So summoning this girl used up all my luck?

Lyn never expected such rotten timing. With the Demon Purge Order issued, escaping wouldn’t be easy.

Staying in this remote spot was unsafe too. Once the order dropped, Church knights would sweep the entire area. Abyss outposts would be dug up—even buried ones.

But fleeing now was a silver lining. His business ended early, sparing him from being caught in the outpost or mid-ritual by the Inquisition Church—like fish in a barrel.

That’d be true peak bad luck.

This sudden crisis spiked Lyn’s blood pressure. He’d left the outpost, but traces of the Abyss clung stubbornly. Most were gone, yet some lingered. Only special items could cleanse them fully.

That’s why he feared the Church’s Judgment Eye. A blood test would likely expose abnormalities!

Normally, no one waited outside with the Judgment Eye. No one dared investigate him casually.

Lyn had calculated everything—except this Demon Purge Order. Church patrols now swept the region with Judgment Eyes. Even he couldn’t dodge the process.

If caught with Abyss ties now, things could spiral wildly. Even if unrelated to purge targets, some might stir trouble and kick him while he’s down.

Luckily, Lyn had backups ready. Once he met them, this wouldn’t be a problem.

As Lyn wrestled internally, Xing Luo locked onto the glowing mark in the sky. Her eyes flashed icy anger, then shifted to confusion. “Master, what is that?”

“A signal flare for boring do-gooders. Let’s go.” Lyn missed her fleeting shift.

Time was critical. No time to complain or explain. He grabbed Xing Luo, rushing from the alley toward city streets. Blending into crowds would avoid suspicion and patrols.

This also bought time for his backup to arrive, letting him slip the lockdown safely.

But as they exited the alley, galloping hooves echoed nearby.

“Is it her? No… Her hooves wouldn’t be this frantic, nor so many riders. Damn it—I joked about using up luck. Today’s really that cursed?” Lyn sensed something off. Veins bulged on his forehead. Anger +1.

He led Xing Luo away from the sound, weaving through alleys to dodge the knights. After a short distance, Lyn’s face hardened—they were closing in!

This wasn’t accidental. They were after him.

“Did Caspar get exposed? Or was I watched during our meeting? And now, with the Purge Order…”

Thoughts raced through Lyn’s mind. He ruled out the Purge Order as their motive—his secret rituals wouldn’t cause this uproar.

He’d made enemies in the Imperial Capital. Being watched wasn’t new; it’d happened before.

Normally, he’d fear nothing. He’d erased all evidence. Even if suspected, without proof, they couldn’t force a Judgment Eye test.

But now…

Had they seized the chance?

So patient. Who was the bastard behind this?

Lyn took a deep breath but kept moving. He couldn’t outrun the knights. Within half a minute, riders rounded the corner behind him.

Spotting the two cloaked figures, the leader sneered. “Halt! By the Inquisition Church’s Demon Purge Order, all must cooperate with inspections!”

“I order you to stop immediately.”

“Disobey… and you’ll be treated as Abyssal Followers!”