Chapter 247 Under Control
Not long after the Adventurer set sail, in the inconspicuous civilian house stronghold on the edge of the port, the atmosphere was extremely heavy.
The members of the disciplinary team dragged their exhausted bodies and pushed the door open.
They all wore expressions of obvious frustration and confusion. They had turned the ruined shipyard upside down, but apart from an empty secret room, they found no other valuable clues. The core members of the cult, especially the mysterious “Cult Leader” from the intelligence, had vanished as if evaporated.
“Captain, we’re back,” Anles’s voice was hoarse and filled with suppressed anger. He wiped the sweat from his face. “We searched everywhere in and out of the shipyard, and didn’t even catch a rat. The back door of the shipyard connects to an abandoned worker’s passage that leads directly to the coast. Those damned lowlifes probably escaped by water!”
Edgar stood with his back to the door, by the window, his figure appearing unusually cold and hard in the dim light. He did not turn around, but merely nodded slightly in response.
Lena added, “We also interrogated a few literate prisoners; they were all pitiable, brainwashed people. They only knew that the higher-ups ordered a transfer, but they had no idea where they were going. It’s presumed that key information was deliberately withheld from the less important members.”
Philip’s face was pale, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the stifling atmosphere, he eventually just closed his mouth silently.
Only then did Edgar turn around. The shadow of his wide-brimmed hat completely obscured his face, revealing only his tightly-lined jaw. He didn’t immediately respond to his teammates’ complaints, but instead gently tapped the rough wooden window frame with his knuckles, as if contemplating something.
“Any news from Helena yet?” Lena’s voice was filled with worry.
“Helena…” Edgar’s voice was low and hoarse, breaking the silence. “She’s also lost contact. I went to the scene, and there were no traces left.”
Anles and Lena exchanged a glance, their faces instantly becoming more grim. Helena was a skilled and experienced deputy with strong combat abilities, second only to Edgar, the captain, in the team. Her disappearance was by no means a trivial matter.
Not to mention, before she went missing, her mission was to keep an eye on the “canary.”
“And,” Edgar’s voice deepened, bearing an indescribable solemnity, “the ‘canary’ is also gone.”
Those present, except for Philip, naturally knew who the codename “canary” referred to. It was their most important target for this mission. Once the target was lost, their mission would naturally end in failure, and the consequences awaiting them might not be any easier than death.
Anles suddenly punched the wooden table beside him, making a dull thud. “Damn it! We’ve been played for fools! The Eternal Blessing cult fanatics have escaped, Helena is missing, and even…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the burning rage and anxiety in his eyes said it all. Lena bit her lower lip, her face drained of color, while Philip was completely clueless about the current situation.
The team members looked at each other, engulfed by a great sense of frustration and confusion. The mission had completely spiraled out of control. Where should they go next?
Just then, there was a faint “click” from the door lock.
Everyone instantly became alert. Anles and Lena simultaneously reached for their weapons, Philip instinctively took half a step back, and Edgar’s gaze shot towards the door like a sharp falcon.
The door was pushed open, and the first person to enter was Helena, whom they thought was missing. Her face was a little pale, but her expression was calm, and there were no obvious injuries on her body.
Anles’s tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and surprise almost escaped his lips: “Helena, you…”
The rest of his words caught in his throat.
Because Helena was not alone. She first glanced at Edgar with a complicated look, tinged with helplessness and a hint of meaning, then stepped aside, lowering her head slightly to reveal the figure behind her.
Behind her stood a golden-haired girl in a simple, elegant dress. The afterglow of the setting sun shone obliquely from the alley, outlining her slender and straight back. Her light golden hair stirred gently in the breeze, as if coated with a soft golden edge by the sunlight. Her hands were clasped in front of her, a faint smile on her face, her posture composed and elegant. Her unhidden, clear golden pupils calmly swept over everyone in the stronghold, finally landing on Edgar, who stood expressionlessly in the center of the room.
Silence fell upon the room. Anles’s hand remained on his weapon, his body stiff, his pupils contracted. Lena’s eyes were filled with disbelief, and she subconsciously reached for her spellcasting medium. Philip was initially confused, but upon seeing the girl’s golden, clear pupils, memories instantly surged into his mind, and his legs felt weak, almost causing him to fall to the ground.
Edgar was the first to react. Without hesitation, he instantly concealed all his emotions. He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed deeply to the figure at the door with impeccable etiquette. His voice was low and steady, devoid of any discernible emotion:
“Greetings, Highness Victoria. Edgar Lorraine, Captain of the Kingdom’s General Disciplinary Bureau Special Operations Team, pays his respects. Please forgive our failure to greet Your Highness in time.”
His action broke the deadlock, like a clear signal. Anles immediately came back to his senses and, almost reflexively, bowed along with him, lowering his head. Lena hastily pulled the still stunned Philip to bow together.
Victoria’s calm gaze swept over the nervous and surprised members of the disciplinary team, finally resting on Edgar, who had straightened up. The faint smile on her face remained unchanged, as if she were oblivious to the tense atmosphere in the room just moments ago and the current fear.
“There’s no need for such formalities, everyone,” the elven princess’s voice was gentle and soft, yet carried an unchallengeable power that discouraged any thought of defiance. “This is sudden, and I apologize for disrupting your work.”
Her gaze fell once more on Edgar, who remained in the bowing posture, and the curve of her lips deepened slightly.
“I am not here to interfere with the disciplinary bureau’s actions; please do not be concerned about my presence or identity,” Victoria said, her expression unchanged. “Based on certain intelligence, I fear the situation in the Port Beren region may spiral out of control. After all, the target of the Divine Cult of Eternal Blessing seems to be related to something slumbering in the historical shadows of the kingdom. I believe the members of the disciplinary bureau will not refuse the minor assistance of an ordinary citizen who is familiar with local history and also concerned about the kingdom’s safety, will they?”
She paused slightly, her clear golden eyes sweeping over every tense or surprised face in the room, finally returning to Edgar. Her gaze was calm, yet seemed to pierce through people’s hearts.
“Of course,” Princess Victoria’s voice echoed clearly in the silent stronghold, carrying a peculiar sense of reassurance and pressure. “More importantly, I want to ensure that certain matters are completely under control.”
