"What nonsense are you talking about? Who do you think you are, ciming you can save us?!" Lady Jessica's face was stern as she berated Rulu sharply.

  "If you didn't understand, I'll say it again." Rulu replied with perfect calm. "I have a way to deal with that monster. I can save everyone in this city — including your Lord Euphemia. Did you understand me?"

  "Nonsense. Guards, throw these two out." Lady Jessica called out, and the soldiers immediately moved toward Rulu and Kallen.

  "Please, wait." Lord Euphemia spoke up, and the soldiers halted at once. Lord Euphemia studied Rulu's face with a thoughtful expression. "I feel like you look familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

  Rulu blinked and lowered his head slightly. "No, I have never had the honor of meeting Lord Euphemia before."

  "Then what is your name? And where are you from?"

  "My name is Qin Lulu. The one beside me is Kallen. We came here from Huaxia Nation through a Sanctuary tour group."

  "So you came from Huaxia Nation…" Lord Euphemia nodded. "Mr. Qin, you said just now that you have a way to deal with the monster — is that true?"

  Rulu said with full confidence, "Of course it's true. Otherwise I wouldn't have come all the way here."

  "And what is this method, may I ask?"

  Rulu smiled. "It's simple. Lord Euphemia, all you have to do is walk out and offer yourself to the monster. Then it will stop its attack and leave Yufei City on its own, and everyone will be saved."

  "How dare you — you're being absolutely outrageous!" Fury fshed across Lady Jessica's face and she was about to sh out, but Euphemia raised her hand to stop her. Lord Euphemia looked at Rulu with imploring eyes. "Mr. Qin, please stop joking. If you truly know how to deal with the monster, tell me quickly. I will be forever grateful."

  Rulu said, "I'm not joking. That monster came here specifically for Lord Euphemia."

  Lady Jessica said, "Nonsense. The monster has never seen Lord Euphemia before. How could it possibly be after her?"

  "It hasn't seen her — but the person controlling it from behind has."

  Lady Jessica's heart jolted at those words. After a brief pause for thought, she said, "You mean the monster was sent here on someone else's orders — that it was directed to come and attack Yufei City?"

  "Exactly. Otherwise, how could it be clever enough to find this pce from so far away?"

  Lady Jessica fell silent. She carefully thought back over the entire sequence of events and felt it was indeed quite possible that someone had been pulling strings from the shadows. "Then who do you think is controlling the monster?" she asked.

  "That I don't know. What I can tell you right now is that there is only one thing you need to do: find a way to capture the person maniputing the Hydra from behind. Once you have the one controlling the Hydra, you effectively control the Hydra itself — and that will resolve this crisis."

  "I see." Lady Jessica's expression cleared with understanding. She turned to the Suzaku Guard Captain. "Guard Captain, is there a way to capture the one secretly controlling the Hydra?"

  The Suzaku Guard Captain thought for a moment, then said, "That won't be easy. First, we have no idea where this person is hiding, so we have no way to move against him. Second, if he's capable of controlling the Hydra, even if we do find him, he'll simply direct the Hydra to attack us. We'd fail to capture him and likely get killed by the Hydra in the process."

  Lady Jessica said, "So there's nothing we can do against him?"

  "That's correct."

  Rulu said, "Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't. With mine and Kallen's assistance, you should be able to capture the one controlling the Hydra from behind."

  "Just the two of you?" Lady Jessica cast a skeptical look at Rulu and Kallen, doubtful of their abilities.

  Rulu replied with an air of complete confidence, "Kallen and I both attended military academy, and we are both Level Four Ultra-capables. Kallen here is also an expert pilot of humanoid armored soldiers — her abilities are no less than any of your soldiers. With our help, you can absolutely capture the one maniputing the Hydra."

  The Suzaku Guard Captain had already witnessed Kallen and Rulu's abilities firsthand and had no doubts about Rulu's words. He said, "Lady Jessica, what he says should be true. As it happens, we have two armored suits remaining. Why not let me and Miss Kallen pilot the humanoid armored soldiers and go find the one controlling the Hydra? This is our only chance right now."

  "I suppose that's all we can do." Lady Jessica gave a slow nod, then fixed Rulu with a scrutinizing gaze. "However, I have one more question. Why are you helping us? You must have some purpose in doing this."

  Rulu said, "Yes. If Lord Euphemia drives away the Hydra with my help, I want my friends and me to be able to stay in the Sanctuary permanently — to be granted the right of permanent residence. That is my request and my condition."

  Lady Jessica frowned. "You're asking a great deal. The privilege of permanent residence in the Sanctuary isn't something that can simply be handed out to outsiders like you."

  Rulu said, "That's fine if you're unwilling. But let me remind you — if Yufei City is destroyed by the Hydra, even if Lord Euphemia herself survives unharmed, I doubt she would remain Lord much longer. And the others around Euphemia would be held accountable and face severe punishment — most likely expulsion from the Sanctuary."

  Apparently struck close to the truth, Lady Jessica's expression darkened considerably. The Suzaku Guard Captain fixed Rulu with a wary stare. "How do you know so much about Sanctuary affairs? Where did you learn all this?"

  "There's no need to ask around for something like this — it's easy enough to figure out on your own." Rulu said casually. He turned his gaze to Lord Euphemia. "So, Lord Euphemia — do you accept my terms?"

  Lord Euphemia didn't hesitate for a single moment. She said with urgent earnestness, "Yes. I accept your conditions. As long as you can drive away the monster, you and your friends may all stay and live in the Sanctuary permanently."

  Lady Jessica said, "Please wait — this needs to be carefully considered."

  Lord Euphemia spoke in a firm tone. "There's nothing more to discuss. My mind is made up. There is no time to spare. Mr. Qin, please act quickly. Whatever it takes, stop this monster from continuing to destroy my city and killing its people."