Rulu said: "Suwen's target is you, C.C. I have to prioritize your safety above all else. No matter how this turns out, I cannot let you fall into his hands."

  C.C. said: "So what do you pn to do — are you going to abandon the Rebels and run?"

  "Of course not." Rulu gnced toward the tunnel entrance, and after confirming no one had followed them in, lowered his voice: "Jason is out there right now, and the Sanctuary forces shouldn't have arrived yet. I'll go out and draw Jason away. C.C., when you see your chance, leave the underground tunnel and head back to the school with Sphinx and A-Niu."

  "And what about you, Rulu? What will you do?"

  "I'm going to settle things with Suwen. Once it's done, I'll come back and find you."

  Hearing this, C.C. knew Rulu was pnning to do something dangerous again. She sighed helplessly and said: "Fine. I know there's no point in talking you out of it. Just don't go and get yourself killed, Rulu — don't forget that Nana is waiting for you to come back. And you still owe me something."

  "What are you saying? Of course I'll be fine." Rulu said, feigning ease. He paused, then added: "But just in case I don't make it back — I'll leave Nana in your care, C.C."

  "Don't count on me agreeing to that. That's still your job to do yourself."

  Rulu was momentarily speechless. Without another word, he handed the heavy silver staff to C.C., then strode quickly out of the tunnel. He looked up at the sky and spotted a pink silhouette floating in midair about fifty meters above the tunnel.

  "Only Jason knows where Suwen is. To take down Suwen, I have to go through Jason first." With that thought, Rulu rode the wind into the air, leaping and bounding across the buildings of the city, climbing ever higher. After a while, he arrived at the rooftop of a building over thirty stories tall.

  Jason, hovering in the air, noticed Rulu's movements. He cautiously scanned the area around Rulu, and once he confirmed Rulu was alone, he followed him to the rooftop and stopped about twenty meters away. The two stared at each other in silence, each trying to read the other's intentions.

  After about half a minute, Jason spoke first: "You, the assassin who tried to kill the Governor — why did you lead me to a pce like this? And where are those two monster subordinates of yours?"

  Rulu said: "Don't worry, they're not here. It's just the two of us."

  "Is that so? And you still dared to come here alone?" A killing intent fshed in Jason's eyes. He reached into his coat and produced two gleaming silver daggers, intending to take Rulu out while the two monsters were absent.

  Though Rulu sensed Jason's intent, he remained perfectly calm. "Before you make a move, let me remind you of something," he said. "If I die, your Governor Suwen will never find the person he's looking for."

  At those words, Jason hesitated. He raised his communicator to his lips and murmured: "It's me. Governor, sir — the assassin is alone with me right now. He says only he can lead you to the person you're looking for. What are your orders?"

  Governor Suwen was silent for a moment, then said: "Don't kill him yet. Take him alive. Until we capture the green-haired woman who was with him, keep him breathing."

  "Understood." Jason lowered the communicator and turned his gaze back to Rulu. "What exactly do you want?"

  "I want to make a wager with you."

  "A wager? What kind of wager?"

  "Simple. A one-on-one contest between the two of us — a fair duel. If I win, you withdraw your forces immediately. No pursuing the Rebels. You let all of us leave safely."

  "And if I win?"

  "If you win, I'll hand over the person your Governor Suwen wants. So — do you dare take that bet?"

  A smile crept across Jason's lips. He figured that at this height, the two monsters surely couldn't reach them, and in a one-on-one duel he was certain to win. "Fine," he said. "I accept—"

  The words had barely left his mouth when Rulu immediately drew his pistol and fired several shots at Jason. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Jason took a bullet to the shoulder. He quickly unched himself into the air, hovering above, and fixed Rulu with a hateful gre. "Did you really think that would be enough to beat me? A minor wound like this I can heal in no time."

  "Rex — we're just getting started," Rulu said coldly. He pulled out a second pistol and attacked Jason in the air with both guns simultaneously. Jason swiftly dodged, moving with remarkable speed, weaving and twisting through the air. Rulu fired seven or eight rounds, but Jason evaded every single one — not a single bullet found its mark.