Chapter 78: A Sister’s Plea and a Captain’s Struggle

Seeing the pitiful Xiluo’er before her, Eve felt her heart instantly soften.

Just moments ago, she had been consumed by a murderous rage, but Xiluo’er’s current expression acted like a calming balm, quickly settling her turbulent emotions.

Observing Xiluo’er’s slightly reddened eyes, clearly indicating she was terrified, Eve gently patted her back.

“It’s alright, Xiluo’er. Everything’s fine now. It’s all over.”

“Didn’t I tell you? I would protect you.”

Eve leaned down and softly kissed Xiluo’er’s forehead.

“Mm, okay…”

Though outwardly still appearing terrified, Xiluo’er had already begun secretly assessing the situation.

She hadn’t seen Shadow’s figure, but given Eve’s intervention, Shadow must have ceased their actions. What truly drew Xiluo’er’s gaze was something else entirely.

The Lord’s Mansion nearby… the section that had been enveloped by the [Azure Purple Thunder Army] had now collapsed.

In other words, a small portion of the entire Lord’s Mansion had caved in.

‘…Haha.’

Glancing at the ruined Lord’s Mansion in the distance, then at Eve, who was gently patting her back and trying to offer a friendly smile, Xiluo’er couldn’t help but shiver.

Eve didn’t pay much attention to Xiluo’er’s small tremor, simply attributing it to her being terrified.

“Xiluo’er, let me untie the ropes for you.”

Eve examined the ropes binding Xiluo’er for a moment before beginning to untie them.

It had to be said, the binding was quite… exquisite. It almost felt a shame to undo it.

The craftsmanship was surprisingly good.

If she could, Eve would have loved to simply carry Xiluo’er back just like this.

However, carrying her back was impossible, as Xiluo’er knew the matter wasn’t entirely resolved.

It was truly strange. Eve had caused such a massive commotion outside, yet no one had emerged from the basement. This made Xiluo’er even more concerned about the situation downstairs.

“Oh, right, Sister Eve.”

“Just now, when I was tied up, I think I heard Sister Rona’s voice.”

Xiluo’er’s voice carried a hint of urgency as she subtly conveyed information to Eve without revealing her true identity.

“What?”

Eve’s hands paused on the knot she was untying, then she looked seriously at Xiluo’er.

“Rona’s voice? What exactly happened, Xiluo’er?”

“I, I’m not entirely sure. My eyes were covered, and I couldn’t see anything.”

“I just remember that before the strange person who kidnapped me appeared here, I seemed to hear Sister Rona’s voice passing by not far away.”

“Because my mouth was covered, I couldn’t make much noise, and Sister Rona didn’t seem to notice me.”

Xiluo’er’s words caused Eve’s expression to grow increasingly solemn.

No wonder Rona hadn’t come to help despite the huge commotion in the Lord’s Mansion. Could it be that Rona was trapped by other troubles?

Thinking this, Eve felt even more strongly that someone kidnapping Xiluo’er today was no simple matter.

“I remember, Sister Rona’s voice seemed to go that way.”

As soon as her bonds were loosened, Xiluo’er reached out and pointed in the direction of the basement.

This was the most information she could provide without revealing her identity.

Eve frowned slightly.

“Xiluo’er, wait here obediently,” Eve said, patting Xiluo’er’s head before standing up. “I’ll go check over there.”

“Mm, okay…”

Xiluo’er responded dutifully, offering a silent prayer in her heart.

‘I hope it’s not too late to go now.’

‘What exactly is happening with Rona?’

****

The longswords clashed together. Feeling the numbing tremor in her hand, Rona’s arms shook, and her knight’s sword nearly slipped from her grasp.

Although the situation was critical, Rona’s thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Serol before her, the intertwined knight’s longswords, and the heavy breathing…

Long ago, when Rona had just started her position in the Lord’s Mansion, she and Serol had sparred many times under the guise of training.

Later, as Rona became the captain of the City Guard and began to actively help Serol shoulder more public duties, this activity ceased due to a lack of time.

However, the feeling now, compared to back then, was very familiar, yet also a little strange.

It was familiar because, then as now, no matter how hard Rona tried, no matter what she did, she was no match for Serol.

What was strange was… the Serol of yesteryear would have extended a hand to pull her up when she was exhausted and defeated.

‘Right, Serol would even smile and say, “Not bad, you’ve improved.”‘

But now…

Rona felt as if the Serol facing her was a completely different person.

Deep within Serol’s eyes, an unsettling, deep purple hue had appeared at some point. An ominous aura also swirled around her.

Rona had never seen Serol like this. The Serol she knew would not look at her with such cold, indifferent eyes during a spar.

‘So, you’re content to collude with Red, aren’t you? He helps kidnap people to the Lord’s Mansion, and you tacitly allow his underground businesses to flourish unchecked…’

‘No, that’s not it.’

Serol mercilessly swung her sword, forcing Rona to retreat.

‘That’s why I said, Rona, you’re still too young.’

‘Even without my own needs, Red’s existence is necessary.’

‘This city cannot function without these grey industries. It’s a necessary part of this city after its reconstruction following the civil war.’

‘And by striking this kind of deal with Red, I can better control the expanding scope within certain limits, can’t I?’

As Serol spoke, she pressed relentlessly against Rona with unhurried steps.

Rona bit her lip. In a moment of carelessness, Serol’s knight’s longsword grazed her waist, leaving a crimson streak.

Staggering back a few more steps, Rona realized one thing: if this continued, she would definitely not be Serol’s opponent.

Rona had no doubt that Serol, in her current state, would kill her here.

‘But… whether I live or die doesn’t matter. If what’s happening here today isn’t exposed, more people will continue to mysteriously disappear in Kana City, won’t they?’

Rona thought of her friend, Keli.

After Keli mysteriously disappeared in Kana City a year ago, Rona had never stopped paying attention to missing person cases.

Though Rona now understood that it was irreversible, at the very least, she didn’t want such things to happen again.

‘If, if I must defeat Serol before me…’

Rona subconsciously touched her chest, where the other item given to her by that mysterious person was still kept.