"Why not?" Ron stood right behind Bryan as he pushed the dagger further inside his chest. He grabbed Bryan's throat from behind as he whispered coldly, "You've served your purpose now, Bryan."

Bryan coughed a mouthful of blood as he tried to get free from Ron's hold. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Ron to betray him. No, not just him! But the entire Strike Team.

Over the past few months, he had thought that his relationship with Ron was pretty good. In fact, apart from Andrew and Elijah, Ron was the one who was the most welcoming toward him.historical

He recalled the time when he had first joined the Silver Owls and how Ron had shown him around. He recalled the time when all the members of the Strike Team had gone to Ron's house for that small get-together.

What hurt Bryan the most was when he thought back to how Ron had comforted him that winter morning at the cemetery. That was the day of the funeral for Jamie and Ella. Bryan was so heartbroken and lost that day, he didn't know what to do.

It was Ron who gave him words of comfort that day. He was the one who had shown Bryan a ray of hope amidst all the grief and anguish.

And now, as Bryan saw the silver dagger protruding from within his chest, he couldn't help but feel lost once again. Everything seemed to have come to a standstill as Bryan thought back to the good times and the tough ones that he had spent with Ron.

At this point, he didn't feel a shred of anger inside him. All he felt was heartbroken, betrayed, and disappointment.

With great difficulty, he endured the pain in his chest and managed to turn his back to get a look at Ron. The latter's eyes had now turned red! Bryan's eyes widened in disbelief as he came to a realization, "S-So you're one of t-them..."

Ron chuckled coldly, "Of, course! I have always been a member of the Holy Blood Sect. I've spent a decade undercover in the Strike Team. And now, I can finally embrace my true self."

He removed the dagger from Bryan's chest, causing the latter to spew out another mouthful of blood. Ron then grabbed his head and smashed it on the ground.

BAM!!

Spider web-shaped cracks framed upon the point of impact, however, Bryan didn't even produce a sound. His mind was overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events and he felt everything shattering around him.

Ron crouched down over Bryan's body as he placed his knee over the latter's back, effectively pinning him down.

With great familiarity, he then proceeded to remove Bryan's bracers that hid the mystiko blades within. After spending so much time with him and even sparring with him on many occasions, Ron knew almost everything about Bryan.

Bryan didn't even put up any resistance as he listlessly allowed Ron to take away his secret weapons. In his mind, he kept thinking about the reason why Ron, whom he considered to be a good friend of his, would suddenly betray him.

Tears started to stream down his eyes as he muttered under his breath, "Why?"

Ron twirled his daggers in the air and stabbed them both accurately on both of Bryan's wrists and pinned him to the ground. He then sat on Bryan's back and looked at him with an amused smile, "Why? It's simple. Because this was the mission given to me by my master."

"Mission..." Bryan smiled bitterly, "For such a thing, you were willing to live a decade of your life in a lie...you were willing to form close bonds with others around you only to betray them in the end.... How pathetic! You truly know how to keep secrets..."

Ron brought his face closer to Bryan's ears as he smirked, "I can't keep secrets as good as you. Isn't that right? Bryan Medici?"

Bryan's pupils contracted as his vision gained focus. His heartbeat began to increase rapidly as he stared at Ron in utter shock, "H-How did you know!!?"

"Hahahahaha!" Ron laughed loudly as he saw the change in Bryan's expression, "We've always known."

'We!!?' Bryan was alarmed as he thought inwardly, 'Impossible! I've never divulged this to anyone, not even my teacher. Then ho-'

However, his thoughts came to an abrupt halt when he thought back to how he had found the scroll that detailed the Theft Path's Rank 1 potion and meditation technique on Anthony's corpse!

Everything was now falling into place. Bryan was slowly beginning to understand the whole conspiracy, 'They placed the scroll on Anthony's corpse! They were always watching me! They wanted me to embark on the Theft Path!'

But one thing he couldn't understand was why they were after him. He didn't have anything on him that would garner the attention of the Holy Blood Sect.

'Do they want the silver pocket watch that I have?' Bryan wondered. However, he soon shook this thought. Although, space-type storage artifacts were rare. It's not like they were absolutely unavailable.

A Transcendent need only pool in a massive amount of wealth and use all his connections to try and get one. Although it was difficult to acquire it, it wasn't impossible.

Bryan thought of all the possibilities he could. Suddenly, his eyes fell on the entrance of the coal mine which was currently being guarded by Alfredo. His eyes widened as he thought of a possibility!

He looked at Ron and asked through gritted teeth, "W-What's inside this ancient ruin?"

Ron raised his eyebrows as he looked at Bryan, "Oh? So you figured it out?"

He then nodded his head as he rubbed his chin, "Hmm, I'm not surprised. You were always quick-witted. Indeed, we need you to access the thing that lies in the depth of this ancient ruin. More precisely, we need your blood."

Bryan's eyes narrowed as he covertly tried to free himself from the daggers that were pinning his arms to the ground, "So this ruin belongs to the Medici Family!"

Ron nodded his head and began to chuckle. But all of a sudden, his facial expressions froze. He instantly took out his pistol and pulled the trigger.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Instantly, he shot Bryan in both his elbows and knees!

"Aaaaaarrrgggghhhhhh!!!!" Bryan screamed in pain. However, he was even more frustrated that his attempt to free himself had failed!

Andrew took out a small sheet of paper that had ancient runes inscribed on its surface. He then immediately slapped the paper against Bryan's neck.

Bryan felt sheer horror creep into his heart. Because he now realized that he couldn't access his spiritual force from his mind runes anymore!

He looked at Ron and yelled in apprehension, "What the fuck did you do!?"

Ron breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to look at Bryan and smiled coldly, "You really are a sly little bugger. Using your innate ability to slip into the shadows and escape? If I hadn't known you better, you might have really succeeded."

"What the fuck did you do to me!?" Bryan screamed yet again.

"Relax," Ron shrugged, "I've only sealed your spiritual force so that you don't pull another stunt."

Bryan gritted his teeth as he cursed inwardly, 'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'

Ron began to grin from ear to ear, "You can rest assured. We won't kill you."

He then came closer to Bryan's face as his maniacal grin grew even wider and added, "Yet!"

On the other end of the battlefield, Andrew, Henry, and Emma and already finished their battles and were now kneeling on the ground as they took large mouthfuls of breath.

However, they still made sure to keep an eye out for Alfredo. The latter was still standing with his hands behind his back at the entrance of the cave mine. But the trio noticed him looking in another direction with an excited grin on his face.

The three of them turned their gaze over to the direction Alfredo was looking and were instantly wide-eyed. They couldn't believe what they were seeing!

Emma was the first one to snap out of her shock and scream, "Ron! What the fuck is the meaning of all this!!?"

Henry too began to glare at Ron as he aimed his sword at the latter. However, Andrew remained utterly silent as his body began to tremble incessantly.

He got up to his feet and slowly started to walk toward Ron and Bryan. The other two also followed after him and at the same time, they also kept an eye on Alfredo.

"R-Ron, you're joking right?" Andrew forced a dry laugh, "If this is a joke, you got me. Let Bryan go, we still have to fight the other guy."

Andrew had grown up with Ron and had always considered him his elder brother. Hence, when he saw the scene of Ron pinning Bryan to the ground while the latter bled from all his limbs, he wasn't able to comprehend it.

He refused to believe that Ron had betrayed them! Andrew was in denial!

Ron's eyes flickered ever so slightly. But soon, his gaze turned firm as he replied, "Andrew-"

However, he was cut off by Alfredo's loud laughter, "HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

He instantly appeared behind Andrew, Emma, and Henry and strangled them with blood-colored ropes that extended from his hands. He lifted the three in the air as they struggled to breathe and break free.

Alfredo then looked at Bryan menacingly, "Are you ready, boy?"

With that said, the blood rope tightened around Henry's neck and in the next moment, his head exploded like a watermelon!