Keep attacking girls and try not to be killed by them

In Jiang Ran's plan, the purpose of letting Shiki Ruri rebel against Tetodav was not to kill Tetodav with the help of the girl, but to make this capable cat-man boss lady serve him in the future.

As for how to kill Tetodav, Jiang Ran has plenty of ways, but he just lacks a way to find Tetodav himself.

After finally waiting for Shiiki Ruri to go home and take a shower and go to bed, Jiang Ran finally had time to do something of his own after watching the cat-man girl fall asleep after taking a shower.

He first gave orders to Snake King Gunaku to hide in the basement of Shiiki Ruri's house, and then followed Shiiki Ruri's actions.

As soon as Tetodaf appears, the snake king Gunaku rushes out, swallows Shiiki Ruri, and then takes her away as far away as possible.

Afterwards, Jiang Ran left Mel Town overnight and rushed to the territory of the Feiqi family as quickly as possible. His purpose was to go to Yanji City to retrieve the things he had forgotten - those new equipment that he had spent a lot of money and expensive materials to build.

·

To be honest, Jiang Ran should have obtained the new equipment a few days ago, but a series of unexpected events distracted his attention, so he didn't remember it until yesterday when he fought with Tetodaf.

The "Phantom Sound Rapier" used by Tetodaf at that time aroused Jiang Ran's desire to possess the unique equipment. Then this incident became an opportunity for Jiang Ran to "recover his memory", making him suddenly remember the commission he entrusted to Master Lieyan and Master Hanbing.

Fortunately, Jiang Ran had paid the full amount in advance, so even if he didn't show up to receive the equipment, the two famous craftsmen in Yanji City would not do anything to his new equipment.

As for why Jiang Ran wanted to collect new equipment at this critical juncture, the main reason was his overly cautious character.

·

After the last fight with Tetodaf, Jiang Ran had basically figured out Tetodaf's strength, but because Tetodaf accidentally escaped from him, he thought that the person he would have to deal with next would most likely not be just Tetodaf alone.

In the worst case scenario, in addition to Shiiki Ruri, Jiang Ran felt that he might have to face the masters of the other three branches of the Teruya Ryuque organization at the same time, plus Tetodaf himself, making it a one-on-four situation in total.

9.262 - A surprise visit

(Am I currently on the right path to the future...?)

When Jiang Ran thought about the possibility that he would have to face off against Zhaoye Liuque's top combat power head-on, he began to doubt whether he had made the wrong choice at some critical junctures.

However, he quickly erased this pessimistic thought from his mind, because self-doubt without any results was meaningless.

Since he had already simulated the combat strategy once through the "cheating encounter with the future of death", he had to believe that he could do it. As for whether he made the wrong choice or took the wrong route, these were not issues he should worry about.

If he keeps dwelling on these problems, he won't be able to accomplish anything.

·

Admittedly, the current situation is not optimistic for Jiang Ran, but he still believes that he is still on the right path to the future.

This time he came to Yanji City specifically to retrieve new equipment so that when the worst happens, he can fight the enemy with the strongest attitude.

Due to time constraints, Jiang Ran could not wait for the Flame and Ice equipment stores to open for business. He directly climbed over the wall into the workshop and found the two sleeping masters one after another. Then, after some explanations, he successfully obtained the new equipment that he should have gotten long ago.

Master Lieyan complained to Jiang Ran, saying that he was really too careless to just leave all that valuable equipment in their store and leave without even saying goodbye. If his physical condition hadn't deteriorated and he couldn't wear all that equipment, he would definitely wear this powerful equipment and go out and explore.

Master Han Bing said that if the equipment he had worked so hard to make did not get the acceptance of the client, it would be equivalent to not being completed, so he was very glad that Jiang Ran was able to come back, otherwise he would take this regret to his grave.

Jiang Ran sincerely accepted the complaints of the two masters and promised them that he would come back with better materials later.

Such a promise is undoubtedly the best thank you gift for the two casting craftsmen.

Just like that, before the sky brightened again, Jiang Ran had completed his goal and set out on the road back to Mel Town. However, no matter how fast he ran, it was already afternoon when he returned to Mel Town.

Has Tetoduff been here?

Is nothing wrong with Shiiki Ruri?

Jiang Ran started to worry as soon as he arrived in Mel Town. Fortunately, the Snake King's hangar was still firmly guarding the underground of Mel Town, which made Jiang Ran feel relieved for the time being.

After entrusting the new equipment to the Snake King Cage, Jiang Ran quickly found Shiiki Ruri who was working in the Cat Girl Cooking Pavilion. However, he did not go there as the Frost Knight Stan. Instead, he continued with his previous stealth strategy and sneaked in by hiding in the shadow of the small flying insects.

At this stage, Jiang Ran believes that Frost Knight Stan is not suitable to meet Shiiki Ruri.

Afterwards, Jiang Ran used his mind-reading skills to full effect, not missing any of Shiiki Ruri's thoughts, and finally figured out what had happened while he was away from Mel Town.

(An emergency summons…? This guy, Tetoduff, really wants to summon all the branch hall masters.)

·

Through Shiiki Ruri's actions and inner thoughts, Jiang Ran learned that just this morning, Shiiki Ruri received an urgent order from the head master, Tetodaf, to rush to the stronghold near the Night Crying Mountains as quickly as possible to reunite.

Shiiki Ruri was worried about the newly opened cat girl restaurant and cat girl milk tea shop, so she delayed for half a day to arrange everything that needed to be explained and arranged, and then she could set off with peace of mind.

(This guy, Tetoduff, is really quick to act... He made a decision so quickly?)

Jiang Ran was still a little frightened. If Shiiki Ruri had left, he would have to chase her at a life-and-death speed - after all, this situation was not mentioned in the orders he gave to Snake King Gnaku. Once Shiiki Ruri took the initiative to leave Mel Town, Snake King Gnaku might be confused.

Now, Shiiki Ruri has finished her instructions for the two stores and started preparing for the emergency summons from the headmaster.

Under normal circumstances, Shiiki Ruri didn't actually have to prepare anything. She just had to go to the designated location and meet up with her people. But this time was different, she had an assassination plan.

In order to increase the success rate of the assassination, Shiiki Ruri brought a lot of props this time, such as colorless and odorless poison, powder that can temporarily paralyze people, and echo conch that can produce false sounds.

Although there are many of these props, they are all very small in size and are all placed in special storage containers. They cannot be seen when worn on the body and will not affect Shiiki Ruri's movements at all.

However, just after Shiiki Ruri was ready and before she was about to set off, the familiar gray feather fell in front of her again.

[Note: Gray feathers, see the previous chapter "9.165 - Newcomers to Mel Town" for details]

·

Shiiki Ruri froze instantly. She had never thought that the chief hall master of Zhaoye Liuque, whom she had been trying to assassinate for the past two days, would suddenly appear in front of her.

"Meet, meet the Grand Master."

Before Shiiki Ruri could finish her thoughts, her body had already reacted reflexively, kneeling on one knee on the ground and saluting the tall and thin figure in front of her.

"Well, get up, Master Liutang."

The source of the voice was the man standing in front of Shiiki Ruri. He was wearing a gray-green cloak and a pointed hood on his head. He was the head master of Teruya Ryujaku, Jiuyiren Tetodaf.

For a moment, Shiiki Ruri found it difficult to suppress her inner emotions, and she had no confidence in controlling her expression.

She desperately told herself that she must conceal her murderous intent and must not let Tetodaf discover her assassination intention.

However, Shiiki Ruri soon realized that she was worrying too much, because her heart was not filled with hatred at all, but only panic.

"What's wrong, Liutang Hall Master? Why don't you get up? Is there something you want to report?"

Tetodaf's vicissitudes of life voice continued to be heard, increasing the tension in Shiki Ruri's heart.

Fortunately, at this critical moment, someone outside the house broke a bottle or something. The loud noise temporarily eased the tense atmosphere in the house and also allowed Shiiki Ruri's brain to resume functioning.

——(Don't be nervous, I don't have any murderous intentions right now, meow, it won't be seen, meow!)

——(Yeah, that's right, meow. Just let your surprise show naturally, meow. This guy clearly issued an emergency call, but he came here in person. It's normal for me to be surprised, meow!)

Shiiki Ruri took a deep breath slowly, and then finally raised her head to look directly into Tetodaf's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Master Chief, I'm just too surprised. Didn't you issue an emergency summons? Why did you come here in person?"

Shiiki Ruri released all the surprise in her heart and temporarily survived the sudden crisis, but the real test was just about to begin.

9.263 - A near miss

━━━━━━━━━━

October 187, 9

〖3:45 pm〗

[Death Future Remaining: 3 Days]

[Confession death countdown remaining: 23 days]

"Curse of the Ancestral Wolf: 69 Days Remaining"

━━━━━━━━━━

The Kingdom of West, the territory of the Green Lizard Family, the town of Mel.

In Shiiki Ruri's dim secret hut, Teruya Ryuja's chief master, Tetodaf, leaned lazily against the wall, which made his tall figure seem less eerie and terrifying.

However, even though the leader did not show any authority, his subordinate, the head of the Ryudo Hall, Shiiki Ruri, still knelt on one knee cautiously, keeping the atmosphere in the room tense.

"Because I suddenly want to come to you to understand something." Tetodaf said in an extremely calm tone.

In this tone that was even more tasteless than boiled water, Shiiki Ruri could not hear any extra information, and could not figure out whether Tetodaf's sudden visit at this moment was a good omen... or a bad omen.

Given that he had not taken any substantial action detrimental to Tetodav, Shiiki Ruri did not think that Tetodav was coming to deal with him.

Moreover, given Tetodav's always ruthless behavior, if Shiiki Ruri's intention to assassinate him was exposed, he would definitely be killed without even having a chance to speak.

—(Wait, that's not right… I still have some use for Tetoduff. Aunt Magee wrote in the letter that he wants to use me as a vessel for his 'reincarnation', so he won't kill me easily…)

[Note: For details, see chapter 9.254 - The Unacceptable Truth]

Thinking of this, Shiiki Ruri immediately became alert.

Tetodav came to see her at this time, maybe he wanted to achieve some purpose through conversation first... Then what Shiiki Ruri had to do was to follow the clues and find out what Tetodav's plan was...!

"I see. What does the Grand Master wish to know, meow?"

Shiiki Ruri raised her head and met Tetodaf's eyes for the first time in this conversation.

However, at this time, Shiiki Ruri was basically free of pressure, because she realized that she did not need to disguise herself at all, and as long as she responded normally, she would not make any mistakes.

This kind of experience of being a "thief" openly is the first time in the life of this cat-people girl.

"Get up, let's sit down and talk."

Tetodaf made a friendly suggestion, and this time Shiiki Ruri did not refuse. She accepted the invitation of the head master and sat down face to face.

Before Tetodav asked the question, Shiiki Ruri had made all kinds of mental preparations. No matter what the other party asked about her, she was not afraid to answer. However, the content of Tetodav's question was beyond Shiiki Ruri's expectations.

"Master Liutang, how much do you know about the Frost Knight Stan?"

·

The unexpected question made Shiiki Ruri stunned for a moment, but fortunately, her surprise was not a problem at this time.

However, even if there is nothing wrong with the reaction shown, it does not mean that Shiiki Ruri has overcome this crisis. She must now make an immediate judgment: should she answer honestly or selectively lie?

At this moment, the speed at which Shiiki Ruri's little brain was working reached an unprecedented frequency, and then, in just one or two seconds, she had made a decision.

"I have some understanding, but I can't guarantee that I completely understand this person," replied Shiiki Ruri.

"Then what information do you have about him? Tell me about it."

Tetodav clasped his hands together and placed them on his knees, his tone of voice still emotionless and unpredictable.

Shiiki Ruri couldn't guess what the head hall master was up to, but no matter what this guy was planning, Shiiki Ruri had only one choice, which was to tell the truth.

·

·

The reasoning behind Shiiki Ruri's decision is actually very simple.

A few days ago, in order to solve the fatal problem of "accidentally revealing some personal information to the Frost Armor Knight", Shiiki Ruri came up with a "brilliant plan", which was to make the Frost Armor Knight "one of their own".

[Note: See section 9.207 - The Third Option for details]

In order to achieve this goal, Shiiki Ruri has submitted an application to the organization. If there is no problem with the background check of the Frost Armor Knight, special personnel will be sent to persuade him to join the organization.

Given that she had already done this, regardless of whether the chief hall master, Tetodaf, had read the application she submitted, Shiiki Ruri could not risk her life by lying to him.

If this clumsy lie were to be exposed, Shiiki Ruri's assassination plan would be aborted and his own life would be in vain.

Taking a step back, even if Shiiki Ruri had not submitted an application, she would not have the courage to lie in front of the head master, Tetodaf.

Who was Tetodav? The headmaster of the secret intelligence organization, Teruya Ryuque, so why would someone like that come specifically to ask about intelligence? Did they not do any prior research?

Therefore, without knowing what Tetodaf already knew, Shiiki Ruri's safest choice was to tell the truth.

·

Shiiki Ruri is lucky. Even in such a passive situation, she has not suffered much loss for the time being.

The Frost Knight, Lord Stan, whom Tetodaff wanted to inquire about, had nothing to do with Shiiki Ruri's plan to assassinate Tetodaff, so she could survive this crisis without any flaws.

Shiiki Ruri told Tetodaf everything she knew, including how she met the Frost Armor Knight and his involvement in the management of the Cat Girl Restaurant.

Then, taking advantage of this opportunity, Shiiki Ruri also proposed to Tetodaf in person about persuading the Frost Armor Knight Stan to join Zhaoye Liuque, which further showed that he was open-minded and had nothing to hide.

After listening to Shiiki Ruri's report and application, Tetodav simply said that he understood. As for whether he agreed to recruit the Frost Armor Knight, he did not give a clear answer.

Before leaving, Tetodaf asked Shiiki Ruri again whether she had seen the Frost Knight today. Shiiki Ruri still told the truth. Not only did she not see him today, but she also had not seen him in the past few days.

Tetodav nodded thoughtfully, then told Shiiki Ruri to leave as soon as possible, and then left first.