Thalya, Dante, and Lil Rig huddled together in a shadowy alley, their eyes focused on the patrolling Navy soldiers who were equipped with Metaforgist Items to detect Thalya's presence.

Thalya's goal was to reach an escape portal she had hidden near the city walls. But it had a time limit, and would soon disappear the next day.

"They're everywhere. Once night comes and the people leave for curfew, they will easily find us," Thalya whispered, her voice tinged with urgency. "Those soldiers are equipped with detectors, and they're already tracking me. They'll sense my Invocations if we're not careful."

Dante nodded, determination etched on his young face.

"We won't let them catch you. Too many lives are at risk here. Your mission must be crucial in freeing many slaves."

Lil Rig growled softly, showing his readiness to support the team, despite not understanding the words they spoke.

Thalya took a deep breath, considering her words carefully.

"Lil Rig, I have an idea. It would be great if you could help us by disguising yourself as a... cart-pulling beast. I'll act as your handler, and together, we can blend in with the city's usual sights."

Lil Rig looked at Thalya, his expression unreadable for a moment.

Then, with a slight nod, he morphed his skeletal structure and appearance into that of a large, rugged beast, concealing himself behind the makeshift cart.

Thalya offered a reassuring smile, grateful for his understanding and willingness to assist in their plan.

Meanwhile, Dante had sold out a foreign merchant's stall, who happily agreed with Dante's sudden purchase. He had lots of savings that he kept due to his business ventures with Trela, who kept sending Marvia his shares of their trades.

He set up a moving stall that followed Thalya and Lil Rig's cart closely.

Dante's moving stall had trinkets and curiosities that adorned his vibrant display, capturing the attention of passersby at very low prices. He skillfully engaged the crowd with his charismatic demeanor, becoming the center of attraction in the busy square.

As Dante became a rising merchant star among the many shrewd buyers, he subtly observed the movements of the patrolling Navy soldiers. He communicated with Thalya and Lil Rig through gestures, relaying vital information about the soldiers' locations and changing patterns.

The Navy soldiers were ruthless in their interrogation of the servant class and slaves. Beating them up, and threatening to kill them unless they provided information. And they use Lie Detecting items to make sure they weren't deceived.

Thalya, in her beggar's disguise, synchronized her movements with Dante's cues. When the Navy soldiers neared their position, Dante would momentarily intensify his performance, drawing the soldiers' gaze away from Thalya and Lil Rig.

As they navigated through the city, many Navy soldiers noticed Thalya in her beggar form and headed in her direction. To prevent any contact with the Navy, Thalya diverted her routes and invoked her Silent Gateway.

She held a Scripture in the form of a scroll attached to her left arm.

"Oh, Holy System, grant me the gift of Silent Gateway, Through noiseless portals, I move discreetly on my way. Infiltration and escape, with grace and ease, A Liberator's mission, in shadows, we appease."

It opened small, noiseless portals, guiding their path and allowing them to take discreet and hidden routes. With Lil Rig's beastman disguise and Dante's charismatic distraction, they remained largely unnoticed.

Earlier, Thalya had invoked Whispering Winds. It's an invocation that sends hushed messages across great distances through channels, facilitating covert communication with a pre-configured receiver.

Whispering Winds facilitated covert communication between Thalya, Dante, and Lil Rig. Dante who was a mobile scout warned Thalya and Lil Rig of any approaching soldiers or potential obstacles, allowing them to adapt and change their course as needed.

Dante wanted to lessen the attention he was garnering from the buyers, so he told them to take a diversion route.

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He sensed with his Gift of Discernment that a jealous merchant had reported Dante's stall for lower than standard market prices. He overheard someone angrily remark at him while selling jewelry.

They entered a passageway that was rarely used. But found themselves trapped in front of narrow passages and barriers.

"Shi- "Dante was disappointed in himself. "I'm sorry. I might have been too cautious. Now we have to go back."

Thalya smiled and said, "No need for that." She unrolled the small scroll from her arm and prayed.

"Holy Source, grant me the gift of Phasing's grace, Briefly pass through solid forms, to any place. Avoiding obstacles, getting the upper hand, Stealthy Phasing, at my command."

Thalya had skillfully invoked Stealthy Phasing. It allows the Liberator and her allies to briefly pass through solid objects, useful for avoiding obstacles or getting the drop on foes.

They were close to the city walls now. And only a few streets left. But unbeknownst to Thalya, a Navy soldier was nearing the disguised cart, she used.

She invoked Quickdraw Escape, with a quick prayer.

"In moments of peril and immediate strife, Grant me Quickdraw Escape, the power of life. Teleport me swiftly, to safety's embrace, Away from danger, to a distant place."

And as they moved swiftly, Lil Rig pulled the cart to another alley. They teleported a short distance, evading the immediate threat and seamlessly rejoining Lil Rig and Dante.

The Navy soldier ran toward the alley but found the cart he was chasing had already gone.

As they neared the city wall, Dante was shocked to see that part of the wall had Navy guards and Nexhounds patrolling every inch.

"Dante, those Nexhounds will detect me a mile away. They must have my scent already. A soldier grabbed me by my cloak earlier, but I managed to escape," Thalya concerned.

"Don't worry. I'll think of something. I'm waiting for someone, but it'll be okay nonetheless. I have faith."

Dante in an attempt to attract the Navy's attention with one grand announcement, gracefully presented his wares. His act had gained him a huge crowd and he made a big announcement.

"Come here! Come all! It's all FREE! ALL OF THIS IS FREE!"

At that moment, a thousand ears rang in disbelief. And hundreds of necks twisted in slow motion toward the beautiful sound that they had heard.

"FREE?" The whole crowd of people shouted in unison.

In agreement with them, Dante threw handfuls of expensive trinkets into the air.

"YES! IT'S FREE!"

The whole crowd mobbed and ran to grab for themselves what they knew they were entitled to.

The large commotion had forced half of the navy patrol to come to pacify the crowd, but it was in vain.

Dante kept throwing his wares into the streets to incentivize the crowd.

"Thalya, is it okay now? Can you pass through?" Dante asked using Whispering Winds.

"I can't yet, Dante. There are still navy patrols with Nexhounds watching near the portal."

Just as Dante's wares had almost run out, another beautiful sound penetrated the ears of the crowd.

"Come ye! Come all! This is the famous Holy Archivist Ravka Grimshaw! Giving out treasure and relics from all over the Burning Cross! AND YES! IT'S FREE!" Ravka screamed from the other side of the street. Her eyes met with Dante's.

Dante smiled as his eyes met with the Holy Archivist who became his true friend he could count on.

As the crowd went wild and ran back and forth trying to get a piece of the action.

"The Holy Archivist Ravka Grimshaw? I've heard of her! FREE?"

Dante felt no regret for his action earlier. He had earned 777 Divine Merits for his first Bilocation Pilgrimage. And he could have used such a big bonus to upgrade his Invocations. But he had chosen one very costly upgrade.

[Blessing Upgrade Purchased]

[Blessing of Divine Mindlink has now been upgraded to Divine Mindlink II]

[You can now have a second Divine Mindlink! 750 Divine Merits Used]

"You were waiting for me to accept the Mindlink Connection, weren't you?" Ravka spoke to Dante from the distance via Divine Mindlink.

"Well, I was hoping you'd decline. What use would I have with a Mindlink with a boring Holy Archivist with all the knowledge of the world?" Dante jokingly smiled.

"Yeah? What use would I have with knowing the recent activities and dangers that the stupidest and most troublesome future Emperor is in?" Ravka replied as she threw a chockful of expensive items she had found in her archaeological pilgrimages.

Thalya's heart pounded as she watched the last Naval guard and his Nexhound move away from the wall, and run to help pacify the mob.

"Dante- Lil Rig- I have to go now," Thalya's voice shuddered in tears, "I thought I wasn't going to make it. But thank the Holy System for people like you."

Thalya with her sprained ankle skipped to her portal near the wall and remained unseen amidst the bustling and mobbed square.

Dante, Lil Rig, and Ravka shared triumphant smiles as they watched the Holy Liberator vanish through the secret portal and out of danger.

Their seamless coordination and unwavering commitment allowed them to achieve the impossible.

As Dante, Lil Rig, and Ravka abandoned their carts, they found themselves in a quiet alley in front of a Teih Ranger Pub. The Pub received visitors from the Teih Continent who were used to the food and beverages that used to be exclusively bought from Teih.

Thalya, Dante, and Lil Rig exchanged grateful glances, and all of them entered the Pub as if they did not know each other, successfully evading the prying eyes and Metaforgist's detection of the navy's items.

They all sat together at a table in the pub and were now invisible to the soldiers who were panicking in the streets.

Ravka placed a hand on Dante's shoulder, a sense of pride evident in her voice. "You've changed, Dante. It was nice seeing you two one last time."

The 10-year-old Ravka rubbed their heads unforgivingly.

"With the Divine Mindlink, we will still be together even far away."

The Divine Mindlink wasn't that special for Dante. Earth already had the internet and video calls so for him long distance communication wasn't really that valuable to him before. But now that he is in the world of Gomorrah, it meant everything to him.

"I found another ship that would let me ride along with them to Jeddah," Ravka said.

"Which ship?"

"Trela's."