545 Order


    In any country on the Northern Continent, wild Beyonders were unwee. They faced control and even apprehension. This wasn’t like colonies such as Port Farim, where renowned adventurers could freely roam the streets and boast about their experiences without the concern of official Beyonders knocking on their doors.


    “Boss, is there any danger?” Lugano nervously inquired, his perpetual fear evident as a wild Beyonder.


    Lumian chuckled, responding confidently, “That depends on their attitude.”


    The implication was that the nuns were the ones facing danger.


    Lumian teased, “Aren’t you excited about thebat nuns? Shouldn’t you be thrilled that they’re here?”


    Imagination isn’t the same as reality… Seeing his boss showing no intention of “teleporting” away with him, Lugano nervously descended and extended an invitation to thebat nuns.


    The leader was the same one Lumian had encountered before.


    Most of her naturally curly, thick ck hair was neatly tucked into a ck hat with white patterns. Her bright and lively light-blue eyes, along with her thick eyebrows, bestowed upon her a unique and captivating charm.


    The woman in leather armor gazed at Lumian and inquired gently, “Are you the adventurer Louis Berry?”


    Lumian nodded. “Who might you be?”


    The strikingly beautifulbat nun replied with a smile, “I’m Sister Noelia of the Fertility Order, in charge of abat team.


    “Praise the Earth, praise the Mother of All Things!”


    Noelia raised her hands to the sky, her feet slightly apart.


    Observing that Noelia and the otherbat nuns of the Fertility Order were not as judgmental as he expected, not viewing wild Beyonders as inherently evil creatures, Lumian smiled.


    “Madame, what brings you here?”


    Noelia smiled and exined, “You’re a great adventurer who hunted Demon Warlock. If we hadn’t known you were in Port Santa, we might not have bothered. However, now that we are aware, we muste and speak with you, reminding you to abide by the corresponding order.”


    “What order?” Lumian inquired, anticipating the answer while holding the golden straw hat.


    The demeanor of thesebat nuns made him wonder if they were official Beyonders. They didn’t directly arrest him, nor did they use stern warnings.


    Is this the distinction between the Church of Earth Mother and other Churches? Emphasizing motherhood and respecting life?


    “However, this is Port Santa, and many sea merchants here have a genuine need to resist pirates and protect their goods. Weck the manpower to safeguard them all, so we’ve tacitly agreed to allow them to hire Beyonder bodyguards.


    “Firstly, you cannot venture ind without our permission. To reach other cities, you need our approval. Secondly, you cannot perform any rituals in Port Santa, consume potions for advancement, or engage in mysticism experiments. Thirdly, you must refrain from using your abilities to cause chaos or catastrophe.


    “Of course, if you return to Port Santa in the future, you’ll need to register with us first.”


    It’s a reasonable request, anding from the ruling Church, it’s not excessive at all… It’s even simpler and easier than obtaining a firearm permit in Port Farim or other ces. Of course, not applying for identification in Port Farim isn’t a big deal. No one will report it, and there won’t be any issues if you don’t directly encounter the officials… Lumian nodded gently and replied,


    “Sure thing.”


    At this moment, Lumian’s thoughts raced, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.


    “But Port Santa isn’t entirely safe. I encountered a monsterst night…”


    He briefly recounted how the little monster had disguised itself as a devil to intimidate him. While he didn’t conceal that he had epted Giorgia’smission, he refrained from specifying the details.


    Noelia listened attentively and responded without surprise, “We’ll handle it. Try not to get involved in the Fisheries Guild’s matters in the future. Their internal issues will be resolved internally.”


    Does this mean that the Earth Mother Church refrains from interfering with the internal strife of the Fisheries Guild, allowing themplete autonomy? Lumian smiled and said,


    “I’ll do my best to avoid participation, but I’ll reserve the right to defend myself and counterattack.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Noelia didn’t offer any furtherments. Her smile faded as she led thebat nuns to the door.


    In just two or three steps, she smoothly drew a straight sword from her back, half-turned, and shed at Lumian.


    The series of movements flowed seamlessly, urring in the blink of an eye.


    Lumian stared at the sword beam, neither dodging nor raising his hand to block.


    With a swoosh, the straight sword grazed the tip of his nose and pointed to the ground.


    Noelia smiled radiantly and nodded in satisfaction.


    “As expected of a great adventurer. Your foresight, judgment, and courage are exceptional.”


    She then turned around and addressed thebat nuns who followed her.


    “This is a true man. Those who only know how to unt their muscles and swing their swords can only be called male beasts.”


    As they spoke, thebat nuns exited Lumian’s rented suite.


    Lumian raised his right hand and stroked his chin, feeling a strange sensation.


    The sight of women openly scrutinizing men made him ufortable.


    After watching Noelia and the nuns leave, Lugano lowered his voice and asked, “Boss, did a little monster reallye to warn youst night?”


    Lugano was taken aback for a moment before understanding Lumian’s intentions. He grabbed Ludwig and followed closely behind.


    …


    21 Saint Lana Street, in the activity room of a suite on the fifth floor.


    Lumian encountered Giorgia once again.


    Dressed in a vibrant dress adorned with intricate patterns, thedy nced at the boy, whose appetite exceeded her imagination, before turning her gaze to the adventurer, Louis Berry.


    “What brings you here?”


    Lugano tranted professionally.


    “Last night, a monster came to intimidate me, but I chased it away.” Lumian briefly recounted the monster’s appearance and behavior.


    Upon hearing Lugano’s ount, Giorgia disyed no obvious surprise. After a few seconds of contemtion, she said, “Wait a moment.”


    Leaving the maid and valet behind, she disappeared into an inner room.


    After a few minutes, she reappeared, arm in arm with a man.


    The man seemed to be in his forties, tall and gaunt, his eyes a nearly translucent blue. His grayish-ck, slightly curly hair cascaded over his shoulders like an artist’s. His appearance couldn’t be described as particrly good or bad, yet he possessed an unforgettable quality.


    “This is my husband, Rubió Paco,” Giorgia introduced.


    The shareholder of the Fisheries Company and amittee member of the Fisheries Guild? Lumian had gathered information about the Paco family through Lugano over the past two days.


    Rubió’s father had initially been a prosperous fisherman who shared a boat with others. After marrying Martha, who had once been a Maiden of the Sea, he gradually established himself. Not only did he manage the Fisheries Company for a time, but he also ascended to be amittee member of the oldest local guild, the Fisheries Guild.


    Shortly after the sea prayer ritualst year, the old gentleman passed away. With strong support from Matriarch Marta, Rubió inherited his father’s status and became the youngestmittee member of the Fisheries Guild.


    However, he no longer held a specific position at Port Santa Fisheries Company. He only held onto the shareholders’ voting rights and dividends.


    This middle-aged man had once been rebellious. He was expected toply with his parents’ arrangements and marry a Maiden of the Sea. However, he remained single until his early thirties and then married Giorgia, the daughter of a textile merchant. If it were any other prominent family, the matriarch would have surely intervened and perhaps even banished Rubió. Yet, Martha indulged him and eventually chose topromise.


    Before Lugano couldmence with the trantion, Rubió spoke in less fluent Intisian, “We canmunicate directly. When I was young, I often took a boat out to sea and visited ces like Port Farim.”


    “Monsieur Rubió, I don’t think there’s a need formunication, and I don’t intend to find out why the monster came looking for me. I’m just here to inform you about this.” Lumian nced at the puzzled Giorgia and suspected that Rubió had switched to Intisian not out of politeness but to keep his wife in the dark about something.


    Rubió nodded gently and said, “I understand your concerns. I merely wish to entrust you with another mission.”


    “What mission?” Lumian asked with a smile.


    Rubió calmly replied, “My mother, Martha, hails from Milo Vige. Recently, she wishes to return and meet the current Governor of the Sea to request his permission to seek treatment at the Church of Earth Mother. Yes, my mother hasn’t been in good health recently. She can’t get out of bed.”


    Martha is still alive? Lumian was slightly surprised.


    Experienced as he was, he deduced that the monster might have been transformed by Martha, based on the absence of the matriarch, the Paco family’s reluctance to expose the humanoid lizard, and the fact that she was once a Maiden of the Sea!


    The sea prayer ritual wasn’t just an honor for the Maidens of the Sea. Perhaps there was also hidden corruption that might erupt at some point in time.


    But now, from what Rubió had said, Martha was still alive. Previously, she had only been seriously ill.


    Where did that humanoid lizarde from? Lumian suppressed his puzzlement and asked in confusion, “Why does Madame Martha need the Governor of the Sea’s permission to seek treatment?”


    Rubió’s expression shifted, a mix of disgust and resistance evident in his words.


    “All Maidens of the Sea have to follow the orders of the Governor of the Sea when dealing with Church-rted matters. Failing to do so would be sphemous to the sea prayer ritual.”