A malevolent wolf beast, seemingly condensed from a shadowy specter, lifted its head slightly, nostrils flaring as if sniffing for something.

Then suddenly...

Buzz—

A pair of cold, dark eyes, as if detecting some invisible aura, crossed the spatial barrier and abruptly looked in his direction.

"Damn! Damn! Damn!"

Batty dared not look any longer, sprinting madly in the direction he remembered.

...

...

Xia Nan had of course noticed the Wanderer who had vanished since the start of the battle.

With a Perception Attribute as high as "12," even though the opponent had tried to diminish their presence with Shadow Energy, Xia Nan could faintly sense their obscure aura.

He had already prepared corresponding strategies in his mind.

First, he pretended not to notice the opponent’s presence, acting fully concentrated on clearing out minor enemies and battling "Horned Shark" Lailo.

However, internally, he remained vigilant, even holding back a portion of his strength while swinging his sword.

As soon as this Wanderer dared to show themselves, the invisible shackles from [Gravity Control] would immediately grip them, using the "Deflection Field" of the [Dead Line] ring as a safety net, confident that Xia Nan could seize the opportunity to inflict serious damage.

Until that silver Magic Radiance suddenly burst in the corner of the room, along with the Magic Scroll falling to the ground.

Suddenly disappearing, and then a faint presence flashed past outside the shack a few dozen feet away, making Xia Nan realize—

Did this Wanderer... run away?

He felt a subtle emotion in his heart, thinking he may have overestimated this gang member.

However, even though the enemy ran away, Xia Nan wouldn’t simply let them off.

He always adhered to the principle of "removing the roots to prevent growth."

Especially when the enemy is a Wanderer skilled in stealth.

He didn’t want to unexpectedly encounter a dagger coming out of a wall shadow one day while dining.

Thus, as soon as he decapitated "Horned Shark" Lailo, not even allowing the head to hit the ground, he immediately commanded [Teeth Hunting] to rush outside the shack.

The pitch-black eyes turned momentarily black and white.

[Heart-drawing Vision] took effect and closed in an instant.

His brain spun slightly, but in less than half a second, in a world filled with gravity lines, he determined the direction of the remaining Shadow Energy figure.

He signaled to his teammates behind him, disappearing into the wolf’s howl the next second.

All were experienced adventurers, aware of how dangerous a professional Wanderer hiding in the shadows was.

After confirming the leader of the Corner Shark Gang, Lailo, was definitely dead, and the baron’s daughter Ai li was only unconscious from a Sleep Potion with no life-threatening danger.

Hai Yin decisively instructed Rein, who excelled in the battle, to remain on site to protect the baron’s daughter, while waiting for the Governor Mansion’s guards.

He, with the baron’s twin brother Gordon and the half-orc Alton, joined Xia Nan in pursuing the fleeing enemy.

...

The straight line speed of [Teeth Hunting] was unquestionable.

Under the combined support of "Strength" and "agility" attributes far exceeding the norm, Xia Nan’s burst ability already surpassed most Level 5 professionals.

But the current environment was not an empty wilderness, but the densely populated, corner-and-alley-filled Saltwater District of Suo Yu Bay.

He could dash down the streets like a sci-fi hero from his previous life, sweeping obstacles with the fierce gale carried by [Teeth Hunting].

His own moral compass, however, made it difficult to ignore pedestrians and buildings on the road, often requiring him to slow down to avoid them.

Combined with unfamiliarity with the surroundings, Xia Nan couldn’t maximize his speed, maintaining only enough not to lose track.

Until approaching the town’s edge, as the number of bystanders decreased, and the surrounding buildings thinned out, he was able to accelerate the chase.

Ultimately, it was too late.

When Hai Yin and the others arrived at the seaside following the wolf’s howl, the small boat carrying the scar-browed Batty had already drifted away with the sea current.

It seemed they had fortunately navigated the reefs and whirlpools near Suo Yu Bay, successfully escaping.

Xia Nan stood quietly by the shore, his black eyes focused on the cabin gradually disappearing on the sea, though his facial expression barely changed, his demeanor appeared contemplative, as if considering something.

A few adventurers who had been nearby, attracted by the chase, seemed to recognize "scar-browed" Batty’s identity and were discussing among themselves.

"No chance, too far, even my longest reaching spell casting won’t suffice."

Judging the distance between the small boat and the shore, Hai Yin frowned deeply.

"Don’t worry, Ai li is inside the shack’s storage room, and their Corner Shark Gang’s kidnapping of the baron’s daughter has already been established as a fact, the Governor Mansion will soon place a bounty on this ’scar-brow.’"

"Perhaps someone will bring his head to claim the reward in a few days."

Hai Yin moved to reassure Xia Nan, possibly concerned about his fear of retaliation.

"Besides, being on his own, he’s not exactly a high-level professional, he wouldn’t be able to stir much trouble in the Southern Islands."

"When we get back, I’ll have the captain keep an eye out, might hear something while on a sea mission."

Xia Nan didn’t answer, his eyes remained fixed on the drifting small boat.

He took a few steps back abruptly.

Hai Yin, not concealing her voice, naturally allowed the gathered adventurers by the shore to overhear her words.

"Have they found the baron’s daughter?"

"The Corner Shark Gang? They did this!?"

"Let’s discuss, allow me to claim the intelligence reward first, then hand over the person, split seventy-thirty!"

Not even half a day later, Baron Farrow’s bounty, due to its hefty payout, had set the adventurer community in Suo Yu Bay ablaze with chatter.

Upon hearing Hai Yin’s explanation, the nearby adventurers swarmed around.

Despite keeping their distance due to the druid near a visibly professional warrior like Gordon, the shore quickly became quite noisy.

The chaotic scene made Hai Yin, who watched the enemy escape, feel irritation rising within her heart.

She waved her hand, about to speak.

Hum—

The wind whipped fiercely.

A sudden wolf’s howl caused earaches with its intensity.

Turning her head instinctively, she saw Xia Nan, who had been standing by the shore moments ago, now retreated to the rear.

The windswept hair in front of his forehead fluttered wildly, a dark qi resembling shadow materialized in the air around him, expanding and diffusing, crafting the outline of a fear-inspiring Mysterious Wolf Beast with its piercing howls.

In that moment, it was as if Hai Yin thought of something suddenly.

Her pupils contracted sharply!

She stared in a stupefied daze at Xia Nan ahead, her lips quivering:

"It can’t be..."

...

...

In Suo Yu Bay, a name can be born for many reasons.

Sometimes due to appearances, like the "scar-brow" and the "Blood-nosed Rat," one whose eyebrow was scarred through, the other’s nose was smashed and bled;

Sometimes due to their organizational affiliation, for instance, "Oil Hand" Bern of the "Flying Fish Oil Barrel," and "Horned Shark" Laeli from the "Corner Shark Gang."

These names are not always flattering, some indeed being crude and vulgar.

Yet, they reflect the holder’s image among the surrounding people, akin to a mirror.

Today, on November 9, Arcane Calendar 1020.

When that Black Wolf tread on the waves, running along the crest of flowing waves.

With a graceful, fluid stance gliding over the vast ocean, leaping among the splashes, utilizing the rising invisible gravity, tearing apart the wave peaks with a fierce qi amidst the roaring boom;

With its illusory black mane fluttering like thick fog, constraining the wolf beast form, dragging inky shadows behind during its high-speed maneuver.

As its black-gray Wolf Teeth glowing with flickering ochre-red light, crossed the water barrier, shattering the cowardly escapee’s head, the frail wooden boat along with it.

The "Gray Sword" from River Valley Town, after nearly two years of transmigration, obtained his second title on the Aifala Continent:

— "Haiya."