Lord: I have built a witch's sanctuary.

Chapter 29 Rust and Roses

The outer city at night is a place where chaos and order intertwine.

Mary carefully navigated the intricate alleyways, trying to avoid the dark corners.

The can of goat milk powder in her arms was digging into her ribs and causing pain, but she held on even tighter.

In this winter of scarcity, a can of goat milk powder could be enough to bring about a fatal disaster.

Suddenly, a cacophony of voices and heavy footsteps came from ahead.

Mary's heart tightened, and she looked up to see a group of people gathered at the alley entrance.

They wore oil-stained leather jackets, had various alchemical medicine bottles and metal pendants hanging on their bodies, and carried rusty wrenches or iron bars in their hands.

It is the "Rust Brotherhood".

This is the largest gang in the outer city, composed of low-level workers, down-on-his-luck alchemists, and thugs.

In everyone's eyes, they were a cancer on the city, vicious thugs.

Mary turned pale with fright and instinctively tried to turn and run away.

But the snow was too thick, and she slipped and almost fell. This commotion immediately attracted the attention of the group.

"Hey, isn't that the widow whose husband died?"

A burly man with a face full of scars turned his head, his gaze falling on the tin can in her arms. A greedy glint flashed in his eyes. "What good stuff are you holding? Holy water given by the Grand Church?"

The surrounding gang members burst into laughter, some whistled, and then approached with ill intent.

Mary retreated in despair, leaning against the cold wall, desperately shielding the baby and formula behind her: "No... don't come any closer! This is for the baby..."

"For the kids? Perfect, the brothers haven't had dinner yet."

The burly man grinned maliciously and reached out his large hand, covered in metal refining oil, to grab Mary's shoulder.

Just as the dirty hand was about to touch Mary, a cold female voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the burly man's actions.

"Stop, Buck."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling pressure.

The once noisy alleyway instantly fell silent.

The burly men surrounding Mary fell silent immediately, like chickens being choked, and respectfully stepped aside to make way for her.

A tall figure emerged from the steam-filled shadows.

That's a woman.

In this freezing weather, her outfit was shockingly daring.

She wore a tight-fitting black leather vest with a deep V-neck that revealed a large expanse of fair, delicate yet powerful skin. A dark red tattoo stretched from her collarbone into the deep cleavage.

She had long legs, and wore a pair of spiked metal boots. Her dark red hair danced wildly in the wind.

That's wildness, that's violence, that's a fatal temptation that makes a man's throat go dry at first glance.

That was the leader of the Rust Brotherhood, known as "The Crimson Rose," Katarina.

Katarina strode up to Mary with a languid yet domineering gait, her dark red eyeshadow-covered eyes scrutinizing the trembling young mother.

Mary held her breath; she had heard rumors about this woman—ruthless and cold-blooded.

I'm doomed now.

Katarina slowly exhaled a smoke ring and extended her hand, which was covered by a fingerless leather glove.

Mary closed her eyes, waiting to be robbed or beaten.

However, the expected pain did not occur.

She felt a warm hand gently lift her chin.

"Those eyes look awful from crying."

Katarina's voice was slightly husky and magnetic. She leaned forward slightly, and the scent of tobacco, alchemy oil, and some kind of cheap perfume wafted over you.

"Boss, this woman just came from that old charlatan's place..." the burly man named Buck said obsequiously.

"Shut up." Katarina snapped without turning her head, and Buck immediately shrank back.

Katarina released her grip, her gaze falling on the can of baby formula in Mary's arms. A hint of mockery flashed in her eyes, but it wasn't directed at Mary.

"I heard. Your man died on the city wall for the church, and those charlatans in gold skins didn't even give you a fart."

Katarina straightened up and casually flicked the cigarette butt into the snow, making a soft "sizzle" sound.

Mary nodded, her voice trembling.

"That's disgusting."

Katarina spat, then turned around and snapped her fingers at one of her subordinates behind her. "Give it to me."

The subordinate immediately ran over and handed over a heavy cloth bag and a brand-new can of milk powder.

Katarina took the things and stuffed them directly into Mary's already stiff arms.

"Take it." Her tone left no room for argument.

Mary froze, staring blankly at the new thing in her arms, her mind a complete blank: "This...this..."

"Don't get me wrong, we're not philanthropists."

Katarina crossed her arms, her tight-fitting corset accentuating her stunning curves, and looked down at Mary.

"It's just that the Brotherhood's informants saw you being kicked away like a dog at the cathedral entrance. We may be scum in the mud, but we can't stand those hypocritical guys bullying orphans and widows."

She reached out and pulled Mary's scarf tighter.

"There's some money in that bag, enough to get you through the winter. If anyone dares to bully you in the future, just say it's the Rust Brotherhood."

"Those powerful and mysterious figures can't be trusted."

Katarina leaned close to Mary's ear, her breath sweet and carrying a faint scent of tobacco, "Remember, in this world, only you can save yourself, or someone like us... fellow maggots wallowing in the mud."

After saying that, she straightened up and kicked the bald, big man in the buttocks.

"Send her home! If you lose even a single hair, I'll throw you in the alchemy furnace!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The bald, burly man scrambled to his feet, bowing and scraping before Mary. "Young lady, please, please!"

Mary, carrying two cans of formula and a heavy wad of cash, returned home under Buck's protection, completely dazed the entire way.

She glanced back.

In the wind and snow, the scantily clad red-haired woman leaned against a rusty pipe and lit a cigarette.

Mars flickered on and off.

For a moment, Mary felt a strange sense of detachment.

She glanced back at the still brightly lit, heavenly cathedral in the inner city, and then at the cheap cigarette that Katarina had lit.

In that magnificent temple, in the eyes of those high priests who claimed to love the world and have compassion for all living beings, she saw the coldest cruelty.

But in the dilapidated little church, among the scoundrels who committed all sorts of evil in the lower city, she felt a rough but humane tenderness.

What... what's wrong with this world?