Seeing Richard’s action, Noel was shocked, having not anticipated that Richard would be bolder than he had thought—not merely threatening but directly attacking him. Noel hastily released a Magic Shield to prepare for defense.
However, due to his haste, the defensive power of the Magic Shield was too weak, and with a "whoosh," it was violently pierced by the Metal Needle Richard was holding. Then, with a "thud," the Metal Needle, following the path of his eyeball, pierced into his brain.
Noel’s entire body convulsed crazily, but he did not die. He reached out, still trying to pull out the Metal Needle. Right at that moment, with a "bang," the Metal Needle triggered an Air Explosion, and instantly, his head burst open like a watermelon smashed by a hammer.
Blood and flesh splattered towards Richard, who waved his hand, and the air condensed into a wall, which casually deflected it. Looking at Noel’s headless corpse, he said without expression, "I will not threaten you; I will just kill you. And this, this is how I got so many Magic Tools."
Having said this, Richard turned his head to the side.
His gaze swept past Teddy. Teddy shivered, backing away with his hands up, crying out, "That... Richard, we’re good friends, and I didn’t see anything. I haven’t done anything to wrong you. That’s right, when Master Eva asked me about your background, I even spoke well of you. You... you can’t lay a hand on me."
Richard couldn’t help but roll his eyes and, paying no heed to Teddy, looked past him towards Wizard Jenny.
Looking at Wizard Jenny, Richard seriously asked, "Wizard Jenny, you saw the evidence I presented, didn’t you? Do you now believe my words—that Wizard Bata died in an accident?"
Wizard Jenny’s face was taut, and she was pale. Hearing Richard’s question, she forced an ugly smile, saying, "I believe, I absolutely believe."
How could she not believe? If she didn’t, she would become the second corpse at the scene.
Richard nodded slightly: "Good if you believe."
In fact, he was aware that, although Wizard Jenny verbally expressed belief, she was absolutely convinced that he had killed Wizard Bata. He didn’t bother explaining; trying to would only make things worse.
Actually, whether or not he killed Bata hardly mattered. The same went for killing Noel.
Now that the final battle had begun, regardless of the outcome, the situation on East Sea Island would drastically change. By now, he had found the Black Spirit King’s ultimate treasure, and what he wanted to do was to take the treasure and slip away.
So, there was no need for too many concerns any longer. He naturally wouldn’t kill someone who was not causing him trouble lightly. But for those who couldn’t see the situation clearly and hindered him, he wouldn’t show mercy or get entangled with them.
Thinking these thoughts, Richard looked at Teddy and said irritably, "I hope you remember what I just said to you. Now do as I told you before and take the team to support them. Oh, and be careful out there. If Eva asks about me later, you don’t need to cover up anything; just tell the truth—I’ll handle it myself. I’m going to solve the problem underground now; that’s all."
With that, Richard walked into the passage without wasting any more time.
Teddy watched Richard’s figure disappear, first stunned, then muttered to himself with some realization, "So that’s how it is; you should have said so earlier, you had me scared out of my wits."
After saying that, Teddy turned his head to look at Wizard Jenny and said, "What do we do now? It’s just the two of us left. I’m planning to do as Richard said. Do you want to come with me?"
"Then that’s settled. Let’s go," said Teddy, walking off with Wizard Jenny to one side to prepare to notify Wu Long to assemble the team.
Before long, Wu Long led the team northward, but Teddy quietly returned to the original spot.
Walking up to Noel’s corpse, Teddy shook his head and sighed as he looked at it, "Ah, Wizard Noel, what am I to say about you? If only you had been a bit smarter, none of this would have been necessary. You know, even though I hardly knew you, your death still saddens me.
The thought of never seeing you again really upsets me. How about this, I’ll take something from you as a memento, something to look at when I miss you, it could also serve as a reminder to be smarter in life..."
While Teddy was speaking, he began stripping (to evade harmony) Magic Tools one by one from Wizard Noel’s body.
After he finished stripping (to evade harmony), Teddy was about to sneak away and catch up with the main troops. But as he turned around, he saw Wizard Jenny, who had somehow appeared, leaning against a withered tree a short distance away, watching him.
Teddy cried out and jumped back, falling onto his bottom.
Jenny looked over, smiling yet not quite smiling, and asked, "Why are you sitting on the ground, Wizard Teddy? Isn’t it cold? Speaking of which... what brought you back?"
"I..." Teddy got up and stuffed the Magic Tools into his chest, stammering as he spoke, "Well... the thing is, Wizard Jenny. I thought since Wizard Noel was one of our gathering’s own, it’d be cruel to just leave his body , so I came back to bury him. Yes, to bury him."
"Are you sure?" Wizard Jenny asked, "Have relations between us wizards in the gathering become so cordial?"
"Of course!" said Teddy.
"Alright then." Jenny shrugged her shoulders, not wanting to discuss the topic further, and made a face, "Then go ahead and bury him properly. And don’t forget, after you’re done, we have to split his Magic Tools evenly."
"Split evenly? Why?" Teddy was immediately agitated, hissing like a bristled wildcat.
"It’s simple, split what we find, haven’t you heard that principle?" Jenny replied calmly, "Besides, I am also Master Eva’s planted ’eye.’ To smooth things over with Master Eva won’t be easy. I can’t just waste my breath, right? Or perhaps, you’d like to explain to Master Eva how Noel died and what happened to his body?"
"I..." Teddy was at a loss for words and, after a long sigh, he somewhat resignedly said, "Fine, let’s do it your way."
"But..." Teddy thought of something else, voicing his doubt, "There are only five Magic Tools on Noel’s body, how can we split them evenly?"
"Simple, three for me, two for you."
"Fat chance, three for me, two for you would be more like it!" Teddy protested.
"Okay then." Wizard Jenny smiled faintly upon hearing this, "Deal."
"I..." Teddy was at a loss for words again, sensing that he was somehow at a disadvantage, but it was already said.
Regardless, Teddy ultimately chose two of the lesser Magic Tools and handed them over to Wizard Jenny. Afterward, he hastily buried Wizard Noel and joined Wizard Jenny to chase after Wu Long’s distant group of troops.
To the north, the sounds of battle grew louder.