"Hmm... so many people here..."

Rayelle strolled leisurely down the bustling street, wide-eyed and curious like a child, showing no sign of noticing her tail.

Yet from the corner of her eye, she scanned the shadows, hunting the source of that unseen gaze.

But her pursuer was seasoned—never revealing themselves.

After ten minutes of wandering, Rayelle still hadn’t pinpointed them.

"Guess... I’ll have to bait them with my own body," she murmured, glancing toward a deserted alley. A flicker of mischief danced in her eyes.

She didn’t head straight there—too obvious.

Casually browsing gift shops across several blocks while subtly tracking the persistent gaze, she let her pursuers grow complacent. Then, seizing the moment, she slipped into a quiet shortcut looping back to the main street.

Perfect ambush spot: shadowed, hidden from both ends of the alley.

Rayelle broke into a run as if rushing through.

Seconds later, she reached the first turn.

*Whoosh—thud!*

A black blur shot past her, slamming into the wall. Gray paralysis smoke billowed.

*Paralysis smoke!*

She held her breath but inhaled a trace—tingling numbness crept into her limbs. Child’s play compared to the Chaos Sect’s poison herbs. Dragon Kind naturally resisted such effects.

"Subdue her—"

"Understood."

Two shadowy figures materialized, clad head-to-toe in black, faces masked. Their scent carried no Chaos Cultist stench. Hired adventurers? Their movements lacked malicious bloodlust—only cold professionalism. *Alive. I need answers.*

Rayelle feigned stiffness, watching them through half-lidded eyes.

"She’s paralyzed... Knock her out. Just grab the item. No extras."

"Risky. Another smoke pouch. Keep her down longer."

"Fine."

As they crept closer, Rayelle collapsed dramatically, trembling slightly. "I... I can’t move! What did you—don’t come near me!" Her panicked whimpers were Oscar-worthy. *Damn, I should’ve been an actress.*

The ruse worked.

"Truly immobilized?"

"...Use the sleep pouch then."

One figure pulled out a sack. Rayelle shuddered violently, tears welling—helpless prey. Their guard dropped.

"Easy, little one. Just a nap—"

"Shut up and do it. She won’t remember anyway."

"Right."

As the talkative one leaned in, Rayelle’s eyes snapped sharp.

*Thwack!*

Her foot sent the pouch flying. She yanked his arm, flipping him onto the ground. Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone—two meters wide. He lay still.

Vines erupted behind her—thick as a child’s forearm—hissing toward her limbs.

*CRACK!*

A sonic boom ripped through the alley. Rayelle’s punch shredded every vine within twenty meters.

"What?!" The second attacker gaped. His carefully laid traps—annihilated in half a breath. And she hadn’t even used magic!

Before he could react, Rayelle stood before him.

"Sweet dreams."

A feather-light punch. He crumpled.

Silence settled. Two seconds. Done.