The threads, which should have been unbreakable, snapped the instant they touched the chains, not even leaving a scratch.

’Is this a spell a Tier Two Sean can cast??’

What was even harder to believe was that, upon closer inspection, the chain was made of a series of inequalities. The letters and symbols were strung together, presenting him with... a math problem?!

"if... f’(x) ≥ 1/4, f(2) ≥ 0, x ≥ 3... max{f(x)}=?"

Quill: "???"

A sense of utter absurdity washed over him.

It seemed that if he could just provide the answer, he would be able to break free from the chains.

But the problem was...

He was a doctor!

A Wizard!

A Witch Hunter!

’Which of those professions looked like it involved solving this kind of math problem??’

"Surprising, isn’t it, Mr. Quel?"

This time, it was Sean’s turn to ask.

He pushed himself up from the corner of the room, wiped the blood from his lips, and his eyes glinted with mockery. "Did you think deflecting bullets was all I could do?"

Quill was speechless for a moment. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by profound shock and bewilderment.

’Why did Sean’s Magic Power suddenly surge?’

’Why would Magic take such a form?’

’Why, in the middle of a fight, was Sean forcing him to do a math problem??’

He had so many questions that, even knowing Sean would never answer, he still couldn’t stop himself from asking in a dry, incredulous voice, "You... just how did you do that?"

"You don’t need to know," Sean said mockingly. "I liked you better with your old arrogant and untamable swagger."

Sean hadn’t laid a finger on him, but Quill felt as if he’d been slapped across the face, a fiery sting burning his cheek. For the first time, his composure cracked in front of Sean. He gritted his teeth. "You think you’ve won?"

"You think I haven’t?" Sean shot back. "You can’t even solve a problem this simple. Did you even go to college?"

Quill: "Shut up!"

The question seemed to strike a nerve.

As a member of the Florist Family, he had, of course, attended university, and his grades in every subject were considered excellent.

Except for math.

Sean hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Quill. ’Looks like there’s a story there.’ So, he decided to twist the knife. "I’ll give you a chance. Solve it in five seconds, and I’ll let you go."

This was obviously a lie. At this point, it was impossible for either of them to let the other go, and they both knew it. Even if Quill actually solved this problem, there would just be another one waiting.

But Sean said it anyway.

The more humiliated his enemy felt, the more vindicated he became.

Seeing Quill’s expression of profound humiliation, Sean felt much better.

And now that he was satisfied, it was time for Quill to die.

Puppet Wizards below Tier Five could only have one puppet, and he was certain this was Quill’s real body.

This time, he would avenge Chris with his own hands.

And the innocent girl downstairs.

A vicious glint appeared in Sean’s eyes. He opened his palm, and a golden pyramid hovered above it. Countless formulas and functions flowed within, glowing with the light of knowledge.

"I told you, you should have brought more people."

Not to increase your chances, but to have more lives to forfeit.

Quill’s life alone wasn’t enough to settle the score.

Sean tossed the Truth Cone—condensed with enough Magic Power to kill a Tier Three Wizard—above Quill’s head. The pyramid, once small enough to fit in his palm, suddenly magnified. It began to rotate slowly, like a luminous, spinning millstone capable of grinding any "wrong answer" to dust.

Quill knew there was no escaping death for him tonight, but he had no regrets.

Instead, on the verge of death, that unsettling smile reappeared on his face.

"Want to know why I didn’t bring more people from the hospital?"

"Because you—Mr. Sean—have never been a target of our family. You were only ever my personal target."

"To put it bluntly, you’re not worthy. You don’t have what it takes to make my family act."

"But your friends do."

"For example, the Light Attendant... or..."

"Your Miss Flame Crow."

...