Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 56 - s: Snow Cherry

Ethan believed that there was definitely something fishy about this matter.

Before this Expeditionary Army set out, the old butler seemed to have received some internal information from somewhere, knowing that the young man named Lance was destined to die at the Empire’s border, but he could not ascertain whether it was the family who bribed the Expedition Army’s Knights to eliminate Lance when necessary, or if this mission was a suicide operation from the start.

If it was the latter, many of the questions he had while organizing the documents were answered.

No detailed intelligence, no specific battle plans, and even before the war started, the troop’s movements were grandly exposed...

At least in Ethan’s understanding, when battling High-tier Transcendents, this was absolutely taboo.

Then the question arises, if even a Grade E investigator from a small border town like him could spot these issues, couldn’t the strategists and decision-makers in the capital see them?

Unless those people intentionally concealed important intelligence, aiming to let all the elite soldiers of the Kingdom Army perish here.

This thought immediately made Ethan break out in a cold sweat.

Lady Bi’an was personally appointed as the Kingdom Knight Commander by the King, and the "higher-ups" capable of issuing such orders must be someone who could cover the sky with one hand within the capital.

As people often say, some things shouldn’t be pondered over deeply, whoever does so will die!

Ethan watched Lady Bi’an chatting and laughing with Ave, feeling she might not even be aware of the seriousness of the situation.

He coughed lightly and asked, "Lady Bi’an, I carefully read the briefings sent over by the branch bureau. The description of the Eclipse members is extremely vague, with hardly any mention of characteristics that can quickly identify them; only that they operate in pairs."

Not even the most important transcendental rank was mentioned.

The Fallen Saints are a folk speculation about the Eclipse members, but this rhetoric has never been officially acknowledged.

In reality, their whereabouts are elusive, they vanish without a trace before the Empire’s high-tier Transcendents hear of them and come.

Ethan retained a sliver of hope, wishing that he was just being conspiratorial about this matter.

However, Lady Bi’an responded with a radiant smile, "Seems like you’ve done quite some homework beforehand; that’s all there is."

"That’s all?"

Ethan confirmed once more.

"Uh-huh." Lady Bi’an nodded casually, and turned to Ave saying, "Now I understand why you pay such close attention to him."

Ethan felt no joy from the praise of others; he only wanted to hastily visit Fireplace Bay, hoping he might gather some critical information from the old butler.

Lady Bi’an came over again, blatantly patting his shoulder, "I have high hopes for you, the Reception Bureau is a good place, work hard, but if someday you can’t manage anymore, you’re welcome to join the Kingdom Army!"

Is the Kingdom Army that easy to get into?

At that moment, Ethan shared Ave’s helplessness with empathy; this Knight Commander seemed excessively out-of-line and spoke without much thought.

Luckily, Captain Hagrid was home sick, or else this would unquestionably be another profound blow for him.

Knowing that Hagrid had struggled painfully before finally falling at the Kingdom Army’s third trial segment.

"Lady Bi’an, Captain Hagrid he—"

"Eh?"

Ethan was interrupted by Lady Bi’an’s bizarre conduct as he readied to tell the story about "Captain Hagrid’s unfortunate injury in battle against the monster drunkard", but Lady Bi’an suddenly used both hands to hold his arms, stood on tiptoe, and brought her nose close to the top of his head.

Ethan was stunned into stillness by this sudden scene.

"Hmm, not here."

Lady Bi’an sniffed along his hair, becoming surprised as she reached his shoulders and chest, "Why do you smell like snow cherries? Where did you buy them from? Ximu Town actually sells snow cherries?"

"Snow cherries?"

Ethan regained his composure, swiftly stepping back two steps, widening the distance between him and Lady Bi’an.

He felt that the Knight Commander’s look at him was quite peculiar, as if she was about to devour him, and therefore cast a pleading glance towards Ave, who stood with golden hair on top, carefree, appearing as though laughing heartily.

Ave acted as the interpreter, "Snow cherries are a rare fruit from the Empire’s northern border."

"Don’t doubt my sense of smell!"

Lady Bi’an proudly puffed her chest, "My subordinates all say my nose is sharper than a dog’s. If they have midnight snacks, they’d definitely be caught by me!"

"They probably weren’t praising you."

Ave weakly responded, she had heard that before assuming the post of Knight Commander, Lady Bi’an had set a rule for her subordinates: if they snuck snacks, they must include her.

"Oh, it must have been Zhaocai who ate them."

Ethan understood, as even while sleeping last night he smelled strange fruit aromas from Zhaocai.

"Zhaocai?"

"It’s a ragdoll cat that recently returned to the town after ending its journey, maybe she ate snow cherries elsewhere before."

"So a kitty huh."

Lady Bi’an understood, gazing upwards with a reminiscent tone, "They say snow cherries were initially discovered deep in the snow-covered mountains by cats raised by people from the north. Ah, it’s been so long since I ate them. Wouldn’t mind trying them once more."

Ultimately, Lady Bi’an was drawn in by the banquet and brushed the thought of snow cherries aside.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Ethan hurried home, the ominous foreboding growing stronger, requiring him to head to Fireplace Bay posthaste.

He prepared dinner for Zhaocai and Miss Keroy, merely gnawing on some hard bread himself before donning the mage’s attire. As he left, Zhaocai used a cabinet to leap onto his shoulder, straightening his tilted mage hat and slightly messy bangs, quietly watching as he left for afar.

A tumultuous night was destined.

About ten minutes after Ethan left home, a silhouette appeared outside the apartment living room window.

The ragdoll cat directing Miss Keroy to pack alchemy tools glanced at the smiling mask outside the window, then jumped down from the cabinet, climbed on the table and reached the windowsill, making another leap to land on the path outside the apartment.

She walked ahead without a backward glance, the black-haired woman with the smile mask silently trailing behind her, disappearing swiftly around the corner.

"Firstly, I must clarify one thing, I didn’t mean to intrude on you."

The black-haired woman who halted alongside the ragdoll cat in a corner even moonlight couldn’t reach, proactively cleared things up.

The cat led her to this corner and said nothing as it lifted its head, staring at her with chilling red eyes, the scene eerily resembled one ready for killing and silencing, raising her goosebumps.

She tentatively spoke, "Um, wouldn’t you meow a bit? I’m scared."

"Meow!"

The cat granted her wish, simultaneously darting like an arrow to perch itself on her shoulder.

"Ah, goodness! Don’t scratch my face!"

The black-haired woman struggled, speaking, "We are targeted by the Imperial Knight Order, led by the Empire’s Knight Commander."

The cat ceased its scratches, calmly meeting her gaze, waiting for more information.

"The Elder Council’s stance is to spare no one alive."

The black-haired woman paused and continued, "This coincidentally aligns with your wishes, doesn’t it? Once the Empire’s Knight Commander dies here, soon, the entire nation will descend into chaos."

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