Fang Zhen suffered no real effects from the Mind Control Magic.

His interrupt ability and the Anti-Thorn Ring activated simultaneously, foiling the opposing Mage’s surprise magical attack.

"Argh!"

The young Mage, who had just shot Fang Zhen an eerie smile, screamed. He clutched his head and doubled over, spinning on the spot as if overcome with vertigo, crying out in agony.

Under the effects of the Anti-Thorn Ring, it was as if the young Mage’s head had been wrapped in sharp thorns, causing him unbearable pain.

Fang Zhen was the fastest to react in the meeting room. In an instant, the spectral image of a Desert Viper Handgun appeared in his hand and rapidly solidified into a real weapon.

He raised his hand and fired, sending three quick shots toward the Mage closest to him.

It was the middle-aged one, who looked to be in his forties.

The Mage’s reaction wasn’t slow. Seeing that the Mind Magic hadn’t affected Fang Zhen, he had already begun chanting to channel his Spiritual Power, a spell on the verge of being cast.

However, this Mage couldn’t cast silently, and the act of chanting left a massive opening.

Before the Mage could react, the Desert Viper’s bullets punched three holes in his head in a tight triangular pattern.

The Mage died before he could cast his spell. A fatal headshot.

This startled the Elder Mage, who was in his fifties. A white light immediately flashed around him; he had apparently activated some kind of Extraordinary Item. A shimmering layer of light enveloped his body, clearly enhancing his defense.

Just then, Fang Zhen vaulted onto the long conference table and sprinted across it, reaching the three Mages’ position in just a few steps.

He had been sitting diagonally from the meeting room entrance with the conference table between them, a distance he had just crossed in a near-instant.

While crossing the table, Fang Zhen fired four shots in quick succession at the Elder Mage.

All four bullets struck the Elder Mage’s chest. The shimmering, silvery-white light indeed had defensive capabilities, dispersing some of the bullets’ kinetic energy, but it failed to negate it completely.

The four bullets still struck the Elder Mage’s chest, but they didn’t penetrate. They embedded themselves about three-quarters of the way into his body and lodged there.

The Elder Mage let out a muffled grunt, his face contorting in pain as he staggered back several steps.

Fang Zhen was now across the conference table and right in front of the Elder Mage. Seeing that the silvery light still hadn’t faded, he formed a sword-finger with his left hand, pointed it at the Mage, and shouted, "Kun Sha!"

A wave of invisible Spiritual Power enveloped the Elder Mage. Instantly, his face went vacant and his expression slackened. Even the flowing silver light around his body dimmed by more than half.

A white light flared around Fang Zhen’s right foot as he unleashed the Power Mountain Seal.

He used the first stage of the Power Mountain Seal, kicking the Elder Mage squarely in the chest.

A sound like shattering crystal rang out. The kick shattered the Elder Mage’s protective silver light, and he was sent flying toward the wall behind him. He slammed into it and seemed to stick there for over a second, like a hanging painting, before slumping to the ground, motionless.

The young Mage who had made the first move was just starting to recover. Seeing his companion so easily taken down by Fang Zhen, his eyes went red with fury. He fought through the excruciating pain, trying to cast another spell.

BANG! BANG!

Two shots rang out. The young Mage screamed and collapsed to his knees.

The young Mage had been shot in both his left and right knee.

Fang Zhen had learned this trick—shooting out the knees—from his fight with the Forbidden Realm Gatekeeper. It was remarkably effective for capturing someone alive while limiting their ability to move.

Fang Zhen had already leaped down from the long table. He grabbed the young Mage’s chin with one hand and pulled down with a practiced motion.

CRACK!

With a crisp crack, the young Mage’s jaw was dislocated, rendering him unable to chant.

The young Mage still tried to struggle, but a sword was suddenly pressed against his neck.

It was Agatha.

Agatha had been sitting on the side of the long conference table opposite Fang Zhen. She had been a bit dazed when the Mages made their move, but she had recovered and now rushed over to assist him.

The young Mage thought about struggling, but Mages are perhaps more rational by nature, lacking the determination for a final, self-sacrificial act. After seeing the cold gleam of the Knight’s Sword, he made a couple of half-hearted gestures of resistance, then finally stopped moving.

Fang Zhen delivered a sharp chop to the side of the young Mage’s neck, and the man immediately passed out and collapsed.

The entire fight had lasted only a few short seconds, and all three Mages present were down.

Fang Zhen looked down at the middle-aged Mage on the floor, at the triangular pattern of bullet holes in his head, and shook his head slightly.

’The Mages launched a surprise attack, and their spells are extremely powerful. I know that better than anyone, since I can use the Fireball Technique with my own Extraordinary Necklace.’

’Matthew and Dalia are in here, and they’re non-combatants. If a fight breaks out, it’s extremely dangerous for them, and they could easily be taken hostage.’

’In a situation like this, holding back isn’t an option.’

’They say Mages are a tight-knit bunch. Killing this one will likely provoke an entire group of them.’

Fang Zhen wasn’t afraid, though. ’It’s a hassle, but once a problem arises, you have to solve it. It’s just a matter of how much force to use.’

"What should we do with them?" Agatha asked, looking at Fang Zhen.

"Does the Ancient Castle have a prison? If so, send them there. I have some questions for them," Fang Zhen said.

He hadn’t killed all of them precisely so he could get some information.

...

「Over ten minutes later, in the Ancient Castle’s dungeon.」

Like most castles belonging to nobility, this one had a dungeon for holding important prisoners. Ordinary criminals weren’t even qualified to be held here.

The dungeon’s layout was simple: three cells—one large and two small—and one room for interrogations.

The two surviving Mages were brought here and tied to cross-shaped wooden frames.