She was clearly not used to such a noisy and bustling environment.
Lilyssa’s heterochromatic eyes curiously scanned around, as if trying to record every new and fascinating detail.
Eileen felt the same admiration welling up in her heart.
The empire’s prosperity and vitality were undeniable, and Fredrica’s governance skills left no doubt.
Yet beneath this flourishing facade, she could see even more clearly the ever-widening chasm between the two nations.
They visited several shops selling magical materials, with Eileen picking up some rare mineral powders and stabilizers needed for experiments.
Just as they were carrying their purchases and preparing to return to the inn, Eileen’s keen senses detected a faint, almost imperceptible gaze upon them.
But the street was packed with people, making it nearly impossible to pinpoint the source of the stare!
In front of a shop, a cloaked figure—the stalker—wore a disdainful expression:
“Hmph, so this is the so-called ‘Miracle Saintess’ His Majesty brought back? She doesn’t look all that special!”
“Shopping like some ordinary country girl visiting the city, not dignified at all!”
She noticed Eileen seemed tired from all the walking and was about to leave, so she hurriedly followed.
Back at the inn, Eileen didn’t rest immediately.
She called to Helga, “Helga, come with me to check on the ‘patient’ at the caravan.”
The two avoided any potential eavesdroppers inside the inn and quietly went to the courtyard behind it where the caravan’s carriages were kept.
This area was guarded by Otto’s personal guards and heavily secured.
Seeing it was Eileen and Helga, the guards respectfully let them pass.
They walked straight toward several heavily covered carriages with thick canvas tarps, looking especially heavy.
Eileen lifted a corner of one tarp, revealing not cargo, but a specially modified cage inside.
Within it were several half-human, half-demon altered beings rescued from the underground laboratory in the Holy City, all in deep anesthesia.
They were restrained by soft straps and connected to rudimentary magical devices to maintain their vital signs, slipping into sleep under the influence of drugs.
Their twisted limbs and demonic features looked especially grotesque in the dim light.
Eileen carefully examined the life runes on several key altered beings and then had Helga feel their physical condition.
“The situation is fairly stable,” Eileen sighed with relief. “The anesthetic is very effective; they’re all in a deep sleep. Once we reach the imperial capital, with better equipment and Professor Yuno’s help, we’ll begin formal treatment.”
Helga leaned in to check the readings on the magical devices and nodded. “Yes, the rate of corruption erosion has been temporarily suppressed. Eileen, are you really confident you can reverse such deep Abyssal modifications? This is far more complex and extensive than any case we’ve faced before…”
Eileen’s golden eyes shone with determination. “I can’t be absolutely sure, but I have to try. This is my promise to Rosewither, and… my responsibility to the souls trapped in these twisted bodies.”
She gently let the tarp fall back down. “Let’s go back and rest.”
They whispered as they left, their footsteps slowly fading away.
However, they didn’t notice a small figure pressed like a gecko against the shadowed corner of the courtyard wall, silently absorbing their conversation and every movement!
The stalker was puzzled: Patient? Anesthesia? Treatment in the imperial capital? What were they talking about? What was inside those carriages?
Sneaky… there had to be something strange! Could it be some terrifying biochemical weapon?
Planned to detonate in the capital?!
The stalker sucked in a cold breath, her eyes gleaming. As a loyal subject of the empire, she could not ignore this!
“Let me uncover your true face!”
After Eileen and Helga disappeared through the inn’s front door, the cloaked figure slipped silently and skillfully into the relatively less guarded carriage courtyard like a nimble cat.
Her curiosity clawed at her heart like a cat’s paw.
Using her agility, she avoided the patrolling soldiers’ gaze and quietly approached the heavily covered carriages.
“Hmph, I want to see what shameful things you’re hiding!”
The girl muttered, grabbing the corner of one carriage’s tarp and pulling it up forcefully!
Dim light instantly flooded into the carriage, illuminating the cages inside.
“Ugh—!!!”
A piercing, distorted scream shattered the quiet of the inn’s back courtyard!
The girl’s once curious and mischievous large eyes were instantly overtaken by pure terror and disgust the moment she saw what was inside the cage!
She saw horrifying bodies twisted and stitched together with monster limbs and organs!
Slime-covered scales, writhing tentacles, and half-human, half-demon faces contorted in pain even while asleep!
The scene was the embodiment of the deepest nightmare, instantly shattering her mental defenses!
The intense visual shock and physical revulsion hit her chest like a hammer.
Her vision darkened, her stomach churned violently, and before she could even scream fully, her eyes rolled back, foam bubbled at her lips, and she collapsed stiffly onto the ground, completely unconscious.
The girl’s short, harrowing scream immediately alerted the guards and the not-yet-far Eileen and the others!
“What’s going on?!”
“Something’s happening in the backyard!”
“Protect Miss Eileen!”
Otto’s personal guards reacted swiftly and charged toward the carriage courtyard.
Eileen, Serena, and Helga turned back immediately upon hearing the commotion.
When they arrived, they found a pale-faced girl, foam still at her mouth, unconscious beside the partially uncovered carriage.
Several guards looked on the horrifying scene inside the carriage with uncertain suspicion and shock on their faces.
Eileen’s heart sank as she hurried forward, quickly covering the lifted tarp again to hide the altered beings, then crouched down to check on the girl.
“She’s alright, just fainted from extreme fright,” Eileen breathed out, signaling the guards to lift her up. “Take her to my room.”
Could the suspicious gaze Eileen sensed on the street have come from this girl?
Eileen stared at the unconscious girl, pondering.
*****
Back in Eileen’s suite at the inn, the stalker was placed on a soft sofa.
Eileen wiped the foam from her mouth with a damp towel and gave her a bottle of restorative potion.
Before long, the girl’s long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her bright eyes still held deep fear and confusion, and when her gaze settled on Eileen’s calm yet scrutinizing face so close by, she suddenly sprang up like a frightened rabbit!
“You! You, you, you… those monsters!!”
She stammered, pointing at Eileen, her body trembling with residual fear.
“Quiet.” Eileen’s voice was soft but carried a strange calming power, silencing the girl’s scream in her throat.
Eileen pointed to a corner of the room. “Serena, please bring a rope.”
“You… what do you intend to do?!” The girl’s face turned even paler seeing Serena actually bring over a sturdy rope. She struggled to run but was easily pushed back onto the sofa.
“Do what?” Eileen picked up the rope and deftly—but not roughly—bound the girl’s hands behind her back. “Of course, I want to ask this uninvited ‘young lady’ who snuck into a heavily guarded carriage area and peeked at other people’s ‘luggage’ exactly who she is and why she was following us.”
“I… I’m not stalking! I was just… just curious!” The girl stubbornly protested, but her flickering eyes betrayed her.
“Curious enough to sneak into a guarded carriage lot?” Eileen raised an eyebrow, her golden eyes glowing with insight. “And deliberately lift the tarp to ‘appreciate’ what’s inside? Such curiosity comes at a high price.”
She glanced pointedly at the girl’s still pale face.
The girl was both embarrassed and angry, about to retort, when there was a knock at the door.
“Miss Eileen, are you alright? I heard noises…”
Otto’s concerned voice came from outside.
Eileen signaled Serena to open the door.
When it opened, Imperial Chancellor Otto walked in.
The first thing he saw was the pink-haired girl, bound behind her back, sitting on the sofa with messy hair, looking both wronged and terrified.
Otto was momentarily stunned, then his expression went through a fascinating range—from shock and confusion to utter disbelief, anger, and a hint of embarrassment.
“Karen?!” Otto’s voice suddenly sharpened, filled with his usual severity and disbelief. “You… why are you here? And in this state?!”
“Father, please come save me!”
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