The people whom Calian had previously freed from the city lord's residence, currently still shackled by anti-mana and magic handcuffs, felt a profound joy laden with immense relief after hearing the announcement.
The voice echoing from the skies of Gias City was like a miracle that put an end to their nightmare. Slowly, one by one, they began to emerge from the houses and their respective hiding places. Dragging their heavy feet, they moved along the streets of Gias City.
The clinking sound of metal scraping against metal rang out every time they moved their hands. The anti-mana and magic handcuffs worked constantly, pushing their physical condition to an extreme point of weakness.
However, something had drastically changed in their eyes. Their faces, which had previously been filled only with fear, deep trauma from torture, sorrow from being separated from their families, and the constant worry of being hunted down again, now slowly began to clear. The lines of despair were swept away, transforming into expressions filled with hope for true freedom.
The imperial soldiers scattered across various corners of the city acted swiftly to respond to the situation. In accordance with the Emperor's absolute instructions, they altered their formation. The imperial soldiers closed their ranks to escort the shackled individuals. They formed a protective perimeter on the left and right sides of the victims, ensuring their journey to the Adventurer's Guild would not face even the slightest disturbance.
The city residents watching the procession from the sides of the street stared with heavy hearts. Seeing them walking with a limp while being escorted by several soldiers, with the victims' hands tightly bound by anti-mana and magic handcuffs, successfully stirred the citizens' humanity. They felt profound pity for the tragic fate that had befallen the victims.
"I didn't expect that those who were kidnapped would be subjected to such cruel treatment." a man said with a trembling voice, his jaw clenched to hold back his emotions.
"I feel the same way as you do!" a middle-aged woman standing not far from him chimed in. "The actions of those kidnappers are absolutely outrageous! They treated their fellow humans like hunted animals!"
Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the emotional commotion happening on the city streets, the atmosphere inside the guild lobby felt much calmer.
Elara was sitting gracefully in a chair, reading the thick document previously handed over by her son.
Her eyes moved left and right with utmost scrutiny, reading through all the evidence of crimes and the list of traitors who had ruined the peace of the people living in the Erthland Empire.
"Your Majesty?"
A soft, hesitant call suddenly broke the Emperor's concentration. The voice instantly made Elara stop her reading. She closed the thick document gently, then immediately turned her head toward the woman who had called her.
"Yes, Milla?" the Emperor replied in a gentle tone. "Is there something you wish to say to me?"
"First of all, please forgive my insolence, Your Majesty."
Milla inhaled and exhaled slowly several times. She deliberately did so to dispel the nervousness and the violent pounding of her heart. Asking something deeply personal to the most powerful person in the empire required immense courage for a commoner like herself.
Elara did not interrupt. She simply looked at the woman's beautiful face in silence. She patiently waited for what Milla was going to say.
"Actually... how could you possibly know my identity and my blessing, Your Majesty?" Milla asked after she managed to calm her nerves.
Elara did not feel surprised at all by the question coming from the woman's mouth. Her expression remained calm. She found it perfectly understandable to receive such a question, a very natural reaction for someone to feel both astonished and wary when another person suddenly knew about their identity and the secret blessing they possessed, which was something deeply personal.
Elara wanted to answer everything truthfully and openly. However, it was impossible for her to reveal that Calian was currently executing a secret mission in a public place like this.
Telling the truth in the guild lobby, out in the open where many people could hear, would be an incredibly reckless action.
"I will answer that when we arrive in the capital later!" the Emperor answered straightforwardly, offering a promise along with a subtle boundary so Milla would not ask further questions in this place. "It is best for you and your family to pack up immediately! Once you have finished packing, return here!"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!" Milla replied while bowing her head.
A wave of relief instantly swept through her chest. She felt grateful that the Emperor was not offended in the slightest by her insolent question, and had even promised to provide an explanation once they arrived in the capital.
Elara then shifted her gaze from the receptionist, looking straight at the spear-wielding General who was still standing by not far from her.
"Mr. Vincent, could you escort Milla?" Elara ordered.
The man immediately bowed, offering a perfect military salute to the Emperor.
"I will gladly escort Miss Milla, Your Majesty."
Elara then turned her head back to look at the female receptionist. "Milla, go to your house immediately with Mr. Vincent!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you!" Milla replied with profound respect.
Milla immediately approached the General after paying her respects to the Emperor.
With the firm and authoritative strides characteristic of an Imperial General, Vincent, who had been ordered to escort Milla, walked beside her as they left the guild lobby to head to her house.
As she walked, Milla's gaze was fixed straight ahead, but her mind was engulfed in massive turmoil. Being a commoner who worked as a receptionist at an adventurer guild, she seemed unable to accept the reality that she had suddenly been directly appointed as the Minister of Finance of the Erthland Empire by the Emperor herself.
The change in her fate had happened so swiftly and on such a massive scale. Disbelief, astonishment, shock, enthusiasm, and joy were all mixed together inside her.
This isn't a dream, right?! This is reality, right?!
Those two questions were indeed what she kept asking herself as her feet carried her forward. She was still questioning the reality she was currently experiencing.