The two guards beside him were rather alert, and promptly brought their steel shields together, blocking in front of him. However, when the pellet struck, these shields forged from refined steel seemed as fragile as paper, pierced straight through by force. The bodies of the two Martial Officer-level guards were riddled with countless bloody holes, their entire bodies forced back several steps. Even several bystanders nearby were affected, suffering serious injuries.

This scene sent chills down the spines of all who witnessed it. Everyone thought to themselves that these scions of noble families were simply lawless. The one who used a mechanical armor in broad daylight was certainly audacious, but the methods of this heir of the Duke of An were even more ruthless.

Daniel Harper was furious: “Charles, are you insane? You dare kill me?”

He thought that using mechanical armor less than ten li from the imperial palace was already madness. But this Charles was several times more vicious than him!

Those iron pellets were aimed right at him. If not for the two guards blocking for him just now, Daniel Harper might have died on the spot.

Charles said nothing, only smiled as he raised his other hand. Then, seven flying knives shot out from his sleeve with a ‘duo-duo’ sound, turning into several barely visible cold flashes, heading straight for Daniel Harper’s chest and abdomen.

Daniel Harper’s face turned ashen. Without thinking, he forcibly dragged the two guards wounded by the pellets in front of himself.

Sure enough, the sharpness of the flying knives surpassed even the pellets, not only piercing through the armor and bodies of the two men, but continuing on to strike Daniel Harper.

Fortunately, he wore inner armor beneath his clothes, barely protecting his vital points. Still, his arms and thighs were slashed by the blades, leaving two bloody lines.

With a miserable scream, Daniel Harper’s face turned pale and blue, fear showing in his eyes as he retreated step by step: “Charles, you bastard! Killing people in the street—do you know what crime that is?”

Charles had secretly regretted it earlier; the guards wounded by his pellets looked miserable, but their lives were not in danger. But now, dragged in front of Daniel Harper to block the knives, they were doomed. His ‘linked blade box’ hadn’t even been aimed at Daniel Harper’s vital points—he’d only meant to scare him—but now it had cost those two guards their lives.

However, upon hearing Daniel Harper’s words, Charles was completely unconcerned. While calmly reloading the pellet and flying knives into the box, he laughed loudly and shouted, “Someone come! There’s been a death here! The killer is Charles! The dead are guards from the Marquis of Linhuai’s household—”

Daniel Harper was furious, and seeing the deadly weapons in Charles’s sleeve nearly ready again, he immediately turned and ran, cursing as he went: “You just wait, Charles! In two months, when you lose your imperial pardon, when you lose that immunity token, I’ll see how you die!”

If today’s incident escalated, he would be the one to suffer. Charles had the emperor’s death immunity token at home, so no matter what, his life would not be forfeit. With the Star-Plucking Divine Armor, the Duke of An’s household would not lose their title—at most, they’d receive a slap on the wrist.

But as for him, Daniel Harper, he was the one who struck first, and the first to use mechanical armor. If things got out of hand and the authorities were alerted, he’d be the first to suffer.

It just so happened that Lord Lin was being reprimanded by His Majesty, and Empress Dowager Cian was gravely ill. For him to cause such a scene now—was he trying to anger the Empress Dowager to death?

This Charles was truly ruthless, and far too cunning.

Fortunately, in two months, it would be time for the Star-Plucking Divine Armor to choose a new master. Once he lost his title, there would be plenty of ways to deal with this scoundrel!

Daniel Harper fled in disgrace, and the three mechanical armors of the Marquis of Linhuai’s household lost all motivation to continue. They had already been struggling, and now took the opportunity to withdraw, making sure to collect the two corpses and all the seriously wounded before leaving.

No lives could be lost today, and the Jingzhao Prefecture must not be alerted to investigate, so not a trace could be left behind. No matter how many died, the Marquis of Linhuai’s household could only swallow their losses in silence.

Matthew Bolton and David FosterJames Foster had already stopped fighting, with no intention of pursuing, and Charles likewise had no desire to press the matter. He first watched coldly as Daniel Harper’s figure disappeared around the street corner, then turned and ran as well.

With such a commotion, the imperial palace was likely already alerted, and the armored guards of the Jingzhao Prefecture were probably on their way. Staying here any longer would be courting disaster. Even if no bodies or victims were found, just the crime of using mechanical armor in the capital would be enough to get him in trouble.

He, Charles, was indeed arrogant and ruthless, but he was no fool.

As long as he could escape today without being caught in the act, this incident would most likely be smoothed over.

“Tell your tower master! All the losses suffered by Qingyun Tower today will be put on the account. If the Marquis of Linhuai’s household refuses to pay, they can come to the Duke of An’s residence and find me, Charles!”

Charles had only run a few dozen steps before Matthew Bolton caught up. The burly giant picked Charles up and slung him over his shoulder, then dashed off like the wind, covering a li in an instant. Charles couldn’t help but let out a light laugh, and soon after, he heard the furious roar of the Qingyun Tower’s manager from far behind: “You two bastards, don’t ever come to my Qingyun Tower again!”

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