Sir Winstin and Sir Sebastian simultaneously snorted. After experiencing such a show, they would absolutely not let the perpetrators leave. They had to show that the Royal Family was not something anyone could toy with! Their auras surged to new heights as their bloodlust exploded, covering the entire battlefield. Elizabeth and Benedict paled from fright. Just by standing there, they felt crushed by the monstrous power of these two apex warriors! These two represented the pinnacle of strength in the knights alongside Lady Valentina! Even Sir Roland, Benedict's father, had to bow down against their might. If Elizabeth and Benedict faced against these two knights, they might succumb to the aura alone!
Winstin and Sebastian swept their weapons and pounced on the two. After they were done, they planned to thoroughly annihilate the Second Hand. However, the captain and vice-captain seemed unfazed. The two assassins reached into their clothes and each pulled out a pouch. The two knights became alert. Although they were powerful martial artists, that did not mean they were invincible. There were countless things that could injury them, as well as kill them. After all, they were mortals! As expected, the two assassins threw a faint powdery substance toward the two knights. Winstin and Sebastian barely managed to dodge but did not continue their assault. They were wary!
Sir Winstin had an especially gloomy expression. He realized that the assassins saved this trump card to escape. If they had unleashed this poison during their fight, then he might have died already. So, he wondered if it was all a bluff. However, he did not take another step. He would not test it himself! Admittedly, Sir Sebastian's arrival was a surprise to everyone, including Sir Winstin. He expected the reinforcements from the castle to come much later. After all, the news had to travel to the castle and then the troops had to assemble before they could depart.
However, when he thought about it, it was not such a surprise. If Sir Sebastian departed alone, he could arrive far quicker. That would explain his timely arrival! The two assassins had no way of predicting this. Even Benedict and Lorenzo's intervention was outside their original plans! Every little coincidence added up, preventing the Second Hand from achieving their goal! Therefore, the Second Hand probably found it unnecessary to resort to poison!
Julie giggled in a childish manner, while the captain frowned. Without sparing the two knights a second glance, the Second Hand immediately fled at full speed and disappeared into the fog. Despite the two leaders being grossly injured, they forcefully suppressed the pain and dragged their ruined body away. Once the assassins disappeared, Elizabeth and Benedict wiped a cold sweat from their brow. Sir Sebastian grunted as a throwing knife flew toward him. He effortlessly deflected it with a flip of his claymore. Julie laughed again as her voice gradually vanished. Only then did the two knights sheath their weapons. Sir Winstin heaved a sigh. The battle was over!
As the two assassins traversed the fog, their faces were contorted with pain. Using a special substance, they were able to stop their bleeding but at a heavy cost. If they wanted any chance of escaping, they could not leave any trace behind. Everything had to meticulously planned if one fought against the Royal Family! Despite that, the Second Hand was nearly annihilated. The mere thought was enough to make anyone gloomy. As the two leaders were struggling, screams could be heard ahead. They saw a woman clad in plate armor wielding a paper-thin rapier. However, they did not dare underestimate her. Her movements were extremely fast and profound. Despite being inferior to the Twin Flicker technique in terms of raw speed, it was just as deadly!
The captain growled, "Lady Valentina Weiss, Protector of Prince Dannark!"
The three Royal Guards: Sir Winstin, Sir Sebastian, and Lady Valentina represented the three most powerful knights in the kingdom. Each of these three were the Protectors of only the most extraordinary and important individuals, paramount to the integrity of the kingdom! Sir Winstin needed no explanation. As the Protector of Elizabeth, he oversaw the future of the kingdom! Sir Sebastian guarded Queen Bethnal, the former queen and the matriarch of the Royal Family. Meanwhile, Prince Dannark was one of the cornerstones of the Royal Family. Although he purposefully denied any political role, his opinion was enough to sway the Royal Assembly alone. Naturally, Lady Valentina was responsible for his protection!
The woman flicked the blood from her rapier in a smooth motion after killing three assassins who tried to flee. Her face was expressionless as if killing was a normal act. Faced with the third most powerful knight in the kingdom, even if the assassins were at full strength, they could not topple her. Now that they were weak and fleeing like rats, Lady Valentina executed them with ease. She gave the leaders of the Second Hand an almost bored gaze as she began to approach the two. Her rapier was glistening for more bloodshed! Around her were bloodied and mangled bodies, dying the dirt in a crimson red. Lady Valentina was walking through the battlefield like a goddess of death!
A short scuffle later, the captain and vice-captain managed to leave but only after suffering severe losses. She sheathed her rapier helplessly. Much like Sir Winstin and Sir Sebastian, she would not dare to court death with poison. The poison the two assassins revealed was genuine, but was it so easy to produce such a potent poison in a powdery form? The difficulty alone was undoubtedly immense. The Whispering Shadow had a limited supply, and solely gave it to few people. Therefore, Valentina focused on dealing with those without! The majority of the Second Hand was slaughtered by Lady Valentina!
Inside the fog, Elizabeth and Benedict felt their nerves unwind. At their level, they were incapable of participating, much less controlling the battle. Their lives were out of their control! It was a bitter pill to realize that they were so insignificant and powerless. Even after improving so much, when compared to true Perception Realms, it was not worth a fart. They would be killed effortlessly. The battle with Emperor Lianghu was an excellent example. Although the emperor was old and rusty, who had barely scratched the surface of Perception Realm, he had still dominated a four-versus-one fight. Once he regained his power, he defeated Benedict, Shirley, and Freon instantly. If not for Elizabeth's mysterious power, she would have died just as well.
The two regained their senses as the fog began to dissipate. Their attention was drawn toward Christina and Lorenzo. Instantly, regret began to conquer their emotions. They both felt equally responsible for dragging their family into their own affairs. They rushed over and knelt to assess their injuries. Christina and Lorenzo were already unconscious as blood began pooling around their bodies. Back then, when Julie decided to attack them, she was focused entirely on Elizabeth and attacked glancingly. Otherwise, they would have died instantly like the rest. But that meant nothing… They were on the verge of death!
Elizabeth suppressed her tears as she lamented in her head. All this time, she wanted to make up with her aunt, but she had no idea how to. It was too awkward to breach the subject. So, the two always awkwardly stayed silent, never daring to take another step forward. Was this not how her family on New Havens ended up? She took them for granted, but one day, they disappeared like that. It showed her how cruel the world could be! Happiness was never forever. Sadness was bound to arrive, and when it did, the rain would never end! That was why she had to cherish the present!
Seeing the pained expression on his brother's face, Benedict also felt the same way. The whole reason Lorenzo landed himself in such a pitiful state was because of him. If not for his stubborn intent on seeing Elizabeth, then Lorenzo would have been fine! After everything his brother did for him, this was how he repaid that debt? What a joke! Of course, who knew if Elizabeth would still be here if he did not come? So, he felt really conflicted inside. Was his decision correct? No one really knew! But if Lorenzo really died here of all places, he would feel endless regret.