Chapter 141: The Death of Mr. Z
Archer seemed to sense Hobert's intentions and struggled harder. The thick black fur covering its human flesh accelerated.
Leonard chanted again, "Then you will know why, in your prime, you lie in your grave."
Archer's movements slowed once more.
Hobert, crossing the courtyard wall, retracted the "Teleportation Statue" and approached Archer. Immediately, he felt discomfort, as if he heard indescribable murmurs again and saw the world's most filthy and depraved things.
He resisted with his own spirituality, using his cane as a lever to pry open part of Archer's flesh and blood. The black rib was fully exposed before him.
Archer slowly opened his mouth, now resembling a bovine's maw!
Oh no!
This guy was about to spit out something fragrant!
[T/N: meaning that he will excessively say flowery language]
It was too late to stop it. Hobert prepared to use the "Teleporting Statue" to move Archer further away, reducing the harm from the "language of foulness."
At that moment, a figure leaped past Hobert.
It was Klein!
He agilely avoided Archer, precisely throwing a stone into Archer's mouth and swiftly kicking, completely sealing Archer's tongue.
Who said he was timid? At critical moments, not at all!
Hobert whistled softly, feeling reassured with an experienced teammate by his side.
He tore a piece of cloth from his overcoat and used it to grab the black rib.
Though separated by a layer of cloth, Hobert still felt immense pressure. He exerted force and prised the black rib from Archer's body.
At that moment of separation, Hobert seemed suddenly transported to a golden grassland, vaguely seeing colossal figures swaying in the distance.
Surroundings turned pitch-black, seeming to harbor unspeakable dangers.
A lightning bolt struck, revealing towering giants around him, draped in massive black hoods, hands resting on giant swords before them.
As if sensing something, the giants turned their heads together, staring at Hobert.
Hobert felt deeply fascinated by the immense power of these giants, but his will ultimately overcame his obsession with power. He turned away, consciousness returning to the farmhouse on the outskirts of Tingen City.
Archer's flesh had already turned into black liquid, leaving only a white skeleton in the yard. The upper half of the skeleton had partially transformed into non-human bones.
Especially the head, resembling that of a bull, but with two golden deer horns.
Hobert tossed the rib outside the yard. The immense spiritual pressure disappeared, along with the sensation of constantly entering another world.
He breathed a sigh of relief. After Archer's loss of control and the arrival of "bullhead and deer horns," the rib would serve as a significant seal of negative effects.
Outside the courtyard wall, Dunn asked, "How do you feel?"
"A bit tired," Hobert said. "It's best to clamp the rib with a clip to avoid direct contact."
Seeing Hobert's normal state, Dunn turned to Fraley. "Go check inside the farmhouse."
Hobert looked at his torn overcoat and asked Dunn, "Can this be reimbursed?"
Everyone turned to Klein.
Klein paused. Why did everyone look at him when reimbursement was mentioned?
Hobert sensed something amiss in the atmosphere and cleared his throat. "According to the cooperation model between me and the Nighthawks squad of Backlund, I have the right to share the spoils.
"And in discovering and fighting Archer, I made a significant contribution, so I have the priority to choose the spoils.
"Of course, if the rules in Tingen City are different, we can discuss it again."
The last sentence was purely to leave himself a way out, given the strength of the Nighthawks squad in Tingen City.
"Let's go with your agreement with Backlund," Dunn smiled. "But since you picked up the spoils, we won't reimburse you for the overcoat."
Hobert smiled. "No problem."
The main spoils of this battle were two things: the black rib and the two golden deer horns.
Previously, the bullhead and deer horns had already gained much power. Interrupted in the process, all the previous power concentrated entirely on the two golden deer horns.
The black rib might possess strange abilities, but it was now completely unusable, or the cost of using it was too great.
Although it could be shattered and sold for Beyonder characteristics, considering Dunn and the others were present, a normal Beyonder would not choose the rib.
So Hobert took off his own overcoat and wrapped up the skull and deer horns together.
At this moment, Frye came out of the farmhouse. "There are two broken bodies inside, along with some torn clothing."
Frye took out the clothing, and among them, they found a wallet and a letter. The wallet was messily filled with several bills, including one with a corner torn off by Hobert, a 5 soli note.
According to the contents of the letter, everyone learned that the "monster" who had just died was Mr. Z from the Aurora Order!
"This is a major victory in the fight against the Aurora Order!" Dunn exclaimed.
Hobert smiled. "To celebrate this victory, I invite everyone to a restaurant tonight. Would you all honor me with your presence?"
"If there's a big meal, count me in," Leonard said first.
Dunn smiled. "There's no reason to let guests pay. We'll use the squad's funds to treat everyone tonight.
"Ah, I'll report back to Backlund when I get home. I believe everyone who participated in today's battle will receive a bonus.
"But Mr. Hobert's bonus will be distributed in a way that you contact Backlund's Nighthawks squad after you return."
And so the evening meal was decided happily.
Next was to clean up the battlefield. Not needing so many people, Dunn sent Klein back to call the police to handle the two bodies in the farmhouse.
Hobert followed Klein back in the carriage. During the ride, Klein chatted casually with Hobert while seriously scrutinizing the young lawyer.
He felt that the lawyer seemed somewhat familiar, but couldn't recall where he had seen him.
As a "Seer," his judgment on intuition didn't make Klein think it was his imagination. Instead, it made him pay more attention to every move Hobert made.
Just before getting off the carriage, Hobert smiled at Klein and said, "Thanks to you for sealing its mouth in time. If you ever come to Backlund, remember to visit me at Aslan-Barton Law Firm. I'll host you well.
"And if you encounter any difficulties in Backlund, come find me. I have some connections there."
Klein smiled back. "You're brave, that's impressive. If you hadn't jumped into the yard first, I wouldn't have gone in."
Hobert replied with a double entendre, "I'm a 'Barbarian,' after all."
Klein was taken aback.
After saying this, Hobert naturally opened the door and got out of the carriage without it stopping.
Klein hurried to the carriage door and saw Hobert already standing on the street, waving at him.
He muttered, "Do Barbarians not care about how others see them?"
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