Chapter 616 - 614: It Really Is Phil, Right?!

Mountain Forest City is relatively close to the Ista Empire and the Lion Heart Kingdom, and even lies near the Blue Dragon Empire.

That city is a border city of the Elf Race, located to the southeast, its territory bordering Ista, Lion Heart, and Blue Dragon. Although it isn’t as prosperous as Watch City, it is also a trade city, with a great river running through the three nations, serving as a main route for transport and trade.

This city is very far from the Elf Forest, and only in the last few days has it been affected by the spreading pollution, so the danger level isn’t high.

Mountain Forest City wasn’t included in Hilia’s itinerary.

And at this time, in this city that was no longer on her schedule, a Holy Priest who "can purify many people at once" appeared, making her immediately think of Rose.

"Lord Rose, is this also part of your arrangements?"

Rose shook his head. "Not at all, this isn’t my doing."

Hilia pondered for a moment, then asked Mornis, "What’s the name of that Holy Priest?"

Mornis shook his head. "I don’t know. I’m not very familiar with the City Lord of Mountain Forest City. If you need it, Lady Hilia, I can make some inquiries for you."

Hilia shook her head. "Forget it, no need. This is a good thing—one more person means the disaster will be lessened by one degree."

Mornis said, "Lady Hilia, your nature is so perfect it’s like that of the Gods. I wonder if you have any thoughts of settling in Watch City. Though Watch City belongs to the Elf Race, it has a certain level of autonomy. If you come to Watch City, I’m willing to grant you the title of Honorary City Lord, and assign the most prosperous districts to your administration..."

Hilia raised her hand to stop Mornis from continuing. "Enough, Lord Mornis, don’t say another word. If you keep talking, I’ll walk out right now."

"Ahem, alright. Please go rest, Lady Hilia."

Hilia said, "Mm, call me in ten minutes."

"Only ten minutes?"

Mornis glanced at Hilia’s complexion in surprise.

Because of the extensive micro-control, her face was a bit pale, and the exhaustion couldn’t be concealed no matter what.

Hilia shook her head. "It’s fine. By the way, is the next batch all critical patients?"

Mornis said, "The next batch is better. These people are ones I carefully picked out—the most serious, those who could die at any moment, have already been dealt with. After this, they’re all lighter cases."

"Then there’s no need to rest long. Ten minutes is enough."

"Alright, I’ll go notify them at once."

The City Lord did not mind in the slightest becoming Hilia’s "assistant" for the time being.

When she returned to the lounge, Elina was already inside waiting.

She looked at Hilia with distress, and took out the towel she had prepared long ago. "Hilia, let me wipe you down."

"No need, I’ll do it myself."

"No, let me."

Hilia rolled her eyes. "Fine."

While Elina was wiping her sweat, Hilia looked toward Rose in her mind and asked curiously, "Lord Rose, who do you think that Holy Priest in Mountain Forest City could be?"

Rose chuckled. "Who else could it be? Other than a certain girl who’s been dealing with pollution for years, who would be that kind-hearted?"

"Could it really be Phil?" Hilia said in astonishment.

Rose nodded slightly. "Most likely."

Ever since that time in Letes City, when Phil was forced to absorb a heap of pollution and her combat power rose to Tier Five, the protective runes Rose left her had indirectly activated a link between them.

Although it was only a faint connection, Rose knew that Phil’s current position wasn’t inside the Ista Empire. Based on the map displayed on Hilia’s bracelet, the other party was likely at the border between Ista and the Elf Race, leaning toward the Elf Race’s interior.

The place was precisely around Mountain Forest City.

Under these circumstances, she was the only one who fit the bill.

"If it’s Phil... could it be that she’s also using a disguise like me?"

Hilia was puzzled.

Rose smiled faintly without saying anything.

Of course he wouldn’t tell Hilia that when he helped Phil advance to Tier Four, he taught her the Disguise Skill along the way and ordered her to learn how to disguise herself whenever she went out.

Among all the Holy Daughters, Hilia advanced first, with Benovia following just behind, then Encore, Doris, and Phil—Phil was the third.

After helping all the Holy Daughters through their Tier Three advancement trials, Rose had already decided that for their future advancements, he would find ways to drag them into the deeper layers of the Divine Realm to suffer, and then, through his blessings, let them pass with difficulty or smoothly.

Using such methods to deepen the impression he left in the hearts of the other three.

He would also intervene in their subsequent ascension trials, striving to ensure they gained the greatest possible growth.

Phil had already been earmarked as the next candidate with whom he would use a Divine Format fragment to establish a connection. Rose had already decided to give Phil the fragment of the God of Life and Death’s Divine Format, and naturally, before that, he intended to strengthen the bond between them, including teaching her some Magic and the like.

All of this had been done while Hilia was still at school.

At this moment, after sensing Phil’s position, Rose thought for a bit and sent a "divine oracle" to Benovia.

After learning that the Holy Priest in Mountain Forest City was most likely Phil, Hilia put the matter aside and continued helping Watch City undergo purification.

This city was too big, so the time required for purification would be drawn out for quite a while.

...

Inside the Star Spirit Forbidden Land.

The squad led by Benovia had completed the purification of the external pollution within the Star Spirit Forbidden Land, and in passing had also purified some of the pollution inside the Forbidden Land itself.

Feeling the difference between the two, the other Mages in the squad couldn’t help but sigh.

"Pollution inside the Star Spirit Forbidden Land is still the most comfortable to purify. Why do these other pollutions always like to merge with various elements and make it harder for us to purify?"

"Exactly. We just finished learning Purification Skills that target pollution, and now pollution has learned to wrap itself in life element so we can’t purify it. It’s absurd."

Benovia also felt it was absurd, but then again, pollution was a type of energy capable of bringing disaster to the entire world, so having such outrageous evolution was only natural.

Of course, more importantly—

"Finally done!"

The girl stretched lazily, let out a long breath, and relaxed.

"Next, we only need to purify at intervals the polluted zones fenced off by the Law Enforcement Knight Order, and then we can slack off with peace of mind..."

Before she could finish muttering, Rose’s divine oracle sounded again in her mind.

Benovia’s expression gradually froze.

But then, after carefully savoring the content of the oracle, thick curiosity spread across her face.

"Mountain Forest City of the Elf Race? There’s something special there?"

She quickly asked Melina about the situation in Mountain Forest City.

Not long after, Melina replied, "Mountain Forest City? There shouldn’t be anything special... Hmm... does a Mage imitating Hilia to carry out large-scale purification count?"

"What? There’s someone who can purify on a large scale like Hilia?"

Benovia was startled and swiftly connected it with Rose’s oracle.

"Could it be that Lord God’s target is that Holy Priest?"