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So, he immediately accepted his subordinate's suggestion and employed every means to get rid of this troublesome guy. However, the subsequent news was one worse than the other. The Adventurer Guild had never been worth much hope, but the failure of the Crown Prince's secretly dispatched border army raid indicated the determination of that Sword Saint to protect the young girl. After that, the news of the "Red Moon Traveling Group," led by the only Sword Saint-level dark mercenary among the Four Sacred Nations, being completely wiped out in the desert, revealed the fact that this young Sword Saint's strength exceeded expectations. Finally, the Assassins Guild brought back truly despairing news—the Sword Saint was a Holy Grail Knight.

Oh, God of Light, could there be anything more absurd? A Holy Grail Knight working as a mercenary—Holy Grail Knights are the most esteemed warriors of the Temple. Even the king must bow when they enter or leave the kingdom. How could they stoop so low as to become mercenaries? Yet, the double refund from the Assassins Guild clearly confirmed the accuracy of the information, leaving no room for doubt. Fortunately, not long after that mysterious Sword Saint entered the Star Shattering Abyss, he vanished without a trace. Upon receiving this news, Radwi couldn't help but pray to the gods, hoping that this Holy Grail Knight would never return. It seemed the gods heard his plea, for two months had passed, and he had already taken control of the major affairs of the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce, with no sign of the mysterious Sword Saint.

Today's gathering was not only to announce the Chamber's allegiance to the Second Crown Prince and curry favor with him but also to mend relations with the nobles. Additionally, the celebration for rewarding those who had contributed to capturing Jin Luosha, which had been delayed due to her escape, needed to take place. However, none of these were as important as meeting with the representative of the Temple. It was rumored that the Sword Saint possessing the "Holy Ice Thorn Aura" was not under the direct control of the Temple and might be an inheritor of a lost "Holy Blood Pearl." Although rare, such cases had occurred two or three times over the past few centuries. While they would undoubtedly attain high positions within the Temple, they lacked a background. If they could gain the Temple's understanding before the Sword Saint returned, even if he wanted to cause trouble for the Chamber later, the Temple would intervene.

"Lan Xiu, Your Highness, I am truly grateful for your assistance. The payment of one million gold coins is ready and will be delivered to your designated location in three days. As for... the special envoy from the Temple..." Radwi followed a young man into the mansion's secret chamber, speaking cautiously.

"Radwi, I have always valued your abilities. Although you made mistakes when taking charge of the Chamber, it was because you hadn't entered its core. Therefore, I don't blame you. The incident with the Sword Saint was unexpected and cannot be blamed on anyone. Although your subsequent actions were rash, they were thorough. I still have faith in you, which is why I allowed the governor of Lima City to grant you the authority to hold a large assembly and arranged for contact with the Temple's representative. You must ensure the Temple representatives are satisfied during this meeting; otherwise, even with all my investment in you, I won't continue protecting you. Do you understand?" As a crown prince of a kingdom, Prince Lan Xiu's intelligence and demeanor were commendable, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to gather numerous forces to compete for the throne.

"Yes, Your Highness. Radwi will forever remember your guidance." Whether genuine or not, Radwi appeared deeply moved.

"Very well. Now, the Grand Priest Wayne, who possesses the 'Holy Ice Thorn Aura,' has arrived. Go meet him shortly. Remember, he is here because of the appearance of a Holy Grail Knight. Do not anger him for any reason. Even if you lose some benefits, establishing a connection with the Temple will repay everything you've paid today tenfold. Don't think about dealing with that Sword Saint. Holy Grail Knights rank just below the Pope and the four Grand Priests in the Temple. They... What's going on?" The Crown Prince was instructing his subordinate when an unexpected event interrupted him.

Originally, this luxurious mansion belonged to the Crown Prince and was lent to Radwi to enhance the influence of the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce. In reality, although the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce claimed to be the best in the south, even at its peak, it couldn't establish its own power base in Lima City. This city was divided among the Four Sacred Nations and the Temple, leaving no room for civilian organizations. This royal building was unique, especially with its magical crystal lighting system, famous throughout Lima City. Known as the "Crystal Mansion," it was always considered a place of elegance by the nobility.

However, at this moment, all the dazzling crystal lights had suddenly gone out. This wasn't the strange part; what was strange was that despite it being dusk and already dark outside, the mansion did not fall into complete darkness. Instead, a soft glow permeated the space, gradually becoming brighter, like a room in daylight where the source of light is invisible yet remains bright. Eventually, the entire mansion became illuminated.

"Oh~ Truly remarkable!"

"Is this a new trick by Prince Lan Xiu?"

The two men coming out of the secret chamber heard the nobles' exclamations from afar. Everyone assumed it was a show prepared by the host, except for Lan Xiu, who knew otherwise.

"Gara, what's happening?" Prince Lan Xiu immediately summoned a guard to inquire.

"The situation is peculiar, Your Highness. The entire mansion's magic is suppressed, and it's filled with fluctuations of light magic. The brothers outside reported that the mansion is surrounded by a massive barrier, preventing them from entering or leaving," said Gara, a rare magic warrior among humans and the top expert under Prince Lan Xiu. Though he hadn't reached the level of a Sword Saint, his combination of swordsmanship and magic was formidable. In the Four Sacred Nations, many powerful individuals were recruited into the Temple, resulting in a scarcity of high-ranking experts under the state's control.

"What do you mean by light magic? Explain clearly."

"It seems we are surrounded by a ninth-level light magic spell, 'Divine Prison Descent.'"

"This... Could it be that Grand Priest Wayne acted? That makes no sense!" Prince Lan Xiu was momentarily unable to judge the situation, feeling quite anxious.