16: Chapter 0016 Encirclement

Seeing the atmosphere ease, Li Size's tightly clenched fists suddenly loosened, the whitening marks on his knuckles not yet faded.

Felina pressed the badge embedded with the sorcery crystal on her chest and let out a long breath. To buy time, she took half a step forward, her voice deliberately excited:

“Moreover, I unexpectedly discovered that Li Size has an extremely strong talent for pharmaceutics.

He only needed to study a few inferior potion formulas once or twice to master the refining method. Cultivating him into a pharmaceutics Great Master for the organization would be extremely valuable.”

“Oh!?”

Rice tapped the Wind Element Rune on his staff of civilization, and the rune emitted a faint cyan glimmer. The killing intent in his eyes instantly faded by more than half.

A common person and a future pharmaceutics Great Master held completely different values. Rice was finally moved and completely abandoned the idea of killing Li Size.

He thought seriously for a moment, the staff of civilization thudding on the wooden floor. The runes on the staff flickered with the rhythm of his tapping:

“Felina, very good!

On the basis of obedience, you were able to adapt to the situation and complete the mission outstandingly while also gaining so many benefits.”

Felina finally breathed a sigh of relief, licking her dry lips. Her gaze involuntarily flickered towards the leather suitcase in the corner of the room:

“Can I have the 20 gold coins now?”

The 20 gold coins were something she urgently needed; that Great Master of the Necromancy System was already pressing for the medical fees.

To act the part convincingly and minimize suspicion, Rice nodded and smiled:

“Felina, don't rush. I brought you 25 gold coins; they are all yours.”

“Thank you, Mr. Rice!”

Felina bowed slightly, extending both hands forward, her fingertips trembling slightly with anticipation.

Wilson behind her was slightly stunned and unconsciously touched the police baton at his waist—he hadn't expected Rice to add extra money. This organization seemed to have quite good welfare.

Felina's eyes lit up upon hearing this. Gaining five extra gold coins made her exceptionally happy.

Seeing this, Li Size dug his nails into his palm, thinking inwardly, *So cunning!*

This fellow is truly a master at manipulating human nature. If my unexpected appearance hadn't occurred, perhaps Felina would have slowly been corrupted and won over by him.

Observing everyone's reactions one by one, a triumphant smile curved Rice's lips.

He lightly tapped the ground with his staff of civilization and looked at Li Size with sudden warmth:

“Come, little fellow. Let me take a good look at you, the future pharmaceutics Great Master.”

It was as if the person who had just intended to kill Li Size was not him at all; he seemed like two different people.

Li Size bowed slightly. While lowering his head, he quickly glanced at Felina, asking:

“Mistress?”

Felina felt the danger had passed. She shifted sideways, giving him half a step of space, and subtly moved her fingers, signaling him to go over:

“Go ahead.”

Li Size stepped forward and stood in front of Rice, his hands clasped respectfully before his abdomen as he looked up at him.

Rice quietly focused and observed him for a moment, then suddenly asked:

“When refining the 'Inferior Agility Potion,' how do you use the Swiftwing Bird Feather?”

Upon hearing this, the virtual panel from the Pay-to-Win Analysis flashed through Li Size's mind—

The Swiftwing Bird Feather is the main Material for refining the 'Inferior Agility Potion.'

The key to using it is to control the heating temperature within the specified range of ± 10 degrees, allowing it to fully react with an appropriate amount of the secondary main Material, Ice Silkworm Thread, to transform into another material before proceeding with the refinement.

He stated the answer in a steady voice.

The skill Li Size obtained through the Analysis of his Pay-to-Win ability was, naturally, flawless.

A hint of surprise flashed in Rice's eyes, and he became convinced that Li Size indeed possessed some talent in pharmaceutics, perhaps yielding a surprise if cultivated properly.

Rice no longer brought up the matter of killing Li Size and instead patted Wilson's shoulder.

Wilson's body stiffened. Rice introduced:

“This is Wilson, an old police officer from Gray Mist Mountain Town. This is Felina, an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, and Li Size, the future pharmaceutics Great Master.

From now on, relevant missions around Gray Mist Mountain will be planned for Felina to handle, as she is an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.

Wilson will provide assistance using his connections and experience. Li Size’s addition now is an unexpected joy.”

He turned to Felina:

“Coincidentally, since Li Size's family's blacksmith shop is expanding due to academy orders, we might as well go all the way and increase the scale. The organization needs to secretly store a batch of weapons within Gele City.”

Felina raised an eyebrow slightly and crossed her arms: “That’s no problem, but it requires a large amount of funding.”

Rice smiled and waved his hand, opening the leather suitcase in the corner—the defensive rune on the suitcase's surface flashed with a faint golden light. He pulled out a small cloth bag from inside, and the crisp sound of clinking gold coins was heard when he shook it.

He took out 5 gold coins and tossed the remaining bag to Felina, who in turn let Li Size hold it; it felt heavy:

“35 gold coins.

25 gold coins are the allocated funds for Felina.

10 gold coins are for the construction of the weapons factory for the blacksmith shop, covering land and equipment purchases. The funds for raw material procurement will take a while longer.”

Then, he turned and tossed the gold coins in his hand to Wilson. The coins drew an arc through the air, and Wilson subconsciously caught them. Rice commanded:

“Wilson, utilize your past connections well and cooperate with Felina’s mission.

From now on, to ensure everyone’s safety, I will no longer contact you individually.

Felina will be responsible for everything. She is your superior, do you understand!?”

It was clear that Rice was the leader of the organization, and having more contact with him would be more beneficial for himself.

Now, hearing that he had to obey Felina’s orders—seeing that her age was similar to Gelia, whom he disliked the most—Wilson instinctively felt repulsed.

He gritted his teeth, clenched his fist, and his mind raced. He carefully observed Li Size and Felina, suddenly recalling something.

He first respectfully replied to Rice, then turned towards Felina, his tone shifting:

“Lord Rice, I am willing to obey your command!

Wizard Felina, I think I saw you and Li Size at the police station a few days ago. I wonder what you were doing there? Perhaps I can help you?”

Felina and Li Size both felt a jolt in their hearts upon hearing this—Felina pressed the sorcery short-staff at her waist, and Li Size’s hand moved towards the potion bottle in his pocket. After a careful thought, they both relaxed.

At this moment, Rice also looked over doubtfully. Li Size found it awkward to speak and was nervously wondering if Felina could come up with a good excuse.

Li Size stole a glance at the wall clock beside him—the hands pointed to 8:02, and the runes on the clock face were still slowly turning.

This police station is really unreliable! They said they would surround this place at 8:00, and it’s not even close yet!

He secretly prayed that Felina was smart enough to stall until reinforcements arrived.

Felina stared at Wilson for a moment, then suddenly laughed, her voice laced with mockery:

“How strange. Since Li Size’s family accepted an academy order to produce a large number of weapons, shouldn’t they register it with the police station?

Mr. Wilson is an old hand at the police bureau; does he not even know this regulation?”

Wilson looked slightly disappointed upon hearing this, but he could only accept it—he had originally intended to find some leverage, but it was actually just his unwillingness to accept Felina as his superior. He thought of this matter and decided to test it.

Seeing Rice look to him for confirmation, he thought for a moment and could only nod helplessly.

Phew!

Li Size secretly gave Felina a thumbs-up.

Just then, Rice suddenly frowned. He pressed the detection rune on his staff of civilization—the rune flared with a red warning light. He sensed that the sorcery traps he had set in the vicinity had been triggered.

He quickly walked to the window at the front of the living room, pulled back the curtain, and looked down. His face turned ashen. He swiftly moved to the side window to look again:

“Damn it! The red-skinned monkeys have surrounded this place!”

Rice suddenly glanced at Felina and Li Size, and the killing intent in his eyes reignited.

Li Size was greatly alarmed. He pushed off the ground, activating the effect of the agility potion, and dodged to the side.

“Hiss, hiss…”

Rice raised the staff of civilization in his right hand, pointing it at Li Size and Felina, muttering incantations under his breath.

The lightning rune at the tip of the staff lit up with a dazzling white light. Two brilliant arrows of lightning shot out from the tip of the staff, striking towards Li Size and Felina respectively.

The Arrow of Lightning was the fastest offensive sorcery among Zero Ring Sorceries. Rice attacked suddenly without saying a word, clearly about to hit the two of them.

“Sizzle.”

Fortunately, Li Size reacted quickly, but he was still grazed on the shoulder by the sorcery lightning arrow.

It first blasted a hole in the chainmail on his shoulder, then blew a 'thumb-thick' bloody hole in Li Size’s shoulder, from which blood gushed out.

This was despite Li Size having taken the 'Inferior Defense Potion' and several other inferior potions that enhanced his attributes beforehand...

Otherwise, this strike would have crippled Li Size!

Li Size secretly rejoiced that he had made sufficient preparations.

At the same time, enduring the pain, he pressed his left hand against the wound and pulled out the revolver, the 'silver lightning,' with his right hand, decisively aiming at Rice's head and firing.

“Bang!”

The nearby Knight armor decoration suddenly moved—a faint blue ripple appeared in the air. The knight floated in front of Rice.

This was the sorcery—Wizards Hand—blocking Li Size's shot.

Felina’s speed was actually faster than Li Size’s. She pushed off her toes, slid half a meter to the side, and deftly dodged the attack.

Simultaneously, while moving, she rapidly formed hand signs with both hands, completing the sorcery 'Skeleton Summoning Art.'

A rift to another dimension appeared, emitting black mist, and a Knight Rank skeleton clad in rusty armor stepped out of the mist, blocking in front of her.

Felina hid behind the Skeleton Warrior, continuing to wave her hands and chant the incantation, gray-black Demonic Energy gathering in her palms, launching the Necromancy System Zero Ring offensive sorcery, 'Bone Arrow.'

Three eerie white bones whistled through the air, bypassing the Knight armor and shooting towards Rice's heart. Rice leaned sideways and bent over; the bone arrows scraped his suit and shattered against the wall.

A rough voice came from downstairs, laced with mockery:

“Rice, Felina, stop now.

Why resort to fighting? Let’s sit down and talk properly.”

The iron gate of the apartment downstairs was violently kicked open with a 'bang,' accompanied by the grating sound of twisted metal and a burst of arrogant laughter:

“Hahaha, Rice, you can't escape now!”

The newcomer was clearly extremely smug.

Felina tightly gripped the Skeleton Warrior's arm and hid behind it. Li Size clutched his bleeding shoulder, his brow tightly furrowed as he hid behind Felina.

Seeing that he couldn't deliver a fatal blow in one strike, Rice expressionlessly planted the staff of civilization on the ground. The runes on the staff dimmed, but the Knight armor floating around him still flickered with faint blue Demonic Energy light to prevent a sneak attack.

Wilson huddled behind Rice, his eyes panicked.

The living room on the second floor instantly fell silent, only the dripping sound of blood flowing from Li Size's shoulder wound and the faint hum of the floating Knight armor could be heard...

Everyone stared at the stairwell entrance, the air thick with tension, waiting for the people coming from downstairs.