Mage Manual
Chapter 337 - Chapter 337 Chapter 285 Youre Not Even Willing to Call Me

Chapter 337: Chapter 285: You’re Not Even Willing to Call Me Dad_2 Chapter 337: Chapter 285: You’re Not Even Willing to Call Me Dad_2 If it were someone else, Ash would definitely agree to sacrifice one person for the happiness of many, but the problem was that he was the one to be sacrificed. Clearly, he wasn’t going to let himself be captured without a fight.

Prepare for the worst…

Click.

Ash heard the sound of a safety being disengaged, then felt something hard against his lower back.

“Are kids’ rebellious phases this intense these days?”

However, Ash quickly realized why Liss was so aggressive–the sound of a floating car whizzing past was a massive psychological burden for the escapees.

They were riding on a tree-lined path on the very edge of the highway. Although it was night, the infrastructure in the Kingdom of Gospel was incredibly well-developed, with lights every ten steps, making the highway as bright as a graveyard during the day.

But Hanna and the others didn’t do anything special. Only after the floating car had passed did Banjee explain, “That was an express cargo vehicle, fully automated with no driver. We haven’t been discovered yet.”

“But what about the surveillance cameras on the vehicle?” Igula asked, “If our movements were caught on camera…”

The main reason Hanna chose to escape the city instead of staying in Azura to fight a guerrilla war was the abundance of surveillance cameras in the city. Whether it was the Red Hats or regulatory offices, they preferred to use surveillance via the Gospel Book–cameras didn’t have the high confidentiality level of natural persons.

Once they had any trace in the cameras, others only needed to spend some points to obtain their last known location, and it was both legal and a civil right.

“This vehicle is headed for Level 2 City, Omido. People from Azura, even using the Gospel Book, couldn’t possibly access camera data across cities from Omido. By the time they discover our traces, it would be the day after tomorrow at the earliest.”

“By then, we’ll already be in another city.”

Hanna led the way on her bicycle off the main road into a side path, and the group followed. Soon, they arrived at a small hill, or rather, a gentle slope that wasn’t even as tall as the fir trees on either side of the highway.

“This should be it…”

Hanna signaled everyone to get off their bikes, and she and Banjee began searching around.

With some free time, Ash glanced at the hand cannon in Liss’s hand. “Where did that come from?”

“I bought it from the Veil,” Liss said, “The ‘Child’s Play Arms Package.’ Besides ten boxes of gun bullets, it also includes one box of kitty bullets, one box of puppy bullets, and a very rare box of chubby bullets! Only one in ten packages contains these!”

“Do those special bullets serve any purpose?”

“They look cool! Biubiubiu! If you shoot someone with them, they’ll be happy, right?”

“That children can buy a gun in the Veil and have it delivered to their home… it’s much more open than Blood Moon.” Ash lowered the gun muzzle with his hand, “Remember to not point the gun at people, and your safety is off… let me take care of it.”

“No!”

Liss showed a fierce, protective expression, shaking her head determinedly while clinging tightly to her hand cannon, “We… Liss needs to protect herself with the hand cannon!”

“I will protect you, have you forgotten our Contract–”

“But you are not sincere.”

Ash’s hand was swatted away and he blinked. The understanding built over the past days of leisure shattered with that gesture.

The little girl with white hair showed a hint of sadness on her face. She looked down at her toes and spoke in a suppressed voice, “You actually hate me, don’t you? I had to drag you into signing the Contract to protect me… Who would want a daughter who only brings trouble?”

“If there had been no danger, we could continue playing the father-daughter game.” She gripped the hand cannon tightly. “But the game is over now.”

Harvey and Igula glanced at them then turned to keep watch.

Ash looked at the little hedgehog in front of him, but he wasn’t very surprised.

As Liss said, their relationship had been just an act. Initially, Liss wanted to maintain a superficial father-daughter relationship to deceive Hanna. But these peaceful days had been so numerous that Ash would subconsciously turn his head at the sound of ‘dad.’

The illusion of peaceful times had been shattered, and it was time to return to the harsh reality of life or death.

That being said…

Ash crouched in front of Liss, eye-level with her.

“When getting your hair braided by Aunt Bokin, be nicer. The trick is to tie an ugly braid first, and then she can’t stand it.”

“Okay.”

“When playing games, it’s best to go with Banjee and then Harvey, but remember not to go into his room.”

“Okay.”

“And when you approach the Miss…”

Liss couldn’t listen anymore and grabbed his sleeve, fidgeting with it.

“Aren’t you going to care about me anymore?”

Ash raised his eyebrows, “Didn’t you say the game was over? From now on, we’re strangers. At most, due to the limitations of our Contract, I’ll come to rescue you when you’re in danger.”

“I didn’t say it was over forever,” Liss muttered.

“So, what do you mean? Summon Ash when there’s trouble, but ‘Dad’ when there isn’t? Be comrades in danger, but father and daughter in peace?”

Liss squirmed, pouting, “Can’t it be like that?”

Ash said, “You already said you hate me, why should I cooperate with you? You don’t listen to me, should I listen to you?”

Tears welled up in the little girl’s eyes. She pulled out a small mirror and looked down without speaking. After a moment, she reluctantly offered the hand cannon to Ash. He reached and pulled lightly at first, then forcefully snatched it away.