On the other side, the elite force led by Lilya personally also arrived near the orphanage almost simultaneously with Violet.

 

However, they were a larger group and naturally went through the main entrance.

 

This was a large-scale orphanage with a registered number of children exceeding several hundred. However, even so, it was impossible to accommodate over a thousand troops rushing in, and the internal situation was still unclear. Lilya wouldn’t allow her knights to casually enter and meet their deaths.

 

Therefore, the main force consisted of the more evenly powerful shadow guards, adventurers, and a few strong individuals led by Lilya, totaling about a hundred people. The role of the knight squad was more about maintaining order and dealing with the aftermath of the battle, ensuring that no one from the outside would interfere.

 

After the silver-armored knights sealed off the thieves’ nest, Princess Lilya signaled to Emily by her side. The latter immediately understood, and with a few shadow guards disguised, she knocked on the front door of the orphanage.

 

Knock, knock, knock.

 

The heavy wooden door made a few muffled sounds, and soon, a middle-aged woman in her forties, dressed plainly, appeared.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Emily, dressed as a kingdom official, showed a formal smile and asked confidently, “Excuse us. Is this the Iris Orphanage? We are an investigation team directly under the Law Enforcement Division, here on official orders.”

 

“Investigation team!? This is the Iris Orphanage. May I ask if something has happened for you esteemed officials to visit suddenly?”

 

The woman was startled, shrinking back fearfully. She seemed extremely timid, opening the door only about three centimeters. The interior was dark, shadows casting an eerie sense of depthlessness upon the woman. There was no indication that this was a place for the healthy growth and education of children. It resembled more of a cult’s hideout.

 

Emily restrained her smile, intentionally putting on a stern face and lowering her voice.

 

“The Law Enforcement Division received a report that rebels are hiding here. Please open the door for our search. Rest assured, if you’re not involved, we won’t wrong innocent people.”

 

“N-no! Rebels? How could we dare to rebel? This is a misunderstanding, dear officials, we… ”

 

The timid woman, deceived by the shadow guard, was immediately frightened and lost her composure. She couldn’t maintain her calm demeanor any longer, and her gaze seemed to flicker towards a certain direction inside the dark room.

 

Seeing her self-incriminating demeanor, Emily and a few shadow guards exchanged a glance, confirming their suspicions.

 

“No more nonsense! Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, it’s not something you can explain away with just a few words. Otherwise, what’s the point of the investigation team? Closing the door so tightly in broad daylight, I can see you have something to hide! Open the door immediately, or I’ll arrest you on charges of obstructing law enforcement!”

 

“Y-y-yikes!”

 

Being an ordinary person, the woman couldn’t contend with the eloquence of Emily, an elite shadow guard. In just a few words, she was completely overwhelmed and collapsed in tears, kneeling on the ground without any dignity, repeatedly banging her head.

 

“Have mercy! Spare me! I didn’t intentionally assist them. I just don’t want to die. Those who resisted or reported to the authorities were all killed! Quentin, Theodore, Payne, all of them, all dead! I’ll say anything, please save me!”

 

The princess was right, there’s definitely something fishy here!

 

Emily, sensing that something was amiss, had her expression suddenly solidify. Without hesitation, she kicked open the partially closed door, realizing that someone was standing not far inside from where the woman was, a slender sword in hand, thrusting towards her neck!

 

Murder to silence witnesses!? Petty criminals, when discovered, usually try to escape, but this person, unexpectedly, did such a thing right in front of law enforcement officers? Outrageous…

 

“Extremely audacious!”

 

The deputy leader widened her almond-shaped eyes, two short swords concealed behind her already drawn, one blocking the attacker’s strike in the shadows, and the other aiming straight for their face!

 

Even before the actual battle began, Lilya had already informed all her subordinates that the true face of the enemy this time might be those undead encountered in the Tepaya Basin of the Beastman Kingdom. Therefore, Emily, with relevant combat experience, accurately targeted the enemy’s vital point—the brain.

 

“Tsk.”

 

A low, disapproving click came from the shadows. It seemed that the assailant didn’t dare to directly confront the attack and immediately gave up on silencing the woman. Instead, they turned to defend against Emily’s strike.

 

Clang.

 

The clash of blades echoed, and Emily was pushed back two steps by the force. The hidden individual also took advantage of the moment to retreat, disappearing instantly into the dim interior of the orphanage.

 

“Your Highness, confirm the target!”

 

“Understood. Commence the operation! Everyone, start the attack according to the plan!”

 

“Yes!”

 

Swish, swish, swish—over a hundred figures with incredible speed swiftly burst through the orphanage’s gates. Soon after, the hall echoed with the intense clashing sounds of combat.

 

The aftermath of magic and martial arts scattered, and with the wide-open doors, the external light spilled into the hall, illuminating it.

 

“How is it, Emily?!”

 

Princess Lilya, now in silver-white light armor, quickly approached the deputy leader. Waving her hand, she instructed the knight squad to take the terrified woman down first for safekeeping. They didn’t have time to interrogate this apparent coerced accomplice slowly.

 

“Your Highness, the one I fought against is quite formidable, likely at the Earth level. Moreover, after the fight, the hidden putrid smell also emanated, similar to what we encountered in the Tepaya Basin.”

 

“As expected… but how can someone as simple as a gatekeeper possess Earth-level abilities? Just how many forces did the ‘Eternal Throne’ send to infiltrate the capital this time? Damn it, these maniacs. They wouldn’t harm all the children in the orphanage, would they…?”

 

Lilya’s expression became somewhat unpleasant. She had heard from Prakaka about the “glorious deeds” of this organization. The fact that such a large facility could be completely controlled from within without anyone noticing hinted at possible collusion within the kingdom’s higher echelons.

 

However, it wasn’t time to settle scores yet.

 

“Emily, I’m going in first. You’ll temporarily command the knight squad. Remember, don’t let any rat escape.”

 

As she mentioned the term “rat,” the princess seemed to suddenly realize something. She awkwardly glanced in a certain direction but immediately acted as if nothing happened, continuing her instructions.

 

“If the opponent resists stubbornly, you’re allowed to execute them immediately. During this time, no matter who comes from the outside, unless you receive my orders, you must not release the encirclement. Understood?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness!”

 

Watching her subordinates turn away and leave, Lilya nodded in satisfaction.

 

“Let’s go. We’re going in as well. Be cautious.”

 

After saying this, the blue-haired girl, accompanied by a few shadow guards, entered the orphanage first. Following behind were Flora, Nicholas, and a certain invisible true rat.

 

They paid no attention to the main hall where the shadow guards and adventurers were still engaging with the small fries. Instead, they directly turned into a corridor, walking on the slightly worn stone floor, and soon disappeared into deeper areas.

 

Their goal this time was to completely eliminate the underground organization entrenched in the Iris Orphanage and save any innocent victims who might still be alive.

 

Although there were Earth and Sky-level shadow guards and adventurers entering the interior, judging from the situation, the “Eternal Throne” had occupied this place for quite some time, and there might be no shortage of traps and hidden secret chambers.

 

Moreover, there might be the “Throne” inside.

 

In a certain sense, this battle was a microcosm of Lilya’s struggle with Prince Ben Melchior. Although they caught the other side off guard, once they realized it, Prince Ben, who had already confirmed ties with the Eternal Throne, would definitely come to obstruct.

 

That’s why Lilya sent her subordinates to probe the situation, to avoid accidentally entering a civilian residence and giving someone a handle.

 

And, they couldn’t delay for too long, it had to be a swift and decisive battle.

 

Delay could lead to complications.

 

I wonder how things are progressing on Violet’s side?