Chapter 49: Capture
Bailey City, Earl’s Court Hall.
The third scouting team leader Lockman Willen was reporting to Earl Dumbledore.
"What? You say those Murlocs built a city of that size?!"
Earl Dumbledore couldn't believe his ears. In Nordhill, the Murlocs were also called the goblins of the water, and nothing was outstanding about them other than their exceptional fertility.
"Yes, Captain Brance asked me to come back to report, and lead a scouting team himself to investigate."
"Okay, you okay return."
"Your subordinate will take his leave!"
Earl Dumbledore stood alone in the hall, contemplating.
Murlocs, the lowest species on the food chain... couldn’t have established such a large-scale dwelling place without the influence of a stronger creature. Moreover, who would want to influence Murlocs?
Dragons? Or deep sea creatures? Whatever it was, it would never befriend the Dumbledores!
No! I can't just sit here and await death.
Earl Dumbledore rubbed his temples as his head pulsed with a headache. He clapped his hands and called the maid outside the door.
"Go! Call the butler and the young master for me."
Soon, Ike and Babcock came together while Ike hugged his white cat. He saw his father with a solemn expression, and asked, "Father, what happened?"
Earl Dumbledore looked up and said, "You're here!..."
Earl Dumbledore briefly told them the crux of his worries, saying: "Ike, you lead the team, to capture Philea back and just ask her what it is!".
Ike realized the heft of the problem and urgent attention that it needed and forgave the lord’s indecorous behavior.
"Yes!"
The Earl Dumbledore looked at Ike, who had gone out, and said to the butler: "Babcock, you prepare an invitation and summon all the nobles and gather them for a meeting. They enjoy the shade of the Dumbledore family. It's time for them to pay their debts."
"Yes!"
Taking the order Babcock left the hall.
Earl Dumbledore took the glass on the table and sipped his sweet wine.
"Sigh! What eventful autumn!"
…
On the other hand, in a remote alley of Bailey city, Philiea, who was dressed in coarse linen,—which she bought from a woman who had just entered the city—her head covered in a white cloth, and holding a basket in her hand, sped down the alley lowering her head to the gate.
Just now, when Ike came to the Oliver residence to arrest her, she escaped through a secret passage. Now, she was wanted by the whole city and had to escape before the gates were closed, otherwise, there would be no place she could hide in Bailey City when it was fully operational.
"Stop! What are you doing?"
Philea, pretending to be frightened, said, "Going back home, Your Excellency."
"Go home?"
The guards looked up and down at Philea, who had magically changed her appearance, and it was also time when the peasant woman who had entered the city to buy something was returning home.
"All right! Go!"
Philea looked at the soldier who was letting her go and was relieved. She swiftly walked past him with the scent of incense.
The soldier sniffed the wafting scent and sighed in his heart: Ah! It smells so good!
The soldier was shocked, something’s not right! Ordinary peasant women can afford perfume.
"Stop her!"
Philea, who was about to escape the city gate, was shocked. Although she didn't know what went wrong, she couldn't bother to think about it and raised her finger.
Rua! Rua!
The soldiers were unprepared and were blinded by the strong light. In a panic, they closed their eyes and raised spears to stab in the direction they thought was right, but Philea had already escaped.
The riot at the city gate alarmed the patrol soldiers.
"Stop! Don't run!"
Philea blessed herself with a lighter body with a technique and continued to flee towards the woods.
At this time, a cynical figure walked out of the grove and blocked Philea's way.
"Miss Philea, I've been waiting for you for a long time. Why don't you come over to my house as a guest?"
Philea looked at Ike Dumbledore, who was holding the white cat with cold sweat on her forehead, she didn't want to face him at all. This Earl Dumbledore’s son was the number one magical genius.
Philea slipped her hand into the basket and touched a magic scroll, feeling calm: "I'm sorry, Master Ike, I don’t want this either."
…
In Earl's Castle Hall, Earl Dumbledore was having a good time with a tall old man with a white beard. Ike sat in a chair, covering his face with embarrassment, and Philea was taken into custody by the guards and was forced to kneel on the ground.
Earl Dumbledore personally sent the old man out the door, arching his hand and said, "It’s all thanks to Master Gandalf this time."
The old man picked up the fishing rod and small bucket on the ground and said with a smile, “I’m fortunate to have been honored by the Dumbledore family, it is only right that I find the opportunity to contribute.”
"You’re too modest, and the Dumbledore family is fortunate to have the chance to invite you."
After a few words of flattery, the old man with a white beard left.
Count Dumbledore smiled as he watched the old man walk out of the hall, and his face changed.
"Philea! You are so bold!"
Philea smiled bitterly: "Lord Andrew, I can't help myself either."
Ike rubbed his head depressed, and said, "Father, she never thought of taking my life."
“Yes, she wouldn’t have been kneeling here otherwise.”
Ike shook his head with a wry smile.
He was turned into a frog by Philea’s high-level malicious transformation technique, then she spared him and continued to escape.
It's just that Philea was not lucky enough and met Gandalf, the weapon master who was returning from fishing.
Under the legendary half-step weapon master, Philea was directly captured.
Earl Dumbledore saw his depressed son and comforted him: "Don't think too much. Who knows she might have a tricky voodoo scroll."
After saying that, he gave Philea a fierce look and said to the soldiers who were holding Philea.
"Let go of her, step back!"
The soldier bowed in salute and stepped down.
"Say! Who is your master! What is his purpose of inserting you in Bailey City!"
"Sorry, Lord Earl, I can't tell you!"
Earl Dumbledore frowned and figured out the reason. An evil existence would indeed bind their subordinates with contracts. So Philea's indiscretion was not a mere statement.
Thinking about it this way, Earl Dumbledore felt much better. After all, the Oliver family had been loyal for hundreds of years and made countless contributions to Bailey city. Their current generation of men had even fought for the Dumbledore family and died on the battlefield.
Count Dumbledore's tone softened a little: "Philea, I also watched you grow up. I don't want to torture you. You should take the initiative to confess everything you know."
"Hey, I..." Philea hesitated and stopped.
Earl Dumbledore realized that Philea was rigorous in signing the contract: "Ike, search!"
Philea did not resist, after all, resisting would be in vain.
"Come on, arrange a room for Miss Philea and monitor her 24 hours a day. She is not allowed to step out of the room."
"Yes!"
The guards took Philea away.
Earl Dumbledore looked at the white scale in his hand.
"White Dragon!"