The cold winds whipped through the 'vine candles' ignited by Rosen, making the flames burn ever brighter, like giants with fiery manes, a spectacular sight.

'Splash!'

Xiaborei plopped down on the ground, turning to look at Rosen and Celandine.

"Now that we've caught the culprit and the evidence is irrefutable, shouldn't you kindly explain to this poor fool left in the dark?"

It was 10:30 in the morning, still Anna time.

Anna looked to her apprentice and said mildly, "Rosen, why don't you explain to this dummy."

Rosen then recounted everything from that fateful night a few days ago, all the way to the start of this battle.

He broke down all the details and analyses piece by piece, explaining it all clearly.

As Xiaborei listened, his mouth hung increasingly agape until at the end, it was almost wide enough to fit a large apple.

Meanwhile, Veronica's face grew increasingly ashen, the light in her now powerless brown eyes completely extinguished. Even the last glimmer of defiance had been thoroughly snuffed out.

When Rosen finished, Xiaborei couldn't help but gasp, though he still seemed somewhat dissatisfied. "If that's the case, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

This master and apprentice had kept him completely in the dark. Just now, he thought his wonderful life was about to end!

Rosen spread his hands helplessly. "Uncle, I wanted to explain when we were in the bell tower, but you just conked right out."

Celandine's words were far more direct.

"Xiaborei, would you knowing or not knowing have made any difference to the outcome?"

Xiaborei had no rebuttal, because even if he had known everything, he still would have been the charging vanguard. It seemed...there really was no difference.

He smiled awkwardly. "Alright alright, let's just leave it at that."

After a short rest, Xiaborei flipped up.

He reached out and yanked the weakened Veronica off the ground, then lightly kicked her butt, sending her stumbling forward unsteadily.

"Let's go, Veronica. Come with us to the South City Security Office."

Celandine shook her head. "No need for trouble. I notified the Mage Society and the guards before I came. They should be arriving soon."

Sure enough, after about a minute and a half, the sound of hooves and wheels could be heard approaching.

After a while, three carriages appeared at the road mouth one after another.

Based on the style and insignia, one was from the city hall, one was from the Mage Society.

The third was completely black, both carriage and horses, with a dark gold flag on the carriage front depicting a circle with an inverted equilateral triangle inlaid, pierced through by a suspended cross-hilted longsword.

This was a carriage of the Temple, or more precisely, the Purification Sanctum subordinate to the Temple.

On the flag, the circle represented the Gold God, the triangle represented the Three Golden Rules, and the longsword symbolized the Divine Blade.

Upon seeing this carriage, Veronica's body shook violently beyond her control as she pleaded tremulously, "Quickly! Kill me now! I beg you, don't let me suffer the wrath of God!"

The wrath of the Gold God was the nightmare of all mortals in the Golden Lands!

Not only did she plead, she also began to take action.

Gathering the scant remnants of mana left in her body, it coalesced into a thin blood whip which lashed out at Celandine beside her.

Celandine was on guard and did not retaliate, only lightly tapping her feet on the grass as she abruptly shifted her body backwards with a flash step.

"Insolence! Still daring to commit violence!"

A roar suddenly erupted from the Mage Society's carriage.

At the same time, bright blue-white incandescent points continuously shot out, 9 in total, all striking Veronica's body.

It was a 9-hit firebolt barrage powered by high-tier mana!

Veronica did not attempt any defense, in truth she was too spent to even try.

'Boom boom boom boom boom boom!'

The firebolts all exploded on impact, the fiery blasts completely engulfing her body. When the flames cleared, the once beautiful girl was reduced to a pile of charred remains and shredded meat.

This sudden turn was far too shocking!

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Xiaborei cried out in astonishment, "Who was that? Striking so ruthlessly!"

The three carriages all came to a stop, then a slightly reproachful young woman's voice emanated from the black Purification Sanctum carriage.

"Mr. Fellen, that was too impulsive."

An apologetic response came from the Mage Society carriage.

"You saw for yourself, Miss Chalinna, her power was most wicked, and even now at this pass she still would not relent her viciousness. If I did not stop her decisively, something untoward may have happened."

It turned out to be Chairman Fellen himself who had come.

"Let it be then."

The Purification Sanctum carriage circled the wilderness once without stopping before returning to Silvermoon City.

Only the Mage Society and City Guard carriages remained in the wilderness.

Regarding what had just transpired, Chief Guard Rafael wisely held his tongue.

After disembarking, he and several investigators carefully examined the various traces left on the ground, collecting evidence. Then they went to the Mage Society carriage.

"Mr. Fellen, the evidence is ironclad. Official Middle Order Mage Veronica was indeed the South City murderer. Now that the culprit has been executed by your hand, the South City killings can be considered completely solved."

"Much obliged."

The investigators silently gathered up the remains on the ground and departed as well.

Only the Mage Society carriage remained, its door opening for white-haired and aged High Order Mage Fellen to step out.

He sighed lightly, his face full of grief and regret.

"Veronica was the daughter of my good friend, Baron Phelan. I never imagined she would go down such a wicked path. Sparing her from the dreadful punishments of the Sanctum was probably the only thing I could do."

Since he had taken the initiative to explain with seemingly reasonable justification, what more could be said?

But the matter left a deep impression in Rosen's mind.

He thought to himself, 'This old guy is ruthless.'

On the other side, Celandine sighed. "I truly never imagined it would come to this. Chairman, now that the case is completely closed, we'll take our leave."

"Let's return together, my carriage is quite spacious after all."

Naturally no one had any objections, especially not Xiaborei who scrambled into the carriage first chance he got.

Soon the carriage departed, heading back to the city.

After driving a stretch, Fellen spoke. "Celandine, you handled this matter well. An official mage must have their own edge. Tolerating bullying without retaliating will only lead to more people taking advantage and bullying you like a soft bone."

Celandine's expression sharpened as she immediately straightened her body and gave the mage salute. "I understand, Chairman."

"Good that you understand."

Fellen looked to Rosen again, doing a 180 with his tone.

"Lad, I hear your painting skills are quite accomplished, but your works are vulgar and lewd. I suspect you were led astray by Xiaborei, no?"

Rosen was at a loss, not knowing how to respond.

Xiaborei wore an innocent face. "Chairman, Rosen is clever, not someone I can lead astray."

But Fellen was unusually adamant.

"If not led astray by a debauchee like you, how could a young man like him have seen so many wanton women?"

Xiaborei was aggrieved. "Chairman, I really didn't!"

He hadn't seen any of the beautiful girls Rosen had painted.

Fellen completely ignored his protest.

"Xiaborei, not only did you corrupt Rosen, you repeatedly brought him along to dens of vice, defiling his body and ruining his reputation!"

"If Rosen becomes as dissolute as you, then no matter his talents, what future can he have?!"

His tone grew increasingly severe. At first he was berating Xiaborei.

But as he berated, Rosen was also pulled in, his voice rising especially loudly, clearly audible through the carriage windows.

Rosen sensed subtle implications. He shrank against Celandine's side, keeping his head down like a quail.

But Xiaborei was unwilling to be baselessly accused, protesting repeatedly.

"Chairman, I've changed! I swear I absolutely won't lead Rosen astray! You can rest assured!"

"Hmph! Changed? How many times have you uttered those words, do you even remember?"

"In my eyes, you're like a mangy street cur who sees women as fresh turds, eagerly rushing to pounce at first sight!"

"Debauched people like you sully even my carriage!"

"And you, Rosen, are no better!"

"And you as his mentor, willing to accept such a vulgar apprentice, what decent girl would do so!"

At some point, the carriage had arrived at South City Market, stopping right in the bustling downtown.

The carriage door crashed open and Fellen's bellowing could be heard clearly, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

Seeing this, Rosen kept his head lowered silently playing the obedient child, but frowned inwardly.

"This old geezer is staging a show to thoroughly ruin our reputations in Silvermoon City."

The earlier events also revealed that relations between the Mage Society, or rather the Silvermoon mage community, and the Temple seemed less than harmonious.

Fellen also greatly disliked entanglements between mages and the Temple.

On the other side, after berating them for a spell, Fellen jabbed his hand at the doorway. "Out! All of you, get out of my carriage!"

Along with these words, the trio felt an immense force grab hold of them, uncontrollably flinging them out of the carriage.

By happenstance, their location was South City Market Plaza, the ground muddy everywhere, surrounded by crowds.

The first to land was Xiaborei. Originally he could have landed on his feet, but midair he was flicked by Fellen's mage hand, unbalancing him so he splattered into the mud.

Next was Rosen, landing on Xiaborei's back, forcing a pained cry from the latter.

Celandine was still airborne but immediately cast a flight spell to stabilize herself, managing to land gracefully on the ground.

'Hahaha~~'

The spectators burst into laughter.

Xiaborei was furious, cursing wildly at the rapidly departing carriage. "Fellen, you old bastard!"

There was no response as Fellen's carriage swiftly disappeared.

Fortunately their residence wasn't far.

Rosen helped pull Xiaborei up. "Uncle, are you okay?"

"What could happen, just got a bit dirty is all. Come on, let's go to the Security Office to collect the reward."

200 crowns was nothing to sneeze at after all.

The three headed to South City Security Office together.

With Xiaborei there, naturally no one dared skimp on the reward, paying out the 200 crowns in full on the spot.

Clutching the money, Xiaborei grinned so widely his eyes nearly vanished. "Let's split it three ways, 66 crowns each for you two, 68 for me, no problem right?"

Rosen shook his head. "Not three people, four. 50 crowns each."

"Four people? Who's the other one?"

"Miss Ollie. She gave me a potent potion that temporarily granted me a bottomless wellspring of dense mana."

Xiaborei's expression shook, his face taking on a spell of confusion.

"Miss Ollie...I wronged her...Ai~ I really did her an injustice."

"Disguised as a man she's so handsome, as a woman she must be exceptionally beautiful, right?"

"Rosen, where is Miss Ollie? Take me to see her, I need to apologize in person."

Rosen shrugged. "She's an eccentric one, I don't know where she is either. The only certainty is she's short on money, so she definitely won't give up her share of the reward."

Xiaborei nodded repeatedly. "Miss Ollie really is strapped for cash. Then we'll split it four ways, 50 crowns each."

50 crowns wasn't much, but scraping by a bit more frugally, it would let him live it up for a month, hehe.

The money was divvied up.

Xiaborei made a beeline for the Rose Manor, shouting himself hoarse but unable to stop him.

Seeing him swiftly vanish, Rosen spread his hands. "Uncle's reputation may be poor but he lives free and unconstrained."

Celandine smiled lightly. "Most of how he acts stems from his personality, but a tiny part is also due to his background."