“Yes, yes, that’s right!”

The frightened merchant quickly bowed and shouted loudly.

“No matter how I look at it, he seems to have a face similar to the wanted criminal! I reported it because black hair is quite uncommon….”

“What about the red-haired woman?”

Pryde asked, cutting off the man’s dragging words like a knife.

“Uh, she wasn’t there.”

At those words, a dissatisfied crease formed between Pryde’s brows.

Did they come separately?

Indeed, it wouldn’t be easy to bring along a woman with a bounty of thirty thousand gold on her head.

Surveying the various illegal drugs scattered on the road, he asked softly.

“What did the man buy?”

“What? Ah, he bought anesthetics, anesthetic cream, and large needles.”

“……”

One of Pryde’s eyebrows rose.

It was a purchase list with unknown intentions.

‘Could it be… that she’s injured?’

His heart sank with just a vague guess.

But soon, it occurred to him that if that were the case, the man would have bought treatment medicine along with the anesthetics.

Also, if it was for the purpose of stitching a wound, he would have bought smaller needles and thread instead of large needles.

If it’s not for treating wounds, then…

Why did they need such things after being on the run for a month?

“Oh, I sold it to them because I was afraid they might suspect something if I refused… Will it be a problem?”

The merchant, who had been watching his unpleasant eyes, quickly asked.

“No. It doesn’t matter. The reward will still be given.”

The merchant’s face brightened at the sight of earning a hundred gold at once with a single report.

It was an amount that would be difficult for him to earn even if he worked for a year in this 3rd district.

Pryde, who poured gold coins into the merchant’s plump hands, left the store without any lingering feelings.

If she didn’t stay here, there was no need for him to stay long.

As he walked through the streets shrouded in morning fog, he spoke to the woman who had always been on his mind for some time.

Anesthetics and large needles.

Delphine, what are you thinking right now?

Then, the beautiful woman who kept him awake last night smiles, raising the corners of her mouth.

Guess it, Ioan.

If you really want to get me back.

[This is the timeline separator]

In the middle of a dense forest located in the eastern part of the 3rd district.

Delphine and her colleagues, who had finished all the preparations, stood facing each other in a circle.

“The day has finally come.”

The day had come to carry out the operation they had been preparing with all their heart and soul.

‘But the weather had to be like this…’

Delphine raised her head and examined the gloomy sky.

The sunny summer sky was nowhere to be seen, and today, the sky was full of dark clouds.

“Is it going to rain? It rarely rains in the Empire during summer…”

“But to me, even that seems like a signal of victory for us.”

Beli cheerfully took over her worries.

“Because we have you, the child of God.”

“Yes. This time, there must be no failure.”

Lynn murmured, looking at Delphine with a serious face.

“…Especially after doing such a thing.”

Even though it had been quite some time since the wound healed, Delphine smiled awkwardly at Lynn, who still had a heartbroken expression.

“Now, all the preparations are done…”

“Today is truly the last chance.”

As Lynn and Marian muttered with a solemn face, Beli spread his arms and smiled, curling the corners of his eyes.

“If you get too nervous, you won’t be able to do what you can. Let’s all enjoy it.”

Then, Marian, who drew a huge, well-sharpened sword from her back, grumbled.

“Unlike you, a cold-blooded person, we are ordinary humans, so we can’t help it.”

Even with that sarcasm, Beli still had a smiling face.

He seemed genuinely happy to finally carry out this operation.

“Well then, let’s go and have a ‘fireworks show’.”

At that signal, everyone placed their hands on Lynn’s arm.

Lynn chanted a spell in a low voice, holding a fully charged Possum in his hand.

With a white light filling their vision, the operation finally began.

[This is the timeline separator]

A small terrace cafe located in the shopping district of the 2nd district.

The sky was full of dark clouds, and finally, early rain began to fall from the sky.

Looking at the thick raindrops tapping on the terrace canopy, people added their own words.

“Oh my, it’s raining in the middle of summer…”

“Is the madness coming early this year?”

Like this, as soon as it rains, the weather turns cold right away, and when a snowstorm called madness hits, winter begins.

People who sat on the terrace to enjoy the sunshine complained about their misfortune.

“It’s been a turbulent time in many ways.”

“I agree. These days, it’s really like that. …By the way, have you heard the rumor?”

They soon brought up the biggest topic in the capital.

The story of Viscount Pryde scouring the entire country in search of his runaway wife.

Although not as much as the 3rd district, which was in chaos due to the unprecedented reward of granting central citizenship, people inside the walls were also buzzing about the news every day.

“That’s such an unseemly thing to do.”

“I know, right? It’s really undignified. When Grand Duke Kenepic was around, it wasn’t like this…”

Kwang!

At that moment.

A huge explosion suddenly shook the street, causing the people who were whispering and chatting to scream in unison.

“Aaaah!”

“Wha-what! What’s happening!”

Far away, in the middle of the peaceful street, black smoke was rising.

The panicked people soon noticed two figures appearing through the smoke.

A tall, black-haired man and a woman holding his arm.

Even amidst the rising black smoke, the woman’s flowing red hair and gem-like emerald eyes were as vivid as a painting.

They were momentarily lost in that strangely beautiful sight, but only for a moment.

“Red hair and emerald eyes…”

“It’s Delphine Pryde! The Viscountess Pryde!”

“Re-report it! Thirty thousand gold…”

The people who had just been criticizing the lack of dignity of the 3rd district residents rolled their eyes and shouted.

However, by the time they ran to the capital’s defense force, the woman had already disappeared from the spot.

[This is the timeline separator]

A temporary headquarters located near the northern wall.

Various telegrams began to fly in from all over the country.

[Red-haired woman spotted in Mankins area, eastern 3rd district!] [Red-haired woman appears with a man in cafe street, 2nd district!] [Blond-haired man appears in the middle of the street, northern 3rd district!]

Walter quickly summarized the contents of the telegrams and rushed to the commander’s tent.

Pryde was standing at the entrance of the tent, looking at the rain-soaked plain.

“Sir! There’s new information! The targets are appearing in various regions across the country! It’s presumed to be a diversion tactic!”

At those words, Pryde’s eyes, which had been staring at the falling rain with dead eyes, gleamed with joy.

“Finally…!”

Delphine, who had been out of sight for a while to avoid him, had begun to move.

Yes, you’re not the type of woman to hide so meekly like that. Right?

Pryde sarcastically thought to the woman smiling in his imagination.

If that were the case, I wouldn’t have had to chase you so desperately.

For the first time in a very long time, his red lips drew an arc.

He didn’t know what scheme she was plotting, but one thing was certain.

Soon, he would be able to see her.

After such a long time.

“Let’s see each other soon, Delphine.”

He whispered affectionately to the imaginary woman as if she were his lover.

Then, she smiled back at him affectionately.

As always in his imagination.

[This is the timeline separator]

Delphine and her companions deliberately teleported to various parts of the country, causing a commotion.

Of course, this was all just a smokescreen to confuse their location, and their true target was elsewhere.

It was the human factory located in the northern part of the 3rd district.

They needed additional Possums to carry out their operation.

Unlike last time, they didn’t sneak in through the underground.

Instead, they chose a frontal breakthrough.

“Who are you! Stop… Wait, are you perhaps those wanted criminals?”

The security guard at the entrance recognized their faces and widened his eyes.

Soon, other guards nearby began to rush towards them.

Beli, who was running into the factory without hesitation, shouted.

“Hurry! We need to secure the Possums before that man arrives!”

“Leave it to me!”

Marian swung her sword at the guards rushing towards the intruders.

It was a huge and heavy sword that an ordinary person wouldn’t even be able to lift.

“Stop right there or… Argh!”

With that one swing, the knights blocking them fell like autumn leaves.

“Marian, don’t go overboard!”

“These bastards are all imperial knights, so what!”

Marian shouted in an excited voice, relishing the battle after a long time.

“I’ve been so annoyed because of Pryde! Damn it! I’ve never lost a fight to anyone in my life!”

The imperial army without Ioan was no match for her and Lynn.

They reached the Possum storage in an instant, occasionally cutting down the rushing knights.

“Delphine! Charge them!”

Lynn, holding an armful of empty Possums, quickly held them out to Delphine.

Delphine grabbed them without hesitation and charged the Aurum, emitting a bright five-colored light.

Having achieved their goal, they urgently shouted.

“Done! Now, let’s move…”

“Stop right there! That’s as far as you go!”

At that moment, a shrill scream was heard from behind Delphine.