Chapter 339: Chapter 339: Arrangement

"I-i am sorry!" Zia exclaimed, biting her lower lip, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt utterly defeated.

She could not help but close her eyes as Eren's fingers slid down her collarbone. However, before his hands could touch something else, she felt the touch disappear.

Her wrists were also released. Suspicious, she opened her eyes and watched Eren's back facing her. He had completely released her.

She didn't know how to feel about this. On one side, she felt relieved that she was freed. On the other hand, she felt a sense of loss.

Zia quickly retrieved her towel, wrapping it around herself with a mix of embarrassment and relief.

She avoided calling out to Eren, her cheeks still flushed with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite decipher.

"You're quite the troublemaker," Eren remarked, leaning against the wall with a casual air around him. "Next time, I might not be so kind."

Zia looked at Eren's back, for a moment there was complete silence in the room.

She took off the towel again and properly dressed herself. However, she still couldn't get herself to call Eren even though she was ready.

The silence was only broken when there was a knock on the door.

"Master, I have freed them. However, they appear to be at a loss on what to do next."

Even though the door's lock was broken by the Priests, Yu Lin still didn't barge inside disrespectfully.

"Tell them to wait. The Merchants are going to be released soon. The ship should also be repaired and ready to leave," Eren answered while pushing the door open.

Even though he didn't look back at Zia, it didn't mean that he didn't see her get dressed. His seventh sense was quite helpful in that.

It was only after they watched the Merchants and the others from the ship return that they felt a little hope.

The Merchants were freed by the Holy Priestess who realized that it was pointless to keep them since they were here to bring the resources that the Holy Empire needed.

The Merchants quickly returned to the ship and repaired the external walls that were broken by the priests' bodies flying out.

Quite a few merchants discussed what to do next. They suggested returning to the Southern Continent but a large majority of them suggested continuing on this trip to deliver their materials in the Holy City.

Now that they were freed, it was clear that there had been a misunderstanding. If they ran away now, the misunderstanding was only going to grow bigger.

In the end, the Merchants decided to make no changes to their own. The ships rose in the air and traveled towards the Holy City.

....

Eren entered the Duke's City with Yu Lin. Zia on the other hand had tied the Priests that she had beaten. She dragged them with a rope like they were sacks of rice.

Since the Holy Priestess didn't come to bring them back, Eren made sure to bring them back.

Zia left the unconscious Priests near the entrance where the other Priests could heal them and help them up.

As the guests of the Holy Priestess, the three of them entered the Duke's Palace without being restricted.

They were even assigned three guest rooms in a secure area. However, it was evident that it was done to keep an eye on them throughout the night.

The Holy Priestess could do the same as well but she didn't even want to observe that disgusting aura if possible.

Soon, the three guests had settled down in their own rooms with many eyes watching the corridor without being detected.

For the most part, the place was still. It was only in the middle of the night that the door to Eren's room opened and someone stepped out.