Chapter 108: A False Misunderstanding

“Where is she?!” Anasha’s voice carried a trace of unease.

The surrounding members were also stunned, looking around in confusion. “She was just here… we didn’t see her leave at all.”

The Regulation Squad fell into silence, exchanging uncertain glances, unsure what to do.

Meanwhile, in a shabby house not far away, Peretti’s gentle voice could be heard:

“Little one, what’s your name? Big sister has something tasty for you.”

She sat on the cold floor, the chains on her wrists clinking softly with her movements.

With some difficulty, Peretti fumbled inside her cloak using her bound hands and finally pulled out a small paper-wrapped item—it was the chocolate Ino had given her.

Ino had said it could fill her stomach and restore energy, stuffing nearly half her cloak with it.

Peretti had never seen such dark-colored candy before, but she remembered that all candy was sweet—something children should like.

Clumsily tearing open the wrapping, she revealed the dark brown chocolate and held it out toward the little girl.

The girl looked about six or seven, her face smudged with dirt. She stared blankly at the chocolate but didn’t take it immediately.

She timidly looked up at the woman behind her.

The woman was gaunt, her face sallow, her clothes layered with patches upon patches. Seeing her daughter’s gaze, her cracked lips trembled slightly before she slowly nodded.

Only after receiving her mother’s permission did the girl reach out her dirty little hand, happily taking the chocolate and biting into it.

“Yummy…” she mumbled, her small face instantly lighting up with a bright smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

Seeing that innocent smile, Peretti’s heart softened as if soaked in warm water.

She smiled genuinely, a faint curve forming on her lips. The cold sharpness in her eyes faded, replaced with rare gentleness.

That scene was not lost on the woman.

She glanced at the cold chains around Peretti’s wrists, then at her patience toward her daughter. Her dry lips trembled again as she spoke softly:

“Commander Fakenna… he’s not a bad person. Please believe me.”

Peretti’s smile paused slightly before she nodded slowly.

She understood clearly—
for a mother to say such words to someone labeled a “heretic,” the situation here was likely even worse than what she had experienced in Falisa.

“Why do you say that?” Peretti asked softly. “Is there something hidden behind this?”

The woman’s gaze drifted, as if seeing into the distant past through the broken window.

“He’s not a bad person… really not…” she murmured faintly.

At that moment, a cold voice suddenly sounded behind Peretti, cutting her off:

“What are you doing here?”

Peretti turned sharply to see Anasha standing at the doorway, her expression dark and intimidating.

Peretti quickly stood up, the gentleness on her face disappearing as she returned to her usual calm demeanor. Pointing at the little girl beside her, she smiled lightly:

“You were making too much noise earlier—you scared the children here. I came to check on them and calm them down.”

As she spoke, she took out the remaining five white bread rolls from her cloak. These had been prepared for the journey—now slightly flattened and dusted from the road. Carefully, she placed them into the girl’s arms.

“Take these. You can eat them when you’re hungry.”

The little girl looked down at the fragrant bread in her arms, her eyes instantly lighting up. She hugged them tightly, unable to look away.

Anasha watched the scene with a frown. The question on her lips remained unspoken as she swallowed it back. Without saying more, she bent down, picked up the chain, and gave it a sharp yank.

Caught off guard, Peretti stumbled and was forced to follow her outside.

“Goodbye,” Peretti managed a small smile as she bid farewell to the little girl.

“Let’s go,” Anasha said, her voice still cold—but carrying a faint hint of softness.

Along the way, Peretti didn’t say another word.

She sat on Anasha’s horse, her wrists tightly bound by chains that dug painfully into her skin.

Looking at the desolate scenery along the road, her mind was filled with worry for the mother and daughter—and growing doubts about the situation in Brest.

The Regulation Squad members noticed her silence and found it strange. Wasn’t this heretic quite articulate before?

But since she wasn’t speaking, they were content with the quiet and didn’t press further.

When they arrived at the church in Brest, Peretti couldn’t help but be stunned.

This church was completely different from what she had imagined.

Its scale was even smaller than a chapel in Falisa—barely comparable to an ordinary noble residence.

Compared to the grand and magnificent cathedral of Falisa, it was utterly insignificant.

Pulled along by Anasha, Peretti entered the church and immediately saw the statue standing in the center of the hall, with neatly arranged wooden benches on either side.

Understanding dawned on her—

It seemed all the functions of the parish had been concentrated into this single building, deliberately minimizing space and reducing the church’s footprint.

Most likely, resources here were scarce—even the funds to build a church were insufficient.

Yet along the way, Peretti had seen many luxurious buildings. That didn’t match the idea of resource scarcity at all.

“Presumably, you must be Vice-Captain Anasha of the Regulation Squad?”

A respectful voice sounded.

From deeper within the church, a bishop in a purple robe hurried forward, bowing deeply to Anasha with a flattering smile.

“I’ve long heard of your name—seeing you today proves your reputation is well deserved.”

Beside him stood a short girl, most of her face hidden beneath a headscarf, making it difficult for anyone present to see her clearly.

As he spoke, the bishop took out a thick dossier from his sleeve and handed it to Anasha.

“This is the target we’ve commissioned you to deal with—the former commander of the Third Knight Order, Fakenna, along with all his subordinates. All related evidence and their movements are recorded here.”