Inside a small alley somewhere in Moncarlo, far from the bustling main streets.
After the conflict, inside the alley paved with broken flagstones, Moncarlo's City Guard and the Pilgrim Group's knights were currently stationed here, standing guard. On the blood-soaked ground, bodies and heavily wounded casualties were laid out together. The Sister in white was using her abilities to heal the severely injured from the conflict, whether they were City Guards or gang members.
Suddenly, a horrific scream came from the tavern beside the alley. Vanya, who was healing the wounded, couldn't help but be drawn by the scream. With a strange look, she glanced towards the nearby tavern. What she saw next was Lao Lan, pushing open the tavern door and walking out with a cold expression.
"Mr. Lao Lan? Did something happen inside? Is there someone severely injured who needs treatment?" Seeing Lao Lan walk out of the tavern with a stern look, Vanya asked with a curious expression. After hearing her, Lao Lan shook his head and replied.
"No, nothing happened. The person inside is a """Cup""". He won't die from that extent. Don't worry about him." Lao Lan said so. Then, after looking at the injured whom Vanya had healed, he spoke again.
"Thank you, Sister Vanya, for coming here and going to the trouble of helping us with treatment. This was originally Moncarlo's own matter, yet you've gone to extra trouble."
"It's nothing. Since the person who called for help earlier called out to me, it would be impossible for me to stay out of it. I also know that I shouldn't interfere with Moncarlo's internal affairs, so I just wanted to use my abilities to provide some medical assistance within my power, to contribute a small effort. The Lord taught me to feel pain for the pain of others, and thus healing others is healing oneself."
With a devout tone, Vanya spoke to Lao Lan. After hearing Vanya's words, Lao Lan couldn't help but pause, then chuckled lightly and continued.
"I've certainly experienced Sister Vanya's benevolence. However, there's something else I'd like to say. The people you heal should actually just be limited to the City Guard. Those gang scumbags aren't worth you wasting your Spirituality on."
Listening to Lao Lan's words, Vanya continued to smile, standing up as she spoke.
"Yes... some of the wicked people among them certainly deserve death and shouldn't receive clemency. However, their deaths should also be public and just deaths after receiving legal judgment from Moncarlo. I believe that for Moncarlo to escape the endless violence and chaos, what is needed is not just the Holy Mother's benevolent heart, but also the Saint Father's just and authoritative judicial spirit. Only by further improving Moncarlo's laws can this city be better guided into order. Therefore, compared to more vigilante executions, we should advocate for fair trials. This is why I treated everyone here."
Vanya spoke logically and with reason. Hearing her words, Lao Lan, who had assisted in managing Moncarlo for decades and deeply understood its problems and weaknesses, couldn't help but feel a slight surge of emotion in his heart. His opinion of Vanya couldn't help but rise.
"Before Sister Vanya came, there were many rumors saying that you were merely a vase of the Church. However, at the time, I thought that an ordinary vase couldn't withstand the storms of Adus without shattering. After interacting with you yourself, Sister Vanya, I am even more certain of this."
Lao Lan directly and frankly praised Vanya. After hearing him, Vanya also spoke humbly.
"I've just been doing what I ought to do..."
Just as Vanya was speaking like this, at this very moment, behind Lao Lan, the hand of a gang member's body that should have been lying on the ground twitched slightly. Without anyone noticing, he slowly lifted his head, which was covered in bloodstains. While staring blankly ahead, his hand also began to move, reaching under himself. All of this was seen by Vanya, who was standing behind Lao Lan.
"Look out behind you!"
Seeing the gang member who had started moving again, Vanya reached out and shouted a loud warning directly to Lao Lan. Hearing Vanya's reminder, Lao Lan immediately turned around. What he saw was the gang member, who had shakily propped himself up, angrily pointing a pistol at him.
"Go to hell! Ten Dog!"
"Bang!"
Without hesitation, the gang member directly pulled the trigger, firing a bullet from the revolver in his hand. Seeing the bullet flying towards him, Lao Lan quickly dodged to the side. Although his arm was grazed by the bullet, Lao Lan managed to narrowly avoid it. Then, his gaze hardened as he stared at the man who had attacked him. A water arrow condensed in mid-air and shot out at high speed towards the attacker, directly piercing the attacker's forehead, leaving a through-and-through hole wider than a thumb on his head. Blood and brain matter flowed out, and the gang member also fell down with wide eyes.
"Tenth Young Master, are you alright!"
Seeing everything that had suddenly happened, the City Guard nearby quickly ran over to inquire about Lao Lan's condition. Lao Lan, covering the wound on his arm, spoke calmly.
"It's nothing, I just didn't expect there would be someone who hadn't completely died yet, hmph... He's lucky but doesn't know how to cherish his life..."
Looking at the motionless body on the ground, Lao Lan said slowly. Then, he turned his head to look at Vanya before continuing to speak.
"Thank you, Sister Vanya, for the reminder. Otherwise, the injury on me might have affected my appearance."
"It's alright... but Mr. Lao Lan, you still sustained a minor injury. Please allow me to treat you." At this moment, Vanya looked at Lao Lan's arm and offered to treat him. Lao Lan naturally had no reason to refuse. He replied almost without thinking.
"Then I'll trouble you, Sister Vanya."
Having received Lao Lan's reply, Vanya immediately stepped forward. After carefully pulling open the clothing on Lao Lan's arm, she placed her hand on the wound. Then, using her Spirituality, she emitted a gentle glow. Lao Lan immediately felt his wound quickly healing in a comfortable warmth. The wound, which wasn't very serious to begin with, quickly healed completely as if new. During this process, Lao Lan also silently watched Vanya's focused actions before him.
After the wound was completely healed, Vanya lifted her hand from above the wound. Then, Lao Lan began to rub the skin where the wound had been, and then swung his arm around, carefully checking the condition of the wound. After seeing that everything was alright, he smiled and said to Vanya.
"I've received healing from many Healing Priests before. Some less devout and less skilled priests, after healing a wound, the original location of the wound would still itch for several days. Sister Vanya, the wound you treated has recovered very well, with absolutely no strange sensations. Sister Vanya's devoutness is truly just as the rumors say."
"As a Sister, devoutness to the Lord is the most basic element." Vanya continued to respond with a smile. At this point, Lao Lan looked at the twilight sky around them, and then spoke again.
"Alright, it's getting late now. We've been delayed here for too long. Now that everyone has been rescued, let's continue heading to Jun Hai Fort."
"Okay."
Just like this, after some interludes, Lao Lan continued to act as a guide, leading Vanya towards the ruling center of Moncarlo. If there was any difference in this team before and after this interlude, besides some members being injured, it was that the vision of many among them could now be perceived by another will far away.
At this very moment, inside a high-end hotel on the other side of Moncarlo, on the balcony of a luxurious suite, Dorothy was currently sitting in a comfortable chair, gazing at the distant Pirate Fortress, sensing the team that was heading towards the fortress.
During the process of healing the City Guard and gang members, Vanya naturally embedded Dorothy's Puppet Mark beneath their skin in the form of flesh and blood imprints. In order to also imprint the most crucial person, Edward's tenth son, Lao Lan Gibbs, Dorothy orchestrated an ambush by manipulating a Corpse Puppet on the spot, causing Lao Lan to sustain a minor injury. Under Vanya's healing, as the minor injury recovered, the flesh and blood imprint was also implanted into his body. Lao Lan would be the key for Dorothy to learn the secret of the Great Pirate.
"Next... it's time to wait..."
Looking at the gradually setting sun on the horizon, Dorothy murmured, then after thinking for a moment, she took out her "book-sea navigation record" from her magic box, turned to a blank new page, and began to write on it.
...
Time flowed, and the sun set as the moon rose.
After dusk, the dark night officially enveloped the sky of Moncarlo. Accompanied by lights denser than the stars illuminating the City, Moncarlo welcomed a night much more prosperous than the daytime.
North of Moncarlo City, within the vast pirate fortress Jun Hai Fort, a reception banquet was currently underway. In the spacious, luxuriously decorated dining hall, on the smooth marble floor, beneath the shimmering large hanging lights, a long dining table filled with countless delicacies was placed.
The white Sister was sitting on one side of the dining table, eating light food, while on the other sides of the table sat her guard Captain and other important officials from Moncarlo.
"Oh... I really didn't expect that the recently famous savior of Adus, Vanya, would be so young and beautiful. I couldn't tell at all when I read the newspaper before. Your naturally beautiful small face makes me a little envious..." Sitting on one side of the dining table, a woman with a good figure, dressed in bright and gaudy clothes, with heavy makeup and a ponytail, said while holding a fork and eating, looking at Vanya not far away. A hint of a frivolous smile was on her lips, and Vanya also responded softly upon seeing this.
"Actually, a good appearance is just an unimportant part of the Lord's grace. Compared to the external, a truly kind heart is a precious gift, so you don't need to envy me, Miss Pei Ling."
"Huh? Appearance is not important? I think Sister Miss, if you lacked this skin... your fame would be at least half discounted. Could it be that this appearance played some important role in convincing the Adus Revolutionary Army? Let me tell you... since you announced your arrival here, many people here..."
The woman named Pei Ling seemed to be excitedly saying something to Vanya, when Lao Lan, who was sitting on the other side, frowned, put down the red wine in his hand, and spoke.
"Shut up, Pei Ling, mind your manners..."
"Oh... okay, Tenth Brother..."
Hearing Lao Lan's words, Pei Ling immediately closed her mouth, then somewhat reluctantly continued to eat. At this moment, on the other side of the dining table, another voice sounded.
"Wuwu... Hey, I say, Church Sister, what conspiracy do you have coming here for no reason? Is it because you see the old man is not well, and the Church wants to interfere more in our affairs?" The speaker was a large man with a pirate bandana tied around his head, a fat body, and a beard. He was grabbing a piece of steak with his hand and gnawing on it, while speaking to Vanya with a hint of hostility.
"Please don't misunderstand, Mr. Bu Na. My visit to Moncarlo this time is just to borrow the Light of the Holy Relic to make a positive impact on Moncarlo, which has been criticized in news from various countries, and I have no other intentions."
"No other intentions, huh, then why did you come and immediately deal with our gang problems here..."
"Bu Na... I dealt with that matter, it has nothing to do with Sister Vanya." Lao Lan said sternly to the man named Bu Na, and Bu Na immediately spoke anxiously upon hearing this.
"Tenth Brother... don't be too partial to this Sister. You also know how many people here dislike the Church guys. Doing this will easily lose popular support and benefit Twelfth Brother..."
"Alright, now eat your food properly, use utensils, and mind your etiquette."
"Hmm..."
After listening to Lao Lan's words, Bu Na had no other choice but to put the food back on the plate and continue eating. The entire gathering continued in a dull atmosphere.
Finally, after the meeting ended, the other important officials from Moncarlo who participated left early, while Lao Lan got up and found Vanya, saying with a slight apology.
"I'm very sorry, Sister Vanya. Due to some traditional influences, my family members have some issues with manners. Please don't mind."
"It's alright, Mr. Lao Lan. I can also feel that Moncarlo does have a natural resistance to the affairs of the saint church. I also know that this was caused by the saint church's past mistakes, and I can understand."
Vanya responded, saying that Moncarlo was founded by a large pirate group during the pirate era, and most of the pirates during the pirate era were citizens of defeated nations who were persecuted by the Church due to the Turbid Current War. Therefore, the widespread anti-Church sentiment here is a tradition, a tradition passed down along with the chaotic nature of pirates.
"It's great that Sister Vanya can understand this... Alright, it's getting late now. Sister Vanya, you all should go back and rest first. I need to go see Father and report on today's matters."
"Okay."
Afterwards, Lao Lan sent Vanya and her guards out of Jun Hai Fort, then went to the depths of Jun Hai Fort himself to meet Edward, who had been living in seclusion there. After completing his report, Lao Lan left the secret bedroom in the deepest part of Jun Hai Fort, and also left Jun Hai Fort himself.
After leaving Jun Hai Fort, Lao Lan went to his mansion, a luxurious house built almost right next to Jun Hai Fort and also within the range covered by the Spirituality mist.
By the time Lao Lan arrived at his heavily guarded mansion, the night was already deep. After returning home, Lao Lan rushed to his study without stopping, looked at documents and books for two hours, and finally, in the middle of the night, he changed into his pajamas, washed up in the bedroom, and went to bed.
However, when Lao Lan was completely asleep, he suddenly opened his eyes while lying in bed, slowly sat up, then scanned the surroundings with a vacant gaze, and then got up and got out of bed.
Just like on a normal morning, Lao Lan, who had only slept for an hour, changed into his formal wear, put on his shoes, slowly opened the door and walked out, then walked out of his mansion all the way. During this time, he tried his best to avoid the servants and guards at home. Even if a servant occasionally saw Lao Lan, they just bowed respectfully, intimidated by Lao Lan's usual authority, without any questions. In this way, Lao Lan walked out of the house without any hindrance, and walked out of the Spirituality mist that covered from Jun Hai Fort.
Immediately after walking out of the Spirituality mist, Lao Lan arrived at an intersection. At this time, a carriage was parked there, seemingly waiting for Lao Lan. Lao Lan walked to the carriage under the dark streetlights and sat down in the carriage compartment. At this time, there were already two figures in the carriage compartment.
One was the Detective Ed, with deep-set eyes and a hooked nose. He looked at Lao Lan getting into the carriage with a calm expression. The other was a woman dressed in bright clothes and smelling of alcohol. Her eyes looked at Lao Lan with astonishment.
"This... is this really Moncarlo's Tenth Young Master, Lao Lan, one of Edward's most favored sons... You actually quietly brought him here, and he even walked here himself... What method did you use? Is it also sleepwalking?"
Looking at Lao Lan in front of her, the woman in the carriage said in disbelief, while Ed lit a small incense burner and placed it by the carriage window, and spoke calmly.
"The extraordinary means to control a living person are not just sleepwalking... This extraordinary world is very big..."
"Alright, Young Master Lao Lan is in position now. After deepening his sleep state a little, let's set off. I hope your main body is ready for dream intrusion and thought theft, Fox... No... I should say Miss Nightmare."
After setting up the incense, Ed looked at the woman beside him and said. The woman swallowed a mouthful of saliva and then spoke.
"Okay... alright, come over now..."