"Captain Gepard, we've received feedback from Squad Three. They've spotted the wanted criminal in the northeastern region of the snowy plains outside the city."
A Silvermane Guard soldier, upon receiving the message, immediately jogged to the resting troops and reported to their highest-ranking officer, Gepard.
"Wanted criminal? Is it that scammer from the upper city, Sampo Koski?" Gepard frowned slightly, Sampo's figure surfacing in his mind. Every time he thought of that guy, "Jie Ge's" anger would flare up uncontrollably.
The first time they met, Gepard had pitied him and given him some Winter City Shields. But that guy insisted on repaying the favor, claiming he wanted to gift Gepard his family heirloom—something like a phone that could communicate with ancient people.
Hah! His brain must have been kicked by a donkey back then to believe such nonsense. Later, he even felt like he'd taken advantage of Sampo and foolishly gave him a few hundred more Winter City Shields. Hahaha...
"Everyone, move out with me to apprehend the wanted criminal!"
"As you command!" ×N
With a wave of his hand, Gepard led dozens of Silvermane Guards in a grand expedition, their target being none other than our "good old pal" Sampo.
However, that guy was far too cunning. By the time "Jie Ge" arrived at the scene, Old Sampo was long gone. All that remained were a group of fallen Silvermane Guards and Yun Fan's group, who seemed to be discussing something.
"This..."
Taking in the scene before him, Gepard gritted his teeth and ordered a portion of his men to check on Squad Three's injuries. Only after confirming that none of them were in life-threatening condition did he finally relax slightly.
"You dare attack the Silvermane Guards?! In the name of the Silvermane Guard Captain, I hereby arrest you!" Gepard barked sharply, his expression darkening. In his eyes, daring to assault the Silvermane Guards in broad daylight was nothing short of a blatant provocation!
"Wait—" March 7th wanted to say something, but Yun Fan raised a hand to stop her.
"Arrest us? Sure, go ahead." Yun Fan smiled faintly.
"Hmph! Don't think this means you can escape accountability. The Silvermane Guards will—" Gepard snorted, his expression easing slightly. But before he could finish, Yun Fan spoke again.
"That depends on whether you have the ability to do so."
"You...!"
Seeing the faintly mocking look on Yun Fan's face, Gepard realized he was being toyed with. Resigned, he stopped engaging with the Express crew and directly ordered the guards behind him.
"Apprehend them all and deliver them to the Supreme Guardian for judgment!"
"Charge!" With Gepard's command, the Silvermane Guards raised their weapons and lunged at Yun Fan's group. Axe-wielding vanguards led the assault, while gunners and artillerymen provided cover. In an instant, the atmosphere grew intensely tense.
"Heh." Yun Fan chuckled softly. Slowly raising his left hand, he snapped his fingers lightly under the bewildered gazes of the crowd.
Snap—
The sound wasn't loud, yet strangely, everyone present heard it crystal clear, as if it carried some peculiar power within.
Thud, thud, thud...
As the snap echoed, the Silvermane Guards froze in place as if petrified, then collapsed to the ground one after another, unconscious.
Witnessing this, Gepard's pupils contracted sharply.
Defeating dozens of fully armed elite Silvermane Guards in an instant—even he couldn't do that. No, even the entire upper city probably didn't have anyone capable of such a feat. Just who were these people? Were they residents of the lower city? With such terrifying strength, was there even anyone who could stand against them?
But thoughts aside, Gepard had no intention of surrendering. His upbringing, his sense of loyalty and justice, would never allow him to abandon his comrades.
"In the name of Landau, Years of cold hardens the will. We shall never fall!" Gepard's eyes sharpened as he slammed his right fist onto the ground. In the next moment, the power of Preservation surged forth.
Ultimate Skill — Eternal Fortress!
Yet, what answered him was...
"How is this possible?!" Gepard straightened up, staring in shock at his armored arm. Why? Why wasn't his power working?
"In the name of Landau, Years of cold hardens the will. We shall never..." Gepard repeated his chuunibyou declaration, but this time, not even an ice stick materialized.
"How can this be... The power of Preservation..." Gepard realized in horror that he could no longer sense even a trace of Preservation's power, as if he had never possessed it to begin with.
"In the name of Landau—"
"Yun Fan, did that blond guy suffer some kind of mental blow? Why is he just standing there shouting chuunibyou lines and punching the ground?" March 7th couldn't help but complain. To her, Gepard's behavior was utterly incomprehensible.
"Haha, not quite. I just used a bit of my authority over Causality on him, which is why he's like this now."
"Authority over Causality? What did you do?" March 7th asked curiously. After all, the Path of Causality encompassed far too much—it could even be called omnipotent. Precisely because of this, it was difficult to observe or detect. Since Yun Fan had used his authority, what exactly had he done?
"Nothing much." Yun Fan glanced at Gepard, who was still trying to unleash his ultimate, and said nonchalantly, "I just used my authority to sever the causal connection between him and the Path of Preservation."
Yun Fan's words weren't loud, but to everyone present, they struck like thunder.
The "Cold-Dragon Young Man" stiffened, Stelle stared wide-eyed, and our dear March 7th gaped in disbelief.
What had Yun Fan just said? He... he severed that blond guy's connection to his Path? Did that mean he'd reduced a Pathstrider back to an ordinary person? This...