They don't want me to try anymore.

One month later, half of the prisoners will be temporarily transferred to a suburban prison.

You and your teammates were put into a heavily guarded carriage.

Shortly after leaving the city, the caravan stopped for a rest at a checkpoint. Taking advantage of this, you unlocked the chains, took out potions and bombs made from various strange materials, broke the seal on your own strength, and blasted out an escape route.

The guards swarmed in, and at that moment, the underworld boss in the group pulled out a smuggled communication scroll from under his skirt and called for backup he had hired beforehand.

You see a swarm of scarlet bats that blot out the sky.

Huh?

Wait, no way?

Thousands of miles away.

A vampire lay on the bed, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Got you!"

Chapter 82 There's too much water, I can't control it.

Although she was far away on the island of Divine Grace, Veronica had been keeping an eye on the situation in the Old World, or more specifically, on the owner of a certain newspaper.

Then, when she learned that Richard had been sent to prison, her first reaction was...

We absolutely have to break them out of prison!

Well, pirates, thinking like that is practically instinctive.

Of course, the Imperial Central Prison is not like the dilapidated small police stations in the colonies; it's definitely not a place where you can just rob someone if you want to.

Veronica changed her name and secretly infiltrated Idaril. After spending most of the month in the circle, she finally made contact with people from the prison.

It must be said that the guards at the Central Prison are definitely very tight.

On the other hand, because there are all sorts of people inside, from seasoned thieves with a full range of skills to big shots who may be reinstated after the New Year, the conflicts of interest are extremely complex, and correspondingly, there are many secret channels of communication. This is a human problem, a phenomenon that cannot be changed simply by increasing security.

Strangely, Victoria discovered that Richard seemed to be receiving special treatment, and no one was allowed to visit him in prison.

However, it didn't matter. Since Richard was only at the Silver level, he wasn't imprisoned at the lowest level. So, after several attempts, Victoria managed to contact other prisoners on the same level.

Ultimately, by chance, she connected with the prison break team and, thanks to her exceptional abilities, became one of their ally.

That's why she was able to be here.

Back to Richard's side.

The sudden attack of the Gold-rank vampire caught the guards off guard, causing them to retreat in disarray, allowing you to escape safely to a nearby house.

Upon seeing Veronica, Richard became even more convinced that anyone with a character portrait could experience the simulation.

However, he certainly doesn't intend to catch up with anyone right now.

Moreover, although they escaped the prison caravan and were protected by gold-level experts, they were not actually saved.

There's no way around it; it's too close to the imperial capital.

Because there's a teleportation barrier near Idariel, you can't escape quickly. You have to use a disguise spell to help your teammates change their appearances so you can split up and escape.

But by then, the Empire had already realized what was happening.

[Led by two Gold-tier professionals, ten elite squads, including Silver-tier Gryphon Knights and Mages, have set out to search for your hideout.]

Wow, this set meal is a bit too luxurious!

It's more than enough to slay a dragon!

at the same time.

Luvia, who was planning to take more drastic measures, heard about the prison break.

Did they escape after only a month...?

Wait, a female vampire? Could it be her?

Wait a minute, how did she, a pirate from Divine Grace Island, end up here?

Luvia noticed something strange in the text message, and while shocked, she couldn't help but have some guesses.

But the situation was urgent, and she didn't have time to think it through.

Seeing that female pirates from across the ocean had arrived, a flame gradually ignited in her heart.

For a month, she tried various methods, all of which failed.

She was not unaware of the empire's own corruption and decadence, and the ruthlessness of factional struggles, but it was the first time she had ever experienced being put in such a difficult situation, given Cromwell's background as the future sword saint.

He practiced swordsmanship, but in the end, he couldn't even protect the one he loved...

He's not even as good as a stinking pirate...

Ah, just thinking about that is enough to break my defenses!

In an instant, a complex mix of emotions—anger, disappointment, shame, and heartache—surged up, causing Luvia to break down completely.

Since it's just a simulation anyway, let's just make a huge scene!

Take your sword and quickly head outside the city.

At this point, due to the vast disparity in strength between the two sides, most of the fugitives had been captured and brought to justice. Only a few, such as Veronica and Richard, were still on the run, but it was unlikely they could hold out for long.

[Since you hadn't received orders to participate in the pursuit, a knight came over to inquire... and you knocked him unconscious.]

You drew your sword and unleashed an indiscriminate sweep of attacks on the pursuing team—not fatal to the elite, but it completely disrupted their rhythm.

[A fellow Gold-ranking advisor from the capital's garrison flies up into the sky and questions you: "Luvia, what are you doing? Are you trying to betray us?"]

"I have never betrayed the Empire... I was merely fulfilling the duty of a lover, the duty of a true sword of the Empire!"

Luvia took a deep breath and made her simulated self raise her sword against her former colleague.

This manhunt was based on a wrongful trial.

It's time to correct this mistake!

...It's time to run away!

On the other hand, Richard immediately took action.

Because the pursuing forces they faced were too powerful, he and Veronica had just been on the verge of death, and Luvia's intervention was truly a godsend.

At this moment, he felt genuinely grateful to the Sword Saint. He knew very well how difficult it was for a pure-blooded imperial citizen of more than ten generations to openly betray the empire.

...So he needed to escape even faster!

Although it sounded a bit contemptible, Richard knew that the Empire would not actually kill Luvia, and only if he was safe would Luvia stop, thus avoiding a larger conflict and allowing her to receive a lighter sentence in the military court.

In this respect, Veronica and he were on the same page.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Veronica scooped you up, transformed into a streak of blood-red light, and flew towards the horizon.

The Imperial army attempted to intercept them, but were repeatedly thwarted by Luvia's frenzied attacks.

Midway through, Veronica seemed to deliberately turn around, showing Luvia the way you were embracing her, and the latter's swordplay instantly became even more ferocious.

Hey, that's going too far!

But it's definitely something you would do...

Richard watched Veronica's outrageous antics and was speechless for a moment.

You fled for a day and a night, shaking off your pursuers, and hid in a hunter's cabin in the forest.

After setting up various anti-tracking spells, Veronica sat down, smiled at you with narrowed eyes, and said in a sweet voice, "It's safe here. No one can find you. Even if you shout, no one will hear you."

...What do you want to do?

You pretended not to know Veronica, thanked her for her help, and then sat alone in the corner of the room, intending to meditate to recover your strength.

But Veronica stopped you, saying she had a better way to restore your magic, but it would require you to make a small sacrifice.

what?

Don't come over here!

[Veronica became even more excited in the face of your resistance.]

"This is what you owe me~"

Ah this!

You woman, you're incorrigible!

Richard was speechless, feeling that the simulation was unwatchable.

But before anything joyful could happen, footsteps could be heard outside the wooden house.

Luvia opened the door.

Richard blinked, first relieved that the other person was alright, but then surprised.

That shouldn't be the case. How did she find us?

Veronica's reaction was even more intense.

Damn it, how did you find me?! Give me a few more minutes and I would have succeeded!