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Chapter 235: Evening Party Riot (5)

The time goes back to when the bandits stormed the venue by using a hostage as their shield. It was at the moment when the bandit leader, who apparently disguised himself as a gardener, began his speech that Lieselotte thought she must flee with Fiora.

However, it seemed the bandits had cautiously kept an eye on the balcony as well. Before she could move, several armed men and women appeared on the balcony to block her path.

Young Lady?

Everyone, do not move. We must avoid creating any victims.

It was Hilda who quickly asked for Lieselottes opinion. If she and Chris who were her guards, Leo and Lappy who were disguised as her servants, and Fioras guard joined hands, they could easily overpowered the bandits in front of them with their bare hands. She sought a decision on whether to quickly defeat them and escape.

The response was a no. Lieselotte trusted the abilities of her two guards and knew that Leo and Lappy were equally capable warriors. However, she feared that causing a commotion would endanger the lady taken hostage.

Since she was neither a noble of the Galar Kingdom nor on an official visit, any incident caused by Lieselotte could potentially escalate into an international issue. With this thought in mind, Lieselotte chose not to intervene.

Lieselottes choice to just stay put for now and observe the situation proved wise. Just after that, a noble who was acting without thought denounced the bandits, which resulted in the hostage getting her face injured. Had Hilda and the others resorted to violence, the hostage lady would likely have suffered the same or worse injuries.

From then on, everything unfolded at the pace set by the bandit leader. Under the guise of negotiation and seeking their own safety, the nobles, who had previously scorned the bandit leader, began to appeal to him. The sight of them discarding their pride and fawning over him appeared disgustingly crude in Lieselottes eyes.

While inwardly despising them, she maintained a calm exterior as she soothed the frightened Fiora by rubbing her back. Amidst all of this, when the bandit leader called for someone to step outside for negotiations with the king and to offer his partner as a hostage, most of the nobles hesitated. However, an old man quietly raised his hand.

Wait. I will also go.

Grandpa

The one who volunteered was Fioras grandfather, the former Marquis Cornell Kehren. He had come to terms with the fact that he had to offer his dearly loved granddaughter as a hostage and was resolved to fulfill his duty as a noble by participating in the negotiations with the king.

The bandit leader seemed to recognize Cornels resolve. His scornful smirk that was playing on his face seemed to fade away and instead, it was replaced by an expression that even carried a hint of respect.

. It seems you are serious. Then, let us have your partner come forward. If I recall correctly, you have brought your granddaughter with you.

I have no intention of hiding her. Fio, come forth.

A Aight

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However, it seemed cruel to expect young Fiora to show the same resolve as the adults. She trembled with fear while clutching tightly at the hem of Lieselottes skirt.

In a risky move, Fioras guard attempted to step forward but was stopped by Hilda and Chris. They talked to the guard in a low voice so that nobody else could hear them and managed to persuade the guard to abandon their plan.

Stay calm and wait here until this old man returns. Dont worry, leave everything to me.

A Aight

Please wait.

?!

However, now it was Hilda and Chriss turn to be surprised. Lieselotte, in an attempt to protect Fiora, stepped forward and uttered something astonishing to the two guards.

Young Lady Fiora is still a child. It is far too cruel to take her as a hostage. I will take her place instead.

Having stopped Fioras guard, Hilda and Chris were in no position to make a careless move right now. From their perspective as guards, they wanted to silence her immediately. However, they remained silent so as not to provoke the bandits.

Lieselotte, in this situation, received looks of admiration from both Leo and Lappy. While jumping into danger might seem foolish, such action required great courage. Lieselotte, who showed such bravery, was both reckless and deserving of respect.

Lappy, you understand, right?

Mhm. We absolutely cant let her get hurt.

Leo and Lappy, in voices too soft for anyone but a demon to hear, confirmed their resolve to protect Lieselotte at all costs. The two of them who were disguised as servants exchanged meaningful glances with the two guards.

Hilda and Chris could roughly guess what Leo and Lappy were planning just from the determined look in their eyes. Considering the duos capabilities and their current disguise, Hilda and Chris had to focus hard not to let a smile of anticipation creep onto their faces.

How noble of you Very well. In respect of your will, I shall accept you as the hostage.

Big Sister Liese

Lady Fio, please excuse me for a short while. I will return promptly.

Whether she was aware of the silent exchange occurring behind her or not, Lieselotte encouraged Fiora before moving forward. Her guards tried to accompany her discreetly, but as expected, this was not permitted.

Oh, your two guards should stay here.

That is fine. However, I would like to have a servant accompany me.

Hmm I will allow one. It must be unsettling to be without anyone by your side.

Thank you. Leo, shall we go?

Y-yes, young lady

At this point, Lieselotte deliberately chose Leo over Lappy. It was clear that her offer to substitute herself was not a mere whim or folly. She was undoubtedly trying to turn this crisis into an opportunity. And it was precisely because she believed that her own guards would be willing to go along with her idea that she was able to act so boldly.

To meet her expectations, Leo had to respond appropriately. And so he accompanied Lieselotte while pretending to be pathetically frightened in a way that wouldnt arouse suspicion. The three people who knew him were worried that his excessive acting might give him away.

Fortunately, they were not discovered, and the two of them reached the side of the bandit leader. Lieselotte faced the bandits blades with composure, while Leo who was captured quietly, turned pale.

No one else claims to be the right one. it seems. Then, I permit the two of you to leave. But remember, the fact remains that we have hostages.

I will certainly persuade His Majesty! Absolutely!

Lieselotte, wait for me.

Filled with resolve, the viscount left the venue with a sense of determination, while Cornell exited with a quiet resolution. The sound of the hooves of their horses gradually faded away until it could no longer be heard. Once the sound was completely gone, the venue was once again enveloped in silence.

Lets hope the twos persuasion works out well.

May I ask something thats been on my mind?

The person addressing the satisfied-looking bandit leader was Lieselotte, who stood beside him as a hostage. Far from trembling in fear, she actually initiated the conversation; this was something the bandit leader had not anticipated. And this unexpected confidence caused him to open his eyes wide in surprise.

Her ability to remain calm was partly due to her inherently strong character, but more importantly, it was because she had a powerful guard called Leo by her side. However, to those unaware of this reason, it would seem like she possessed extraordinary courage. The nobles looked at her as if they couldnt believe what they were seeing.

Heh, I dont mind. Whether the persuasion is successful or not, I have two hours to spare. Ill answer what I can.

Then, without hesitation, my first question is, why did you target this counts household? It seems you had made quite the careful preparations

What Lieselotte first noticed about this attack was how well-prepared it was. Even for a large mansion, it would be noticeable if there were many unfamiliar servants.

This meant that they had infiltrated little by little over a long period of time. Lieselotte suspected there must be some reason behind this extensive planning.

We have no particular grudge against the counts family. Its simply that their assessment of hiring servants was lax. Thats all.

What!

A lot of servants were needed to manage a large mansion and large garden. Physical labor could be left to slaves, but managing the mansion and taking care of the garden could not be entrusted to them. They had to employ people with education or specialized skills.

At that time, it was natural to investigate the background connectionsbut the counts family had been sloppy in this matter, making it easy to infiltrate their household. The sole reason for choosing the counts family was this vulnerability, which also implied a lack of thorough management of their household staff. The count in question had lost all the leeway he had when he exchanged words with Lieselotte and was glaring at the bandit leader of the family, his face red with shame.

Its not a personal grudge, but rather it was because you chose the most efficient place for your cause, didnt you?

Exactly. You are a smart young lady.

Although not particularly pleased by the praise, Lieselotte courteously responded with a thank you. She then proceeded to ask several questions that a calm person would find pertinent, such as whether everyone in the mansion was gathered there and if they had infiltrated other houses as well.

However, the leader only answered what he had initially said he would. He deliberately concealed any serious details, sometimes hinting at something in a meaningful way, clearly intending to stoke the nobles anxiety. He was not a fool who would blabber about everything just because his plan was going well.

Then my final question. Who exactly are you?

I dont see the purpose of your question. We have already said we are refugees.

Can mere refugees craft such a long-term, meticulous plan? Its also unnatural for so many people with a certain level of education and coordinated skills to be mixed in with refugees. This means

Before Lieselotte could finish voicing her conjecture, the leaders expression abruptly turned serious. He averted his gaze from her and glanced at his clock. It had been less than two hours since they had started the negotiation but he signaled to one of his subordinates with a look.

At this, the subordinate raised his drawn sword high. It seemed Lieselottes questions had probed too deeply. The gleaming blade, swung down to forcibly silence her, was about to strike her when, at the last moment, it was deflected by another blade.

That was a close call, huh!

This brat gah!?

Wha, aghhhhh!

The one who had intercepted the blade aimed at Lieselotte was Leo. He quickly knocked down the bandit who had turned his sword on him, seizing the sword in the process. With a fluid motion, he parried the other attacking blade and cut down the bandit before him, then swiftly flung the sword he was holding.

The thrown sword impaled the wrist of another bandit who was holding the other hostage, freeing her from her restraints. In that instant, the guards who had been unable to act to ensure their masters safety leaped into action all at once.

**********

TN: Like Hilda and Chris, I had a hard time not to smile lol.

TN: Btw, the reason she didnt choose Lappy is probably because she fears the little girl might get injured and because she likes her a lot, but more importantly, it must be because she thinks that Leo is stronger than Lappy. And while that is true, it is only true if Leo uses all his capabilities as a demon and his weapon. Lappy was mentioned to be as strong as Antares in bare-handed combat before.