Chapter 346: Chapter 292 Vatican Mura Chapter 346: Chapter 292 Vatican Mura “Breathing accelerated, pupils dilated–these are the symptoms of an adrenaline addiction.”
Hanna said leisurely, “You stayed in Vatican Mura for more than four hours today, didn’t you? You’re not from the Six Emblems clan, and you haven’t undergone Demon Extraction Treatment, so how could you possibly leave No Return City?”
The Goblin’s face turned extremely ugly. He motioned with his fingers, and the railcar returned to the core district area. The passengers inside revived like parched earth after a timely rain. Even Ash and the others felt a sudden sense of relief, as if every cell in their bodies was dancing–
The Swindler, having seen countless sugar men, was the first to realize. His face turned extremely pale: “That was withdrawal! We’re hooked on sugar!”
“No wonder,” Harvey said with cat grass smoke hanging from his mouth, “I was wondering why my craving for smoke had lessened so much. It wasn’t that my willpower had grown stronger, but rather my craving had been satisfied.”
Ash hugged Liss in shock. Sugar? They hadn’t eaten any sugar, so how could they possibly–
Everyone realized something at the same time and looked out at the light fog!
By now, the sky had completely darkened, and the city’s neon lights were shrouded in an eternal thin mist, where the frantic light pollution was given an ambiguous filter, like the shy joy of a young girl’s boudoir, yet also like a nightmare specter lurking with intent to kill.
“Don’t be tense.” Banjee said, “Though it can cause psychological dependence, it does no harm to the body, and it can be completely eradicated through Demon Extraction Treatment.”
“What exactly is this fog?” Igula mumbled.
“Below Vatican Mura is an underground farm that spans across the entire city, where mermaid scent is grown.” Hanna said. “It is the main ingredient in cat grass smoke, an essential component for various hallucinogenic drugs, and the primary industry of Vatican Mura.”
“The biggest problem with cultivating mermaid scent is that it constantly emits ‘Beauty Mist.’ Beauty Mist cannot be dissipated by any magic means, and it becomes highly toxic when concentrated. There’s only one way to deal with it–relying on people to breathe it in.”
“But magicians soon discovered that processed Beauty Mist was not only non-toxic but could also bring people long-term, sustained mental bliss, much more comfortable and healthier than smoking cat grass.”
“And so, Vatican Mura became the city of mist you see now,” Hanna continued. “First in average life expectancy, first in law enforcement, first in work efficiency, first in public happiness, hailed as ‘No Return City’ Vatican Mura, from which you cannot escape once you arrive.”
“Now standing before us,” the Beastman and Goblin’s expressions regained calm, “are two travelers who couldn’t resist Vatican Mura’s allure.”
“It’s okay, I’ve already notified the Duchess to come. We can wait here as long as it takes–”
“You’re out of time,” Hanna said, smiling.
As if uttering a summoning spell, in the next second, the whirring sound of what seemed like a flying vessel sliced through the night sky. A dozen Red Hats, standing on balancing boots, surrounded the railcar, and a cautionary voice spread through the carriage: “Currently, we suspect that criminals are maliciously controlling the railcar to disrupt traffic. All passengers are required to disembark immediately for inspection. I repeat, please all passengers disembark immediately for inspection!”
“We’re surrounded by Red Hats!” Ash immediately tensed up: “What do we do? Fight our way out?”
“No need to break out, just surrender,” Hanna said with a light tone.
Igula squinted his eyes: “Miss, have you forgotten the new Contract we just signed? Or does a Contract hold no binding power over you?”
“It’s not like that.” Banjee explained, “The reason we came to Vatican Mura is that there’s someone here who can protect us–Miss’s aunt is a Red Hat of Vatican Mura.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already notified my aunt, these people are here to pick us up,” Hanna said with a smile.
Ash and the others immediately relaxed, giving Purple Moth the thumbs up.
Indisputably a person bold enough to desecrate the Divine Lord was poised to act premeditatedly–
As soon as Ash and the others left the railcar, they were immediately controlled by Red Hat, and not just Ash, even Hanna and others were firmly shackled with magic chains, pressed down on the ground, all members!
Silently, the group looked at the young miss. They said nothing, yet it seemed as if everything had been said.
“Do not lift that person’s cloak,” a voice had just delivered a message from Cleos, “that person’s appearance seems to be able to cause immense spiritual shock to mages.”
Ash heard it and felt absolutely dreadful–how did this rumor mold him into some ultimate invincible ugly Demon King?
He noticed Hanna turned pale instantly upon hearing this voice, as if some grand demon had arrived. When he followed the voice, he only saw a pair of snowy legs in thigh-high boots.
A mature and charming Red Hat Elf appeared before them, her waistcoat accentuating her towering peaks, and a mini skirt just covering the splendid view. The thigh-high boots stepped out with elegance as she walked up to Hanna and the others, looking down at these refugees from Azura.
She waved her hand, signaling for Red Hat to drag away the broken household agency’s affairs commissioner: “Wreck them as much as possible within allowed limits, otherwise every city gutter rat will dare to scurry through Vatican Mura.”
Then the Red Hat Elf turned to the crowd. Ash and the others trembled, even Igula did not dare to act rashly–though she did not release any magic power, her gaze alone was sufficient to exert serious pressure on the Two-winged Mages!
They had actually been captured by a Holy Sanctuary Mage!
Now it was utterly hopeless!
Only Hanna stubbornly raised her head and shouted, “Where is my aunt!?”
Ash and the others were instantly impressed–worthy of the young miss, effortlessly doing what we could not achieve!
“Nona Senheiser abused her authority, colluded with outsiders, and sold Red Hat information. She is now detained and suspended, waiting for punishment,” said the Red Hat Elf indifferently: “You won’t be able to wait for her.”
“But you can’t arrest us!” Hanna shouted, “We’re law-abiding citizens–”
“Red Hat is now suspecting you of involvement in perpetrating crimes, and is officially detaining you for reconnaissance and interrogation.” The Red Hat Elf borrowed a piece of scrap paper and a pen from someone else, scribbled a few lines, and threw it to Hanna: “If you like, I can write a few more–no need to write for that fugitive, right?”
Hanna gritted her teeth and said, “Qinna, you–”
The Red Hat Elf kicked Hanna in the face with her boot, not to be underestimated in its power. Hanna was kicked a few meters away, the Elf having not a shred of compassion for the beauty. “Impolite,” she coldly stated.
Banjee hurriedly pleaded, “Mrs. Qinna, the miss did not mean to talk back to you, she just–”
“Enough Banjee, no need to make excuses for that girl,” she said. “After all these years, she’s still the same good-for-nothing, completely turned into a Doran–inept at achieving success, proficient at causing failure.”
Aside from Banjee, everyone else was stunned by the magnitude of information in her words.
“You all must be the scrap metal my daughter picked up,” the Red Hat Elf looked at Ash and the others as if they were a pile of toys.
“Welcome to Vatican Mura.”