Teacher, Be Obedient.

"People from the church?"

Evelyn hesitated for a moment, clearly not having a favorable impression of the church.

"That's the only way," Luo Wei thought. In this remote region of the empire, only the Holy Edict Church still held official supernatural power. It was the only way to suppress the Magic Hermit Order.

More importantly, they were not subordinate to the Brugge City Hall and were highly independent. As long as they were informed that there were dark sorcerers causing trouble in Heglais Town, they would eagerly rush in like wolves catching the scent of prey.

"But..." Evelyn looked at Luo Wei with a worried expression.

"If you send me away, what will you do here? What if that witch really intends to harm you? By the time I come back to save you, will it even be in time?"

"Teacher..." Luo Wei gazed deeply at her.

"Actually, this is also about saving yourself. In some ways, you're in even greater danger than I am."

Evelyn was momentarily stunned.

Luo Wei silently pondered the events of the past few days. He had a vague feeling that if Tilis hadn't still cared about his feelings and didn't want to break ties with him, Evelyn might have already been killed...

He had keenly noticed that the way Tilis looked at Helena and Evelyn was completely different.

Perhaps because Helena always acted like his younger sister, their relationship was indeed like that of siblings who relied on each other. So, when facing Helena, Tilis occasionally showed warmth, even giving gifts not just to him but also remembering to leave something for her "sister."

But as for Evelyn...

Tilis was completely indifferent, showing no warmth at all...

This made Luo Wei fearful. He couldn't gauge how powerful Tilis was now, but no matter what, it seemed that she could easily do whatever she wanted, even if he resisted...

And he now clearly realized that the day they reached the research institute would be the day the truth was revealed.

At that moment, it would also be the most dangerous time. It was likely that all pretense of civility would be dropped, and any lingering warmth would vanish entirely...

"Little Wei," Evelyn still hesitated, "but..."

"No buts," Luo Wei said sternly, looking at her.

"Teacher, listen to me."

Evelyn finally nodded silently, "Alright, I'll do as you say."

Then, she glanced toward Tilis, who was focused on the Divine Research Institute and hadn't noticed their conversation. With a quick movement, she didn't leave openly but instead charged toward the relentless fish-like monsters chasing them.

After a while, amidst the chaos of battle and the cover of the dense forest, Evelyn's figure finally disappeared from Luo Wei's sight.

Luo Wei breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

At that moment, he felt a warm touch in his hand.

Helena held his hand and looked back, "Brother, let's hurry. Those monsters are catching up."

Luo Wei gripped her hand tightly and asked softly,

"Are you scared, Helena?"

He wasn't referring to the half-human, half-fish monsters, and Helena understood what he meant.

She smiled and shook her head, "Not scared."

"As long as I'm with you, I'm not afraid of anything!"

Luo Wei gently ruffled her light golden hair and smiled warmly.

"Let's go. It's time to face those demons and monsters!"

Holding Helena's hand, he strode forward without hesitation onto the final stretch of the journey to the Divine Research Institute.

...

When they reached the foot of the mountain, the group stopped again.

The valley below was filled with the roars and screeches of the monsters.

Although they posed little threat to the mages, hearing these sounds for so long was gradually becoming irritating.

Two mages, during a break, muttered as they looked down the mountain.

"Those mages we captured earlier told me that those things are the so-called 'Sea God's' followers, and their bloodlines are purer than the believers in town. They're here to avenge their god, which is why they're so fearless. What a headache..."

"But we didn't kill that Sea God. I heard that on the day Tilis and Elder Usoma arrived, the god's corpse was already floating by the shore..."

"Well, we'll have to ask the leader what she did. Back in the day, we never had so many crazed monsters coming to the island..."

The mages' whispers made Elder Margery's expression turn displeased.

She glanced around sternly, and the group quickly fell silent.

At that moment, Elder Roens looked at the sky and suggested to Tilis,

"The mages on the island said you often operate at night. It's getting late now. Why don't we set up camp here and lay down defensive magic arrays? We can enter the research institute at dawn."

It was a reasonable suggestion, but Tilis' expression immediately darkened.

"Wait? The institute's gates are right in front of us, and you're telling me to wait until dawn?"

"But, Tilis..."

Elder Roens had never seen Tilis so emotionally unstable before.

In the past, she would always listen to his and Margery's opinions, but this time, she was being unusually dismissive...

"But what?" Tilis' purple eyes glinted coldly as she sneered, "If you're too scared to go in, then stay here. I'll go alone."

With that, she turned her gaze back to the building atop the mountain.

Her eyes were filled with an uncontrollable urgency.

"That won't do! You can't go alone!" Elder Margery immediately objected.

"You're the only hope of our hermit order! Whether we can break the 'curse' and restore the glory of the Magic Empire depends entirely on you!!"

After Elder Margery finished her speech, one that Tilis had heard countless times, Tilis furrowed her brow slightly.

In her eyes, there was not only disdain but also a faint trace of killing intent.

Luo Wei observed everything closely, as he had been watching Tilis' changes all along.

From the foot of the mountain to its peak, her emotions grew more intense, as if something there was truly calling to her.

"Fine, Roens and I will accompany you," Elder Margery quickly said.

Then, she instructed the other mages, "The rest of you, wait here for the rear guard. Before nightfall, seal off all entrances and exits of the research institute. Don't skimp on the Magic Crystal Stones! Understood?"

All the mages immediately acknowledged the order.

Tilis, along with the two elders, pressed on toward the research institute without resting.

Luo Wei and Helena followed closely behind.

"Tilis... are they coming too?" Elder Roens glanced back.

To be honest, he had always been puzzled as to why these few had been following the group all this time.

"They're Tilis' friends," Elder Margery explained to Roens. "They're mystics, well-versed in the legends of deities from various regions. They can also assist Tilis with alchemy. Tilis said they're indispensable for this mission."

"Oh, is that so..."

Elder Roens looked at Luo Wei, who was smiling, and nodded thoughtfully.

Hearing Elder Margery fabricate their identities, Luo Wei couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

He wondered what Tilis had told her to make her spin such a tale.

But the last part was spot on—he was indeed indispensable for this mission...

After all, it was undoubtedly aimed at him.