Chapter 142: A Risky Rescue and a New Path

At the Old Sheep’s Shop, a known Tea Party stronghold, Alice met with the Mad Hatter in his room.

They discussed the intelligence she had gathered and meticulously planned the details of their operation.

“Overthrowing the Inquisition is practically hopeless, and we have no connections within it,” the Mad Hatter analyzed, lowering his voice. “To rescue your friend, we’ll have to resort to brute force.”

He continued, “Don’t even dream of breaking someone out of the Divine Wrath Iron Prison. Springing them from the execution grounds is a far more realistic option.”

“Springing them from the execution grounds?” Alice questioned. “From the Inquisition itself, or from the actual execution site?”

“I’d recommend the execution site,” the Mad Hatter replied. “The Supreme Church Court is right next to the Inquisition’s headquarters. Trying to break someone out of there would only be marginally easier than the Divine Wrath Iron Prison.”

“Where will the execution take place?” Alice pressed.

“The Church has a traditional execution ground, right here,” the Mad Hatter said, pointing to a map spread across the table. “Requiem Square.”

“Do you believe they’ll publicly execute Jeanne Decker?” Alice asked.

“The Curia certainly wouldn’t want to blow things up to such a scale,” the Mad Hatter mused, stroking his chin. “After all, publicly burning a Saint, who was once their poster child, would undoubtedly damage the Church’s public image.”

“However, the matter is already widely known, so resolving it quietly is unrealistic. Those pushing for her execution will surely keep pressuring the Inquisition.”

“Therefore, I suspect this will be a compromise,” he concluded.

“A compromise? What do you mean?” Alice didn’t understand. “How can an execution be a compromise? Half-killing her?”

“It’s a compromise between public and secret executions,” the Mad Hatter explained. “They will likely announce a public execution at Requiem Square, but on the day itself, Church personnel will cordon off the area.”

He continued, “The public will know your friend was executed, but they won’t witness the actual event. This will drastically reduce the number of onlookers and minimize the impact on the Church.”

‘If the area is heavily guarded, won’t it be even harder for us to get in and rescue her?’

Alice frowned.

“No, this might actually make it easier for us to fish in troubled waters.”

The Mad Hatter stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll figure that out. The specifics of how to execute it still need more investigation,” the Mad Hatter stated. “Worst case, we’ll just have to fight our way through. Either way, it’s going to be a forceful approach.”

“Though your friend was chosen as a Saint, she isn’t a truly important figure, so the security for her execution shouldn’t be overly stringent. With my power, I reckon I have about a sixty percent chance of successfully disrupting the execution.”

“I don’t doubt your strength, Mad Hatter, but…” Alice said cautiously, “your power sometimes comes with a price.”

‘When the Mad Hatter uses his Third-Tier abilities, he is consumed by madness, temporarily falling into a state of frenzy. In that state, he becomes bloodthirsty and cruel, incapable of restraint, and even I can’t distinguish him.’

‘To attempt a rescue in that state, he might become the greatest threat to the hostage himself.’

‘Even if the execution grounds aren’t as heavily guarded as the Divine Wrath Iron Prison or the Church Court, they certainly won’t be undefended. The Inquisition will be responsible for the on-site security of the execution.’

‘If there are many Inquisitors present, or even a Fourth-Tier powerhouse, the Mad Hatter would have to go all out. At that point, no one could guarantee Alice’s or Jeanne Decker’s safety.’

‘Of course, Alice could share some of his madness to help the Mad Hatter maintain a sliver of self-control. But Alice had already experienced that madness; a Blessed of her Tier would fall completely into a frenzy with just a touch.’

‘In that scenario, the Mad Hatter, already on the brink of madness, might not have the spare capacity to look after her while also attempting a rescue.’

“So, I have absolutely no credibility with you, do I?” The Mad Hatter sighed dramatically.

“I nearly died by your hand!” Alice reminded him sternly.

“Don’t hold a grudge, it was an accident. I was ambushed, and I didn’t anticipate suddenly meeting you. Don’t worry, I have a way to control myself.”

With that, the Mad Hatter snapped his fingers, and a red Devil’s Coin magically appeared between them. “Remember how I taught you before, my good student?”

Alice gazed at the red soul crystal, remembering. The Mad Hatter had once told her that this item could pay the price of ‘Sacrifice’ abilities.

“Wait, does that mean if you use this, you can maintain your sanity?” Alice’s eyes widened.

“This thing can partially bear the cost of my sanity. Consuming one can maintain a strained lucidity for about a minute or two,” the Mad Hatter replied.

“It’s that simple? Why didn’t you use it that day, then?” Alice frowned, suspicious.

“Simple? I only have five of these left, and each one is incredibly precious,” the Mad Hatter shrugged. “I generally don’t use them unless absolutely necessary.”

Alice was momentarily speechless. So, the Mad Hatter had already used one precious red soul to ensure her safety in front of Queen Isola.

And now, the Mad Hatter was about to expend this resource again to fulfill his promise.

“I’ll handle all the fighting and covering our retreat. You just need to rescue her and escape,” the Mad Hatter said seriously. “It’ll be a quick fight; we absolutely cannot drag it out.”

“Understood.”

“By the way, once you rescue your friend, what do you plan to do with her?” the Mad Hatter asked.

“That…”

Alice couldn’t answer. She hadn’t really considered that aspect. After all, successfully rescuing her was still a distant hope, and if saved, Jeanne Decker would become a wanted fugitive.

Without an organization’s protection, she would be nothing more than a desperate outlaw on the run.

“If you manage to rescue her, consider persuading her to join the Tea Party,” the Mad Hatter suddenly offered a suggestion.

Alice initially had doubts, as Jeanne Decker had recently been a Saint-Knight sanctioned by the Church. Joining such an underground organization seemed inappropriate.

But then she remembered that the two closest confidantes of the Tea Party’s leader had both once been mid-level members of the Church.

“Since she hails from the Northern Lands and served in the Northern Duke’s knight order, she should know quite a bit of useful information. The Tea Party is currently planning a Barbarian Liberation Movement with the Iron Warlord, after all.”

The Mad Hatter looked ahead.

‘A Barbarian Liberation Movement, huh…’

Alice showed a hint of awkwardness. ‘The thing is, Jeanne Decker really dislikes the barbarians of the Northern Lands because her village was frequently raided by barbarian bandits in the past.’

“Don’t worry,” the Mad Hatter raised an eyebrow. “If the Northern Lands stabilize and the Iron Warlord honors our agreement, barbarian raids should also decrease.”

“Don’t you look forward to reuniting with her in this organization?”

“I actually… do look forward to that a bit,” Alice nodded, speaking truthfully.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

I Heard I’m the Villainous, Hated Character in a Pampered Novel?

BLDramaFantasy

Read Now →
Not interested