Chapter 680: Chapter 271 Defense (Two-in-One Mega Chapter)

The journey from Flashgold Town to Habbs Manor was not far; about ten minutes later, the convoy approached the manor’s entrance.

At this moment, four guards standing at the manor’s entrance grew tense at the sight of the approaching mass of people. One was immediately dispatched to report inside, while the others focused intently on their guard duty.

However, upon seeing the Kalin bird emblem of the Habus family on the carriage, the guards visibly relaxed.

Our own people!

As Rein and the others disembarked, the guards exchanged looks of surprise and joy, “It’s Shadia, the Chief Maid!”

“God in heaven! Lady Creya! Lady Creya has also returned!” several guards shouted with glee.

But Rein’s transformation had been so significant that the guards found him both familiar and stranger; for a moment, they hesitated to recognize him.

Soon, a familiar figure hastened out from within the manor, none other than Lloyd, the steward of Habbs Manor.

Upon seeing Creya, Knight Lloyd’s face brightened with joy, “Lady Creya, you’ve returned!”

“Long time no see, Knight Lloyd,” Creya said with a smile.

Lloyd, catching sight of the tall silver-armored knight standing beside Creya, couldn’t help his eyes widening in shock, “You… you’re Rein?!”

The Rein he remembered was only about one meter eighty, a bit shorter than him, but now, the young man before him required him to look up, not only towering in build but also at least two meters tall.

He had ballooned up!

“Knight Lloyd, long time no see,” Rein greeted with a trace of a smile tugging at his lips.

“Knight Lloyd, Rein is now Baron Rein, and he’s also about to be promoted to Viscount!” the Chief Maid Shadia added cheerfully.

“What!” This utterly astonished Lloyd.

The surrounding guards began to whisper among themselves:

“That’s definitely Rein! He just looks like he’s become a completely different person. He used to be skinnier than me, and now he’s so tall and strong!” said one guard, gesturing to compare.

“Who would have thought our Flashgold Town would produce such an important figure!”

“Imperial Viscount, no less!”

“It’s amazing, maybe we can finally avenge Flashgold Town.”

“Difficult! The Cult is too powerful. But given Rein’s rate of progress, maybe in a few more years, it might actually be possible.”

…

“Lady Creya, Viscount Seriel, Baron Rein… shall we go inside the manor to talk?” Lloyd suggested.

Creya glanced at Rein and replied, “Knight Lloyd, no, we plan to head straight to the County Town.”

“Right! The matter with Earl En….” Something occurred to Lloyd, and his face showed realization. He did not continue the invitation.

“Then I will accompany you, my lady,” he said.

Creya’s luxury carriage was quite spacious; with Knight Lloyd joining them, four people fit comfortably inside without feeling cramped.

“Alright, by the way, is Lord Perez not here?”

“Perez has been pulled away to reinforce the security work at the County Town.”

…

Soon, the convoy arrived in Meist County City.

As the convoy entered the city, Rein looked out the carriage window at the familiar streets outside.

The pedestrians on the streets were all hurrying along, most of them with frowns or serious expressions.

The number of vendors on both sides of the street had also decreased significantly from the past, and unlike before, there were hardly any children playing and making a ruckus on the streets.

The whole atmosphere of the County Town seemed to be oppressive.

Suddenly, Rein saw a middle-aged man with a flushed face burst out from an alley, dancing and shouting.

Although the man was some distance from the convoy, Rein’s keen hearing allowed him to clearly make out what he was shouting.

“…believe in the great God of Hunting, and you will be protected… the apocalypse flame will consume all you heretics!”

It didn’t take long for law enforcement officers to tackle and subdue the man to the ground.

Shortly afterward, several temple guards from the Church of the Goddess took over and quickly escorted the man away.

“Knight Lloyd, does this happen often?” Creya asked thoughtfully.

“Yes, Lady Creya, ever since the attack, we often see people acting out in madness or talking nonsense while drunk,” Lloyd admitted.

A somber mood immediately descended upon everyone in the carriage.

Rein knew that even though the man had been quickly subdued, the panic instilled in the populace wouldn’t fade so swiftly.

The influence of the man’s words was more pervasive than one might imagine.

Even now, inside the carriage, he could hear many of the onlookers on the street discussing the scene:

“How many does that make today?”

“The sixth? Or the seventh?”

“Hey, did you hear? Hardly anyone from Flashgold Town survived.”

“Heard about it! Monheim Town is almost completely wiped out, too.”

“Sigh, the neighbouring towns… the Empire probably doesn’t have a solution. I heard that Earl Habbs himself was severely injured…”

“You think… if this God of Hunting really could protect us, maybe we…” Suddenly, the speaker’s mouth was covered!

“Can you blabber about anything just like that?” The person next to him looked around nervously.

…

Clearly, the situation in Meist was far from under control and still unstable.

And panic was still spreading.

…

Meist County City.

Inside Earl Habbs Mansion.

Rein had only met Earl Habbs twice before, and both times were in his study, with Rein in the position of a subordinate presenting himself.

But this time was different.