Chapter 315: An Unexpected Rescue

  In the dead of night, with only the faint moonlight filtering through the clouds, The Radiant Citadel could still reflect and emit a faint glow, looking like a gigantic pearl resting upon the plains of Celeste.

  When first built centuries ago, The Radiant Citadel was already the largest and most magnificent structure on the continent, and its expansion had never ceased in the centuries since. The sprawling, towering complex was now hardly distinguishable from a mountain. Within a radius of several miles stood towering structures of varying heights, grand halls, and churches the size of small hills. While it might not compare to the legendary architecture of the ancient elven empires, it was undoubtedly a miracle that human architecture could create.

  And in the eyes of believers, it was a holy land. Legend had it that on the day The Radiant Citadel was completed, a sacred light descended from the sky and enveloped the castle, and a giant angel could be vaguely seen flying above it. From then on, The Radiant Citadel emitted a sacred white light all year round. This was an undisputed miracle. Countless believers often traveled from thousands of miles away to pay homage to this trace of the divine revealed in the mortal world, piously prostrating themselves outside these great white walls. This was the anchor of their faith in the mortal world.

  Aimee stood by the window, staring blankely at the scene outside. The white exterior walls of the distant Grand Hall of Light reflected the faint moonlight, looking so sacred and magnificent, like a holy land untouched by the mortal world. But Aimee knew that dozens of Templar were lying in ambush inside, elites drawn from various regions, waiting with killing intent for the one who would deliver himself into their trap. And the white magic of the thousands of clergy members within The Radiant Citadel was enough to turn this night into day in an instant, not letting a single fly escape. And in the tall towers scattered about, mages were specifically placed to cast Mana Divine Eye. Although this spell was a considerable burden for a mage, with the manpower in The Radiant Citadel, this was not a problem at all.

  Her old dream was to one day be able to enter this The Radiant Citadel. To be precise, this was a dream that her grandfather, the old man Raelas, had instilled in her since she was a child. In the eyes of the devout old man Raelas, to be able to enter here was an honor as great as being able to touch the radiance of God.

  This dream had naturally been shattered by reality long ago. The old man Raelas was killed by the Cardinal. Yabin was killed by the blade of a Temple Knight, and both were killed after being innocently drawn into the vortex. Celeste, this sacred land in her heart, was now no different from a nest that nurtured demons.

  Now, even standing here, seeing with her own eyes the sacred and magnificent architecture her grandfather had told her about since she was a child, the disgust and fear in her heart were even greater. She didn't know what Talise had said to Lancelot, but Lancelot had brought her back to The Radiant Citadel along with Talise. Lancelot seemed to be furious with Talise. As soon as they returned to The Radiant Citadel, he confined her. Aimee's situation was similar; although she wasn't thrown into a dungeon, she was placed under house arrest.

  Aimee was very smart, and more than just smart. After having weathered so many storms, her intelligence had long since further transformed into resilience and cunning. When she saw those three Temple Knights, she didn't show any sign of losing her composure, and even when she saw the pouch in Lancelot's hand, her expression didn't change much. When Lancelot spoke gently and asked her to return to Celeste with him, she tentatively refused once. Seeing that the smile on Lancelot's face didn't change in the slightest, she immediately agreed.

  With no power to resist, it was best not to even show the slightest intention of resisting. In such a situation, following the Temple Knights to Celeste was the only choice.

  From the hurried expressions of Lancelot and the Temple Knights, she knew that Ethan had not come to any harm; that pouch was undoubtedly taken from Ethan's hands. She had seen all the changes in the surroundings these past few days, and she understood what was about to happen, but she was completely powerless and could only wait here. Before she knew it, a month had already passed since she arrived here.

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  She waited calmly and obediently. Even the priests and swordsmen guarding her felt that this little girl was truly lovely and obedient, and their guard was largely down. They would even chat with her from time to time. Although these people were also tight-lipped, Aimee still managed to learn from them that things were just as she had feared: besides the Pope and Lancelot, no one was now permitted to enter the Grand Hall of Light, where important items were said to be stored.

  At first, she was anxious, but being in the middle of The Radiant Citadel, she knew she had absolutely no chance. So she could only despair in her extreme anxiety. Later, after fully understanding that she was truly powerless, this despair slowly brewed into a fighting spirit.

  If he really comes, I must help him.

  Even though she knew her magic was but a drop in the ocean before the thousands of priests and mages, even if there was only a one-in-a-thousand chance of helping him, Aimee still had the determination to rush out from here without regard for her own safety when the time came. This was why she was waiting here so obediently. All these days, she had been waiting with an exceptionally calm heart, waiting for the sudden commotion in the Grand Hall of Light, or for a person to descend from the heavens on a Wyvern, accompanied by the astonished cries of the countless people below.

  Women are often fragile, so much so that their vision can be limited, unable to see the broader picture or other choices, with only one or two simple thoughts to sustain them. Yet, it is precisely this fragility that can sometimes make them surprisingly strong.

  A knock sounded on the door. It was probably the swordsman on duty coming to deliver her food again. He was a young man with a face full of freckles who would blush when he smiled, and who would sometimes secretly bring her small things to eat and chat with her. It was rare to see such a lovely girl in Celeste.

  But when she opened the door, the person standing outside was not a swordsman, but an old man dressed as a menial servant.

  "Can I help you?" Aimee asked. She peeked her head out. The guards outside were nowhere to be found, which she found a bit strange. No matter how sacred and noble the clergy were, no matter how deep their white magic cultivation, they couldn't truly be otherworldly. It was impossible to have priests and Templars work in the kitchen to cook for His Majesty the Pope and the bishops, so there were also quite a few menial servants in The Radiant Citadel.

  "I'm here to take you away," the old man said with a slight smile, but his voice was not that of an old man.

  Aimee clapped a hand over her mouth, using all her strength to keep from crying out as tears brimmed over and spilled from her eyes. She recognized Ethan's voice.

  "Brother Ethan... How did you get here? It's so dangerous here... They're all waiting for you to come. When did you arrive? Hurry and go..." Aimee spoke in a flustered rush, not knowing whether she should quickly push him away or throw herself into his arms.

  The security around them could by no means be considered lax. This was Celeste, after all, and this was a person Lancelot had ordered to be guarded. Just as Aimee walked out of the tall building where she was being held, she saw the swordsman and priests lying on the ground, in a deep sleep.

  "Brother Ethan, your sword hilt is in the Grand Hall of Light, but you must not go. I saw at least dozens of Templar..." Aimee was held in Ethan's arms, her heart pounding and her face flushed, and she spoke softly.

  "Tonight there are thirty-two Templar, and about a hundred and twenty high-ranking priests on guard in the surrounding area, but the magical traps inside are not activated." Ethan held the petite Aimee, moving silently and without a sound between the houses like a giant black leopard. He would stop for a moment to hide in the shadows, avoiding a patrol of swordsmen, then continue his silent advance. He chuckled and said softly, "I have a very clear understanding of everything here, don't worry. Since Lancelot invited me, of course I can't disappoint him too much... But it seems he's only on guard against me forcefully seizing the hilt. He probably never thought I could find an insider here and get in this way. I really have to thank Sedros for this..."

  During the time he helped Sedros in Oufu, Ethan was originally responsible for some clandestine activities. Although he didn't directly handle the people on the Celeste side, he was very clear on the detailed situation. This time, he found the few priests who had been bought by Sedros and had them assist him, disguising himself as an old menial servant to sneak in.

  Of course, for this operation, he still used the name of Oufu. This was the only way to get these well-hidden agents to take the risk of helping him. They naturally did not know that he was only helping Oufu for a year. In the eyes of these agents, Ethan was still Oufu's special operations captain.

  The map of Celeste, the arrangements for patrols and defenses—all this had long been investigated clearly for Ethan by the spies. Even the time for the operation had been planned long ago. This moment was precisely when the mages responsible for monitoring this area had just changed shifts, and a few seemingly coincidental minor reasons would make the mages at least half an hour late before they could use Mana Divine Eye again.

  Act only after careful planning; a successful operation is born from meticulous preparation. This was something Ethan had learned from Sedros, and so he took the opportunity to use the network he had painstakingly arranged here. He had to once again admit the meticulousness of this City Lord of Oufu's mind and the thoroughness of his methods. Among these agents, there was actually a Cardinal. To bribe such a person required more than just money.

  If he had wanted to sneak in here purely by his own personal skills, Ethan admitted it was almost impossible. But with such detailed arrangements, he could now easily and freely hold Aimee and escape. Strategy and tactics are, in many cases, far more effective than direct fighting and killing.

  "It's really asking too much of them to transfer elite swordsmen from all over the place. With such tight security, it really seems like there's no chance to get the hilt. But it's a pity that I'm not very interested in that thing anymore... At least, I won't risk a forceful snatch. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Lord Lancelot..."

  "Then Brother Ethan, why are you here..."

  "Of course, to take you two away... and to deliver a gift for someone..."