Return Journey

"Cough cough cough..."

After the land deed was signed, Han Dong coughed for a while.

He accidentally coughed up a clump of black phlegm, which corroded a large hole in the ground.

The Death Aura emanating from the hole, combined with the deathly atmosphere previously observed within the manor.

Lucius could naturally see that the Talent Tree that Han Dong had grown through the broken seed was related to death to some extent, but it felt completely different from the knights in the Terminus Knight Order], giving off a very strange feeling.

The important secret mission is not yet over.

Lucius was curious about the Talent Tree, but he didn't ask immediately.

The three quickly returned to the ground of the manor and rejoined the main force.

At the same time, an indescribable bestiality emanated from the cliffs... Clearly, [Abel Raine] had completed his seed breaking.

Both of them broke through to the 'Otherworldly Demon' level in the same year. If this news spreads in the Holy City, it will surely alarm the council.

At that time, Han Dong and Abel will inevitably be summoned by the nobles and even the royal family of the Holy City.

Abel, who ran back to the manor like a wild beast, had completely suppressed his animalistic nature.

The overall feeling is completely different, and the skin texture is very similar to dragon scales... Moreover, it seems that Abel still needs a long time to stabilize his newly broken Talent Tree.

Han Dong immediately explained the plan to Abel to 'sneak back to the Holy City '.

The group first descended along the secret mountain path until they reached the valley area of Mount Aragard. After traveling north for a while, they rode the Arakkoa back to the Stuart Manor.

Just as Han Dong had worried.

Although they had killed the Earl and won a great victory, this incident outside the city was far from over.

Just as everyone left Alagad Manor, Han Dong temporarily stored "Scarlet Manor" in the land deed space.

A group of knights cloaked in brown suddenly appeared on the mountain, numbering more than thirty.

Finding no trace of anyone, the group used some special means to send information about the search of the Alagad Mountains back to the Holy City.

Han Dong didn't relax at all on his way to the resort, thinking about the potential dangers he might encounter.

"Mr. Black and White could more or less foresee all of this, and he should also know about our acquisition of important evidence. If there are no problems, he will surely be waiting for us at the Stuart Manor."

But if Mr. Black and White doesn't come... it means the guild leader has sensed the danger and has used some means to temporarily send him away, deliberately preventing him from leaving the city.

really.

On the return to the Stuart Manor.

Han Dong did not see Mr. Black and White's personal carriage...

"Shall we use my undead carriage to return to the city?" Senior Lunze asked.

"No... to be even more discreet, considering unforeseen circumstances, I have hidden the Knight Order' shared Steam Carriage in the manor."

Captain Lucius, you need to pretend that you've just finished your investigation and are returning to the city.

If we encounter any knights searching for us on the road, Captain Lucius, you will be responsible for explaining the situation.

This means we have an important mission and need to return to the city urgently, and we will not accept the guidance of any knightly party... When things get serious, we will bring out the titles of our respective leaders.

"I'm sure the Crimson Knights' leader is paying close attention to your trip out of the city, Captain Lucius."

"Okay... I'll take care of it."

Han Dong had a hidden compartment in the Steam Carriage in the manor.

Han Dong, Demps, and Abel hid under the partition of the carriage.

On the surface, it was just Lucius's team completing their Investigation Mission and returning by carriage... Once they reached the Holy City, and once a commander-level figure came to escort them, someone's conspiracy would be exposed.

However.

Just as Han Dong had feared, things weren't that simple.

They encountered a cavalry force that was searching outside the Holy City in the forest.

Since the Thirteen Knights had a large number of members and there wasn't much contact between the different Knight Order, Lucius didn't know these knights.

Even Though without Han Dong's reminder.

Lucius could also sense something was off in the eyes of the knights.

"We are a special search team dispatched from outside the city... Please get out of the vehicle. After a thorough inspection, we will lead you back to the city."

A group of heretical forces has emerged in the Holy City. The higher-ups have ordered us to thoroughly investigate the Investigative Knight Order returning from abroad. Your cooperation is requested.

He spoke in a dull, bureaucratic tone and presented search warrants bearing the parliamentary seal to Lucius and his entourage.

Lucius immediately showed his knight's badge and explained his purpose.

"We are under the direct orders of Commander Shaya of the Scarlet Knight Order to conduct an investigation and collection of plague blood outside the city... This matter involves high-level privacy and I need to report directly to the Commander."

The vital blood samples carried on board were strictly forbidden to be touched by anyone.

Lucius was extremely assertive and immediately brought up the captain's name.

This kind of tactic is very useful in normal times.

But things are different now.

A squad of ten knights had surrounded the carriage, clearly intending to forcibly search it.

The true purpose of this group of knights must be to search for the 'important evidence' lost in the Scarlet Villa and then erase it.

Moreover, Han Dong and his group were hiding under the car, Lucius naturally wouldn't let them get on the vehicle to search for them.

There are still ten kilometers to go to the Holy City... It would be very risky to escape back to the Holy City surrounded by ten formidable knights using only this ordinary Steam Carriage.

Just then.

quack...

Suddenly, a large number of crow-men flew out of the forest.

The moment the ten knights' vision was disrupted, Lucius immediately turned the Steam Carriage up to its maximum power and sped towards the Holy City.

"Stop them!"

Just as the ten knights with strange expressions were about to move, they found their movements were blocked.

Suddenly, several skeletal arms sprouted from the ground, grabbing the mechanical horses they were supporting, and even their shadows were somewhat restrained.

However, these were all Elite Knight, and they came prepared.

If they can complete this special mission, they will all receive an indescribable reward, more than they would receive in ten years of salary in the Knight Order.

Their mounts were all carefully selected high-grade steam-powered horses, designed to prevent escape.

A single horse, when accelerating, is almost twice as fast as the chariot Lucius was riding in.

"Lunze!"

"Yes!"

A thick aura of death immediately emanated from the carriage, and wherever the carriage passed, Skeleton Soldier wielding shields sprang to life...

However.

It shimmered with silver light.

These temporarily resurrected Skeleton Soldier were slain by the knight with a single sword strike.

Such resurrection spells won't buy much time; it's only a matter of time before they catch up.

"These knights are the elite of the team... I'll go stop them, you guys go back to the city first!"

Just as Lucius was about to jump off the carriage.

A completely different Death Aura emanated from the bottom of the carriage.

The aura of death released by Senior Lunze was only used to revive the dead.

However, the overflowing death energy can cause trees to wither and flowers to die.

The ten pursuing knights and their mounts were also severely affected.