The lingering scent of lunch still hung in the room. Sigrid stood and lightly smoothed out her dress.

She went to the mirror and checked her appearance. A satisfied and relaxed glint sparkled in her now-bright purple eyes.

Lan Qi hadn't moved, still sitting at the small round table, seemingly lost in thought.

The teacup beside his hand steamed. His fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop, his gaze seeming to look through the window, seeing the distant snowfields.

Between the two, the Cat Boss paced back and forth, its tail held high like a vibrant banner, urging them to set off on time.

"Cat Boss, don't leave my side for the rest of the journey."

Lan Qi looked down at the Cat Boss on the ground, reminding it.

They weren't far from Snowfield Province now, but that also meant it was becoming increasingly dangerous.

Lan Qi wanted to use the [Ultra-Long-Range Communication Magic] carried by the Cat Boss to directly contact the lords of Snowfield Province, but that wasn't enough. They would have to cross the mountains and travel some distance further towards Snowfield Province.

The [Ultra-Long-Range Communication Magic] only had a maximum range of a few dozen kilometers without relay stations.

To communicate over greater distances, they needed to use terminals with relay facilities.

Just like when Adams from the Aloran Kingdom academic delegation at the Ikritte Academy wanted to contact Knight Commander Julianna in the Aloran Kingdom, he had to put the [Ultra-Long-Range Communication Magic] card into the terminal provided by the Ikritte Academy, passing through numerous relay stations set up by the Kingdom United Council in the South Continent to complete the transnational communication.

The terminals currently set up in the northern part of the Empire were highly controlled by the military high command, and even nobles and officials could not use them.

"Okay, meow."

The Cat Boss nodded, understanding that the road south after leaving Danderon City would be very dangerous.

It would be difficult to get to the imperial capital, Herlom, via Snowfield Province and Box Mountain Province, and then break through the blockade checkpoints.

The main force of the Annihilation Branch was departing from the Northwest Province. The Annihilation Saint would arrive at the transportation hub, Box Mountain Province, with the Annihilation High Priests, and then heading north, they could reach Snowfield Province. A little further north was Danderon City, where they were now.

It circled around on the ground, becoming a little uneasy.

According to the conversations between Lan Qi and Sid that it had overheard in the past few days, the Annihilation Saint would most likely leave the majority of his main force in Box Mountain Province. As long as they guarded this one checkpoint, no one could forcibly break through the Empire-controlled northern blockade, ensuring complete security.

The further north into the vast snowfields, the harder it would be to find a needle in a haystack.

And since the Overlord Church wanted to return to the imperial capital before the election in late April, they had to use the magical energy rail transport of Box Mountain Province. The Annihilation Branch knew very well that the Overlord Church and the Overlord Saint would definitely go to Box Mountain Province.

Once they reached the "Rock Convergence" station, no matter how they disguised their appearance, it would be useless. The Overlord Church possessed a strong sealing magic, and it would be impossible to avoid the detection of mages within a certain distance.

"Sid, how much strength have you recovered, meow?"

The Cat Boss looked up at Sid and asked.

Sid had returned to her glamorous appearance. Her lithe figure showed no signs of weakness, but even the Cat Boss could sense that the dangerous aura on her body had vanished.

"Probably a little weaker than the state I pretended to be in on the way to the northern border. I'm completely relying on my Saint now."

Sid sighed helplessly.

Although the habitually arrogant and overbearing Overlord Church was unlikely to say such a thing, she was Sid now.

Moreover, this was the Saint she had personally chosen with her own eyes, so it could also be considered her strength. Relying on her own strength was clearly nothing to be ashamed of.

"Meow, meow..."

The Cat Boss thought that this harmless Sid was quite good, at least much better than before, but facing the danger ahead, it couldn't help but feel afraid.

Even if Lan Qi used his identity as Governor Rocky McCarthy, there was no way he could bring Sigrid through Box Mountain Province to the imperial capital. The main force of the Annihilation Branch in Box Mountain Province would kill them at all costs!

Gathering strength in Snowfield Province was far from enough to fight the main force of the Annihilation Branch. It was a difference in magnitude. Not to mention that the imperial army stationed in Box Mountain Province would currently assist the Annihilation Branch. In Box Mountain Province, if a fight broke out, they would help the Annihilation Branch first!

"Don't worry, I have a way to get her through Box Mountain Province."

Lan Qi put down his glass and leaned back in his chair, his spine straight.

The Cat Boss looked over and saw Lan Qi looking out the window, seemingly thinking about something.

"Escort me back to the imperial capital, and I'll give you a great reward."

Sid crossed her arms and nodded, becoming increasingly satisfied with her Saint.

"Besides, it's not good for the Annihilation Saint to block Box Mountain Province. What if other kind imperial citizens want to go to the imperial capital, Herlom, through Box Mountain Province and are troubled by them?"

Lan Qi muttered to himself, looking at the windowsill.

"...!"

The Cat Boss immediately felt a familiar feeling come over it, and a strong chill ran down its spine.

Once this fledgling developed a sense of public morality, nothing good would come of it! At least one sucker was definitely going to suffer!

Back in Hutton, the royal capital of Ikritte, there was still a normal person around to act as a reference for him. Since he had been exiled to the Empire, he had completely released the brakes and started to gallop wildly!

The Cat Boss had now gone from looking forward to meeting Hibernian to being afraid of meeting Hibernian.

It was guilty! It had no face to face Bao!

Just as the Cat Boss was struggling in pain, Lan Qi stood up from his chair, slung his coat over one arm, and looked at Sid.

"Let's go, Sid. But the journey ahead is getting more and more dangerous. You need to change your appearance again."

He took out a [Transformation: Human] card from his pocket and handed it to Sigrid.

Lan Qi didn't have any more of the [Transformation: Human] cards that had been additionally modified with hair color and facial tweaks.

The last one Sigrid hadn't used was the one he had used when he first came to the North Continent—

It could turn her into a brown-haired, green-eyed girl like Rocky McCarthy.

Sid took the spell card Lan Qi lent her and changed her appearance decisively, then looked up at Lan Qi.

From the moment she woke up, Lan Qi had changed his appearance, but only she knew that he was still him.

"I don't think I've ever seen you use this disguise."

Sid asked, puzzled.

She looked at the young man in front of her with black hair and green eyes, as if wanting to keep people at arm's length while still appearing harmless, more handsome than any of his previous disguises.

She didn't know why he wanted to be so conspicuous this time.

"..."

Lan Qi just smiled without saying a word as he held his coat.

(End of Chapter)