"Young miss, shall I prepare to crush our enemies before they know what happened? I, alone, will be enough for them. You don't have to get dirty to deal with those low-lives."

Mary promised in an ambiguous voice, but her question was as much of a test as an offer for help.

Layla thought about it briefly but then turned down Mary's offer this time.

"I am afraid I cannot have you do that…for now. First, we should go and pay a visit to the local lord and have a talk.

Even if I have Duke Lockhart's authority, I am not the Duke. Hence, my actions can trigger the local people and cause trouble."

Layla would like to act immediately and save the elves. Unfortunately, everything had a social order.

Even this small incident, which could be dealt with easily, needed some precautions to ensure it did not become awkward from a legal point of view.

Mary's face had a twisted smile, and she looked between knowing and annoyance when she sighed and decided to drop this matter.

"Of course, my lady is right. Then, shall we leave for the local lord's house at once? I am not sure how much our dear elf friend would be able to endure under the hands of these temple people.

I've heard that they got some nasty techniques to make their prisoner sing."

Mary's words sounded scary, but Layla remained calm and did not show the panic on her face. If she did, she was sure Mary would find a way to use it against her.

"Let's head out then. Mary, I will put my trust in you for this trip. Do not disappoint me."

Layla let her maid know, and Mary's smile froze for a second before it changed to a gentler one than Layla was used to.

"Of course, my lady. Please, leave it all to me. I will make sure not to disappoint you."

Mary assured before grabbing her young miss and making a quick journey. Her demon speed made the journey that would have taken over an hour in ten minutes.

That was after Mary begged cautiously not to cause her lady unnecessary stress.

"We are here. I will go and inform the local lord of our visit. Please, stay here, my lady, and do not get into trouble."

Mary kneeled in front of Layla, which caused people to stop and stare at them.

Most of these people had never seen a 'real' noble before. All they knew was their local lord, but that man was a spineless coward who was even afraid of his employees. He had no dignity or honor to speak of.

But Layla's posture radiated her strength, giving her a 'noble' and untouchable air.

People could only admire her from afar and not come close.

Seeing how her acting had her desired effect, Mary finally let her miss go with a knowing look.

No one dared to stop her as Mary knocked on the door of the local lord and waited for someone to open the door.

But when a minute passed and no one opened the door, Mary got impatient and decided to take matters into her own hands.

"Miss Layla, our usual methods are not bearing any fruits. Do you mind if I use a special means to make the local lord come out?"

Mary asked with a frozen smile. She did not take this insult well, mainly because it insulted her and her lady.

The more she looked at the door, the more she wanted to break it apart.

"Sure, do what you want to. I will not stop you."

Layla confirmed with a small sigh that that was Mary's last straw before she reached out to grab the door and force it open.

"H-Hey, you cannot do that! Lord Burnette's people will-"

Someone tried to warn Mary, but it was too late. The door no longer stood where it was supposed to be, and Mary forced the entry door open.

"Oops, looks like I did too much. I need to be more careful about my strengths. But I think it is the local lord's fault, and I am guilt-free. Right? My lady?"

Mary asked with a thirsty smile. She dared others not to agree, and Layla could tell the demon was close to snapping.

Just because Mary had not taken out her axe did not mean she was not any less dangerous than before.

"Focus on our target first, Mary. You can unleash your wrath later once we have the permission to do so."

Layla assured, and Mary looked disappointed. But she quickly pulled her expression back behind her mask.

"Of course, miss! I understand. I will be more careful next time."

Even if Mary did not say them, everyone could feel the words 'consider yourself lucky this time.'

It made people shiver and take a step back.

But Mary only extended her hand toward Layla before she picked up her young miss and walked in.

Lord Burnette was in trouble now, and the news of what had happened soon spread across the village.

No one knew who Layla was or why she came here. The only thing they all knew was that their lord had incurred the wrath of some powerful people.

"W-What will happen to us all now? If Lord Burnette dies, then will we be next? The place that does not have a lord's protection is useless and weak. Sooner or later, it will be devoured by the forest surrounding it. Will we become the next victims?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Didn't you see the knights from the temple stationed all around us? They will protect us…"

"They won't! Those knights are the problem in the first place. They already tried to poison our water source and our fields. Who knows what else they would do?"

"At this point, we all need to leave or find a better Lord for our territory. We won't survive under our current conditions, at least."

People agreed on that. But getting a new lord was not as easy as it sounded.