Chapter 360: The End of the Despicable
While the "Admissions Office" of Xuebang was in a panic over His Highness Colin's test paper, the Eagle Rock Territory on the other side of the border was also not idle.
Two days have passed since Sir Richter's triumphant return of justice.
During these two days of chaos, this distinguished lord had completely forgotten the "trophies" he had brought back to the castle.
At this moment, he was busy comforting his angry wife who was ready to run away from home at any time, and had no time to care about the dozens of women in the dungeon.
The dungeon was cold and damp. The water droplets seeping from the walls brought a musty smell, and the air was mixed with the smell of decay and despair.
A dozen thinly dressed women were locked in the same cell. They were crammed together, cold and hungry, their gorgeous makeup having long been ruined by tears of fear.
Most people were sobbing quietly, but not everyone was willing to bow to their fate. For example, there was a red-haired girl named Lina, whose strong arms still retained a trace of vitality like weeds.
She grabbed the cold iron bars, shook them hard, and shouted in a hoarse voice to the sleepy guard in the corner.
"Hey! How long are you going to keep us locked up? Master Richter should have calmed down! I've given you the money, what else do you want? That thing? Then put it in. I'm hungry too."
The soldier on duty was awakened by the rude shouting. He spat out the grass roots in his mouth with disdain, walked over lazily, leaned against the edge of the cell and laughed.
"Be content, you witches who sold your souls to the succubus. If it weren't for the master's mercy, you damned bastards would have been hanged on the city wall long ago!"
Many girls were frightened and cried after hearing the guards' scolding, but Lina was not afraid at all. Instead, she sneered.
"Go to hell? Huh, just for that?"
The soldier sneered.
"Girl, this is a serious matter. I think you don't know your place in the Book of Holy Words. If my master executes you now, no one will say anything."
"Don't scare me with the things in the priest's hand. I hope they can shine the holy light on my father's coffin."
Lina placed her hands on the cold railing, lowered her voice, and suddenly changed to a tone full of temptation and incomparable sobriety: "Soldier, let me ask you, we sisters broke our waists all night and couldn't earn a few gold coins. If we are worthy of going to hell just for this little money, then where should those nobles who robbed the peasants of their land and the wealthy businessmen who swallowed up tens of millions of gold coins for the nobles... who forced us here go? To heaven?"
The guard was stunned by her question. He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't think of how to refute. It took him a while to squeeze out a sentence.
"These are two different things... If someone really did this, I believe the Holy Light would definitely punish him."
"Then let's just leave it at that. It seems Sir Richter is a pious exception."
Lina suddenly changed the subject and her tone became gentle: "But... before the Holy Light shines on us, won't it shine on those who are worse? Let's not beat around the bush, let's make a deal. It's cold and wet here, the sisters need to eat, and you need money, don't you?"
"From now on, you will get 30% of the money we earn. In exchange, next time the Lord goes crazy, you tell us in advance and we will just hide. If everyone doesn't make such a mess, it will benefit you too, right?"
When he heard the word "money", the soldier's heart beat a few more times, and his pious face didn't seem so pious anymore.
He had no interest in this unwashed girl, but he was a little tempted when he heard about the money. His captain was about to retire, so if he asked the butler to make some arrangements, he could take a step forward.
Who wants to guard a cold and damp castle dungeon?
Moreover, he felt that what this guy said was not completely unreasonable. Since the Holy Light was based on first come first served when bestowing blessings, it didn't make sense for it to treat everyone equally when bringing down divine punishment.
Since the real villains are alive and well, praying to Saint Sith every day, and won't die unless they provoke the wrong people... How could Hell have the time to worry about it for a lord's servant like me?
He might not even be able to go if he wanted to! And, most importantly, the risk of this is extremely low.
Sir Richter had never set foot in this smelly and rotten dungeon. When he smelled the rotten stench, he walked away with a frown on his brow.
If the knight ever suddenly thought of these people, he could also say that these women died of plague and were buried in the suburbs to avoid polluting the castle.
Unless His Royal Highness the Prince goes blind one day and accidentally visits these women's tents, what could go wrong?
But the probability of this happening is too small, and even his master looks down on these vulgar women from the bottom of his heart.
This deal is a sure win!
After a lot of hesitation, the soldier finally decided to take this deal that would change his life.
However, in order to maximize the benefits, he cleared his throat and regained his soldier's dignity.
"30% is not enough," he said in a deep voice, "The risk is too great, and I can't make this much money by myself... I need 40%! And you are not allowed to wear those sheepskin coats anymore!"
Lina raised her eyebrows and asked back.
"No sheepskin coats allowed? Saint Sith, this is the North, do you want us to freeze to death in the snow?"
"This is the bottom line!" The soldier said stubbornly. He didn't want to lose his job, which paid little but was relatively safe, because of such a small matter. "Master Richter already knows that women in sheep's clothing are prostitutes! I can turn a blind eye, but you have to at least dress differently!"
Looking at the sad-looking women in the cell, the soldier suddenly had an idea and blurted out.
"You... can dress up as nuns! I've been to churches in the city, and the nuns' clothes are thick, black, and quite warm."
With his imagination opened, he became more and more excited as he spoke, even his head held high.
"This way, when you are 'doing things', we can explain it to you. For example, if someone asks you what you are doing, we can say... you are nuns, 'confessing' for the lost lambs! You are different from those demons in sheep's clothing!"
All the women in the cell fell silent at this incredible idea.
They looked at each other, their expressions changing from astonishment to absurdity, and finally to "Is this possible?!"
Lina was even more shocked and didn't say a word for a long time.
She looked up and down at the man in front of her who seemed stupid but was actually a reserved man, and finally gave him a thumbs up from the bottom of her heart.
"Damn it, only the people in your castle know how to play."
It seemed that she had cursed Sir Richter too early in praising his decisiveness.
She seemed to have seen how prosperous the nuns' confession work would be in that bustling camp of travelers.
…
While the top leaders of the academy were in an uproar over a swapped scroll, the culprit, Milos, had already fled to Eagle Rock Territory on the other side of the border like a frightened bird.
He hid in a shabby tent rented from a traveler's camp, which never saw sunlight all day long. His heart was filled with fear of his crime being exposed, but also with a hint of relief.
He could never have imagined that the "unlucky guy" he had carefully selected would actually be a prince of the empire! He could not understand why that extremely noble gentleman would be so bored as to personally participate in an apprenticeship assessment that he considered to be so low-level!
but--
There was no point in thinking about it now.
The only thing to be thankful for is that he is safe for the time being.
The Kingdom of Rhodes and the Academy have always been at odds. No matter how angry the Master Mage is, the Academy's law enforcement team would never dare to easily cross the border to arrest such an insignificant villain like him, and they don't even know where he is.
As for the lord of Eagle Rock Territory, that idiot named Richter, he is a fool who only cares about the title of nobility. Everyone in the entire Eagle Rock Territory knows it.
Milos decided to lurk here.
On the one hand, he could quietly find out what was going on and see how far things would develop. On the other hand, he also needed to wait for news from his "senior" before deciding whether to flee or return to the academy in a low-key manner, which was always safer than running around like a headless fly.
Moreover, deep down in his heart, he actually wanted to go back.
Those big shots are very busy and will not focus all their energy on an insignificant little guy like him. It won't be long before they forget about him.
To this day Milos still believes that he did all this for magic.
Becoming a respected sage is his lifelong dream, and money is only a tool for him to realize his dream, not his pursuit.
During the boring days of waiting for news, the tremendous pressure made him almost breathless.
Just then, he discovered that the prostitutes in the camp, who had been captured by Sir Richter, had recently returned.
Moreover, they seemed to have some kind of "organization" and had undergone a complete transformation.
They no longer wore cheap sheepskin coats to cover up the stench on their bodies, but instead changed into tight, even conservative black nun uniforms.
Similarly, they no longer shouted to solicit customers, but just stood dignifiedly at the door of their tents with a compassionate smile on their faces.
What is even more amazing is that this group of "nuns" seems to be much younger and more beautiful than the previous batch, and they exude a clean scent of soapberries rather than cheap perfume.
Milos initially thought he was seeing things.
Until he saw a rude mercenary whisper something in the ear of a "nun" and was meekly led into the tent.
Later, a wooden sign that read "Confession in Progress" was hung outside the tent. When he heard the confession, he instantly understood everything.
'Sister, please accept my confession.'
'Saint Sith will forgive your sins!'
A rustling sound came through the door curtain.
"Fuck, genius... what a fucking genius!"
Milos couldn't help but curse in his heart and thanked Saint Sis and Sir Richter. He felt it was ridiculous, but also had a hint of admiration from the bottom of his heart.
During the boring days of waiting for news from the senior, my restless heart began to stir under the tremendous mental pressure.
He had a huge sum of money, enough to buy a small town, but he could only hide in a shabby tent and live in fear. This torture almost drove him crazy.
Why don't you repent?
Milos felt as if the devil—oh no, the nun’s voice—appeared in his ears.
He couldn't bear it any longer, he had to "confess" his sins, even just once. He had sacrificed too much for magic, he had never lived for himself, and he had never felt happy.
At dusk, he found a "nun" who looked the most pleasing to the eye.
After listening to his request for "repentance", the other party showed a holy smile on his face and said softly: "The Holy Light will forgive every lost lamb. Please come in, my child."
Milos swallowed and trembled as he entered the tent, just as he had when he first entered the church, not knowing where to put his hands.
It’s a shame to say.
The books he had read could fill ten bookshelves, and he had pushed away countless colleagues, but this was the only thing he had never seen.
It was not until the nun came over with the donation box that he hurriedly took out the coins from his pocket and put them in, forcing out an awkward smile.
Clang——
The crisp sound melted away the uneasiness and guilt in his heart, while the holy incense relaxed his tense nerves.
Under the nun's gentle and considerate comfort and professional guidance, he temporarily forgot all the dangers and troubles in the outside world.
Here, he is not a fugitive with an uncertain future, but a helpless "child" forgiven by God.
"Saint Sith in heaven... woooo, please forgive me..." Milos cried out, really like a child who had made a mistake.
The nun stroked his hair and spoke softly and comfortingly.
"He will forgive you, my child."
He felt all his sins were forgiven.
And this feeling made him completely addicted...
…
In the study of Eagle Rock Castle, the flames in the fireplace flickered, just like the anger and determination burning in Sir Richter's heart.
Not long ago, he learned a shocking news from his lord, a baron of the kingdom!
The famous Prince Colin took the apprentice recruitment exam on a whim while visiting the academy, but his paper was replaced by someone else's! The daring fugitive has now crossed the border, but it is very likely that he has not run far and is still in the land of the Duke of the North.
As for why the Baron knew it, it was of course because Xuebang found the Baron’s lord, the honorable Duke of the North.
The baron told this as a joke to his lords, but it was obvious that the lord had no interest in the fugitive, but was particularly interested in the magician who laughed at Xuebang.
"They made a big fuss about a problem that can be solved with an anti-counterfeiting label. I think they have corrupted their brains by studying magic! I say that those peasants in the Kingdom of Rhodes should not be allowed to think about that."
He always felt that he was smarter than others and had great wisdom. His territory was well-organized, the people were morally noble and well-behaved, and even cows could read the Book of the Holy Word. It was absolutely impossible for him to make such a low-level mistake.
Richter laughed along with the Baron, but kept the incident in mind silently. As soon as he came back, he could not suppress his excitement and paced around the study.
"Opportunity! This is a godsend!"
He paced back and forth in the study excitedly, his face flushed with excitement. He thought this was a great opportunity for Saint Sith to make amends for his mistakes! As long as he caught the criminal and presented him to His Royal Highness, all his previous neglect and mistakes would be written off!
The prince will remember the Richter family and even bring their legends back to the Holy City!
"Come here!" He immediately ordered the butler to gather all the guards in the castle, and gave the order energetically, "Even if we have to turn Yingyan County upside down, we must find the shameless scum who dared to offend His Royal Highness the Prince!"
Everyone was confused when they heard this, and they looked at each other.
Turn the Eagle Rock collar upside down...
This master probably forgot how many migrant workers there were in his territory and how vast the snowfield was.
Besides, who would stay where they are after committing a crime?
Needless to say, that guy must have already fled to the Whirlpool Sea in the south or the port of the North Sea to hide, and he might even be on a ship to the New World.
However, just when everyone was at a loss, an unexpected "hero" appeared.
The man's name is Carbin. He is a guard in the castle and the father of all the "nuns" in Eagle Rock Territory.
He didn't want to get involved in this mess. How could the bounty be as good as the confession? However, if the master got angry again and really turned Yingyan County upside down, he would be the one to lose his head.
For the sake of his own future and income, he had no choice but to bite the bullet. Even if the fugitive was not in Eagle Rock Territory, he had to find him there! Fortunately, through the nuns in the camp, he actually found a guy who was suspected to be the real culprit.
That's a strange magician.
He acts in a low-key manner, but is generous with his money. Moreover, unlike those apprentices who come to take the exam, he is truly capable and even used holy light to heal an old injury of a nun.
Carbin was overjoyed when he heard this. He threatened Lina not to alert the enemy, otherwise everyone would be doomed. Then he found the castle's steward and claimed that he had an acquaintance in the traveler camp and had seen the suspicious guy.
Sir Richter was overjoyed, and immediately rewarded Carbin and appointed him as the next commander of the castle guard! After that, Sir Richter took out his dusty armor, picked up his ancestral sword, and vowed to personally lead the team to capture the "morally corrupt magician"! Carbin was shocked by Sir Richter's determination and tried to persuade him earnestly. It was not because he was afraid that the man would escape, but because he didn't want his chicken coop to be smashed because of the lord's fanfare.
"My lord, my lord! You absolutely cannot do that! You are so powerful, but that wizard is a cunning rat. If a large army approaches, he will probably be scared away. To deal with a bronze-level wizard like this, you don't need to mobilize an army yourself. I have my own way."
"Master, this is what I suggest as well... Since Carbin has a way, why don't you let him try? I believe he will not embarrass you." The butler also followed suit, not because he also received money, but mainly because he was worried that his master would really embarrass himself on the battlefield.
Richter thought about it and it made sense, so he patted the soldier on the shoulder and handed over this "sacred mission" to his men.
If this young soldier really has this ability, it is worth his training.
After receiving the order, Carbin did not dare to delay. He rode a fast horse and rushed to the traveler's camp, not daring to bring anyone with him.
That night, in a "nun's" tent, specially made soothing incense was rising.
Milos, in the gentle land of confession, had already let down all his defenses and lay on the warm thighs, enjoying the peace of the sage's time.
The nun was already an old acquaintance of his.
Although he did not tell her all his experiences, he still had a little trust in her.
At least I don't have to worry about her stealing my money.
"Lily, sometimes... I really can't figure it out. If I were given another chance to choose, I would definitely not become a magician. I have decided that when I return this time, I will redeem my parents and then go to the New World to start over..."
"You are tired, my poor child, don't think about so many troubles," the "nun" persuaded him softly, massaging his temples, "Lie down and leave everything to me..."
Smelling the calming incense, Milos felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier. In a dizzy feeling of comfort, he fell asleep comfortably without knowing it.
When he woke up again, he was horrified to find that he had been tied up, with rags stuffed in his mouth, and two men wearing black masks were grinning at him...
…
I don’t know how much time has passed, so long that perhaps His Royal Highness the Prince has already forgotten about this matter.
Milos, who was in a daze, woke up in a biting cold wind. He was still in his mother's arms a second ago.
He first smelled the fishy smell of soil and rotten grass in the air, then he felt the damp coldness of rotten wood under his knees and the chilling metallic chill behind his neck.
He suddenly opened his eyes and found himself kneeling on an unfamiliar gallows, surrounded by a crowd of unfamiliar people.
Not only did he see himself, but also the butler with a deathly pale face kneeling beside him. He vaguely remembered that his name was Yankov, and they had done the deal in the Adventurer's House Tavern.
Around the execution ground, the cold wind made the flags flutter. Not only the emblem of the Richter family was fluttering in the wind, but also the flag of the Duke of the North with a white wolf on a black background!
Milos' heart was filled with despair and sank to the bottom in an instant.
A judge from Dragon Vision City sat at the sentencing seat, surrounded by a group of knights, and pronounced their charges with an indifferent expression: "The criminals, Marco Gage and Milos, stole the property of the Imperial Prince. Their crime should be executed. There is no pardon for their crime!"
The moment he heard the verdict, Yankov, who was kneeling beside the court, closed his eyes and two lines of tears flowed down his old face.
"I, Mako Gage... admit to all the charges. I only hope that Saint Sith can forgive the crimes I have committed in this life when I die."
Before leaving, he said goodbye to his wife and children and told them that he was going to hide in a faraway place because their father had offended someone he shouldn't have offended.
But he was lucky, at least the Gage family would treat his family well.
Master Dorian was not a kind man, but he never broke his word in this matter, and that was why his servants were willing to die.
As for his age...it's not a problem. After all, it's not just young people who take the Xuebang exam. They just need an explanation.
The judge waved his hand expressionlessly.
The executioner raised his knife and a gray head rolled to the ground.
The warm blood splashed on Milos' face. He was so scared when he saw this scene that he pissed himself to death.
The instinct of survival overwhelmed everything. He struggled frantically, his eyes were bloodshot, and he made a "woohoo" sound because of the rag stuffed in his mouth. He screamed that he was just a small character and there was a mastermind behind him. He wanted to see the lord, he wanted to see His Royal Highness the Prince! He wanted to tell everyone everything he knew! Unfortunately -
It's all too late.
If I had shouted it out earlier and the prince had heard it, I could still have survived.
Or maybe just don't say anything, just disappear in the crowd, leave with all the unsettled accounts, and live like a rat for the rest of your life.
The judge of Longshi City ignored his shouting, as if he didn't see the dying struggle of an ant, and waved his hand coldly again.
Justice has never come so fast—
Another hot head fell to the ground.
After the servant's father, this time it was the serf's son.
After a brief silence, the onlookers burst into cheers of great joy. Although they didn't know the prince's name, the lord still treated them to a good show.
It is said that among those executed this time there is a magician! This is too exciting! …
After the execution, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only a few guards cleaning the blood on the execution ground.
The judge from Longshi City evacuated the temporary court with an expressionless face. When everything was almost over, he shook hands with a magic apprentice who had been waiting in the corner for a long time.
"Thank you for your fair judgment, sir," the apprentice said politely, "In this way, our prince who likes to look around and not do his job can finally get an explanation."
Professor Hector got really angry after returning to Xuebang. He had already said that he would investigate the matter thoroughly, and it was impossible for him to not even get a result.
Now, the case can finally be closed.
"You're welcome. It's my honor to serve you," the judge politely replied. "Also, Lord Blackwood asked me to say hello to your mentor on his behalf. His little son really likes the gift from the wizard... The little guy needs a storage ring to store the toys he always loses."
The apprentice smiled.
"I'll tell my mentor."
The relationship between the Kingdom of Rhodes and Xuebang is not good, but this does not mean that Duke Blackwood cannot be friends with the magicians of Xuebang.
The magicians of Xuebang always complained that the Empire was too controlling, but did this prevent Professor Hector from getting angry for the Prince of the Empire? The two smiled at each other knowingly and then left.
That magic apprentice was none other than Milos's dear "senior".
He looked at the bloodstains that had been cleaned up and mourned silently in his heart for his foolish junior.
"Poor kid," he smiled, but sneered in his heart, "The kind mentor deliberately let you run away, why don't you just take the three hundred gold coins and disappear in the crowd? Do you have to stay in a place like this? Do you still expect to come back?"
That guy is quite smart and can do things very efficiently, otherwise he would not be chosen to do the job. But this smart person is sometimes not very clear-headed and lives in the dream of becoming a sage.
Now, the three hundred gold coins are gone, and he has been charged with a crime worth a million gold coins, and even his head has been moved.
He shook his head slightly, feeling sorry for the boy's parents, then he pulled up the hood of his cloak, turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
(End of this chapter)
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