Persuading the orc affairs officer, everyone naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

Ronald immediately suggested returning to the square to let Orléans’ avatar continue his work, to prevent any mishaps at this final moment.

The orc affairs officer naturally had no objections.

Just to be safe, unlike when they left in the morning, this time Ronald didn’t go alone with the orcs; even Martha accompanied them back to the square, leaving Costate alone in the library.

Four people hurried back to the square.

By the time they reached their spot, it was already noon today.

The orcs of [Song Forest], although different physically from humans, have similar habits. Noon is their meal time and when some orcs rest.

Thus, compared to the morning, there were actually fewer people in the square.

Only the orcs following Water’s orders were diligently maintaining order to ensure the smooth running of the singing contest.

Upon seeing this, Ronald said to the orc affairs officer beside him:

"Alright, you two go ahead, just keep the festival atmosphere going."

Orléans’ avatar needed no further instruction, but Water seemed a little surprised when he heard Ronald’s arrangement:

"Just the two of us, you’re not coming along?"

The orc affairs officer saw himself as Ronald’s puppet, and thought Ronald should follow and monitor him. Otherwise, if he harbored any ill intentions, the situation would soon spiral out of control!

Ronald flashed a generous smile:

"Don’t worry, since we’ve reached an agreement, I certainly won’t be the first to break it."

Then he pointed to the judges’ seats over in the square, showing a trusting demeanor to send the orc affairs officer back.

"..."

Water didn’t speak further.

He looked seriously at Ronald and Martha, and finally, without a word, took Orléans’ avatar back to the judges’ seats.

They went back and talked with those maintaining order on site, then smoothly took seats.

At this point, seeing how things had progressed, Martha finally asked Ronald:

"You didn’t go with them not just out of trust, right?"

Ronald nodded slightly:

"When people are trusted, especially by their manipulators, the choices they make always tend to lean in certain directions. The current situation seems good, but it’s still easy for new troubles to arise, so consider this a small effort."

Martha didn’t comment on this.

The young priest of the sacred watched Ronald, noticing a touch of resolve hidden beneath his seemingly relaxed boldness:

"But your expression seems like you have other thoughts, doesn’t it?"

"..." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Do I really have to say it out loud?"

Ronald sighed, and without undoing the cloth, he held out the Sword of Saint Catherine in his hand to Martha:

"It’s already come to this point."

"If Mr. Water still intends to resist to the end, then I’ll have to bring out the backup plan."

The legacy of the Saint who manipulated wills...

Upon seeing this familiar weapon, Martha’s expression now mirrored Ronald’s, she also let out a sigh:

"In any case, let’s hope things don’t come to that."

Ronald replied:

"That’s the reason I’m giving the other side trust, isn’t it?"

"..."

The conversation ended, and Ronald and Martha blended into the crowd.

In the world of [Song Forest], orcs come in all sorts of shapes and kinds, so even if they were distinct, they wouldn’t attract special attention.

Silently waiting around the square is their task for the remaining half-day.

On the other side, Water led Orléans’ avatar to the judges’ seats.

The orc who was maintaining order here immediately stood up:

"Lord Orléans, you’re back!"

Orléans’ avatar didn’t speak, but Water stepped forward assertively, saying:

"Alright, the matters at the palace have been fully handled by the lord. The judging work here is back on track. You all should continue your previous tasks!"

Water was indeed Orléans’ trusted aide.

The orcs who stood up didn’t dare to say anything more, and without any doubt, they stepped back.

Then they sat with Orléans’ avatar on the judges’ seats.

Only then did Water let out a breath of relief.

Earlier, Orléans’ avatar not speaking was indeed a deliberate arrangement from the start. After all, this was just a machine operating according to settings, and best dealt with by him for parts not involving the singing contest.

From his heart, Water found it impossible to completely trust Ronald and his crew.

But being a knowledgeable figure in the city.

Through interactions with Ronald and them, relying on his sharp insight, he discovered something special about these outsiders.

Beyond the attitude of concern and discussion, there was something unique.

——It was a sort of fearless confidence.

Water himself had experienced this state, usually when facing adversaries, where he held absolute advantage while the opponents were making futile struggles.

This discovery indicated what?

It indicated that Ronald and the others possessed an ace up their sleeve capable of controlling everything!

The current negotiations with him were only because they were forced by some constraints, opting for a more relaxed approach.

Beside the orc affairs officer.

Back in position, Orléans’ avatar quickly immersed himself into his role, continuing as the singing judge.

Seeing this, the orc affairs officer frowned deeply.

The group watching him from the square, Ronald and his crew were betting.

But Water was doing the same, wasn’t he?

He also couldn’t afford to gamble, gamble on Orléans’ life, gamble on the truth of the whole affair, gamble on the city’s safety!

With the gaze of the two from the square, amid the restless anticipation of the orcs.

Time steadily moved forward.

As afternoon arrived, the square became lively again, and Orléans’ avatar was further engaged in the work.

But at the moment when everything seemed to smoothly pass.

An orc soldier hurriedly ran over from outside the square, shouting as he approached:

"What’s going on?"

"Lord Orléans and Mr. Water still haven’t returned, the palace sent me to check... Lord Orléans?"

The orc soldier’s voice stopped abruptly.

Because right then, he saw Orléans and Water, who should’ve been at the palace, the very two people he was looking for!

——Things have gone south!

In an instant, Water’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

While his mind rapidly searched for ways to handle the current situation.

Mingled among "Lord Orléans hasn’t returned to the palace?" "But Mr. Water said everything was resolved." there was Orléans’ avatar, not smart enough, proactively responding to the orc soldier’s query.

"Mr. Ronald didn’t let me go back."

"So I obeyed orders and came back here with Water."