Chapter 2, The Failed Robbery.

Hmph! It seems this newcomer to the capital has not yet inquired about his nickname! He actually dared to attempt to kiss me under the influence of alcohol! However, the kick he received in his groin is punishment enough for his disrespect towards me! That kick will be sufficient to keep him from touching a woman for a month!

The stout man immediately showed great enthusiasm towards Rody. This shrewd individual had already discerned that the young man before him, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Academy, possessed at least the strength of a formal Level 1 swordsman or higher. Such a capable person was rare; he only had two subordinates of similar caliber. With this young man joining them, the chances of success for tonight's business venture had significantly increased

If previously it was just Rody lost in thought, now everyone is in a daze!

The sneaky one-eyed fat man clearly knew Star, but he was somewhat distrustful of Roddy. Although Star assured him that Roddy's skills were definitely better than his own and stated that Roddy was a very honest and reliable person, the fat man still insisted on testing Roddy's abilities

Rodi's mouth fell open in astonishment. He was well aware that he was absolutely no match for this woman. In fact, he was merely a slightly above-average Level 1 swordsman, and he had not yet received the official title of swordsman. Among his earlier companions, there were also two Level 1 warriors, yet they were easily dealt with by the opponent.

Nicole's mood was truly terrible! Although she had already punished that disgusting scoundrel in the evening, she still felt a deep sorrow in her heart

As everyone was somewhat taken aback, the door of the carriage slowly opened

Frankly speaking, Roddy did not want to rush out at all. However, that old coachman, for some reason, chose not to apprehend the two people in front of him on the ground, but instead ran to the tree by the roadside to retrieve Star, who had just been struck by lightning. Poor Star was completely charred, his clothes burned and his face covered in soot. Roddy watched as the old coachman pulled out a rope to tie up Star, then tossed him onto the roof of the carriage like a dead pig, placing him in the luggage area.

Not good! It seems that Rody felt something within, but it was already too late for him to shout it out.

In a private room behind the bar, the fat man led them to a space where three simply dressed individuals were present. Each of them had their faces covered, with only their vigilant eyes visible, scrutinizing Rody and Star as they entered the room. However, it was evident that they recognized Star, and their gazes held a degree of respect for him—no one dared to show disrespect to a sorcerer! Especially Star, who was a sorcerer of the electric element! No one enjoys the feeling of being scorched by lightning.

Of course, while Rody was tracking, he did not forget to take the sword with him as he passed by the guy who had fainted on the ground, since that guy who had been electrocuted no longer needed it

The girl's beautiful eyes were already fixed on Star, and then she gently parted her crimson lips and slowly said, "You are mistaken, I am not a sorceress"

A little while before the evening, Star took Roddy to a place called Wild Boar Bar to meet a middle-aged fat man with only one eye. Star then informed the man that they were currently short on money and were looking for some business opportunities.

While lost in thought, a sudden neighing of horses came from outside the carriage! The carriage abruptly came to a halt! The coachman, Old Mark, shouted from outside: "Damn it! There are bandits!"

Has the great Tulip family fallen to such a state? Has the only bloodline of the empire's great war god, the Tulip family, been reduced to a level where even a country bumpkin from the countryside can bully them at will?

"Be careful! They are coming!" The thin fellow holding a long sword suddenly whispered. Rody glanced at him; he was lying on the ground, his ear pressed tightly against the surface. Then the fellow raised his head and looked at everyone: "Get ready. They are coming this way, a cart!"

This girl, no, she should be called a goddess! Under the moonlight, her exquisite face radiates an ivory hue, and her golden hair dances gently, resembling the softest melody. Her eyes are as deep and tranquil as a serene lake. ... Her petite, rosy lips gently curl into a subtle smile ... ? ... Hmm, wait, is she actually smiling?

Remember, you are not robbers! However, you must act like robbers! Your task is to intercept that carriage and give a good lesson to the noble inside! Remember, do not cause any fatalities! A good beating will suffice. My employer has paid me just to teach the people in the carriage a lesson; if there are any fatalities, then prepare yourselves for the guillotine! After the job is done, you will return, and each of you will receive two gold coins! Be cautious of the bodyguards; I have heard that one of them is a level 3 warrior! However, I believe that with a few of you and a surprise attack, you should be able to handle a level 3 swordsman.

However, that girl had already noticed Sda, because just now, Sda was the first to exclaim something in surprise

A lightning vortex can be casually unleashed with a smile, without any preparation! Such power is at least at the level of a sixth-tier sorcerer! In comparison, my own first-tier sorcerer status is simply inadequate!

Looking at the rusty, broken knife in his hand, Rody could hardly believe that one day he would follow others to become a robber

This is a small path outside the city. Usually, there are not many people walking here. However, ever since His Majesty the Emperor constructed a wide road at the western city gate, this previously quiet path has suddenly seen an increase in pedestrians—because passing through the road built by His Majesty requires payment of a tax

However, when they saw Roddy's gaze, it was no longer so friendly. Especially after catching sight of Roddy's yin-yang face, everyone seemed to be struggling to suppress a strong urge to laugh. Roddy had grown accustomed to such reactions over the years and felt nothing at all—at least, he appeared to show no feelings on the surface

However, upon further reflection, if I am unable to obtain the funds, then a month later, I will still be expelled from the academy...! ... In any case, the outcome remains the same

The unexpected ease invigorated everyone; several companions shouted as they vigorously struck the carriage door with their swords and knives, loudly intimidating the people inside the carriage

Damn it, she is not only stunningly beautiful but also possesses terrifying strength

Thinking of this, Roddy felt a sense of comfort—of course, he felt no guilt at all about teaching a lesson to a detestable noble. Like most commoners, Roddy had no fondness for those nobles who lived in luxury and were morally corrupt

Nicole dispatched a few overconfident thieves with a wave of her hand. Following this outburst, her mood seemed to improve slightly tonight. She glanced at the coachman sitting on the ground and said lightly, "Alright, old Mark, get up, I know you are fine! Just grab someone at random and take them back to the city to hand over to the public security office tomorrow. They must have accomplices. The others can just be left here. They won't wake up within a day." After saying this, she dove into the carriage and pulled the curtains shut.

By the time the hefty man took out a bundle of swords and distributed them to everyone, and explained tonight's mission in detail, Rody was already a bit stunned

The remaining person could no longer care about any tasks; with a shout, he turned and ran. Nicole did not pursue him; she merely curled her fingers lightly at his retreating figure. Instantly, a bolt of lightning shot out from the vortex above her head, striking that poor fellow with precision. The unfortunate man had his hair standing on end from the shock and fell straight down.

Rody did not rush out, although he appeared strong, he had never been reckless. He watched as others charged out while he hid behind a large tree to observe—if those guys could handle the situation well, he could get the money without showing himself, so why not take advantage of that?

After finishing this sentence, Nicole gently beckoned with her little finger towards Star, and a bolt of lightning immediately shot out from the vortex above her head. Star had barely uttered two words of his protective spell when the lightning struck, and with a scream, he was sent flying out.

The first thing to emerge from the door was a slender foot, with rounded ankles and skin as smooth and radiant as snow. I swear to the omnipotent deity, such a delicate and beautiful foot is truly a masterpiece of the divine! Just as Roddy was becoming somewhat entranced by the sight, a slender and graceful figure had already darted out from behind the door

The coachman has been pulled down from his position on the carriage by an accomplice.

He knew that this was not a big deal; he was merely hired to act as a temporary thug. In the bustling capital of the empire, many street thugs made a living this way, and some down-and-out martial artists and scholars often relied on this to earn a little extra money. However, the thought that the other party was a noble made him uneasy. If this matter were to fail and his identity were exposed, it was highly likely that his future would be ruined, and he would also be expelled from the academy.

Nicole deeply understood that since her father passed away six years ago, the Tulip family had lost its last pillar. Although they were a family of imperial marshals, a family without an adult man could not stand firm in the imperial capital. The only hope lay in her young brother. However, that fool was nothing but a disgrace to the family for hundreds of years. As a descendant of the God of War of the Empire, he inherited none of the family's virtues. Every day, he only caused trouble in the academy, and his own abilities were pitifully lacking. Otherwise, he squandered money recklessly, indulging in debauchery with a group of noble youths, creating endless troubles that left her at her wit's end. Back then, as a teenage girl who had not yet reached adulthood, she suddenly had to bear the weight of the entire family, and she had struggled for so many years with nothing but her beliefs. Many times, Nicole could not help but wonder why she was not a boy. If that were the case, she could rightfully take on the heavy responsibility of reviving the family.

With no other options, Roddy quietly followed behind the carriage. Abandoning a friend was absolutely not something Roddy would do! He was determined to find a way to rescue Star! Moreover, Star didn't have to come tonight; his tuition had long been arranged. He had come here solely to help Roddy!

She is a sorceress! Stah was the first to exclaim this. As a sorcerer himself, he had already sensed the girl's true power! After that initial thought, Stah immediately and clearly judged that he was absolutely no match for her! Even if he gathered everyone here, including Rody, who was still hiding behind the tree, they would not be able to contend with that girl!

Nicole raised her slender hands gently, and with a light grasp in mid-air, it was as if an invisible giant hand had seized the two individuals, lifting their entire bodies off the ground. Then, a hint of mockery appeared in Nicole's eyes as she slightly gestured with her hands. The two people suspended in the air collided violently, not even letting out a sound, before falling to the ground.

Rody greatly disliked this guy, and the reason was that he had chosen a weapon first, taking away the long sword that Rody had originally intended to pick. However, judging by the way he held the sword, it was clear that this guy was not a swordsman; Rody really couldn't understand why he had to snatch that sword. In fact, Rody genuinely wanted to exchange the rusty old knife he had for it.

On a tranquil night, there was not a single passerby on this secluded path; only the distant sound of a horse-drawn carriage could be heard, with the sound of hooves treading on the earth distinctly audible. Rody felt quite anxious and couldn't help but glance at Star, whose expression was also not at ease, though it was much better than Rody's, as he had already gone through this once before

The airflow suddenly accelerated! Above everyone's heads, a vortex of air, towering three to four meters high, emerged, and all the leaves and branches along the path were swept up. Within that vortex, a sound reminiscent of thunder could even be faintly heard

Fortunately, these concerns dissipated after Roddy smashed a table in the bar with a single punch

Rodista and his three accomplices stood nervously behind a tree by a small path outside the city, holding swords and knives, watching the distance. To be frank, Rodista was beginning to have some regrets.

Sda immediately thought of fleeing; if he couldn't win, he would run. This had always been his motto: the five-character truth of Sda. In his view, holding on stubbornly was certainly not the act of a true hero

What a bothersome night! Nicole boredly fiddled with her fingers and then pulled back the curtain of the carriage to glance outside. The moonlight streamed in, illuminating her golden, wavy hair, making her appear like a goddess of the moonlight.

Roddy felt a strange sensation in his heart: Wasn't it said that the other party had a Level 3 swordsman as a bodyguard? Why was there only a coachman? Although the old coachman appeared to be quite sturdy, he did not seem like a bodyguard at all. His companion had subdued him using just one hand.

Nicole was not very happy; tonight's date was truly terrible! That nephew of Her Majesty, Baron Sloan, had pursued her for a full month. Tonight, she could no longer endure his daily annoying entanglements and finally agreed to attend a banquet at his residence. However, that damned fellow, who usually presented himself as a polite gentleman, actually dared to be rude to her this evening