<h4>Chapter 256: Half-way Out</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>AsStudios <strong>Editor: </strong>AsStudios


    “Reporting, Sir! We have sealed off the entire marketce!”


    A fully-armored soldier reported by the door.


    utz sulked, ced the teacup on the table, and gazed at the smiling man sitting opposite him. The man with long, brown hair was d in an eye-grabbing armor, had unswerving determination on his face, and a ghastly, ugly scar that had extended all the way from his forehead to his chin.


    “Great, pass this message on. We must capture them, understood?”


    “Yes!’


    The soldier saluted and ran off. City owner utz stared at the man before him. He exercised his fingers and let out a sneer while sitting back on the couch.


    “Never did I expect that the Vice Commander of the South Warzone would be so panicky over a few mercenaries... If outsiders knew about this, they would surelyugh their heads off. Wouldn’t they, Lord Ron? Youe to my turf for whatever reason and demand to capture some people. Do you even put Paphield in your eyes?”


    “I’m sorry for the sudden intrusion, Sir utz.”


    The soldier named Ron revealed a pacifying smile and gestured with his hand. Then, he narrowed his eyes and revealed an enigmatic look while utz snorted in disapproval. Although utz didn’t have a good impression of these Southerners who were obviously up to no good, he couldn’t do much as his current forces weren’t stronger than theirs.


    Ron and his men arrived at Deep Stone City during noon the day before. Initially, utz was puzzled because as far as he remembered, this ce was under the administrative region of the Southern Warzone. Then, he realised that these people had a hidden agenda because, ording to Ron, their intelligence reported that a wanted criminal of the Southern Warzone was seen in this area and they were here to capture him. Furthermore, they had even put in a request for utz’s permission. This was entirely unnecessary because if the military wanted to capture someone, since when did they need to seek permission with the area’s administrative officer?


    utz wasn’t that concerned about the people they were looking to capture, especially when the excuses and reasoning of these people were full of loopholes andpletely nonsensical. Did they even need the Vice Commander of the Southern Warzone to personally lead a team of elite soldiers to capture wanted criminals? Could it be that the wanted criminals were Necromancers? For the Vice Commander to even notify utz about this capture was already honorable enough for someone of his status.


    Besides, they had even brazenly ordered him to assist in sealing off the area. Did they really treat him as a nobody? However, as an administrative officer of a territory, utz definitely wasn’t so foolish as to fall out with these soldiers. Now that the situation in Paphield wasn’t stable, he didn’t want to cause any more problems. However, this meant that utz could only act ording to what the soldiers wanted. In fact, before they initiated the capture, utz had secretly sent his men to investigate their targets. If they were any normal human beings, then he would act as though he didn’t know anything about it. But if they were some troublesome people, then...


    At this moment, a bright reflection shed in the corner of utz’s eyes. He remained calm and collected. Then, he stood up with a smile and bowed to Ron.


    “Sorry for the inconvenience, Lord Ron. I have some official businesses to attend to... Please pardon me.”


    utz stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. He approached the balcony on the other end of the hallway, where an old man dressed as a housekeeper kept the mirror in his hand. The old man turned around and greeted utz with a polite bow.


    “Sir utz.”


    “Do you know who is their target?” utz asked softly while the old man nodded.


    “Yes, Sir. Based on what I’ve gathered from the marketce, those knights were trying to capture three youngdies.”


    “Three youngdies?”


    utz was stunned.


    “Do you know who are they?”


    “Yes, Sir. They are members of the Starlight mercenary group. Miss Lize Noir, Miss Anne Viroga, and also another youngdy, whom I’m not sure of her identity.”


    “The Starlight mercenary group?”


    utz sulked instantly.


    “Are you sure that those men were going for them?”


    “Yes, Sir. I’m sure. Many have also witnessed the struggles between the knights and the three youngdies.”


    “... Gosh!”


    utz gritted his teeth and spun around in circles anxiously. Then, he came to a halt and took in a deep breath. He said to the old housekeeper in a firm tone.


    “Go! Find a team of elites right now and get them to enter the marketce to rescue the three youngdies! Also, see if the leader of the Starlight mercenary group is back! Go now!”


    “Yes!”


    Although the old housekeeper didn’t know why utz became so tense, he abided by his order and left instantly. ncing at the old housekeeper’s distant silhouette, utz felt a numbing sensation on his scalp. He recollected his thoughts for a moment and returned to the room with a stern expression.


    “Oh?”


    Ronid down the tea cup on the table and smiled.


    “Is anything wrong, Sir utz?”


    “I’m very sorry, Lord Ron.”


    Out of line with Ron’s expectations, this time, utz spoke without any courtesy.


    “I recalled something urgent I have to attend to, so I need you to leave. Please forgive me for myck of manners. Men, please see our visitor out!”


    Ron’s smile faded. He stared at the city owner and couldn’t understand the meaning behind his actions. He stood up with his usual expression and gave utz a long, profound stare. Then, he left without saying a word. Judging from utz’s attitude, Ron sensed that he wouldn’t get an answer from utz even if he asked. Ron wasn’t an idiot either; utz must have heard some news for him to have such a dramatic change in attitude. Since that was the case, Ron didn’t need to stay any longer. He had to figure out what exactly led to the sudden change in utz’s attitude. Could it be that there was a slip-up in his n?


    Utter chaos was brewing in the marketce.


    “Those guys are following real close!”


    Anne was getting sick of the knights following closely behind. Although the knights couldn’t beat Anne in a one-to-one fight, they were more advantageous in numbers. Furthermore, they were well-coordinated in their attacks, which was strenuous to the two maidens. Moreover, there was also Christie, who couldn’t keep up with the pace.


    “Haa.... Haa...”


    Christie’splexion turned pale and even green as she sprinted alongside Lize. Her slim legs shivered continuously and she almost couldn’t support herself. Although Lize had been looking after Christie all this while, such a strenuous exercise was indeed too much on the little girl. But, even so, Christie gritted her teeth and had no intentions of giving up.


    “Let’s go, Lize.”


    “We can’t, Anne.”


    Lize shook her head resolutely.


    “Christie won’t be able to take it anymore if this goes on!”


    “Then we can only finish them off.”


    Anne knew that they couldn’t run any further. If the little girl pushed herself more, she might copse at any time. Christie wasn’t healthy to start with, and it was a miracle that she had held on for so long.


    Anne turned around abruptly. The shield in her hand transformed its shape instantly as it crashed into the ground. At this moment, Lize instantly casted her healing spells to ease Christie’s pain.


    “These bastards came to find trouble out of nowhere. They are so gonna get it from Leader once he’s back!”


    At this moment, the knights realised that the maidens couldn’t escape anymore. They swiftly surrounded them in all directions.


    “Under the name of the garrison, I once again demand you to drop your weapon and surrender!”


    “In your dreams!”


    Anne’s brows twitched. Even a youngdy with such a pure, innocent character like Anne was annoyed to have been chased for no apparent reasons. There was never a chance of her surrendering just like that! Besides, the knights repeatedly mentioned that they were from the garrisons, which added to their suspicion. No matter how they observed them, they looked like nobles’ private soldiers. So what were they trying to do, posing as the garrison?


    Lize watched attentively while tugging on Anne’s hand, hinting at her to not act rashly.


    “Who exactly are you people? What do you want?”


    “...”


    The knights shrunk their encirclement. Lize clenched her teeth and was at her wits’ end.


    <i>Do we really have to give up? But what will happen to Christie?</i>


    Lize hugged the little girl in her arms even closer. Anne sped to her shield and waited for an opportunity to retaliate.


    At this moment, both of them didn’t realise that Christie, who was observing the surroundings nkly and had her purple pupils covered by her long hair, was beginning to emanate a faint radiance...


    “Take them down!”


    The leader swung his arm andmanded. The other knights charged forward with their raised weapons!


    Lize shut her eyes in fear. A deep sense of helplessness grew in her heart.


    <i>Clink!</i>


    Suddenly, a sword emerged from the side and deflected their attacks.