Chapter 432: [Type III Integrated Scalpel]

Jieli was, of course, not a professional of any kind.

He hadn't even mastered the most basic "combat techniques," relying only on the pirated manuals sold by the basketful in the general store to learn a few useless, superficial moves.

His actual combat ability was likely inferior to the strong laborers who spent their days hauling cargo at the Broken Wave Pier.

It was just that, being an orphan, he had no parents to support, and as a bachelor, he had no responsibilities toward a wife or children.

With no family to worry about, he didn't have to fear that his loved ones would be retaliated against if he struck someone, nor did he have to consider whether anyone would worry if he got into trouble during a fight, or how his family would survive if he were no longer their pillar of support.

People who possess a happy and fulfilling life always choose to avoid conflict when faced with unreasonable provocation.

This was precisely one of the reasons why a hoodlum like Jieli, whose physique was considered small even among ordinary people, could be so arrogant in the streets of the Saltwater District.

Furthermore, the extreme lack of regulatory agencies and the jungle-like survival of the fittest laws meant that as long as these idlers didn't cause too much trouble or push an honest person to the brink of retaliation, they could often live a life of sufficient food and clothing by leeching off the ordinary residents, even without doing any work.

In his past life, Xia Nan had been an ordinary white-collar worker. Faced with such a hoodlum, he might not have been overly submissive due to his personality, but unless his bottom line was crossed, he would have felt it wasn't worth risking his life against such people.

Right now, on the Aifala Dalu, the situation had changed.

The existence of transcendental power stretched the disparity in individual strength to an extremely exaggerated degree; meanwhile, the backward and decaying regulatory system made "death" a common occurrence in certain areas.

Especially when the target of that death was an orphan hoodlum who contributed nothing to society and whom no one cared about... who would even bother to care?

The shop owners being extorted for "security fees"? Or the so-called brothers who were laughing and drinking together one second and turning their backs the next?

Clearly, Jieli understood this as well.

He had great self-awareness; just like how, no matter how excited he had been earlier, he had always maintained restraint, never causing substantial or malicious harm to that unlucky stall owner who was behind on "security fees," and he had never killed anyone.

Right now, facing these two powerful adventurers who appeared to be of professional rank, he didn't even have the slightest thought of resistance.

Especially after his two idiot subordinates, who hadn't understood the situation, had their arms snapped in the blink of an eye.

Jieli acted even more obediently than the most loyal house dog.

Kneeling on the ground, hands covering his head, he bent his body and pressed his face firmly against the surface of the alley wall, letting his already crooked nose bridge be squeezed and deformed.

Never mind saying harsh words; he didn't even dare to take a single look.

Rubbing the small silver-black snake that had just slithered back onto his wrist with his fingertips, Haian stood behind the three of them, her expression appearing somewhat strange.

"So, you really did see it this morning? Several members of the Great Shark Gang tied up a young woman and put her into a carriage?"

"I, I really only know that much, my lord!"

Jieli's panicked and fearful tone formed a sharp contrast with his arrogant demeanor when threatening the stall owner earlier; combined with his shivering body and trembling voice, he looked even more pathetic.

"I just happened to pass by and see it, and then they grabbed me to help keep watch. I really don't know anything else..."

"I swear in the name of the Goddess of the Ocean, if there is a single word of falsehood in what I, Jieli, have said, may I fall into hell after death and suffer eternal torment!"

In this world where gods truly existed, daring to make such an oath was enough to prove that what he said was true.

Hearing the other party explain it this way, the expression on Haian's face couldn't help but become even more subtle.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

She had only just heard about the disappearance of Baron Faluo's daughter, and then she found a relevant clue; it was as if it had all been arranged.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but look at the black-haired young man beside her who had been silent since just now, recalling everything that had happened in these past few minutes.

Originally, the two of them were on their way back to the Three-Footed Sea Dog Tavern from the Association, and she was anxious to explain the situation to the captain of her team. But they hadn't walked long before Xia Nan, who was accompanying her, said he had encountered an "acquaintance" and forcibly pulled her into the alley beside the street.

And then they ran into these three hoodlums.

She didn't know if it was a guilty conscience or if the other party had already made a discovery.

After they snapped the arms of the two lackeys in front of the hoodlum with the crooked nose, who was suspected to be the leader named "Jieli."

Jieli immediately knelt and begged for mercy.

There was no need for any interrogation; Xia Nan just asked a few vague questions like "What did you do before going to the general store?" and "You seem to look very excited," and the other party, begging while kneeling on the ground, told them everything.

In fact, even Xia Nan himself hadn't expected that this little hoodlum would actually be related to the Baron's daughter's disappearance.

His perception ability, reaching as high as 12 points, made him incomparably confident in his intuition.

When he ran into these people at the "Salmon Roe" general store this morning, he had vaguely felt that they didn't look right, as if they were in an excited and indulgent state.

Later, the sudden increase in guards on the street and the specific situation he learned through the tavern owner Hela made him instinctively link these hoodlums to the disappearance of the Baron's daughter.

Now that he happened to run into them on the way back, he naturally had to go over and ask; it wouldn't waste much time, and he might even find some clues.

And the facts proved that Xia Nan's belief in his instinct was correct.

However, what he had not expected was that this act, stemming from his body's intuition, would actually yield an unexpected harvest.

Rubbing his fingertips, feeling the cold, smooth, and hard touch in his palm, he lowered his head slightly and shifted his gaze downward.

What came into view was a small dagger with an extremely strange design.

It was about fifteen centimeters long and entirely silver-white, clearly made from a very delicate and special metal. It looked as if it had been molded in one piece; the blade and handle were integrated, with no traces of welding or assembly visible, revealing the excellent forging techniques contained within.

The overall design was even more peculiar: the handle part occupied two-thirds of the total length, and the cross-section was a flat oval shape for easy gripping. It seemed to have been deliberately designed, with streamlined undulations in the middle of the handle that fit the muscle curves of the palm perfectly when held, and the feel was silky smooth.

The blade part was only one-third the length of the whole, appearing restrained and subtle, but the tapered edge was exceptionally sharp, so thin that it almost lost the tactile sense of its metal material.

The strength of this dagger was very average; an ordinary person with a little extra strength could bend it. The overly thin blade seemed to have been specially crafted for some kind of special purpose; the edges were extremely sharp, but the sides of the blade had no toughness to speak of.

Never mind using it for combat; even if used as a skinning knife for harvesting loot materials, it was completely useless. Just a little improper force would easily cause it to break or have a negative effect on the prey's materials.

Its true utility should be for some kind of fine-cutting operation on fragile flesh.

Xia Nan didn't know what the people on the Aifala Dalu would think if they saw this kind of tool, nor did he know if similar tools existed in this world.

But as far as he was concerned, he couldn't be more familiar with this small knife.

Focusing his attention quietly, the attribute panel appeared in the void around the dagger.

【Type III Integrated Scalpel】

Type: Dagger

Level: /

Introduction:

An ordinary and common scalpel. The experience of time-space travel did not make it any tougher; it is useless outside of the operating table... perhaps you can use it to peel an apple? ===== CHAPTER 433 =====