"Your Excellency Purification!"

In the night, a young woman approached the Cheka's sentry post, causing the Chekas to immediately stand up.

Jia Li, with a bruise at the corner of her eye, pressed down on their shoulders and stepped to the glass window: "Has the bait been cast?"

"It has been cast, the Flanlaya side has already confirmed the whereabouts, and several of their hideouts have been discovered."

Jia Li nodded, her expression showing little emotion, yet the surrounding Cheka felt a chill spreading.

This time, she intended not merely to eliminate the Flanlaya spies attempting to rescue King Jiji, but to uproot the nails Lorenzo had planted in the ry Court Barracks.

In recent years, the Cheka's forces had been stretched across newly conquered territories and the tumultuous Leia Region, which allowed the Flanlaya spies to grow unchecked.

However, with Jia Li's return, all this had to change.

Falan's reluctance to establish diplomatic emissaries with the Holy Alliance stemmed from their belief that the two parties were not equals, questioning how they could exchange emissaries.

Horn permitted a few Flanlaya spies to lurk within the ry Court Barracks, using them as de facto diplomats.

This did not mean they could push boundaries.

Whether monitoring Horn's travels or intercepting the prisoner convoy now, they had overstepped.

"Have we pinpointed the rescue team yet?"

"Not yet. We suspect some Flanlaya spies have detected us..."

In terms of experience, these Flanlaya spies, with decades of history, were much more seasoned than the "rookie" Cheka.

Jia Li snorted coldly: "If that's the case, then we should not take any chances, strike immediately, eradicate those hiding spots, and flush out the fish!"

"Wouldn't this allow the undetected Flanlaya rescue team to remain hidden?"

"With tempting bait dangled so enticingly, would they resist biting?"

Furthermore, Jia Li had eavesdropped on the thoughts of the Duke of Rabban earlier today, and given his circumstances, a forced rescue seemed likely.

Even if the rescue team didn't act, maintaining the status quo would still favor Horn in the tariff negotiations.

Glancing at the wall clock in the corner, Jia Li asked softly, "It's ten o'clock, should the carriage transporting the 'cargo' be leaving the city soon?"

"Then, let's move!"

......

"Open up, Cheka!"

"Boom——"

A few gunshots rang out in the night, awakening the sleeping residents.

They cautiously lifted their curtains, observing the Close Guard Cultivators marching in formation under the moonlight.

In the distance, they could hear shouts and screams; before long, thick smoke and firelight rose into the sky.

Quickly, the captain of the Defensive Army began knocking on doors along the street.

The veteran soldiers rushed out from their homes, tying lanterns to their waists as they drove the water carts toward the burgeoning flames.

In front of a row house, Grosien lay at the window, peering out at the street.

Eglintha, rubbing her eyes and holding her pregnant belly, stood up: "What's happening?"

Without answering, Grosien simply looked up at the night sky, where shadows zipped past swiftly.

He remained silent for a while: "It's nothing, go back to sleep, nothing serious."

"Is there a rebellion?" Eglintha pushed her husband aside, standing at the window with concern, "Will Kaler be alright?"

"He's a captain now, the one who gives commands, not the one charging, he'll be fine."

Grosien carefully supported Eglintha's back and waist, easing her back to bed.

But once Eglintha was asleep, Grosien stood at the window, lighting his pipe.

Surely Kaler would be fine?

......

"Charge!"

With a roar, dozens of Holy Grail Gun Cavalry bellowed "Wanpiao," charging from the underbrush behind Kaler.

Like a swarm of bees emerging from the grass, clad in silver breastplates, they surged menacingly down the road. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Cavalry! It's the Holy Grail Cavalry!"

"Damn it, how did they know we were ambushing here?"

"There's a traitor!"

Moonlight, penetrating and omnipresent, illuminated the road.

Several carriage drivers lay with bloodied heads nearby as seven or eight "escort guards" screamed in horror.

A dozen masked figures had just pried the carriage open with axes and bent the thin iron rods inside with iron bars.

Sprawled from the overturned carriage in the moonlight, Ginijis, clutching his bleeding forehead, pushed himself out, dizzy and disoriented.

He only remembered being told they would return to the Holy Trinity Monastery the next morning when suddenly they were awakened that night, told to depart at once.

The carriage ride had been smooth at first, but not long after entering the wilds, the driver began shouting about rampant horses.

Seconds later, the entire carriage, colliding with who-knows-what, overturned.

The four former Leia Region aristocrats jostled within, finally coming to a stop before being dragged out.

"Your Highness Ginijis..."

Before the Flanlaya spies could stabilize him, the familiar sound of hooves and bullets filled the air.

Despite Jeanne's repeated warnings not to harm Ginijis, the Holy Grail Cavalry was indifferent.

Horn's refusal to execute Ginijis already dissatisfied them.

To openly kill this king under such circumstances would be an unexpected delight.

Nearing, the cavalry fired without hesitation.

In the darkness, even more, they mistook it for mere underbrush.

Bullets whizzed by, and Ginijis quickly retreated into the carriage, even pulling back the climbing Duke of Barry with him.

In the next moment, a gleaming saber sliced through the air, spurting blood from at least five Flanlaya spies' necks, casting them to the ground.

"Damn it." The lead Flanlaya spy scrambled up, watching the distant cavalry wheeling back, with more reinforcements approaching from all sides.

It shouldn't be, how did they know?

This rescue was only known to their veteran spies and the Duke of Casani and Duke of Rabban, so there was nothing for the Court of Purification to extract through interrogation.

Clenching a poison pellet between his teeth, the lead spy shouted, "Paolina!"

Right as the oncoming cavalry charged, a shadow swiftly leapt over, landing on the overturned carriage.

That shadow grabbed Ginijis by the collar.

In an instant, even the charging cavalry were stunned as bat-like black wings unfurled.

One flap, and she ascended the skies with Ginijis in tow.

But just as she gritted her teeth, nearing the rendezvous point, a droning buzz reached her ears.

What was that?

Turning her head, she spotted a petite woman speeding toward her, faster even than she was flying.

Trailing her were dragonfly-like vibrating long wings.

Before she could react, Novia drew her pistol.

Glinting under the moonlight, the bat-winged woman recognized it, screaming to evade.

But Novia's trigger speed outpaced her dodge.

"Bang!"

From less than ten meters away, the bullet struck her bat-wing, piercing a bloody hole.

The woman screamed, plummeting heavily to the ground as Novia advanced rapidly, holding Ginijis by the collar, hovering in mid-air.

As for the woman, she crashed into the thicket from ten meters up.

"Go, bring her back!"