Who made him a paladin?

Chapter 26 A Sense of Disconnection

Without much small talk or pleasantries, Xia Nan gestured for York to lead the way.

But the further you go in, the denser the shacks become on both sides of the passage.

The tents made of tattered cloth were placed close together, with only a narrow path in the middle for one person to pass through.

The [Dancing Light] spell swept across, illuminating the haggard, bewildered, and listless sallow faces, and faint sobs could be heard in the air.

Another mother squatted at the entrance of the shed, bit her own finger, and put it into the mouth of her baby whose face was covered in filth.

"My darling, we have food."

However, the baby was just a toy doll, and beside the mother was a small mound of earth that seemed out of place on the gravelly ground.

According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 20,000 ratmen in Wiss City.

In order to survive, they chose to squeeze under the feet of a royal capital, competing for territory with real rats.

Xia Nan secretly vowed that as long as he found an opportunity, he would definitely change this situation.

But right now, we need to deal with the rat infestation.

At least give these poor people a safe place to live.

"Stop looking, the mission is more important."

Sylvie bit her lip and reluctantly followed.

After walking for about half an hour, Xia Nan gradually realized that something was wrong.

The ground beneath our feet dried up, the sewage in the drainage ditch disappeared, and the walls of the passageway were painted a clean white.

This is not how a sewer should look.

York stopped and pushed open the rusty iron gate.

The smell of alcohol and tobacco hit me.

Xia Nan narrowed his eyes.

The scene that came into view had absolutely nothing to do with the rat infestation.

Under the dense illumination of the fluorite, a spacious area appears before your eyes.

A dozen or so wooden tables were placed in the center, covered with wine jugs and bone dice.

Thirty or forty people gathered here, including both humans and demi-humans.

They were either clinking glasses or arm wrestling.

Some of the female demi-humans were even snuggling up to other men, and in one corner, two burly men were even fighting each other, with onlookers cheering them on.

Laughter and cheers filled the air, and glasses clinked in celebration.

Xia Nan turned his head and looked at the rat-men who couldn't even straighten their backs when they walked.

He turned back to look at the group of people inside the iron gate, their faces ruddy, well-fed and satisfied, as if they were having a lavish party.

Why is it so divided?

Just as Xia Nan was rubbing his head in surprise, a bald man with a face full of scars swayed over, clearly having drunk quite a bit.

The burly man looked at Sylvie with a lewd and greedy gaze.

"Hehe, little sister, want to play with us? We're all gentlemen among gentlemen."

"Pfft."

One ear flew off in a spinning motion and landed on the ground with a "thud".

The burly man was stunned for a full two seconds.

Blood then gushed from the wound, flowing down the neck and into the collar.

"ah--!!"

The burly man screamed and knelt on one knee, covering his earlobe, which was now only half-broken cartilage, with blood gushing out from between his fingers.

too fast.

It happened so fast that most people around didn't even have time to react.

When Xia Nan looked closely, Lisa had already leisurely walked back to Sylvie's side.

He then calmly took out a white cloth and wiped the fresh blood off the dagger.

Her eyes were expressionless and indifferent, completely unlike the typical loli-like face.

"If you disrespect Her Highness the Princess again, next time it will be your neck."

"He——"

All the burly men present gasped, their eyes turning to the doorway.

Several burly men who were about to draw their weapons stopped abruptly upon hearing the word "princess".

They were both surprised and puzzled.

How could a noble royal princess possibly come to such a filthy place?

Even York was slightly taken aback.

In his mind, he would rather believe that he could become a nobleman than believe that a princess would come to such a place.

But what he was certain of was that the group of people in front of him were definitely from the Vatican.

York waved his hand, signaling those who wanted to make a move to back down.

"York," Xia Nan spoke first, his tone not exactly harsh, but certainly not friendly. "Where's the outbreak point? Why did you bring us here?"

You'd better explain right now.

York was also somewhat confused.

In the past, when the Vatican sent people to deal with the rat infestation, they would rest here first, and then hand over the rat poison to their own people to put in, without having to go out themselves.

In his gaze, flames were already burning at Sylvie's fingertips, and the half-goat had his hands behind his back, as if he might draw a dagger at any moment.

Even between the fingers of Xia Nan's right hand, a small sword slid out.

"Sir, you've misunderstood. I... I just wanted to ask everyone to rest first."

Xia Nan looked around the room with a serious expression.

These people have no source of income, yet they can afford to drink alcohol, eat meat, and even have the energy to play around with women.

Did they embezzle the Vatican's supplies?

Xia Nan hates corrupt people the most, especially those who covet the money of the weak.

He decided to complete the mission first and deal with these people when he got back.

"Take us to the mission location first, we can rest when we get back."

York's lips twitched; he clearly hadn't expected this unfamiliar face to act so unpredictably.

"No problem." He turned and beckoned to a tall, thin subordinate. "Corey, take a few men to the restricted area."

As Corey led the way, bowing and scraping, Xia Nan saw a boy sniffle and emerge from the darkness carrying a kerosene lamp.

Xia Nan's brows twitched slightly.

Isn't this the boy who saved Sylvie with the kerosene lamp during the previous assassination attempt?

"Little one, what are you doing here?"

The boy didn't show any excitement at being recognized; he simply bowed slightly and spoke in a hoarse but polite voice:

"Sir, do you need a guide? It only costs one copper coin, and I can go anywhere."

Xia Nan looked at the light sphere of [Dancing Light Technique] floating above his head.

This ball of light was a hundred times brighter than the kerosene lamp in the boy's hand.

He knew perfectly well that Xia Nan had no shortage of light sources, yet he insisted on leading the way, clearly indicating that he had something to say.

Suddenly, Corey strode forward, shoved the boy's shoulder aside, and spoke in a loud voice that sounded like he was arguing.

"Where did this brat come from? Can't you see the Paladin is handling a case?!"

"I'll beat you to death!"

Just as he was about to raise his hand to teach the boy a lesson—

"Bang!"

Xia Nan kicked out directly, striking Corey hard in the abdomen.

With Xia Nan's current strength rating of 14, one can imagine the impact of this kick on an ordinary person.

Corey was sent flying backward, his back slamming heavily against the opposite pipe wall. Spiderweb-like cracks appeared in the gray glazed bricks. His body slid down the wall, curled up on the ground, and dry heaved several times, unable to get up for a long time.

"Don't you respect me at all?"

Just as Xia Nan finished reprimanding him, two pieces of information quietly appeared on the left side of his field of vision.

[Sylvie's favorability +2]

[Talia's favorability +2]

Xia Nan turned his head slightly and found that the two of them were looking at him with rather satisfied eyes.

Sylvie crossed her arms in front of her chest, pursed her lips, and nodded.

Talia was more direct, clapping her two little hands silently in front of her.

It seems that the positive emotional feedback from sexual desire is indeed effective.

Xia Nan squatted down and looked the boy in the eye.

"What's your name?"

The boy blinked and answered in a serious tone.

"Sir, my name is Love."

Xia Nan fell silent.

In the Imperial language, "love" means "want to be full".

So he reached out and patted the boy's thin shoulder, then stood up.

"Love, we're going to the rat infestation site. Are you scared?"

Love smiled and shook his head.

He then turned around, picked up the kerosene lamp, and walked ahead silently.

Perhaps for him, not having enough to eat was far more terrible than the rat infestation.

After all, rats only bite, but hunger kills.

Xia Nan followed behind, and with the help of the light from the [Dancing Light Spell], her gaze inadvertently fell on the back of the boy's neck.

There are four or five red swollen spots on it, some of which are still oozing blood, and some have already scabbed over.