About five minutes later, EeDeChi emerged, driving out a group of scantily clad men and women.
These were the patrons and "fallen women" of Julina's Forbidden Paradise. They hadn't had time to escape the small building and were now being herded out one by one by EeDeChi wielding a giant sword, like a farmer chasing a flock of hens.
"Face the wall, squat down with your hands on your head! Hands on your head! Keep your hands on your head! Yes, just like that, squat against the wall!" EeDeChi commanded the nearly naked men and women, waving her giant sword to make them line up against the wall.
Some of these unfortunate people were completely naked, covering their faces with their hands; others wore only a thin veil or bedsheet, shivering in the cold night air.
Among them were nobles of the Empire, wealthy merchants, and the most famous and alluring courtesans of the Baharuth Empire's capital. But at this moment, they were all equal, naked and trembling, obediently squatting in the corner with their hands on their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Barrett pulled the black cloth over his face even tighter. He used a gray goat blanket he had found to wrap two thinly dressed little girls and watched with interest the strange and comical scene in front of him. The sight of a few of the naked women with their voluptuous and hot bodies was a feast for his eyes.
"Captain, what are you doing?" Barrett asked curiously.
"Can't you see?" EeDeChi said impatiently, "I'm cracking down on prostitution."
A half-naked man tried to sneak out the door when EeDeChi wasn't looking. EeDeChi swung her giant sword, and a wave of sword energy carved a deep trench in the marble floor. The half-naked man screamed in terror, shrank back, and squatted in the corner with his hands on his head.
"Good." EeDeChi nodded in satisfaction, looking at the men and women squatting in a row against the wall.
She turned and looked at the three-story building of Julina's Forbidden Paradise, frowning in disgust. She then pulled out a round copper seal from her bosom.
The seal spun in her hand, releasing an aura of authority and murderous intent, suppressing everyone present.
After hesitating for a moment, EeDeChi put the seal back in her bosom, deciding not to use it.
Then she cast her magic.
3rd Tier Magic: Hellfire Serpent!
2nd Tier Magic: Fireball of the Tongues!
2nd Tier Magic: Firefall!
Fire rained down, with fireballs and fire serpents exploding on the walls and windows. Under the ravaging magical flames, Julina's Forbidden Paradise was instantly engulfed in a sea of fire.
The blazing flames drove away the night's chill, and in the flickering firelight, EeDeChi's shadow, standing with her sword, stretched long.
Golden-red flames danced in her clear black eyes, coating her modest figure in a brilliant gold. She stood there in front of the towering inferno, and for a moment, Barrett was stunned by the sight.
But Barrett quickly snapped out of it, thinking how this girl usually had an unfriendly face, yet looked so cool while burning down someone else's place.
He wrapped his thick arms around the rescued twin lolis, leaned close to EeDeChi's ear, and whispered, "Captain, we better get going. The Empire's guards are probably on their way!"
EeDeChi thought for a moment, realizing Barrett's suggestion made sense.
The four of them left Julina's Forbidden Paradise, found an empty open-top carriage, likely abandoned by its owner, who might be either among those squatting naked in the corner of the Forbidden Paradise or had fled.
Barrett didn't care much. He placed the two pale little girls in the back seat, waited for EeDeChi to jump on, and then grabbed the reins to drive the carriage away.
Adventurers are typically multi-talented and versatile, and Barrett was no exception. He had teamed up with a former carriage driver turned adventurer for a while and learned to handle most mainstream carriages on the continent. Though his driving skills were a bit rusty, they were still passable.
The Baharuth Empire has a widely known saying: Lust is a viper, a single bite can send you into the abyss.
Barrett glanced at the raging inferno of Julina's Forbidden Paradise behind them and couldn't help but agree. His momentary lustful impulse brought EeDeChi here, resulting in the complete destruction of Julina's Forbidden Paradise.
Lust is indeed a terrifying viper!
He patted the few hard money bags in his bosom to make sure they were still there, then flicked the reins hard. The horses trotted away, pulling the carriage into the distance.
Along the way, several squads of guards with shields and spears were heading towards Julina's Forbidden Paradise. Despite its remote location, the towering flames clearly indicated the severity of the situation.
Barrett carefully maneuvered the carriage through the streets, trying to avoid these soldiers. But from a distance, a squad of knights was charging towards them.
EeDeChi and her companions had no choice but to stop as the squad of knights blocked their path.
The lead knight grabbed the horse's reins, halting their carriage, and raised his knight's sword, pointing it at Barrett. He demanded, "Adventurer, did you just come from over there?"
He pointed his sword towards the towering red flames in the distance and continued, "Someone sent a message to the Knights Guard, saying that Julina's Forbidden Paradise was attacked by a bunch of perverted and terrifying bandits. Do you know anything about this?"
EeDeChi stood up from her seat, about to speak, but Barrett quickly covered her mouth. Despite his burly build, Barrett's mind was as sharp as his physique was strong.
In an instant, Barrett concocted a story. With an innocent look, he spread his hands and said to the knight captain, "I have no idea. I was just passing by with the carriage. I did see a group of bandits looting and setting fires inside. It scared me, so I hurried away and didn't pay much attention to what was going on inside."
He then pointed to EeDeChi and the two twin girls wrapped in gray goat wool blankets in the back, and added earnestly, "They are my employers. The carriage driver got drunk, so they hired me to drive. You know, as long as they pay enough, us adventurers will do anything."
Adventurers, with their peculiar outfits and professions that stood out from mainstream society, were easily identifiable in a crowd.
At this moment, an adventurer driving a light, open-top carriage, which did not match his identity, carrying a young girl and two frail little girls, with the short-haired girl having a stern "keep away" look on her face, naturally aroused suspicion.
Barrett, outwardly relaxed, actually waited nervously, ready to be caught in a lie.
The knight captain did not lower his sword, gripping the reins and contemplating.
He could tell that this adventurer was a seasoned fighter, muscular and highly skilled, with a seemingly kind yet sharp and fierce gaze, indicative of someone who had repeatedly faced life and death.
But he also knew about the defenses at Julina's Forbidden Paradise. The brothel owner, wealthy and backed by nobility, had built a strong guard force for her business, with more enchanted full-body armors than his entire unit of Imperial Knights.
This adventurer couldn't have single-handedly caused such chaos there, so he was likely not lying. The priority was to quickly reach the burning Julina's Forbidden Paradise, where they might still catch some of the bandits.
As for the black-haired girl, he didn't even think about it.
The knight captain sheathed his sword and waved at Barrett. "Move aside! Don't block our way!"
Barrett smiled sheepishly. He jumped off the carriage, grabbed the reins, and led the carriage to the side of the street. Then the squad of Imperial Knights thundered past them, their iron hooves clattering like rolling thunder.