Chapter 117: Rescuing Aella (II)

Just as the Desolate Troop Leader was lost in his thoughts, an emotionless, refined voice suddenly reverberated inside his head.

To survive such a high level of corruption... This girl is interesting as well.

The voice carried no discernible emotion, yet its words made the Desolate Troop Leader’s expression stiffen slightly. Before he could make sense of the remark, the voice spoke again, this time with unmistakable authority.

You are not allowed to touch this girl. Keep her safe and bring her back.

The smile on the Desolate Troop Leader’s face froze.

His fingers curled into fists, and the muscles in his jaw tightened. He turned his gaze toward Aella, who remained unconscious in the Bloodfang Gang’s custody, and a surge of hatred twisted his features.

"How could I spare her? She’s the sister of the bastard who killed my brother! Even if she died a thousand times, it wouldn’t be enough to repay that debt!"

His voice trembled with barely restrained fury. He had spent so much effort tracking Jackson down, enduring one obstacle after another, only to be told that he couldn’t even touch the one person who might finally draw his enemy into the open.

Before he could continue his protest, the cold voice interrupted him.

Could it be that your personal desire for vengeance is more important than Bigwig Corporation’s interests?

The moment those words entered his mind, a chill ran down the Desolate Troop Leader’s spine.

His mouth snapped shut.

He knew better than to challenge that authority. Whatever hatred he harbored toward Jackson, it meant nothing compared to the interests of Bigwig Corporation. The consequences of disobedience were not something he could afford to contemplate.

Nevertheless, the fury burning inside him refused to subside.

His fists clenched so tightly that his fingernails pierced his palms. Fresh blood trickled between his fingers, staining his skin red, but he seemed completely unaware of the pain.

He could only swallow his resentment and obey.

Meanwhile, the Bloodfang Gang Leader stepped forward and stopped in front of him. Apparently oblivious to the tension hanging over the Desolate Troop Leader, he gestured toward the unconscious girl.

"Here’s the package. Our part of the deal is complete."

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Aella and tossed her toward the Desolate Troop Leader as casually as someone throwing away an unwanted object.

But before her small body could reach its destination, something extraordinary happened.

A terrifying force suddenly swept through the air.

The space around Aella seemed to tighten as an invisible power wrapped around her body, halting her fall in midair. Her clothes fluttered in the rushing currents, but her limp figure remained suspended above the ground, untouched by any visible support.

"Who...?!"

The Desolate Troop Leader’s eyes widened.

The Bloodfang Gang Leader froze, and the other members stared in disbelief. Even the two hunters who had brought Aella back couldn’t hide their shock.

The little girl was floating in the air.

And no one could see what was holding her.

Before anyone could react, the invisible force abruptly changed direction.

Aella shot through the air toward a tall tower in the distance, her small figure cutting across the gap between the ruins and the towering structure.

At the very top of the tower, a silhouette suddenly moved.

A figure leaped from the edge and reached out, catching Aella securely in his arms.

"Thank God you’re okay!"

Jackson held his sister tightly against his chest.

For a brief moment, the cold expression he had worn throughout the journey disappeared. He lowered his head and carefully examined her pale face, checking for any obvious injuries. Only after confirming that she was still breathing did he finally release the breath he had been holding.

Relief washed over him.

He had found her.

More importantly, she was still alive.

Jackson tightened his embrace for another moment before gradually calming himself. He had been pushing his body to its limits ever since leaving home, following every clue he could find until he finally traced the two Bloodfang Gang members to this abandoned research facility.

He could have attacked them the moment he arrived.

But he hadn’t.

With Aella in their possession, even the slightest mistake could have put her life in danger. He had no intention of gambling with his sister’s safety simply because his anger demanded immediate action.

Instead, he had concealed himself nearby and waited for an opportunity.

And the Bloodfang Gang Leader had just handed him one.

The moment the man tossed Aella aside, Jackson had seized his chance. Using the Meteor Climbing Stance, he had extended his spiritual force toward his sister and pulled her directly into his arms.

Now, with Aella safely in his possession, he no longer needed to hold back.

Jackson slowly raised his head and looked toward the figures gathered among the ruins.

He had heard their conversation clearly.

The Bloodfang Gang had collaborated with the Desolate Troop Leader to kidnap Aella. The man had orchestrated the entire operation, using the gang to avoid drawing attention from the powerful forces guarding Jackson’s home.

And the voice that had ordered the Desolate Troop Leader to spare Aella had mentioned Bigwig Corporation.

Jackson’s eyes narrowed.

"Desolate Troop Leader..."

His gaze settled on the familiar figure standing among the Bloodfang Gang members. A cold killing intent flickered through his eyes, and the air around him seemed to grow heavier.

He had been too passive.

That was his mistake.

Before leaving for the academy, he should have hunted down that worthless piece of trash and exterminated him with his own hands. Instead, he had assumed that uprooting the Desolate Troop was enough to prevent further trouble.

He had mistaken a temporary setback for the end of the problem.

And now, Aella had nearly paid the price for his oversight.

Jackson carefully adjusted his hold on his sister before leaping down from the tower. His boots struck the ground with a heavy thud, and he straightened slowly, placing himself between Aella and the assembled enemies.

His gaze swept across the Bloodfang Gang members before settling on their leader.

"Bloodfang Gang, by collaborating with this good-for-nothing piece of trash, you’ve dug your own grave."

His voice was calm, but the killing intent beneath those words was impossible to miss.

The Bloodfang Gang Leader’s expression darkened.

"Hmph! Big words. Do you even have the qualifications to back them up?"

The brief shock of Jackson’s sudden appearance faded as the man regained his composure. Around him, the other gang members tightened their grips on their weapons, their eyes fixed on the young man who had dared to threaten them on their own turf.

The Desolate Troop Leader, meanwhile, had finally recovered from his initial surprise.

The moment he recognized Jackson, the hatred buried deep within his eyes surged to the surface. His lips curled into a vicious grin, and the killing intent radiating from his body grew noticeably stronger.

At that moment, the cold voice sounded inside his head once more.

Don’t kill him. Drag out the battle. Reinforcements from Bigwig Corporation will arrive at any moment.

The Desolate Troop Leader’s expression remained unchanged.

He acted as though he hadn’t heard a single word.

After everything he had endured to track Jackson down, how could he simply stand aside now? The chance to avenge his brother was right in front of him, and the hatred that had sustained him throughout this pursuit had already overwhelmed whatever restraint he possessed.

He fixed Jackson with a murderous stare and slowly drew his blade.

"Scum of the Von Maximus family, prepare to die beneath my blade!"

His grip tightened around the hilt as his aura erupted, stirring the dust beneath his feet.

"Only when I kill you with my own hands will my brother’s soul finally find peace!"