Liam sighed as he shut his sole of. He and his friends barely mao defeat the wave sisting of eight enemies. But when sixteen lizards appeared they almost gave up.

  After a short struggle they were wiped a back to the trial room. The dryad didn’t try to sole them but at least she allowed the party to use the teleporter.

  Since defeating monsters sed one’s red he party was good to go, returning to Duabalis.

  Although it was still somewhat early everyone decided to log of, clearly exhausted.

  Liam could see that his friends suffered a blow today. They didn’t get the st hit against the world boss and failed irial. Only the rich loot resting in their iories could uplift everyone’s spirits.

  But at least the world boss didn’t go to one of the guilds. It was cimed by an unknown pyer called Favored Son of aboul. At least acc to the annou.

  Liam put the matter at the back of his head. But wheook a drive home, messages were sent through the sole.

  [Cye: It feels terrible.]

  [Silver Bde: I know what you mean.]

  [Cye: Tomorrow we o level up! Let’s get that dungeon clear!]

  [Silent Acacia: Sure. But don’t be too disced. You ’t expect for everything to go perfect.]

  [Radiant Shield: Acacia is right. We are still the best party in the game. On top of that we got all the loot.]

  [Balm: Let’s sort out the loot tomorrow m to start the day with something happy.]

  [Fortune: I agree. But guys, I need some new material for videos. Since we agreed that I won’t share our leveling strat…]

  [Cye: Well, right now it’s difficult…]

  [Bleary Mirage: Let’s level up first. With our speed we will have a huge advantage. While I o make some preparations for the dungeon, you guys go questing. Afterwards it’s time for training!]

  [Cye: Training? *shivering emoji*]

  [Bleary Mirage: You look forward to it.]

  Liam chuckled and stopped paying attention to the versation as he reached Merida’s ic.

  When he went in, the doctor and his sister were still downstairs. Serena was happily assisting Katherin, g for a young boy who broke his hand.

  Thus, Liam went upstairs first, approag Merida’s apartment.

  Suddenly his ears twitched. The young man froze. A froeared on his face. But his expression quickly returo normal as he took the st step, leaving the stairs.

  Liam calmly approached the door. His finger reached for the numpad.

  4, 4, 9… 4

  A red light blinked on the numpad. Liam stopped for a moment, l his head slightly.

  “Hm. Must’ve remembered it wrong. Right! That’s it!”

  4, 4, 9, 3…

  With a click the door unlocked. Liam o himself as he ehe apartment.

  But the sed he crossed the door he suddenly turned his body. He smmed the door shut with all his power.

  “Ah!”

  A thud sounded out, followed by a startled, pained cry. A tremor ran through the door.

  Liam shoved it open again, lunging out of the apartment with his knee raised before him.

  Outside stood a man with a fused face, subsciously holding his head. He didn’t uand how Liam found him despite his usage of the [Stealth] skill.

  But how could the veteran fall for something this simple? Although this was the first time someone used skills against him in the real life, his many years of experienaturally honed his senses.

  The thief would’ve doer by using traditional martial arts instead of game skills against Liam.

  Now the thief was in a disadvantaged position. He couldn’t react fast enough as Liam’s knee smmed into his stomach.

  Seeing his oppo cramping in pain Liam still didn’t let up. He raised his hand above his head, activating [Brutal Strike] with a thought.

  A mysterious pulse spread from the sole through Liam’s body. His hand fell, striking heavily against the thief’s head.

  A strange sensation hit the tter’s body. His eyes showed horror as he was uo move. This was the power of game skills in the real world.

  Without hesitation Liam circled the thief, delivering a precise blow to the back of the tter’s head. Only now did he stop. He noticed the tension in his muscles which slowly receded.

  But a moment ter his eyes opened wide, full of astonishment. Instead of falling unscious the thief suddenly turned around.

  Although Liam used the game’s skills skillfully, he fot one important fact. He wasn’t the only orengthened by the sole.

  Something fshed in the dim stairway. Liam acted out of instinct. He reized the thief’s familiar movements subsciously. It was the [Lacerate] skill.

  Without thinking he jumped backwards. A k at him. Liam’s body froze. He looked in shock at the red color slowly soaking his white clothes. His heart beat wildly.

  A moment ter a noise brought him back to reality. He watched with chilling eyes as the thief sprinted dowairs.

  Bang!

  “Damn!”

  Liam puhe wall in anger. A mix of frustration and self-bme pressed on his heart.

  Looking dowared at the knife wound on his belly. It was only a small cut, but the burning pain spread through his body and mind.

  Liam felt the adrenaline pump through his body suppressing the pain in his fist.

  In his old life he took fighting as a sport. The enviro was trolled and the injuries never serious.

  In his new life the fights were more dangerous but even whe injured by some beasts Liam didn’t feel a threat like this. If he hadn’t reacted fast enough the thief might have given him a life-threatening injury.

  Thinking about the brawls which could be seen iy from time to time ever sihe game started, Liam couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.

  “Liam!”

  “Ah!”

  Anxious shouts drew Liam’s attentiourned his head, looking at Merida and Serena.

  His sister stared at the patch of blood on his body, her face paling, tears welling up in her eyes.

  Meanwhile Merida reacted with the professionalism of a doctor. She carefully pulled aside Liam’s clothes, iing the wound.

  “A shallow cut. But we o stitch it. e!”

  Liam meically followed behind the doctor. Serena and Merida could both see that he was affected by shock. The young girl trembled, her face filled with worry.

  A few mier Liam fell asleep in the ic, his wound skillfully bandaged. o him Serena was sitting on a chair, holding Liam’s hand, sleeping with her head on his thighs.

  About an hour ter a otion awoke the two siblings. Liam’s eyes blinked, opening slowly. His mind had calmed down a lot.

  “I apologize for disturbing your rest. But we need your testimony, mister…”

  Liam looked at the man and woman standio his bed. They wore red uniforms strangely simir to leather armor in Fate of aboul. An insignia on their chest identified them as part of the Federation Army.

  “Varsmith. Liam Varsmith.”

  “Mister Varsmith. We are Detective Sullen and Kolb, Federation Army, Falva Star Division, Iion Unit. you answer a few of our questions?”

  “Of course.”

  Naturally Liam had nothing to hide. He retold the earlier happenings truthfully. In this society where martial arts still hold a high position, Liam didn’t o fear punishment for attag someone who obviously tried to intrude into his home.

  The two detectives wrote down his testimony.

  “Thank you, mister Varsmith. In order to assist our iigation, I would ask you to e to our station within five days. We will create a model of the attacker.”

  “A model?”

  The detective looked somewhat strangely at Liam.

  “You will see.”

  “Sure. Thank you for your work.”

  “Don’t mention it. That’s it for today. We will let you rest now. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye.”

  Liam watched the detectives leave with a thoughtful expression.

  “Liam! I was so worried!”

  Turning his head, Liam looked at Serena’s distressed face.

  “I know, I know.”

  Liam patted the young girl’s head. But she wouldn’t have it, throwing her body forward and hugging her brhtly.

  “Ouh! Careful!”

  Liam felt a light tearing pain ing from his wound. But it was bearable, much better than before. A few mier the siblings separated, going back to the apartment.

  While Merida cooked some food, Liam sat on the couch, pying with a tablet. Out of curiosity he searched up on the iion unit.

  It looks like they are simir to the police but only responsible for iigations. The real frontations are handled by other units.

  Such departments are also part of the army?

  Reading suformation got Liam thinking. The iion unit sounded way less dangerous than those units responsible for proteg the city. And if suits exist, what about even less dangerous ones?

  Maybe I should take a look. If I join the army, the happenings of today are less likely to repeat. It be seen from old Ben that even the gangs iy don’t dare to mess with the army.

  “Liam! Serena! Dinner!”