The three people in the room never expected the count before them to simply jump out the window!
After crashing through the fourth-floor window, Sean used a slow-fall spell to land.
"Lord Count!!!"
As Sean descended, dozens of soldiers surrounded him.
"Are you alright, Lord Count?"
Sean waved his hand, saying he was fine. Almost everyone in the count's mansion didn't know he could use magic, so seeing this scene left them somewhat puzzled.
Here, guards were stationed day and night, and any sound would bring them running. At this moment, Asrant and Danti weren't around—they'd probably rushed to his room.
Sean looked up and noticed two very distinct people in the crowd.
"Arrest those two!" At his command, the surrounding soldiers were still confused.
Sensing trouble, the two instantly drew their blades, and two soldiers fell!
At the same time, the other three in his fourth-floor room also jumped down simultaneously, regrouping.
"What happened?"
"The mission failed. I didn't expect this count to know magic and even have high-level wizard-made magical items!" said Tatsumi, now covered head to toe in magical armor.
Their operation had been discovered, and a large number of guards came running from the barracks. Countless torches nearly surrounded Sean at the center. Most of the soldiers who came with Asrant from the imperial capital were of no low rank—perhaps slightly lower than the highest level among the enemies, but in numbers, the count's soldiers had absolute superiority.
The five were encircled by over thirty soldiers who had arrived, with more still streaming in from all corners of the count's mansion.
The flames around them grew, and the brightness intensified!
"What do we do?"
"Fight our way out! It's the only way. We have to get the message out." The group exchanged glances, silently affirming their decision.
"So there are other rebels in this city?"
Sean stepped forward and said this. He had been observing their actions all along, and once he confirmed it was just these few in front of him, he could order their capture.
"Hmph! There are thousands who want you dead. We're just the smallest of them."
Still no willingness to talk.
Back in the room, Sean had tried several times to engage them in conversation without success. These people seemed to have deep grudges against the nobles. No wonder they were called rebels.
Once they stood on opposite sides, even the chance for dialogue was gone.
"Move!" Sean ordered quietly.
Dozens of soldiers around him charged at the enemy.
A barrage of magical attacks destroyed the surrounding garden, but thankfully, his soldiers were strong enough—especially the guards Asrant brought, who fought exceptionally well. Even without matching the enemy's level, they could still hold their own.
"Try to keep one alive, or I won't get any answers!"
Sean called out toward the battle.
Just then, Asrant arrived from the other side and immediately stood beside him.
"Lord Count."
"No matter. Just a few petty thieves." Seeing his expression, Sean said something reassuring.
"Go capture them. Keep one alive if possible. The rest—handle it as you see fit."
"Yes, my lord."
Since they were rebels, there was no room for mercy, or it would be cruelty to himself.
Watching the five fight,
The enemy seemed unwilling to prolong the battle and chose to flee, but Asrant wouldn't give them that chance. His fighting style was simple and decisive, and he had been locked in a long struggle with the man in magical armor.
Sean secretly cast a spell.
Curse: Weakness
Instantly, a feeling of magical energy being forcefully drained.
Magic Proficiency: 302
He took a deep breath, barely recovering.
His magic proficiency, which hadn't improved in a long time, had actually gone up by one point! Since reaching 300, it meant he had entered the rank of Order Level 4.
In less than a year, that was quite fast.
But after 300, using external shooting attacks couldn't raise it anymore. After much practice, he had only barely reached 301, and just now, when he cast the Weakness Curse, it increased. Yet, a strong sensation of magic being drained followed.
It was like when he first practiced magic—using it twice a day nearly exhausted his spirit. That single strike had basically drained him.
The weakness effect activated, and the target who had jumped up was instantly pulled down. Asrant seized the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow!
He switched to another target, ready to cast a spell.
Insufficient Mana!
A prompt appeared in his vision.
But when he switched again, the prompt was gone.
Restriction: Imprisonment
The magic in the girl casting the spell vanished instantly, and in her shock, she was slashed by a soldier from behind.
Magic Proficiency: 303
Sean looked at the level display above the enemy's head and suddenly understood how to level up from now on.
Three were severely wounded, two dead.
At the cost of over a dozen soldiers, the rebels were captured.
Asrant had also sustained minor injuries, but he still pressed his sword against the dying man on the ground.
"So, do you submit?"
The man couldn't speak anymore, but he still raised a hand, trying to grab Asrant's foot in defiance.
Sean walked over to the three.
Those still able to move included a woman at level 6, a man named Tatsumi lying on the ground, and another dying man wearing his soldier's uniform.
"Talk. Why did you attack me, and where are your hideouts in Oro City?" He pressed down on the kneeling woman.
"Ptoo!"
A bloody glob of phlegm landed on his clothes.
"You bitch, you're asking for death!"
A soldier beside him kicked the woman down, but when he raised his sword, Sean stopped him with a raised hand.
"Hold on."
"Don't want to talk? That's fine. I've got plenty of time to wear you down. Take them away and lock them up." He ordered the soldiers behind him.
"And don't give them a chance to kill themselves. I want them to know how foolish it is to attack the count's mansion."
The soldiers nodded in understanding.
Asrant walked over to Sean.
There was some blood on his face, but the health lost wasn't much—just over 300 points. For someone with over 5,000 health, it was a minor wound.
"My lord, what about these two?"
"Drag their bodies to the city square. Tomorrow, have Joseph and his men put them on display. It'll serve as a warning to any rebels lurking in the city."
Asrant nodded in understanding.