The SSS class adventurer is a divine cleric-Chapter 86: Justice?

They move from one transportation point to the other non-stop. And without any special authorization they had to wait and go through many procedures just to travel from one city to another. It gets even longer when they are crossing into another kingdom or empire.

Kaelen again started complaining. "Oh God, when will this thing ever end. We have taken more than 10 transportation portals. Let’s see what actually is this Hather kingdom to be so far away."

SMACK.

Neal, annoyed by this endless blabbering slapped Kaelen in the head. "Shut the fuck up or I’ll see through that you never see the light again."

Kaelen raised his head up high and stared down at Neal. "Oh you little piece of shit. Did you just hit me?"

As Kaelen was about to throw a fist, Derek acted and wrapped him up in gold rank chains meant for monsters.

"What is this? Are you siding with him now Dad! He clearly hit me first...where is justice?"

But no one cared about his so-called justice and with another flick of his finger Derek put a hush spell around Kaelen finally enjoying peace and silence. Neal picked him up and they continued on their journey.

The group reached the borders of Hather Kingdom by morning. The roads were empty, but the air felt heavy. Everyone could tell, this wasn’t just another mission. They were heading toward a real fight where they may not return.

Their destination was a fortress city built on the edge of the kingdom. It wasn’t too big, but the walls were thick, and guards were posted on every corner. As they approached, the city gates opened wide, and a line of officials came out to greet them.

To their surprise, the one leading them wasn’t a commander or general, it was the princess of Hather herself. Young, poised, and dressed in sleek light armor, she bowed politely.

"We’re grateful for your help....." Then she paused for a second, puzzled and unable to understand why Kaelen was being tied up. But seeing that they were from one party and not hostile, she continued. "The situation is critical, and your arrival means a lot."

Kaelen leaned toward Neal’s ears and whispered, "Royalty? She looks like a princess to me." Then with a sudden exaggerated realisation he gasps for air, "We are famous!"

Neal rolled his eyes and elbowed him to shut up.

"Auhhh!"

After the initial welcome they were led into the fortress.

Inside the fortress, the courtyard was packed. More than thirty rogue gold-rank awakeners were gathered, some in armor, others in robes, all tense and alert. Most had never seen this many top-tier fighters in one place outside a capital, and almost none had expected any members of The Loose Leash to ever show up without an epic rank leader heading the charge.

The air buzzed with cautious whispers and sharp glances. Some gold ranks stepped aside just from the sight of Derek and Neal walking in. A few recognized Derek, but said nothing, they could feel the strength around his party of four and they were anything but weak.

Kaelen was now walking on his own but still chained up. That’s when he noticed something strange.

At one side of the courtyard, two groups were arguing. A tall gorgeous woman with short crimson hair and cold eyes was speaking with the city lord, her tone sharp and clearly unimpressed.

And by the looks of how the city lord was sweating bullets, he was sure that she was a high-ranking merchant and noted in his mind to learn a thing or two from her later on.

Besides her stood a girl around his age.

She had deep crimson hair that flowed down straight reaching her buttocks. Her black armor was clean and heavy-looking, the kind made for frontline tanks and not just for show.

Strapped to her waist was a massive two-handed sword, bandaged tightly in white wraps, the tip and the hilt sticking out to the sides. It looked too big for someone her size to carry comfortably, but she stood there without a hint of effort. The blade might’ve been hidden, but nothing could hide the quiet pressure around her.

Even Alira raised an eyebrow at her presence.

Kaelen blinked. Then blinked again. "Damn... she’s hot."

Neal nodded in agreement.

The girl didn’t speak. She just stood beside the older women bargains with the city lord, eyes half-lidded and unreadable.

Kaelen kept on observing the merchant. As he knew whatever was going on here, it was going to get interesting.

And in the next second the city lord fled like a frightened chicken, scramming.

The merchant watched helplessly as the City lord ran away. "Damn it. COWARDS! And he called himself the city lord."

She could barter and bargain with the nobles as a merchant, but she cannot disrespect them in their own territories.

Kaelen burst into a loud laughter pointing his finger at the running city lord. As if he had seen the best comedy. He was still tied but somehow, he had managed to free one of his arms.

Derek was about to reprimand Kaelen for not behaving well in public, but as he turned towards the direction Kaelen was laughing at, pointing his fingers.

His eyes narrowed the moment he saw her.

"Sairi Celster," he muttered.

Kaelen tilted his head. "You know her?"

Derek didn’t answer. He just walked straight across the courtyard toward the woman who was still cursing for her bad luck.

Sairi turned halfway through her curse, catching sight of Derek. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but then her lips curled into a sly smirk.

"Well, well," she said, folding her arms. "If it isn’t the deserter of Starfall himself."

Derek stopped a few steps away, arms crossed. "And here I thought you’d be lounging in some golden palace in Poltheon by now."

"I was," Sairi said, shrugging casually. "Then this little idiot.." she jerked a thumb toward the red-haired girl beside her "...decided to join the Loose Leash. And sneak away from home. Can’t let my niece get herself killed fighting tyrants, now can I?"

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