?<strong>Chapter 1186:</strong>


    Continuing unabated, Elyse said, “You were on the brink of attacking me just now, weren’t you? Your reflection in the water gave you away—knife in hand and a lethal re. It’s fortunate that I can read situations like these instantly.”


    Amanda’s eyebrow quirked up. “And what if I was? I was indeed plotting your end. What’s your move? Your words carry no weight.”


    As Amanda’sst taunt settled, Elyse effortlessly raised her gun, locking her aim squarely on her.


    A crack appeared in Amanda’sposed facade as she cried out, “What are you ying at? Are you really prepared to pull that trigger? Do you truly have the courage?”


    Elyse responded with unwavering calm, “The presence of enemy mercenaries indicates we’re on the outskirts of Jayden’s territory, wherews of thend rarely apply. You wouldn’t have dared to threaten me under normal circumstances. Thus, disposing of you here might just solve a few of my problems quite neatly.”


    Amanda hadn’t seen iting—Elyse’s unexpected cleverness. Her face drained of color, and she was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Elyse’s finger gave a twitch on the trigger, convincing Amanda that a shot was imminent. In her terror, Amanda whirled to flee, but her foot caught on a slick patch of moss, sending her sprawling to the ground.


    Amanday sprawled out,pletely motionless. With a furrow of her brow, Elyse stowed her gun and strode over to Amanda, only to discover she had identally knocked herself unconscious. Exasperated, she gave Amanda’s leg a nudge with her boot.


    “Really? A mercenary who knocks herself out by falling? If all mercenaries were like you, they might as well hang up their hats and get a real job.”


    Elyse’s intent had only been to instill fear, not to cause actual harm. She pulled out the re that Jayden had provided and sent it arcing into the heavens. Before long, Jayden and his team materialized.


    Confronted with a dead adversary, an unconscious Amanda, and Elyse casually rinsing out some clothes, Jayden’s face curled in confusion. “Can someone exin what unfolded here?”


    “Amanda lost her nerve, took a spill, and cked out,” Elyse remarked with a calm tone.


    She handed the gun back to Jayden, a casual gesture. “I had to use one of your bullets—sorry about that.”


    Jayden took the gun, casting a nce at the dead man nearby, and inquired, “Was this your doing?”


    Elyse nodded, her voice tinged with unexpected pride. “Surprisingly, my aim was true. Louise would have been proud—I nailed him with just one bullet.”


    Jayden raised an eyebrow, a hint of disbelief flickering in his gaze. “Louise taught you all that?”


    Elyse wrung out the clothes, standing up with casual defiance. “Of course. She ims I have a knack for it, and if I ever get tired of the violin, I might just take it up as a career.”


    Jayden was briefly at a loss for words. Finally, he managed to say, “You’re good at the violin. Let others handle this sort of thing.”


    Elyse threw a nce at Amanda, who was being half-carried away by herpanions.


    “Looks like Amanda might’ve hit her head.”


    Jayden turned to watch Amanda and shrugged. “If she’s hurt, all the better. Makes it easier to get her out of here.”


    Elyse didn’t buy his thin excuse for a second. If he could’ve gotten rid of Amanda, he would have done it long ago—why was she still lingering around?


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