Chapter 116: Rescuing Aella

According to what Snow had told him, the Bloodfang Gang members shouldn’t have gotten that far yet.

If he moved fast enough, he might still be able to catch up with them.

Countless thoughts flashed through Jackson’s mind as he retraced his conversation with Snow, trying to piece together every detail that might help him locate Aella. His expression grew increasingly grim as he pushed his body to its limits, refusing to waste even a second.

Until the moment he left, Snow had insisted on accompanying him to rescue Aella. Despite her injuries, she had been determined to make the journey with him.

But how could Jackson possibly agree to that?

Someone had to stay behind and protect Mother Rose. He had no idea how many people were involved in this attack, nor could he be certain that the Bloodfang Gang was acting alone. If another group was waiting for an opportunity to strike while the house was unguarded, leaving both Rose and Snow behind would be no different from handing them over to the enemy.

He couldn’t afford to make that mistake.

"Damn it. If I’d known something like this would happen, I would’ve chosen those five Rank Three battle knives."

The thought made Jackson’s expression darken.

Those knives would have given him considerably more firepower. With five Rank Three weapons at his disposal, he would have had far greater flexibility in combat, especially against multiple opponents. Unfortunately, he had already made his choice, and no amount of regret could change what had happened.

There was no point dwelling on it now.

Jackson gritted his teeth and accelerated, his figure streaking across the ground like lightning. The trees lining his path blurred into indistinct shadows as he raced toward the northern forest, rapidly approaching the boundaries of the sector.

The Bloodfang Gang operated somewhere in that direction.

A notorious organization made up entirely of demonic hunters, they had built their reputation through ruthless killings, black-market dealings, and countless other crimes. Unlike ordinary gangs, whose members often possessed wildly different levels of strength, every Bloodfang Gang member was an Awakened who had chosen to walk the path of a demonic hunter.

And now, those bastards had taken his sister.

Jackson’s eyes turned colder as he continued north.

Deep within the forest, far from the sector’s boundaries, stood an abandoned research facility.

The once-imposing structure had long since fallen into disrepair. Cracked walls surrounded its exterior, while rusted metal beams jutted from the shattered remains of its roof. Weeds and creeping vines had swallowed much of the surrounding grounds, and broken windows stared out from the building like empty eye sockets.

To anyone passing through the forest, it appeared to be nothing more than another forgotten ruin.

Yet, beneath that dilapidated exterior, something was stirring.

Two figures moved stealthily through the forest, approaching the facility from the shadows.

One was tall, while the other was considerably shorter. Both wore alloyed battle armor that reflected faint glimmers of light through the gaps in the trees. The spiritual pressure radiating from their bodies was unmistakable. These were Third Sequence Awakened, and judging by their movements, neither was an inexperienced fighter.

The shorter figure carried an unconscious girl over one shoulder.

Aella.

Her small body hung limply against the man’s back, her pale face devoid of color. Her eyes remained tightly shut, and not even the slightest movement escaped her as the two demonic hunters continued toward the ruins.

They showed no concern for her condition. To them, she was nothing more than an object to be delivered.

As the pair approached the abandoned facility, the seemingly lifeless ruins began to stir.

A metallic door hidden behind a collapsed section of wall creaked open. Figures emerged from the shadows one after another, their armored silhouettes gradually filling the entrance. Some carried weapons, while others stood with their arms folded, watching the newcomers approach.

Every one of them belonged to the Bloodfang Gang.

At their forefront stood a man whose presence was impossible to ignore. His aura was wild and untamed, radiating the oppressive pressure of a powerful Awakened. His rough features were twisted into a vicious smile, and his eyes gleamed with undisguised killing intent as they settled on the unconscious girl.

The Silver-Rank leader of the Desolate Troop.

The moment he confirmed the girl’s identity, he threw his head back and burst into boisterous laughter.

"Good! Good! You Bloodfang Gang trash aren’t completely useless after all!"

His laughter echoed through the ruined facility, startling several birds from the surrounding trees.

"Kidnapping that bastard’s sister? That’s a perfect move! Now I can finally kill him with my own hands!"

His grin widened, revealing a row of uneven teeth.

"Or perhaps something even better..."

The light in his eyes grew increasingly ferocious as he looked at Aella.

By now, the truth behind the attack had become clear. The man standing before the Bloodfang Gang members was the one who had orchestrated everything.

After learning that his brother had been killed, the Desolate Troop Leader had gone to extraordinary lengths to track down the culprit. He had searched through every available lead, exhausted his connections, and used every resource at his disposal. Yet, Jackson Von Maximus had proven far more difficult to locate than he had anticipated.

Eventually, his investigation led him to Leon’s squad.

The Desolate Troop Leader had subjected them to brutal interrogation, determined to force the information out of them. But despite the pain and threats, they had refused to reveal what they knew.

That refusal had only made him more ruthless.

In the end, he resorted to a special method to extract the information he needed. The process had cost him dearly, both in resources and effort, but he had finally obtained his target’s whereabouts.

Jackson Von Maximus.

Now, as he gazed at Aella, the Desolate Troop Leader’s smile deepened.

Every sacrifice had been worth it.

Initially, he had intended to take action personally. With his strength as a Silver-Rank Awakened, dealing with a mere student should have been a simple matter. But before he could put his plan into motion, something unexpected had happened.

The security surrounding Jackson’s home had suddenly increased.

Powerful figures began appearing around the property, and the attention of several major forces had inexplicably turned toward that seemingly ordinary house. Even the Desolate Troop Leader, despite his strength and influence, had been forced to reconsider his approach.

He couldn’t afford to act recklessly under such circumstances.

One wrong move could draw the attention of forces he wasn’t prepared to confront, turning a simple act of revenge into a disaster for the entire Desolate Troop.

So, after weighing his options, he had chosen a different approach.

Rather than risk exposing himself, he had approached the local Bloodfang Gang and arranged for them to carry out the kidnapping.

They would seize the girl, draw Jackson out, and deliver him into the Desolate Troop Leader’s hands.

It was a straightforward plan, and one that allowed him to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

Now, with Aella in his possession, the first part of that plan had succeeded.

The Desolate Troop Leader lowered his head slightly, staring at the unconscious girl with a cruel gleam in his eyes.

Jackson Von Maximus...

He had been waiting a long time for this moment.