The next day, inside a noisy tavern in the Black Harbor District.
Ansu gently placed a glass of foaming ale on the table, quietly listening to the whispers of the patrons at the neighboring table.
"Have you heard? That cult leader... has already fought her way into Benalu City!"
A scruffy sailor leaned closer to his companion with a mysterious air.
"I heard that old hag looks like a monster, covered in tumors and tentacles! And her mind is twisted, she kills anyone she sees! She doesn't even spare children..."
A man reeking of alcohol joined the discussion, "It's true! My cousin's second uncle serves in the Church, and he said that mad witch plans to sacrifice our entire Benalu to an evil god! No one will be able to escape when the time comes! If you ask me, those who can run should take their families and get out of here quickly!"
These words caused a stir, and many drunken patrons suddenly sobered up.
"B-but didn't the Church say these were all rumors? That the cult leader hasn't even come to Benalu City..."
"What time is it that you still believe the Church's nonsense?" The sailor snorted coldly, "She even dared to kill the Pope! She succeeded even in the Royal Capital, what else is she incapable of?"
Ansu picked up his glass and took a light sip amidst the clamor, the bitterness of malt spreading across his tongue.
Hearing the bursts of discussion in the tavern that sounded like a boiling pot, the hurriedly arrived David looked at Ansu, who was calmly tasting his ale, and couldn't help but feel emotional.
As expected of Lord Hermit, to be so calm and composed while at the center of the storm...
After posing in front of his subordinate for quite a while, Ansu finally set down that glass of turbid and foul-tasting ale, his gaze slowly shifting toward the other man.
"Lord Hermit..." David quickly reported, "The news you spread has already spread through the city like a plague, and now even the children on the street know the terrifying rumors about the cult leader..."
"Currently, a large number of citizens have fled the city overnight, the public security inside and outside the city is in chaos, and the manpower at the City Hall and the Church is clearly insufficient..."
"Very good." Ansu nodded, then looked out the tavern window.
On the street where the twilight was deepening, squads of the Church enforcement teams passed by rapidly from time to time, and the entire city was falling into a state of panic.
When Samantha actually arrived in Benalu City, the situation would likely become even more chaotic.
"Let's go." Ansu called out and quickly stood up.
David followed closely behind him.
Ansu first arrived at the old house located in the Champagne District; the Church was short-staffed, so only four guards were left to watch Vera.
Hidden in the shadows, Ansu quietly approached those Church guards.
Then, using the high-level Lv5 【Mage's Hand】, a formless and terrifying magical heavy blow caused the four of them to instantly fall into a baby-like sleep.
Revealing himself, Ansu swaggered to his front door and took out the key.
"Who is it!?"
In the living room, a crisp voice filled with vigilance came over.
Vera tightly gripped the powerful magic item her brother had given her, staring intently at the slowly opening door.
When she saw that the person opening the door was Ansu, the young girl's large azure eyes suddenly brightened, and she ran over happily, throwing herself onto him.
"Brother! You finally came to save me!"
Her slender arms tightly circled Ansu's neck as Vera asked excitedly, "Where are we going next? What about Sister Freya? Are we going to save her in a bit?"
Ansu rubbed her hair and smiled gently, "My subordinate will take you out of the city in a bit, and you don't need to save Freya, don't worry, I have everything under control."
"Subordinate?" Vera blinked in confusion.
While the two were chatting, a black carriage stopped in front of the old house's main gate, and David, dressed as a coachman, jumped down and walked quickly into the living room.
"Lord Hermit, the temporary residence has been prepared, we must leave the city as soon as possible."
Vera looked at this coachman who was extremely respectful to her brother, wondering about the title he had just used with great surprise...
Lord Hermit?
"Brother..." Vera looked at Ansu suspiciously, climbed down from his arms, and whispered, "Is that your title in that organization of yours? Your status seems to be quite high..."
"Mhm." Ansu nodded with a smile, "It's quite high now."
The confusion in Vera's eyes deepened; her brother hadn't joined that mysterious organization for very long, yet he had actually risen to such a position so rapidly? And there was even a coachman specifically for his pick-ups and drop-offs?
Although she never doubted her brother's ability—with his intelligence and talent, he could make a name for himself anywhere—she was truly curious about this mysterious organization her brother was in...
Looking at the subordinate's attitude toward her brother, he should have already been promoted to a middle-level leader in the organization, right?
While she was thinking about these things, Ansu gave David a look.
David immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Vera, "Please rest assured, Miss! The route out of the city has been arranged, and the temporary residence is in Maplewood Town twenty kilometers outside the city, which is very safe and secluded."
Vera was suddenly a bit overwhelmed by the favor, blinking blankly, "M-Miss...?"
She didn't expect she would be addressed like that...
"Alright, let's go! My Miss Vera!" Ansu hurriedly led Vera by the hand to the carriage, "Everyone in Maplewood Town is my confidant now. Wait for me obediently after you arrive, and we'll meet again in a bit!"
"Mhm, okay..." After getting into the carriage, Vera silently looked at Ansu through the window, "Brother, then be careful!"
Ansu smiled and waved his hand, watching the carriage slowly drive into the night.
After rescuing Vera, the next one was naturally Freya.
When Ansu arrived near the alley of Freya's residence, he found that the guards here hadn't been reduced by much, and many clergymen were patrolling the streets with lanterns.
And the demon hunter named Ken stood at a high point, his sharp gaze scanning every corner of the streets from time to time.
The security here was far tighter than imagined; it seemed Freya was still a key target of Archbishop Leonard's 'special attention,' but fortunately, Ansu had already prepared an emergency plan.
An emergency plan that would allow Freya to be 'reborn.'
Half an hour later, Ansu's other confidant, Ryan, hurried over; he was wearing a neat priest's robe, followed by four executors also disguised as clergymen.
"Lord Hermit... are you sure you want to do this?"
Ryan looked at him in confusion, thinking that Lord Hermit had come to save someone, so why did he have them dress like this? And even bring several barrels of oil?
Was he trying to save Miss Freya or silence Miss Freya...
"Cut the nonsense! Remember what I just said." Ansu patted his shoulder, "Go!"
Ryan could only nod and then led these 'clergymen' to stride toward the bottom of Freya's house.
"Stop!" A Church guard immediately stepped forward to block them, looking at these unfamiliar faces vigilantly, "Which parish are you from? Why haven't I seen you before?"
"We are here by the order of Archbishop Leonard to deal with the apostate and demihuman heretic, Freya!" Ryan waved his hand with a serious expression, "Men, execute the purification procedure immediately! Prepare to light the fire!"
Seeing these strange Church colleagues pick up the oil and prepare to burn the house, the guards were all startled.
Could it be... that Archbishop Leonard finally hardened his heart and decided to silence Freya?
No matter what they guessed in their hearts, the guards still stopped Ryan, "Colleague... is this truly Archbishop Leonard's order? Please show some proof."
"What proof?" Ken on the roof suddenly jumped down, his sharp gaze scanning the guys wearing Church robes before he suddenly let out a cold laugh, "Are you all idiots? You can't even see through such a simple disguise?"
The faces of all the clergymen tightened, and Ken coldly reached for the alchemical revolver at his waist, "Take them down!"
At the moment when the battle was about to break out—
An accurately thrown fireball smashed into the outer wall of the mansion, and flames instantly rose, reflecting red on everyone's faces.
The clergymen hurriedly looked back, and Ken's expression showed a moment of bewilderment, "Quick! Put out the fire immediately! Rescue Freya!"
However, in this moment of chaos, Ryan and the others had already taken action, seizing the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.
It was literal fuel to the fire.
The fire spread crazily at a speed visible to the naked eye, thick smoke billowed up, and a pungent burnt smell mixed with a heatwave hit them in the face.
Such a perverse rescue mission not only left Ryan and the others confused but also left Freya, standing on the windowsill, looking stunned and helpless.
Why did it suddenly catch fire!?
Is someone trying to kill me...
She looked at the flames rising with a roar below the mansion, instinctively wanting to suppress the fire through the power of Holy Light divine arts, but in the next moment, her movements came to a halt.
Freya saw it—Ansu standing in the garden, smiling and waving at her.
"Quickly jump down!" Ansu stood directly below the windowsill, smiling as he opened his arms, "Don't worry, I can catch you!"
Freya opened her mouth, her beautiful large almond eyes widening slightly.
"Lord Ansu... this fire, could it be..."
"Mhm, I started it." Ansu couldn't help but find it a bit funny; he clearly came to save her, but in the end, it seemed like he was here to silence the little Holy Maiden...
A trace of helplessness crossed Freya's face, but out of complete trust in Lord Ansu, she still silently extended her leg and sat cautiously on the edge of the windowsill.
"Then, then I'm jumping..."
Freya stared down hesitantly and nervously, "You must catch me!"
"You're not afraid of heights, are you?" Ansu teased.
"Of course not..." Freya looked back and found that the flames had already reached the second floor.
So, without further hesitation, she closed her eyes and leaped into the embrace of those open arms.
The night wind brushed past her ears, and her skirt hem bloomed in mid-air like a pure white flower.
With a soft thud, Freya fell into a warm and solid embrace, and Ansu caught her steadily.
She raised her head, gazing into his eyes that were so close, her heart suddenly racing, and a blush quickly tinted her cheeks.
It was quite romantic...
It was a princess carry.
Rate on N.U.
