That afternoon, Lan Qi had spent some time rescuing High Priest Ruin and obtaining the Three Phantom Flowers. In the evening, sensing the disappearance of the city-state's barrier, he headed towards the source of the battle in the northwest district.

"That bastard dares to bully Talia! Let's get him!"

"Just release me! I'll kill him!"

His mind was still echoing with angry female voices.

In the Northern Continent, Lan Qi had obtained a noble pink divine magic card, [Forbidden Curse Seal], from the Endless Library of Helrom, and had the [Poet of Great Love] modify it using the principles of [Compassionate Poem] to create a new magic—

With the target's consent, a temporary subordinate contract could be signed with a demon, turning them into his familiar summon and establishing a weak mental connection.

And once they possessed the summon attribute, they could be sealed into magic cards by the [Nuclear Fusion Wolf].

During the previous election of the bishop, Lan Qi had lent the Three Phantom Demons to Sigrid. Now, the three great demons had returned to being Lan Qi's familiars.

The corresponding problem was that after forming the contract, they would constantly talk to him, especially Antanas, who was particularly noisy.

Lan Qi's head was filled with her voice.

Although Antanas wanted to provide support first, Pulana suggested to Lan Qi that if they could solve the problem without using their power, they should try not to let them appear, but if necessary, Pulana would launch a super-long-range attack magic.

Because if the three of them took action, after today, the enemy would likely confirm the existence of the three eighth-order powerhouses.

The fact that these three are the highest trump cards is best hidden.

In the end, Lan Qi agreed to Pulana's advice.

"Why... did you lure the Ruin Messiah to escape?"

Hyperion looked up and asked Lan Qi nervously.

"The Three Phantom Demons are my trump card to save Duke Mi Gaia and Duchess Ifatia in the Kerithi Empire. It's too early to expose them on the battlefield now."

Lan Qi answered with a helpless smile.

"..."

Hyperion immediately grabbed Lan Qi's clothes tightly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

She had said too many words of gratitude, to the point where she was running out of them.

She could only engrave everything in her heart, until the day she could repay him.

A long time passed like this.

She finally slowly let go of his hand, as if realizing something.

"Right... can you put me down now..."

Hyperion's face flushed slightly as she murmured.

She had unknowingly been held by Lan Qi for a long time. Earlier, Salomon hadn't left, or perhaps she hadn't recovered from the shock. Now that Salomon had completely left, there was no reason for her to let Lan Qi hold her anymore.

"Can you stand steadily? Are you injured?"

Lan Qi didn't move, but asked.

"Uh..."

Hyperion hesitated for a moment.

"I feel... I think my leg might be a little twisted. Could you..."

She was a little embarrassed to continue, because she even suspected that her lies were too obvious.

"Then let me take you to a safe place."

Lan Qi replied.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Hyperion felt even more ashamed when she heard Lan Qi's agreement, and responded with her head lowered.

"It's nothing, you're very light, it's not hard at all."

Lan Qi smiled.

"..."

Hyperion should have been happy for such sincere praise, but now she only felt a little scared.

How could he manage to say everything without saying anything at all…

Forget it, don't think about it.

Hyperion simply closed her eyes, leaned on Lan Qi's shoulder, and pretended to be asleep.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The central part of the main city of South Wantina, close to the southern district, was filled with turmoil and unease in every corner, and from time to time there was a rumbling sound from the south.

On the streets, officers in gleaming armor hurried by, the sound of heavy armor echoing in the silent night sky, as if constantly reminding the residents of the town that the danger of tonight had not yet passed.

In this tense atmosphere, a solitary figure quietly moved through the dark alleys.

He wore a dark cloak, his steps light and agile, as if blending into the night.

In the narrow alley, dilapidated stone buildings cast mottled shadows in the moonlight, and intermittent lights from the windows revealed the residents' worries and unease about this turbulent night. Occasionally, the sound of a cat meowing or the creaking of a wooden door came from a corner.

Salomon used a little life magic to wash away the bloodstains on his face, not wanting anyone else to see that he was in poor condition at the moment. His steps seemed to know the way well, or perhaps someone was helping him plan the route. He skillfully shuttled through the shadows, avoiding the occasional patrolling soldiers. Even in such a turbulent moment, he appeared unusually calm.

Finally, after passing through a street, a faint firelight and a familiar figure appeared in front of him.

"Messiah, please take this path."

The high priest who came to meet him reached out and pointed the way.

Salomon nodded and walked towards the corner, entering a deeper dark alley again.

He had notified this group of loyal Ruin High Priests of the upcoming action plan one by one.

The High Priests in the Eastern District were preparing to launch their final attack.

And those stationed in the Northwest District, after Loren was lured away, would immediately assassinate Duchess Hyperion!

Those in the Southern District would be responsible for helping him evacuate.

At that time, even if the enraged Loren came after him, he would prioritize rescuing the civilians whose lives were threatened by the High Priests. In other words, the civilians in the South Wantina city area were all Salomon's hostages.

Salomon couldn't wait to see Loren's furious and impotent rage.

Loren was strong.

But he unfortunately exchanged his brain for it.

From the story told by Ivanos, Salomon had analyzed that Loren was a person who couldn't make the right multiple-choice questions, especially the dilemma of needing to choose to protect a specific person or a group of people. Loren, who wanted to protect both sides and was indecisive, would end up protecting no one!

"Although I don't know who the guy fighting Marquis Somerset in the south is, Loren, you are ultimately too honest."

Salomon smiled maliciously.

Suddenly.

Salomon felt a chill in his lower back, followed by a stabbing pain that seemed to drain all the strength from his body, spreading from the cold spot to his limbs.

He was a little incredulous.

At this moment.

The High Priest behind Salomon stabbed Salomon in the lower back with a knife.

Salomon turned his head in a daze, only to see that the High Priest who had been following behind him had an extremely cold expression and had retreated and distanced himself.

"You..."

Salomon trembled in disbelief, kneeling on the ground.

What frightened him was not the change in the High Priest behind him.

But from the end of the alley, a group of High Priests emerged.

They were all High Priests of the Ruin branch. Today's job was to seize the opportunity to attack at the appropriate time, and after successfully killing Hyperion, attract firepower to help Salomon retreat.

However.

The eyes of this group of people were chaotic, as if they had been completely brainwashed, and they walked towards Salomon with heavy steps.

"Salomon, you're so cruel..."

"As he said, you only want us to die, only he will love us."

"You are an obstacle to our path to happiness..."

"You must die here today!!!"

Some of them had eyes that almost protruded from their sockets, and their pupils were abnormally dilated, appearing bloodshot and excited. Some had eyes and mouths that curved like crescents. Their terrifying aura and strange smiles were just like a group of serial killers who only appeared at night.

Under the faint scarlet moonlight, their shadows were dragged long in the dark alley, and the muscles on their faces seemed to twitch from prolonged tension, muttering something like "love," "happiness," "Lady," with each breath accompanied by a strange tremor.

Then.

Time seemed to speed up.

All the Ruin priests rushed towards the battle-damaged Salomon like madmen.

Salomon was completely stunned.

What unspeakable evil had these people suffered to have all become like this!

Salomon's heart beat like a drum, and blood pulsed rapidly through his veins. An invisible fear spread.

No, escape, must escape to the south!

Since Loren was on the northwest side, the one fighting Marquis Somerset in the south was likely the mysterious cardinal.

They shouldn't be fighting, because the Blood Clan and the Resurrection Church were not mortal enemies.

He must pass the message that "there is an evil god in South Wantina Territory"!

As long as he could reach the south of the city, find Marquis Somerset and the cardinal from the Northern Continent, there would still be hope for survival!

(End of chapter)