Cindy collapsed to the ground, the blood energy gradually dissipating into the air around her, her eyes hollow and empty.

At this moment, the psychological defenses of this fourth-tier warrior had completely crumbled.

Leon cast a glance at the surrounding shadow guards.

The guards swiftly moved forward and restrained Cindy.

They fastened magic shackles on her hands and feet, designed to seal off blood energy.

The instant that enormous bullet was fired, Lia was stunned by the terrifying sound.

As her mind gradually regained clarity, her gaze refocused on Viktor's body.

She stared at Viktor, her eyes filled with an incredibly complex light.

"Miss Lia."

Hearing a familiar voice by her ear, she turned her head to see Leon calling out to her.

Lia shook her head and focused her gaze on the iron cage.

Looking at those poor girls with tails and ears curled up in a ball, she let out a sigh.

She turned her head back, looking at Viktor once again.

Just then, the azure color in Viktor's eyes gradually faded as he slowly walked towards her.

Lia looked at Viktor, seemingly somewhat worried as she asked:

"Are... are you alright?"

Viktor stood in front of Lia, slightly lowering his head to look at her.

He didn't respond to Lia's words, but instead calmly said:

"Hold out your hand."

"..."

Lia was silent for a moment, but still followed Viktor's instructions and obediently held out her hand.

The next second, she felt a heavy object placed in her hand, still carrying a bit of residual heat.

It was the weapon that Cindy had just used.

Even now, seeing this thing made Lia feel a bit frightened.

The silver revolver was still smoking, as if it had just cooled down. The barrel seemed to have been completely deformed due to the powerful impact.

The damaged silver-white shell was no longer distinguishable with its red patterns, and the gun body exposed the dim magic crystal within.

Perhaps it had endured too much magical power in an instant; this weapon was now completely ruined.

Lia was still somewhat confused as to why Viktor would give her this now useless thing.

Viktor's voice had already sounded:

"This firearm made by the Reiser family should be the first generation. Its performance is too poor."

"Find some craftsmen at home, they might be able to replicate it."

She suddenly understood.

Lia had witnessed the power of this so-called firearm with her own eyes.

Although Viktor spoke of it as if it were inadequate, Lia could immediately understand its value.

For ordinary people, that terrifyingly fast attack speed would be almost impossible to see clearly.

If one had to point out a flaw, it would only be its horrifyingly loud sound.

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It wouldn't be suitable for covert operations.

But if the Kravina family could produce this kind of weapon in advance and improve its performance...

Then if these weapons were distributed in large quantities to those guards...

Suddenly, Viktor's warning voice sounded by Lia's ear.

"This kind of weapon can only be entrusted to those who are trustworthy."

"Remember, you are an ordinary person."

She was slightly startled, lowering her head as she put the damaged gun into her bag.

"I... I understand."

"By the way, the wound you just received on your chest."

Thinking of Viktor's shocking wound from earlier, Lia couldn't help but raise her head again, her gaze falling on Viktor's chest.

Standing so close, she could even smell the scent coming from this brother she once thought of as a jerk.

A faint, pleasant fragrance. Viktor had always been a very clean person, Lia had known this since childhood.

Although he didn't have obsessive-compulsive disorder, he would absolutely never allow even a speck of dust to cling to his body.

Or any other strange smells.

And now, there was no wound at all on his chest.

Even his clothes looked as if they had been mended.

As if possessed, Lia slowly reached out a hand, curiously feeling Viktor's chest, moving back and forth.

Trying to find that completely non-existent wound on his body.

But no matter how she touched, the sensation transmitted through his clothes told her that Viktor was perfectly fine.

She could even feel the firmness coming from Viktor's chest.

This made her feel puzzled.

How could a mage have such a robust physique?

"Have you touched enough?"

The cold voice came from above her head, and Lia suddenly came to her senses, hastily withdrawing her hand.

Her face also uncontrollably turned red.

However, in the night, it wasn't so noticeable.

Lia hurriedly turned her head to one side, averting her gaze from Viktor.

"I-I-I... I was just checking if you were injured."

"You came here for me, after all. If you got hurt, wouldn't I feel terribly guilty?"

She said this, but the corner of her eye kept glancing towards Viktor.

As if secretly watching for Viktor's reaction.

But unfortunately, Viktor didn't have the leisure to pay attention to her.

He stood in place, magical power constantly surging around his body.

Countless magical formations appeared out of thin air.

Those charred corpses sprawled on the port seemed to be slowly erased like by an eraser, turning into wind and dissipating.

The shattered ground was restored to its original state in the blink of an eye.

The air calmed down, and the sea breeze accompanied by the tide rose, blowing towards the silent port.

After doing all this, Viktor turned his gaze back to those beast-eared girls huddled in the iron cage, who had long been frightened into a daze.

"Demi-humans."

Muttering their race under his breath, Viktor slowly walked towards the iron cage.

The coat blocked the moonlight, and in the moonlight, the one-eyed crow standing on Viktor's shoulder seemed somewhat conspicuous.

The jet-black crow's single eye appeared particularly bright.

It was as if a black shadow had completely enveloped them, carrying an absolutely powerful aura, approaching them step by step.

At this moment, the demi-humans felt even more afraid.

Their bodies trembled, ears and tails shaking uncontrollably, and the fur on their bodies stood on end.

They weren't blind; they had seen the battle earlier very clearly.

The demi-humans could clearly sense that the Viktor before them was far more terrifying compared to the man from before.

If this mage, who was powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with a warrior, wanted to do something to them...

They would have absolutely no way to resist.

The demi-humans fearfully watched Viktor approach step by step, but apart from being afraid, there was nothing they could do.

Lia also watched Viktor, who carried such a powerful aura.

The shadow guards around her also flashed alertness in their eyes.

Not many nobles liked demi-humans.

These creatures that looked human but weren't human would make them feel dirty and disgusting.

But as free labor, demi-humans were definitely not bad.

Demi-humans wouldn't slack off, they would only further squeeze themselves for survival.

At this moment, the shadow guards felt somewhat afraid.

They feared that Viktor might be no different from other noble masters.

If at this time, Viktor ordered them to completely sink those demi-humans into the sea.

They would have to painfully comply.

But surprisingly,

Viktor bent down slightly, reaching out a hand as close as he could to touch.

He patted the head of the cat-girl nearest to him.

And gently rubbed her ears.

A soft sensation transmitted from Viktor's palm, and the cat-eared girl seemed to feel comfortable being rubbed, involuntarily letting out a purring sound.

Even after Viktor stood up again, she still seemed somewhat wistful.

Everyone quietly watched Viktor's actions.

His expression was still as cold as ever.

But in his gaze, there seemed to be a hint of satisfaction?

This made everyone unable to understand, including Lia.

Of course they couldn't understand.

After all, who could resist an adorable cat-girl?

Under everyone's gaze, Viktor slowly walked out from the iron cage.

He didn't do anything to those demi-humans.

Seeing this scene, the shadow guards also breathed a sigh of relief.

The ears under their hoods slowly drooped down.

"You... don't hate them?" Lia looked at him, her voice carrying a hint of confusion.

Her words voiced the question of all the demi-humans present.

"Why should I hate them?"

Viktor's indifferent voice sounded, his gaze sweeping around behind Lia.

Taking in all those hooded shadow guards around her.

Those who were gazed upon collectively shuddered.

As if they had been completely seen through.

Soon, Viktor's voice slowly sounded.

"Aren't they demi-humans too?"

Lia was slightly stunned.

Although the other shadow guards didn't make a sound, their bodies slightly fluctuated, as if they had lost their usual restraint.

They felt even more shocked.

Only Leon calmly stood beside Lia, without any confusion.

Because she still didn't understand how Viktor had been able to call out her name.

Lia looked at Viktor somewhat incredulously.

"Why... do you know all this?"

Helping demi-humans was something Lia had been doing since she was young.

When she was still in her teens, Lia had asked the family's butler, Helnersen, to intercept the first ship carrying demi-humans.

Those demi-humans, after being rescued from the slave ships, could no longer return to their own homes.

So Lia took them in.

Led by Helnersen, who was also a demi-human, they were taught the arts of assassination and martial arts.

Rescuing demi-humans, sheltering demi-humans.

This had continued for ten years.

By now, the number of demi-humans Lia had saved was countless.

Among them, many demi-humans had accepted Lia's nurturing, becoming the most loyal shadow operatives of the Kravina family, handling all the dark matters that couldn't see the light of day for Lia.

As an organization exclusively belonging to Lia, they would only obey Lia's orders.

Similarly, to avoid exposing their demi-human identity, Lia specifically referred to them as 'children'.

However, Viktor, who had never cared about her before,

Actually knew even the race of these shadow guards?

At this moment, Lia's confusion clearly outweighed her shock.

But Viktor didn't answer Lia's confusion, he just stood beside Lia and patted her shoulder.

"Continue to do what you think is meaningful, and persist."

"I will always support you."

Lia slowly raised her head, looking at her brother in front of her in disbelief.

She felt a heaviness in her chest, unable to utter a single word.

Lia didn't understand what kind of emotion was hidden in her chest.

"Don't forget what I said."

She silently looked at Viktor, watching him extend a finger and inject new magical power into her [Mage's Hand].

"Remember to use it, and then..."

Suddenly, the sea breeze rose howling, as if narrating the extraordinariness of tonight.

The surging sound of waves drowned out Viktor's words.

Fortunately, it also drowned out Lia's silent sobs.

"I'm back."