Wallace was badly injured. When he woke up and saw Jane, he immediately knew he was safe. His upper body was covered in bandages, and his face was pale."Com-"He noticed someone else in the room and quickly corrected himself. "Master."Jane, still wearing the same silver mask, turned to look at him.The doctor was giving her instructions on how to care for the injury. She listened, memorized them, then paid the fee and personally escorted the doctor out.Moments later, when she returned, she saw Wallace trying to sit up."Don't move!" she ordered immediately. Did he not realize how badly he was hurt?Wallace obediently laid back down. He grimaced with a wry smile."Master, I'm tough. It's nothing."He was lying. He still remembered the pain of those knives stabbing into him. It hurt like hell!"Master, that vegetable vendor–""He's been caught," Jane interrupted.Wallace was about to speak again when a young man suddenly barged into the room."Vice Leader! That vegetable
"There are three in total. I haven't really seen the other two," the vegetable vendor gasped, blood trickling from his lips.'Haven't really seen' meant he had seen them.Jane pressed on. "Describe them.""One has a mole on his face. The other likes to gamble and is a habitual thief. He's skinny and has a square face. Please, have mercy! I've told you everything I know!"Jane lifted his chin with the tip of her dagger. "Why do you all follow Jocelyn's orders?"The vendor was pale from blood loss. His voice was weak."We're all wanted men. Outlaws. If we don't obey her, she'll hand us over to the authorities. But if we do, she gives us gold. She also poisoned us. She gives us the antidote on schedule. Otherwise, we die. "Now that I've betrayed her, there's no way I'll survive. I beg you. Make it quick."Jane's gaze was cold. "Fine."With a swift motion, she slit his throat.For a wanted criminal of his stature, death was probably mercy enough.She sheathed her dagger and ste
Conan reacted quickly. He barely dodged Jocelyn's first strike.Jocelyn didn't stop there and launched a series of attacks at him.Conan had been on a long and hard journey, exhausted and starving. In this moment, he barely had any strength left. Yet, even in this state, he managed to evade Jocelyn and even found opportunities to counterattack.Jocelyn's expression darkened. This kid was even stronger than she had expected.She feinted an attack at his lower body, and just as he moved to counter, she suddenly shifted behind him and delivered a sharp kick to the back of his knee.Conan's knee buckled, and he dropped to the ground on it.Jocelyn immediately locked her arm around his throat from behind. His head was forced back, mouth wide open, gasping for air.Jocelyn didn't let go. She tightened her grip more and more. Conan's face turned a bluish-purple.Sensing something was wrong, Keira immediately shouted in alarm. "Commander Morris!"Only then did Jocelyn release him, tho
Conan's lips were cracked, and his voice was unusually hoarse. Jane met his gaze and saw the murderous look in his eyes."I was paying respects to my ancestors and happened to pass by," she explained.Due to prolonged hunger, Conan's hands trembled as he picked up the offerings and returned them to her."Take them away! My mother doesn't need these!"Jane ignored his resistance. She carried a sword at her waist. With a swift motion, she drew it from its sheath. With a few rapid slashes, a nearby tree was carved into a wooden slab the size of a gravestone.Conan watched the scene unfold. His expression was completely blank.Jane placed the wooden slab on the ground and asked him, "What was your mother's surname?"Conan suddenly reacted, looking at her in surprise.Jane's tone was calm and even, without a trace of condescension or pity. "With a gravestone, she won't become a wandering ghost."Conan let out a cold scoff. "I don't believe in that."Jane spoke as if joking, "Even
Onyxite was an impossible find, yet now it was before Jane's very eyes."This is onyxite. How did you get it?" she asked immediately.Conan looked intrigued. "Master, do you know about onyxite too?" Three years ago, when I first met Commander Morris, I heard her discussing onyxite with my father. She seemed quite fond of it. She even took notes on it in her books."I have a good memory, so I remembered it."My hometown, Lime Valley, is surrounded by mountains. In my free time, I searched everywhere. A year ago, I finally found onyxite. That's why I chose it as my offering to Commander Morris for when I became her apprentice. But that was before she rejected me."Three years ago, Jane had already wanted to develop a new type of rifle. At the time, she had determined that the key was in insulation. The best material for insulation was none other than the black iron refined from onyxite.Who would have thought a child would overhear and, by pure chance, actually find it for her?Ja
Hearing that someone was offering onyxite, George looked at Jocelyn.Jocelyn instinctively responded, "Your Majesty, the people at the Armory Bureau all say that onyxite has long been mined out. It's impossible."George had no patience to listen further and directly summoned the young man into the hall.A trace of gloom flickered in Jocelyn's eyes. She would see for herself whether this onyxite was real or not.Moments later, the young man was led inside.The moment she saw him, Jocelyn's expression changed abruptly in shock. Why was it Conan?Conan was also surprised to see Jocelyn here. However, Henry's instructions took priority. He respectfully bowed before the king."Your Majesty, I, Conan Carter, have come to present to you this onyxite."George summoned the people from the Armory Bureau to the palace, instructing them to examine whether the onyxite in the young man's possession was genuine.After thorough verification, the conclusion was unanimous."Your Majesty, this
When asked who his master was, Conan looked at Jocelyn. Jocelyn was also looking at him, smiling. But he just stared at her without saying a word.Was the boy afraid she would refuse? To encourage him, Jocelyn took the initiative."Go ahead and say it, young man," she said. "You've made such a great contribution. No matter who it is, they would be willing to take you as their disciple."For the onyxite mine, she could reluctantly accept him as her disciple. She could always find an opportunity to get rid of him later.Conan nodded at her, as if he had caught her hint.Then, he opened his mouth and said, "My master is Henry, also known as Shadow Phantom."The moment those words fell, the hall went dead silent.Jocelyn stood frozen, feeling as if the blood in her veins had turned to ice.'Henry? Jane?'That had to be a lie.Hadn't Jane been in the forbidden palace all this time? When did she take Conan as her disciple? This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Conan should have be
"Conan, it's been a few days since we last met. How have you been?" Jocelyn asked first with concern.Conan didn't want to resent her, but recalling the hurtful words she had spoken that day, it was difficult to face her with the same admiration he once had."Thank you for your concern, Commander," he replied courteously. "I'm doing well."He had wanted to tell her his mother was dead. That she had perished in agony from hunger and illness.But before he could, she asked, "How did you come to know Henry?"Conan casually made up a lie. "It's just a matter of chance."Jocelyn felt relieved. It seemed he still didn't know Jane's true identity. And Jane, most likely, wouldn't tell him to keep him from being entangled in the matter.She made a pained expression and got to the point."Conan, the reason I refused to take you as my apprentice that day was that I couldn't bear to see you sent to the battlefield to die. Your father and I were good friends. I still can't get over his deat
'The great Vivian Rudock?'Before the masked man could even process his shock, his head was already rolling on the ground.Hearing the commotion, Conan quickly got up.Vivian.He had heard that name somewhere before.Not knowing whether the other party was friend or foe, Conan's first instinct was to flee. Suddenly, a chilling breeze swept past him. The next moment, an icy hand clamped around his throat.A woman's sultry yet ruthless voice sounded by his ear. "So, you're Henry's new apprentice?"Did she know his master? Conan remained cautious and didn't answer.The woman chuckled."Quite the tough one, huh? No worries. I've got plenty of time."Her long, talon-like fingers clutched the top of his head. With a sudden force, he felt as though the tendons in his skull were being yanked out. An excruciating pain shot through him.He clenched his jaw, refusing to utter a single cry for mercy.After fifteen minutes, the woman seemed to have grown tired of her game and finally le
Reunions and separations were part of life.Learning that this was the last time Henry would guide him, Conan felt deeply saddened. But he also knew that sooner or later, he would have to join the army.Henry had taught him a great deal, especially in the art of war, which had benefited him immensely.At their parting, Henry gifted him a spear. Upon receiving the gift, Conan's eyes lit up."Master, how did you know I love spears?"He immediately tried it out and found it an excellent weight and length. The spear sliced through the air and struck the ground with immense force. It felt as if it had become an extension of his body. It was like an extension of his arm.He had never wielded a weapon so perfectly suited to him.Gradually, Conan's eyes filled with excitement. After performing a set of spear techniques, he knelt down at once."Thank you, Master! This is the best gift I have ever received!"He vowed to use this spear to achieve great feats and bring honor to Henry's na
"I had no idea the forbidden palace could be this lively."George looked at Wendy and Julie, who were embracing each other. His expression was cold and unreadable.Julie was so frightened that she stopped crying. She immediately stood up and, in a fluster, curtsied."Y-Your Majesty!"Jane also rose and curtsied respectfully."Your Majesty."George walked directly to a chair and sat down. His gaze landed on Julie."So? Did you come to the forbidden palace to keep the queen company?"Julie's eyes were red and swollen. She instinctively nodded, but then quickly shook her head.George's eyes turned dark."Well? Was that what you wanted to do?" he demanded.Julie was so terrified that she dropped to her knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, please have mercy. Please allow Queen Wendy to leave the forbidden palace!"George scoffed and looked at Wendy. "You plead so earnestly, but the queen may not even wish to leave."Julie blurted out, "How could that be?"Who in their right mind
Jane needed a token of royal pardon to ensure that if the truth ever came to light in the future, the king would not hold Kennedy accountable. She also knew that to obtain this token of royal pardon, she had to achieve great merit."You don't have to give it to me now," she said. "If you ever encounter a problem you can't resolve, come find me at Safe Haven Pawnshop. Just ask for Henry."With that, she placed a silver coin on the table, picked up the longsword leaning against the chair, and left without a word.Right outside the door, Karlsen happened to meet Henry's gaze as he departed.He had been curious about what the famous Shadow Phantom of the martial world looked like. But the person wore a mask. There was nothing to see.Shortly after, the king emerged as well.Karlsen stepped forward and awaited instructions.George looked ahead and spoke calmly."Free the women who were forced into performing here and send them home.""Yes!" Karlsen placed his hand over his chest an
The box contained the onyxite horse.Jane was puzzled. Why would George send her this?Steven placed the box holding the onyxite down, recalling how perplexed he had been when the king ordered him to deliver the stone to the forbidden palace. Though rewards from the king were always considered acts of favor, gifting a mere stone seemed rather baffling.At first, he had thought it was because Wendy was skilled in riding and fond of horses, so the king had given her this horse-shaped stone.Then the king had remarked in a deep voice, "The queen's temperament is just like this stone, stubborn and unyielding."Of course, Steven dared not relay a single word of that to Wendy. Instead, he simply smiled and said, "Queen Wendy, King George is thinking of you."Even without knowing the reason behind it, Jane accepted the onyxite. After all, it was a token of Conan's regard for his master.-At the Chief Gatekeeper's residence, Jocelyn locked herself in her room, her expression dark and
"Conan, it's been a few days since we last met. How have you been?" Jocelyn asked first with concern.Conan didn't want to resent her, but recalling the hurtful words she had spoken that day, it was difficult to face her with the same admiration he once had."Thank you for your concern, Commander," he replied courteously. "I'm doing well."He had wanted to tell her his mother was dead. That she had perished in agony from hunger and illness.But before he could, she asked, "How did you come to know Henry?"Conan casually made up a lie. "It's just a matter of chance."Jocelyn felt relieved. It seemed he still didn't know Jane's true identity. And Jane, most likely, wouldn't tell him to keep him from being entangled in the matter.She made a pained expression and got to the point."Conan, the reason I refused to take you as my apprentice that day was that I couldn't bear to see you sent to the battlefield to die. Your father and I were good friends. I still can't get over his deat
When asked who his master was, Conan looked at Jocelyn. Jocelyn was also looking at him, smiling. But he just stared at her without saying a word.Was the boy afraid she would refuse? To encourage him, Jocelyn took the initiative."Go ahead and say it, young man," she said. "You've made such a great contribution. No matter who it is, they would be willing to take you as their disciple."For the onyxite mine, she could reluctantly accept him as her disciple. She could always find an opportunity to get rid of him later.Conan nodded at her, as if he had caught her hint.Then, he opened his mouth and said, "My master is Henry, also known as Shadow Phantom."The moment those words fell, the hall went dead silent.Jocelyn stood frozen, feeling as if the blood in her veins had turned to ice.'Henry? Jane?'That had to be a lie.Hadn't Jane been in the forbidden palace all this time? When did she take Conan as her disciple? This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Conan should have be
Hearing that someone was offering onyxite, George looked at Jocelyn.Jocelyn instinctively responded, "Your Majesty, the people at the Armory Bureau all say that onyxite has long been mined out. It's impossible."George had no patience to listen further and directly summoned the young man into the hall.A trace of gloom flickered in Jocelyn's eyes. She would see for herself whether this onyxite was real or not.Moments later, the young man was led inside.The moment she saw him, Jocelyn's expression changed abruptly in shock. Why was it Conan?Conan was also surprised to see Jocelyn here. However, Henry's instructions took priority. He respectfully bowed before the king."Your Majesty, I, Conan Carter, have come to present to you this onyxite."George summoned the people from the Armory Bureau to the palace, instructing them to examine whether the onyxite in the young man's possession was genuine.After thorough verification, the conclusion was unanimous."Your Majesty, this
Onyxite was an impossible find, yet now it was before Jane's very eyes."This is onyxite. How did you get it?" she asked immediately.Conan looked intrigued. "Master, do you know about onyxite too?" Three years ago, when I first met Commander Morris, I heard her discussing onyxite with my father. She seemed quite fond of it. She even took notes on it in her books."I have a good memory, so I remembered it."My hometown, Lime Valley, is surrounded by mountains. In my free time, I searched everywhere. A year ago, I finally found onyxite. That's why I chose it as my offering to Commander Morris for when I became her apprentice. But that was before she rejected me."Three years ago, Jane had already wanted to develop a new type of rifle. At the time, she had determined that the key was in insulation. The best material for insulation was none other than the black iron refined from onyxite.Who would have thought a child would overhear and, by pure chance, actually find it for her?Ja