Chapter 46

Someone is following me!

Qin Ran continued walking, but his brows furrowed slightly.

He was completely certain of this.

E+ level perception had long since surpassed the stage of keen hearing and sharp vision, giving him a certain premonition of any danger, especially when malicious gazes swept over him, causing his skin to involuntarily break out in goosebumps.

Combined with his Expert-level [Stealth], Qin Ran was already well-versed in various techniques for approaching enemies silently.

Therefore, it wasn't difficult for Qin Ran to determine if someone was quietly following him. He could even easily deduce where the stalker was hiding based on the memory of his recent path.

However, Qin Ran didn't turn around to check.

He didn't want to alert the stalker.

He continued walking according to his original plan, heading towards the restaurant not far from his residence.

But his mind was rapidly working.

Who was following him?

Was it someone coveting the Dawn Church's millennium wealth?

Or was it an enemy brought about by his identity?

After all, the reputation of being the best detective in the city was built on countless solved cases. According to the simple memories Qin Ran had, at least a dozen people had been imprisoned because of 'him,' and there were many who wanted to eliminate 'him.'

As for the former?

It was more likely.

It wasn't impossible for them to send some people to stake out and monitor around St. Paul's School.

After all, it was a millennium's worth of wealth accumulated by an organization!

Just thinking about it was enough to stir the heart.

Qin Ran was no exception.

When he heard about the Dawn Church's millennium wealth, he was also very tempted.

However, Qin Ran still had his reason.

He was very clear that this wealth wasn't easy to obtain.

Not only would the last knight, Gonglansen, not allow the Dawn Church's millennium wealth to fall into others' hands, but many more people and forces would inevitably be drawn into it.

There's no such thing as a wall that doesn't leak!

If the first batch of people could find out about the Dawn Church's millennium wealth, then there would be a second batch.

Moreover, who could guarantee that all those coveting the Dawn Church's millennium wealth would keep their mouths shut?

And as time passed, the abnormalities at St. Paul's School would certainly attract the attention of others.

If this matter couldn't be resolved in a short time, Qin Ran believed that a dangerous vortex would inevitably form around St. Paul's School, drawing in all the people and forces around it, tearing them to pieces.

Sister Monica had a premonition.

But Gonglansen saw the terrifying aspects of it.

Therefore, he persuaded Sister Monica to accept his help, to quell the disaster before it erupted at St. Paul's School.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have talked so openly about the Dawn Church's millennium wealth.

In this, his identity, the police appointment letter, and his strength all added points.

According to Qin Ran's guess, the latter was the most important point. Even with the first two, if he hadn't blocked the attack and held on until Sister Monica spoke, this side quest would still have failed.

If it were other players, they would undoubtedly be unable to accept this side quest.

Because it had already exceeded the difficulty of the 'first' instance.

According to the strength of players who normally complete the beginner instance, they absolutely couldn't withstand even one punch from Gonglansen.

They might not even get the chance to see Gonglansen.

The school protection team seemed weak to Qin Ran because he had obtained a very high starting point by chance, but it didn't mean that players who had just completed the beginner instance could do the same.

Qin Ran was well aware of this.

But Qin Ran didn't complain about the increased difficulty at all.

Because Qin Ran was very clear that the higher the difficulty of the task, the higher the 'reward' after completing it.

And that was exactly what he needed!

His time was insufficient, so he could only rely on the 'quality of the tasks' to make up for it.

While thinking about these things, Qin Ran's attention was firmly locked on the stalker behind him.

However, the next moment, Qin Ran felt a chill run through his body.

An extremely malicious gaze swept over from the front.

Although it was fleeting, that coldness made Qin Ran feel as if he had been targeted by a venomous snake!

Qin Ran was not unfamiliar with such a gaze.

It was a gaze filled with murderous intent!

In the beginner instance, those armed thugs and rebel soldiers always looked at him with such a gaze!

Qin Ran's eyes quickly scanned the front, and three figures came into view.

One was walking in the same direction as him, clearly impossible to have shown a gaze filled with murderous intent.

The remaining two, one was neatly dressed, wearing glasses on his nose, looking like an office worker heading home after work, walking hurriedly.

The other was raggedly dressed, walking unsteadily, reeking of alcohol, clearly a drunk.

Such drunks were common in this city, especially after nightfall, causing great trouble for the patrol officers.

Both looked completely normal from the outside.

But Qin Ran was sure that the gaze filled with murderous intent had come from one of the two.

Which one?

Qin Ran discreetly observed, but couldn't make an accurate judgment.

The other was undoubtedly very skilled at hiding. If it weren't for the momentary burst of murderous intent in his eyes, Qin Ran wouldn't have noticed anything.

As for now?

Although Qin Ran still couldn't determine which one it was, the unintentional display of murderous intent earlier had put him on guard.

Qin Ran continued walking, and the two also moved forward, getting closer and closer.

Just as he was three steps away from the neatly dressed office worker, Qin Ran took out his pipe from his coat pocket, seemingly having a craving for a smoke, but accidentally dropped some loose change—change from the carriage ride.

"Damn!"

Qin Ran muttered, then bent down to pick up the money.

But his peripheral vision was fixed on the two approaching figures.

The drunk, who was a bit further away, paused for a moment at the sight, then continued on his way, seemingly unconcerned.

The neatly dressed office worker, on the other hand, ignored it and continued walking hurriedly.

As the office worker approached Qin Ran, Qin Ran picked up the dropped change and straightened up.

Just as Qin Ran was about to put the change back in his pocket, the office worker passed by him, and a small dagger appeared in his right hand.

He turned, raised his hand, and thrust.

In one fluid motion.

Instantly, the dagger turned into a flash of cold light, aiming straight for Qin Ran's waist.

But Qin Ran was faster.

His right leg, like a spring, kicked out, the tip of his foot striking the other's wrist. Then, he swiftly pulled back, his heel smashing into the other's face.

Smack!

Smack!

Two crisp sounds later, the dagger fell from the other's hand, and the man was kicked off his feet, spinning and falling to the ground. Most of his teeth were knocked out, and his face was completely distorted, barely breathing.

But even so, the man still stared at Qin Ran with wide eyes, disbelief in his gaze.

Clearly, he didn't understand how Qin Ran had discovered him.

He thought his disguise was perfect!

"Your purpose was too clear, you lost all curiosity! Even a drunk would know to look at what I dropped!"

Qin Ran said calmly.

Of course, Qin Ran wouldn't tell the other the real reason, even if he was already dead.

[Kick: Caused 30 points of health damage to the opponent, opponent's joint dislocated...]

[Kick: Critical hit, caused 120 points of health damage to the opponent (Hand-to-hand Combat: Expert in Leg Fighting), opponent died...]

The combat information clearly recorded the other's death.

After being caught off guard once in the beginner instance, Qin Ran became more cautious.

Qin Ran looked behind him and found that the person who had been following him had already disappeared.

This made Qin Ran frown.

Because he couldn't determine if the person in front of him and the stalker were part of the same group!

"150 health points, physical attributes exceeding normal humans, speed and strength are also above average, and skilled at disguise, should be an assassin or killer!"

Qin Ran guessed the identity of the person in front of him, hoping that this guess could help him unravel the mystery.

If possible, Qin Ran would naturally prefer to leave a live witness.

But the other's sudden appearance and excellent disguise left Qin Ran with lingering fear.

Facing an opponent skilled at disguise, Qin Ran didn't think he should show mercy, even if the other's strength was inferior to his. If the other escaped, it would mean that Qin Ran would have to constantly be on guard against a skilled assassin.

Therefore, when he acted, Qin Ran had a killing intent.

This would naturally bring him trouble, but it was much less than constantly being on guard against a skilled assassin.

"Murder!"

"Murder!"

The entire street, which had been silent for a moment, suddenly erupted.

Several patrol officers blew their whistles, waving their batons to surround Qin Ran.

Qin Ran cooperatively raised his hands, holding his appointment letter in his right hand.

Qin Ran had never been more grateful for obtaining this appointment letter.

"I am a police consultant, I want to see Chief John!"