Addison had just mustered all his bat energy to deflect the ining bullet; he had nth left to fend off the Vampiric Axe. Uhe furious amplification of the Bloodfme Aura, this extraordinary detective’s life fushed out like a raging torrent, devoured entirely by the Vampiric Axe.

  Though Addison’s power far surpassed Wells’, he still struggled madly to resist, eling his bat energy to fend off the ing force of the Bloodfme Aura. He finally reized Charlot and roared angrily, “It’s you!”

  Charlot smiled but did not respond. He raised the Blood Rose magical rapier again, giving it a light flick, and unleashed a flurry of three strikes.

  If it had been a proper swordsmanship duel, even ten Charlots might not have been a match for Addison. Charlot’s swordsmanship was mediocre at best—he had only learhe basid was far from profit. Addison, oher hand, was a seasoned master of the bde, hardened by tless real-life battles.

  But Addison had fallen into a trap and was already gravely injured. How could he withstand Charlot, armed with a transdent Vampiric on and empowered by the Eye of Insight? Charlot effortlessly pierced Addison’s body. Even though Addison’s bat energy provided a fme-like protective barrier, it could no longer shield him. He colpsed to the ground, his eyes burning with venomous hatred.

  With tiric ons simultaneously siphoning his life essence, Charlot felt an exhirating surge of vitality. He shouted, “What are you waiting for? Move now!”

  At his and, another 20 to 30 adventurers swarmed into the fray.

  Winterburn was both startled and ehough surrounded by five adventurers, he had held back his full strength. Seeing Addison killed in an instant, he realized with growing crity: these people were targeting them. This was a carefully id trap.

  Aware of the dahe fourth-rank knight unleashed his bat energy without reservation. His power, eveer than Addison’s, forced the five adventurers surrounding him to retreat.

  Meanwhile, Charlot absorbed the life esseurned by the Vampiric Axe. He pulled the axe free, reighe Bloodfme Aura, and hurled the on once more.

  The small Vampiric Axe spun through the air, slig toward its target like a swift predator.

  Winterburn had seen with his own eyes how this eerie on had killed Addison. He dared not uimate it. With his fme-enveloped bat energy and impeccable swordsmanship, he struck the spinning Vampiric Axe, sending it flying.

  The axe rebounded, circled in mid-air, and sshed back again, as agile as a bird of prey.

  The Old ti had never seen such a bizarre fighting style. For a moment, even Winterburn dared not advance. He whirled his rapier defensively, shielding himself like an imperable fortress.

  Charlot’s dispy of such extraordinary abilities inspired fiden the adventurers, who fought with renewed vigor aermination.

  Charlot deftly maniputed the Vampiric Axe to keep Winterburn preoccupied while tinuing to absorb and refihe life essence he had ed.

  In moments like this, every ounce of strength gained could shift the tide of battle.

  Addison, a third-rank Transdent, had a life force as intense and vibrant as fme, far stronger and richer than Wells’.

  Charlot enveloped Addison’s life esseh Blood Glory and activated the Protagoras Breathing Teique. It took 35 breaths before the Vampiric rapier finally stopped trembling and absorbed the st trace of vitality.

  He withdrew the Blood Rose rapier, letting Addison’s corpse slump lifelessly to the ground, and cast a casual g the on in his hand.

  This newly acquired magical rapier was extraordinary in craftsmanship, quality, and design. However, the bde was riddled with tiny nicks and craot the minor damage Louis Simy had cimed but severe deterioration.

  The previous owner of Blood Rose must have fought tless battles. Otherwise, a magical on of such quality would never have been so badly damaged.

  Charlot recalled Louis’ eagero showcase the engravings but his refusal to draw the bde itself. He cursed silently, “What a swindler!”

  Instinctively, he eled Blood Glory into the bde—and witnessed a strange phenomenon!

  The magical rapier momentarily stilled before emitting a clear, resonant hum. The bde began to liquefy slightly, and its damaged ses repaired themselves, being as smooth and sharp as new.

  Charlot was struck with a wave of shock, uo process what this transformation signified.

  The moment, the magical rapier grew warm and transformed into a streak of blood-red light, merging into his left arm. A fourth Blood Vortex quietly took shape.

  Charlot’s emotions could no longer be described as mere shock.

  Magical ons capable of ging their forms were exceedingly rare and incredibly valuable.

  For instahe legendary spear of Shanron that could morph int for easy carrying was already sidered top-tier.

  But the Blood Rose rapier, capable of self-repair and f a Blood Vortex, elevating Blood Glory to its fourth yer, was undoubtedly more precious.

  If not for his current fugitive status and the ck of a proper el to sell such a transdent on, Charlot would have sidered auing it for an enormous profit.

  However, sihe Blood Rose rapier could self-repair and ceal itself within a Blood Vortex, it erfect on for self-defense. Charlot found himself relut to part with it.

  He gave the bde a light shake, and the Blood Rose reappeared in his hand. He sighed inwardly, “What a pity! My swordsmanship is so crude. Even with such a divine on, I ever bee a master swordsman.”

  Winterbure being encircled and harassed by the elusive Vampiric Axe, was still a fourth-rank knight. He held the upper hand.

  Meanwhile, the five remainiives were no match for the group of adventurers. Uhe assault of dozens of batants, two were killed, and three were captured alive.

  In battles like these, it was nearly impossible to avoid casualties.

  Winterburn had not expected the situation to deteriorate so drastically. He shouted, “We are detectives of the Fierce Horse Detective Agency! Do you not fear ency?”

  Charlot immediately responded, “Apologies! We are Byron people.”

  Winterburn gasped in shock. “You’re spies?!”

  This time, Charlot didn’t o ahe adventurers shouted in unison, “Yes! We are spies—Byron spies!”

  No one wao offend the Fierce Horse Detective Agency. Seizing the opportunity, Charlot’s lie was quickly embraced by the adventurers, who hoped to shift the bme for this flito the Byron people.

  Winterburn’s heart sank. He believed the cim almost entirely. Charlot’s use of vampiric secret arts, blood-siphoning ons, and the drained corpses of Wells and Addison all bore the marks of a vampire, further ving him. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he abandoned all restraint. His fme-infused bat energy surged violently. With a swift maneuver, he deflected the Vampiric Axe and sshed two small adveeam captains in the same motion.

  Having struck decisively, Winterburn broke through the encirclement with a burst of bat energy, speeding away like a galloping horse. In the blink of an eye, he was out of sight.

  Watg Winterburn escape, Charlot could only sigh i and give up the chase.

  Although abs Addison’s life essence had allowed him to break through to the third rank and acquire new abilities, he was, at heart, a civil servant with limited bat skills. Pursuing Winterburn alone would likely not end well.