Chapter 464: The Captured Wizard

Arrios addressed the crowd below, continuing, “Through special means, I’ve glimpsed fragments of his memories. I can confirm that they are a group of extraterrestrial demons. Their appearance seems to be part of a plan to seize our world, making them an even greater threat than the demons we know.”

“So, everyone, I urge you to spread this information. If you encounter individuals with powers similar to exorcists but who are not exorcists, contact me immediately. These individuals are extremely dangerous and must be dealt with!”

“Kill him! Kill him!”

The crowd, fueled by hatred, turned their gaze toward the man tied to the cross, eager to see him executed.

As the lord of Amy City and its protector, Arrios held a position of great authority and respect.

The people trusted him unconditionally and had no reason to doubt his words.

Helag controlled his expression as he looked at the man on the cross, careful not to show any reaction.

He didn’t recognize the man.

But Helag could sense the faint aura of magic emanating from him.

The man was clearly weakened, barely clinging to life.

He was likely a crystallized wizard, though Helag couldn’t tell if he was part of Operation Cradle or the expedition team.

Based on Arrios’s account, Helag pieced together what had likely transpired.

These wizards must have clashed with the local exorcists, leading to a confrontation that drew the attention of Arrios, an Apostle-level exorcist.

Arrios had intervened, killing two wizards and capturing one alive.

Unable to communicate due to the language barrier, Arrios had likely used special methods to access the wizard’s memories, learning that he came from another world.

As a powerful Apostle exorcist, Arrios quickly recognized the immense threat they posed.

He had seen glimpses of powerful beings in those memory fragments.

If they were to arrive here, it would spell disaster.

As Amy City’s protector, Arrios felt it his duty to publicize these events, raising awareness among the populace.

Arrios addressed the angry crowd, “This man cannot die yet. We know too little about them and need to extract as much information as possible. I need you to spread this news. The more people know, the better we can protect our home and our world.”

The cities of the Portlands Empire were largely independent, with no efficient means of communication between them.

Arrios had no choice but to inform the public, relying on travelers to spread the word far and wide.

His goal was to raise awareness, so people would recognize these wizards as extraterrestrial demons.

Helag glanced at the wizard on the platform, noting his vacant eyes and unstable mental state.

He quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact.

If Arrios noticed anything amiss, it could spell trouble. Helag wasn’t confident he could handle an Apostle-level exorcist.

Though he wanted to communicate with the wizard and gather information, it seemed impossible. The wizard was under Arrios’s strict surveillance, leaving Helag with no opportunity to approach him.

Acting rashly would only draw attention and invite danger.

Helag set the thought aside, resolving to stay alert for any related news that might present an opportunity.

As Arrios spoke, his gaze swept the crowd, as if searching for something.

Spotting Jim, he called out, “Jim, you’re back?”

It seemed Arrios and Jim were well-acquainted, exchanging greetings.

Jim approached respectfully, “Lord Arrios, I have urgent news to report.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it,” Arrios replied.

Jim quickly recounted the events at Thousand Lakes Town, introducing Helag in the process.

Arrios gave Helag a cursory glance before musing, “It seems there’s indeed a significant issue at Thousand Lakes. Based on your description, that creature is certainly Apostle-level, though its purpose for remaining in the lake is unclear.”

Arrios’s expression grew serious, realizing the gravity of the situation.

An Apostle-level demon posed a potential threat to all of Amy City.

Demons could grow stronger by absorbing demonic aura, and if it began killing, its power would rapidly increase.

Arrios said, “Thank you for the information. I need to convene a meeting and act swiftly.”

With characteristic decisiveness, Arrios returned to the Lord’s Manor with the captured wizard.

He needed to gather his subordinates and plan how to deal with the demon in Thousand Lakes.

Any discovered demon had to be dealt with immediately—a lesson learned through countless bloody experiences.

The demon’s presence in the lake suggested it was preparing for something, and Arrios wouldn’t give it time to complete its plans.

“Helag, I need to head to the Lord’s Manor to see if I can help. Here’s my address in the city if you need to find me later,” Jim said, handing Helag a wooden plaque resembling a property deed.

The plaque read: “17 Bordeaux Street, Jim.”

Helag memorized the address and nodded, “Got it. I’ll find a place to stay for now.”

Jim waved and jogged after Arrios.

Helag didn’t spare Arrios another glance, keeping his head down as he left.

He pondered whether Arrios’s departure to deal with the lake’s issue might provide an opportunity to contact the wizard.

Such a move carried significant risk, and Helag weighed whether it was worth it.

After walking through several streets, Helag chose a quiet inn and checked in.

In this world, gold, silver, and copper coins were the main currency, a fact Helag had learned in Leaf Town.

He used gold coins he had remelted, free of any wizard plane markings, appearing as ordinary coins.

This precaution was necessary to avoid exposure—he didn’t want to reveal his identity over something as simple as currency.