Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

A hint of surprise flashed deep in Liu Xia's eyes. This middle-aged man was unremarkable in appearance; not only was he balding, but he was also somewhat overweight, dressed in worn-out servant's clothes with several patches. However, his every move carried a military bearing, and his plump body radiated a substantial fighting spirit that Liu Xia could perceive with her strength!

A great knight! Not only that, but he also had a faint magical aura, and even a trace of other powers.

It's holy energy! The power used by the clergy of the Papacy originates from their devout faith in the goddess. In Chloe's explanation, it's a connection established between believers and deities, drawing power directly from the divine. This 'goddess' worshipped by the Papacy is the most mysterious; even Chloe only mentions vague details about her. However, she once said that this deity is very different from other deities, having never actively wielded authority from the beginning. Therefore, the Papacy's doctrines have been entirely controlled by the Pope and the Papacy, and the so-called 'goddess' is essentially nonexistent, completely isolated from the believers.

This was an anomaly in the Old God system that Kuroel was familiar with, but precisely because of this, the so-called Holy Aura power system was freed from the constraints of the gods. Anyone who sincerely prayed to this goddess and believed they could decipher even a little bit of the doctrine could obtain some of this power. Therefore, outside the Papacy, there were often some folk people who claimed to have "manifested miracles." Most of these people were eventually recruited by the Papacy in the name of "divine miracles," while some who contradicted the Papacy's ideology became so-called heretics and ended up on the gallows or in the pyre.

But precisely because of this, not only Carmela of the Inquisition, but also the church under the control of the Chosen Ones of Cornwall, even though they are all true heretics, can still use holy magic. Even Ryūsha, who is not a believer at all, can convert a portion of his power into holy magic and use the holy arts researched by the Church by connecting with the power of order and his followers, coupled with his understanding of the divine power system.

As Ryūka sensed the aura emanating from this middle-aged man, she couldn't immediately determine what kind of person he was. However, one thing was certain: a man of high rank shouldn't be a greasy, overweight, and unkempt male servant. Especially since his power was primarily based on battle aura, making him a true Grand Knight. In Otus, even if one only became a Grand Knight in their forties or fifties, the lowest rank they could attain was Baron, and with some opportunity, Viscount or Earl were certainly within reach. Furthermore, battle aura is the life force, so among the knights Ryūka had seen, regardless of gender or age, while some were unattractive, none were physically unattractive. She had never seen one like him, so easily lost in a crowd of commoners.

However, as he peeked out to observe, he seemed to be on guard against something. His battle aura swept across the area, and among the people guarding this church district, Ryuga could only think of the local Cornish church; it couldn't be anyone else. A thought suddenly struck Ryuga: Could it be that right under the noses of the Chosen Ones, there were people who were their enemies?

Chapter 28 The Resistance Forces Beneath Cornwall

This is truly interesting; this small town of Cornwall is full of hidden talents. Liu Xia silently followed, but the middle-aged man led him upstairs. However, at Liu Xia's signal, Rhys didn't follow, instead obediently finding a room on the first floor to rest. The tacit understanding between the two was like that of long-time collaborators, or perhaps a perfectly balanced sense of propriety.

As they walked upstairs, the middle-aged man led Liu Xia to a room, knocked lightly, and then pushed the door open. This was clearly the mayor's room. A man around fifty years old, with a kind face, greeted them with a smile. Liu Xia took note of his warm manner; this man, skilled in social interaction, seemed like a shrewd and calculating individual, unlike the Liu Xia who had imagined him as someone who would associate so closely with a local bully like Ries for a small kickback. Especially his vigorous gaze—though there were no signs of cultivation, he was clearly a strong and capable mayor, not someone who had been sidelined.

"Ah~ you must be the young man Shane that Rhys mentioned. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Ryan, the mayor of Cornwall. Walter, quickly pour tea for our guest."

The mayor introduced himself and enthusiastically arranged for the servant named Walter to serve tea and water. A man with no fighting spirit or magic was managing a great knight so skillfully. If Ryusha hadn't realized early on that Walter was no ordinary person, she wouldn't have noticed the incongruity.

Ryūka smiled nonchalantly and sat down opposite Mayor Ryan, chuckling as she spoke. The conversation naturally revolved around extending her stay in Cornwall and obtaining a permanent trade permit. In reality, Ryūka had already made up her mind; whether the matter succeeded or not was unimportant. The important thing was to go through the motions, and when she left with Rhys, find an opportunity to shake him off and conduct some investigation in the church district. However, seeing that the mayor's office seemed to have some hidden secrets, she became even more attentive to Ryan.

As expected, upon hearing Ryusha's request, Mayor Ryan immediately smiled and said it was no problem at all. Since it was Rhys who introduced him, it meant that keeping him in Cornwall to do business would be beneficial for both parties. Not only that, he even went so far as to offer to help if Ryusha wanted to rent a shop in the market on the outskirts of town. However, after some initial pleasantries, Mayor Ryan finally steered the conversation towards a rather thought-provoking topic…

"Young Master Shane, I heard from Rhys that your business involves selling fresh goods from Otus to our southern continent. And compared to your uncle, you can be said to have quite a talent for business. I wonder if you have any knowledge or connections regarding the goods of the Otus Empire, especially those from Sochi, which are currently very popular?"

Seeing Mayor Ryan's scrutinizing gaze, Liu Xia immediately realized that the problem wasn't as simple as it seemed. Given the persona he'd cultivated over the past two days, he naturally adopted an air of knowing everything, yet feigned subtlety as he said:

"Well, hehe, I wouldn't say I have a very deep connection, but I can still get my hands on some of the novelties on the market. I wonder what you're interested in, Mayor?"

"Well, this..."

Mayor Ryan, his eyes narrowed, gave Walter, the male servant behind Ryūka, a meaningful look. The great knight immediately and imperceptibly moved towards the door, clearly blocking Ryūka's escape route. Ryūka chuckled inwardly, thinking, 'Just as I expected.' These weren't simply people using Rhys's connections to pull strings and squeeze some money out of them; they had their own agenda.

Seemingly certain that Ryūka, this 'young merchant with no strength to even kill a chicken,' had no way out, Mayor Ryan sipped his tea and asked with a smile:

"I wonder if Brother Shaen has any connections to get his hands on a magic gun from Sochi, along with the matching magic crystals?"

"A magic gun?!"

Liu Xia feigned surprise, her teacup trembling slightly as she looked astonished. Then, forcing a relaxed smile, she awkwardly addressed Mayor Ryan:

"Is the mayor looking to acquire a couple as collectibles? Well, while that might be a bit difficult, if the price is right, I can try to find out more for you..."

His demeanor was exactly like that of a small-time businessman desperate to save face. He didn't give a definitive answer, only promising to "inquire a little." But inwardly, Ryuu had already sneered. Judging from the mayor's expression just now, and the way Walter was blocking the door behind him, Mayor Ryan was definitely not the "buying a couple of novel magical weapons as collectibles" that Ryuu claimed! But considering that Cornwall was actually a stronghold of the Chosen Ones, what exactly was the mayor trying to achieve by expressing his desire to buy magical weapons? This was getting interesting!

When Mayor Ryan saw that Liu Xia hadn't ruled out the possibility of a definitive answer, his eyes lit up. He said without hesitation:

"I knew it! Young and ambitious merchants like Xia En usually have some skills!"

The previous sentence was full of praise and flattery, but in the next sentence, Mayor Ryan put on a nonchalant air and silently made a shocking request to Liu Xia:

“Young Master Shane is quite different from people in our poor little town who never leave their homes. So, if I were to ask Young Master Shane to help me purchase fifty magic guns, two hundred magic missile magazines, and some high-energy magic crystals, would you be able to do that?”

Fifty magic guns! Each gun comes with four magic missile magazines! That's enough to arm a magic gun squad! Keep in mind that when Ryūsha pacified the Sochi Plains, he only had a couple hundred magic guns! This list Ryan mentioned could easily become a count's military arsenal! After all, although Sochi is now selling these basic magic weapons to outsiders, both the quantity and the distribution channels are strictly limited. Ryūsha doesn't want to offend the Empire and gain a reputation for large-scale arms sales. So, while he's making money, he's doing it discreetly.

Given his disguised identity, Liu Xia would naturally never dare to agree to this. He immediately stood up in surprise, forcing a smile at Mayor Ryan as if he had realized he was in trouble:

“Mayor…you must be joking. These things are not something a small merchant like me who sells groceries can handle. If you want to find someone, you should go to a large chamber of commerce like the Chamber of Commerce Federation. They definitely have connections…”

Having said that, he made a gesture as if he wanted to take his leave, but was blocked at the door by the male servant. With a burst of fighting spirit, Walter pushed Ryusha back without a smile, spun around, and plopped back into the chair.

"Young man Xia En, don't be so quick to refuse. You're a businessman, and I'm the buyer. Since someone's paying, isn't a businessman's mission to meet the customer's needs? As long as you agree to try to find a solution, what we just discussed is nothing..."

Ryan chuckled, seemingly quite pleased with Liu Xia's feigned pale face.

"Don't worry about the price. As long as you can get it for me, you can have any shop you want in the Cornwall market, not just a trade permit. As for the profit on these 'goods,' you can set that however you like! I just want one honest answer from you: do you actually have any connections for these things?!"

Ryan's tone shifted from enticing to increasingly serious, eventually even carrying a hint of threat. He seemed very eager to find out whether the young merchant before him truly possessed the necessary skills.

In business, as long as you're willing to pay, someone will always go to great lengths to find a way. For Mayor Ryan, a shrewd merchant who could travel between Cornwall and the outside world was a rare find, especially one with the drive to risk everything for gold. As he spoke, he opened a drawer in his desk, revealing a gleaming stack of gold certificates from the Merchant Guild, their golden sheen particularly enticing.

"Wealthy enough to rival a nation!" That's a bit of an exaggeration... but even back in Linhu Town, when Liu Xia first arrived in Sochi City, he would have taken a second look at this drawer full of gold certificates! How did the mayor of a down-on-his-luck town like Ryan end up with such a drawer full of gold certificates? Liu Xia couldn't help but wonder. However, for the moment, he pretended to be blinded by the gold coins, staring blankly at the dazzling golden light, until Mayor Ryan 'click!' closed the drawer, then he seemed to snap out of his daze.

"I don't know, Mayor, what do you need the magic gun for?"

At this moment, Liu Xia sat upright, straightening her clothes, clearly showing that she was tempted. However, she still maintained a degree of rationality and restraint, as if she wanted to figure things out before deciding whether to accept the business.

He gritted his teeth, and with a resolute look, said to Mayor Ryan across from him:

"Given the wealth the mayor just displayed, anyone would do everything in their power to close this deal. Some of the magic guns produced in Sochi are indeed being sold to nobles in the Southern Continent. However, the quantity isn't large; most are private collections, or people buying them out of curiosity to arm a dozen or twenty guards. But if the price is right, you can always buy the quantity you require from these people. But… this is no small matter! Even I, a grocer, know that these things are rumored to be incredibly powerful! An ordinary person could potentially kill a knight or a mage with them! If you don't explain things clearly, I absolutely dare not touch this kind of business!"

Listening to Liu Xia's detailed and detailed account of the distribution of magic guns in the Southern Continent, Mayor Ryan's eyes lit up with excitement and hope. Hearing 'Xia En's' words, if the price was right, he could really give it a try for him, and Ryan blurted out:

"Of course it's for the guards of Cornwall... You wouldn't believe me if I said that, would you?"

The tone shifted abruptly, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on Ryan's lips. He shook his head, then looked at Ryusha with considerable composure and said:

"Young man Shane, what do you think of Cornwall?"

"How does it feel?" Liu Xia blinked. Even from his perspective as a person in disguise, Cornwall was quite an oddity. But Ryan seemed to be referring to something else, especially when he thought of the strange worship procession that morning. Liu Xia almost blurted out, then awkwardly laughed:

"Something's... weird..."

"Is that so? Tell me what's so strange about it."

At this moment, Ryan actually sat up straight, adopting a rather dignified posture, looking like a serious gentleman. Although he said he wanted Liu Xia to speak, it seemed as if he wanted to verify something, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

"The townspeople in Cornwall... are all quite wealthy..."

Ryuka paused, then chuckled awkwardly:

"The novelties I sell are quite sought-after items in the Southern Continent, although they are available in major cities. However, they are more expensive in smaller towns in the Southern Kingdoms, partly due to the labor and travel costs. Considering that these things are new and most common people are not used to buying them, even in the capital of Bauhinia, they don't sell very well. But in Cornwall, a seemingly dilapidated town with no known special products, these odds and ends sell exceptionally quickly just by setting up a stall."

Given Ryūsha's current disguise as a merchant, this answer was the most obvious thing. He could sense this disharmony in purchasing power even without adopting his merchant persona. Knowing the inside story, Ryūsha naturally understood that Cornwall's isolation was inseparable from the Chosen Ones organization there. But to the uninformed 'Shane,' it was clearly a backward and isolated town, yet not poor. The townspeople, however, seemed lifeless, almost eerie if not for their focus on making money.

The old merchant Lucas, whom he replaced, was the same; because his goods sold well, he pretended not to know anything, even if he was aware of other things. After Ryusha said this, Mayor Ryan nodded silently, seemingly appreciating the young man's keen insight. After finishing his explanation, Ryusha went straight to the point about the morning prayer procession…

"And then there's that weird thing... What happened this morning was something I'd never encountered before, it gave me the creeps..."

Liu Xia feigned an embarrassed look, which only made Mayor Ryan's chest swell, as if a thousand rages were burning within him. He muttered in a low voice, unable to contain himself:

“That’s right! The churches here have all gone mad! Our Cornwall is in this state because of them! Especially that woman! That little girl!”

"Young Master Ryan."

A calm but powerful voice interrupted Mayor Ryan from behind; it was Walter. Ryan, realizing his loss of control, immediately shut his mouth and put on his previous smile.

Ryuka, on the other hand, secretly raised an eyebrow.

Young Master? Calling a middle-aged man nearing fifty "Young Master"?

He sized up Walter, who possessed the cultivation of a Great Knight, and the middle-aged mayor before him, and couldn't help but think to himself, 'Interesting.'

Chapter 29 Alien Witch

After being reminded by his servant Walter, Mayor Ryan noticeably toned down his behavior. He refrained from revealing any further information and instead looked meaningfully at Ryūsha, saying:

"In short, young Shane, all you need to know is that what you've done will be a tremendous benefit to our town of Cornwall! You still have three days of permission to stay in town, right? I'll cover all the expenses during that time as a token of our friendship. I hope you'll consider it carefully and give me an answer before you leave..."

He knew that Ryūsha had almost sold out of his goods, and although he was granted a five-day stay, there was no reason for him to remain there for the next few days. Therefore, he 'amiably' offered to cover the hotel expenses, ostensibly to give Ryūsha time to consider it, but in reality, he knew exactly where Ryūsha was staying. To an outsider like Ryūsha, Cornwall was absolutely Ryan's territory.

Naturally, the long-term trade permit mentioned at the beginning would only be implemented after Ryūka gave him a 'satisfactory' answer. However, Ryūka no longer cared about that. He was escorted downstairs by the male servant Walter, where Rhys was already waiting, ready to take Ryūka back to the outskirts of town. He seemed to know exactly what kind of conversation would take place today, and as he put on his coat, he calmly said with his back to Ryūka:

“I know you may find it hard to accept right now, but please believe me, Mayor Ryan and Mr. Walter are both good people. This is also a great opportunity for you to make a fortune. Think it over carefully.”

Ryūka remained silent, nodding as if still preoccupied. Rhys turned and smiled, patting him reassuringly on the shoulder, then led Ryūka out of the mayor's office through a secluded back door, just as they had arrived. It was already daylight; many doors and windows in the church district were open, and people were beginning to appear on the streets. Ryūka and Rhys had already changed out of their brightly colored prayer clothes. However, judging from Rhys's wary demeanor, Ryūka knew that the streets of the church district were definitely not as safe as he had imagined.

The church servant knights, armed with spears and longswords, patrolled the crossroads from time to time, seemingly keeping the area safe. But judging from Reese's wary demeanor, Ryusha was almost certain that he and Mayor Ryan's group were definitely at odds with the local church forces. Whether they knew about the Chosen Ones organization behind the local church, however, was another matter entirely.

"Alright, stay close to me, and keep a natural expression. I'll lead you out through the secret passage."

Ries waved his hand, and seizing the opportunity, led Ryuka out through a small path behind the government office, winding his way through narrow alleys. Only when they reached a place where all voices had vanished did he relax and say to Ryuka:

"In short, absolutely do not tell anyone about what happened today. You businessmen should understand one principle: even if a deal falls through, maintain good relations. However, I still hope you can do what the mayor asked you to do. I've been in the outer markets for so many years, and I have confidence in my judgment. Young man Xia En, you're a good young man, so seize this opportunity!"

He adopted a reassuring tone, praising Ryūka with a lighthearted tone, and reminding him that it would be best to accept Mayor Ryan's advice. Across from him, Ryūka also wore a smile, putting his hands inside his robes and saying with a laugh:

"Of course, I've always been good at 'seizing opportunities'~"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already pulled something out of his clothes. Rhys's expression immediately changed; he realized something was amiss with this small merchant named 'Shane'. He was about to reach for the dagger in his pocket, but when he saw what Ryūsha had pulled out, he froze, his mouth agape, his body trembling uncontrollably, and his pupils contracting in fear and terror!

"Damn it! What the hell is this thing?!"

Ries staggered, his legs giving way as he stumbled backward. All because Ryūka was holding a bizarre, enormous insect in his hands! This 'insect' was neither a spider nor a moth, yet it had several segmented long legs; neither a butterfly nor a moth, yet it possessed strangely colored and patterned wings; its body was round and plump like a fat worm, supporting a tail with scorpion-like stingers; and two obsidian-black, gleaming eyes stared intently at him!

Insects always evoke a sense of unease. Especially enormous ones, which can send chills down your spine. Many people suffer from phobias of various insects, but Rhys didn't consider himself the type to scream at the sight of spiders or reptiles. Yet, the insect he saw resembled a gecko or skink, perched on Ryusha's palm. Its six long, arthropod legs, if extended, could easily encircle a person's head! Not to mention its eerie shape and the seemingly venomous color it gleamed!

Goddess above! What on earth is this thing?! A poisonous insect? A magical beast? Rhys stared blankly at the insect, leaning against the wall, feeling his body tremble slightly. The smile of 'Shane' before him was so evil that Rhys realized from the beginning that he was the hunter, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. He thought he had found such a suitable candidate for Mayor Ryan, but he didn't expect that this boy was the one with more problems!

Although he understood, Rhys couldn't think that far ahead right now, because not only was the insect terrifying in appearance, but it could also 'speak'!

"Ah~ that's why I don't want others to see what I look like when my power is activated. It's awful to be looked at with such fear; I much prefer to ambush from behind..."

Although the strange insect had no mouth, Rhys definitely heard a 'woman's' voice coming from it. Moreover, the woman's voice was seductive and alluring; just listening to it made one involuntarily imagine a charming and delicate figure. But this only made Rhys's hands and feet grow even colder!

Witch! Demon! A string of words popped into his mind, and he couldn't help but feel his teeth chattering, but Ryuka across from him seemed to ignore him, muttering to the strange insect in her palm:

“But I didn’t want to be possessed by you, so I had no choice but to bring you in this form. Alright, to make up for it, I will, as promised, apply to Princess Tipalotura for a sufficiently long vacation for you afterwards.”

The strange insect in Ryūka's hand was naturally Sienna. After finalizing all the plans last night, Ryūka finally managed to persuade Sienna to reveal the truth about her abilities. It turned out that the reason she had always been so mysterious was because she felt inferior and disgusted with the appearance she took when using her witch powers. Especially the thought of Ryūka, such a handsome young man, seeing her in this form made Sienna extremely resistant!

However, under the 'magic' of Ryuka's fingers, Sienna, who was being held unconscious, experienced several tumultuous orgasms and was then penetrated more than ten times. Unable to resist Ryuka at all, she could only obediently explain everything and agree to hide in Ryuka's arms today so that she could be used whenever Ryuka did what he wanted.

As for Ryūka, he didn't find Sienna's current form particularly frightening. Especially her eerie, shimmering wings; they were quite beautiful. It was also his first time seeing a witch capable of transforming into other creatures, and he immediately became excited and curious. This wasn't like polymorph magic; it was Sienna's unique witch ability, limiting her to this form. Ryūka even couldn't resist asking if any witches had the ability to transform into cute, furry creatures or sexy animal girls, only to receive a 'roll of the eyes' from Sienna.

Of course, insects can't roll their eyes, but Ryūka could sense that Sienna did it. As for the answer to the question, Sienna later generously revealed a bit about it:

While none of their witch sisters possessed this ability, historical records do mention many witches with similar powers, capable of transforming into specific forms. Both the Otus royal family and the Papacy referred to these witches as 'alien witches,' referring to their ability to shed their human form when using their powers. This ability is said to be closer to that of ancient witches, and their powers are often considered more bizarre and dangerous.

Chapter 30: Small People Doing Big Things

At this moment, seeing Ryūka not only pull out such a huge, strange insect, but even talking to it, Rhys's forehead was covered in cold sweat. As his body, initially numb with fear, gradually regained sensation, he didn't think twice, turned around, and ran for his life!

As for who this kid named 'Shane' really was, what he came to Cornwall for, and what the bug was, he didn't have time to think about any of it.

But the moment he turned around, Sienna, in her insect form, sprang from Ryūka's palm. Her strangely patterned wings flashed, leaving afterimages, and her body transformed into a streak of light, plunging straight into Rhys's back. Ryūka vaguely saw a detail: she didn't tear through Rhys's flesh, but rather, like melting snowflakes, she 'drilled' into Rhys's body in a bizarre way. Not only was Rhys's skin and flesh completely unharmed, but even his clothes remained unchanged.

Ryuka couldn't help but click her tongue: "I thought I was going to see something even more horrifying and bloody."

Almost the instant Sienna possessed him, Rhys staggered and stopped running. He turned around unsteadily, looking completely bewildered. Ryuga knew perfectly well that after being possessed by Sienna, he would immediately lose his memories of that time, completely unaware of it. At this moment, Sienna was absorbing his memories within him, subtly controlling his thoughts and actions.

"Strange, I think I just... never mind, that's not important."

Rhys frowned, seemingly pondering something. But he quickly shook his head and looked at Liu Xia before him. For some reason, a strong desire welled up within him—he absolutely had to recruit this young merchant. What if he was just told to go back and think it over, and ultimately rejected Mayor Ryan's offer? He was the one who had found him; they had endured years of humiliation and bided their time, finally reaching their breaking point. They had finally encountered a merchant who could offer them help, and of course, he had to give it his all.

Seeing the subtle change in his expression, as if he were deeply contemplating something, Ryuka realized that Sienna had begun to control Rhys's mind. Regardless, Rhys would act according to Sienna's influence, perfectly rationalizing his actions. This was different from soul-controlling magic or other witches' allure. Afterwards, no matter how powerful a mage examined Sienna's host, they would find no trace of magic or even a hint of her soul or consciousness.

Sienna needs time to read all of her host's memories. During this time, under her control, Rhys made a crucial, logically consistent decision! He looked at Ryusha, abandoning his usual carefree, street-smart demeanor, and solemnly said:

“Little brother Shane, I know the mayor’s request is a bit excessive, and you must be completely confused. But I can sense that you’re not only bold and decisive in business, but you’re also a good guy at heart! If you knew what we were planning to do with the magical weapons, you would definitely be on our side!”

He spoke with unwavering conviction, certain that what he was doing would bring about a collaboration between Ryūka and the mayor, unaware that it was entirely under Sienna's manipulation. Although she couldn't speak to Sienna at this moment, Ryūka, seeing his unusual behavior, naturally understood the situation. She immediately feigned curiosity and cautiously probed Rhys, asking:

"Mr. Reese, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Ries gritted his teeth, a pained expression on his face, and moved closer to Ryūka, putting his arm around his shoulder. Treating him like a buddy from the other side, he leaned in and whispered:

“You saw those people at the service this morning, and something seemed off, didn’t it? Even though I’ve never left Cornwall since I can remember, I know that churches outside are definitely not like this! The churches in Cornwall don’t worship the goddess of the papacy at all! They worship some kind of demon!”

"demon?"

“That’s right!” Rhys nodded solemnly, a hint of fear in his eyes. “And their saintess! She’s a witch! I don’t mean a devil! I mean the witch we all know, the one who almost destroyed the world a thousand years ago!”

"A witch?!" Ryuka feigned surprise, but inwardly wondered, "Is this Chosen Ones organization leaking information everywhere? Even someone like Rhys knows that their saintess is a witch?"

Seeing Rhys's rambling manner, Ryuka didn't know how much of what he said was true, but she knew once Sienna finished reading his memories. Since he mentioned the saintess of Cornwall was a witch, he might actually know some inside information, so Ryuka decided to continue the conversation. Seeing the slight doubt in Rhys's surprised eyes, Rhys became anxious, tightly wrapping his arm around Ryuka's shoulder and saying confidently:

“I’m not lying to you! This town of Cornwall has already been ruined by this fake church! They’re deceiving and controlling the townspeople, and they’re definitely up to something terrible! Mayor Ryan and I are people who have seen through these cult swindlers! We want your help to buy magical weapons so we can save our town! I’ll take you there to see what these bastards have done to our townspeople!”

After saying that, he gritted his teeth, shook off his arm, and, with his head down, led Liu Xia in a different direction, heading towards another alley. He even waved to Liu Xia, signaling her to hurry up and follow.

Although she didn't know how fifty magic guns could deal with a local church with a witch in charge, Ryuka saw his serious demeanor and immediately followed. The two avoided the crowds on the main road and the church staff everywhere, winding their way to a place that made Ryuka's lips twitch.

"Sewer entrance?"

Looking at the stench emanating from the sewer entrance blocked by iron bars, Liu Xia couldn't help but think that the Cornish church district had really been developed successfully over the past few decades, boasting such 'advanced' urban infrastructure. He watched as Rhys actually dismantled the iron bars, waving excitedly at him, and Liu Xia sighed helplessly before following him into the filthy sewer…

Keeping company with rats and cockroaches, the two wandered through the labyrinthine sewers for a while. Ryusha discovered that Ries seemed quite familiar with the place; he emerged from a hole and led Ryusha inside a building. The two crept carefully across wooden crates and shelves, wandering through the dimly lit, narrow spaces for an unknown amount of time. The pungent stench from the sewers vanished, replaced by a strong scent of sandalwood.

Ryusha has a good sense of space. Although the path Ries led him through was like a maze, he could roughly tell that the two of them were at least two or three stories high, about a kilometer away from where they first entered the sewers, and about five or six hundred meters away from the tallest church bell tower.

Moreover, if Ryūka's estimation of the location is correct, the location he deduced last night when he had Petro use a magical device to track Gavin Reed's staff was also not far from here! However, the listening device in Gavin's staff did not detect any sound, and the location did not move at all.

Ryuu recalled Ada, whom he had met earlier; the address she left him was roughly in this area. Therefore, the Reed father and daughter were likely also nearby. The place Reed had led him to must be the heart of the Cornwall Cathedral District! He hadn't expected that Reed, this seemingly ordinary local bully, would lead him around the crowds and informants, right under the noses of both high-ranking and low-ranking agents, into a place closest to the secrets of the Chosen Ones!