Inside the main hall, when Willis saw Normankev again, he looked utterly disheveled.
Of course, this referred to his clothes and the dirt smudged across his face.
“It seems the Duke of the Inquisitorial Academy has been busy all night. I wonder what brings you here?”
Willis sat at the head seat, speaking slowly and deliberately.
Seeing the Grand Princess Hill Yu also present, Normankev quickly bowed and knelt.
“Your Highnesses, the Church of Judicature has received news. May I ask if Your Highnesses plan to head to Ushi City today?”
Normankev asked respectfully.
Willis and Hill Yu exchanged a glance. Hill Yu frowned.
“What’s the matter?”
“According to our Church informants, on the day Your Highness was attacked, a force of about three hundred Storm Revolutionary Army members disguised themselves and arrived near the Imperial Capital…”
The Storm Revolutionary Army was a group dreaming of overthrowing the Empire’s rule under the banner of revolution.
They made their base in Storm Valley on the Empire’s borders, but their ranks included not only citizens of the Okam Empire.
Years ago, their motives were unclear due to this mixture of members.
However, in the past two years, the Storm Revolutionary Army has clearly targeted the Okam Empire, intent on toppling it through so-called revolution.
Normankev paused, speaking each word carefully, “I’m afraid Your Highnesses’ journey today will not go smoothly.”
“Three hundred?” Willis scoffed disdainfully.
She then turned to Hill Yu.
“Sister, can’t your one thousand City Defense Army soldiers hold them off?”
“That’s hard to say. A frontal clash would definitely fail, but if they use trickery…” Hill Yu trailed off, and all three understood the implication.
“If that’s the case, what countermeasures does the Church propose?”
Willis looked to Normankev.
“Your Highness, the Church has two suggestions. The first is to abandon this journey…”
Before Normankev could finish, Willis shook her head.
“That’s impossible.”
“I haven’t inspected my domain in a long time, and soon I’ll be assigned to the Royal Academy, leaving me little time to manage it.”
“If I don’t go now, the Lordship of Ushi City I hold will be nothing but a name.”
Willis’s refusal was expected by Normankev. He showed no surprise or objection, instead continuing.
“The second proposal is to request the Emperor’s permission for Your Highnesses to take three thousand City Defense soldiers as escort, clearing the way ahead and behind, with patrol soldiers on both flanks.”
“There are only three hundred enemies. With ten times the force, the Storm Revolutionary Army won’t dare to act recklessly. Even if they use terrain or other means for a surprise attack, the three thousand troops cannot be defeated.”
“As long as you’re careful to avoid poison or other traps, you should arrive safely.”
Normankev’s suggestions were reasonable.
Since Hill Yu was present, she could easily ask Emperor Rubas to lend the three thousand soldiers as escort.
However, Willis’s face twisted in displeasure.
“Ten times the force just to guard against three hundred? Duke, are you joking?”
“Do you think the Empire’s dignity can be trampled on so easily?”
Before Normankev could hastily explain that was not his intention, Hill Yu interrupted Willis.
“Enough, sister. He only wants you to be safe. What’s wrong with ten times the force? Losing dignity is better than losing your life.”
Without hesitation, Hill Yu nodded in agreement.
“This is a good plan. Let’s do it.”
Hearing this, Normankev finally relaxed.
“Thank you, Your Highnesses. The Church will also assign personnel to guard the surroundings. Please rest assured.”
After a half-minute silence, Willis suddenly asked, “Duke, have you eaten breakfast?”
“Before dawn, I received news from the Meklay Family that Your Highness was leading the City Defense Army outside the city to hunt thieves?”
Since Guard Knight Victoria belonged to the Meklay Family, Willis knew this information, and Normankev was not surprised.
“Your Highness, I haven’t eaten yet. As for the thieves, they were the ones who previously disguised themselves as messengers from the Meklay Family.”
“Did you catch them?”
“I’m ashamed to say, they escaped.”
“Very well. Since you haven’t eaten, have a meal here in the Caoque Imperial Palace before you leave. No need for formalities—I’m familiar with you and the Duke, so don’t refuse.”
Normankev hesitated a moment, then bowed respectfully.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I will go now.”
After Normankev left, Hill Yu stood up, intending to go to the Imperial Palace to request troops, but Willis suddenly stopped her.
“Wait, Sister.”
“What is it?”
Hill Yu asked.
Willis whispered a few words into Hill Yu’s ear, causing the latter’s brows to furrow deeper, mixed with a trace of anger.
“Willis, are you serious?”
“Trust me, Sister.”
“Impossible! This concerns your life!” Hill Yu firmly opposed.
“Really no way?”
“No way! No matter what you say, it’s impossible!”
Though the concern felt good, Willis had other considerations at the moment.
She twisted her slender waist to hug Hill Yu, speaking in a coquettish voice.
“Please, Sister, please. I’m begging you, won’t you?”
In an instant, Hill Yu shivered as if struck by lightning, goosebumps erupting and falling all around.
She suddenly pushed Willis away.
“Disgusting! Are you sick, Willis!?”
“If you won’t agree, then I’ll disgust you to death,” Willis teased with a mischievous smile.
After a long moment, faced with Willis’s unyielding, determined gaze, Hill Yu finally relented.
“Fine.”
“Thank you, Sister!”
“Don’t get used to it! If anything happens to you, I swear I’ll whip you with my whip. Even if you die, I’ll still whip you!”
Facing her furious sister, Willis found her unusually adorable and admirable at that moment.
But her words quickly took a twisted turn.
“So you like whips, Sister? You should have said earlier. Although it’s a very perverse preference, I’m not opposed to… Ah!”
“Go to hell!”
A seemingly delicate fist struck, firm enough to hurt but not to cause serious injury.
Willis fell down, holding her bleeding nose.
***
Approaching midday, Bakel stopped every few paces to hide in the shadows of grass, checking if he was being followed.
Such cautious behavior matched his thief identity well.
However, according to intelligence from the Meklay Family, Bakel had not been a thief long and had no remarkable achievements.
This level of counter-surveillance was somewhat unusual.
Under the sunlight, his silver hair gleamed brightly.
A gentle breeze stirred each strand, making them dance like they had life.
Victoria stood atop a hill, watching Bakel advance steadily below before stepping forward to follow.
They were now over fifteen kilometers from Monsell, with farms and villages thinning out and replaced by barren mountains and dense forest.
“A thief really can run,” Victoria muttered coldly to herself.
Occasionally, villagers gathering firewood or chopping trees appeared in the distance, but none noticed Bakel or Victoria.
As Bakel pressed deeper, the vegetation thickened, and people became scarce.
Finally, over a mountain ridge, a village appeared nestled in a secluded valley.
Like a hidden haven, the village was abrupt yet serene.
It consisted of a dozen large thatched and wooden houses, bustling with at least a thousand people.
“I didn’t expect so many to be hidden here.”
Victoria carefully approached, soon encountering patrol sentries on the outskirts.
Since she was alone and only gathering intelligence, Victoria did her best to bypass these guards and edge closer to the main encampment.
After half an hour of near misses, Victoria marveled at their professional security arrangements and felt some relief.
Near the camp, Victoria spotted Winnie Kanasha clearly among the crowd.
Winnie was engaged in a heated argument.