Liko fixed Favna with a look of utter frustration. “Why are you wearing that black robe *again*? It’s so obvious anyone would see right through it!”

“I know…”

Favna shrank back like a scolded child, her head nearly tucked into her shoulders.

Seeing her meek, submissive posture, Liko let out a sigh.

“Fine. Just pray Alte doesn’t spot you. If he catches you and strips you again, I won’t be able to save you this time.”

Unfazed by Liko’s worry, Favna was already prepared. She folded the hiding box she’d used earlier, cradled it in her arms, and said calmly,

“No problem. Once I get inside Navia Hotel and access their internal network, I can broadcast the bomb alert directly over the PA system.”

As she spoke, she deliberately showed Liko the laptop in her hands.

Shia observed Favna with quiet curiosity, then remarked as if it were only natural,

“Well~ Since you work in intelligence, Favna, knowing a bit of hacking makes sense… No time to waste! I’ll rescue the hostages—you handle the bomb. Settled! Let’s go!”

Without another word, Liko leaped off the skyscraper.

“This is the *twentieth floor*!”

Just as Favna panicked and spread her dragon wings to dive after her, she saw Liko’s night suit transform into a glider, soaring smoothly toward Navia Hotel’s rooftop.

“Scared me to death…”

Relieved Liko was safe, Favna wiped the cold sweat from her brow. But she dared not unfold her wings where others might see—only true dragons could fly; Dragonkin couldn’t.

She waited a few seconds, confirming Liko had entered the hotel and no eyes were on her. Only then did she spread her wings and glide toward the rooftop.

Clad in black robes under a moonless sky, no one noticed the two girls soaring silently overhead.

Inside the hotel, Favna found the battle between officers and slave traders already at a boiling point.

A burly, battle-scarred man roared, “Why did these officers find us?!”

“I have no idea!” his subordinate replied, voice trembling with confusion. Clearly, the entire raid had caught them off guard. Without their strength, they’d have been captured long ago.

“Drop your weapons and surrender! You might still get a reduced sentence!”

The burly man bellowed back, “Reduced sentence? Still a death sentence! I’ve got hostages! Retreat now, or I kill one for every number I count!”

As he shouted, the Brutal Demon guarding the cells emerged, his voice low and hoarse: “Why so many officers?”

“Who the hell knows!” the man snapped, turning to the demon. “It’s up to you now. Too many officers—we’re out of options.”

“Tch! What a hassle…”

The Brutal Demon spat. Then, the demons stomped heavily toward the battlefield’s center.

Facing giants three to four meters tall, many green officers froze. Only when black flames erupted across the demons’ bodies did they snap out of it, stumbling back while shouting:

“Brutal Demons!”

“Weren’t we told only a dozen slave traders?! What was Intelligence *doing*?!”

Panic spread. These Fullmoon Tier monsters were far beyond ordinary humans.

“Retreat!”

The demons’ black flames roared. Melee weapons proved useless; bows, crossbows, and magic couldn’t pierce their hides. Officers scrambled back. Those too slow were seized—reduced to ash in an instant. Their agonized screams sent chills down every spine.

“What’s this?” A Brutal Demon brushed his hands dismissively. “Are humans really this weak?”

Before the demon leader finished taunting, a standard-issue spear shot like an arrow from afar. Its speed tore the air, vision blurring for a split second.

*Whoosh!*

One Brutal Demon was impaled through the chest. It stared in disbelief at the bucket-sized hole, eyes wide with rage, then collapsed lifelessly.

The moment the spear landed, Dragon Knights surrounded the remaining three demons. Nearly every one stood at Fullmoon Tier or higher.

A flash of white light—Alte appeared, retrieved the spear, and faced the lead demon.

“Is that so? I’d call this overkill.”

Cold sweat trickled down the demon leader’s face. This man was feared across the human realm *and* the Abyss. With Radiant Sun Tier power? No contest.

Alte glanced at the three demons left, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. *Intelligence Bureau’s competence… truly worrying. Weren’t we told only a dozen slave traders? Thank goodness I came—four Fullmoon Tier Brutal Demons would’ve wiped out the whole squad.*

“Damn it…”

Realizing escape was impossible, the demon leader shot a glance at his subordinate. The demon understood instantly: hand plunged into pocket, pressed the detonator. Countdown began. To prevent capture and stoppage, the leader signaled him to crush the device. Now… no one could halt the explosion.

Noting the Dragon Knights stood near the exit, the demons lured them deeper. Even if suspicion arose later, escape would be impossible. Their Mana Crystal Bomb would reduce the entire building to rubble.

*Taking down so many Dragon Knights with us…* A grim satisfaction settled over the demon leader. *Worth dying for.*

“Chase—”

*Ding-dong~*

Before Alte could give the order, the hotel PA crackled to life. A hoarse, gender-ambiguous voice echoed through the halls:

“Ahem! Dragon Knight Captain—bad news. Ten kilograms of Mana Crystal explosives are hidden somewhere in this hotel.”

“What?!”

Hearing this, the demon leader—still feigning retreat to buy time—immediately lost all composure.