With Crusch becoming a Sleeping Beauty, the others at the scene had no strength left to resist.
Ren turned and left immediately, leaving the scene to Lye.
"Where are you going?"
The remaining survivors knew they couldn't let Ren chase Ferris, but whose order it was, they no longer remembered. They only knew that Ferris had gone back to seek help.
"Why are you ignoring me? I'm still hungry. I haven't eaten enough." Lye looked at everyone.
The others glanced around at the devastation. Although they didn't know Lye, there was no doubt that this disaster was caused by these two Sin Archbishops.
Seeing Lye advancing step by step, they felt fear.
Ren didn't pay attention to the lopsided battle anymore. He headed straight for Priestella, planning not to get involved in these events again.
On the way to the capital.
"I need to find Reinhardt. To help…help who? Help who? There must be someone important." Ferris kept running, but his memory was failing him.
The contract remained, but he couldn't find the one it was with.
At this moment, he seemed to have lost all meaning in living. He didn't know where to go, yet an obsession kept him running, seeking Reinhardt's help in the capital.
This attack by the Witch Cult was known only to Ferris. Everyone else had become Sleeping Beauties; no one remembered them.
This was also why the Sin Archbishop of Sloth caused the greatest disasters. Other Sin Archbishops could, to some extent, remove themselves from events, but Sloth acted without restraint.
Reinhardt followed Ferris to the scene and saw the mess, along with a dozen or so nameless people still asleep. He fell silent for a moment.
The Witch Cult…
Reinhardt had encountered Ren before. He was a Sin Archbishop.
Reinhardt didn't know exactly what sin he was affixed to, but his abilities were troublesome.
Killing him was impossible, and even if he captured Ren somehow, Reinhardt had no way to do anything to him.
This alone was enough to show how terrifying the Witch Cult was.
Now, two more Sin Archbishops appeared: Greed and Gluttony. The Sleeping Beauties here were undoubtedly related to them.
Ferris looked at the sleeping people and searched through them one by one but still couldn't remember the contract's partner. When he saw Crusch, the contract responded slightly, but he still couldn't recall.
He had betrayed the contract, and Ferris couldn't forgive himself. His expression darkened, and the lively demeanor he once had vanished.
"Ferris, are you alright?" Reinhardt asked, worried about the broken Ferris.
"I'm fine." Ferris's gaze remained gloomy.
Reinhardt didn't know how to comfort him.
Contracts—without a doubt—were extremely important in this world.
Some spirits would patiently wait for four hundred years just to uphold a contract. Others were willing to give up their lives for one.
The actions of the Witch's Cult quickly spread throughout the Dragon Kingdom.
Subaru Natsuki, who was part of the Witch's Cult, also heard the news.
For some reason, others seemed to forget, but he remembered the sleeping candidate for the royal selection, Crusch. This was an opportunity. Subaru intended to take Ferris under his wing.
He was a man of action and immediately set off. For the sake of helping Emilia become queen smoothly, he went straight to Roswaal to gather information about Crusch's faction.
…
At this moment, Ren had returned to Priestella. His residence had been tidied up nicely by Rem.
As for Ram, she was drunk. Ren sighed, staring at the girl lying on the bed.
"Lord Ren, you're back. Hic~" Ram greeted from the bed and let out a burp, clearly having drunk a lot.
"I commend you. Now, get some rest." Ren left Ram's room.
"Lord Ren, sister… she…" Rem felt a bit embarrassed. Already under the same roof, her sister acted as if she were the master.
"It's fine. The house relies on you, Rem." This was Ren's only comfort—having a capable maid.
"Yes, Lord Ren." Rem smiled, feeling happy from the praise.
Ren returned to his own room, thinking about Subaru's behavior, his brow furrowed.
Subaru had already turned his authority into a powerful tool. Without a doubt, he was the most difficult person to deal with.
Even though Ren had already set a trap for him, destroying the city Ren had worked hard to build would be effortless for Subaru. He wouldn't need to confront Ren directly.
"Archbishop Ren."
Ren quickly sat up. Not far from him stood a beautiful girl, draped in a simple cloth.
"Lady Pandora, what brings you here?"
"He has been summoned. The world's progress will accelerate from now on. Archbishop Ren, what will you do, being someone similar to him, yet different?" Pandora smiled at Ren.
"I thought as much. Lady Pandora, you're interested in me only because of my unusual origins." Ren had suspected it before, but hearing Pandora admit it put his mind at ease.
"Being Archbishop suits you. You are the perfect Sin Archbishop of Vainglory. Yet that is only part of it. Archbishop Ren, your choices, your actions, your direction—I am fascinated and moved by all of it. I will always watch over you." Tears glistened in Pandora's eyes, and she seemed genuinely moved.
Ren was speechless. He didn't know how to respond to Pandora's words.
"He is about to make his move. He is targeting the Sin Archbishop. Archbishop Ren, what would you choose? I am very curious." Pandora came to the side of Ren's bed.
"Lady Pandora, what exactly is your purpose?" Ren finally asked. He still couldn't understand Pandora's intentions.
Pandora only smiled at him. Her figure gradually faded until, soon, it was as if she had never been in the room.
"A mysterious woman." Ren sighed. The more enigmatic she was, the more uneasy he felt.
The following days were relatively calm. Almost nothing happened, until Anastasia arrived.
"Mr. Ren, the royal selection is not looking good." Anastasia sat on the sofa, sipping her tea lightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Emilia has once again challenged a Sin Archbishop. This time, it was the Sin Archbishop of Wrath. Based on his recent movements, the reports confirm it's true." Anastasia said seriously.
"Anastasia, from what I see now, it seems you have little chance of winning." Ren narrowed his eyes.
"At the moment, the odds are extremely low. It's like trying to make a deal that cannot be completed. But the possibility isn't zero, right?" Anastasia looked at Ren.
"When did a merchant become a gambler?" Ren squinted.
"But merchants pursue profit. As long as the gains far outweigh the risk, even the smallest chance is worth trying, isn't it?" Anastasia remained calm.
"Hahaha, Anastasia, I realize I like you. Very well, I will fully support you from now on." Ren laughed loudly. Anastasia suited his temperament perfectly.
"I am honored." Anastasia's lips curved into a smile. Her purpose was clear: to bet that Ren would give his full support.
"Anastasia, given the current situation, who do you think has the better chance of becoming king?" Ren asked.
"No matter what achievements Emilia gains, Felt has a better chance with the support of the Sword Saint. As for Priscilla, it seems she has given up on this royal selection." Anastasia gave her analysis.
Undoubtedly, her assessment was accurate. As a merchant, her instincts were sharp.
**********
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