Bard naturally understood the implication behind Susan's words.
The identity of the divine child was a secret, which meant Susan was aligned with Princess Elisa's faction.
However, once the divine child's identity was revealed, it would attract the attention of many, including the ruler of the Principality of Ilysis, Grand Duke Ferrandi.
"Understood, no fourth person will know your identity."
With Lord Bard's assurance, Susan took a deep breath.
This hurdle was now considered passed.
As for whether they could overcome tonight's challenge, that would depend on fate.
Susan believed that Lord Bard would not remain idle.
He would use his connections to warn the Grand Duke.
"Lord Bard, I won't disturb you any longer!"
Susan lifted her gown and curtsied to Count Bard.
Then she turned and walked out.
It wasn't until the door closed that Aima withdrew her gaze.
"Master, can she be trusted?"
Bard smiled and turned to look at Aima beside him.
"Aima, don't you think Miss Susan has been too lucky?"
Lord Bard's words left Aima silent.
Over the past year, Princess Elisa had faced numerous dangers.
Assassins were everywhere, never missing an opportunity.
Whenever Princess Elisa left the mansion, she would inevitably encounter danger.
Even within the mansion, assassins found ways to infiltrate.
Every seemingly perilous crisis was resolved by a few words from Miss Susan.
If Miss Susan possessed the ability to foresee the future, then her past luck made sense.
"Aima, what do you think of Silver Mask?"
Bard had never met the Silver Mask mentioned by the Aima sisters.
But the fact that Silver Mask could easily deal with the notorious Skull Hunter Couple indicated that Susan's compatriot was at least a Saint Rank powerhouse.
Aima showed a contemplative expression.
"Though he dresses oddly, he should be a good person."
Standing up, Bard headed outside.
"I'm going to the palace!"
Time ticked away, and the day quickly passed.
As the sun set, darkness gradually enveloped Auburnro.
Once night fell, Auburnro was rife with hidden currents.
The number of patrolling guards in the streets and alleys was several times more than usual.
They moved through the streets and alleys.
Each squad had no fewer than ten people.
In the inner city walls, well-equipped Royal Guard soldiers were everywhere.
Passersby hurried by with their heads down.
They could sense the unusual atmosphere of the night.
No one knew what had happened.
But it seemed something was about to happen in Auburnro tonight.
"Check over there, quickly!"
On a street, a squad of Royal Guard soldiers was running.
They turned into a side alley.
The clattering footsteps quickly faded away.
"Ah!"
Shortly after, a scream echoed from the alley.
The scream was very brief.
Looking into the alley, the squad of Royal Guard soldiers had turned into corpses.
They lay on the ground, each head missing.
No, not missing.
Their heads had exploded.
The surroundings were splattered with glaring blood and flesh.
Standing beside the bodies was a figure in a blood-patterned black robe.
The hood was down, revealing a head with shoulder-length short hair.
He was smiling, a sickly grin on his face.
But the smile was stiff, a smile that didn't reach the eyes.
"Ah, I smell it, the scent of fear, haha, haha!"
He covered his face and laughed maniacally.
His chilling laughter echoed in the alley.
He spread his arms, looking up at the sky.
"Come, let tonight's carnival begin."
With his maniacal laughter, Auburnro underwent a sudden transformation.
Over a dozen massive blood-red beams shot up from various directions in the inner city.
A gigantic blood-red magic barrier quickly enveloped the inner city.
The blood-red magical barrier, like burning blood fire, dispelled the darkness.
"What is that?"
They crawled like humans, with very long limbs.
Their skin was grayish-white, and they were large.
If they stood up, they would be twice the height of a human.
They could climb like geckos.
Faceless monsters charged into houses, slaughtering the occupants.
"Where did these faceless ghouls come from!"
On a certain street, a hundred-strong Royal Guard squad was slaughtering faceless ghouls.
As the elite force of the principality, even ordinary soldiers had the strength of mid-level swordsmen.
Therefore, the melee troops were not equipped with shields.
Clad in heavy armor, wielding standard longswords.
Watching the grayish-white monsters climbing on rooftops, Swind frowned slightly.
Faceless ghouls were a subspecies of vampires, classified as undead creatures.
They typically only appeared on battlefields where bodies were left unburied.
The dead bodies could turn into skeletons or, occasionally, faceless ghouls.
"Archers, shoot them!"
Swind pointed to the rooftops and shouted.
The archers in the rear quickly drew their bows.
Elemental magic arrows of various colors shot towards the faceless ghouls on the rooftops.
"Shh!"
The magic arrows pierced through the faceless ghouls' bodies.
One by one, the faceless ghouls slid off the rooftops onto the street.
Just then, a head suddenly peeked out from a nearby alley.
He lay at the corner of the wall, watching the Royal Guard with a strange smile.
He grinned, revealing white teeth.
"Pop!"
A Royal Guard soldier's head suddenly exploded not far away.
Blood and brain matter splattered all over the surrounding soldiers.
"Pop!"
Three more Royal Guard soldiers' heads exploded in quick succession.
"What happened?"
The splattering blood and flesh startled the Royal Guard.
The headless bodies of their fallen comrades left them at a loss.
"Pop!"
Another soldier's head exploded.
The Royal Guard soldiers' heads continued to explode.