In the underground warehouse of the church.
Aldenan sniffed the simple carriage rack in front of him and said with a frustrated look, "This is a carriage for transporting corpses."
Carol concealed his weapon under the cart: "What? You expect the enemy to open the city gates and welcome you with open arms?"
Aldenan waved his hand: "Hopefully I won't have to hide inside for too long."
Bulwell looked at the cramped space on the truck bed and scratched his head in frustration.
“You can only lie on your side in there.” Kellogg tapped the dashboard with his finger to test its sturdiness, then added, “And you have to pray this thing doesn’t fall apart.”
At the other end of the warehouse, Randall was recounting to Karin the harrowing war that had taken place in the forest.
When Randall mentioned the two Shadow Beasts, Karin's expression became slightly unnatural, but she quickly returned to normal.
Karin said to Randall, "Now that the expeditionary force has defeated the church's coalition, we don't have much time left to act."
"The church will learn of the defeat before noon tomorrow, and the entire city will be placed under military blockade."
Randall asked, "I heard that the Alien Society has already prepared a safe house in the city?"
“There is indeed such a place, but the city of Taro is very dangerous right now. Many members of the association have been arrested and killed by the church. I cannot guarantee that there is any absolutely safe place in Taro.”
Seeing the worry on Randall's face, Karin said softly, "But you don't need to worry too much. Once the expeditionary force is at the city gates, the church army will focus most of its forces and attention on defending the city, and the situation inside the city will actually be more stable."
Randall breathed a sigh of relief: "There's one more thing. What's the situation with the target of this operation—those scholars from the Royal Academy of Tyro?"
Karin lowered her eyelids: “Deputy Dean Miriam Orso was subjected to the torture of being burned alive earlier this month. He was tied to a wooden stick and hung horizontally, where he was roasted alive over a small fire for three hours, eventually dying in agony. McFadden Olstead, unable to endure the endless torture and humiliation, slit his own throat last week in prison with a sharpened wooden spoon…”
Randall's eyes widened: "You mean, they've all...?!"
"Of the more famous scholars at the Royal University, only Gianluca and Yevni are still alive today, but my people haven't seen them for several days, and I'm worried they won't last much longer."
Randall leaned weakly against the wall, holding his forehead with his hand.
Karin said helplessly, "The main target you were supposed to rescue is dead, but the main responsibility for the mission's failure doesn't lie with you. I can explain to His Majesty... in that case..."
"What about the scholars' manuscripts?"
"What did you say?"
Randall straightened up: "Manuscripts, books, notes—the results of their research should be preserved, shouldn't they?"
Karin spread her hands: "To be honest, I don't know. But if you can find the imprisoned scholars, you might be able to find out the whereabouts of the item from them, provided, of course, that these people are still alive."
Randall gritted his teeth and said, "I need to get into the city, as soon as possible!"
Are you sure?
Yes, I'm sure.
Karin nodded and clapped her hands toward the stairwell.
Father Pedro emerged from the darkness, approached Karin respectfully, and made the sign of the cross.
“Father Pedro is a confidant of Cardinal Abel, and he is in charge of transporting corpses in the city. He can use a hearse to take you into the city.”
Karin nodded to the priest: "Send these people into the city immediately. I will go with you."
Pedro looked at the tall, strong orc, then at the heavy, mountain-like minotaur, and frowned, saying, "These... don't seem to be human. They...?"
Karin said impatiently, "You don't need to know who they are. Just get them into the city, and I'll take care of the rest."
Pedro glanced fearfully at Karin, nodded, and left.
Karin turned to look at the carriage, then suddenly remembered something: "There's something we need to discuss. Some of the corpses brought out of the city were missing organs, and some had their skulls opened. Although I don't know what happened in the city, I suggest you be extremely careful when you move out."
Randall looked thoughtful and slowly nodded.
Late that night, a dozen or so dilapidated carriages slowly made their way along the winding mountain road toward the city of Teruo.
Randall lay prone under the wooden planks of a carriage, holding Barbara in one arm and slowly prying open the planks with the other, cautiously peering outside.
"The smell here is like a rotten pit infested with maggots, and I feel like I'm suffocating."
Barbara's pale blue tattoos emitted a faint glow, and her pointed ears drooped limply.
Randall covered Barbara's body with the blanket and said helplessly, "You could have stayed in the church; there was no need for you to come along."
Barbara said irritably, "Just like that time in Lone Rock?"
"Okay, I admit I said something stupid."
Randall smiled wryly and turned his attention outside the car.
Barbara hugged the other person and gently asked, "Do you remember the first time we met?"
"Huh? You mean on the stage of the Twilight Grand Theater?"
No, before that.
"I don't remember."
Barbara pinched the soft flesh of Randall's waist with her fingers and said viciously, "The town of Samantha, south of Lone Rock, thirteen years ago!"
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