Where did the problem arise exactly...

  Lynn pondered tinuously. Using his atus as an introdu, he had po meet Loude through a trade, sidering it the quickest and safest way. However, he uedly hit a roadblock at the very first step.

  This left Lynn someerplexed. He even began to wonder if Loude had received some unfavorable news, prompting him to hide deliberately.

  If that were the case, things might get plicated. Finding someone who wao remain hidden was not an easy task.

  While Lynn was pting this, the crowded harbor abruptly desded into chaos. Amidst a series of screams, a finely decorated carriage rushed through the narrow road towards them.

  Whioble family is being so ostentatious?

  Lynn furrowed his brow, ready to step aside. But the carriage stopped right in front of him.

  In no time, a well-dressed, tall, slender middle-aged man desded from the carriage and bowed politely.

  "Finally found you, Young Master Lotte. Please, e with me immediately. Lord Pedrol has something very important to discuss with you."

  Faced with this ued invitation, Lynn almost didn't react, but after a moment's recolle of Lotte's diary, he quickly determihat this person before him was the steward of the Pedrol estate. A bead of speared on Lynn's forehead.

  This identity was only meant for temporary use, as a way to ehe harbor town and secure a meeting with Lame Loude. He never expected the real master to show up at his doorstep.

  And even faster than he had anticipated!

  To go or not to go?

  tless possibilities fshed through Lynn's mind. After a pause of one or two seds, uhe steward's respectful yet unwavering gaze, Lynn nodded and drew aside the curtain, taking a seat in the carriage.

  Clip-clop, clip-clop...

  The stagnant carriage slowly began to move, navigating the muddy road of the harbor. The stant swaying made Lynn somewhat unfortable.

  "Before entering the mansion, you'd better tidy up a bit. If Lord Pedrol sees you like this, he'll be quite displeased!" The carriage curtain was lifted again, and the tall, sleeward reminded Lynn, gazing at his hands.

  Lynn lowered his head and noticed that his hands were covered in a yellow-bck powder, most likely from when he had helped the halfling Bill move barrels.

  Wait a minute... Lynn suddenly raised his hand and s.

  This st is remi of...

  Sulfur?

  Pedrol Manor stood in the northwest part of the harbor town, perched on the most bustling street. The imposing dark iron gate towered over the entrance. As the carriage glided through the gate, Lynn quickly noticed something hiddeh the surface.

  Sparse weeds extended from the gaps ione pavement, and the flower beds along the road had withered halfway due to aintenance.

  But it was to be expected; the Pedrol estate hadn't hired a gardeo tend to the flower beds for a long time.

  After a brief wash, Lynn was led by a servant to the front hall of the estate. Baron Pedrol was already seated at the table, which was adorned with a deep red tablecloth.

  Sitting at the same table was a brown-haired teenage girl, about sixteen or seventeen, who stared at him with an inexplicable gaze, presumably Lotte's sister, Ivina...

  Lynn silently observed and took a seat at the only vat spot. Oable in front of him y a steaming pte of steak and a few uified leafy greens. Clearly, this was to be his dinner for the evening.

  pared to water-soaked bck bread, this was sidered quite sumptuous!

  "Where were you, my son? I inteo find you st night, but you were o be found iate," Baron Pedrol inquired disapprovingly after Lynn had taken his seat. His gaze, however, shifted to the tall, sleeward who had entered with them.

  "I found the young master at the harbor docks," the steward responded without averting his eyes.

  Baron Pedrol's face immediately darkened. He spoke sternly, "I should have reminded you, Lotte. It's fio rex, but never spend the night in such disreputable pces, mingling with dirty harlots!"

  Lynn was left speechless. So, you thought I went wh, huh?

  What made it even more unfortable was that he couldn't easily retort. He couldn't say that your son didn't return home st night; he probably drowned himself in the sea, could he?

  Anticipating Lotte's expected response, he hung his head, remaining silent.

  "I don't want there to be a ime!" Baron Pedrol's tone was quite severe. After a pause, he tinued, "Furthermore, in the few days, all of you o be cautious. Harbor Town has not been peaceful tely."

  "I heard that Archbishop Anluke retly took a rge tio Ur Town to apprehend those devil-worshipping cultists. The losses were severe; out of a hundred elite guards, only a little over teurned alive. Not only that, even Archbishop Anluke himself was seriously injured..."

  "These wizards are really that powerful?" Ivina, who had shifted her gaze away from Lynn, asked in astonishment.

  It should be hat iire Secas Empire, though it was ruled by kings and lords, the real authority y with the church. Or rather, with the great Lord of the Stars, the Goddess of Creation, Eira's emissary oh.

  And figures like Archbishop Anluke in the Nordan Domain were undoubtedly the voice of the gods. The stark trast of seeing such a signifit figure fail in the pursuit of wizards made Ivina temporarily uo accept it.

  "These wizards have been corrupted by demons and possess unimaginable magic. They are not easy to deal with," Baron Pedrol said, shivering involuntarily.

  A year ago, he had met Archbishop Anluke, and the man appeared to be roughly his age, maybe even a bit younger. But tonight, when they met again, he saw an elderly man in his eighties or ies. He couldn't fathom what kind of magic could transform the powerful Archbishop into such a frail-looking figure.

  What Baron Pedrol couldn't imagine even more was that one of the key pyers in this story was sitting silently at his side, calmly cutting into the steak with knife and fork.

  For Lynn, the fact that Archbishop Anluke was still alive was somewhat ued. He thought, given the circumstahe bishop had only three possible outes.

  Either he oisoned, crushed to death, or sacrificed to plete that ritual.

  Or could it be that the so-called proje of Eira saved him?

  However, it arent that the rescue wasn't quite plete, given that Baron Pedrol mentiohat he was seriously injured...