NOVPUBThe tense air coalesced in the hall of Rock Intersection Station, like an ice sheet on the verge of shattering.
Behind the line of passengers, a sudden sound resonated like a heavy stone thrown into the fragile ice layer, causing a ripple!
Everyone was dispersed by the newly arrived team of Knights of Nirvana, their gazes turned towards the source of the sound whilst they stepped back.
Emerging from the path cleared by the crowd, a young man in a deep gray suit slowly came into view, his slender figure slightly thin. His nose was straight, his thin lips tightly closed, and his distinct features under the light looked even more cold and aloof in his eyes, bearing an unpredictable storm.
The only puzzling thing was that he was wearing a single handcuff on his left hand, and the other end of the handcuff was locked to a blonde woman with a listless look in her dull purple eyes, her head slightly lowered. She seemed like a major criminal being escorted by a prosecutor.
Soon, without the Knights of Nirvana’s clearing the way, the people around instinctively sensed danger from his presence and naturally moved aside, even they themselves were not quite sure why they did so.
The grey-suited man’s pace did not seem hurried, but it subtly changed the atmosphere in the station, with tension and chaos gradually becoming orderly under the lead of his steps.
As he finally came forward to stand in front of the two noble young women and the priests, the noble girls as well as the Priests of Nirvana around them all involuntarily became tense.
Compared to ordinary people, the Priests of the Nirvana Branch feared the Saint of Nirvana more.
Or to say, they were more aware of what kind of person the Saint of Nirvana was.
The tranquil yet dangerous temperament he bore was no illusion, one wrong word in his presence could lead to unpredictable consequences.
"Why is it so chaotic?"
The young man’s voice rang out again, clearer this time but still with inscrutable intentions.
"Lord Anello."
The Grand Priest quickly bowed to the arriving gray-suited young man. Compared to the two captured noble ladies before them, it was obviously more important to show reverence to the current most dangerous person, the Saint of Nirvana, and to report their work.
"We have found a suspect who we believe to be a major criminal you are pursuing and plan to take her to the Temple of the Nirvana Knights for your investigation. It took us quite some time to convince them."
There was a hint of merit-seeking in his words.
Hearing the Grand Priest address the young man in front of them as Anello, Hyperion’s heart leapt to her throat.
Although the light gray-haired youth in front of her looked elegant and even conveyed an indescribable sense of security, she could tell from the fearful reactions of the Priests of the Nirvana Branch earlier just how dangerous he was.
She had the worst possible luck, not only was she inexplicably stopped by the Nirvana Branch today, she also quickly ran into the enemy she least wanted to face.
Hyperion even wondered if there was a mole in the Church of the Goddess of Destiny. But something didn’t add up; if there was a mole, the Saint of Nirvana in the Xi Bei Province should have found a way to capture her. There was no need to lure her all the way to Hezishan Province.
She could only focus her gaze on the Saint of Nirvana, fearful of missing any detail that might signal a crucial change. But she dared not meet his gaze, afraid that her intentions might be read in this treacherous situation.
The young man’s gaze swept across Hyperion and Michela, calm yet profound, filled with an air of majesty that forbade intrusion and neglect.
During the brief moment of wait for the Saint of Nirvana’s inspection, Hyperion could feel the cold sweat in her palms. Despite her best efforts to control her breathing to appear calm and composed, her heart was pounding like a drum, trying to suppress the panic in her heart at this worst possible moment.
"Let them go,"
The young man spoke without any changes in his tone.
His glance caught the documents in the Grand Priest’s hand.
It was clear that the two girls were students going to Protoss Royal Magic Academy. The taller one seemed to be identified by the Grand Priest as the suspect Sigrid, hence the plan to detain them.
The Grand Priest was stunned.
Not just the Grand Priest, both Hyperion and Michela also looked surprised.
They never expected that the first thing this even more dangerous guy did after showing up was to let them go, decisively and simply.
"She is my target. You got the wrong person."
The grey-suited young man lifted up his left hand, and with it the handcuff, as well as the feeble wrist of the wan girl next to him.
Shock filled the eyes of the Grand Priest, and after grasping the situation, he found himself in a dilemma.
"But..."
The Grand Priest’s gaze seemed intent on making the Saint of Nirvana understand the situation here—
He had already somewhat offended these two Earl’s daughters, and instead of letting them go, it might be better to wholly sever ties, ensuring that Count Milford would not cast his vote randomly!
"Instead of dwelling on the farce that your incompetence has caused here, it would be more beneficial to focus on completing the next task to make up for your mistakes. Lord Asksan’s great cause does not allow for any slip-ups on your part." 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
The young man in grey’s expression carried a hint of discontent, but it wasn’t due to ignorance of the situation, rather it was due to control of it."
His gaze was penetrating, not just through physical barriers, but spiritual defenses as well.
"Yes, my lord."
Under such scrutiny, the Grand Priest finally understood his own frailty and retreated.
"Are you the ladies of the Milford family?"
A moment later, the young man in grey took a small step towards Hyperion and Michela, just two simple steps that dropped a massive stone in Hyperion’s heart, stirring up waves of emotion.
She didn’t let her guard down because of the young man’s previous words, on the contrary, she felt more confusion and fear due to all the incomprehensible encounters and changes today.
"Yes."
Hyperion nodded slightly in reply, giving nothing away.
"Sorry for scaring you. After you arrive at the imperial capital, study hard and forget these unpleasant things."
The tone of the young man in grey became much gentler. He looked at the two noble ladies and said.
Then he turned around and looked back at the Grand Priest who had previously stopped them,
"Apologize to the ladies. What if, because of Count Milford’s crucial vote, Lord Asksan loses the election? How would you be accountable?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, the Grand Priest lowered his head, clenching his teeth tightly, the veins on his forehead throbbing slightly. Regardless of his ill will toward these two girls, he dared not reveal his thoughts on his face now.
Finally, the Grand Priest took a deep breath, regained his original demeanor, and bowed deeply to Hyperion and Michela.
"I apologize to you both. I hope you can be generous and not hold this misunderstanding against us for Lord Anello’s sake."
"..."
Neither Hyperion nor Michela responded or thanked the Saint of Nirvana.
After the Saint of Nirvana cleared the way for them, they gave him a glance and quickly left this checkpoint.
They traversed through layers of stairs and corridors until they reached the brand new platform three. Only when they were sure that no priests from the Nirvana Branch were following them did Hyperion’s heart finally start to settle again.
This place was under the control of the Imperial Army, equivalent to having left the northern blockade line, and they could head south at any time. Even the Priests of the Nirvana Branch had no authority to arrest people here, beyond the Protoss Ministry of Defence’s jurisdiction.
It was a feeling of relief and survival after an unexpected fall from the sky.
"Sister, why would the Saint of Nirvana help us?"
Michela pursed her lips, unable to understand why the most terrifying man in the Xi Bei Province would let them go so easily.
Hyperion shook her head and sat down on a wide bench at the platform layer with a complex look in her eyes, waiting for the train that wouldn’t arrive until noon.
There were already too many things she didn’t understand right now.
Of course, she wouldn’t thank the infamous Saint of Nirvana, Anello, for helping them, but there was a familiar feeling about him, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
Exactly this made Hyperion truly feel danger and chaos, even starting to confuse herself into having illusions of not knowing friend from foe.
Seeing her sister’s deep doubts, Michela stopped asking anymore, quietly sat by her side, and together they waited for the train that had not yet arrived.
