The Holy Capital

The negotiation between the elders and the saintess did not last long, but during this short period, Rio has decided his goal for the time being. 

'Obviously the ultimate goal was survival, but that would mean going against the princess, as I am a variable to her plan.'

'So, lie low in the background for the time being, gather information regarding the princess, establish powerful friends and connections, and most important of all, get to at least tier 6 or a 7 before being discovered...' 

'Going to Elaris should have a lot of the boxes checked out ... heh.' 

After laying out the basics of his future, Rio saw Zeraphina, Hesione, and some other maiden attendants walked out of the elders house with a pleasant smile. 

Spotting Rio who has waited outside patiently, Zeraphina walked over and pet Rio on the head and said "Rio, the elders has agreed to let us adopt you, albeit with some difficulties, but we managed to convince them in the end with just one condition - just don't forget where you came from."

Rio's eye drifted a bit before focusing again "Okay, I'll promise to visit every once in a while."

Then Zeraphina then holds Rio hand and said "Great ! Lets head to the rendezvous point first" 

In a blink, Rio and Zeraphina found themselves on a vast green plane, the tall grass stretching out as far as the eye could see. The tranquility of the scene was broken only by a small village in the distance and a grove of trees near a shabby house. 

Rio was once again terrified at the thought of the Saintess' power 'Ability to direclty subdue an enemy with just a sentence and appear anywhere in the battle field ? She is definitely at the level of a national strategic weapon...'

Unknown to the terror she has caused, the saintess ordered "Zeph, send them over." 

Soon, a group of tall white knights with long silver spears and pristine white banner immediately appeared in front of the saintess kneeling piously. One knight, in particular, stood out from the rest. He was around 38 years old, especially well-built and tall, carrying his helmet by his side and a massive sword in the other hand. His golden hair was slicked back, and his clean-shaven face radiated an air of authority and refinement.

'Group of knight ranging from tier 4 - 6, and that knight in particular, he looked familiar.... Roland Lordwell ?' 

'Sh*t, what the hell is he doing here? Did he use to serve the saintess ?'

"Dad !" Zeraphina immediately dropped her saintly appearance and pounced at Roland. 

'Dad ? Sh*t, he should be a divine concept holder, which makes him a huge variable...' 

'This could be an opportunity, should I bet on the 35% error in calculation to get close to him ?'

'The princess seems to assassinate him pretty late into his life, so I should be somewhat safe for a while' 

Rio soon dropped the thoughts immediately, as there is not enough information to make choices for now, Rio just awkwardly stared at Roland for a while. 

Soon, Roland noticed a kid with black hair and red eye staring at him weirdly. 

"Zera, did you just pick up another kid?" Roland frowned and looked down to see his daughter clinging onto his huge white armor.

"Please dad ! I promise this is the last one ! This one is very special I promise you ! Even Hesione agreed !" Zeraphina looked at her father with her striking violet eyes. 

Upon looking at her own daughters beautiful eyes, Roland's frown melted away immediately. 

"Sigh... We'll have to talk with your mother on this one, the church's orphanage is at full capacity right now... "

Rio panicked a bit, as he suddenly trod near the giant man and said to the saintess " Big sis Zeraphina ! Am I going to be abandoned again ?" 

"Big sis ?" Roland twitched his eyebrow. 

"Don't worry Rio, I will make sure you're taken care of ! I promise" Zeraphina said as she began to looked teary eyed in front of her father. 

Hesione then added to her mistress's request " Master Roland, please consider taking this kid in. The saintess seems to be very attached. " She gave Roland a knowing look, which Rio has also noticed.

Roland, uppon seeing Hesione's action sighed again. 

"Sigh ~ I will try convincing your mother... But the final decision lies with her. Zera, don't blame me for anything. " Roland patted Zeraphina's head as he slightly pull back from his own daughter to upkeep appearance Infront of his subordinates.

"Thanks daddy !" Zeraphina exclaimed loudly. 

"Don't thank me too early just yet " Roland smiled at his daughter for a bit before ordering sternly. "Prepare to move out !" 

"Yes sir !" The group of knights responded to their leader and they began to stand up and formed a perimeter around the saintess and her associates. 

Then, with Roland standing in the middle, he chanted " Saint class gravity magic : Anchor !". 

A purple column of light soon enveloped with group, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared from where they stood on the grass field. 

When Rio opened his eye again, he was greeted with a huge pristine white city wall that is around 10 stories tall and seem to stretched out to left and right seemingly to infinity. Every few hundreds of meter, there would be watch tower like structure with complex magic circle hovering around it. The wall itself also seems to be enchanted with countless complex magical patterns as it reinforces the walls with seemingly divine power. The massive marble to the city was also opened, confetti popping and cheers could be heard as they seem to be holding a celebration for the saintess' return.

'This... is on a level of insanity. A truely impregnable city. The royal city in my previous life seems like a small village compare to this level of architecture.'

'Just what are they defending against to warrent such a defnese...'

'I thought our magic system was the same. But everything in this world seems to be vastly more advanced than mine...' 

'Sh*t, looks like I'll need to work harder if I want to live...' 

Rio's thought was soon broken up the melodious sound of the saintess.

"Welcome to Elaris, the sacred heart of the Church of Zephiron and the proud capital of the Elyndor Theocracy!"