short dagger, which had been poised to strike, slid smoothly into her back, straight toward her heart.

The Wanderer was experienced; the tip of the short blade precisely pierced the heart’s location, and he even added a little technique to amplify the damage—his wrist turning as it went in, twisting her heart into mush.

Like a bee’s sting: touch, then separate.

When the Wanderer pulled the Dagger from Seli’s back, a bloody gaping hole had already opened in the Ranger’s chest.

Seli’s expression froze; driven by pain, she tried to reach for the spare weapon at her waist to counterattack, but a second later, the thugs and Fishmen who had been chasing her finally caught up.

Reality proved that a Ranger’s physical toughness really was nothing special.

After just a few chops, she was no longer human-shaped, only a pile of mangled meat.

Seli, dead.

...

Out of the corner of his eye, Xia Nan glanced back in Seli’s direction.

There was no change in his expression.

But inwardly... to be honest, he was somewhat disappointed.

Although he had already expected Seli to react like that, when she really did abandon him without hesitation and turned to flee, Xia Nan couldn’t help feeling some negative emotions.

He could only feel that his good will had been betrayed—of course, that was also why, later, even though he noticed that Wanderer a step earlier than Seli did, he hadn’t spoken up to warn her.

Since she had chosen to run, she had to bear the corresponding price.

Then again, when it came to adventurers in this world, he never should have expected much in the first place.

Not only had they never received any systematic education, they’d also grown up in this extremely vicious, exaggeratedly competitive environment. How could there possibly be any "good people" in the traditional sense? The fact that they could speak of things like "honor" at all was already pretty impressive.

"Tsk."

He curled his lip imperceptibly. Xia Nan’s gaze deepened, a faint irritation stirring in his chest.

But in his mind, he had already put aside these unreliable teammates, his pair of pitch‑black eyes fixing on the enemy ahead.

He saw "Carrion Vulture" Gerry leaning forward, Pirate Scimitar with a green‑tinged edge in his hand, feet gliding as he shifted about. His pair of triangular eyes were locked on Xia Nan, as if searching for a flaw in him.

"Heh heh, looks like it’s just you left now, Haiya."

The vicious‑looking man stuck out his tongue to lick his dry, chapped lips, probing.

"Last chance. Put down the sword in your hand, and we can talk this out."

"If we can work together, I—"

He didn’t get to finish. The rest of the sentence was swallowed by the wolf‑howl that followed.

Annoyed, Xia Nan only felt the man was being long‑winded, and wanted nothing more than to shut this gang boss’s foul mouth, full of rotten teeth, forever.

On the other hand, it was also because he knew the man was stalling for time, giving the small fry whom Ranger Seli had lured away a chance to rush back and surround him.

And perhaps it was precisely that indescribable feeling of being betrayed that made his rarely stirred anger sharpen his focus, as if he had entered some special state of heightened concentration, able to see every minute detail in the enemy’s movements ahead.

Knees bending, calf muscles swelling with power—was he trying to dodge?