Maggie stood by the window, watching the flames rise in the direction of the tavern before calmly turning her gaze away.
Ever since Perkin left, she had been staring blankly in that direction at this time every day, and finally today she saw the view she had planned to see.
She turned and walked out of the room. The temple, which was usually quiet in the dead of night, was now bustling with several nuns coming and going.
The Holy Knights mobilized a large number of people, along with accompanying nuns and priests. If any innocent civilians were injured, the temple would provide medical assistance to demonstrate the grace of the God of Light.
Of course, this kind of good thing only happens in Santa Fe.
"Your Highness, are you feeling better?"
When one of the nuns saw Maggie, she hesitated for a moment but stopped and greeted her politely.
"You're much better now. What happened outside?"
Maggie's gentle expression revealed a hint of worry, as if she were concerned for the safety of the common people. Her compassion was like that of a goddess, and no one would doubt her sincerity.
"The paladin sent back a message: the tavern exploded, and many civilians and mercenaries were injured."
The nun was also worried, as Santa Fe City had been quite unsettled lately.
"That's a tragedy. May the God of Light protect us."
Maggie looked surprised, then saddened, and made a praying gesture, as if hoping for world peace.
"Yes, but it's more important for Your Highness to recover your health."
The nun was assigned to keep watch tonight, and after exchanging a few words with Maggie, the paladins were about to depart, leaving her with little time.
"Yes, may you have a safe and smooth night."
Maggie nodded and let the ignorant nun go. She slowly walked to the most secluded spot in the garden of the Temple of Light's courtyard before stopping.
The shadow behind her twisted and turned, eventually transforming into a cloaked boy.
"We haven't received the list yet, but there's a defensive array."
Perkin's voice was cold and hoarse, making people feel very uncomfortable. Accompanied by the gusts of night wind, it sounded like a ghost or a vampire hunting in the dark.
"I see."
Maggie lowered her eyes slightly, her glass-like eyes darkening. She guessed that Ted's strength wasn't too great; he was just a small fry.
But that list is very important; it's one of the pieces of evidence against the Zefner family, and it's absolutely impossible for it to be unprotected.
If she were a duke, she would also spend a fortune to protect that list.
"At the very least, it's a Moonlight-level defensive array."
Perkin wasn't much of a talker, but after a moment of silence, he added something that sounded like...
To defend one's abilities.
Maggie raised an eyebrow, surprised that Perkin, who didn't care about these things, would make excuses for himself. Was he afraid that she wouldn't believe in his abilities?
"It's alright. Destroying this one is already a good achievement. The other strongholds don't have an energy supply core."
She shook her head and explained to Perkin.
In Santa Fe City, there can't be any suspicious buildings. The stronghold should be located below the tavern. A large amount of magic is also needed to control a large number of slaves. An energy supply core is absolutely indispensable.
Furthermore, since no one else knew about this, no one would have thought of using fire to blow up the stronghold.
It was only because the Duke believed that Santa Fe City was safe and that nothing would go wrong, and because Ted was a very good businessman, that he appointed a mid-level mage as the guardian.
The guardian mage of other strongholds starts here.
Moreover, in the original comics, it was Perkin who went berserk, stormed into the energy supply core, and destroyed the stronghold.
She simply filled in the gaps in the plot, albeit using other methods.
"The paladins will find that list without going through my hands."
Although Maggie said that, she was still a little annoyed. She was still the youngest daughter of the Zefneria family. She didn't want the Duke to fail before she could make any significant contributions.
I reckon she'll be implicated too.
"The Duke's man is dead, in the tavern."
Perkins seemed to have just remembered another task Maggie had given him, and he spoke again with difficulty, his words disjointed, and Maggie struggled to understand what he was saying.
"Huh? Did he get blown up along the way?"
Maggie was somewhat surprised.
"Um."
Perkin finally managed to answer Maggie's question using his most familiar, perfunctory interjections.
"That's fine, it saves me the trouble."
This coincidence was a stroke of genius for Maggie; the person the Duke sent to deliver the potion of the bitter herb died in an 'accidental explosion,' leaving her with no reason to take action again.
There's no need to argue with the Duke or explain the reason; it's just that the person delivering the medicine went out drinking and died a tragic death.
"The priest will be back soon. Try to conceal your dark aura. The higher your affinity for light, the more sensitive you are to dark elements, and the easier it is for you to detect them."
Maggie thought for a moment and then gave her another reminder.
"Um."
Perkin's expression remained calm.
...
After giving Perkin his instructions, Maggie calmly adjusted her skirt before walking out of the garden. This time, the temple had sent even more paladins, along with more than half of the nuns and priests.
Everyone had a different expression on their face, and some priests and clergymen even had their panic showing.
Undoubtedly, there are people among them who colluded with Ted. If they are found out, the lightest punishment will be expulsion from the Temple of Light, and the most serious punishment might be execution.
The myriad aspects of human life are truly fascinating.
Maggie also saw Yarlin, who walked straight ahead without looking at her, as if he hadn't seen her at all.
However, it was clear that the nuns and paladins beside her had already bowed to her, so it was impossible for Arlin not to have heard them.
Maggie smiled wryly and strode toward Yarlin.
Arlin pretended not to see her, and walked right past Maggie without stopping, showing no intention of bowing.
Maggie wasn't angry. She turned around and looked in the direction where Yarlin had left, her expression as gentle and kind as ever.
She has always had a good temper. Besides, seeing someone break down made her feel even better, so why would she get angry?
It seems that even though Yarlin was taught a lesson by Ford, he still doesn't learn his lesson.
"Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
Ferrier, the vice-commander of the Holy Knights, hurriedly entered the temple gate with a look of utter distress. He paused for a moment when he saw Maggie, but still greeted her respectfully.
"As night falls, the temple is so noisy and chaotic, which makes the saintess feel deeply uneasy."
Maggie once again adopted a worried expression, suggesting that only those who pity the existence of all living beings can be called the Virgin Mary.
"Oh, it seems that Her Highness is unaware of what happened. In fact, an underground slave auction site was exposed beneath the tavern that just exploded."
Ferrier finished speaking, his expression gradually turning angry.
"It is unforgivable that such a wicked being could appear in Saint Fe, which is ruled by the Temple of Light."
Maggie looked surprised and muttered to herself in disbelief.
"How could this be..."
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