Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 99 - 95 Inner City District

Holy Light flashed.

The warm glow approached the bruise on Lyle’s face, good gracious, Ralph really did not hold back last night, a slap had nearly rendered Lyle’s left ear useless, leaving the imprint of a palm.

"Hiss! That hurts! Karen, why is your Holy Light so... searing?"

It was more than just searing, it felt like a branding iron on his skin, making Lyle wonder if his cheek would permanently bear a scar.

Karen, looking at the fading bruise, nodded with satisfaction, "Paladins are soldiers, our Holy Light compared to the priests and monks, is primarily for injuring enemies, brilliant and burning. Your Excellency Lyle, you might consider this as battlefield first aid. If you wish to experience the gentle touch of Holy Light, you’d best seek out the nuns."

Lyle examined his profile in the reflection of the water, indeed it was much better, and without a close look, it was hard to see any marks.

"I think I can now distinguish between priests and paladins. If given another chance, I would choose to keep the imprint of the slap on my face."

"We are about to pay a visit to a baron, Little Butler, having a presentable appearance is the first part of being a good government official," Verlet said, holding a small bottle from which a floral fragrance wafted.

With her index and middle fingers, she dabbed a little bit and applied it on Lyle’s face, cold and soothing, the pain seemed to lessen considerably.

"Thank you so much, Verlet, what is this pain-relieving medicine? The effect is truly amazing, I can hardly feel any pain now."

Verlet smiled, "Peppermint oil, extracted from a variety of flowers, it’s not actually good for your skin. It contains some components that have mild hallucinogenic and anesthetic effects, so the reason you feel much better is merely because that’s how you ’feel’. We normally use it to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder after battles."

"If you like it, I can give you this small bottle. Use it sparingly as it has a certain addictive quality."

Lyle, who had been enjoying the fragrance, suddenly held his breath.

The comical expression struck the ladies’ funny bone.

Verlet seemed slightly different today, as if the thorns of a rose no longer pricked, the maturity and motherliness of an older woman came to the fore.

"Any resentment I had was vented out last night. It’s not my style to enter work bearing grudges. As a somewhat older colleague, I should act my age. We must put more effort into the upcoming tasks, Lyle, Karen."

Like a bottle of exquisite wine, childishness and immaturity had vanished from Verlet’s face. Despite not looking much older, that smile always made people inevitably trust her.

Lyle was almost convinced.

When Ralph knocked on the door, Verlet’s smile collapsed like a cleft valley, the gentleness replaced with malice at that moment, like a disguised demon beginning to hunt.

Ralph’s gloomy zombie face, Verlet’s maniacal smile, kept the warmth of the sunlight outside.

Coming from renowned backgrounds, these two were truly a perfect match.

.....

In Cassandra, Mr. Garrett was having his morning tea, no matter how busy, he always took a break during tea time with his hands full with a plate.

The portly Sir Leo sat not far off, constantly wiping sweat beads from his greasy forehead with a small handkerchief. For someone as fat as him, the summer heat was particularly unbearable.

"Lord Garrett, I am not sure about the progress on the Naranya side, given that it is a commission from the baron, I hope our bureau can pay extra attention to this case."

Mr. Garrett’s thick fingers twirled the delicate cup handle, his two solid lips pursed together, he sipped the tea gently before answering at an unhurried pace, "Ralph Butler is our best field sheriff, please trust his abilities, Sir Leo, as long as it’s a case involving people, he has never lost."

"Of course, I have confidence in Sheriff Ralph’s execution abilities, but I’m afraid, if he encounters that one from Naranya, there could be trouble."

"Oh, how so?"

"Bennett’s daughter is currently employed at the Naranya Security Office, I met Bennett early this year at a gathering, he complained to me about how his daughter became both capable and terrifying, after training under Sheriff Ralph, his daughter was like someone who had developed Post Traumatic Emergency Syndrome from warfare, whenever inquired about people or incidents related to that training, her expression becomes very frightening."

"How frightening?"

"Take Mr. Ralph, for example, we could receive a complaint letter from the related victims a month later. In the past two years, Naranya’s herbal and medical industries have been booming, especially materials for treating bruises and bone fractures are in short supply, Bennett has received several warnings from the lord regarding his daughter’s violent law enforcement that resulted in serious injuries and hospitalization. I’ve heard that the girl is now referred to as Naranya’s ’Wild Bee’."

"Naranya’s ’Wild Bee’, Cassandra’s ’Evil Wolf’." Mr. Garrett took another sip of his tea, exhaling comfortably, "Well put together."

...

Lyle and others had just passed through Naranya’s Inner City wall, which is the residence of nobles and a few privileged wealthy merchants, the patrolling soldiers appeared frequently like ants, indicating that something untoward had recently occurred, leading to martial law.

What caught the most attention was the location of the Inner City. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, normally a city-state construction, the lord will establish their castle in the center of the town, so if a great enemy invades, the residential areas of the citizens will act as a good buffer zone. However, the stronghold of Naranya’s lord was situated in the western part of the entire city-state, even the outside of Naranya was only protected by a thin stone wall.

Outside the city wall, there was a forest covered with dense vegetation, though steep, it was not impassable for an army, it seemed the lord had great trust in the security of that endless forest.

On their way forward, Lyle could see many plainly dressed elders pause, either sitting on protruding rock steps or standing by the side of the road, all their gazes fixed on the forest beyond the city wall, their faces wearing inexplicable expressions, either silent for a long time or shaking their heads in a sigh.

The unpleasant twilight made the Inner City District far less cheerful than the outer area and even seemed a bit oppressive.

Karen closely followed Lyle, her eyes drifting over those helpless elders. Lyle, too, felt a twinge of discomfort. Verlet also chose silence, her brows furrowed with worry. As for Ralph, his face, which always looked like someone owed him a fortune, never changed.

After explaining their purpose to the guards, a finely dressed man quickly approached, "You have finally arrived, Miss Sharan Bennett, the baron has been sleepless for nights, waiting for you."

"Butler Becky, this is Mr. Ralph Butler, assistance from Cassandra come to deal with the vampire issue, a professional on the matter."

The butler named Becky first bowed to Karen, clearly aware of what was most reliable. Then Lyle smiled, appreciating the refinement of a person who does not judge by appearance or age. His demeanor remained respectful following Verlet’s cue, directed seriously at Ralph.

Lyle felt his tongue tie for a moment.

"Sir, have we met before?"

"No, I can be certain." Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so composed.

"Then why do you look at me as if you have a grudge against me?"

"..."