It was already night when he returned to the headquarters of the Knights of the Sacred Tree, and Edward followed Gaio Valence through the drawbridge and the gate of the headquarters, and after confirming with the guards at the gate that a carriage was dragging something back, Gaio led him towards the spire of the Oath facing the main building, without delaying for a minute.

The conference room in the tower was much smaller than the headquarters hall, but it was clear that there wasn't much need to be known about it - Gaio pushed the door open, and Sir Leonardo was standing there, cautiously commanding something with another knight of the sacred tree who looked to be old.

"That's it, remember to be careful - whatever happens, come back as soon as possible. Patting the other party's shoulder, Sir Leonardo said with concern: "The kingdom is important!"

"Kingdom is important!" the old knight whispered as hard, nodding to Gaiot, who had just entered, and then took a step out of the conference room—only then did Edward notice that the old gentleman had lost his right arm, and that he had a broad-bladed short sword hanging from his left waist, and that his left eye had left only a deep scar that could be seen in the bone.

"Come in, it's not warm outside. Leonardo sighed as he watched the old knight leave, and then greeted Edward and Gaio with a smile, not sparing his praise: "You kid did a good job, you did a great favor - we got a lot of information from that woman." ”

"How?" asked Edward, casually joking, "it wouldn't be your Sir Leonardo's chivalry and noble character, would it?"

"Trust me, kid, you won't want to know this. Sir Leonardo shook his head and pulled out a chair for the two to sit down: "But I can assure you that she is alive and has not been ...... There are certainly some flesh wounds in being forced to do such things—but these are last resorts for the comfort of the Kingdom. ”

"There's no need to hide it, this 'kid' in front of you just cleaned up a gang a few quarters of an hour ago and broke no less than a dozen ribs. Gaiyo on the side sneered and pursed his lips, and before Leonardo could fight back, he turned his target back to Edward: "Let's talk about it, apart from this woman, what other information did you dig from that gangster?"

"I thought you already knew. Edward spread his hands and looked at Sir Leonardo very sincerely: "Intelligence, according to that 'venerable' Mr. Black, the beggars in the surrounding streets are his men, his eyes and ears are all over the block, and the Blood Banner Brotherhood has fed them, and by the way got a piece of news about the Knights of the Sacred Tree." ”

"These bastards are watching our every move for the Brotherhood of Blood Banner - so no matter how careful the Knights are, they will be the first to spot us!" Gaio looked at Sir Leonardo with a blank face, "and we can only cope with it, and then ...... Powerless. ”

"I'm afraid this Mr. Black gang is just one of the gangs they have bought, and there are more and more rat leaders like this in the whole city of Turin, and the eyes of this group are everywhere - not to mention that they must have been wary now. Edward nodded silently, "If we're going to catch them, we'll have to do our best!"

"We've gotten some useful information out of her mouth - the rats in the sewers seem to be plotting something, and it seems to have something to do with wizards. The grim state of affairs made Sir Leonardo much heavier, and took out a piece of parchment full of things from his coat pocket: "That's all there is to it—the woman won't say a word beyond that." ”

"And wizards?"

"When she was unconscious, she kept mentioning a name, she spoke a dialect of southern Dominica, and we could only hear that the name was followed by a 'wizard' title, which meant ...... Absolutely nothing to do with some wizard!"

"That's all?" Gaiyo's dark eyes glanced at Leonardo, "It took us so long, even to expose it, and you got such a little bit of information?"

"Shut up, you goddamn bastard - besides, the person who captured her was Edward Wetwood, and she has nothing to do with you!" As soon as he spoke more than two words to Gaio, Leonardo couldn't help but become irritable, sighed and turned his gaze to the black-haired boy on the side: "Other than that, it's only her origin and identity, although I think most of these are what she casually pulled out to lie to us." ”

"The accent sounds like a southerner, but she must have grown up in a slum in the city of Turin, and I heard her say that when she was twelve years old, she was sold by her father to a brothel, and finally mixed with the most famous 'rose glass' in Xicheng District, and changed her name to Meria......" Sir Leonardo's expression was obviously not quite right when he said this.

"I'm not interested in these things that don't matter. Gaio interrupted Leonardo, still impatiently, "I just saw you send Sir Senna out, for what?"

"Since these people are related to wizards, maybe the people in the wizards' guild might know something, and maybe there will be useful information. Sir Leonardo explained to him: "Old Cena is still very tolerant of wizards, and will not open his mouth and close his mouth is the Radiant Cross, and if he goes, at least those fellows will not be too disgusted." ”

Gaio nodded slightly, got up from his chair with an expressionless face and stared at Edward: "Then your next task is to figure out where this group of people are based and what they are going to do - I think this time the information should be enough." ”

"Gaio Valens, he just came back and doesn't need to be so impatient, right?" Leonardo couldn't stand it anymore: "Besides, he's done enough, don't you still ......?"

"He's eager to prove himself, to show off his skills to the Knights of the Sacred Tree, and to be worthy of joining us—so what reason do I have to refuse?" Gayot retorted softly with a stiff expression, then moved his gaze back to Edward's eyes, "What do you say?"

"I need some help, beyond this information. Edward replied very sincerely, "Kayla Vane, I wish she could be left to me, and please don't stop me in whatever I do—it's just that a request, okay?"

"Are you serious?" Sir Leonardo was a little surprised, but he didn't have much objection: "Hmm...... She's your captive anyway, so it's probably more appropriate for you to decide what to do with it. ”

Gaio glanced at Sir Leonardo - and after getting enough information, the Blood Flag Brotherhood captives were useless, and nodded.

"You can leave it to you, but you also have to make commitments. Gaiyo looked at the black-haired boy with an expressionless face: "Grand Master Kane has gone to meet His Majesty, and we must talk about how this matter is handled, and we must not embarrass the adults in the Imperial Council - try to figure out their purpose, and we must not fail!"

"Understood. Edward solemnly lowered his head, and the corners of his mouth hung with confidence: "I will do my best!"

.................. The Knights of the Sacred Tree, as the direct army of His Majesty, did not have any place to hold prisoners in their own right - of course, this is said to be related to the current Grand Master Mercer Kane, who insisted that it was only His Majesty's authority to dispose of prisoners.

However, naturally, under special circumstances, the Knights will still temporarily find some places to hold certain special prisoners, such as the dungeon of this ancient fortress that has been abandoned for many years.

Carrying a dim candlelight, Edward gently pushed open the iron bar, and Kayla Vane was locked up, her hands fixed to the wall, her neck and ankles locked in cold shackles, and she was curled up there wet and shivering, on her arms, shoulders, thighs...... There were heals and blood marks from the beatings everywhere.

The water seeping out of the dungeon that had been in disrepair for many years had already submerged to the calf, and Kayla, who was soaked and her clothes were in tatters like a rag, sat in the cold water, very desolate.

"You damn bastards, I've said everything I can!" Kayla immediately screamed when she saw the firelight: "Get out, get out!

"No one will come to torment you anymore, Miss Kayla Vaane. Edward said in a somewhat gentle voice, "I have given the Knight Commander's orders—now that you are my captive, in other words, under my protection, no one can harm you except with my permission." ”

"And what are you going to do with your 'captive', little sir?" Kayla laughed twice, her lips purple, cold and contemptuous, "I guess you haven't done that yet, right......? There is no man who has spent the night with me and can be so energetic. ”

"I'm sorry, but I'd probably like to be a little younger, and you're almost going to be my aunt in a dragon robe. Edward chuckled and pouted, "Simply put...... I'm not interested in getting older. ”

"And I'd better not talk to me like that—especially at this time. ”

"What, you're going to whip me twice?" Kayla sneered sarcastically, "Do you think I'm going to be scared of this?"

"No, I'm going to let you go. Edward smiled, "Shouldn't you be more polite to your savior?"