He was imprisoned in Nibelungen for a thousand years, only to find out upon his release that he was

In Cú Chulainn's despairing gaze, the entrance to the passage drew ever closer, and the figures of the Demon King and Nero on the other side became increasingly clear... He had already given up all hope.

But it seems that a miracle suddenly happened at this very moment.

The two beasts opposite seemed to be attracted by something, turned around and disappeared.

At the same time, Lu Ming was also interrupted by another notification, disrupting the task process that everyone was highly focused on.

“We’re still on a mission, so let’s put aside any unrelated notifications for now and talk about them later…” Lu Ming frowned, having originally intended to decline.

However, the news they received seemed to exceed their expectations, even far surpassing the importance of the mission itself.

"What? You mean a group of Odin's people from outside the city have come and offered themselves up?!"

"Alright, bring them all here, without exception! I want to question them all in person!"

Lu Ming's face was quite serious.

The investigation task: Why conduct the investigation?

Naturally, it's for intelligence gathering. Now that a group of Odin's spies have entered the fray, the composition of intelligence sources has become extremely diverse.

Exploring the situation on the other side of the passage became less urgent, especially since there was a need to be wary of unknown traps. No matter how one planned, nothing was as safe and risk-free as interrogating a group of captured spies on their own turf.

Cú Chulainn let out a long sigh of relief... He seemed to have escaped a disaster?

At least even if we're pushed to the other side of the passageway now, we won't be completely finished, right?

Damn it, this endless torment... I just want it to end already!

If he had to choose between facing multiple beasts at the same time and being constantly bombarded with ridiculously stupid Odin conspiracy theories and pseudo-historical theories, he would rather endure it and choose the latter!

......

Outside Xueyuan City.

The group of about thirty people slowly approached the city wall. Their attire was quite different from that of ordinary citizens; they looked exceptionally cool and casual, as if they had just emerged from a tropical rainforest.

"Wow!? This is 'Snowfield City'? Look at these tall and thick city walls, it's completely transformed! It's like the main city in an RPG game!"

"Flatter, what are you yelling about? It's not like this is your first time here."

"Haha, I see you have absolutely no idea. It wasn't like this at all when I was here last time! Hey! Let me tell you, back when I participated in the Holy Grail War..."

"The Holy Grail War is a thing of the past, what's the point of mentioning it?"

"Stop ranting and raving! We've suddenly lost contact with the teacher, and we don't even know what's going on!"

"Yes, that's precisely why we need to ask for help from the people in this city! Miss Orange, who seems to have made a deal with the teacher, has chosen this side; hopefully, we can get through to her..."

The woman in charge also said, "Hispani sent word that the application we submitted had been seen by important people, and we hope to get some good news back."

"However, we should also thank Lord Quetzalcoatl for his magnanimity in treating us like spiders and letting us go so easily!" Someone began to allude to the story of how the smoke mirror deceived Quetzalcoatl.

"Heh! Well said. If you're so capable, try making that kind of joke in front of Quetzalcoatl next time."

This group of people were the students in El-Melloi II's classroom.

Quetzalcoatl once used safety as an excuse to hope that they would stay obediently and dutifully in their territory... Once they left this territory, no one would tolerate them.

The students in El-Melloi's classroom believed that Hippolyta's application, submitted by the authorities in Snowfield City, had been accepted.

Furthermore, they felt that things had calmed down in the outside world, and it was time to leave the temple territory where they had been holed up for so long and seek refuge with a more reliable side.

"strangeness......"

Luvia gazed at the vast, snow-covered city walls stretching into the distance and chatted with several classmates skilled in perception techniques:

"It feels almost like I've arrived near the temple of Quetzalcoatl..."

"You mean, something like a divine realm...? Didn't you say this place is a regime and organization established by the survivors of Snowfield City?"

What's going on here?

They hadn't been near Snowfield City for long, not even entering the city proper, when Quetzalcoatl restricted their movements, so much so that... aside from the little information about Flat, which supposedly involved some Dead Apostle Ancestor causing trouble and was eventually overthrown by a leader, they knew almost nothing else.

Judging from the current situation, it feels like their version of information is several centuries behind.

Before the group could finish their conversation, a row of police officers blocked their way.

"Halt!"

Chief Orlando stopped them. "Hand over your identification documents and let us verify your identities."

El-Melloi... The students in the classroom looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally Luvia and Frat stepped forward.

The former's attitude was relatively serious: "We are all graduates of the El-Melloi Classroom, and we all have the association's magician rank certification—"

As for the latter...

"Hey, isn't this the police chief! Hahaha, it's been so many days! What are you doing here as a gatekeeper? Your special police force is much smaller, and Mr. Dumas is nowhere to be seen either. Has he abandoned you too?"

Flat waved his arms in greeting and asked loudly. His remarkably loud voice even drew the attention of those around him.

Orlando, his hat pulled low, thought, "..."

Do you have a grudge against me?

Why would you deliberately make these embarrassing things public so that everyone knows?

"You idiot Flat! Don't you know how to reminisce?" Sfin punched him and scolded, "You're not that close to him. Before you think about teasing him, please maintain a little distance!"

Judging from the tone of Flat's voice just now, it seemed as if he was loudly mocking Orlando, saying, "Why are you so sluggish after just a few days?"

"Haha, when it comes to talking about distance, only you, Lu Xi'an, have the right to say that to me!"

"Don't call me a dog!"

"Haha, that wasn't me!"

"..."

Turns out they're just a bunch of clowns.

Orlando didn't bother to argue anymore and continued talking to Luvia.

"Then I'm sure of it. So, you're from the Clock Tower, right?"

"Correct."

“Oh…” His eyes flickered.

Based on the recent rumors above, the Clock Tower is suspected of having connections with Odin, which needs to be thoroughly investigated.

This sounds absurd, but the Celestial Sovereign was executed on this charge, and that's a fact that can't be ignored.

Furthermore, the orders given above must be obeyed by soldiers. Otherwise, Orlando wouldn't even be fit to be a doorman.

And if he were a good person, Orlando believed that given Lu Ming's character of saving countless civilians at all costs, he would never wrong them.

"Go, restrain them with sealing artifacts!"

Before the command was even finished, several figures flashed in front of him. The magicians in the classroom were shocked. These people were all non-human hybrids with extremely high bloodline concentration!

These new generation magicians, who were at least of the highest rank, were handcuffed and unable to move freely before they even had a chance to use their magical costumes!

"Orlando! What are you doing?"

"Don't worry, I don't want to kill you, but according to recent rumors, you're suspected..."

“Therefore, we cannot let you out of our sight for the time being,” Orlando continued.

"I have already consulted with my superiors. If you really have no problems, they will definitely make proper arrangements for you."

As Orlando spoke, he forcibly detained these people and led them into the city.

Flat blinked and discussed with Thea inside his body whether they should force a breakthrough and take everyone away.

Just then, Luvia, who was at the very front, calmly spoke up:

"Don't worry, I've already asked someone to come over."

After entering the city, she secretly summoned Hippolyta using the contract.

"Orlando, what you're doing is pointless. You still have to let us go."

"real or fake?"

Not long after the group left, they saw a black horse carrying a woman with her hair tied up in a red ribbon galloping towards them.

"Oh, a Servant?"

Orlando narrowed his eyes, but did not back down.

In fact, ever since Lu Ming modified the bloodlines of almost all the people in Snowfield City, many of them are no longer afraid of Servants of average strength.

"The escort team, stop right there!"

Hippolyta pulled on the reins, halting the charge of her warhorse Callion, and solemnly announced with a stack of documents: "These are a group of humans that I have specially rescued after consulting with your superiors and with the personal approval of the highest level!"

At the same time, Luvia stepped forward and extended her arm:

"As evidenced by the master-servant contract, my Rider Hippolyta has been temporarily accepted by your authorities..."

Orlando finished reading the document and found it to be genuine, only the signing date was earlier. "Hmph, break the seal for them."

El-Melloi... Seeing that they had finally been untied, the students in the classroom began to move around and the line became disordered.

Actually, when Lu Ming negotiated with Quetzalcoatl, hoping she would help him, he had learned that a group of people were being held captive in the rainforest. But at that time, he didn't pay much attention to their identities.

However, this time, Orlando specifically emphasized the rumors surrounding the Odin organization and their alleged involvement...

Upon hearing those words, Lu Ming, who was in the middle of a mission, immediately raised his alert level to the highest level.

As a result, El-Melloi... The classmate had only relaxed for a few minutes when Orlando received a direct urging from Lu Ming.

Click.

Everyone was bewildered to realize that the sealing device, which they hadn't loosened just moments before, had immediately handcuffed them again.

What does this mean?

Were you just playing a trick on us? Were you just teasing us?

Hippolyta was somewhat annoyed. "I already said that..."

"Was your approval granted by the highest leadership?"

Orlando's usually serious face rarely showed a hint of a smile.

"Unfortunately, mine also came from the highest leader. I submitted a request to the higher-ups a few minutes ago and then it was approved. Yours was from a few days ago; everything is subject to the latest instructions."

Hippolyta: "?"

No, is the processing speed really that fast?

When she ran errands for help before, it wasn't this efficient; she had to spend a long time dealing with Ereshkigal.

Luvia asked, puzzled, "What exactly did we do wrong?"

“Your Clock Tower is connected to Odin, and... there is probably solid evidence of it.”

"This is impossible!"

......

Inside the clock tower.

The faculty building collapsed, and war raged.

"Brother! Where did you run off to?"

Reines was carried by a mass of amorphous mercury as she fled at high speed.

"I was just called away, I'm fine!"

Webber coughed up blood, clutched a few sheets of paper, and forced himself to run forward. "Grey, if it catches up, use that..."

"Understood!" The woman, whose face was hidden in her hood, transformed the scythe in her hand. "Holy Lance, pull anchor!"

Just then, rows of scarlet demonic eyes appeared, accompanied by writhing columnar demonic shadows, instantly filling the entire corridor.

"Wait, in such a confined space, using that level of force—" Reines tried to dissuade them, as it would cause a collapse and could actually harm their own side!

"Leave this to me!" A massive surge of magical power suddenly erupted from Waver's body. "Stone Soldier Formation!"

The swaying space, along with the howls of the Demon Pillar monster, was completely covered and sealed off by the radiance of the Noble Phantasm.

Reines: "??"