"Are you seeking death?"
Just as Jacob's chilly voice trailed off, he yanked his hand, which was clenching the air, and the next moment, a suffocating shrill rang before Water Wave's figure materialized in everyone's view.
The shimmering blue disc under her feet also lost its luster and fell on the ground as well as a short purple sword fell with it.
If he hadn't used his 15X acceleration for a moment and reacted fast, she would've stabbed him in the head, which was not something Jacob would take kindly after the event a few hours ago!
However, Hallberg nor Stone Hammer paid any attention to the disc as they looked at the Water Wave's pale face as she struggled under Jacob's grip and was on the verge of suffocating to death. She was like a mannequin under Jacob's grip, which was about to lose its head.
But Jacob didn't kill her since it would make the matter end. He wanted to know why the hell this woman, who he had never seen before, wanted to take a shot at his life. Not to mention she did it right in front of Hallberg and in the Dark City.
It was a huge risk that only a lunatic would take who either had no other choice or held a deep grudge against Jacob.
Before she could suffocate and lose consciousness, he waved his hand and threw her in front of Hallberg and Stone Hammer before he coldly said, "You owe me an explanation, Your Excellency."
His tone was exempt from any emotion, which sent chills to both Hallberg and Stone Hammer's spines and the scene of Jacob easily taking care of Water Wave and holding her like a little girl under his grip played in their mind again and again.
The next moment, Jacob picked up the disc, and without any explanation, he stowed it away. Now he had perfect justification for taking it back since it was used against him, and Hallberg won't be able to object.
'This disc's exact rank might not be a type-1. I need to research it more and make more countermeasures. Especially to get rid of that cloaking effect. But this cloaking effect was different from those guys as I was able to sense her killing intent when she was a few feet away from me, and her heartbeat became clearer.
'But those guys are too strange as they appeared out of thin air without making any sound or releasing any kind of intent. This might be something to have to do with them being mutants…' Jacob thought grimly as he analyzed the two attacks.
In comparison to the assassination attempt earlier today, Water Wave's attempt was too predictable and easy to counter.
'Cough *pant* cough…'
Water Wave's violent coughing drew Jacob's attention again since it was more important right now to find what drove this woman to try this stunt.
"Y-you… you… why!?" Hallberg was literally trembling with rage and agitation as if he would explode. He never thought this entire pleasing meeting would be turned nasty because of his side's idiocy.
Furthermore, he had some idea about why Water Wave or Stone Hammer held a grudge against Jacob, but he didn't know the specifics of why Water Wave took this kind of drastic action.
As Stone Hammer said earlier, Water Wave was a ration person and one of the oldest nobles in the Dark City, and she should know better than anyone that once she crossed a certain line, it was over for her, but she still ended up crossing it anyway.
He was usually busy with his research and alchemy, so he paid little attention to these dark nobles' personal affairs. He only knew these two in the Dark Viscount circle personally, while the others never had seen his face.
The Rare Plains was never his focus of concern anyway, so he had very little interest or connections with it. Meeting with Jacob was also a matter which was unrelated to the Rare Plains, and he felt he was the only person who was worth it.
However, he never expected things would turn this ugly this quickly, and now he lost face as well as credibility in the other party's eyes, and he was furious as well as somewhat relieved.
Furious naturally because things turned out like this as he felt betrayed by someone he trusted while relieved because Jacob didn't outright start killing people.
Jacob gave him face and a chance by sparing Water Wave, and this also made him even more humiliated as the Dark Earl of the Dark City.
Water Wave slowly gained some color on her face, but the fear of almost kissing death was evident in her eyes, "I-I… I don't remember…" A hint of bewilderment flashed past her eyes at this moment as if she was in complete disbelief.
"You fool!" Hallberg was livid and almost kicked her.
"I know why she did it." It was Stone Hammer who spoke with a rueful expression, "You should use giants are very protective of our brethren. Especially our family or spouse. A Giant can hold a grudge upon his tribe men's death, and a blood feud is forged when a family member or a spouse is killed.
"Over a week ago, when over five hundred people died by Faceless Ancient, there was also a Universal Mercenary giant named Fire Cannon, who was killed as well. He was Water Wave suppose, so she did what she did for revenge driven by her natural instincts."
Hallberg almost had a stroke when he heard the truth, "And you're only telling me about this important matter right now?!"
Stone Hammer bitterly lowered his head, "She assured me she wouldn't do anything out of the line as long as that man was Lord Hallberg's guest, and she also wanted to see herself if revenge was possible or not. Even I didn't expect her to take action right when she got the chance."
"You both! Get out of my face!" Hallberg was too furious even to stand still as his entire face was red with anger, "Dark Rose, punish Dark Viscount Water Wave for her current treasonous action according to Dark City law. You have full authority!"
"NO! I didn't do it because I want! I was controlled by that evil treasure!" Water Wave was ashen as she finally snapped out of her stupor while she tried to defend herself with a horrified expression.
She then looked at Jacob, who was just listening from the side as a bystander, and madness filled with hatred shone in her eyes as she pointed her finger at Jacob and menacingly roared, "H-him! It's his scheme to get rid of me and put you in a difficult position so he could easily manipulate you! You have to believe me, Stone Hammer. I would never do such a foolish thing!"
A hint of hesitation flashed past Stone Hammer's eyes as he looked deep into Water Wave's eyes, and he didn't find them the eyes of someone who was lying. As a Giant, he knew despite their hot temper and arrogance, they were not idiots.
It was given that some of them were driven by pure emotions and didn't back down from a challenge, but Water Wave wasn't one of them as she was ration, and he was also not someone who would seek death just for the small grudge of Jacob killing giants.
He knew Jacob was stronger than him, and seeking trouble with him was akin to throwing his life. It was even more clear after he took out such a treasure like that disc.
But Water Wave's actions were completely different from her usually calm and collective character.
"Bang…"
Before Stone Hammer could even pacify his inner struggle, he was shocked by Hallberg when he threw a vicious kick right on Water Wave's face, and it wasn't just a normal kick but a kick from someone at the extraordinary tier-6 being.
She was already drained out of her mana as well as in a weakened state because of Jacob's manhandling her, so she couldn't even react as she was sent flying and smacked into a wall, raising a cloud of dust.
Hallberg's eyes were colder than ice as he uttered while looking at the dusty area where Water Wave had just landed, "Do you think I'm some sort of pushover just because I never interfere with you guys' businesses?
"Today, you humiliate me and try to harm my guest, and not only you're not admitting it. You even try to twist reasons?" He then looked at Stone Hammer, stunned by this sudden outburst of Hallberg, and said in an equally cold tone, "Take her away to the castle jail. She will be judged by Dark Rose there. If you do anything silly, you'll see more of me. Now get the hell out of my face."
Stone Hammer, a giant at this moment, felt fear from a Dwarf and didn't dare even to speak a word as he walked toward Water Wave, who had a bloody face and her nose was broken, and she had lost consciousness.
Hallberg ignored the pair and looked at Jacob, who hadn't interfered with him from the start. He sighed ruefully before he bowed his head, "I apologize!"