Pete's face turned deathly pale, his whole body going limp as he collapsed onto the ground.
It's over. I bet wrong. This time it's completely over.
Colin was dead, the guards had arrived, and he had followed this dark wizard… in this prison… would he even have a way to survive?
But before long, the guards' strange walking posture and silence drew the attention of the other bullies.
"S-sir… are you alright?" one of them asked tentatively, his voice trembling.
The guard did not respond.
He walked straight up to Allen, and then, under everyone's shocked gaze, dropped to one knee.
"Only today…" his voice was hollow and devout, like someone praying in a church, "only today did I come to understand what a true god is."
He raised his head, looking up at Allen, his eyes filled with fanatical reverence.
"I have finally found my master."
The bullies exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from confusion to fear, and then from fear to disbelief.
"You are the one and only apostle chosen by the gods," the guard continued, every word sending chills down their spines. "I am willing to give everything for you, including my worthless life."
He carefully took out the stolen items from his chest. Holding them with both hands, he respectfully raised them above his head.
"Now, please allow me to return your noble possessions to you."
Allen took the items and checked them one by one.
Short sword, present.
Ring, present.
Cloak, present.
…
Money pouch—
He opened the pouch and counted. His expression instantly darkened.
"Where are my two gold coins, seventy-six silver coins, and five copper coins?!"
The guard hurriedly took out the money he had just embezzled, then began trembling in fear.
He had only taken 2 gold coins and 76 silver coins.
As for the 5 copper coins, they were too insignificant—he had casually tossed them somewhere and had no idea where they were!
Growing more and more terrified, he simply emptied out the dozen or so silver coins in his own pocket as well, stuffing everything—gold and silver—into Allen's pouch.
Everyone watched this bizarre scene, not daring to make a move.
Finally, someone spoke in a trembling voice: "Y-you… what exactly… are you?"
Allen raised an eyebrow. He tossed the question to the guard kneeling on the ground.
"Tell them what crime I was imprisoned for."
The guard lifted his head and answered mechanically: "The Chosen One was discovered to be a black dragon lurking within Stormwind, and was therefore imprisoned."
Allen Prestor raised an eyebrow and swept a playful glance over the bullies.
Thud.
Thud, thud.
One after another, the bullies dropped to the ground, trembling, wishing they could bury their faces in the straw.
W-what is wrong with Stormwind? Even a black dragon doesn't get the death penalty? They throw it into prison instead?
Stormwind is beyond saving!
Pete, on the other hand, instantly puffed out his chest with pride.
I recognized a black dragon as my boss?
I've struck it rich! This time I've really struck it rich!
Allen ignored those lying on the ground. He crouched down and extended a finger, lightly touching a mouse that had crawled out from the corner of the wall.
[Speak with Animals]
The mouse squeaked, its sounds turning into fragmented words in his ears.
"Hungry… hungry…"
Allen smiled faintly and said to the mouse: "Go call all your kind. Today I'll let you have a proper feast."
The mouse tilted its head at him, then darted back into the hole in the wall.
...
Trade District
Second Floor, The Gilded Rose Inn.
Wren stood by the window, observing the movements on the street through a gap in the curtains.
He wore a dull gray coarse cloak, with a shabby felt hat pulled low over his head, covering most of his face.
He had never worn such shabby clothes before.
Morgan had taken off his armor and was wrapped in an obviously undersized, worn-out coat.
Stella had stuffed her signature blue hair into a wool hat, wearing an adult's old shirt whose hem dragged down to her knees. She had even smeared dirt across her face, looking just like a little beggar.
Wren let out a sigh.
The past two days had been unbelievably unlucky. Stormwind had suddenly issued a warrant for their arrest, without even giving an explanation. They could only flee, hiding from place to place.
The only thing that could be considered good in these past days was that he had discovered the Gilded Rose Inn.
Soft beds and pillows, plus soundproofing—it was far better than the Pig and Whistle Tavern.
If he ever had the chance in the future, he would never stay at the Pig and Whistle again. From now on, he would always stay at the Gilded Rose.
The reason they had moved here was twofold: first, they were wanted; second, they had tracked the escorted Allen to this place.
Stormwind Prison was located on a small island in the canal between the Trade District and the Mage District.
That gray stone fortress stood in the middle of the river, connected to both banks by only a single stone bridge—easy to defend and hard to attack.
At this moment, all three of them were looking out the window, staring at the distant outline of the prison.
The atmosphere was tense.
Because—they were preparing to break someone out of prison.
Stormwind Prison rotated its guards every eight hours. During the transition, there would be a few minutes where the defenses weakened. They planned to use that window to storm in, and then rescue Allen!
Action begins!
Over the past few days, Stella had painstakingly made several large crates of engineering smoke bombs, preparing to use them during the rescue.
After Morgan loaded the last crate of smoke bombs onto the carriage, Wren and Stella also came downstairs. They quietly boarded the carriage.
They looked at each other inside.
"Thank you for trusting me and my young lord. I won't say more—there will be great rewards!"
Morgan and Stella both nodded firmly.
Everything was ready.
The prison break operation begins.
The previous coachman had not been wanted, but he voluntarily followed Wren and the others, wanting to help. At this moment, he was steadily driving the carriage.
The carriage arrived at a street in the Mage District closest to the prison.
There was almost no one here.
Tall mage towers lined both sides of the street, with few pedestrians in sight.
With a determined heart, the coachman suddenly unfastened the horses' reins. The two horses neighed loudly and ran off.
"Oh no! My horses! My horses ran away!"
The coachman jumped down from the carriage, shouting anxiously as he ran toward nearby guards.
The empty carriage remained in place, its door facing toward the prison.
Inside the carriage, the three quietly lifted a corner of the curtain, nervously watching the prison in the distance.
Finally.
The guards on the stone bridge began to move.
The time for the shift change had arrived.
Wren tightened his grip on his bow, Morgan pressed his hand against his sword hilt, Stella hugged a pile of smoke bombs—
Suddenly.
They froze.
Beside the carriage, a manhole cover suddenly opened from below.
A head popped out.
Allen poked his head out and looked up at the carriage. Wren's hand was still on his bow, Morgan's eyes were wide open, and Stella held the smoke bombs, her mouth forming an "O."
They stared at each other.
Allen blinked.
"Yo."
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