Royal palace, gardens.

Holleka stood under a small tree, and Edson was habitually standing in the shadows.

Witchers are not thieves.

But when hunting evil, the necessary stealth skills will always make people do more with less, so some habits have already been integrated into the bones, and it is impossible to change them.

The old witcher stood silently.

His gaze swept over the garden in front of him.

This was his first visit to the palace of the royal family of Aitandine.

He was quite satisfied with the layout in front of him.

It's not about beauty, it's about safety.

Within his line of sight, none of the trees were more than three meters tall, and all had undergone the necessary pruning.

All you need to do is send a guard to look out from the tall building on the outside side of the garden, and you can see as far as the eye can see.

It can not only ensure the safety of people in the garden to the greatest extent, but also greatly save manpower and invest it in other places.

"The agent's position is also reasonable."

"The soldiers on patrol are not bad, either."

The old witcher commented one by one.

Just like the instinct of stealth, the instinct to look at things has long since changed.

Practicality has always been what witchers are looking for.

And Hollaika is different.

He thought over and over in his head if he had missed something.

It's not the first time that Hollaika has gone on a mission, but this kind of mission is the first time that the 'Snake Faction' can rise smoothly.

As a shadow son of the snake faction, Hollaika is inevitably nervous.

However, fortunately, when Qin Ran's figure appeared in the field of vision, looking at Qin Ran, who had a calm and indifferent face and unhurried steps, Hollaika quickly calmed down.

It seems that as long as the other party is there, there must be no problem.

It seems that any difficulty will be solved in front of the other party.

Very peculiar feeling.

But Hollaika doesn't hate it.

"Yes, Lord Colin."

"I'm Hollaika, and I'm here on behalf of the 'Silent Night Secret Order.'"

Hollaika greeted politely.

He wanted to address adults, or perform the etiquette of a witcher.

But not yet.

It's not time yet.

Because, he can't guarantee that this place will not be watched by Southern legislators.

After Qin Ran's gaze swept over the old demon hunter who was hiding on his side, he put it on the former member of the 'Silent Night Secret Society' who had been fooled by the 'acting skills (illusions) of the high-ranking evil spirits in front of him.

His retinue had put enough work on the other.

At the very least, it makes it easier for him to talk to the other person.

The other party only needs to see him, and he will be inexplicably at ease and obedient, and he will definitely not raise any rebellious heart - the ability of the superior evil spirit is really very useful, but unfortunately, it is useless for most people, it is only useful for people who are weak-willed and have damaged souls, and it is difficult for people with weak wills to become what he needs.

As for soul damage?

No less difficult.

Like Hollaika, it's just too rare.

Under normal circumstances, no one would choose the kind of secret art that damages their soul.

And Hollyka?

A poor ghost who has been deceived by Gersack.

The councillor just needed a good tool.

So, there is the 'Undead' Carlisleho.

In Gelsack's memory, Qin Ran could confirm this very well.

Of course, Hollaika didn't know all this.

Maybe there was a little speculation in Holsaka before, but in the heart of Hollaika now, as a demon hunter, in order to gain the trust of Gelsack, he had to choose a secret technique like [Shadow of the Moon].

Qin Ran pretended to look at Hollaika indifferently.

Hollyka needs to match its identity.

Qin Ran naturally needed it too.

"Before, in the shantytown of the Lower Seventh Ring Road, we caused some unnecessary misunderstandings......"

"Councillor Gersak is willing to compensate."

After briefly explaining the situation, Hollaika bowed again.

"Compensation?"

"'Silent Night Order'?"

"Huh."

A chuckle, with an indescribable sarcasm.

However, the old witcher on the side really confirmed the identity of the Hollaika Snake Sect.

Qin Ran's eyes did not have any coldness, and there was not the slightest killing intent on his body.

Although he had not been in contact with the snake sect demon hunter in front of him for a long time, the old demon hunter was quite sure of Qin Ran's style of acting.

In addition to the prudence and caution unique to demon hunters, doing things neatly and neatly is the most direct impression of the old demon hunter on Qin Ran.

To put it simply, if Qin Ran really faced an inconsequential member of the 'Silent Night Secret Cult', he would 100% directly capture or simply kill the other party.

And now there is no hands-on ......

The fact that Hollaika is a member of the Serpent Faction is obvious.

Silently, the old witcher sighed.

The old witcher sighed again at the secrecy of the Serpent Sect.

At the same time, he is still associating.

Since Hollaika is a shadow son of the Snake Sect.

So......

Is there anyone else in the Silent Night Secret Order who is a shadow son of the Snake Sect?

The answer is almost yes.

The old witcher was delighted with this answer.

Under the premise that the 'Wolf Faction' has declined, the stronger the 'Snake Faction', the more good it is for the witchers.

The only thing that needs to be considered is how to continue this 'power'.

And while the old witcher was thinking, Hollaika had already completed the 'mission' in a formulaic manner.

A black invitation was handed over to Qin Ran.

"Please trust me."

"It's a good thing for both you and me."

"After all......"

"As you are, you should know about that."

Hollaika said with her head hidden.

Qin Ran glanced at the invitation.

Then, nodding noncommittally.

"We look forward to seeing you again at noon."

Hollaika said this, and after saluting Qin Ran and the old demon hunter again, he walked outside the garden.

There, the waiting palace guards will take Hollaika out of the palace.

"Monte."

Qin Ran said so.

The sound is not high.

But at the moment when Qin Ran's voice fell, the ministers appeared by Qin Ran's side like the wind.

"Your Highness."

The minister bent down.

"Send reliable people to escort each other."

Qin Ran commanded.

"Understood."

The minister nodded and disappeared again.

After confirming that the ministers had left, Qin Ran turned to look at the old demon hunter.

Naturally, you have to do a full set of plays.

You know, his audience is not only the people in the palace, but also the people who have been staring at Hollaika.

Qin Ran was completely sure that as long as Hollaika left the palace, the people of the 'God of War Temple' would definitely follow.

Although Hollaika had an 'immortal body', Qin Ran didn't want his entourage to be completely reduced to useless people because they had died too many times.

Especially at such a critical time.

"Do you need me to go?"

The old witcher asked dryly.

Edson is not a fool and naturally knows what Hollaika might face.

He didn't want his own people to be harmed.

Qin Ran shook his head.

"I have more important things for you to do."

Qin Ran said and handed the invitation card in his hand to the old demon hunter.

The old witcher immediately understood.

Nodding, the old witcher walked away quickly.

And Qin Ran frowned slightly after sensing that the peeping gaze was half less again.

Aitandine's palace had been infiltrated far beyond he had believed.

No wonder Etandine VI stayed in the small council chamber for a long time.

Because, only there, can the king be able to guarantee himself from being watched.

"It's like that in the palace."

"Shantytown ...... in the Lower Seventh Ring Road"

"Don't let me down."

Qin Ran muttered to himself in his heart.

Then he turned and walked to his bedroom, where the servant had already arranged these trivial matters, and had made sure that they were in order.

Since the current identity can't avoid the gaze, then, fortunately, it is good to be completely exposed to the vision of those people.

Qin Ran believed that if he did this, there would be unexpected benefits.

For example: the scene just now.

In fact, it was just as Qin Ran expected.

His contact with the members of the Silent Night Order in the gardens of the royal palace had long since become 'known throughout the city' with the departure of Holleka.

Those who are interested look at the news one by one, or think intently, or are silent, or gritted their teeth.

Count Valentine, is the latter.

This nobleman, who has a prominent family background and a long history, is smashing the wine glass in his hand to the ground.

The metal cup did not break.

Even, there was no loud noise.

But the liquor stained a white woolen blanket.

Scarlet is so glaring in white.

So much so that Count Valentine, who was bloated and had short limbs, stepped on the scarlet hard.

"Damn it!"

"Damn it!"

"Why is this happening?"

Count Valentine groaned with a thick neck.

On the temples and forehead, the green tendons burst out, making the well-maintained other party look extremely hideous, especially the tyranny in the eyes, which makes people's hearts tremble.

"Calm down, Valentine."

The person who spoke was also a middle-aged man.

The long silver hair is draped down, the eyes are slender, the nose is hooked, and the thin lips are sitting there, and you can still see that the body is slender, and an elegant temperament is revealed the moment the other party raises her hand.

"Little, how can I be calm?"

"We worked hard to find that guy's flaw, but now ...... But it was all in vain! ”

"I—I'm not reconciled!"

Count Valentine roared.

However, the tyranny in his eyes gradually disappeared.

Obviously, as a friend and ally, Viscount Little's words are quite effective.

"Do you think it's a coincidence?"

Little asked.

"Coincidence?"

"Bullshit coincidence!"

"That bastard must have found out that we were investigating Sphynson and gave us a salary!"

"Damn it!"

Valentine felt a pang of pain at the thought of how much he had spent investigating the imposter prince.

You know, it's not just money.

There are many things that money can't buy.

"Then what do you think ......?"

"Is this Colin real now?"

Little continued.

Valentine was stunned.

"You mean?"

The count looked at his ally.

"I didn't say anything."

Viscount Little shook his head with a smile.

It looks like a fox with an eagle's beak.

Valentine's eyes lit up.

"Shall we, then?"

Valentine gestured with a fist.

"Absolutely."

"We hope Your Majesty will take back that foolish order."

"Retract his ambitions."

"For this reason, we are always looking for the truth."

"And I won't say anything until I find the truth of the matter, and neither will you."

Viscount Little said with deep meaning.

"Got it."

"I'll take care of that pawn."

Valentine nodded.

Then, the two nobles discussed in a low voice.

Half an hour later, the two nobles left the study at the same time.

Little rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the shanty town of the Lower Seventh Ring Road.

Valentine took a horse-drawn carriage to the cathedral.

At this time, the first rays of the sun have begun to appear on the horizon, and the brightness of the sky makes the color of the night gradually fade, and experienced people can see that today will be a sunny day.

People who have rested all night, start to get up.

A new day begins.

New work naturally began.

At this time, being able to lie in bed is definitely a luxury and definitely enviable.

Gino is the one who is enough to be envied.

But if he had a choice, he definitely didn't want to lie in bed.

What he is more accustomed to is that at this time, he picked up the long sword and walked to the playground with everyone to train.

It's just that......

After yesterday morning's incident, Gino was visibly aware of the change in everyone's attitude towards him.

An invisible diaphragm appeared between him and his teammates and the captain.

And when he pardoned the pardon to reflect in the room, this estrangement began to spread.

The attendants and deacons looked at him strangely, as if they were looking at ...... Prisoner.

The young man immediately shook his head vigorously.

He won't admit who he is now.

He was still in his room.

They were also not shackled.

He's not a prisoner!

The young man told himself.

Then, he took deep breaths again and again.

When everything was calm, he put on his coat and picked up his sword, and he prepared to go to the confessional, where he was going to confess his sins.

He should not be discouraged by the delusion of the pagans.

He shouldn't have forgotten the tenacity of the 'God of War' because of the so-called tolerance of the 'Mist'.

"Everything is that I'm not tough enough!"

"It's all my fault!"

"I'm going to repent!"

The young man pushed the door open, and then he froze.

Outside his door, two deacons who were clearly 'dark halls' were standing there.

"Knight Gino, you can't leave the room without the permission of the sword priest and above."

One of the deacons saw the young man who opened the door and said straightforwardly.

The other looked at the long sword in the young man's hand.

"Your sword needs to be handed over to us."

Facing the vigilant and hostile gazes of the two deacons, the young man handed over the sword in his hand in a daze, and the young man did not know how the door was closed.

He sat down on the bed in a daze.

Somewhere in his heart, it seems, is beginning to shatter.

A shadow of darkness began to appear silently in the room with such a shattering, whispering in the young man's ear.