"What should I do?"
The bewildered Yukino was also pondering this question.
After leaving Sabertooth, she went to the Council Headquarters as an individual to request a visitation.
However, because Kono was a felon, and Yukino was no longer a mage of a legitimate guild, no one vouched for her, and the Council denied her request.
If it weren't for the fact that they had her detailed information, knowing that she was only 11 years old seven years ago, they might have interrogated her thoroughly.
Having been rejected, Yukino didn't go far; instead, she organized her words well and planned to try again the next day.
Even if she couldn't talk, just seeing her sister for a moment would be enough.
However, as she approached the entrance of the Council Headquarters, she was immediately taken into custody, handcuffed with Demon Sealing Stone handcuffs, and sent to the interrogation room.
It was then that Yukino learned the shocking news—her sister had been taken away, a prison break.
And naturally, she, the sister who had just been denied visitation, became the biggest suspect.
Fortunately, the trace examination department quickly locked onto the suspect, and Yukino indeed knew nothing about it; otherwise, she might have suffered some hardships.
Although she was quickly released without charges, Yukino still didn't know what to do.
She didn't know where her sister was, nor did she have a guild... Right now, she had neither a place to go nor a place to belong.
Yukino lay somewhat despondently on a park bench, covering her eyes with an arm.
The wind picked up, and an old newspaper flew over from who knows where, landing on Yukino.
She picked up the newspaper, intending to throw it away, but saw news from many days ago about Sin of the Witch destroying a Dark Guild stronghold.
Sin of the Witch!
Yukino perked up; that guild, calling itself an Independent Guild, had been quite active recently.
With their frequency of action, it wouldn't take long before they targeted the Dark Guilds again!
If she hurried to investigate, there would definitely be a chance to find them, understand why they took her sister, or perhaps... find her sister directly!
Yukino's eyes turned resolute, she packed her belongings and set off on her journey again.
...
"Dark Chain!"
Two Magic Chains shot out from the Magic Array in front of Mira, darting into the enemy ranks like two long, flexible snakes.
They easily pierced through Magic Shields, swinging and sending people flying, snaking around and binding them...
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen bandits equipped with magic tools lost their ability to resist.
Rhode praised, "You're getting more adept at using this move."
Mira laughed, "Because I've been practicing for so long now."
The wild monsters diligently helped transport the bandits down the mountain and, with the assistance of the River Crab, confiscated the bandit's hideout.
When only an empty camp remained, Rhode quickly wrote, the Magic Array forming swiftly: "Amaterasu's Formula 39!"
A thunderous sound echoed from the mountaintop, the ground trembled, and countless birds, frightened, flew out of the forest.
The bandit's stronghold was reduced to ruins in an instant.
Mira praised, "Your Amaterasu Magic Array is getting better too."
Rhode smugly said, "Heh heh heh~ Isn't your husband amazing?"
"Yes, yes~" Mira hugged his arm, speaking as if coaxing a child, "Husband is the best~"
A few conscious bandits suddenly became excited:
"It's... it's them!"
"It's them!"
"That... Demon Couple!"
"But they haven't transformed into demons!"
"..."
Rhode had officially become a Count for more than half a month.
During this time, he and Mira had been touring the Gioa Kingdom.
And dealing with a few bandits on the side.
Although the King said he didn't plan to rely on their power, the couple figured they could gain some experience, and traveling around was nice too.
Wherever they went, bandits were annihilated, and since Mira would occasionally transform into Demon Shadou, and Rhode would 'review' various transformation states, these two notorious people were dubbed the 'Demon Couple' by the terrified bandits.
This title represented countless bandits' painful experiences, and now, the bandits of Gioa Kingdom turned pale at the mention of it.
"Demon Couple?" Rhode glanced at the person who just spoke, "Is this what you called us?"
The group fervently shook their heads.
Mira laughed, "Isn't it interesting?"
Rhode nodded, "I think so too, that's why I asked if it was their idea. I could have given them some lenience, but it's a pity it wasn't."
A few bandits felt like crying, wishing they had claimed credit for it!
Mira playfully patted Rhode, this guy, always tricking the naïve.
The two, chatting and laughing, escorted another bandit group down the mountain and received many admiring glances as they entered the city.
If to the bandits they were demons, then to ordinary people, they were Celestial Gods.
Upon returning to their lodging, a local official came to visit:
"Count, the mayor of Kerland Town sent me to inform you that the construction of your mansion is set to begin tomorrow. Do you have any other requests?"
"Thank you," Rhode said. "Please tell him no, according to the construction plan, there's no need to rush."
Rhode was about to acquire a mansion, with the costs covered by the fief's finances.
Rhode didn't refuse what was rightfully his.
Just to prevent abuses under his name, Rhode set a lot of rules for the mayor.
Naturally, the mayor dared not defy him because, whether in power or position, Rhode could easily deal with him.
In this time, the King had invited them again, his cheerful appearance suggesting recent successes.
He seemed to plan on raising Rhode's treatment further after gaining full control of the situation.
But Rhode and Mira weren't concerned about these things.
They calculated the time and realized they had spent quite a while in the Gioa Kingdom and thus began planning their departure.
Rhode glanced at their original schedule, "There are still many places in Fiore I want to visit; we've delayed too long here."
Mira thought for a moment and suggested, "Let's deal with the largest bandit gang tomorrow, then prepare to head back?"
"Let's do that."
In the evening, the two once again delved into a deep discussion of life's truths, and set off for the southern part of the Gioa Kingdom the next day.
There, the largest current bandit gang, the Kuza Gang, was entrenched.
It was said they found a perfect terrain, gathering over 600 people, boasting that no one could conquer their stronghold.
In response, Rhode chose to descend from the sky.
But Rhode never expected that before he landed, he would already see bodies on the ground.
Below was a dense field of nothing but corpses.
From afar, some were covered in wounds, others charred all over, and some without heads.
Rhode frowned, the King's army wouldn't be so ruthless, and a mage accepting a mission would hold back somewhat, even if bandits fought amongst themselves, it wouldn't reach such an extent.
Using the skill of the Void Swift Crab to scan the area, there was only one person still standing in the whole stronghold.
If... that could be called a person.