Chapter 94: Arrest
Chapter 94: Arrest
"Loren, Laila, please come with us."
Early the next morning, Loren was awakened by someone calling for him outside. He was still a bit dazed when he heard the voice.
"What did you call me?"
After getting dressed, Loren went to the door and opened it. Outside were members of the Enforcement Team. They had come in large numbers, fully equipped with weapons and gear, their expressions grave.
This was the first time since arriving here that Loren didn't see fawning expressions on people's faces.
"Loren, Laila, you are suspected of molesting women. Please come with us."
The Enforcement Team member repeated the statement. Loren still couldn't quite believe it. He even dug at his ear:
"You mean you just called me by my name directly? No 'Mentor'? No 'Master'? What level are you to deserve that?"
Laila, who had just rushed out, froze for a moment upon hearing this. She realized she had always addressed Loren by his full name.
While pleasantly surprised, Laila also couldn't hold back. Molesting women? Me?"If you don't come with us voluntarily, we'll have to enforce it."
"Young man, I admire your courage. You're so ambitious, so ambitious you can't even see how much you're actually worth."
Loren didn't need to think to know what was going on. These people were most likely like those two assassins—Helen's trusted followers. Usually accustomed to throwing their weight around with her, they didn't know their place.
Indeed, even the King usually had to tolerate them. They wouldn't fear a foreign tourist like Loren. They also didn't know the weight behind the title "Master Mentor."
"I'll go with you."
Loren walked ahead of them. Laila paused for a moment, then followed behind Loren.
"No weapons allowed."
The leader, the deputy captain of the Enforcement Team, reached out toward Loren, attempting to take the weapons on his person.
"You've truly never seen the underworld!"
Seeing the deputy captain push his luck, Loren kicked him down the stairs.
To maintain his persona of being physically weak, Loren didn't even use much force. Yet he still succeeded. These people's skill level was lower than Loren had anticipated.
Yesterday's assassination attempt on Loren had already put immense pressure on the inn. Today, with this incident happening, someone had run out to send word as soon as they realized the Enforcement Team meant trouble.
The person managing this inn, which was very important to the Bardo Kingdom, was also of considerable standing.
The deputy captain stood up, rubbing his buttocks, glaring viciously at Loren:
"Get him!"
Just as the Enforcement Team member beside Loren raised his club, Laila's fist landed on his face. The tremendous force directly caved in his cheek.
Actually, Laila wasn't clear on exactly how high Loren's status was. Otherwise, she wouldn't have started calling him by his real name as soon as they became familiar. In her view, Loren was just somewhat famous, after all, Loren held no official position or noble title.
She genuinely didn't know what a monumental achievement "improving the Orthodox Gods' hymns" was. Based on that alone, any Church would enshrine Loren.
"How dare you..."
Before other team members could voice their condemnation, Laila threw another punch, disabling him. Frankly, these Enforcement Team members around them were just ordinary people. At best, they knew a few martial skills. They were no match for Laila at all. With one punch each, Laila knocked them all down.
"Master Mentor, we might have to part ways temporarily..."
Framing Laila herself was a minor matter, but Laila couldn't stand seeing them lay hands on Loren.
Laila had long been prepared to become a wanted criminal. The things she usually did were enough to get her hunted down if exposed. It was just that she had been cleaner before. But this time, it was in front of everyone.
"I'm just a passing adventurer who can't stand your conduct."
Laila raised her gun. Having struggled out in the world for so long, Laila had learned the principle of either doing nothing or going all the way.
Although beating up a few people wouldn't get her a death sentence, these people's backgrounds weren't simple. If she were really caught, she wouldn't have a good outcome. Better to just kill them all and quickly flee.
Before Laila could fire, Loren pressed her hand down.
"To destroy someone, destroy their heart."
Loren revealed a mischievous smile. He didn't continue to act, nor did he leave. He just silently waited for the Enforcement Team's next move.
Seeing this, the deputy captain thought Loren had been intimidated by them and became arrogant again. Loren could only sigh, no wonder this guy could be Helen's deputy.
"Assaulting the Enforcement Team adds to your crime!"
The deputy captain walked up to Loren and raised his club. But before it could descend, someone blocked the blow for Loren.
This time, it wasn't Laila. Someone had beaten her to it.
"What the hell are you doing!"
The newcomer was a knight. He bore the royal insignia on his person. Simultaneously, many armored knights entered the inn. They were the Royal Guard.
Seeing the Royal Guard arrive, the deputy captain grew somewhat timid. The difference between the Enforcement Team and the Royal Guard was like that between constables and imperial guards. Frankly, if he were beaten to death here today, there'd be nowhere to seek justice.
The knight crushed the deputy captain's club, his eyes wide with fury, his hand already on the sword at his waist.
"It's not their fault. They're just following the rules. I committed the crime of molestation, though I don't know when. But I think it's better if I go with them."
Loren pressed down the knight's hand, stopping the half-drawn sword.
He didn't use much strength, but struggling free from Loren's grip now would be disrespectful. The knight could only suppress his anger.
The knight glared viciously at the deputy captain. He knew Loren didn't want the matter resolved so simply. He could only pray Loren's wrath would focus on the Enforcement Team.
A man respected worldwide for his virtue and knowledge, saddled with such a charge—it was normal to feel anger.
The knight really wanted to slap them. Taking a step back, even if they really wanted to frame Loren, why choose this charge? Loren's noble character was famous. All these years, not a single scandal had emerged. He had even rejected all of Bardo's overtures.
"Laila, remember to save me some lunch.
"Let's go."
Loren voluntarily walked to the deputy captain's side, simultaneously stopping Laila from following him.
By now, a few of those Enforcement Team members knocked down by Laila had regained consciousness. This time, none of them dared approach Laila. Their main target was Loren anyway.
"Move."
The deputy captain gave the knight a triumphant glance, completely failing to notice the knight's gaze was like looking at a dead man.
"Quickly send people to watch over Master Mentor! We absolutely cannot let anything happen to Master Mentor!"
The knight shouted loudly to his subordinates, while also glancing at Laila's expression out of the corner of his eye.
His words were meant for Laila, precisely to use her as a mouthpiece to tell Loren how much importance they placed on him.
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