Without knowing that her currently somewhat brain-dead brother would evolve into the ultimate creature decades later, Veronica immediately hugged Leon's waist, dragging his pale-faced self from the soft, sponge-like ground.
"I'm fine... I'm okay..."
After spitting twice, trying to eject the cheese-cake-like floor tile from his mouth, Leon, feeling almost completely drained, hastily disabled the Holy Spirit pendant's ability to alter reality. Then he pulled out the [Plague-Infected Blood Band], attempting to place it on his injured left shoulder.
"Do I need to wrap this bandage?"
Understanding Leon's intent, Veronica quickly took over the bandage, efficiently wrapping it around Leon's left shoulder, and as per Leon's instruction, held his right hand against the bloodstained bandage.
Accompanied by the release of 'health' from the bandage, a tooth-aching sound of bones rubbing together emerged. Leon's fractured left clavicle slowly returned to place, and the shattered pieces of his scapula reassembled.
Soon, a small metal ball, smaller than a pea and seemingly crushed by bones, was squeezed out from Leon's shoulder as his bones and muscles resumed their positions.
Was this... a pellet from a child's slingshot?
After seeing the fallen object clearly, Leon's brows instantly knitted tightly, a trace of genuine bewilderment flickering in his gaze.
After the Demon series badges upgraded to Gold Level, the range of his soul vision had almost extended to three kilometers, but he hadn't detected any killing intent within his range just seconds ago, indicating the attacker's position was beyond his maximum sight.
Even if he were "fixed" in the air for better aiming, someone capable of shattering his scapula from a distance of at least three kilometers with a small, soft lead projectile must have shooting skills far surpassing human abilities, suggesting it was some Anomalous Object Ability at play.
But... for him to forego using the Holy Spirit pendant and opt for remote sniping was a snap decision. How had the opponent predicted this?
Could it be... causality? Foresight?
With such an exceedingly powerful ability, wouldn't one save or rule the world instead of hitting him with a single lead pellet? *Isn't this just absurdly insane?*
While Leon was racking his brains over the situation, a somewhat hurried footstep echoed from a distance.
Tracing the sound, Leon discovered a maid from the Ryan Family stealthily creeping around a nearby building, approaching where he had fallen.
Impossible… To fall from such a height and not die?
Controlling the maid to peek through the small kitchen window with caution towards where the "demon" had fallen, upon seeing Leon unscathed except for a bandage on his shoulder, a short man with an injured thigh couldn't help but gnash his teeth and hammer the floor in frustration.
Should he control a guard, find a gun, and then... um...
Watching the demon, who slowly turned their gaze in 'his' direction and gradually smirked, the maid and the short man controlling her both shivered simultaneously, promptly pretending to faint on the spot.
Meanwhile, from the second floor of another building several dozen meters away, a figure abruptly leaped down, rushed toward the warehouse where the short man resided, kicked open the door, and fled carrying his "out-of-body" self.
One should know contentment!
To escape with his life from such a demon was an enormous stroke of luck. Any greed for attempting further assassination would surely cost him even this last chance of escape!
Strange... Could it be there are no more ambushes?
Narrowing his eyes, Leon, reaching for the director's hair, couldn't quite grasp the enemy's motive as he watched the short man fleeing in panic within his soul vision.
After remaining on alert for a while and confirming the assassination attempt was truly over without any other rebels emerging, Leon breathed a sigh of relief, yet still found himself puzzling over it.
Those rebels went through so much trouble only to hit him with a single lead pellet—was that all there was to it? What were they after?
"Leon, the bandage seems to have stopped."
At that moment, a cautious reminder sounded.
Following Princess Veronica's prompt, Leon examined the bandage on his shoulder. It was then he realized the "health" stored within had been depleted, yet his shoulder hadn't fully healed.
Hmm... With little health left in the Plague-Infected Blood Band originally, using it today first to heal a slovenly old man, then the princess's fainting, and now his shattered shoulder, it was no surprise it's depleted. Replenishing it will suffice.
"Stay close behind me; don't wander too far," he instructed the princess, before using his soul vision to inspect the vicinity. Discovering a nearby building was a kitchen with a few live chickens and ducks inside, he then moved with the princess in tow to restock the [Plague-Infected Blood Band]'s consumed health.
"Cluck cluck, cluck cluck!"
Entering the kitchen, Leon was just about to grab one of the bound chickens or ducks to drain some life force for his recovery when he glimpsed a pair of curious wide eyes amidst the fluttering creatures.
"Big brother, who are you guys?"
"We're here to fetch some chickens and ducks."
Carefully examining the little girl's soul and confirming she wasn't a rebel in disguise, Leon hesitated after catching a fat chicken. Considering the creatures tied by the [Plague-Infected Blood Band] died horrifically, he refrained from acting immediately but instead attempted to cover the little girl's eyes with his other hand.
As Leon lifted his left hand, his not fully healed scapula sent a piercing pain through him, causing him to inhale sharply, realizing it wasn't currently within his capability, he turned to face the princess outside the kitchen.
"Your Highness, I can't lift my left hand. Please take the child outside first."
"Just call me Veronica."
Nodding in agreement with Leon's request, Veronica, without a hint of disdain, picked up the dirty little girl and carried her out of the kitchen. Apparently fond of children, the princess affectionately nudged her forehead against the girl's, smiling gently, as she coaxed:
"Aren't you sweet? Come on, tell me your name."
Blinking her crystal-like big eyes, the little girl extended her ash-dusted hand and patted it forcefully on the princess's pale bust, then answered with utter seriousness:
"Phoebe. Granny, my name is Phoebe!"
Hearing the little girl's address, the princess, now approaching twenty-eight and thus considered an older young woman, couldn't help but have her expression freeze. Clamping her small cheek, she feigned annoyance as she corrected:
"Sister! It's sister!"
The little girl said while reaching up to pat her chest once more.
"No calling me Granny! Call me sister, I'll give you candy. Call me Granny again and sister will spank your butt!"
"Then... give me candy first."
Surveying her dress with no pockets, the princess, unable to make bricks without straw, rolled her eyes before resorting to a white lie:
"Of course, there's candy, but sister left her money behind. When she gets some, she'll buy it for you!"
Watching the little girl call her Granny, slapping her chest every time, leaving it smudged with soot, Princess Veronica helplessly chuckled, abandoning any hope of correcting her.
Following a screeching sound as though slaughtering a chicken, Leon within the kitchen finished his task and rewrapped the bandage around his shoulder.
"Sorry for the intrusion, here's the money for the chicken."
Nodding at the beautiful woman cradling the child at the doorway, Leon slipped her two Silver Wheels, managing to resist the urge to glance at her bust. One leg was now straddled on the Witch's Broom, he took off toward the Purification Bureau.
Why did he give me money?
Standing there dumbfounded for a moment, Princess Veronica lowered her head puzzled, examining the two Silver Wheels Leon handed her.
What's this supposed to mean? A breakup fee?
"Granny! Now you have money!"