Putting the key issues on the table, the casual chat was temporarily halted.

Lanslow's view was the same as Li Ang's — the Black Knights had deliberately come because they had opened up the route, and the Empire believed that the benefits of blocking the Ignis Sky Realm far outweighed the disadvantages of violating the Guild's laws.

"Do you have any idea what the Empire wants to do?" Li Ang looked at Dorothy.

The Lady shook her head: "I only know that over a year ago, some people in the Town Hall began mentioning a name, Kekrus, and then referred to the 'current Emperor'.

Her surname, Campbell, was the ruler of another Sky Island in the Ignis Sky Realm.

A Sky Knight like Li Ang wasn't aware of the history of many Sky Islands here, but as a noble of one of the islands, Dorothy was informed.

"A lot of our islands are members of the Empire. I learned this during private tutoring sessions when I was young, but it was only mentioned briefly without any concrete sense; everyone managed their own affairs."

According to Dorothy, it was the sudden appearance of the "Emperor" who began to reunite the islands that were nominally part of the Empire, and truly many people responded to the call.

"It was also half a year ago that Huo Fu told me, and I realized that my father and Count Feinat both decided to respond to the Emperor's call and return to the Empire's banner, and so, my matters with Wendes were further solidified."

Dorothy turned her face, gazing into the dark corner of the secret passage.

"There was no prior indication before the route blockade; it was just the Count suddenly sent orders for the city's administration to cooperate with it, and the officials could only comply. That's all I know."

The girl knew very little, so Li Ang shifted the topic to the matter of leaving the island.

"Lanslow, have you contacted the Flame Corps?"

Lanslow shook his communication device: "No, I suspect the Empire figured out our stationed and patrol positions. Everyone was attacked, even the garrisons were no exception, just to prevent us from uniting."

In the relatively peaceful Four Major Aerial Realms, as long as one didn't get involved in dangerous areas, an elite member of Tier Seven Professional, together with a few regular members, was enough to maintain order. But this kind of power would struggle against the Annihilation Knights.

"They definitely had a plan, taking advantage of the time when the Young Lady left, attacking the garrison; she might not have received the message yet."

"So, if we're going to leave, we have to find a boat ourselves." Li Ang said, "Under these circumstances, is it legal to steal a Count's ship?"

"In an emergency, it is." Lanslow nodded, "But they'll definitely have defenses there."

"I have one." Dorothy said.

The two men looked at her; the girl pursed her lips and quietly said, "My family privately equipped me with a small Flying Airship, not anchored at the trading port, but in the noble-exclusive port on the other side of Spark Island. But..."

"But?"

"I'm sneaking out now, Huo Fu might have people looking for me everywhere, so there are guards there too."

"The Black Knights can only guard one side." Lanslow said, "Most likely they are guarding the main port, so you and I can easily break through the defenses at the small port, except we can't bring Wendes back."

It was clear that Dorothy was also a bit disappointed, and Li Ang said, "If you plan to leave the island with me, you don't need to worry about Wendes anymore."

"So you're willing to officially let me join?"

Li Ang didn't nod, and Dorothy continued, "But if I just leave like this, if Wendes isn't captured, it'll leave a troublesome situation for my father and brother."

She added, "Ah, I'm not saying you guys haven't done your best, I'm being selfish, deciding to choose the life I want, yet I hope not to be blamed, trying to minimize any trouble left by my departure."

"Caring about others is a good quality, you needn't worry. Moreover, your life is yours, you don't have to be too burdened."

Li Ang said, "In adventures, you often encounter situations where you have to make choices."

Dorothy lowered her gaze, but a smile played on her lips.

Watching these two, Lanslow was a bit dumbfounded; he sighed and said, "Then it's decided, we leave on Lady Dorothy's boat at the noble-exclusive port. We have to get there before sunrise and plan the route."

"This secret passage probably extends a long way in that direction."

"Really? I thought it only existed within the Count's Mansion." The young man was amazed at the scale of the secret passage.

The three of them finally decided to rest and recharge for a while, then make their escape during the quietest time of the night.

"You should rest for a bit, having been injured and hiding for so long." Li Ang said to Lanslow.

The young man said that the seemingly most dangerous place was actually better for avoiding the Black Knights' pursuit, so he chose to hide within the Count's Mansion, constantly staying mobile to avoid the guards' patrols and the servants' routes.

In addition, after being spiritually activated by Li Ang in the morning and fighting, he had to escape from the Annihilation Knight, which had indeed drained much of his energy that day.

Letting Lanslow rest in the secret passage, Li Ang planned to explore the Count's Mansion. In terms of efficiency, he might even have two or three hours of rest time left over.

He really needed some sleep too, and once this was all over, he intended to have a long, deep sleep.

"You go, be careful, I'm sitting this one out."

Lanslow gave Li Ang a look that said, "I'm a good brother," as he temporarily left.

There were a total of three exits from the third-floor wall cavity to the outside.

The first was the observation deck on the exterior wall of the villa, fitted with ropes and simple climbing rings, presumably constructed for emergency evacuations.

Outside the second exit, they finally discovered something critical.

It was a spacious stone chamber, at the end of which was a metal door locked with a Magic Lock, and since it was constructed on the top floor of the villa, this was likely the most important place for the Feinat family, further proven by the demon lying in front of the metal door.

[The Pale Hound]

[Lurker in the Snow]

[Species: Wolf Species]

[Combat Wisdom: Tier 2]

[Servant: None]

[Energy Source: None]

[Physical Strength: Ice Beast Sharp Claw, Tier 4. Frost Leather, Tier 4.]

[Special Attack: None]

[Skills: Snow Adaptation, Cold Resistance]

[Combat Power Amplification: 5%]

It wasn't a particularly strong demon and had been captured using a Mental Suppression Scroll, taking a hit to its Combat Wisdom. Yet it still looked quite majestic from the surface.

Even while sleeping, those claws gleaming with a cold light conveyed a texture that could scratch steel, its beastly scent, and a low, growl-like snore that lent it an air of power.

Dorothy drew in a light breath: "Do we have to fight it?"

In her previous adventures with Li Ang, the whole team was made up of the most ordinary adventurers, dealing with Low Tier Demons like Desert Beasts, Azure Rattan Snakes, Rainbowclaw Birds in the Aomori Islands, and they'd only encountered a Two-legged Flying Dragon once.

To her, facing a Tier Four Demon was a bit nerve-wracking.

"Go, let me see the power of your Demon-Born Flower."

Dorothy's enchanting eyes moistened a bit, while Li Ang stood with arms crossed, not planning to make a move.

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