I'm really not a Sanctuary Warlock.

Anna was awake. She was wrapped in a soft blanket and standing by the window, quietly watching the world outside covered in snow.

The soft morning light streamed through the window and fell on her long hair, enveloping her in a gentle halo, making her appear otherworldly and holy.

"Have you decided?"

Anna didn't turn around; her voice came softly.

Lynn sat up from the carpet and stretched her stiff body. "Hmm, I've decided."

His answer came without the slightest hesitation.

Anna turned around, a faint, reassuring smile on her face.

“Then go do it.” She didn’t offer much advice or worry, but simply gave a simple affirmation: “I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Lynn felt a warmth in her heart and nodded.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Lisa walked in carrying a wooden tray with steaming hot milk and freshly baked bread on it.

She saw that Lynn was awake, her eyes slightly unnatural, and she placed the tray on the table, her voice still cold.

"Eat something."

The atmosphere was subtly quiet, but not awkward; instead, a warm, familial feeling flowed gently through the air.

Lynn picked up a piece of bread and took a big bite, as if she wanted to swallow the unknown and challenges ahead along with the food.

……

After breakfast, Lynn did not delay and went alone to the Marquis Laurent's manor again.

After the heavy snowfall, the city of Sacred Song presents a unique scene.

The roads in the noble district had already been swept clean by the servants, and the magnificent carriages were traveling smoothly on the streets.

Meanwhile, in the alleyways of the lower town, the snow was deep, and ordinary people, dressed in thin clothes, struggled to make a living in the cold wind.

When Lynn stood before the elegant and imposing manor once more, the old butler who had greeted him the night before was already waiting respectfully at the door.

"Lord Lynn, the Marquis is waiting for you in his study."

Lynn followed the butler, familiar with the way, through the corridor, and arrived at the oak door.

In the study, the fire in the stove burned even brighter than it had last night.

Marquis Laurent changed into a proper suit and looked much better than the night before, his bright eyes filled with obvious anticipation.

"Mr. Lynn, what's your decision?" he asked bluntly.

Lynn walked to the desk, pulled out a chair, sat down, and calmly met the old man's gaze.

“I agree, Your Excellency.”

"Great."

Marquis Laurent relaxed completely and couldn't wait to begin explaining his plan.

"I have already contacted the Kingdom's top mercenary group, the Griffin Heart. They will arrive in Holy Song City tomorrow. At that time, I will prepare an identical carriage as bait, which they will escort us out of the city through the north gate to attract those eyes hiding in the shadows."

"And you, take Alice and leave under the cover of night via the southern path. I have prepared all the supply points along the way and the safest route map for you to ensure everything goes smoothly."

The old marquis's plan was very thorough, taking into account all aspects, and it seemed to be the safest approach at present.

"Alice, come out."

At the Marquis's call, the delicate girl, as beautiful as a porcelain doll, timidly emerged once again from the shadows behind the bookshelf.

Today she changed into a travel-friendly short skirt and long boots, and her bright blonde hair was braided into long braids that hung down her back.

However, those emerald green eyes were still filled with fear and unease about the unfamiliar world.

Marquis Laurent told Lynn about his plan in an incredibly gentle tone.

The girl's body trembled slightly. She raised her head and glanced cautiously at Lynn, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and a faint curiosity.

Looking at her like this, Lynn sighed inwardly and tried to make his tone as gentle as possible.

"Hello, my name is Lynn. Starting tomorrow, I will escort you to the royal city. I will protect your safety along the way."

His voice was rather flat and hardly gentle.

Alice shrank back under his gaze, nodding slightly without uttering a word.

"This girl is really... a real headache," Lynn thought helplessly to herself.

Escorting such a seemingly fragile young lady across a perilous continent is likely to be more difficult than imagined.

"Mr. Lynn."

Marquis Laurent took a heavy money bag and a wooden box carved with intricate magic patterns from the drawer and pushed them in front of Lynn.

"Here are five hundred gold coins, as a deposit for this mission and also as travel expenses for your journey."

"Inside this box is a Windrunner's Amulet. When infused with magic, it can greatly increase the wearer's speed for an hour. It might come in handy in a critical moment."

Lynn didn't stand on ceremony and put the money bag and wooden box into her spatial ring.

"I will pick her up on time tomorrow morning."

After saying that, he stood up and prepared to leave.

“Mr. Lynn,” the Marquis called out to him again, his eyes filled with utmost seriousness, “please make sure she is delivered safely.”

Lynn paused slightly, but without turning around, she simply gave a faint "hmm" and strode out of the study.

……

After leaving the manor, Lynn did not return to his residence, but instead turned around and headed towards the lower town.

He needed to tell Nora that he was about to leave.

Unlike before, the fire-starting strongholds are now significantly more orderly and larger in scale.

The faces of the ordinary people coming and going still bore a trace of fatigue, but even more so, a hope for the future.

Lynn found Nora at the outpost, directing everyone to repair a collapsed house.

Upon seeing Lynn, Nora stopped what she was doing and gestured for him to come to her room.

"What is it?" Nora picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and asked directly.

"I'm leaving Holy Song City for a while," Lynn said bluntly.

Nora paused in her hand, holding the water glass. She looked up, her sharp eyes fixed on Lynn.

"Where are you going? What are you going to do?"

“I’ve accepted an escort mission to the royal city,” Lynn explained simply, but he wisely omitted the details about the immortals and Marquis Laurent.

The fewer people who know this secret that could lead to their death, the better.

Nora was an extremely intelligent woman, and she immediately sensed something unusual from Lynn's simple description.

"We already owe you too much. I will not interfere with your decision, nor do I have the right to do so."

"I only hope that you can return to Holy Song City after you complete your mission," Nora said sincerely. "We need you here."

Lynn smiled. "Of course."

Nora pulled a brand-new roll of parchment from under a pile of drawings and handed it to Lynn.

"This is a map of the kingdom that I have redrawn based on the latest intelligence. It marks several major trade routes to the capital, as well as potentially dangerous areas along the way."

Lynn took the map, a warm feeling washing over him.

Thanks.

"Have a safe trip." Nora stood up and extended her hand to him.

Lynn reached out and shook her hand tightly.

……

When Lynn returned to her small house, it was already getting dark.

As I pushed open the door, a wave of warm air rushed in.

Anna and Lisa were both there. They weren't reading or practicing; they were just sitting quietly in front of the fireplace, seemingly waiting for him to return.

Upon seeing him, both women turned their gazes toward him simultaneously.

Lynn walked to the fireplace, took off her coat, and sat down next to them.

"Everything's settled. We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

"Hmm." Anna simply responded softly, then handed something to Lynn.

It was a small bird carved from an unknown type of wood, with exquisite and lifelike craftsmanship.

"This is a little gadget I made when I had nothing else to do." Anna's voice sounded especially gentle in the flickering firelight. "After I infuse it with magic, I can sense your location and use it to report to me whether you are safe."

Lynn held the warm, smooth wooden bird and carefully put it away.

He turned to look at Lisa on the other side.

The silver-haired girl's expression remained somewhat aloof, but her beautiful eyes were filled with complex emotions.

She looked at Lynn, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know how to start.

In the end, she managed to squeeze out just three words through gritted teeth.

"Don't die."

Her voice was low, in her usual style.

But then, she added in a very weak voice.

Come back soon.

Lynn couldn't help but laugh at her awkward appearance, where she was clearly worried but pretending to be strong.

He reached out, intending to pat her head as he always did, but stopped halfway through.

He simply looked at her and said earnestly, "Don't worry."

Outside the window, the wind and snow started again.

Lynn looked at the rekindled flames in the fireplace, then at the two girls beside him who had become the most important bonds in his heart.

The journey to the capital was destined to be fraught with difficulties, but he knew he was not alone.

Behind him, they were waiting.

that's enough.

Chapter 173 Harmonious Relationship

The next morning, Lynn arrived at the Marquis Laurent's manor on time.

The heavy snow had just stopped, and the entire city of Holy Song was covered in a pure white blanket. However, the roads in the noble district had already been swept clean, revealing the damp bluestone slabs.

The same old butler was waiting at the door, his expression even more respectful than the night before.

"Lord Lynn, everything is ready."

Lynn nodded and followed the butler through the courtyard.

On the other side of the courtyard, a fully armed mercenary group was ready to go.

There were about twenty of them, all of them burly and dressed in uniform iron-gray chainmail, with a roaring griffin embroidered on their chests.

The man in the lead had sharp, eagle-like eyes. He simply stood there, yet a fierce killing intent emanated from him.

"They are the Griffin Heart Mercenary Group," the butler introduced in a low voice. "One of the kingdom's top mercenary groups, they charge exorbitant prices, but they are absolutely reliable."

Lynn's gaze swept over them, and he understood.

This is indeed an elite force; used as bait, it is enough to deceive the enemy and attract the attention of the vast majority of people.

A magnificent carriage, identical to the one Lynn rode in the previous night, was ready, and four magnificent black horses were pawing restlessly, puffing out white steam.

At that moment, the study door opened, and the Marquis Laurent, supported by his family, came out himself.

His wrinkled face was filled with solemnity and determination.

"Mr. Lynn." The Marquis's gaze swept past the mercenaries and landed directly on Lynn.