The exile argued, "We can't afford to care anymore! If we don't steal, we'll starve to death here before the Tacet Discord tide even arrives!"
Lucian shook his head. "I already told you, you could've just—"
Before he could finish, the exile who had earlier urged the others to flee suddenly cursed:
"Why waste words on them?!"
As soon as he spoke, he violently drew the weapon at his waist—a cold glint sliced through the air, aimed straight at Yangyang.
Rover gasped, "Look out!"
She was about to draw her blade to counterattack.
But Lucian, who had been on guard all along, reacted even faster.
His body seemed to merge with the sword, his movements fluid and swift.
"Bloodshadow Pursuit!" he growled.
The sword left its sheath with a surge of bloody energy, streaking toward the attacking exile like a crimson bolt of lightning.
Bloodshadow Pursuit —this was the ultimate technique of the first-tier Blood Saber style. As Lucian's level increased, he would unlock even more formidable Blood Saber skills.
The essence of this skill lay in its speed. Though its power was slightly diminished, it was undoubtedly the best counter for such a sudden ambush.
Lucian's blade work was like a raging storm, the weapon leaving behind bloody afterimages in the air.
These afterimages extended with each slash, creating a visual illusion that made his movements nearly impossible to track.
"Clang—!"
A crisp metallic clash rang out as their weapons met. The sheer force of Lucian's strike sent a numbing shock through the exile's arms, nearly making him drop his weapon.
Before he could recover, Lucian's next strike materialized like a ghost—too fast for the eye to follow.
In the next instant, a vivid crimson flower bloomed on the exile's chest. His body slowly toppled backward, his vision filling with nothing but red, his expression frozen in disbelief.
Behind him, Lucian flicked his blade gracefully, shaking off the blood before sheathing it again.
He didn't dare look back—after all, this was his first time killing someone.
But since the man had dared to raise his blade against his companions, failing to respond would've been a disservice to himself.
The fight had ended in the blink of an eye.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
"So… Master is this strong?!" Jianxin's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Lucian.
Though Lucian had previously displayed some unique abilities—such as externally manifesting Echoes—Jianxin had always believed his character surpassed his combat prowess. Now, however, her opinion had shifted.
Rover's hand was still gripping the hilt of her unsheathed sword when the battle concluded.
She smiled faintly, studying Lucian's back with newfound appreciation, as if seeing him for the first time.
Meanwhile, Yangyang, who had nearly been ambushed, pressed her lips together, lost in thought.
"Thank you…" she murmured.
"No need."
Lucian's icy gaze shifted to the remaining exiles, who had collapsed to the ground in fear.
They hadn't reacted at all until now, when the sight of their comrade's corpse jolted them awake.
One cowardly exile clutched his head, trembling. "D-don't kill me… please don't kill me…"
[Ding! Option triggered!]
[Option 1: Kill all the exiles. Reward: Blood Saber skill level +1.]
[Option 2: Let all the exiles go. Reward: 100,000 Shell Credits.]
[Option 3: Hand the exiles over to the Midnight Rangers for judgment. Reward: Shape-Shifting Garment.]
"Judging by your attire and skills, you're not ordinary civilians, are you?" Yangyang's usual gentleness was gone as she interrogated them.
At first, she hadn't been sure—they weren't wearing the masks most exiles typically wore, though their clothing was similar.
But after witnessing that attack, she was certain: they were exiles.
During their travels, Lucian had also learned about exiles—they were little better than bandits from ancient times, surviving through plunder.
In short, they were hardly good people.
An older exile stammered in panic, "Who says we're not ordinary civilians? We are! It's just… we only recently became exiles."
He continued, "We originally left the city to avoid the patrols, but who knew the northern conflict would escalate so quickly?"
"Before we could even get familiar with the camp, the boss's resources were wiped out. We figured we might as well return to the city…"
Another cowardly exile added, "But halfway back, we ran out of food and money. That's why we resorted to stealing."
"If the military depot hadn't been empty, we wouldn't have dared to steal army supplies."
"Hey… could you spare us some travel funds? Look at us—there are so many of us, and now some are injured…"
Rover frowned and said to Lucian, "Don't give them anything."
No matter how much they tried to justify themselves, theft was theft. They couldn't be let off so easily.
Lucian chuckled dryly. "You stole military supplies and even tried to kill innocent people. The fact that I haven't executed all of you already is an act of mercy."
Then he turned to Yangyang. "Yangyang, you and Rover take these men to the Midnight Rangers. Explain the situation and let them handle it."
He trusted Yangyang and Rover to escort them safely—Rover's strength ensured the exiles wouldn't escape.
If he sent Jianxin instead, she might soften again…
Yangyang and Rover nodded in agreement.
"Death may be spared, but punishment is inevitable. Take them away," Lucian said coldly.
The exiles groaned in dismay. Being handed over to the Midnight Rangers meant no good outcome—after all, they had stolen military property.
But none dared consider escape now—not when the strongest among them lay dead on the ground.
The exiles surrendered all the stolen parts, and Yangyang and Rover escorted them away.
They wouldn't take long—the Midnight Rangers' camp wasn't far from where they'd left.
Jianxin approached Lucian. "I think…"
Lucian raised a hand to stop her. He knew she was feeling guilty again.
"Jianxin," he said solemnly, "'Relieving the hardships of the world and showing compassion to the suffering' is not wrong. But some people… don't even deserve to be called human."
"Think about it—if these men had succeeded, what would've happened to the soldiers fighting on the front lines?"
Jianxin sighed. "This disciple has learned her lesson…"
Seeing her dejected, Lucian softened his tone. "Your kindness isn't wrong, but it should be directed at the right people. To walk this world, you must have eyes that discern good from evil. This is the third lesson I teach you!"
"Yes, Master." Jianxin clasped her fists, her resolve firmer than ever.
[Ding! Option 3 completed! Reward: Shape-Shifting Garment.]