“You are so young, sir, yet you possess a formidable strength and special abilities that ordinary Class holders can only dream of,” Edmund said slowly.
“If you were to join our main branch, then even if you don't win the Hero Assembly in two years, simply placing in the top three would be enough to drastically elevate our family's standing.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how unrealistic this idea was, and his tone quieted. “Never mind. It is nothing more than my own pipe dream.”
Bai Xuan did not reply. In his heart, he recalled what Banner Mulan had told him in the dungeon—Phoebe might already be waiting for him in Myriad City.
There was still plenty of time before the Hero Assembly in two years. Suppressing his thoughts, his expression remained calm, and he did not say another word.
Edmund pushed himself up from the ground, struggling to stand. As his body swayed slightly, Bai Xuan reached out to support his arm, only letting go once he was steady. Edmund then walked straight toward Clement.
Seeing Edmund drawing closer step by step, Clement instinctively tried to shrink back, but Rex held him in a death grip, making it impossible for him to budge.
“Where is Julia?” Edmund's voice was not loud, but it carried a bone-chilling pressure. “What did you do to her?”
Clement's lips trembled uncontrollably, his voice frantic. “I don't know... Zane was the one who sent people to pursue her... You have to ask him about the details!”
Edmund stared fixedly at him, falling silent for several seconds. Jesse also stepped forward quickly, asking anxiously, “What happened to Lady Julia?”
Edmund's gaze remained locked on Clement as he said coldly, “Zane found out that Julia secretly headed to Myriad City. That bastard has been using this to blackmail me.”
Bai Xuan took a step forward, standing right in front of Clement. Clement's entire body froze, his shoulders tensing instantly as a powerful sense of crisis washed over him.
Bai Xuan did not raise his staff, merely looking down at him. “You kept such an important matter to yourself until now. Just how many people did Zane send to hunt down Julia?”
Clement swallowed hard, frantically defending himself. “I really don't know the details! I only used this to threaten him! Zane made all the arrangements!”
Bai Xuan raised his hand and brought his staff down heavily against the floor.
Clement's heart squeezed in terror at the dull thud. He frantically raised his voice to defend himself, his tone completely warped with panic: “I really didn't know! It was all Zane's doing! I was only following his orders, I had no choice!”
Bai Xuan leaned forward slightly and took a step. Terrified, Clement recoiled violently, breaking free from Rex's grip as his back slammed hard against the wall. He panted heavily, cold sweat breaking out in beads across his forehead.
He began to speak rapidly, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Zane was the one who approached me first! I was forced to cooperate with him! I didn't dare refuse the things he offered, I had no choice!”
Edmund watched the panicked Clement coldly. Suddenly, he turned to the guard beside him and drew the longsword from the man's waist. The guard paused slightly but did not step forward to stop him.
Holding the longsword, Edmund slowly walked back to stand before Clement. Hearing the footsteps, Clement raised his trembling head, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks when he saw the cold, gleaming blade.
As if draining the last of his courage, Clement shrieked in a desperate show of bravado, “You can't do this to me! Do you have any idea who is backing me?”
He looked around frantically, trying to find some turning point, hoping someone would step forward to save him.
“The Church will never tolerate you executing a cleric without trial! Everyone here will be held accountable and purged by the Church!”
“I am not alone! To touch me is to make an enemy of the Church! They will definitely trace it here and settle the score with you! None of you will escape!”
Clement's eyes swept across their cold, expressionless faces one by one, and he finally recognized the sheer hopelessness of his situation.
His hands shook violently at his sides as he desperately tried to grasp at a final sliver of hope, only to find nothing. His voice faltered. “You... you can't do this...”
Edmund did not give him any room to breathe. The longsword slashed down instantly, a clean and decisive strike without the slightest hesitation.
Clement's body slumped, sliding slowly down the wall until he fell completely silent.
Edmund's hand, still gripping the hilt, hovered in the air. After a brief silence, he handed the longsword back to the guard beside him. The guard took it, lowering the tip of the blade.
By the time Bai Xuan walked out of the dungeon, the oil lamps on both sides of the corridor had been fully relit.
The rescued prisoners were incredibly weak. Some slumped against the walls, some leaned on their companions' shoulders for support, while others lay directly on the cold stone floor, their eyes tightly shut and their breathing faint.
Bai Xuan walked slowly down the corridor, healing everyone one by one.
Yvonne helped from the side, lifting a weak prisoner to lean securely against the wall. Though the man still did not open his eyes, his ragged breathing had calmed.
An elderly man in the corner stared down at the rapidly closing wounds on his wrists. His lips trembled slightly, but he could not make a sound.
The golden light at the tip of Bai Xuan's staff flickered softly as he paused every few steps to treat the wounded.
Edmund was already standing out in the courtyard. A clean strip of cloth, which Jesse had just carefully wrapped, covered his hollow left eye socket. He stood tall and upright, making no effort to avoid the gazes of those around him.
The evening breeze swept over the courtyard walls. The sky slowly darkened, and the final trace of pale gray light on the horizon was gradually swallowed by the deep, dark blue of the night.
The torches in the courtyard were lit one by one, their dancing flames dispersing the gathering dusk.
Edmund stood quietly in the center of the courtyard. Waiting patiently until the last of the wounded had stabilized, he immediately called Jesse over and gave a low-voiced order.
“Take some men and inspect all the houses in the town. Compile a count of the buildings that are intact and habitable, those that need repairs, and those that are completely destroyed. Get the tally to me before dawn.”
Without any unnecessary questions, Jesse immediately turned and left to organize the men for the task.
Edmund turned his gaze to the wilderness outside the courtyard walls and asked the attendant beside him, “How many civilians are still lingering outside the town?”
The attendant bowed and replied, “About two-thirds of the populace did not go far. After the monster tide receded, they have been staying around the outskirts of the town, waiting for news.”
Edmund nodded slightly, making his decision. “Tomorrow morning, I will wait for them at the town entrance. Tell everyone that Calais Town is safe. For those who wish to stay, we will rebuild our home together.”
The attendant bowed in acknowledgment and turned to spread the word.
Edmund remained standing in the courtyard, his gaze lingering on the road leading to the town gate for a long time. The hand at his side clenched quietly, then slowly relaxed.
In his heart, he desperately wanted to follow the secret passage to confirm Julia's safety. He wanted to know if she had escaped smoothly, if she was hurt, or if she was consumed by fear.
But he could not leave.
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