“Oh? Miss Knight Lala, you’re awake now.” Sod exclaimed as he looks at the dizzy woman.

“So, you plan to negotiate with those mercenaries? That’s a big risk. Depending on how much they are paid, or how they hold their contract dearly.” Lala said and Ries nods in affirmation.

“How they hold their contract dearly?! What’s that supposed to mean?!” Mes asked with a pale face as he imagines how the negotiation may fail.

“It’s common among mercenaries. I don’t know much but it seems before some of their group let you in, you are to uphold their oath. Unlike your normal everyday thugs, these people take their jobs and contracts seriously. Even if you try to talk to them, they may fire an arrow before you can utter a word.” Ries explained to Sod and Mes who are a bit confused.

“In other words…there’s a huge chance that they won’t even listen to us?” Sod clarified.

“It’s only a possibility. I said earlier that we’ve been hunting them for a year now but, I never heard anything about how they do their job or what kind of oath or pledge their members have undergone.” Ries supplemented her earlier statement.

The five of them fell in a haphazard silence including Reld who is driving the carriage. Sod and Mes motivation are plummeting with that risk. Should they misread the foe, it will be an arrow through their heads.

“There’s something you guys need to know!” Reld shouted from outside of the carriage. “The snowstorm…is letting up! If the snowstorm completely recedes, we are going to get bombarded by arrows!” he added another fact.

They all look outside of the carriage window and saw that the sky is clearing up and not only that, the sun seems to be beaming too.

“Stop the carriage, I will do it.” Suddenly a voice with strong resolution resounds the carriage. It was Princess Meriyal who uttered those words. “I am going to seal this deal as everything was caused by my carelessness. “ she said as if she already got back on her feet.

“M-Meriyal?! I mean Princess?!” Lala exclaimed as she saw Meriyal taking the purse.

“As if we’d let you do it Princess! It’s better for us to do it than you! If by chance they become hostile, you can run and we can be the de--!” Before Ries can finish her words, Meriyal looks at her with a gentle eye.

“No more words from you, Ries. I have decided it. This is my own mistake, my own miscalculation, that’s why I am going to clean up after my own mess or I can’t hold my head up high again. That’s always been how it is for me!” Meriyal said with a smile.

“Meriyal, you are still choosing your pride over your own safety!?” Ries shouted with a pale face and teary eyes.

“Knights don’t cry pathetically like that. You, the fallen noble who is driving this carriage, stop!” Meriyal commanded.

Reld who is a good patriot steadily slowed down to stop the carriage. Lala and Ries immediately grab their weapons in haste despite their wounds. Sod and Mes tried to stop the two knights, however, the only thing they can do is to assist them not to hurt themselves.

As soon as the carriage came to a full halt, the snowstorm started receding too. The carriage of the assassins also halted as soon as they saw the carriage of Meriyal slowing down.

One by one, the assassins nocks their own respective arrow on their bows and aimed at the carriage, however, they didn’t fire an arrow yet.

Contrary to their expectation, the one who came out from the carriage…is the Princess Meriyal Breille who is carrying a purse. As soon as Meriyal’s eyes met with the assassins, a chill immediately runs down from their spine, however, they didn’t let their guard down even though they lowered their bows and arrows.

“I am Princess Meriyal Breille! I don’t know why you are targeting me but I can spell out hundreds of reason for people to hope for my death. I fear not of losing my life, however, I fear that I may end up not doing anything to my subjects! I have shown myself boldly to make a deal.” Meriyal said as she tossed the purse full of coins towards the assassins.

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“Inside that purse contains approximately sixty thousands of gold. Turn over from your employer and I will give you more. If you already know what I am saying, turn around and get out of my sight!” Meriyal shouted like a declaration which shook the assassins.

Lala and Ries who has their weapons drawn by the side of the carriage were also awed by Meriyal’s unrelenting will.

One of the Assassins slowly reached out for the pursed. As soon as he brought it towards his group, they opened it to see the content. Awed and flabbergasted, the assassins were visibly shaken. At that very moment too, one of the assassins steps forward.

“Ok.” He simply said with a thumb up and turned around with the other two assassins in tow. They rode the carriage again and left them in the dust.

“How lackluster, I expect them to put more resistance but, oh well.” Meriyal said as she shrugged.

However, in contrary to Meriyal’s indifferent reaction, those who are watching by the side of the carriage only had one and same thoughts.

“””””Super Lame!”””” is what Reld, Sod, Mes, Lala, and Ries thought.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we can push further for my audience with the king of Mesola Kingdom. With the snowstorm earlier, I don’t think they can bother to assist another kingdom. Also…I feel a little…sick…” Meriyal said as she lost her balance and stumbles forward before instantly losing her consciousness.

“Meriyal!” “Princess!” Lala and Ries shouted as they rushed and caught Meriyal before falling on the ground.

The two knights caught Meriyal in their arms and immediately lifted her up and carried her towards the carriage. They immediately lay her down on the carriage’s couch.

“Oh, is the princess going to be okay?” Sod asked.

“She got nerves of steel…” Mes added with awe.

“She just lost consciousness. It might be from all the fatigue accumulating. We should return to the inn so we can let her rest.” Ries suggested as she gently brushes Meriyal’s hair.

“I don’t think we should do that. Considering that she was just attacked, we don’t know when those three will change their minds or the main culpirt deems it to do the job itself.” Reld countered Ries suggestion.

“…True. We can’t completely cross out any possibilities huh…” Ries said with a saddened face.

“Hey…you three, you have been a big help! It may sound out of the blue and lowly of us but, can we still count on you onwards?” Lala asked them.

Reld, Sod, and Mes look at each other and with a faint grin on their faces, they all nodded.

“””Leave it to us!””” The trio said simultaneously.

“Then, for being cautious, we might as well get out of the city. Let’s wait for our companions to arrive there.” Reld suggested.

Lala and Ries, with no arguments, nodded.

With the bandit’s cooperation, they were able to avert crisis upon Meriyal’s life, with the exception of the coachman earlier whom Reld promises to return for a proper burial…

Meanwhile, in the Sanctum of Divines where Falikh confronted Genesis, his mother, and Aspara who was brought down to her knees…

“What’s wrong my son? I am glad to see you alive but you have that certain gloom on your countenance.” Genesis said with a mocking tone.

“Damn right I am! You are mistaken if you think I’d die easily and something off from a fictitious prophecy of yours!” Falikh answered with a tone of mocking back.

“Ahh…I’m really glad you came back. Does that mean that you will accept me already?” Genesis exclaimed as she outstretched her arms towards Falikh.

“No, I’m just here to make sure that I slammed the fact that I am still alive in your face and to make sure your ambitions and plans are mocked!” Falikh said with a grin.

“As same as ever. How impudent, not that I can make you blindly follow me, reincarnator.” Genesis affirmed that she knows about Falikh. “I am still a little curious about how old are you before you died.” Genesis said with a sweet smirk.

“Deceiving angelic smile, you never fail to show how wicked you are…” He uttered with disgust.

“Everything I do is within the doctrines of my God and my sight is set to carry out my plans for that very God. That’s why Falikh, I’ll ask you again, copulate with me.” Genesis words rang like a bell.

Aspara felt horrid and her feet become cold as soon as she heard Genesis asking Falikh for copulation. Chills spread throughout her body and her knees seemed like they will give away anytime.

“You…twisted…woman…” Falikh could only utter upon his mother’s suggestion.

“Fallhus is already dead that’s why I need you and the blood running inside you. That’s why even if you perish, there’s another child to carry your bloodline.” Genesis explained as she walks down the stair of the altar.

Falikh felt sick just looking at his mother and hearing once again her intentions for him.

“I don’t think there will any copulating that will happen!” A voice somewhere disturbs Falikh and Genesis.

Suddenly, from the entrance of Sanctum of the Divines, a Warhammer flew out and struck one of the pillars standing in the sanctuary. The pillar didn’t offer any resistance from the thrown Warhammer and crumbles.

Suddenly, Aspara realizes something.

“I…I can move now!” She said as she stands up and checks her body for any anomalies.

“Who…who is that imbecile…?!” Genesis shouted as she looks at the entrance of the Sanctum of Divines.

“I have already seen through your tricks, archpriest or whatever. I am compelled to unravel any annoying things you have done to this city, not for the people’s sake but I am just horribly annoyed. Well, it was quite simple if you think about it.” From the entrance of the Sanctum of the Divines, Reysha Einhart reveals herself.

“And now, I am going to beat you to a pulp.”