Imperial Crown

When she said this, Mansini locked her eyes on Raven's face, hoping to see some emotions from his expression, such as surprise, urgency or gloating.

The news of the orphanage being surrounded was left to the end because Mansini wanted to see if Raven was really as calm as he had shown before.

Because the Moon of Mercy Orphanage was where Raven was born, and he was driven out from there when he was fifteen years old.

But to her disappointment, Raven was very calm, and raised his eyelids and asked: "Are there any more?"

"... No, Baron." Mansini lowered her head.

"Eric!" Raven stood up and raised his voice: "Gather the people and get ready to go!"

Eric's voice came from outside the door, and then there were waves of footsteps.

Raven dressed neatly and walked out of the house, pausing slightly at the door:

"If you do it again, I will strip you naked and hang you at the door."

With a bang, the door was closed, shaking Mansini's body.

Leaving the villa, Raven led the team to rush to the Moon of Mercy Orphanage.

On the way, everyone also encountered some scattered undead creatures, but they were basically cannon fodder skeletons, which scattered as soon as they were rushed.

Half an hour later, when they arrived at the outskirts of the Moon of Mercy Orphanage, Raven saw that a group of skeleton soldiers had surrounded the orphanage in three layers, with cannon fodder skeletons as the vanguard, mixed with first-level elite skeletons and rotten soul corpses.

This kind of gradient attack, at a glance, it is clear that there is a shepherd commanding.

A trace of doubt floated in Raven's heart - strange, why would the Death Hand Cult pay so much attention to an orphanage?

However, this did not affect Raven's decision. He opened the Eye of Truth and ordered Eric to lead people to rush towards the shepherd.

Under the iron hoof sweep, the shepherd almost instantly went to meet his God of Death, and the surrounding undead creatures lost their command and began to become at a loss.

Those who were about to climb the wall in the distance stopped and left, while those who were close began to circle around Raven and his party by instinct.

Let Eric continue to lead people to clear and disperse the undead creatures around, and Raven and Lux ​​walked into the orphanage. At this time, the gate had been breached, and scattered broken bones could be seen on the ground.

Opposite the gate was a memorial wall, engraved with the names of "good people" who donated to the Month of Mercy.

Every time he saw it, Raven wanted to tear it down - if only one percent of the amount recorded on it flowed to the orphanage, his childhood life would not be so miserable.

Just after bypassing the memorial wall, a headless skeleton fell in front of Raven with a snap. Looking up, Raven's eyelids began to twitch.

I saw that the dean, Ms. Nightingale, was facing two first-level skeletons, holding a long-handled broom in her hand, dancing tightly, and the broom was shining with golden holy light, the purity and intensity of which were almost no less than Lux's before.

The 73-year-old man still looked elegant. Although he was wearing a dress, his old face was resolute and his hands were not chaotic at all.

The next moment, Nightingale swept across, and under the burst of holy light, he cut the remaining two first-level skeletons into four parts. Their lower limbs fell to the ground, but their upper limbs were still struggling to crawl.

Raven had always known that Nightingale was a second-level combat priest, but he never had a clear concept in his mind. Now he understood.

What combat priest? It was clearly a retired Knight of Light!

The old dean smashed the skull of one of the skeletons with a broom, and a crossbow arrow was inserted into the head of the other one.

Nightingale looked in the direction of the crossbow arrow and immediately saw Raven: "Is it you?"

"Dean, I'm back." Raven smiled, put away his crossbow and spread his hands: "The undead outside have been driven away by my men, let's go in and talk?"

Nightingale looked at Raven from head to toe with a scrutinizing gaze, and then her eyes fell on Lux behind him. As a clergyman, she could feel the pure holy light on Lux.

"Little girl, you come in first."

"Raven, clean up the yard first."

After saying that, she turned around and walked in front.

Lux said: "I'll go with him."

Nightingale paused: "...It's up to you."

Then he walked into the gate.

In response, Raven was not hypocritical and began to throw bones out from the wall: "Lux, don't do it, this is the task given to me by the dean."

"Okay."

While cleaning up the broken bones in the yard, Raven was also looking at the environment in the yard. Everything here was almost the same as before he left.

The public security in the downtown area is chaotic, and the cute and tender children always attract all kinds of malicious eyes, so the four walls are more than two meters high and are filled with broken ceramic pieces, in order to prevent outsiders from entering and prevent those energetic children from rushing out rashly.

The orphanage can only barely operate with the meager funding from the church, and it has to do everything possible to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Therefore, most of the originally quite wide yard has been converted into fields, where some seasonal, easy-to-survive, and high-yield vegetables are planted, some of which are sold and some are consumed by themselves.

The only place left for the children to play is a small piece of flat land that has been trampled to the point of being barren.

There is also a half-crooked old tree on the flat ground, with a swing tied to the trunk with a leather rope, which is almost the only leisure activity for the children.

The surface of the leather rope is full of traces of wind and frost, and it breaks several times almost every year, so there are more than a dozen knots of different sizes on the two leather ropes, and they will not be replaced until they can no longer be used.

Raven still remembers that he had a fight with others for the swing, and they were both punished to stand for an afternoon, and could only watch others play.

"Baron, what are you doing...?" Eric was shocked when he entered the yard after cleaning up the undead creatures outside: "Please put it down, leave this kind of work to us!"

"No need." Raven said: "Take people to guard outside and don't let anyone in."

Eric didn't quite understand why Raven had to clean the yard himself, but he still followed the order: "Yes, sir!"

For Raven, the reason for doing this is very simple.

Because from the perspective of today, the orphanage used to treat him very well.

If he hadn't been raised here, the twisted monster in the lower city would have eaten him to the bone, but he chose to repay kindness with hatred.

Moreover, based on how bad he was back then, even if Dean Nightingale killed him, no one would pursue him, and many people would only applaud.

That was a second-level Knight of Light!

Thank you for the old dean's love for raising me and not killing me.

What's the big deal about sweeping the yard?

There were not many bones in the yard, and they were quickly cleaned up. Raven stretched and walked into the orphanage.

This is a two-story stone building. The hall is empty at the entrance, but it looks a bit messy, obviously it was just crowded with people.

Now there is only one woman standing in the corner, lowering her head and saying: "Baron..."

This voice sounded familiar to Raven: "Lian?"

Lian, the first woman in Raven's life, is also the only disciplinary nanny here.

The woman raised her head. She was already in her forties and looked older than her age. Her face was full of wrinkles. Her eyes drifted away in shame, and she didn't dare to look at Raven at all.

To be honest, Raven's feelings for Lien were very complicated. On the one hand, it was because of her care that he was able to get enough nutrition during his youth; on the other hand, it was also because of her temptation and instigation that he ran all the way on the wrong path.

Raven had also heard some rumors about what happened after he left. The relationship between the two of them could not be covered up, and was soon known by Lien's husband. After a fight, they divorced as a matter of course, and their two children no longer recognized this mother.

It was difficult to say who was more sorry for whom between Raven and Lien.

Lien's heart was also complicated. If Raven was not a baron now, she would definitely rush to ask Raven to compensate her, but the gap in their status was too great now, so she couldn't even think of going out of line.

She said calmly: "The dean is waiting for you in the office on the second floor."

Raven nodded and walked upstairs.

The orphanage was more dilapidated than when he left. His feet stepped on the wooden stairs, which creaked, but it was still as clean as ever.

Arriving at the office, just like when he left, Dean Nightingale sat behind the desk, staring at Raven with a sharp gaze.

Although she was already over seventy years old, the old lady was very vigorous, and that look made Raven feel uncomfortable.

"Sit down." Nightingale said.

Sitting opposite Nightingale, Raven was as uneasy as a student facing a teacher.

"Raven." Nightingale said, "You finally lived like a human being."

Lacus was immediately curious: "Dean, when Raven was young, was he very... careless in his work?"

"More than careless." Nightingale rolled her eyes: "This kid has never been easy on me. He is always there for fights and troubles, and he often sneaks out. If I hadn't restricted him, the Moon of Mercy Orphanage might have become the Moon of Mercy Gang!"

"However, he is a natural aristocrat. He never blinks when he lies, and even if he is caught in the act, he is very stubborn and can blame others for what he has done."

Lux became more and more curious: "All these happened after he was eight years old?"

"Some happened before he was eight, and some happened after he was eight." When Nightingale mentioned this, he became more and more angry: "Especially when he was a teenager, he was really too much..."

Raven's face turned red: "Director, it's all in the past, don't mention it, give me some face?"

Hearing this, Nightingale's attitude softened: "It's because you saved the orphanage today, otherwise I would definitely not forgive you."

In fact, it's not just because of this. As a retired clergyman, Nightingale saw at a glance that Lux was a priest.

The key is that she actually maintained her purity while still having a good impression of Raven.

If Raven hadn't learned to restrain his desires and respect others, these two characteristics would never exist at the same time.

"The undead army of the Death Hand has already invaded the city." Raven said, "The orphanage will only become less and less safe. Now that I have temporarily controlled the Silver Hand Brotherhood, do you want to move your people there?"

Raven was a little nervous when he said this, worried that the Silver Hand Brotherhood would cause Dean Nightingale's disgust, but it turned out that he was overthinking.

Nightingale thought for a while and said, "From a safety perspective, it is indeed a good idea, but the Silver Hand Brotherhood is a gang after all. If the children have too much contact with them..."

"Ms. Nightingale, I think nothing is more important than the lives of children." Lux said: "And people in gangs are not naturally bad people. They are influenced by the environment. If you can tell them Share and spread the kindness of the Lord of Light, and I think they can be influenced.”

This sentence was so naive that Raven was a little stunned, gangster? Believe in the Lord of Light?

It's a bit too explosive no matter how you think about it.

However, perhaps this was the thinking of the clergy, and Nightingale actually resonated with it: "Little girl, you are right, I was too narrow-minded before, and only wanted to separate the children from the gangs, but I did not expect that, As long as the environment doesn’t change, gangs will always exist.”

"Did you just uphold this philosophy and influence Raven?"

Raven was stunned for a moment.

Lux influenced me, how could I not know?

However, Raven didn't refute, at least this would make the orphanage safe, and it would also satisfy his little remaining conscience.

"Sooner rather than later. The children have been frightened and woke up. Now it's time for your guards to take them away with them." Nightingale said: "But before that, I have two things to give you."

As she spoke, Nightingale opened the drawer and took out a wooden box.

Raven's eyes lit up: "This is your baby."

"Well, it's old and no longer needed." Nightingale opened the box: "It's such a mess outside now, so you can use it to maximize its value."

Suddenly, a magical light appeared in the room.

There is an emerald green bracelet in the box. It is made of metal and studded with diamonds. The green light flows in it, making it look like an outstanding work of art.

"This is the 'Netherworld Snake Ring'. It is a trophy obtained by wiping out a cult when I was young. It is a second-level magic prop that can release the second-level magic 'Fang Sting' once a day."

With a click, Nightingale's fingers exerted slight force on both sides of the wooden box and lifted up the part containing the Hades Snake Ring.

This box is actually divided into two layers: upper and lower.

Nightingale turned the box and revealed a shell-shaped brooch inside.

This shell is only the size of the palm of your hand, and its entire body is pink in color. It has the common wrinkle patterns of seashells, and the colors are rippling, as if it is under the rugged light.

"This is the 'Phantom Light Shell', a creation of the Naga clan."

"Wear it on your body and activate it with magic power or fighting spirit. It can form an invisible barrier around your body. It can not only protect you from arrows, but also deflect the light around you like sea water."

As she spoke, Nightingale put it on her chest. After a flash of light, her figure suddenly moved about thirty centimeters to the right, but her voice remained in place: "In battle, you can use it to deceive. Opponent’s vision.”

After taking off the brooch, Nightingale appeared in the original position again: "These two things are yours now."

"You really want to give it to me?" Raven was stunned.

"Take it." Nightingale showed a kind smile: "Although you made the most troubles when you were young, I also know that you must be the one who can achieve the greatest achievements."

"The Eagle Territory is in the northwest of the province. It is a good thing that you can travel thousands of miles to support Men'en City."

"That's good."

Raven let out a long sigh of relief and smiled.

To Raven, whose parents died when he was young, Nightingale was like his mother.

The reason why I haven't come to the orphanage since entering the city is because I don't know how to face her.

"I'll organize an evacuation right away."

From infancy to sixteen years old, there are children of all ages in the orphanage, more than one hundred and thirty people.

Eric, who received the order, originally thought that this would be a troublesome mission. There were more than a hundred people, and he didn't know how long it would take just to assemble them.

But what he didn't expect was that in just ten minutes, the children packed their luggage and packed their bedding.

Children as young as six or seven can carry a package that is almost as tall as themselves; not to mention older children, in addition to carrying luggage, they will also consciously take younger children with them.

The children of the poor become rich early.

For the first time, Eric realized the meaning of this sentence so deeply.

The journey that was expected to take three hours was completed in just over an hour.

When she saw the children in the courtyard, Manseni's face turned pale - this is the headquarters of the Silver Hand Brotherhood, a gang stronghold, not a kindergarten!

When a little girl rushed over to call her sister and asked her where the toilet was, her face became even bluer.

But seeing Raven's meaningful eyes, Manseni had no choice but to be patient and point her in the direction.

The little girl bowed to her: "Thank you, brother, you are such a good person!"

Then he jumped away.

Manseni's face was feverish. She waited until the little girl walked away before cursing in a low voice: "You brat, you are the good person! Your whole family is a good person!"

Children are always lovable, especially obedient ones. In just a few days, the entire Silver Hand Brotherhood began to have a different energy.

The coalition forces also had their own actions. Everyone wanted to gain the friendship of the Slater family, so even though they had learned from the past, they began to send people to spy inward, trying to find a relatively safe shortcut to the inner city.

Rumors of nobles being injured and killed came every day.

Raven seemed to be completely out of the picture. Except for occasionally returning to the camp to show his presence, he always maintained a leisurely attitude.

It was not until the sixth day after returning from the Mercy Moon Orphanage that Mansene reported the news.

Flood Alley was open.

Flood Alley, a passage connecting the old city and the inner city, was hidden and narrow. Even the locals might not know that it had been occupied by the undead army.

In addition to this alley, Raven also monitored six streets at the same time.

After receiving the news, Raven immediately gathered his men and led the team to set off.

Compared with when the city gate was just broken, the environment in the outer city was completely different. Wandering cannon fodder skeletons could be seen everywhere. Some building doors were broken and blood was splashed everywhere.

However, these wandering skeletons were completely unable to stop the horses of Raven's personal soldiers. Raven passed through Flood Alley without any decent obstacles and came to the edge of the inner city.

Just as Raven was about to shout to the top of the city, a shadow suddenly passed through the originally clear sky.

The decaying gale blew past, and the huge body of the bone dragon fell on the top of the wall, and its shovel-like tail landed less than 30 meters in front of Raven.

"Ang——"

A dragon roar like a giant bell swept across, and the bone dragon raised its head

The blazing white breath of death condensed in its throat!

...