Koester's lockdown and inspections lasted a full three days.
They had spent a fortune yet failed to catch a single person—an outcome The Church found impossible to accept. If they could find them, let alone sealing off the city for three months, they would have done far more. But unfortunately, three days later, they discovered signs of digging in the sewers and finally concluded—the mages had escaped by sea.
Anger, frustration, exhaustion... all sorts of emotions surged through them, yet there was nothing they could do. The Black Nightmare Army was not their only enemy. The Wood Family occupied the gate and Cru Town, and after Koester fell, that place had become another gathering point for anti-Church forces. More and more people flocked there, making Cru Town suddenly bustling beyond measure.
Left with no choice, The Church could only withdraw its troops and return to the Royal Capital to discuss their next plan.
As for Benjamin, after escaping Koester, they landed at the southeastern corner of the Hori Kingdom. The mages reunited with the main army in a secluded valley. The retreat had gone extremely smoothly, with no casualties at all. Everyone was relieved, but at this moment... they were also somewhat lost.
"What do we do next?"
Having lost Koester felt like losing the foundation beneath a house. They felt hollow inside. And in a kingdom this vast, it would be difficult to find another hidden place to shelter. If the Black Nightmare Army wished to continue growing, they needed a base where they could remain for the long term.
From the Magic Beast Mountains to the underground passage, then to Koester, every location had been Benjamin's decision. Thus, everyone turned their eyes toward Benjamin.
Benjamin himself was somewhat hesitant.
He had already used up his "inventory." The remaining