"Anyone who dares to cause trouble in my shop must be prepared to face the consequences."

  Kael’s voice was expressionless, yet his calm tone bit like a winter wind, sending shivers down their spines.

  Within the domain of the shop, Kael’s skills suppressed all others. The laws of the shop overrode the laws of the world. Here, the Store Manager was the absolute ruler.

  "Manager Kael... please, stay your hand..." Qin Ming managed to squeeze out the words with great difficulty.

  Fortunately, Kael’s crushing aura wasn't directed at him, or he wouldn't have been able to speak at all.

  The power granted by the Defensive System was immense, but Kael lacked fine control over it. He could only ensure that Shier, who was hiding behind him, remained unaffected. This allowed the young girl to peek out and observe the situation with ease, though she sensibly remained silent.

  Hearing Qin Ming’s plea, Kael glanced at the City Lord, then casually flicked a finger.

  Snap.

  The masks covering the faces of the three assassins suspended in mid-air split down the middle and fell to the floor.

  Revealed were faces unlike ordinary humans: sharp fangs protruding from their lips, dark green skin, and a strange, tribal brand burned into their flesh.

  Kael looked at Qin Ming again.

  He understood what the City Lord wanted; Qin Ming simply needed to identify the assailants before they were dealt with.

  "Thank you, Manager." Seeing the brand on their faces, the truth dawned on Qin Ming instantly.

  "Mmhmm." Kael responded with a hum. He clenched his hand into a fist.

  [Deep Freeze!]

  Three perfect ice sculptures instantly appeared in the center of the shop.

  Sealed within the blocks of ice, the assassins' expressions hadn't even changed. The panic hadn't reached their eyes yet. It was a true flash-freeze; they had been denied even the time to feel fear.

  Threat eliminated. The Defensive System powered down.

  The aura, vast and heavy as the ocean, receded like the tide, vanishing from the shop as if it had never existed.

  "Haa... Haa..."

  The moment the pressure lifted, Tiger-Hunt collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, completely disregarding his image.

  "Boss... your habit of getting violent at the slightest disagreement... it's really terrifying," Tiger-Hunt wheezed. It wasn't the first time he'd seen Kael in action, but every display of power was more shocking than the last.

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  However, Tiger-Hunt also knew the rules: as long as you didn't cause trouble, Kael was actually quite reasonable. Well, aside from his refusal to give discounts.

  "Troublemakers are treated equally," Kael said seriously.

  Tiger-Hunt felt a chill run down his spine under Kael’s gaze. He scrambled to his feet, raising a hand in a solemn vow. "Don't worry, Boss! I promise I won't cause any trouble!"

  "I wasn't talking to you," Kael said slowly.

  Behind him, Shier’s large, watery eyes were shining with adoration.

  "Manager, you're amazing!"

  Although Kael had shielded her from the pressure, she could still sense the sheer magnitude of it. She knew instinctively that this power was far greater than what he had shown before.

  Kael glanced at Shier, paused for a moment, and said, "Focus on your work. Stop daydreaming."

  "..."

  Shier wondered if all reclusive masters had this kind of personality. At the very least, Kael’s reactions were always unpredictable.

  "Manager Kael, I know who sent these assassins."

  Qin Ming had been examining the ice sculptures since the pressure vanished. He was now certain of their origins.

  "Judging by their looks, they seem to be Orcs," Blood Wolf said, walking in from outside now that the danger had passed.

  "Correct. These are Orcs. specifically, the Shadow Squad—a unit within the Orc tribes dedicated to assassination, kidnapping, and sabotage," Qin Ming said, pointing to the brand on the frozen faces. "That mark is unique to the Orc tribes. No other race can imitate it."

  "Orcs?" Kael was puzzled.

  Honestly, he had never seen an Orc before today. Why would they send assassins to kill him?

  "Boss, when did you offend the Orc tribes?" Tiger-Hunt asked curiously.

  "I've never even met an Orc before," Kael replied. It sounded like a deflection, but he was genuinely confused.

  "Then why?" Blood Wolf stared at the three ice sculptures. It wasn't the first time he’d seen Kael turn enemies into lawn ornaments; there were still two Wolf-Kin sculptures standing at the street corner outside.

  "I don't know. Maybe they were just bored," Kael said nonchalantly, dismissing the issue entirely.

  Anyone who came to cause trouble in his shop was essentially committing suicide. Others might fear the assassins of the Orc tribes, but why would Kael care?

  The shop fell into a brief, contemplative silence.

  Suddenly, Qin Ming clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "I understand now! Manager Kael, I must thank you again. I believe the beast tide will retreat very soon."

  "Huh?" Kael looked at him, completely lost.

  "I will take my leave then. Manager Kael, thank you once more for your equipment and pills." Qin Ming shook his head with a knowing smile, not explaining further, and turned to leave.

  Kael looked at Blood Wolf and Tiger-Hunt, hoping their eyes would hold the answer.

  However, they looked just as confused as he felt.

  Only Shier, tugging gently at the back of Kael’s shirt, whispered timidly, "Maybe... it’s because the beast tide was caused by the Orcs?"

  The three men in the shop froze, realization hitting them like a lightning bolt. It suddenly made perfect sense.

  "So, you guys really understand now?" Kael looked at the two mercenaries seriously.

  "Nope! Not at all!" Tiger-Hunt laughed heartily, showing zero embarrassment. "Since everything is settled, I’m heading next door to the arena."

  "Me too," Blood Wolf nodded. He turned to the door and shouted, "Leave ten men here for arena training! The rest of you—dismissed for free time!"

  Cheers and groans erupted simultaneously from the squad outside.

  Mercenaries lived on the edge of a knife. After enduring immense pressure, they needed to vent. Blood Wolf wasn't unreasonable; even with a beast tide looming, the tavern at the Mercenary Guild wouldn't close. It was late at night; how they chose to relieve their stress was obvious.

  However, training couldn't be neglected. The ten unlucky souls selected to train with Blood Wolf would just have to suffer.

  "I'm closing in two hours, so you only get two hours," Kael stated calmly.

  His shop wasn't a 24-hour convenience store. Besides, staying up all night was bad for your health. Kael was simply looking out for his customers' well-being.

  "Can't you make an exception, Boss? It's not that late," Blood Wolf pleaded. After clashing with the beast tide today, he had deeply appreciated the benefits of the Combat Simulation Room.

  If this were the old Blood Wolf Squad, the tide would have chewed them up and spit them out without leaving a trace.