Chapter 78 : A Daring Escape, Daniels Arrives Just in Time
Chapter 78: A Daring Escape, Daniels Arrives Just in Time
The upper level of the Blood Anchor Dungeon.
The rioting prisoners were like a pack of wild dogs driven to the edge of desperation.
They swung rusty chains, fragments of broken bones they had picked up, and even fought barehanded, roaring as they charged toward the narrow corridor exit.
The guards, in turn, formed a defensive line as tight as an iron barrel.
Their spears stood like a forest, advancing step by step.
“Get back!”
“Damn bugs! Get the hell back!”
The captain of the guards shouted hoarsely, his face splattered with someone’s blood.
Yet, he dared not strike to kill.
Because Lord Servan had issued a strict order himself — the one wearing a priest’s robe must be captured alive!
The problem was—
Who the hell could tell which one was the priest?!
Now, every prisoner was disheveled, covered in grime, and dressed in rags.
It was impossible to tell who was who among the crowd!
A guard had just used his spear shaft to knock down a prisoner lunging at him.
Immediately, two more pounced from the side, clinging tightly to his legs.
“Damn it! Pull them off!”
“Careful, don’t kill them! Damn it!”
The captain stomped his foot in frustration, feeling utterly stifled.
Their restrained fighting style, however, allowed these starving, frenzied prisoners to actually hold their ground against the well-equipped guards!
Meanwhile, Colin was tense as well.
He had long since torn off his tattered priest’s robe and hastily thrown on a set of leather armor and a helmet stripped from an unconscious guard.
He smeared dirt and blood from the ground across his face and now lingered at the edge of the crowd.
Colin quietly observed the situation.
When he noticed that the guards only dared to shove and strike with their spear shafts, not daring to kill, he immediately understood.
“Servan still doesn’t dare to kill me… Good.”
Such a situation was undoubtedly to his advantage!
He suddenly shoved the thin, bewildered prisoner beside him and growled in a low voice, “Run! Head for the stairs! Quickly!”
The prisoner stumbled forward from the push, instinctively dashing toward the staircase where there were fewer people.
Colin followed close behind.
At the same time, he imitated the guards’ tone, shouting, “Stop right there, bastard! Catch him!”
While chasing, he watched the guards’ reactions from the corner of his eye.
As expected—
His disguise and convincing performance did not arouse any suspicion, for now.
One fleeing, one pursuing.
They quickly charged up the narrow stone steps leading to the surface.
The higher they went, the brighter the light became.
The salty scent of the sea grew stronger and stronger.
Pushing open a heavy wooden door, the view suddenly widened before them.
A massive warehouse appeared, filled with barrels and crates that reeked of fish and salt.
Dried fish, oysters, sun-dried seaweed…
The mingled odors of various seafoods created a unique scent belonging to the old dock district of Lemon Port.
This—
Was the disguise of the Blood Anchor Cellar — a seafood warehouse on the surface!
A spark of joy flashed in Colin’s heart.
He was just about to use the stacked cargo to conceal himself—
“Hey! You there!”
A sharp shout came from the side.
Colin’s heart tensed, but his steps did not falter.
A guard clad in armor much finer than that of ordinary soldiers, with iron plates inlaid into his cuirass, stepped out from behind a pile of cod barrels with several subordinates.
The man’s eyes fixed on Colin suspiciously.
“Which squad are you from? Why are you chasing alone?”
“And what’s the situation below?”
That personal guard—
Was one of the assassins who had seen Colin’s face before!
The man frowned, his hand already resting on his sword hilt.
Colin, realizing the danger, lowered his helmet brim and mumbled vaguely, “The riot’s too chaotic… that guy ran too fast, I—”
He spoke while hastening his pace, intending to circle around a mound of herring barrels.
“Stop right there!”
The personal guard’s eyes turned sharp as blades as he barked, “Take off your helmet!”
Colin knew he could no longer keep up the act.
The instant the man’s words fell, he burst into a sprint toward the warehouse door!
“Catch him! That’s the priest!”
The personal guard finally realized the truth.
Roaring, the man drew his sword and charged after him at incredible speed.
At the same time, a sharp whistle echoed through the warehouse!
More guards emerged from every corner, closing in on Colin from all directions.
The heavy thuds of boots and the shouts rising one after another shattered the warehouse’s oppressive silence.
Colin darted through the towering stacks of cargo, weaving left and right, dodging desperately.
He crashed into a barrel of pickled sardines.
The stench of brine and the slippery fish spilled all over the floor, tripping two guards who had chased too close.
Then he leaped over a crate full of dried seaweed.
The warehouse door was right ahead!
Through the gap of the half-open door—
Colin could even see the gray, hazy sky above the docks outside!
“Close the door! Quickly, close it!”
“Don’t let him get away!”
At that moment, a guard at the doorway shouted urgently.
Several of his companions threw their weight against the heavy wooden doors.
The hinges groaned harshly, the sound grating like metal on bone.
The gap between the doors was shrinking fast!
Colin’s pupils constricted sharply.
Not good! He was about to be trapped inside!
Once the doors closed, he would become a turtle in a jar—nowhere left to run!
……
Outside the warehouse.
Daniels crouched in the shadows of an alley piled with torn fishing nets. He had been waiting far too long.
There was no movement at all from Baroness Erica’s side.
The message stone he had sent had vanished without a trace.
That shrewd woman had indeed chosen to wait and see.
“Should I keep waiting…?”
“But every extra second means Colin is in even greater danger!”
Just as Daniels grew restless with anxiety—
A burst of commotion suddenly erupted from the direction of the warehouse!
“Something’s happened inside!”
A sharp gleam flashed in Daniels’ eyes; he could no longer hold back.
He pulled down his hood and, like a leopard that had been lying in ambush, lunged toward the warehouse doors!
“Out of my way!”
With a thunderous roar—
Daniels’ greatsword swept out in a wide, crushing arc!
The guards at the door were still busy closing it, never expecting an attack from outside.
The blade slammed into them with brutal force!
“Ahhh!”
Screams rang out.
The guards were sent flying like pins struck by a bowling ball.
The heavy doors, losing their push from within, suddenly halted—and even rebounded open slightly from the impact!
It was Brother Daniels!
Colin’s heart clenched tight for a moment, then surged with wild joy!
Daniels saw him too!
Their eyes met in midair—no words exchanged, only instant understanding and shared exhilaration.
“Go!” Daniels growled deeply.
He swung his sword backhanded, forcing back the guards rushing in from the side, clearing a path for Colin.
Colin didn’t hesitate for even a heartbeat; he brushed past Daniels and dashed out through the warehouse doors!
Outside, the air of the damp, cold docks struck his face—
It was the breath of freedom!
However—
He had only taken one breath of that freedom—
Before shouts of pursuit rose again from all directions.
“Over there!”
“Block the dock exit!”
“Don’t let them escape!”