BOOM... RUMBLE... RUMBLE...

The earth-shattering shockwave of the explosion rumbled outward like a volcanic eruption.

The falling snowflakes were blasted apart by the vibrations.

Even though Zorn was already inside the carriage, he could still feel the violent tremors traveling through the ground.

When the Torlask Steam Train entered the underground tunnel,

the staff nearby immediately detonated the large quantities of black powder they had buried, collapsing the entrance to the tunnel.

Although it was uncertain whether this would be enough to trap the Torlask Steam Train,

they had to try to find out.

"Back!"

As Zorn spoke, Glangk, the butler and Knight acting as his coachman, immediately set the carriage in motion.

At the same time, his conversation with Madam Mable replayed in his mind.

"Zorn, it seems your plan has succeeded for now."

"Those Assassins already had you in their sights. This time, by rerouting the Torlask Steam Train underground, you’ve averted a major crisis for Ogrande City."

"The Harvesters will definitely make a move on you at the first opportunity. You must come with me to the Ancient Ruins immediately."

Madam Mable’s plan was excellent, of course.

But Zorn needed to make some preparations first.

He wasn’t afraid of being surrounded, but he hadn’t expected to have to "flee" so soon—and on his own turf, no less.

But in the great tide of an era where all forces were converging on Ogrande City, circumstances could change in an instant.

"I’ll go back and prepare. Then I’ll head to the Ancient Mage Ruins right away!"

That was Zorn’s reply to Madam Mable.

As the carriage moved forward, Zorn immersed his consciousness in the Spiritual Realm.

He followed the wisp of Black Mist used to contact Vanessa and slowly transmitted his voice.

"Vanessa, have everyone in the manor take paid leave immediately. They must all be gone within half an hour. I’ll let them know when to return."

"After you give them the order, leave the manor at once. Go to the southern end of Geluo Long Street, find a carriage, and hide inside. Wait for me there."

The overlapping waves of his voice echoed in Vanessa’s mind as she was cultivating.

She looked around and faintly saw Young Master Zorn’s silhouette in the dark contours of her vision.

"Yes, Young Master Zorn!"

She clenched her fists and immediately sprang into action.

Some time ago, through Joy, she had received a vast amount of Witch Essence from Young Master Zorn, which had brought her to the late stage of Level Two. Combined with her recent efforts in refining the Calamity Black Mist, her strength was already considerable.

She had fought several times against the Transcendents who came to investigate, and each battle ended with her enemies utterly defeated and forced to flee. On several occasions, if she hadn’t held back, her opponents would have died on her dagger.

After quickly informing everyone in the castle of the paid leave,

Vanessa silently grabbed her small, white, monster-themed suitcase, turned invisible, and left the manor.

Once on the street, she randomly picked a carriage and slipped inside.

’What heavy snow!’

Vanessa blinked, watching the heavy, goose-feather snow fall outside the window.

As she waited,

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...

Someone knocked on the carriage door.

"Who is it?"

she asked warily.

"It’s me!"

A familiar voice answered.

’It’s Young Master Zorn!’

Overjoyed, Vanessa opened the carriage door.

WHOOSH...

A cold wind carrying a torrent of snowflakes flooded into the carriage.

Outside the door, there was nothing!

...

Deep within the blizzard,

the carriage arrived at the end of Geluo Long Street.

By now, the entire world was a vast expanse of white.

It seemed as if the world was about to be buried by the snow.

Through the carriage window, Zorn saw Vanessa standing in the snow, suitcase in hand, waiting for him.

After watching her for a moment, Zorn smiled faintly, then opened the carriage door and waved her over.

A smile spreading across her face, Vanessa immediately hurried over.

"Young Master Zorn, the snow is so heavy today!"

After she boarded the carriage, Vanessa’s cheeks were flushed red from the cold.

Zorn studied her for a moment before reaching out and pulling her into his embrace.

As he felt around, Vanessa’s face grew even more flushed.

"Young Master Zorn!"

she said, shyly pushing at Zorn.

But Zorn just leaned close to her ear and whispered,

"The appearance, the form, the aura... all perfectly imitated. It’s just this part—it’s a little small!"

"Vanessa’s" body stiffened slightly.

Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

"Young Master... what are you talking about!"

Zorn, however, ignored her act and said flatly,

"You people... you underestimate a Fighting Master’s Perception, and you underestimate a Fighting Master’s close-quarters combat ability."

"I was just pondering how to get close to you, and here you are, practically throwing yourself at me."

"Let me guess, are you thirty-five? Or forty?"

The "Vanessa" held by Zorn’s face suddenly darkened. She gritted her teeth and spat,

"You damn bastard, you better remember this: I’m not even thirty yet!"

As soon as she spoke, her form rapidly dispersed like a blurry whirlwind.

But the next instant,

THUD!

Zorn’s hand, brimming with dense Gang Qi, snatched the Forbidden·Imitator from the gales as she transformed into a hazy whirlwind and dragged her back down.

The Star Trace Gang Qi clamped down like a shackle, locking the Level 4 Forbidden·Imitator firmly in place.

This "Vanessa’s" face and clothes shifted with the whirlwind, revealing her true appearance.

She was a woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six, roughly Vanessa’s height, with her hair in a courtly bun and wearing a short, white winter jacket.

At that moment, a trace of astonishment appeared on her delicate and beautiful face.

As a Level 4 Forbidden·Imitator, she couldn’t believe a mere Fighting Master had broken her Forbidden Secret Technique, Wind Surge.

"Struggle again, and I’ll crush your head,"

Zorn said icily.

The power, like that of a Giant Dragon, combined with his incredible Star Trace Gang Qi, momentarily crushed the Forbidden·Imitator, making it difficult for her to breathe.

WHOOSH...

The wind outside grew more violent, and the snowflakes fell even thicker.

Carried by the cold gales, the snow pattered against the carriage windows.

The windows seemed on the verge of shattering.

Zorn raised his arm and smashed his elbow into the windowpane.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK...

In an instant, the entire carriage was covered in a dense web of cracks.

Then, with a POOF,

the carriage, the coachman, and even the horses all burst into Mirror Image bubbles and vanished.

It was, in fact, a Mirror Image Carriage.

From the moment he saw this place from afar, Zorn had sensed the unnatural snow, the whirlwinds, and the Forbidden Power.

He had come fully prepared.

As the carriage shattered, Zorn landed lightly on the ground, still holding the Forbidden·Imitator.

WHOOSH...

Snowflakes still fell rapidly toward Zorn,

but they were all deflected and shattered by his Star Trace·Holy Armor.

His gaze swept over the intersection.

An extremely powerful Forbidden Curtain had already isolated this small part of the World from the outside.

Zorn’s eyes fell on another carriage not far away.

A rich, magnetic voice spoke up.

"Back in the Saintisman Capital, I heard the stories of the Fighting Master and the Rat King Knight."

"My curiosity piqued, I looked into it myself."

"And I found that Fighting Masters aren’t particularly strong."

"But now, it seems I was mistaken."

"It depends on the person, I suppose. In the hands of Mr. Zorn Corick, the Fighting Sequence is quite formidable. It’s truly been an eye-opening experience."

"I told you, Mr. Zorn is a powerful being not to be tested lightly."

"After all, his Sequence can even refine the flesh and blood of Egunus. You just had to try, and now... you’ve gotten yourself caught!"

The Forbidden·Imitator, clutched in Zorn’s grip, trembled, unable to respond.

"Mr. Zorn, I’ve come today mainly to have a talk with you."

"How about this..."

the person in the carriage proposed.

"I’ll release your little maid, and you release Imolea—the Forbidden·Imitator you’re holding." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Why should I trust you?"

Zorn said coolly, his eyes fixed on the carriage.

CREAK!

The carriage door opened.

Vanessa, frozen inside a block of ice, was tossed out by a strange whirlwind.

Once outside, free from the suppression of that terrifying freezing power,

Vanessa immediately leaped and broke free from the ice.

"Hah... hah..."

She gasped for breath, her face purple and black from the cold.

Zorn gave Vanessa a quick glance; she didn’t seem to be in any unusual state.

But Zorn knew that the one known as the "sly Masked Spider King" must have left some hidden anchor or other bizarre clue on her.

It would be a little troublesome, but Zorn was confident he could handle it.

"Y-Young... Master Zorn... I..."

Vanessa shivered but still held her dagger tightly.

"You did very well."

"Go behind me. Glangk is waiting for you in the distance,"

Zorn said crisply.

"But..."

Vanessa looked at Zorn, unwilling to leave.

"Hmph, this little maid is quite infatuated with you."

Imolea, still in Zorn’s grasp, had somewhat recovered. Her face was flushed, and her voice was hoarse.

With a faint smile, Zorn released his grip and took two steps back.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Released from his hold, Imolea fell to the ground, coughing violently.

"Just follow my orders,"

Zorn stated calmly.

"Mm!"

Only then did Vanessa quickly retreat.

And the mysterious person in the carriage fulfilled their end of the bargain, letting Vanessa go.

Zorn turned back and glanced at Imolea, his expression as calm and detached as ever.

Even if Vanessa had died, Zorn could have preserved her Wandering Soul and then used other methods for her Resurrection.

But it would have been quite troublesome and would have come at a considerable price.

Being able to complete the exchange smoothly was a rather good outcome.

"You damn little bastard! Barely old enough to have hair on your chin and you dare take advantage of me."

Now that she had recovered and put some distance between them, Imolea cursed at Zorn with spiteful ferocity.

WHOOSH...

A surging gale, mixed with snow, kicked Imolea right out of the pocket dimension.

"Sir Fighting Master, interested in coming aboard for a chat?"

Following the voice with his eyes,

he saw that the interior of the supposedly ordinary carriage was now a deep and vast space, like an impenetrable fog.

The Forbidden·Masked Spider King’s Spider King Territory.

Zorn was naturally aware of this ability.

Once inside, escape would be next to impossible.

For the other party to invite him inside now was obviously a malicious gesture.

The invitation made Zorn chuckle softly.

"Since Your Excellency is willing to have a close, face-to-face discussion with a Fighting Master, I certainly have no objections!"

He walked toward the carriage without hesitation.

As he stepped inside, he casually pulled the door shut behind him.

Since this Level Six Forbidden·Masked Spider King wanted to die so badly,

Zorn would have no choice but to begrudgingly grant his wish today.