112: Runaway scumbag, fourth-level secret technique

This decision...

was to run away!

Yes, Beruke intended to be a scoundrel and flee to other places.

There was no other way; if Auston ever found out about the illicit relationship between him and Fral...

then his fate would surely be worse than death.

After all, as the saying goes—there are only wrongly given names, never wrongly given nicknames.

Among a group of thieves known for their treachery, cunning, and shamelessness,

Auston's nickname was "The Beheading Butcher," a cruel and terrifying moniker.

From this, it was clear that once Auston discovered any trace of their affair, he would undoubtedly use the most brutal methods to retaliate against Beruke.

Therefore, after Beruke returned, he immediately sought a way to escape.

It just so happened that at this time, he unexpectedly learned from his father, Bernshan, that the headquarters had decided to establish a branch in Kula City.

So, he seized the opportunity, had his father pull some strings, and got himself transferred to Kula City as the person in charge.

Of course, before that, he also used all sorts of sweet talk to appease Fral.

This was to prevent her from acting rashly and impulsively, potentially exposing them both.

Thus, after several twists and turns, he arrived in Kula City a few days prior.

Originally, Beruke thought he could temporarily set aside his unease, achieve some success, and elevate his status.

That way, even if Auston were to discover their affair in the future,

the headquarters might intervene on his behalf, considering hisachievementlao in establishing the branch.

"A Sixth-Order powerhouse... Hmm, if it were me..."

"I probably wouldn't dare take any risks either, just like Beruke, right?"

Roan shook his head, then stopped pondering and continued to look at the remaining intelligence.

"Hmm? Beruke is injured?"

Roan's eyes flickered, deep in thought.

"Perhaps, besides me having leverage over him, his injury is also one of the reasons he doesn't dare to take risks?"

"It's just... he actually forcibly learned a Fourth-Order Breathing Technique Secret Art? Ha, he must have been desperate!"

Roan chuckled, his gaze now fixed on the words "Fourth-Order Breathing Technique Secret Art."

By now, with the constant updates of intelligence,

he had gained a deeper understanding of the transcendent powers on the God-Given Continent.

For example, regarding the Breathing Technique cultivated by Knights, he previously only knew that Breathing Techniques were divided into three levels: elementary, intermediate, and advanced.

But as his knowledge grew, he realized that the classification of Breathing Techniques was not as simple as he had imagined.

It is well known that after a Knight Squire condenses a life seed,

the formal Knight realm is divided into nine levels.

From lowest to highest, they are Apprentice Knight, Just Knight, Armed Knight, Honor Knight, Earth Knight, Sky Knight... The first three levels go without saying.

Even as Knights, they surpassed ordinary people, but still belonged to the "commoner class."

Only after becoming an "Honor Knight" could a Knight gain the qualification to win a peerage and become a noble.

All nine kingdoms, without exception, had this regulation.

The reason for such a rule was that Knights of the first three levels were not only weak in strength,

but also very crude in their application of battle qi.

Even the strongest Armed Knight among the three levels,

could only condense battle qi into a gauze-like armor.

Or launch attacks from a distance through the Knight's Slash in the Breathing Technique.

However, upon reaching the realm of Honor Knight, one could use secret arts to diffuse the internal battle qi, forming a domain.

Within this domain, one could not only enhance one's own strength but also grant a bonus to the Knight legions under one's command.

To summarize in one sentence, an Armed Knight was merely a "Vanguard General" skilled in solo combat.

An Honor Knight, however, could command battles, deploy troops, and was a "Legion Marshal" who strategized from behind the scenes.

Because of this, although an Honor Knight and an Armed Knight seemed to be only one level apart,

in reality, there was a world of difference between the two.

"However..."

Roan's eyes narrowed as he recalled the records in the "Wolf King Breathing Technique."

"The Breathing Technique cultivated by Honor Knights is actually no different from that of Armed Knights."

"The only difference lies in the secret arts they comprehend and create from the Breathing Technique!"

Roan's heart stirred, suddenly remembering a piece of intelligence that had been updated earlier.

The intelligence indicated that the only Honor Knight currently in Kula City—Mountain Wolf Knight Alberto—

although he also cultivated the advanced "Wolf King Breathing Technique," which was no different from an Armed Knight,

he had mastered at least two or more Fourth-Order Breathing Technique Secret Arts.

One of them, named "Wolf's Howl," was a hereditary secret art of the Kula Family, which significantly boosted the morale and status of the cavalry regiment under his command through howls imbued with battle qi.

The other was "Mountain Rock Wolf Armor," which Alberto had comprehended himself, forming rock-hard armor and a small defensive domain by condensing battle qi with heavy attributes.

And Beruke's father, Bernshan, being a Fifth-Order Knight, naturally also possessed Breathing Technique Secret Arts of Fourth-Order or higher.

"But the problem is, no matter what level of secret art it is..."

"one must reach the Honor Knight realm to be qualified to use it."

"If an Armed Knight forcibly learns it, they will undoubtedly suffer backlash, ranging from injury and coma to sudden death..."

Roan came back to his senses, looking at Beruke's specific injuries displayed in the intelligence.

"Fortunately, Beruke wasn't completely foolish; he knew to prepare healing potions in advance when secretly learning."

"Therefore, only his life seed was damaged, his strength decreased by thirty percent, and he did not suffer more severe injuries."

"Otherwise, his grave might already have grass an inch or two high, wouldn't it?"

Roan speculated with a hint of malice, but then he reconsidered, thinking it was fortunate Beruke didn't die.

Otherwise, if it were someone else without such leverage, it would indeed be difficult for him to control.

After some internal grumbling, Roan continued to browse the remaining intelligence.

"Rented a shop, still five thousand startup funds left..."

Roan pondered, he and Beruke had previously agreed to split all merits equally.

So... did he also have a share of these five thousand gold coins?

After a brief thought, Roan shook his head.

The most crucial thing now was to use his fake identity, leverage this group of thieves, and unite with the major forces of Kula City to encircle the Saar Family.

Therefore, he could not be greedy for this money, and it had to be used effectively.

"Hmm, I'll go find Beruke tomorrow to discuss the shop's opening..."

Roan calculated the time; there were less than two months left until the end of the year, so he had to speed up.

After arranging his plan for tomorrow, Roan did not relax.

Instead, he drank another half bottle of magic energy potion, closed his eyes, and began to practice the "Sleep Meditation Technique."

The night passed without incident.