Chapter 14: The Fraudster and the Cousin
The purple-haired woman withdrew her hand, revealing a ring set with a ruby-like gem. This was not actually a ruby, but a synthetic gemstone created through compression, a technique exclusive to the Holy Healing Church, thus used for anti-counterfeiting purposes.
The squad leader did not take the ring from the White Witch Eni. Instead, he signaled a tall female soldier to accept it, a gesture of respect, as Eni had worn the ring close to her body, and it would carry her body heat.
The female soldier quickly verified the ring's authenticity and nodded to the squad leader. Seeing this, Eni smiled, appearing very amiable.
"Arrest her!"
The squad leader barked an order, and dozens of soldiers swarmed in, surrounding Eni.
"Is this a unique welcoming ceremony?"
'Eni' glanced around at her surroundings.
"Heh, although your forgery skills are impressive, and you coated the synthetic stone with a layer of syrup, a fake is ultimately a fake."
The squad leader sneered, casually crushing the ring in his hand.
"Oh dear, so that's how it is."
The White Witch 'Eni' raised her hands again, smiling as she was led away by several soldiers. Soon, the squad leader confirmed her identity: her name was Melody, a White Witch, a fraudster...
Leaving other matters aside, Su Xiao couldn't help but have a new respect for this White Witch's boldness. Coming to the Holy Healing City to commit fraud was not something just anyone would dare to do.
As soon as Su Xiao approached the Holy Healing City, he sensed several very powerful auras. One-on-one, he wasn't afraid of these people, but if he were surrounded, whether he could even leave the city alive was uncertain. And this was only the Holy Healing Church's visible power; for the Church to have developed to this extent, how could it lack high-end combat strength?
The Holy Healing City did not reject White Witches, but all White Witches entering the city had to undergo strict inspection. If a White Witch resided in the Holy Healing City for more than half a year, they would be granted an identity certificate, freeing them from the troubles caused by their witch status, provided they did not use their abilities to harm civilians.
Su Xiao entered the city with the crowd. Although his goal was the Holy Healing Church, he first needed to understand the place. If the Holy Healing Church was reliable, joining it to obtain a Witch Hunter identity would be quite convenient for his operations.
To quickly understand the city, Su Xiao used the simplest and fastest method. After inquiring with street civilians, he headed straight in one direction.
An hour later, in the prison of the Holy Healing City, inside a filthy cell.
Melody stood before the iron bars. She had a severe case of mysophobia, so she absolutely refused to sit on the bench covered in suspicious substances.
"Hey, woman~"
A low, spine-chilling laugh came from the neighboring cell. Melody's lips curled up. She walked to the iron bars on the side of her cell. A withered, grimy arm reached for her, but missed her face.
"Little mouse, am I beautiful?"
Melody winked at the prisoner in the next cell. The gaunt man, who had been imprisoned for nearly two years, swallowed hard.
"Come here."
Melody crooked her finger. She was bored and amusing herself by teasing the neighboring prisoner, passing the time. If her guess was correct, she would be staying here for at least three weeks.
The gaunt prisoner pressed his body against the bars, veins bulging on his hands. Unfortunately, his fingertips were still half a meter away from Melody.
"If you dare to kill him, you'll be locked up here for at least thirty years."
An elderly guard sitting at a wooden desk outside the cells spoke, glancing at Melody. Meeting his gaze, Melody instinctively stepped back. She could tell he was a retired old Witch Hunter.
"Sorry."
Melody dared not tease her cellmate any further. She sighed. Her long-planned entry into the city had not only failed, but she was also facing imprisonment. Even so, Melody remained elegant. Her creed was: you can lose your life, but you must always maintain elegance.
At that moment, with a clang, the large iron door of the prison was pushed open. Several guards entered first, all wearing smiles.
"This way, sir."
"Mind the step."
Under the welcome of several guards, Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, and Amu walked into the prison. It turned out that spending money made you the boss.
"Mr. Kukulin Bai Ye, please wait a moment."
A guard quickly walked towards the inner part of the prison. As for the name Kukulin Bai Ye, it was a name Su Xiao had used in the War World. The alias Bai Ye didn't have any special meaning; back when Su Xiao was on trial in the One Piece world, he casually mentioned a name that didn't sound out of place, and he had been using it ever since.
In the Dark Crow World, Kukulin Bai Ye was clearly easier for people to accept. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Accompanied attentively by several guards, Su Xiao arrived in front of a cell.
"Melody, someone has paid your ransom. You're a lucky one."
A bearded guard opened the cell door, signaling for Melody to leave.
"Me?"
Melody pointed at herself in confusion.
"Who paid my ransom?"
Melody was very puzzled. She had no friends in the Holy Healing City.
"Of course, it was this generous gentleman. Stop talking nonsense and get out."
The guard's tone was impatient. Hearing this, Melody's gaze turned to Su Xiao. At first glance, she could tell he was not a good person.
Melody had survived in the cracks between major forces since childhood, so she was very good at reading people. Although Su Xiao was smiling, Melody felt that being bailed out of prison by him would not be a good thing.
"Can I stay here for a few more days? The environment here is actually not bad."
As Melody spoke, a rat scurried past her feet. Melody, who had severe mysophobia, turned pale.
"Old man, did you torture her?"
The young guard turned to look at the elderly guard. The latter's origins were mysterious, and he had an intense dislike for witches.
No one answered the young guard's question. The old Witch Hunter was snoring loudly, a bottle of wine still clutched in his arms.
"Mr. Kukulin Bai Ye, may I ask what your relationship is..."
As the young guard spoke, Su Xiao patted him on the shoulder. A few gold coins slid down his collar and into his pocket. The guard's expression changed. After reaching into his inner pocket, his face immediately relaxed.
"You! Get out!"
The young guard suddenly suffered from 'intermittent amnesia.' Seeing this, Melody took a few more steps back.
"Don't come near me..."
The guards remained unmoved.
"Help!..."
After Melody shouted for at least five minutes, she grew tired. Su Xiao and the guards stood at the cell door, smiling at her. It was then that Melody realized the seriousness of the situation.
"This is my cousin."
"Liar! I'm clearly older than you."
"Oh, so it's Mr. Bai Ye's cousin. My apologies for the earlier rudeness."
"Hey, are you listening to me? I don't know him! Wait, he must be from a slave manor. Yes, that must be it."
Melody interrupted, still trying her best to maintain elegance. Unfortunately, the guards all seemed to have turned deaf. This was the effect of ten gold coins each—the shiny coins had blocked their ears.
"This cousin of mine was traumatized as a child. Her mind is a bit..."
"I understand, I understand..."
The young guard leaned close to Su Xiao and whispered, "Don't cause a major incident, or it won't look good for any of us."
"I've troubled you all."
Su Xiao, of course, understood the guards' attitude. He had first paid a ransom of 70 gold coins, almost the price for a death row inmate, and then tipped each guard ten gold coins, including the old Witch Hunter.
Such was the law of the Holy Healing Church. As long as it didn't involve Black Witches or the deaths of three or more people, other crimes could be settled with a ransom. This was called a Repentance Fee.