Chapter 238 - 14: Perfect Leader, This Kid Can Cast Level 0 Witchcraft?

Chapter 238: Chapter 14: Perfect Leader, This Kid Can Cast Level 0 Witchcraft?

Princess Phoebe offered an elegant yet reserved smile, her tone growing even softer. "I will do everything in my power and not disappoint you."

The few newcomers standing nearby were all captivated when they suddenly saw Princess Phoebe’s smile.

The princess rarely smiled, and seeing her perfect face break into one now was a truly stunning sight.

She seemed to notice the prying eyes, and her smile quickly vanished. She gave Mo Ning a nod of acknowledgement and turned to walk toward the logistics team.

For some reason, she took out a veil and attached it to her exquisite earrings, hiding most of her dazzling face from view.

A faint, ethereal glow shimmered on the veil, and strange ripples occasionally spread across its surface. It was most likely a valuable piece of Defensive Magical Equipment.

「Just then.」

"AHHHH—!"

A bloodcurdling scream suddenly shattered the cavern’s tranquility.

Princess Phoebe jumped in surprise. She whirled around, her beautiful eyes immediately landing on a horrifying scene.

Some thirty meters away, by a large rock, a female newcomer from the previous batch lay on the ground. Blood gushed from her neck like a fountain as her limbs twitched uncontrollably.

One terrifying word instantly flashed through the Princess’s mind—Assassin!

Her red lips parted as she instinctively tried to shout a warning, but the word never escaped.

In Princess Phoebe’s peripheral vision, the ever-composed young man’s left hand shot out, moving so fast it left an afterimage.

"WHOOSH—WHOOSH—!"

A piercing whistle immediately followed.

「The next moment.」

Princess Phoebe clearly saw a hazy silhouette materialize out of thin air in the empty space beside the fallen newcomer.

Judging by its outline, the figure was a head shorter than an adult human male, yet much taller than a Dark Goblin.

"THUD! THUD!"

Accompanied by a series of dull thuds, the silhouette was instantly struck by something incredibly powerful and sent flying sideways, sprays of blood erupting from its body.

Its head burst open like a watermelon smashed by a sledgehammer, sending red and white matter splattering in all directions.

"THUMP!"

The headless wreck of a body crashed heavily to the ground, making an even duller sound.

Princess Phoebe froze for a second, then instinctively glanced at the still-calm young man, a look of profound astonishment flashing in her beautiful eyes.

A series of thoughts raced uncontrollably through her mind: ’So fast! So powerful! So incredible!’

Fast—he had struck before most people even had time to react.

Powerful—she had only just used her own sharp perception to identify the culprit as an Assassin, yet he had already locked onto its position.

Incredible—the power of his Witchcraft was staggering. He had thrown five metal pellets in an instant. Not a single one missed; every one struck the target, and one of them had even blown the monster’s head apart.

「Only then.」

The commotion among the crowd finally erupted.

"Damn it! There’s an Assassin!"

"Funi had her throat slit by an Assassin!"

"There must be an Assassin tribe in this labyrinth!"

"Everyone, be careful! Don’t turn your back to any open areas!"

Princess Phoebe listened to the overlapping cries of alarm, her gaze sweeping from the Assassin’s corpse back to the Battle Banner Legion’s tight, circular formation. She was filled with the utmost admiration.

While the other newcomers had been oblivious to the danger, the young man had already anticipated the potential threat and made the most thorough preparations.

"Reina, have someone sprinkle Developing Powder around the perimeter!"

Mo Ning issued the command at just the right moment.

"Understood!"

The Dazed Girl answered cheerfully.

Princess Phoebe blinked her beautiful eyes, truly thinking that the young man was a perfect leader.

With an Assassin nearby, everyone was on edge, constantly worried that a sharp blade could slice their throat at any moment.

But by spreading a circle of Developing Powder, the Assassin wouldn’t dare get close, allowing the legion to rest easy.

「Soon.」

Three Crossbowmen each took a bag of Developing Powder and deftly sprinkled it around the outer perimeter of the heavy shield circle.

Fine, crystalline particles hung in the air, the Spiritual Power within them altering the refraction of light.

If an Assassin drew near, the powder would immediately disrupt its stealth, leaving it with nowhere to hide.

The legion members watched this, their expressions visibly relaxing.

Mo Ning observed the Assassin’s corpse from afar using his [Insightful Secret Eye], then issued another order. "Anya, take a few people and drag the Assassin back here."

"Understood!"

Anya, accompanied by two Heavy Shield Hands, quickly strode over to the corpse and lifted the bloody remains.

The two teammates of the slain female newcomer, as well as the other senior newcomers nearby, watched on, not daring to interfere.

Whoever killed the monster had the right to its spoils. That was the rule.

The group could only watch as Anya and her men carried the corpse away, their expressions dark.

They had all felt a certain sense of superiority toward the newer batch of recruits, believing themselves to be stronger and more experienced.

But this newcomer named Mo Ning had led his legion to sweep through the Goblin Tribe, returning with a massive amount of loot, while their own side not only had no decent spoils to show, but had even lost a member.

The contrast was truly humiliating.

"THUMP!"

The Assassin’s corpse was dropped in front of Mo Ning.

Anya didn’t forget to offer her opinion. "This looks like a Dark Lizardman Assassin."

Mo Ning glanced at the corpse and confirmed the Noble Lady’s assessment. "I’d say so."

The so-called "Dark Lizardmen" were a product of the Second Ancient Wizard Empire.

The Second Empire inherited most of the First Empire’s legacy, and its biological modification technology progressed by leaps and bounds.

Those mad Ancient Wizards even created cross-species breeding technology, shattering the reproductive barrier in one fell swoop.