27 Something's not right

After a while, they found a nearby cafe and settled down. The summer weather and the calming atmosphere of the place made it a relaxing experience for both Seraphine and Damian.

"Seraphine, I have a question to ask you. How did you come up with the treatment for the plague?" Damian inquired while sipping his tea.

Seraphine took a moment to think of the best excuse to respond. She needed to provide an answer that would satisfy Damian's curiosity.

"When I was young, I remember our village physician using a similar method with patients who had similar symptoms, young master," Seraphine replied, offering a white lie. Damian genuinely believed her, and he no longer questioned or doubted Seraphine's abilities. He trusted her completely since she always brought him good results on everything.

However, amidst their enjoyment of the café, Alice detected something unusual that triggered her response. A sense of ominous foreboding filled her, making her uneasy about their surroundings.

"Seraphine, I sense that someone is discreetly watching us," Alice warned, conveying the seriousness of the situation. Her concern was evident in her communication with Seraphine.

Alice's senses indicated that someone was spying on Damian and Seraphine from an alley not far from them. The person's presence was so well-hidden that even a skilled knight wouldn't have detected it. However, Alice, being an advanced AI, had a unique ability to sense such things.

"Can you identify who they are, Alice?" Seraphine asked, trying to remain composed despite the unsettling situation.

"Based on their uniform and the atmosphere surrounding them, there is a high possibility that they are from the Chaos Order," Alice responded, relying on the information she had accessed from the books.

Based on the information in the book, the Chaos Order was a subsidiary villain group that wreaked havoc and caused problems in the empire before Damian ultimately became the final boss. Their sole intention was to bring chaos and bloodshed to the empire.

In the original story, the Chaos Order remained shrouded in mystery, with little information revealed about their identity or their leader. Their common objective was to bring back the greatness of the heavenly demon, as foretold in an ancient prophecy.

"Why are they here? Didn't they appear when Damian attended the imperial academy?" Seraphine's mind was filled with confusion. She hadn't expected to encounter one of the enemies from the original story, especially since Damian's fate had already altered the course of events.

"The clearing of the dungeon and the acquisition of the demonic heart must have piqued their curiosity. It seems a butterfly effect has occurred, Seraphine," Alice explained, attributing the unexpected appearance of the Chaos Order to the changes Seraphine had made.

"Should we tell the young master, Alice?" Seraphine asked, seeking guidance on how to proceed.

"I believe that is the best approach for now. Inform him discreetly, without raising any suspicion," Alice suggested.

Gently putting down her tea cup, Seraphine leaned closer to Damian, her expression serious. Damian was taken aback by her sudden proximity, and his cheeks began to blush.

"Excuse me for a moment, young master," Seraphine whispered near Damian's ear. She quietly notified him about the presence of a spy nearby. Instantly, Damian's expression turned serious, and his blushing ceased.

Seraphine shared a plan with Damian to lure the spy, using herself as bait. Although Damian initially objected, Seraphine was determined to prove that she or Damian himself was the main target of the enemy's surveillance.

"You're certain about this, right Seraphine?" Damian asked once more, seeking confirmation before they proceeded with their plan.

"Yes, Young master," Seraphine responded with unwavering determination in her eyes.

"Okay, let's proceed with the plan," Damian agreed, giving a slight nod as a signal.

Seraphine stood up from her chair and spoke loudly, intending for the spy to overhear their conversation. "Young master, I will immediately go buy you the book as you ordered. Please wait here for a moment."

With her ruse set in motion, Seraphine walked out of the cafe and onto the street, making her way toward the bookstore they had spotted earlier. As she had feared, the spy had indeed followed her, confirming that she was the main target.

"Seraphine, be careful and reach the destination we planned with the young master," Alice reminded her once again, her voice filled with concern, as Seraphine's current body was ill-suited for fighting.

Seraphine continued walking, turning right into a quiet alley that led to the bookshop. There was nobody around, making it a perfect place for an ambush. Nervously, she pressed on, her face glistening with sweat.

Suddenly, a suspicious figure leaped down from above and landed right in front of her. The person wore a cloth mask, the eyes filled with murderous intent that sent shivers down Seraphine's spine.

Before Seraphine could react, the spy rushed towards her, holding something that intended to harm her. Seraphine tried to dodge the attack, but the spy's speed was overwhelming.

Thankfully, the plan they had devised was right on time. Damian's personal knights leaped down from above and deftly parried the spy's attack. It became evident that the spy was carrying a syringe filled with poison or some anesthesia, presumably intending to kidnap Seraphine.

The spy was so focused on following Seraphine that he failed to notice the approaching knight squad surrounding him. One of the knights yelled out,

"Catch him now!" as they moved to apprehend the spy.

The spy, however, refused to give up and attempted to escape, throwing a smoke bomb to cause confusion among the knights. Seizing the opportunity, he climbed up a wall, intending to reach the rooftop. But just as he made it to the roof, a high-speed arrow flew towards him, hitting him in the shoulder.

" Shit! " the spy exclaimed, clearly in pain.

The shooter was one of Damian's personal knights, using a powerful crossbow that could inflict severe wounds from a distance. The spy's escape attempt was effectively thwarted.