Rosalia slowly stepped forward, her eyes completely disregarding the man beside Argo.
In her opinion, while the Information Broker 'Rat' had a considerable reputation, he was ultimately just a merchant.
Facing an orange-named guild like theirs, who lived by the sword, it was normal for him to avoid them.
Who would confront an entire guild for an unrelated stranger?
"Rat, I advise you to be sensible."
Rosalia's tongue licked her lips, her threat undisguised.
"This doesn't concern you."
"Be careful, or you won't even know how you died!"
Argo pouted, about to speak, when a hand reached out and gently stopped her.
It was Chen Mo.
She looked up at Chen Mo's profile; his face was still as calm as a deep pool.
But Argo keenly sensed that something was off.
Chen Mo's voice was lower and quieter than usual.
This was definitely not a good sign.
Silica was so frightened by the menacing players that she retreated repeatedly, clutching the newly acquired one-handed sword tightly in her hands.
The little courage she had just ignited was now completely doused by the icy water of fear.
"I warned you, Little Girl."
Rosalia sneered, taking another step forward, her gaze now completely ignoring Chen Mo and Argo.
"Being alone in a place like this is really dangerous."
Her subordinates behind her understood, drawing their weapons and fanning out to surround the three of them.
"Don't worry, we don't want your lives."
"Just hand over your equipment."
Silica's face turned pale; she looked at Chen Mo for help.
The benefactor who had just saved her life was still facing away from them, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.
Just as Rosalia lost her patience and was about to make her move.
A slow, unhurried voice echoed through the forest.
"Very bold."
Chen Mo finally spoke.
He slowly turned around, his calm gaze sweeping over the eight orange-named players who surrounded them.
Argo's heart skipped a beat.
She understood instantly.
Chen Mo was truly angry.
If it were just robbing Silica, Chen Mo might have only beaten these people half to death and thrown them into prison.
But they shouldn't have threatened Argo.
In that case, there was only one outcome.
"What are you?"
Rosalia glared impatiently at Chen Mo.
"If you know what's good for you, get lost and don't meddle!"
All her attention was still fixated on Silica's excellent equipment; she hadn't realized who she was facing.
In her eyes, what threat could a guy who hadn't even drawn his weapon pose?
"Meddle?"
Chen Mo repeated the word, a hint of playfulness in his tone.
"Then I'd like to see who gave you the guts."
The moment his voice fell, Chen Mo's figure vanished from his spot.
No skill effects.
No warning whatsoever.
He evaporated into thin air.
"What!?"
Rosalia's pupils suddenly constricted; her brain hadn't even finished processing the information before her when a chilling coldness spread across her neck.
A hand had already clasped her throat.
"What did you just say?"
Chen Mo's voice sounded close to her ear, so calm it made her soul tremble.
"I didn't hear clearly."
Rosalia tried to struggle, but found all her strength drained, her body stiff and unresponsive.
The power emanating from that hand left her no doubt that her throat would be crushed the next second.
"Boss!"
The other seven guild members finally reacted, roaring as they raised their weapons and charged at Chen Mo.
However, the next second.
Crisp snapping sounds rang out in unison.
The weapons in their hands, whether swords, axes, or daggers, all broke in half.
The cross-sections were as smooth as a mirror.
"Impossible!"
A rogue player looked at his broken dagger, his face filled with the fear of seeing a ghost.
"My weapon... how could my weapon break on its own?"
Chen Mo released his hand.
Rosalia slumped to the ground like a pile of mud.
He slowly walked towards the group of orange-named players who had lost their weapons; with each step he took, the temperature in the air seemed to drop a degree.
"Want to know why?"
He stopped three meters from the group and spoke lightly.
"Because you threatened people you shouldn't have."
As his voice fell.
An invisible sword intent erupted from Chen Mo's body.
The seven orange-named players felt as if countless invisible sharp swords were pressed against their entire bodies, every inch of their skin screaming.
"Monster! This guy is a monster!"
A warrior player could no longer bear the pressure, his legs gave out, and he directly knelt on the ground.
The others weren't much better, their faces ashen, their bodies trembling like leaves in the wind.
"Wait! Wait!"
Rosalia struggled to get up from the ground, her voice filled with nothing but intense fear.
"We give up! We'll leave immediately!"
"Leave?"
Chen Mo tilted his head, his expression seemingly puzzled.
"Who said you could leave?"
"Big Brother! Sir! We were blind!" Rosalia completely lost her previous arrogance and began to beg frantically, "Please be magnanimous and let us go!"
"Let you go?"
Chen Mo repeated the words, then shook his head.
He looked at Argo behind him, then his gaze returned to the group of trash.
"When you were threatening my woman just now, why didn't you think about begging for mercy?"
This one sentence instantly brought a flush to Argo's cheeks.
Although their relationship was rapidly warming, having him so domineeringly declare his possession in public still made her heart pound wildly.
Beyond shyness, there was more of a sweet and secure feeling of being firmly protected.
"Now, it's too late."
Chen Mo raised his right hand, his index finger lightly tapping in the void.
Eight hair-thin daggers shot out silently.
They accurately and precisely embedded themselves in the center of each orange-named player's forehead.
The next instant, the eight figures froze simultaneously, then dissipated into countless specks of light.
They didn't even have time to let out a scream.
The entire forest returned to dead silence.
Silica stood in a daze, almost unable to hold the sword in her hand.
What had she just... seen?
Seven notorious orange-named players and the leader of an orange guild, just like that... were instantly killed?
"These pieces of trash actually dared to set their sights on us."
Argo walked to Chen Mo's side, a hint of lingering fear in her voice.
"If you weren't here..."
"There are no ifs."
Chen Mo interrupted her, reaching out and gently caressing her cheek.
"As long as I'm here, no one can harm you."
This tender gesture was completely different from the decisive Grim Reaper he had been just moments ago.
The strong contrast made Argo's heart race uncontrollably again.
"Cough cough..."
Silica weakly coughed twice from the side, breaking the atmosphere between the two.
Chen Mo then withdrew his hand and turned to the Little Girl.
"You have your equipment; now it's up to you."
His tone returned to its usual distant calmness.
"Remember, strength is the fundamental key to surviving in this world."
"Yes! I will definitely work hard to become stronger!"
Silica nodded vigorously, an unprecedented light igniting in her eyes.
Everything that happened today made her completely understand one truth.
In this world, only if she was strong enough could she protect everything she cherished.
"Oh, right, Big Brother!"
Silica seemed to remember something and quickly ran in front of Chen Mo.
"You haven't told me your name yet!"
Chen Mo was silent for a moment.
"Chen Mo."
"Big Brother Chen Mo!"
Silica bowed deeply to him with solemnity.
"One day, I will repay your kindness!"
With that, she no longer hesitated, turned, and ran into the depths of the forest.
Her retreating figure was filled with unprecedented determination.
Watching the Little Girl's retreating figure, Argo couldn't help but sigh.
"I didn't expect this girl to have quite a backbone."
"Hmm."
Chen Mo nodded, a faint hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.
"At least, she's much stronger than those good-for-nothings who only complain."