Chapter 82: An Invitation from Erica, Cassius Tracks Colin

After another night’s rest.

Colin spoke with a grave expression, “Brother Daniels, Brother Rathead, we must find a way to meet Baroness Erica as soon as possible.”

“With the current situation in Lemon Port, without her help, we won’t be able to move an inch.”

Just the two of them, plus Rathead’s small group of men—

They could barely stir up a ripple.

Daniels nodded. “That’s right, we must meet Erica.”

“Only by borrowing her strength can we stand against Servan, and perhaps even uncover the source of this plague!”

Rathead rubbed his hands together. “I’ll make the arrangements right now. Let’s see if I can find another channel to contact her.”

As soon as he finished speaking—

A rhythmic knocking sounded from outside the hideout.

Rathead froze. “Huh? My men are back? So soon?”

He gestured for one of his subordinates to open the door.

A young man in plain coarse clothes slipped inside swiftly, his expression sharp and alert.

He raised both hands to show he meant no harm, then bowed slightly.

“Priest Colin, Rock Daniels.”

“Baroness Erica Floyd has sent me to invite the two of you to the castle for a discussion.”

“What?!”

All three of them changed expression at once.

This man was from Erica’s side?

They had hidden themselves so carefully—how had she found them?

Colin pushed up his glasses, his face full of disbelief. “Baroness Erica? Wasn’t she trapped in the castle by Servan’s people?”

A faint, disdainful curve lifted the young man’s lips. “Trapped?”

“With that fool Servan and his pack of useless dogs?”

“Don’t misunderstand, Priest Colin. Lady Erica merely didn’t wish to disrupt the surface balance of Lemon Port.”

“If she truly acted, Servan would be driven out of Lemon Port in less than three days!”

At those words—

Daniels’ brows furrowed tightly. He couldn’t help but step forward.

“If Baroness Erica truly has that kind of power—”

“Then why didn’t she send someone to create a diversion at the prison yesterday? Even a bit of noise could’ve helped us rescue our people.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t receive my message.”

His tone brimmed with accusation. “Now that we’ve barely escaped with our lives, then you come knocking on our door.”

“That’s some fine timing, isn’t it?”

“You wouldn’t take any risk, but now that you need us, you show up?”

The young man’s face remained unchanged.

He met Daniels’ gaze calmly.

“Rock Daniels, your questions will be answered personally by the Baroness. I am merely a messenger.”

“As for whether you’ll come or not, that’s for you to decide.”

He added, “But time waits for no one. Servan’s people aren’t idle.”

Colin took a deep breath, suppressing both his doubts and Daniels’ dissatisfaction.

This was not the time to argue.

Meeting Erica, uncovering her true intentions, and clarifying the exact situation in Lemon Port—those were the priorities.

“We’ll go with you,” Colin said in a deep voice.

Rathead hesitated. “Brother Colin, then what about me…”

“Don’t worry, Brother Rathead—you’re coming too.”

Colin looked at him. “The future of Lemon Port depends on the eyes you underground folk have!”

Rathead finally grinned. “Alright then!”

“Knife mountain, sea of fire—Rathead will go through them with you!”

The three of them followed the young man quickly out of the hideout.

They weaved through the foul, maze-like sewers of Lemon Port, and through hidden back alleys.

After some distance—

Colin suddenly stopped, his face paling.

“Not good!”

“Someone’s tracking me! A powerful, evil presence!”

Colin let out a low growl.

His hands clasped before his chest, and the power of the Holy Light within him surged outward violently.

He tried to form a sacred barrier, cutting off the malicious gaze.

Pure, golden light burst from within his body, colliding fiercely with that evil force!

Zzzzt!

The air crackled with a sound like searing flesh.

The dark force visibly recoiled, suppressed by the Holy Light.

But the enemy’s power was far too great!

Colin felt a mighty backlash, his chest struck as if by a hammer.

He groaned, blood trickling from the corner of his lips.

The Holy Light barrier flickered wildly, on the verge of collapse.

“Run! To the castle!”

Colin shouted through clenched teeth, enduring the pain. “It’s found me! If we delay, it’ll be too late!”

Daniels and Rathead’s expressions changed drastically.

Without a word, they each took Colin by the arm.

The guide, realizing the danger, barked, “This way! It’s shorter!”

The four of them sprinted at full speed toward the lord’s castle!

——

Outside Lemon Port, in a decaying, stinking cellar.

Cassius’s skeletal body suddenly shuddered!

The ghostly green soul fire in his eyes flared violently, as though stabbed by light.

“Urgh!”

A guttural sound escaped his throat.

The black deathly aura around him rippled chaotically.

“A… Light priest?”

Cassius muttered in disbelief, tinged with unease.

The necrotic tracking spell he had cast wasn’t offensive, so it could bypass Lemon Port’s magic barrier to lock onto his target.

He had thought it would be easy prey.

But he hadn’t expected the target to erupt with such pure Light power!

That power was sacred, warm—carrying a natural purifying essence.

It was a direct bane to undead beings like him!

Though the opponent’s strength was far below his,

the sheer attribute suppression made him take a hit.

“Damn it! A remnant of the Holy Light Church?”

“But the Church’s magic… isn’t quite like this.”

Cassius frowned.

He had encountered priests of the Holy Light Church before.

Their Light magic restrained the undead, yes—but never with such purity.

This felt like… a higher form of Holy Light?

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

The soul fire in Cassius’s eyes flickered with irritation.

This tracking had not only failed—

He had been noticed and even injured.

A loss!

Servan would have to pay extra for this!

He immediately activated his communication crystal linked to Servan.

“Lord Servan, I found the man—but…”

Cassius deliberately paused.

“That brat’s troublesome—turns out he’s a hidden Light Priest!”

“My tracking spell was repelled, and I took a small hit.”

“So, the hundred human offerings we agreed on won’t do.”

“Two hundred!”

“And make sure they’re healthy! Don’t try to trick me with old or weak ones~!”

There was silence from the other end of the crystal.

Then Servan’s furious roar came through, barely restrained: “You dare raise the price now?! Don’t push it too far!”

“Too far?” Cassius sneered.

“Servan, don’t forget who’s cleaning up your mess!”

“He’s already realized I was tracking him, and he’s running toward Erica’s castle!”

“If he makes it inside and joins up with Erica, exposes your little schemes…”

“Heh, what do you think Erica will do to you? How will the merchants and citizens of Lemon Port see you then?”

Servan’s breathing grew ragged—Cassius’s words had struck home.

A few seconds later—

Servan’s gritted voice came through. “…Fine! Two hundred it is!”

“But you must keep reporting his position to me!”

“Relax, he’s not escaping.”

Cassius chuckled darkly.

“I’ve already locked onto his location.”

“Have your men move now—surround that area, especially the roads leading to the castle!”

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