Her face displayed a look of aggrieved innocence as she accused the man in the black robe opposite her.

Gregory Lawrence couldn’t help but marvel at the quick change of expression.

Arnold Simmons pulled the person in front of him and checked, "Are you hurt?"

Hannah shook her head, her gaze drifting back to the man in the black robe.

Arnold Simmons also looked over.

The man in the black robe maintained only one posture, and if it weren’t for his hand clutching at Gregory Lawrence’s neck, one could easily mistake him for a puppet or a mannequin.

It was too unreal.

Arnold Simmons frowned slightly, "Who are you?"

While Arnold Simmons sized up the man in the black robe, the man was also sizing him up.

After his gaze lingered on Hannah for a while, the man in the black robe averted his eyes, his voice hoarse, "Desolace."

As soon as the words were out, Hannah, holding her sword, was about to rush forward, but Arnold Simmons grabbed her.

"What are you doing?"

Hannah replied unhappily, "I asked him his name several times just now, and he didn’t answer. He’s obviously targeting me on purpose!"

She was very angry.

Fuming.

Firmly opposed to differential treatment!

Arnold Simmons found it amusing and pulled her back into his arms, attempting to take the long sword from her hand as well.

Hannah didn’t want to give it to him and gripped the sword a bit tighter.

Arnold Simmons was very patient, his voice tender as he coaxed her, "Be good, give it to me."

With a huff of air, Hannah reluctantly handed the sword over.

Arnold Simmons smiled, rubbing her head and smoothing out her ruffled hair.

The man in the black robe and Gregory Lawrence had completely turned into a backdrop.

"Excuse me, does anyone remember me?" Gregory Lawrence waved his hand.

Hannah finally deigned to glance at him. "If it weren’t for your running around, I would have already killed that ’Desolace’ by now."

She uttered the word "killed" in a sweet and gentle tone, which somehow sounded eerie.

It sent chills down one’s spine.

Gregory Lawrence chuckled, knowing it was his fault.

"It was an accident."

The man in the black robe’s gaze fell on Hannah again, clearly dissatisfied with her words.

But he couldn’t refute.

If it hadn’t been for this man suddenly colliding into him and getting caught, he might really have died under that girl’s sword by now.

She was very skilled.

Arnold Simmons looked down, into Hannah’s eyes, his voice deepened. "Kill who?"

Hannah pursed her lips, pointing at the man in the black robe, and once again tattled, "Him, he tried to kill me just now."

That was the truth.

Arnold Simmons once again cast his gaze toward the man in the black robe.

His face impassive, betraying neither joy nor anger, yet still managing to convey an overwhelming sense of oppression.

The man in the black robe didn’t speak.

Meeting strangers in the Blackwood Forest at this time almost always meant they were more likely foes than friends.

Gregory Lawrence felt that a fight might be about to break out.

He knew Arnold Simmons’s strength, as well as Hannah’s, so he wasn’t worried about them.

Just himself.

Worried about being accidentally injured.

"Brother, may I... say something?"

Gregory Lawrence spoke up in a timid voice.

The man in black said, "Speak."

Gregory Lawrence said, "Could you release me before you start fighting? I’m worried about getting caught in the crossfire."

Silence.

A prolonged silence.

Only Gregory Lawrence could maintain such a carefree demeanor, "I’m just learning from experience; I’ve already been accidentally injured several times earlier, even got pushed into a tree by her."

He sneaked a look at Hannah.

Hannah gave him a smile.

Looking harmlessly sweet yet unnervingly chilling.

"I was wrong."

He readily admitted his mistake.

Only then did Hannah look away.

The man in the black robe weighed his options and after a moment said again, "Can’t beat them."

Gregory Lawrence wanted to turn his head, but couldn’t, as his neck was still being gripped.