This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 594, Section 593: Release
Inside the stone-built cell, light streamed in through a narrow skylight high up, filling the air with the scent of old stone and hay, yet strangely mixed with a hint of the freshness unique to fungi.

Julia knelt on the hay spread on the ground, her hands clasped together in front of her chest, and she prayed:

"...Therefore, we praise your abundance and give thanks to you for giving us life and food."

She paused for a moment, then slowly opened her eyes and turned to the girl beside her, Number Twelve, who was trying to weave a robe for herself out of dry grass.

"Great Twelfth Mushroom Envoy, isn't the word 'abundance' too general? It sounds a bit like an elven druid's name..."

The mushroom cap of number twelve ji shook, and two mycelium strands extended out, gesturing in front of it.

It didn't make a sound, but it was actually communicating with Julia within the fungal web.

"The ultimate destination of all life... Okay, let me think about how to revise this prayer."

Just then, the sound of patrolling guards came from outside the cell. Twelve stood in the corner, and with a ripple around his body, he disappeared.

The iron gate was pushed open, and a guard walked in sideways. A dozen or so old keys of similar appearance were strung on an iron ring at his waist. He was looking down and squinting, fiddling with each one with his fingers to distinguish them.

"Here we go again?" The guard didn't even look up, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Muttering to yourself against the wall all day long... If you ask me, the higher-ups should send you to the pharmacist for treatment, instead of keeping you locked up here wasting prison food."

He finally found the one that belonged to this cell, opened the iron bars of the single cell, and then handed over a relatively clean coarse linen cloth and a small basin of water.

"Here, wipe your face. Fix your hair too, don't look like a crazy woman, some important people want to see you later."

"Big man?"

The important person arrived soon.

The cell door was pushed open again, this time much wider. The warden's short, stout figure squeezed in first, his face plastered with an almost overflowing fawning smile. He bent down and, almost as if leading the way, led the people behind him into the small cell.

Inanna walked in.

The warden rubbed his hands together, speaking rapidly, his words practically dripping with obsequiousness:
"Lady Inanna, you only need to give the order to see whomever you wish! As long as they are not overly dangerous desperados, I can bring them to the reception room clean and tidy for you at any time. There is really no need for you to go to this filthy place yourself... The smell in here is unpleasant and damp. If you were to suffer any discomfort or harm to your noble health, it would truly be our fault."

The warden could still offer a few words of flattery, while the guard who had previously shown impatience with Julia could only stand in the shadows in the corner, his back ramrod straight, his eyes fixed straight ahead, not daring to glance around.

Inanna simply responded with a faint, polite smile and a barely perceptible nod.

Ever since she was kidnapped by two men who used to fawn over her and nearly lost her life in the underground city, she has developed an unusually high level of wariness towards such smiling, obsequious faces.

Beneath kind words, who knows what thoughts are hidden?
However, Inanna has never been good at reading people's hearts. Many times, she herself finds it difficult to tell whether the smiling face in front of her is genuine kindness or another carefully crafted mask.

In comparison, Puji's world is much simpler.

The mushroom tribe never hides their true nature; they are adorably straightforward, which explains why she likes these little guys so much.

She paid little attention to the warden behind her, who was still chattering and trying to show his loyalty, and instead focused her gaze on the cells.

She felt there might be another Puji here, but after scanning around, she couldn't see it and didn't know where it was hiding.

Number Four found Number Twelve and was so happy that he was about to go up and greet him, but Number Twelve stopped him with her tentacles to prevent him from revealing his presence.

Having searched in vain for the time being, Inanna composed herself and turned to the important matter at hand.

"You are Julia from the Mushroom Cult?"

……

"What did you say? Miss Inanna wants to release the leader of the Bagu Cult?"

Farr, who had been nodding frequently at the profit forecast report on the dwarf-elf trade in his hand, frowned instantly upon hearing this, his fingers unconsciously crumpling the report. Just moments before, he had privately praised the young lady for her excellent performance in completing her mission, facilitating the agreement, and ensuring that future business between the two sides would be even more frequent.

Having successfully transformed from a mere mushroom-producing area into a holy land for Puji masters, and now home to the headquarters of the Puji Master Professional Association, Mushroom Capital, as a trade hub radiating to the surrounding areas, will undoubtedly benefit greatly from these increasingly frequent and large-scale exchanges.

He rarely offered such genuine praise.

Little did he expect that the moment the praise was uttered, this young lady would turn around and give him another problem!
Logically speaking, Julia hadn't committed any heinous crimes, and her sentence was merely ordinary imprisonment. Given her status as the daughter of Duke Inanna and a war hero, under the benevolent feudal system, getting such an ordinary prisoner released should have been a piece of cake.

But Julia is involved in religion!

The Church of Light suffered heavy casualties and its strength was greatly diminished in its fight against the demons. It should have been wary of the rise of other messy sects.

Because of its weakened strength, the church is now more sensitive and vigilant than ever before.

If Julia's case hadn't potentially involved the Puji and the Mushroom Clan, she probably would have been severely punished long ago.

They are currently only being detained, and they are even being provided with basic conditions so that they don't go hungry or cold, which is already considered exceptionally lenient treatment.

As for releasing them...

Inanna could naturally leave with her people with ease because of her status, but what would she do as the city lord if the church questioned her afterwards?
Far, who single-handedly created the prosperity of Mushroom City, enjoys considerable prestige within the kingdom, but in the end, he is still just the lord of a city.

Even if the Church of Light has suffered a loss of power, it is by no means an entity that he can easily offend.

“Then…should we stop Miss Inanna?” Mirabelle’s voice was hesitant.

"No, no, no, no," Far quickly waved his hands.

He can't afford to offend the teacher, but does that mean he can afford to offend Inanna St. Clair?
Caught in the middle, no matter what choice you make, it will be wrong.

He had to extricate himself from this predicament.

He quickly recalled a recent intelligence report.

“That’s right!” A glint flashed in Far’s eyes, and he immediately made a decision. “Didn’t we say that His Excellency the Duke recently returned to the Duke’s mansion? Mirabelle, go immediately and use the communication crystal to inform the Duke himself of everything that happened here!”

He must let someone who is truly in charge take over this hot potato.

……

after one day.

"Inanna! My daughter, you've returned from your mission, yet you didn't even come home to see your father first!"

With a loud voice, Alama walked into the room, glanced at Julia who was having a heart-to-heart talk with Inanna, and instead of saying anything, gave Inanna a big bear hug!
The force was so great, as if he wanted to make sure his daughter was unharmed.

Inanna shrank back a little uncomfortably.

However, just as Alama closed his arms, something unexpected happened!

A dress made of pure ice crystals appeared out of Inanna's body without warning!
An extreme chill surged out in the direction of the attack.

"Old man!" Inanna herself was taken aback and exclaimed instinctively.

Fortunately, Alama, being a lord-level figure, wouldn't be killed by a mere ice armor.

He touched the ice crystals forming on his chin and asked tremblingly, "My dear daughter, I don't remember having such beautiful equipment in the storeroom. Could it have been a gift from an elf?"

(End of this chapter)