In the midst of their conversation, the silver-armored knights began to move, their ranks marching in perfect unison, clashing their spears with a dull thud.
Suddenly, a timid child in a nearby alley burst into tears of fear, only to be quickly covered up by his parents, who grabbed him around the waist and pulled him back into the house. It was as if he had offended some high-ranking figure and was about to be punished. His eyes flashed with fear and terror before turning to the ground, no longer daring to look directly at the procession in the distance that was shining with brilliant rainbow light.
This much larger display of force than before was undoubtedly intended to bolster their prestige.
The attempt to find an innocent scapegoat failed, and it didn't seem like the person who cared about the life or death of their collaborators. It was merely an opportunity to demonstrate their power to those around them. However, it is undeniable that given the huge disparity in military strength and the long-term oppression they had suffered, this action was indeed successful.
It's as if you can see these guys using the guise of faith to sit on high places and plunder the people's resources.
What's even more infuriating is that they clearly don't care about the lives of those living outside the inner city, yet they still pretend to be kind.
but……
"He didn't seem to mention what happened last night?"
Although it was somewhat anticipated, we were prepared for the other party to also seek retribution.
In the current situation, it would be a good reason to label the guys who invaded the church's backyard yesterday as terrorists who launched a malicious attack, or as thieves who attempted to steal the church's treasures, or even to link them to what happened this afternoon.
Miyuki said matter-of-factly, "After all, it was a scandal that happened in our own backyard. Even if something serious really happened, due to our own position and the constraints of maintaining our rule, we have to pretend that nothing happened and swallow all the hurt. This is not only because the church's high position has attracted a lot of attention, but also because if it becomes weak, it may expose a loophole that can be exploited."
"Of course, no matter how glamorous its appearance may be, it will be difficult to escape the notice of those powerful families who have been entrenched and developing in the inner city for a long time, right? Judging from the commotion last night, they have obviously received the information they wanted."
As she spoke, she quietly pulled me closer, subtly pointing to a spot not far away.
I complied with her suggestion and moved a little closer, pretending to observe the street scene returning to normal after the church members left, while subtly extending my senses backward.
Just behind us, less than two room doors away, a slender figure, whose face was mostly obscured by dark clothing, was hidden in the shadows around the corner. His eyes, hidden beneath his clothes and hat, kept scanning his surroundings. His presence was extremely faint. Sharp blades and daggers were concealed on his lower back and thighs, which were covered by his clothes, clearly indicating that he was a professional who usually operated in the shadows.
“That person is the one who has been following behind that child,” Miyuki explained quietly.
This really surprised me.
"He looks like just a child. Why would you let such a young child protect others?"
Shen Xue shrugged, then looked up at the polyhedron spinning above her head, which was gradually returning to its original speed: "Because of that incident earlier, it's almost evening now, and the church will probably tighten the curfew tonight. Maybe we should go back and discuss this further."
"The inner city at night is hardly a friendly place for outsiders."
Having experienced what happened last night, I naturally believe this.
Although I used some tricks to escape in the end, which allowed me to get out without any real danger, the actual experience was still quite thrilling.
Within the large, awakened courtyard, hushed conversations and secret plots echoed. While the scattered church members searching were mostly just there to make up the numbers, escaping unnoticed was still a considerable challenge. Add to that the fact that even Miyuki wasn't entirely familiar with the inner city's environment and roads, and the fact that members of the major families were out gathering intelligence, and the whole affair presented a host of problems.
The only relatively easy passage was through a large courtyard located next to the white wall, which was much larger and more understated and luxurious than the church.
However, all of that was just the remnant of the past, just like the empty house that Shen Xue brought us from the outside world. The garden trees and withered plants that had been neglected for a long time were scattered all over the courtyard. The castle that once showed the owner's status had become a huge ruin covered with dust and no longer had any human presence.
There was no light at all, and the eerie atmosphere made it seem as if one had finally arrived at the site of a terrifying and bizarre story after passing through a chaotic and dense forest.
However, none of the three people present were easily intimidated, and their ability to handle unexpected situations was more than sufficient. This also provided cover for our subsequent wall-climbing operation.
The inner wall surrounding the abandoned castle was the only place where surveillance was lax. After repeatedly confirming the range of attention of the silver-armored knights keeping watch, the two of them used their speed to quietly cross the white wall, which was much taller than the outer city wall.
Let's get back to the main topic.
Although this unexpected accident delayed our plans and caused us to abandon them, a new idea popped into my head after I noticed the child who had been following us.
"Shinyuki, is it possible for us to obtain relevant information through other channels?"
On the way back, I asked her a question, but I kept my voice down so that only the two of us could hear it, rather than using a soundproof barrier: "For example, is it possible for us to get support from the family behind the little guy, or are there any organizations in the city that accept commissions, like mercenary groups?"
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