The next morning, well before dawn, the sun was still far from rising. The sky remained a hazy gray, the only light cast by the streetlamps.

Yalilan sat tall on her horse in the Hunter Association’s training grounds, flanked by Baron, Maguire, Zod, and Andre.

Before them stood the Demon Hunters, arranged in squads.

Including the squad that had been sent ahead to scout after they learned the location, there were ten squads in total.

Each squad had three members, making for thirty people in all.

After Yalilan finished briefing the Demon Hunters on their objective and designating the mission as a surprise attack, they all nodded in silent understanding.

Yalilan gave a nod in return, mounted her horse, and announced their departure.

The column formed two lines and sped along the road, yet they made little sound. Their horses’ hooves were wrapped in muffling cloths, but the quiet was also a testament to the strict discipline of Yalilan’s Rose Hunting Group.

If those grizzled veteran Demon Hunters wanted to collect their handsome fees from the Rose Hunting Group, they had to either obey the rules or get out.

As a result, this was the quietest march Baron had ever been a part of.

He rode behind Yalilan, with Zod and Maguire on one side and Carmen on the other.

He had actually planned on asking the Blood Loss Knight, Morey, to come along. But for some reason, the Knight—who could normally be swayed by the mere promise of a trip to the brothel—adamantly refused to join them.

Recalling Morey’s awkward behavior around Carmen at the brothel last night, Baron suspected there was some untold story between them.

But when he asked Carmen, she claimed she didn’t know Morey.

’Could it be a secret crush?’

Baron stroked his chin, thinking. But no matter how he looked at it, an old dog like the Blood Loss Knight just didn’t seem like the type for an innocent, secret crush.

The column came to a halt at the city gate. The guards on duty stopped them, stating that a group this large had to be reported to their captain.

The City Defense Captain arrived shortly after. He was a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard, yawning and rubbing his sleep-filled eyes, clearly not yet fully awake.

But when he saw Yalilan, he froze. He immediately snapped to attention, a look of wonder in his eyes, as if stunned by her beauty.

Then he saw the fully armed troop of Demon Hunters behind her, and the wonder in his eyes turned to astonishment.

’So many people... Are they trying to leave the city?’

As the thought flashed through his mind, he hurried to say, "Lord Viscount, a group this large needs a written order to leave the city."

Yalilan produced a written order. The man took one look and said hesitantly, "Lord Viscount, this... this exit permit... has expired."

The permit expired?

Yalilan and the others, who had been ready to move, were stunned.

The City Defense Captain said, "There are too many groups coming and going for the Hunting Competition, so the City Government just changed the regulations. The announcements have been posted; perhaps you haven’t had a chance to see them."

’I really haven’t paid any attention to this.’

Yalilan looked to Andre, who urged his horse forward. "If that’s the case," Andre said, "we’ll file for a new permit upon our return. We have urgent business now. Open the gate."

The City Defense Captain looked troubled. "Sir, without a valid exit permit for a group this large, my orders are to forbid passage. I cannot let you through."

"Can’t you make an exception?" Andre pressed.

The City Defense Captain wrung his hands. "You’re... you’re putting us in a difficult position."

"How long would it take to get a new permit?" Baron asked in a low voice.

Andre replied, "Fude City is large. This is the South City Gate; the City Government is in West City, about a half-hour ride. But with the muffling cloths on the horses’ hooves, it would take at least forty minutes."

’Forty minutes? Every extra minute is another minute of danger. If Ferdinand manages to advance to Silver, I’ll definitely have to initiate Prole Escape 3.0, right after Outer Side Escape 1.0 and Inner Side Escape 2.0.’

Andre added, "Besides, it’s four or five in the morning. I doubt anyone at the City Government is even at work. How would we get a new permit? Who would even be there to issue it?"

’I get it,’ Baron thought. ’The people at the City Government are a bunch of useless freeloaders. They show up late, leave early, and pass the buck whenever you ask them to do anything. I know this song and dance all too well.’

’But just standing around isn’t a solution either. A large group can’t leave the city without a permit...’

Baron urged his horse forward and took out the Passage Order he’d received from Germann, the Mayor of Yan Nan Town. "I have a Passage Order," he said. "I need to leave the city."

"You need an exit permit," the City Defense Captain said.

Baron, however, gestured from himself to the group behind Yalilan and said, "I’m not with them. A single person can leave the city with a Passage Order, can’t they?"

"Passage Order..." Andre suddenly straightened up in his saddle, a look of realization on his face.

’If an exit permit for a group isn’t allowed, they can just break the group up into individuals, each using their own Passage Order!’

Just as he was about to ask the Demon Hunters to ready their Passage Orders, the City Defense Captain shook his head again. "The sun has not fully risen," he declared. "No one leaves the city."

’Hey, you son of a...’

Baron nearly swore aloud, but Yalilan was already issuing her ultimatum. "Open the gate. Let us pass. I have no more patience to waste on you."

The City Defense Captain sighed. "Lord Viscount, aren’t you just making things difficult for us?"

He sighed, called over his subordinates, and told them that people were trying to force the gate. He ordered them to summon the city garrison for reinforcements.

Yalilan sneered. ’If a Viscount of my standing were to be held up here, what would people say?’

She immediately gave the order for the Demon Hunters to tighten their reins, preparing to charge the gate at a moment’s notice.

’How can this guy be so clueless?’ Baron wondered. ’How did someone who can’t read the situation this badly ever make it to City Defense Captain?’

Just as Baron was grumbling internally, Carmen suddenly urged her horse over and whispered a few words to him.

Baron looked at her in surprise. "Are you serious?"

Carmen rolled her eyes at him. "Believe it or not."

The guards at the gate were quick to mobilize, swiftly surrounding Yalilan’s party. The two sides were at a standstill. With weapons drawn, the atmosphere was a powder keg, ready to ignite at the slightest spark.

The City Defense Captain, however, still looked pained. "Lord Viscount, instead of wasting time arguing with us, you could have already sent someone on a fast horse to the City Government to get a new permit."