A woman consumed by ambition and greed like Maiko Maeda was nothing but a threat waiting to strike.
And Alex Carter had always believed in one simple rule:
Cut the grass without removing the roots, and it will grow back with the spring breeze.
Even if such actions seemed cold or ruthless, Alex knew that sparing enemies out of pity only led to regret in their line of work.
As for what would eventually happen to Maiko... Alex was certain her end would come.
"Don't worry, Judy. I won't lay a hand on her again."
"Thank you, Alex," Judy replied with a grateful smile.
Meanwhile, Liana Forrest frowned slightly.
Letting her go... because of a woman?
The Alex Carter she knew wouldn't make such a careless mistake.
Could it be…
Liana glanced suspiciously at Judy, and suddenly, a realization struck her.
Ah... classic scumbag behavior!
Alex turned his cold gaze back to Maiko one last time, then walked over to the coffee table and picked up a long blade resting on top.
The handle was made of sleek, modern materials, and the blade itself was jet black.
It was completely different from the legendary sword "Jue" he kept in his backpack.
But one thing was the same — both weapons were undeniably exceptional.
"Ding! Acquired Legendary Melee Weapon — [Claw Grinder]!"
Legendary Longsword: Claw Grinder
Details: A custom-crafted blade commissioned by Hiromi Sato. This weapon combines ancient sword-making techniques with modern materials. While ensuring high sharpness and durability, the insulated handle's integrated electronic element 083 also electrifies the blade upon activation.
Damn… in the game, this weapon's shock damage was just a cool bonus — but here? This is insane.
Alex hadn't expected to stumble upon such a powerful find.
Curious, Alex gripped the handle tightly.
A faint electrical hum buzzed along the black blade.
While there was no dramatic display of crackling lightning or glowing arcs, Alex knew from the distinct vibration in his hand that the Claw Grinder was now powered on.
Glancing around the room, Alex suddenly swung the blade down at the metal coffee table.
Shhhk!
With a flash of sparks and a swift black blur, the table split neatly in half.
The cut was precise, with only a faint scorched mark along the edges — a clear sign of the electric current surging through the blade.
"Damn... now this is a fine piece of work."
Alex admired the Claw Grinder in his hand, feeling a hint of pride.
While the blade's voltage didn't seem excessively powerful, it was more than enough to handle most enemies.
In this age — where cybernetic implants and electronic enhancements were common — a brief shock could easily disable an opponent long enough to end a fight in seconds.
Back in the game, Alex had relied almost entirely on a single melee weapon — the Sandevistan Blade.
Its incredible burst damage had always been enough.
He'd never even bothered with other legendary weapons like the Claw Grinder, Scalpel, or even rare blades like Jinchu-maru or the Black Unicorn.
But here...
These legendary blades are insanely powerful — just as good as Jue.
As Alex admired his new weapon, Judy's voice crackled through his comms.
"Alex, V and Jackie have made it out safely. No one's following them."
"Meet us back at the car — we'll regroup there."
"Got it."
With one last glance at the exhausted and defeated Maiko Maeda, Alex turned and walked out of the room without another word.
Meanwhile, back at the car, Liana quietly began compiling the data she had gathered during the mission.
She encrypted the files and sent them directly back to Kang Tao for analysis
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Advance chapter in PATREON
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