The martirtists immediatelyheadedovertothe source.


    “Itlookslikeit isn’toveryet.”


    Afterexchangingance,Theodore,Graham,andOrsonalso turned around.Theyledtheir


    respectivegroupsback.


    TheywereshockedtoseeRonaldandDustinengaginginafiercefightwhentheyarrived.


    Theirattackswereintense,andneither seemedtobegoing easy ontheother.


    Whatwasgoingon?


    Weren’ttheyonthesameside?


    Whyweretheyinafight?


    Thecrowdwasconfused.


    “Help!”Rightthen,apleadingvoicecamethroughfromadistance.


    Whentheylookedover,theysawAbigailcryinghereyesout.Layinginherarmswas Michael.Hewasseverelyinjured.


    Seeingthattherewasnoresponsefromthem,Abigailkneeledontheground.


    Shefranticallypleaded,“Please! Helpmesavemydad,please!”


    Michaelwaspale.Bloodwasstillflowingfromhisabdomen,nose,andmouth.Helookedlikehewasonthe vergeofdeath.


    However,themartial artistsremainedunfazed.


    OnlyAzaleatriedtosave Michael.Sheinfusedhimwithsomeofhertrueenergy.However,itwasofnohelp.


    “Listenup,membersofthealliance!”Allofasudden,Ronald’simposingvoicepiercedtheair.


    “Michaelhasbeenledastraybythemalevolent energywithinhim.Hemustbeeliminated!Thosewhocanridusofthisthreatwillbegenerouslyrewarded!”


    Thatinstantlystirredupthecrowd.


    “What?Michaelhas been ledastray?Doesithaveanythingtodowith themiasmaearlier?”


    “SinceSir Reedshassaidso,itmustberight!Ifwedon’t killhim,itwillonly bringustroublein


    thefuture.”


    “Yes!It’sourobligationtogetridofevil.Wecan’tlethimgo!”


    Soon,everyone drewouttheirswords.Theylooked likethey were about toupholdjustice.


    “Ronaldis talkingnonsense!”Abigailretorted withashrill voice.“He attackedmydadtogetthe


    pearl!”


    “Outrageous!Howdareyoundermewhenyouarein thewrong?”Ronald’mandingvoiceresoundedagain.


    “Heedmmand!Getridofthisgroupofevilpeople.Whoeverseedsineliminatingthem


    willreceivemylifetimeofknowledge.Youwilsobeappointedasanelder ofthemartirts


    alliance!”


    “Lifetimeofknowledge?”


    “Appointedas anelderofthealliance?”


    Assoonastheyheardthat,themartirtistscouldno longer staposed.Theireyeswere


    instantlyfilled with greed.


    ThechancetogainalifetimeofknowledgefromRonald wasmorevaluablethananytreasure.Plus,theroleofanallianceeldercould raisetheirstatus.Theywould befamousthroughout


    Balerno.


    The rewardsweretootempting.Drivenbyself–interest,themartirtistsgraduallyclosedinonAbigandMichael.


    Whoeverwasrightorwrongnolonger mattered.AslongastheycouldkillMichandtherest,


    theywouldbeabletofindaceinthesun.


    “Don’tbelievehim!He’slying!Mydadwasn’tledastray,andwe’renotevil!”Abigail wasgetting


    anxious.


    Shedidn’texpectRonaldtobe sodespicable!Hehapletelytwistedthefacts.


    “Killthem!”


    “Killtheevndupholdjustice!”


    Butthemartirtistshadnointentionoflisteningtoherexnation.Theychargedtowardherwithouthesitation.