Your Majesty's money, why don't you engrave my name on it?

The entire city of Xinmu was in turmoil. Count Xinmu swiftly sealed off the city, while simultaneously publicizing the existence and dangers of "fun" within the city, encouraging everyone to uncover any traces of demons. Suddenly, the city's guards were busily engaged. Although the civilians' reports might not be true, they dared not be complacent.

That devil's "fun" may be a disaster for all Xinmu people.

Under such intense circumstances, Reslaufer and the others were inevitably affected. Angarita even considered deeply participating in the "demonic search" operation. Xinmu City was, at best, part of the empire's territory; at best, as long as it remained in the material plane, surrendering it to the demons was unacceptable. However, Reslaufer and Bella convinced the girl that her current power was insignificant and that a hasty involvement would only put her in greater danger.

"You and Bella can't even defeat a lumberjack, so don't even think about looking for some 'demon'."

In the backyard of the inn, Leslaufer was feeding his opponent Angelita with a greatsword. Angelita attacked with a hammer, but after just a few turns, the sword hit her back horizontally, making Angelita stagger.

"I'm not even using any tricks right now. You can think of me as a regular-sized version of that guy," Leslaufer waved Angelita to continue. "If you can't even beat me now, forget about anything else."

"How can that guy compare to you!" Angelita complained in dissatisfaction, but still obediently regained her stance. "Even if you don't use any skills, I can't beat your brute force! Aren't you bullying me?"

"Most recruits don't experience this 'bullying' process," Leslaufer reminded him. "Mercenaries are better off. Those conscripted militiamen might be old farmers in the morning, but at noon they'll be fighting a life-and-death battle with fully armed knights—and they have to try their best not to actually kill the knights. War is always about bullying, either one side bullying the other, or the other side bullying the other."

Reslaufer was also the "bullied" party at the beginning, but later, he was basically the only one who bullied others. Even if his side failed for various reasons, he would not suffer too much damage.

"You are much smarter than me. Think carefully about this. How can you defeat me in this situation?"

Chapter 62 Squirrel Jump

Reslaufer despised so-called instruction through words or practice. His skills were honed through life-or-death struggles. Any insight he gained was the product of a fierce, dangerous battle. These things were extremely difficult to replicate, whether verbally or physically. Even if they could be replicated and learned, the learner would rarely encounter the same scene again. And once they did, it would be almost impossible to recall them.

Therefore, the most important point in Leslaufer's training of Angelita is to let her experience it herself - but in this regard, Her Royal Highness the Princess still has a long way to go.

Meanwhile, Bella was leaning against a nearby tree, idly teasing the squirrels and birds. Druids and ordinary people had different physiques. Angelita couldn't learn her tactics, and she had no way of teaching her.

The days passed by with the sound of clinking weapons not far away, and on this day, the druid who was talking to a red squirrel in the language of animals had a face that became gradually solemn.

"Leslaufer, something's happening." Bella reached out to signal the squirrel to climb up her arm and onto her shoulder. When the little animal sat firmly, the druid quickly walked between her two companions and interrupted their teaching.

"Tiaotiao is the intelligence agent I sent out. She just got some news that I think you must know."

Bella tilted her head and showed the squirrel on her shoulder. The squirrel seemed to be quite smart and immediately started making a long series of small calls. Bella kept nodding, but Leslough and Angelita became more and more confused.

"What did it say?" Angelita waited for a long time until the squirrel finished "reporting" the situation, and finally couldn't help asking, but this only got a very intense reaction from "Tiaotiao".

"She doesn't like being called 'it'. You can call her Jump," Bella explained. "In short, a few days ago, another squirrel saw a woman in black clothes and a black skirt walking into an alley. The squirrel had some food stored in a tree hole in the alley. Fearing it might be stolen, he immediately followed her, only to see the woman lift a manhole cover and jump down."

"It was originally a trivial matter, and the squirrel didn't take it seriously. Until last night, he discovered that the manhole cover had been opened from the bottom, and several humanoid creatures, also dressed in black, walked out and dispersed into the streets."

"Humanoid?" Angelita and Leslaufer exchanged a glance. "Was that your words, Tiaotiao's, or the squirrel's?"

"That's what the squirrel said," Bella said after a brief exchange with Jump on her shoulder. "Squirrels don't have this word, so he used several sentences to describe what he saw: those creatures only wore clothes and looked like humans, but their smell was clearly different from humans. So we can also rule out the possibility of dwarves, halflings, elves, gnomes, and other races similar to humans."

Xinmu City is a big city. Although humans still make up the majority of the population, there are still some other races. Squirrels will not make obvious distinctions between them.

"Could it be gnolls or jackals?" Angelita was a little nervous at this time. "Remember, jackals can transform into humans. If they really sneak into the city, it will not be easy to catch them!"

Bella described the appearance of the jackals in words that Tiaotiao could understand, using a lot of body language. A very human look of confusion appeared on the red squirrel's face - she didn't know whether those things were the targets her human friends were looking for.

"So, what about the woman in black? Did the squirrel see her?" Leslough asked another question. A small manhole cover allowed people to enter and exit, so it was hard to say that the woman had no connection with the "humanoid creature" that appeared later.

"That's the problem. No," Bella said helplessly. "Squirrels live in a different world than humans. It's very different. They don't think it's unusual for people to crawl in and out of manhole covers like rats. They think the problem is that the number of people entering and exiting the manhole is not equal."

"That place is very important to the squirrel, as I said before—a lot of his rations are hidden there—so he can be almost sure that no other creature has touched the manhole cover between the two times he went in and out."

The squirrel Tiaotiao expressed his opinion in a way that started with "squeak" and ended with "chirp".

"What did she say again?"

"She said the squirrel was a complete idiot and she didn't want his food at all, but she still had to fight with him every day to convince him," Bella translated helplessly. "Oh, and she emphasized that 'idiot' means 'as stupid as humans.'"

"...Since she paid such a huge price, can we find out how many days ago the woman in black entered the sewer?" Reslaufer stretched out his right hand to try to tease the little animal, which seemed quite pretentious, but the latter seemed to be afraid of him. It shuddered and quickly jumped off Bella's shoulder and ran to the branch of the tree where the druid had been staying for the past few days.

"Squirrels are very smart animals, but their memory isn't great," Bella shook her head regretfully. "So you don't have to be offended by their words. Humans still have a clear advantage over them."

Raceloff: ...What kind of person would try to prove themselves superior to a squirrel?!

"A long time ago, there was a priest who was a genius, a generalist, and 'even' got along very well with druids," Bella said, clearly reading the mercenary's expression. "He once got along with a very, very smart squirrel. He tried to make the squirrel his pet, but the result was probably the exact opposite."

"And he was no match for his friend in either arguments or debates. But in the end, he finally got some ground back."

"How rare," Reslaufer couldn't help but murmur. He knew a lot of anecdotes, but the world was never short of this. The mercenary looked up at the clever squirrel Tiaotiao, and happened to see a crow landed next to the squirrel. "I heard that crows are also very smart animals. Is it one of your animal friends?"

Tiaotiao answered for Bella with her action: she raised her small front paw, swung it in a circle and slapped the bird, almost knocking the crow that had just landed off the branch!

"No," the druid had obviously never seen anything like this before. "It looks like this is Tiaotiao's animal friend..."

Chapter 63 Rescue

Springy might not be as clever as the squirrel in Bella's story, but it was smart enough to overpower a crow. After a brief interaction between the druid and the creature, she was convinced the crow was one of Spring's followers.

For obvious reasons, out of dissatisfaction with the male squirrel guarding the food reserves, Tiao Tiao sent the crow to stake out and monitor the other's territory. His efforts paid off. Just over half a day after the squirrel told Tiao Tiao the news, the crow reported new progress in time.

"The woman in the black dress?"

"No," Bella's face changed after hearing the latest news, and she turned her head to Angelita, "Annie, do you remember the day in the tavern when he saved us before Leslaufer came back..."

"White shirt, flat shoes, matte..." Angelita immediately recalled a series of features. It was impossible for her to forget the woman in such a short time. "And flaxen hair?"

"is her?!"

"It's her," Bella responded flatly. The druid looked at Leslaufer, "She seems to have been seriously injured. No matter what happened to her, we have to save her!"

"Maybe she's the one who went into the sewer—"

"Even so, we have to let her live so we can interrogate her. Even though the dead can speak, their answers are very limited." Angelita quickly stepped forward and grabbed Leslough's arm. "Uncle Leslough, let's go."

"I might not be able to handle a demon," the mercenary said sternly. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Please, it's daytime now, and she's already crawled out from down there. The demon won't chase her." Angelita's thoughts were unusually clear at this time. At the end, her brown eyes blinked cunningly. "Besides, after staying in the city for so many days, shouldn't you also...hmm?"

"What?" Reslaufer was amused. The girl had been terrified the first time she saw him "hunting," yet now she dared to bring up this matter. "Are you sure it's worth it? Taking risks for someone whose name you don't even know? You might die doing this."

"Without her, your commission would have failed," the princess grimaced. "Please, our brave Mr. Raceloff won't be frightened, will he? Are you afraid of demons?"

"Demons, devils, everyone is afraid of those creatures." Leslaufer leaned the greatsword against a tree, raised the scabbard of the sword with his left hand, and hid his entire arm under his cloak. "But that doesn't mean I won't resist using the demon's head to enrich my trophy."

"I have to say your provocation worked, friend," Leslaufer turned and called to Bella. The druid, who had been eager to try, immediately followed. The squirrel with beautiful red fur jumped onto her shoulder, and the crow circled above them. "Hop, let your crow lead the way. We are going to rescue someone."

The druid didn't translate this time, but the squirrel was smart enough. It immediately issued a few commands, and the crows in the sky spread their wings and flew away, carrying everyone on the ground quickly towards their destination.

Leslaufer did not bring his greatsword and armor. In the city, such attire was too conspicuous and could easily attract unnecessary attention. Moreover, according to Bella, the place where the poet was found should be near an alley. The narrow terrain was not friendly to a two-handed greatsword that was almost as tall as Angelita.

And sword fighting is used in just such occasions.

However, even though Leslaufer and Angrita tried to keep a low profile, Bella Druid's attire still attracted some attention. However, due to the adverse impact of the "Mill Massacre" incident in the past, the citizens of Xinmu City were afraid to avoid them, which actually reduced a lot of obstacles for the three of them.

"Gah——"

About half an hour later, when the three people rushed into a dead end alley that almost no one noticed under the guidance of the crow, the crow above their heads screamed loudly, then immediately turned around and flew away without even looking back.

Tiaotiao, who had been clinging to Bella's shoulders with his little paws, curled up into a furry ball, looking out with his eyes skeptically, completely losing the momentum he had to beat up the crow.

"Animals are quite sensitive to scents that don't belong to the material plane. They're not my companions, so it's normal for them to be afraid," Bella explained, raising her hand to touch the little guy on her shoulder. "Tiaotiao actually surprised me a little - even if you're here, you don't plan to run away?"

The squirrel chirped twice. Bella didn't translate, but her eyes softened. Seeing their animal friends were of no use, the three of them were left searching for clues on their own. The clues turned out to be slightly different from what they had imagined: they weren't that hard to find.

Or rather, its provider didn't hide it at all.

"I thought she was an old hand," Reslaufer stretched out two fingers and wiped them across the crack in the wall at a corner. He rubbed his thumb, index finger, and middle finger together, and dark red blood soon appeared on his fingertips. "She has no intention of hiding her traces. Maybe she was forced by the situation, or maybe she had no intention at all. Whatever the possibility, we need to find her as soon as possible."

Demons are not undead creatures, and they move in the dark just to hide. But if they are in an alley like this where it is difficult to attract attention, they might chase you without restraint.

"Can anyone tell me where she went?" Angelita immediately became nervous, tightly gripping the owl-bear-headed hammer with both hands.

"Come here," Leslaufer stretched out his right arm and hugged the petite girl to his side. "Bella, you don't need my care anymore. Follow closely. If you are attacked from behind, report it in time."

"Can you please hope for my good..." The druid grumbled in dissatisfaction, but did not object. "Can you do it yourself? There's more to guard against in a place like this than just the back."

The mercenary didn't answer and took Angelita straight into the depths of the alley. Bella hurriedly followed behind, holding the wooden stick tightly in her hand as she walked quickly. As a short spell was activated, every sense of the druid was actively activated by her, and she was always alert to possible risks around her.

Here, Bella didn't seem to feel the evil aura that frightened and disgusted her, but the fishy and sweet smell of blood in the air gradually became stronger with the actions of the three people.

When Leslaufer suddenly stopped in front of a closed door and knocked on the dusty wooden board, a soft singing sounded from inside through the door.

Chapter 64 Who is the good person who removes the door panel?

The singing was so sweet that it had even more aftertaste than Angelita's favorite rose candy, making people intoxicated and unable to distinguish between reality and dreams.

The ground beneath their feet seemed to have turned into soft cotton, and the walls of the surrounding buildings also turned into soft honey syrup, which slowly poured down towards the three of them. In this gentle and sweet land, even the strongest warriors would yawn and want to fall into a sweet dream.

Angelita, who was in Reslaufer's arms, had already closed her eyes. But just before she was about to enjoy the sweetness, the mercenary's voice pulled her back to her senses:

"Friend, we are here to help you. Save your energy and don't continue your magic!"

The singing stopped abruptly, and the world in Bella and Angelita's eyes returned to normal in an instant, and the hazy sleepiness was swept away without a trace.

"Ah, I recognize that voice," a lazy, pleasant female voice rang out from behind the door. She was the one who had sung earlier, the poet who had come to the rescue of Angelita and Bella. "But unfortunately, I don't know this person well, so you can't confuse me."

Reslaufer and Bella frowned at the same time. Confused?

"Miss, what are you talking about? Do you still remember me?" Seeing that the other party seemed to be not quite right, Angelita quickly spoke.

"That girl in the tavern? Of course I remember her, but you're not her," she continued, her voice half-truthful. "Do you really think you can use those tricks on me? I've seen far more than you, a country bumpkin. Don't underestimate me!"

"Friend, you are not in a fantasy world now. We are really just outside the door." Bella spoke third, but she was still responded to in that lazy tone.

"The third one, that's really good. Congratulations on collecting them all. Do you want me to give you a little golden statue? Or a little red flower? You imitated it so well! What a pity, it's useless to me. If it doesn't open, it won't open—"

"Bang!"

The mercenary finally lost his patience. After releasing Angrita, he grabbed the flimsy wooden door on both sides and, with a swung of his arms, forcibly detached it from the doorframe. However, to the four of them's surprise, the occupant's back lost its support and she immediately fell face-first onto the steps at the door. Her dazed eyes stared in disbelief at Reslaufer, who was holding the entire door panel above him.

"No, how did you..."

"Stop talking nonsense and focus on the wounds on your body!" It was not only the girl who had only met him once before who was frightened. Bella and Angelita were also shocked: the left half of the poet's body looked like it had been fished out of blood, and the layers of blood stains indicated that the wounds here had been bleeding heavily. In contrast to the cloth that was almost dyed dark purple in the deepest part, the poet's face had become white and gold due to excessive blood loss, and his originally pretty face had changed drastically.

It's really hard for her to have the time to joke and talk nonsense in such a situation!

"Don't move, I'll heal you!" Bella quickly leaned over, unbuttoning the poet's shirt to examine and treat her wounds. Angelita nervously grasped the poet's icy hand, trying to warm her with her own body heat. As for Reslaufer...

The mercenary could only put the door panel in his hand aside and watch his two companions busying around - who would have thought that this one was actually leaning against the door panel!

"Hey, you're just looking at me like that? Be careful or I'll tell you off," the poet said, not wanting to keep his mouth shut even under such circumstances. "I'm a virgin, and you're just staring at me like that?"

"If someone is still interested in a bloody body like this, it's hard to describe him with ordinary derogatory terms." The mercenary rolled his eyes. Instead of trying to avoid suspicion, he crossed his shoulders and continued to watch. "I've seen far more of this than you have. There's nothing to be ashamed of."

Generally speaking, if women do not have the necessary skills, they will not be given priority whether the nobles are recruiting guards or the regiments are recruiting mercenaries. However, fewer does not mean none, and these women who are selected are, without exception, not eligible for special treatment, both in life and in death.

"Gentlemanly manners" were the privilege of gentlemen, and the women they met at banquets and balls were unlikely to attempt to have a "deep exchange" with them using the metal parts of swords, spears, or bows.

"Tsk, that's boring," the poet exaggeratedly pulled the corner of his mouth, but he didn't know whether it was because he felt bored or because Bella's healing spell had made her almost numb wound hurt again. "So, it really is you guys."

"It's us. There's no illusion, and it's not an illusion!" Angelita said quickly. "You can feel me, right? I'm real!"

"My hands are a little frozen, so I'm not quite sure," the poet laughed. "But the fall I just made was pretty solid. Yeah, you must be real. I believe you!"

In whose illusion is the person opening the door by dismantling it... The poet glanced at the overly flimsy wooden board from the corner of his eye and muttered to himself.

Bella's healing spells weren't as powerful as those of a priest or a cleric, but they were enough to free the injured from danger. After a few spells, the poet's complexion and spirit visibly returned to her body. Just as the druid was about to strike again to completely stabilize her injuries, the poet, now out of danger, leaped to her feet, turned her back, and quickly re-tied the opening in her shirt.

"Thank you so much, I'm fine. I should be fine after a few days of rest." She exaggeratedly moved her arms and legs to indicate that she was fine. "No need to fill my breasts. Just pull me up next time I pass my death saving throw."

What's all this mess?

Reslaufer and the other two looked at each other in bewilderment. Even Reslaufer, who had traveled to many places, had never heard of this language before. It was undoubtedly the imperial language, but the grammatical errors and confusing phrases in it were unbearable even for him, who had not received much education!

"She was like this the last time I saw her," Angelita smiled helplessly, and pointed to Leslaufer's head. "Those who work for my family are similar. This place is not normal."

Leslaufer made no comment on Angelita's judgment, and while the three were gossiping behind her back, the poet had already returned to the house and retrieved his matte from the wall by the door.

"Everything else can be lost, but this one must not be lost." She had good hearing! Since these three people thought she was crazy, she didn't have to hide it anymore and just said whatever she wanted to say. "1d4 plus 2d8 (referring to the attack damage of 3-20). If it breaks, it will be difficult to get another one."

Chapter 65 Daisy

The three people were confused by each other's words again and decided to treat it as some kind of term used by the poet to evaluate the musical instrument. Anyway, it was enough to know that it was very good and precious. From the perspective of understanding, they did not understand it wrongly.

"Well, thank you all again for your enthusiasm. You saved my life, really." The poet, who had put on his clothes, stood at the door and bowed to Leslauf and the other two again, and then saluted each of them to express his gratitude - standard imperial etiquette.

However, in the second round of thanks, Bella undoubtedly received the most sincere gratitude, while she only dealt with Leslaufer casually - considering that she did cause a dying wounded man to fall face down on the stairs, the mercenary decided not to take it to heart.

"I know you must have a lot of questions, but before that, I want to ask you a question." The poet tucked his messy hair behind his ears and looked at them curiously. "How did you know I was here? Stalker? But you didn't take any action when I was down there."

"We're not following you. We're just monitoring the surrounding area," Bella said, introducing the squirrel Leap to the poet. "We are part of nature, and in turn, nature can serve as an extension of our senses."

"A few days ago, these little guys noticed a woman in black opening the manhole cover from here. Last night, a lot of humanoid monsters came out, and just now, a crow saw you."

"But if you want to know how we found you, Raslaufer said you weren't very… skilled at hiding your tracks."