Chapter 1116: Chapter 484: We’re Here to Distribute Relief Rations! (Part 2)
——Estalia’s great merchant Roberto Bilanova
"Things have become complicated." Laine furrowed his brow, tucking the letter into his chest and handing the blood-stained Eagle Banner to Veronica: "The remaining Margaret Knights have recombined into three knight orders; can you guess which three they are?"
Veronica carefully examined the Eagle Banner, her complexion darkening: "This pattern—Flying Eagle, Flame Sun, and Spear of Justice?!"
"Correct, the Margaret Knight Order is the mother order of these three." Laine sneered, murmuring, "If—I say if—this knight order that vanished four hundred years ago still exists, and the artifact they’re transporting is the Sea God Trident, then we’re in trouble."
"We can only take it one step at a time." Veronica’s face also began to sullen, even contemplating advising Laine to stay away from this vortex.
The matter has gotten serious.
The Flying Eagle Knight Order’s branches start from Estalia and spread throughout Estalia and Tiriel, the Border Prince’s Domain, and the Empire, totaling over a thousand knights!
Although the Knight Order of the Spear of Justice lacks prowess in combat and primarily handles law enforcement, it has established branches in every city of the Empire!
The Flame Sun Knight Order is one of the Seven Great Knight Orders of the Empire, a premier knight order aside from the Three Great Knight Orders of the Old World! The Empire’s third-largest knight order, it is also the guardian knight corps of Talabeck Territory and Talabeheim City!
If an error arises in handling certain issues, it could potentially provoke a total war between Brittania and the Empire!
...
Time rewinds to three hours earlier, in the Southern Realm of the Old World, Estalia, Bilibali Duchy, Red Bull Inn.
Holy Grail Knight Fedmond, Temple Knight Alfred, and Dark Elf Ollica entered the inn in succession.
Fedmond instinctively wanted to directly inquire with the shopkeeper, but Temple Knight Alfred shook his head. He walked up to the bar, tossing out three silver coins: "Three glasses of Imperial Black Beer, please~"
"Certainly, sir." The innkeeper took the silver coins and bit one, confirming its authenticity. Pleased, he immediately went to pour the drinks.
"Estalia’s silver coins often have other metals mixed in." Alfred whispered to Fedmond: "Patience, we need to find an opportunity; if you ask directly, the innkeeper is unlikely to reveal anything."
"Alright." Having witnessed Laine’s abilities, Fedmond humbly accepted the advice, bearing with it while learning Alfred’s conversational techniques.
Ollica wore a mask on her face, with a hood and cloak covering her body, disguising her identity. Though it was rare to see such attire in the peaceful and hot Southern Realm, which intrigued the guests who curiously glanced at her, even prompting some young men to whistle. From the Dark Elf’s graceful figure and taut collar, they discerned she was a woman: "Hey~ Miss, would you like to sit down for a drink? I can tell you anything you want to know, and if you prefer private exchanges, that’s fine too!"
"Yes, Miss, come over quickly~" some drinkers chuckled: "I have a large musket here, ready to fire at any time!"
"Come, come~ I think we can discuss bullfighting techniques together."
"Miss, are you interested in flamenco dance? I’ve heard about it in Margaret; would you like to explore it with me?"
"The Estalian seafood paella at my place is very fresh and delicious; we could have dinner together!"
Attempts to chat continually pestered them, irritating Fedmond as the Dark Elf, bound by Laine’s instructions, had to restrain her urge to go on a rampage, merely raising her hand.
Ollica’s left ring finger carried a silver ring, engraved with a mysterious design.
"Oh! My God, this is a free land, Miss, even if you’re married, we still have the freedom to pursue you!"
"Freedom is blameless! For freedom, this is a land of liberty!"
"Long live freedom!"
The male drinkers continued their relentless harassment until the innkeeper intervened, a chubby middle-aged man who opened a keg inscribed with complex words and filled three glasses of beer: "Enough! You guys, it’s clear this lady is married; she doesn’t like it, so stop pursuing her."
"No! This is part of our human rights; we have the freedom!" declared a drunkard loudly.
"Yes! You have your freedom, but this is my shop! If you keep bothering this lady, I have the freedom to throw you out!" The innkeeper wielded a knife from the table, shouted angrily: "Settle your tab quickly, or get out; this is my property, my freedom!"
"Uh~ for freedom, we want absolute freedom." Looking at the innkeeper’s knife, the drunkard hesitated, scratched his head, and returned to his seat.
"The guests come from the north, Brittania, correct?" The innkeeper laughed while cleaning the wooden cups: "It’s rare to have both a Holy Grail Knight and a Temple Knight visiting my humble establishment."
"We come from the north, the beautiful and prosperous Knight Kingdom." Alfred enjoyed a gulp of Imperial Black Beer; seemingly casually, he asked, "We’re here for a business deal. Heard there’ve been many knights coming down from the north lately?"
"Oh, indeed, a group of northern knights recently stayed at the inn, but they left this morning." The innkeeper nodded.
Left this morning? Fedmond furrowed his brow; they didn’t catch up?
"Left this morning?" Alfred followed up: "Hey? That’s strange; they arranged to meet us, yet they left in the morning?"
"Oh? You’re friends of theirs? You certainly don’t look like it... A Holy Grail Knight, a Temple Knight; are you perhaps hunting them?" Fedmond’s look and bearing drew the innkeeper’s suspicion; his attitude shifted: "I tell you, we run this trade, we can’t disclose customers’ information. This isn’t the Empire or Brittania; this is a free land, you dream if you think I’ll assist your investigation!"
Oh no! Alfred nudged Fedmond’s knee under the bar, signaling for the Holy Grail Knight to relax his expression. Alfred chuckled several times, pondering how to continue extracting information.
Now, the Dark Elf intervened. Ollica silently recited a spell, extending her hand to lightly tap the air, a subtle purple-black magic power enveloping the innkeeper: "But surely you’d love to tell us, right?"
"Y-yes, I should tell you." The innkeeper’s face fell into a daze, nodding repeatedly: "I will, tell."
"Then speak." The Dark Elf’s beautiful amber eyes revealed a hint of impatience.
"They left someone behind, tasked to wait for news."
"Where’s this person?"
"In the cellar, left-hand side of the storeroom."
"Let’s go!"
The trio rose at once, swiftly heading toward the cellar, leaving the bewildered innkeeper behind: "Hey, wait, guests, do you want more beer?"
The three proceeded down the dim hallway into the cellar, locating the storeroom on the left.
The Temple Knight extended a hand and knocked on the door: "Hello?"
A reply sounded from within the cellar: "Who is it?"
"We’re priests distributing relief food!" Alfred rolled his emerald eyes, speaking with enthusiastic warmth: "Heard there’s someone in need here; we, from the Justice Church, are here to distribute food tickets. With this ticket, you can get a barley bread and apple cider for free at the Church!"
"Relief food?!" The person inside seemed to hesitate briefly; his voice was hoarse with a peculiar timbre: "Well that’s convenient, I’m hungry; come in, the door’s unlocked."
"Much appreciated..." Alfred pushed the door open.
The Temple Knight instantly froze, while Fedmond and Ollica instinctively grasped their weapons.
In the center of the cellar, lay a human corpse on a straw heap, a Wandering Knight long dead.
A female Midnight Noble was ravenously consuming and gnawing the corpse’s flesh; upon seeing the intruders, she wiped the fresh blood from her face with her sleeve, revealing a sinister grin.
"Oh! What a delightful relief food."
"Then I won’t hold back."
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