My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 249: Chapter 111: Aoto vs Cat Monk! Copied Talent: [Milk]_2

But even so, after his left elbow touched the palm struck by the black-clothed person, Aoto still felt a sensation of numbness and soreness in his left elbow.

In order to dissolve the powerful force contained within the black-clothed person’s palm, Aoto had to step back.

The black-clothed person seized on this opportunity of Aoto stepping back, and no longer lingered in the fight.

He shook his right hand vigorously as he fled outside.

——Damn it...!

Aoto gritted his teeth and hurriedly prepared to chase after him.

But right at this moment... perhaps because the black-clothed person took the initiative to withdraw from the fight with Aoto, the system determined that their battle had ended.

The system’s voice sounded in Aoto’s mind.

[Ding! Talent scanned]

[Successfully copied talent: ”Milk”]

[Talent description: Produces a larger quantity and more nutritious RU juice]

[Beep beep beep beep beep!]

[Warning: As the host is male, this talent is incompatible]

[This talent is not effective]

This was the first time since Aoto traveled to this era that he heard such a long system prompt.

It was also the first time Aoto heard such content in a system prompt...

——Milk? Talent not effective?!

This string of system sounds that came to mind just now left Aoto utterly dumbfounded...

Just then, Saito and Nishino, who had come rushing at the sound, finally arrived.

Appearing at the other end of the corridor, the group spotted the figure of the black-clothed person fleeing.

Nishino’s expression changed instantly.

The same reaction occurred among the undercover informants following Nishino.

”Lord Nishino!” One of Nishino’s undercover informants raised his hand, pointing at the black-clothed person, ”Look! It’s the Cat Monk!”

”I see him.” Nishino, with a slightly furrowed brow, waved his hand, ”Chase him quickly!”

——Cat Monk...?!

Just as one surprise subsided, another arose.

Aoto had not completely recovered from the shock of copying a baffling talent and hearing a baffling system tone, when a new wave of impact hit his brain.

Aoto couldn’t help but cast an astonished glance at the black-clothed person ahead.

Saito, Nishino, and others joined the chase after the black-clothed person... or rather, the Cat Monk.

Everyone pursued vigorously.

But no one’s speed could match the Cat Monk’s...

Always leaving Aoto and the others behind, and the distance between them growing further, the Cat Monk did not run into a dead end this time.

He smoothly found a window leading outside.

He pushed the window open, and leaped out.

Aoto and his team arrived next to the window nearly seven seconds later.

The night was clear and bright.

Looking outside through the window—the crescent moon spilled its beams of pure moonlight, elongating the shadow of the Cat Monk racing atop a shop’s roof outside the Magistrate’s Office.

The Cat Monk really was like a cat, moving gracefully on the steep roof.

After sweeping across the shop’s roof, he nimbly jumped into the passageway between the buildings.

His slim figure completely vanished from Aoto and company’s line of sight.

”Lord Nishino...” One of Nishino’s undercover informants glanced outside where the Cat Monk was no longer visible, then looked at Nishino beside him, ”Should we... pursue?”

”No need.” Nishino replied without hesitation, ”Since taking on the ’Cat Monk’ case, haven’t you already experienced enough of the Cat Monk’s escapability these past two months?”

”By the time we rush out of the Magistrate’s Office to pursue, the Cat Monk will be long gone.”

Aoto shared the same opinion as Nishino.

Although he hadn’t dealt with the Cat Monk as long as Nishino, from the recent pursuit of the Cat Monk, he also realized—they couldn’t catch him in a straightforward corridor, so trying to catch the Cat Monk, who is now like a fish in the sea, would be impossible.

”That person... is the Cat Monk...?” Aoto muttered softly, looking in the direction where the Cat Monk vanished.

Nishino, hearing Aoto’s mutter, replied plainly:

”After taking charge of the ’Cat Monk’ case, I’ve seen this Cat Monk up close twice in my previous attempts to capture him.”

”I wouldn’t mistake him.”

”And apart from the Cat Monk, no other thief in Edo currently possesses such wall-climbing and roof-running skills.”

Aoto couldn’t help but look a few more times in the direction where the Cat Monk fled.

This was Aoto’s first time seeing this notorious Phantom Thief who had caused quite a stir in Edo.

Before, Aoto had only heard of his great reputation and had never had the chance to meet him.

And just like the rumors, the Cat Monk truly was a Phantom Thief resembling a cat.

The Cat Monk’s escape from his control using the Force-Relieving Technique, and the palm strike that directly forced him back, left a deep impression on Aoto.

Such incredible agility, such formidable hand-to-hand combat ability... Aoto now understood why no one had successfully captured the Cat Monk until now.

Of course—compared to the notorious body technique of the Cat Monk, the newly copied talent from the Cat Monk left Aoto even more in awe.

Aoto opened his personal system interface:

[Name: Tachibana Aoto] (?)

[Current Talents Owned:]

[Night Vision, Sword Genius, Sleep God, Lone Brave, Eagle Eye, Left-Handed, Healthy Body, Skillful Hands, Healthy Tongue, Iron Waist, Steel Bone, Strong Muscle, Cat Form, Memory, Ghost Heart, Milk]

The newly acquired talent: Milk, was prominently displayed in the talent list.