"Damn it..."

"I knew it! I knew it!"

The chaotic, shabby street views on both sides swiftly receded, the air becoming thick and stagnant, pressing down on faces with hard, cold raindrops.

"Scar-browed" Batty sprinted in the direction away from the shanties without looking back.

His speed was fast, with every step, the shadow on the ground rippled like a water surface, and behind him, one could vaguely see some quickly dispersing silver mist particles made of magic. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Just as he suspected, this so-called "signal," "safe passage," was all a bunch of crap.

The nobles in White Cliff District never intended to leave them an escape route!

The Corner Shark Gang has been completely abandoned!

A drowning person caught in a whirlpool never sees a way out.

Only now, when Batty truly deserted in the face of battle and shed his identity as the second-in-command of the Corner Shark Gang, standing outside the scene, did he finally clear his thoughts.

He, or rather his brother "Horned Shark" Lailo, what did they want?

They wanted resources and assistance from White Cliff District, to help the Corner Shark Gang escape the current development constraints and expand their power.

And the nobles who gave the tasks, what about them?

All they wanted was to teach Baron Farrow a lesson, so he would turn a blind eye during approvals in the future, to grab more benefits.

Kidnapping the baron’s daughter was just a means to achieve their goal.

If he were in the shoes of those Gulf Nobles with massive resources at their disposal, how could they possibly entrust such a vital task to a third-rate gang like the Corner Shark Gang, which has no voice even in the Saltwater District?

Even if it costs a bit more money, they’d have to find a more reliable partner.

The reason they chose them was entirely because the Corner Shark Gang was small, easy to handle afterward, and could be tossed aside once used.

To a certain extent, although the nobles explicitly demanded to ensure the baron’s daughter’s safety during the kidnapping, in reality, they didn’t care if she lived or died.

From the moment they took the baron’s daughter from the carriage, the nobles’ goal was already achieved.

And his boss still fantasized that those nobles, whose blood was filled with filthy gold coins and only sought profit, would keep their promises and find them a way out.

Batty even suspected that even if the operation ended perfectly and the baron recovered his daughter, they would be silenced.

Of course, he had to admit, even if Batty now saw everything clearly and his thoughts were coherent, when he and Lailo accepted the mission, he couldn’t help but dream of the bright future the other side described.

"Damn... really damn..."

Batty panted heavily, ignoring the curious glances cast by passersby, as he raced towards the southwest direction of the Saltwater District.

Involuntarily recalling the scene that had just played out before his eyes.

A spellcaster, two human warriors, a minstrel, and a powerful adventurer whose profession he couldn’t determine.

No doubt, the attackers were a professional team.

Coordinated seamlessly, and even had prior knowledge about their own side’s details.

Until now, Batty could still recall the menacing black wolf beast that peered into the shanties through the rain curtain, followed by the chilling, mysterious howl.

Very clear about the overall strength of the Corner Shark Gang.

And at the moment those adventurers shattered the shanty’s door, out of reason, Batty made the wisest decision.

First, utilizing his [Wanderer] professional trait, manipulated shadow energy to dampen his presence to the maximum extent.

Then, while they were distracted, he hid in a corner and tore apart that magic scroll he had kept as his trump card for years, which recorded the second ring spell of the Magic System [Mist Step].

Directly teleporting himself out to the street outside.

At this stage, the Corner Shark Gang, or the baron’s daughter, no longer mattered.

He only wanted to survive.

Fortunately, Batty’s always cautious nature made him, several years ago when he decided to stay long-term in Suo Yu Bay to run the gang, already set up an escape route in advance.

It was a small boat he hid in a coastal cave southwest of Suo Yu Bay.

The boat wasn’t large, holding only three or four people.

Including "Horned Shark" Lailo, no one but himself knew about it.

As Batty’s last resort, that’s exactly why he suggested to Lailo earlier to hand the baron’s daughter over to the pirates among the islands.

Though it wasn’t an official port within Suo Yu Bay, the cave where the boat sat faced the open sea, surrounded by reefs and dangerous whirlpools in the nearby waters.

Intentionally left uncleared by the Governor Mansion to prevent illegal trades as much as possible, forcing all vessels to use the Wave-breaking Pier.

Heading out rashly would be very dangerous, almost completely gambling his life on sheer luck.

But precisely because of that, his little boat survived until now, as his final card.

This was Batty’s last escape route.

If he was right, that little flesh-colored octopus that squeezed through the door was probably some kind of tracking spell.

Staying hidden in Suo Yu Bay was a dead end.

Only by leaving the island for the outer sea, could he earn a chance for survival!

"Awoo..."

The cold, fierce wolf howl echoed again from behind.

Batty instinctively glanced back over his shoulder.

In an instant, a chilling sensation surged, as if he had plunged into an icehouse.

At some point, the black wolf beast with fluttering mane was already standing on the roof of the shanty.