Chapter 476 The Big One Is Coming Again
As dusk fell, the church bell tower rang its night bells, and the soup kitchens near the city gates remained bustling with people.
The chill of autumn is seeping into this city that has just survived the war. Fortunately, the large pots of boiling porridge and the rich aroma of wheat emanating from them temporarily dispel the cold and worries about the future.
Most of the citizens looked pale and sickly, but at least their eyes held a hint of vitality.
They gathered in twos and threes, holding their rough earthenware bowls, swallowing their hard-won food while exchanging the latest news from the city in hushed tones.
"Hey, have you guys heard?"
A well-informed, gaunt man spoke first, lowering his voice smugly as if sharing a shocking secret.
"This morning, Princess Eileen went to the cathedral in person to confront that Grand Inquisitor in black robes! My cousin's neighbor delivers candles to the cathedral, and he sneaked in through a side door and saw it with his own eyes!"
"A standoff?!"
"What's going on?!"
Everyone's eyes lit up, their faces filled with curiosity.
"What could it be?" An elderly woman muttered nervously, her lips pursed. "It's just reporting military intelligence, isn't it? Arno, don't spread rumors, or you'll catch those black-robed gentlemen in the court hearing!"
The version of the report on military intelligence is the one presented by the court.
Although what happened inside the church could be covered up, there was still light coming through the windows during the day.
To prevent people from spreading even bigger rumors in whispers, the court produced an official version of the rumor.
It must be said that they lack experience in dealing with such situations.
If there are no malicious individuals, this operation is certainly feasible. However, if it encounters malicious individuals, it undoubtedly creates a target for concentrated attacks.
"What military intelligence! The war ended so long ago, what military intelligence could there be?"
An excited man interrupted, gesturing dramatically with his index finger as he spoke the version he'd heard from someone else.
“That’s not the version I heard! I heard that the chief judge suspected Princess Eileen, saying that she had an unclean aura, and was going to put her on trial on the spot!”
These words were like a stone thrown into a pond, immediately creating ripples all around.
Even the people squatting at a distance came over, their faces filled with disbelief, wanting to hear what was going on.
"Trial of Princess Eileen? Have they gone mad?"
"How dare they do this! His Highness is our savior!"
"Exactly! Princess Eileen sacrificed her own life to save us! What did those guys who only know how to chant scriptures do!"
"What exactly happened? Tell me quickly!"
Faced with the barrage of questions from the crowd, the man who had been so excited was momentarily at a loss for words, since he had only heard rumors and had no idea what the details were.
What he's more worried about now is that as more and more people gather here, what if it attracts the court officials?
Just as he was at a loss, an unremarkable middle-aged man suddenly put down his bowl and spoke quietly.
Unlike some hot-blooded guys, his voice was simple and straightforward, hitting the nail on the head.
"It's more than just a trial..."
"The version I heard is that the Grand Judge used the 'Judgment Cross,' a divine artifact personally bestowed by His Holiness the Pope, in front of all the priests and knights!"
These words, falling on the heads of the crowd, were not as simple as a stone thrown into a pond; they were more like a bomb dropped into the pond.
"The Judgment Cross?!"
"What, what is that?!"
"A kind of... artifact used to punish heretics. I don't know the specifics, but I do know that ordinary demons are no match for it. In fact, not only demons, but even those with ill intentions cannot look directly at its dazzling light."
The middle-aged man spoke slowly, describing details unknown to the others, as if he had been there himself. Although he said, "I don't know the specifics," he seemed to know everything.
"...When that light shone, it was as if a second sun appeared in the sky. They wanted to use the holy light to burn Princess Irene and prove that she was indeed guilty. However, unfortunately, our Saint Sith was discerning. His judgment not only failed to prove Princess Irene's guilt, but also proved her purity!"
The incredibly impactful visuals made countless people in the audience hold their breath, as if they had stepped into the scene with the middle-aged man.
Because his description was so realistic, even capturing the expressions on the judges' faces, everyone believed that what he said was the truth.
And that is indeed the case.
Any lie avoids describing details, because once details are described, it will leave flaws that cannot be covered up.
Conversely, if someone speaks as if they were actually there, and no one can expose them.
He is most likely actually at the scene.
Or at least know something that others don't.
The middle-aged man finished telling the story.
This included the chief judge's refusal to apologize, the chief eunuch's cold mockery, and Eileen's act of enduring humiliation for the greater good, leaving the church with her fists clenched...
After a brief silence, the crowd finally erupted into an uncontrollable commotion.
Doubt and anger surged like lava from hell; they dared not speak loudly, yet they complained in suppressed voices.
"How could they treat our heroes like this?!"
"What right does the tribunal have to doubt her? I think they are the heretics! Where were they when Chaos was bullying us?"
"Shameless bastards! When Chaos came, they all hid in their holes like rats, but as soon as Chaos left, they started swaggering around!"
Discontent with the magistrates' court had long been brewing in people's hearts; their gentle and humble demeanor was merely a facade of forbearance.
While it's true that these men in black robes brought them food, where did that food come from?
Moreover, before every meal, I had to listen to those long-winded sermons from the Holy City, which was quite annoying.
Besides, it's fine if they don't mention it!
The more they spout those high-sounding principles, the more people can't help but wonder—what were you doing before?
"If Saint Sith were truly omnipotent, what was He doing when Twilight City was besieged? In the end, it was Princess Irene's sword and the Salvation Army's cannons that saved the day!"
A poor man in tattered clothes couldn't help but complain, and his complaint immediately drew a chorus of suppressed agreement.
There are also those who agree with him.
"...I think it's because they themselves can't defeat Chaos that they want to slander those who fought against Chaos as clowns!"
"That makes sense!"
There's really no logic to it.
But the emotions were enough.
As the crowd grew increasingly agitated, a middle-aged man who had spoken the truth quietly slipped through the clamor and turned into a deserted alley.
The alley was dark, seemingly a different world from the hustle and bustle of the street.
The magistrates haven't arrived yet, not because they can't see this place, but because they're simply too busy.
The same thing was happening at every porridge distribution point in Twilight City.
At first, people only talked about the holy light that shone in the city cathedral during the day, but later they came to believe that the Court of Judiciary was the most blasphemous.
Lord Jiménez probably never expected this.
Their attempt to bribe the citizens of Twilight City with the stolen radishes, however, became the very weapon the Salvation Army used to launch an attack against them.
In that unknown twilight, in this unseen war, Saint Karen had already won a round...
...
In the Twilight City Cathedral, candlelight flickered in a large prayer room temporarily requisitioned as an office, casting an unpredictable glow on the mural of "Salvation of the Saints" on the wall.
Grand Inquisitor Jiménez sat behind a table with a huge map of the Twilight Province spread out in front of him, marked with red ink the villages that had just been "purified".
He frowned, as if pondering his next move.
"Knock knock".
A respectful knock came from behind him.
"Come in." Jiménez did not look up; his indifferent eyes seemed still immersed in contemplation of the sacred cause.
The door opened, and a middle-aged man in a priest's robe walked in. His face was kind and refined, and his demeanor was more like that of a scholar than a judge.
His name was Martin, and he was one of the theologians who came to this remote region with the court. His main responsibility was to carry out ideological correction and preaching work among the people.
However, at this moment, a faint gloom hung over the face of this papal missionary.
"Your Excellency the Grand Judge."
Martin bowed, his voice tinged with weariness, and spoke slowly.
"We've encountered some resistance at the soup kitchens; a blasphemous claim is circulating among the citizens..."
Jiménez finally looked up from the map, a hint of impatience flashing in his cloudy eyes, but he still patiently spoke.
"explain."
Martin nodded slightly and reported the facts.
"The citizens are saying... that you used the divine artifact 'Judgment Cross' in the cathedral to try Princess Irene, but Saint Sith refused to harm the heroine. Now, many people privately call her 'the Knight Protected by the Holy Light,' and her reputation is even higher than before."
"Bang!"
Jiménez slammed his hand on the table, the thick oak surface making a loud bang that caused the flame on the candlestick to flicker violently.
Martin stared at him in astonishment, only to see a terrifying rage brewing within that gaunt body, and his voice as chilling as the gavel striking in a courtroom.
"Absurd! I clearly ordered a news blackout! The people in the church are either ours or the King's; how could the news have gotten out—"
Jiménez suddenly stopped speaking halfway through his sentence, his cloudy pupils narrowing slightly.
I see.
It was Eileen's plan...
This seemingly innocent girl was actually more cunning than he had imagined, plotting against him from the moment she stepped into the church!
This woman... is not to be underestimated!
Seeing his furious boss, Martin's face showed deep worry.
He knew that speaking out at this moment was extremely risky, but as Saint Sith's servant, he still decided to take the risk to share the burden of the Holy Light he believed in.
"Your Excellency, rumors are like water; you can't stop them. Besides... don't you find it strange?"
His voice was calm, attempting to soothe Jiménez's anger while steer the conversation toward something more noteworthy.
"This rumor spread too quickly and captured every detail precisely, retaining only the parts that were favorable to Eileen. It portrayed her as a hero who was divinely protected but persecuted by the world, while we... were portrayed as villains who couldn't distinguish right from wrong."
"You want to say that Eileen did it?" Jiménez's eyes flickered slightly; that was indeed what he was thinking.
However, this old scholar was still a bit naive, and shook his head as he said.
"No, quite the opposite. I don't think Eileen has such thoughts. She is the one chosen by the Holy Light. Even if her sword has a tragic touch, what good will it do her personally? The only one who truly benefits... is probably the king, who was slandered as a clown along with us."
Before the referee could speak, Martin took a deep breath and continued in a sincere voice.
"Your Excellency, if I may be so bold, the Grand Eunuch Skeller's hostility towards Campbell is almost undisguised, as we have both witnessed. We have come to purify the chaos, a sacred mission bestowed upon us by the Pope. As for the conflict between King Lane and Duke Campbell, it is a secular power struggle, and the Church has no need to and should not intervene."
Martin spoke cryptically, implying that Mr. Sclayer was trying to use the courtroom as a weapon against his political enemies.
However, what he didn't know was that the chief judge was well aware that Sclere was using him, but simply didn't expose him.
After all, wasn't the court also using the king's power to facilitate its own efforts to eliminate heretics?
Scholars often perceive the world as logically clear and distinct. However, the real world is quite the opposite; it is often a complex interplay of elements.
Jiménez did not answer Martin's question, but simply waved his hand impatiently, signaling him to leave.
Martin bowed and quietly left the room, leaving the Grand Judge alone in the flickering candlelight and the shadows cast by the murals.
Jiménez turned his gaze back to the map on the table, his expression growing increasingly grave.
At first, the rings of scarlet marks made him feel happy, but now he couldn't feel happy at all.
Skeller was a cunning politician, but he was far from capable of fabricating such inflammatory rumors in a single day and letting them spread throughout the city, forcing the court to scramble to contain them.
and--
He could hardly imagine what the twilight city under his nose was like now, let alone the villages he couldn't see.
He always had a feeling that there was an unseen force working against him.
The unseen enemy accurately predicted his every move, even guessing his next move, countering each move with deadly precision.
Is it that Karen?
Or was it the ambitious Archduke Campbell?
Or perhaps, it's some even more terrifying being?
Jiménez stretched out his withered fingers and slowly stroked the name "Sparrowwood Territory" on the map, a look of unprecedented solemnity flashing in his eyes.
He dealt with many of the Vatican's enemies.
However, this was the first time he had ever seen someone rebelling against the Papacy under the banner of Saint Sith, and he was at a loss as to how to deal with it.
All he wanted to do now was curse that sleepy king.
This horrific fire, which disregarded human life, may have unearthed a truly terrifying monster...
...
Jiménez's concerns were not unfounded. The Court of Justice was still playing the game of eliminating all traces of the enemy in the Twilight Province, while the legend of Saint Karen had already spread to the northern border of the Kingdom of Rhodes.
Soon, that "fire of salvation" will spread like wildfire to every inch of land untouched by the holy light.
The spear of the "Power Angel" can pierce through the clones of chaotic evil spirits and crush tangible armies, but it cannot kill those unseen ghosts!
Undercurrents surged within the city at dusk.
Meanwhile, far downstream in Thunder City, a surging undercurrent was quietly brewing...
The "Embrace of Dawn" Hotel is located on Queen Street in Thunder City.
At this moment, in the lounge of this luxurious hotel, the most influential merchants and factory owners in Thunder City are surrounding a lizardman who seems completely out of place in his surroundings.
His bluish-gray scales gleamed with a cold, hard sheen under the crystal chandelier, and a thick tail lay quietly curled behind him, like a sleeping python.
However, what is most striking is not his tail and wings, but the dazzling set of gold ornaments he wears.
It's as if gold is as plentiful as seashells on a beach in the continent of Gana.
Sak's booming voice and unrestrained demeanor contrasted sharply with the other elegant and proper businessmen in the lounge, yet no one found him rude; instead, they regarded it as a kind of "exotic charm."
Although the citizens of Thunder City have little affection for lizardmen, this man is quite different from the insects that roam the southwestern swamps.
This esteemed Mr. Sak Gale not only comes from the distant continent of Gana, but also has the powerful Lizardman Kingdom, which spans more than seven million square kilometers, behind him!
The territory of the Principality of Campbell was like a speck of dust in their eyes!
Not to mention, this Mr. Sak is said to be a close relative of the most powerful chieftain in the United Kingdom of Gutaf!
He seems to be the chief's cousin?
It is precisely because of these many accolades that the lounge of the "Embrace of Dawn" hotel is almost always packed with people, just like when His Highness Colin stayed here.
The merchants of Thunder City, like sharks smelling blood, flocked around Sak, eager to learn about his mysterious homeland from this foreign "noble."
Sak was always open with his questions and would chat freely with anyone who came before him.
At that moment, a well-dressed textile factory owner walked over with a wine glass in his hand, his humble tone carrying a hint of flattery.
“Dear Mr. Sack, please forgive my bluntness, but I noticed that the fabric of your clothes seems… a little rough? I wonder if you are familiar with the fine cotton and velvet produced in Thunder City? They are as soft as clouds, and I bet you would love them!”
Upon hearing this, Sak let out a hearty and loud laugh.
"Haha! You're right! Your fabric is indeed of the finest quality! Where we're from, only the chieftain and the tribal high priest can enjoy such fine silk. You're actually sewing it onto a chair—what a waste!"
These words made the textile factory owner's eyes light up instantly, and he wished he could invite Mr. Sack to his factory immediately.
His warehouse is full of these kinds of things!
As long as the lizardmen of the Kingdom of Gutaf need it, the Campbell people can work overtime to produce it for them!
However, before he could even begin to promote his products, the owner of a mechanical power plant that worked for the Andes Group squeezed in and cautiously probed the more crucial issues.
"I have heard that your country possesses advanced steam technology. Is that true?"
"Steam engine? Oh, you mean those iron lumps that spew white steam all day long?"
Sack's interest visibly waned, and he waved his hand dismissively.
“We use them to dig tunnels, mine, and even farm, and we also use them to haul goods... Some run in water, some run on roads. They are very common, and the children in our tribe can make simple toys out of the parts.”
Upon hearing this, the owner of the mechanical power plant gasped, and an envious expression appeared on his face.
Even a little kid could make this?!
The other merchants exchanged surprised glances.
They had heard of steam engines for mining, but what were steam engines for running on the ground and for tilling the land?
In those few words of exchange, Sack had already sketched out an incredibly enticing blueprint in the mind of the Campbell businessman—
It was a vast kingdom with a strong industrial base and endless resources.
They are technologically advanced, yet their spiritual world is barren. Their consumerism and luxury goods are practically nonexistent, hence their nobles yearn for interaction with the outside world. They are surrounded by gold; they themselves are veritable gold mines!
The atmosphere in the lounge reached its peak.
Just as everyone in the lounge was breathing heavily because of the enormous business prospects, the tightly closed double wooden doors were suddenly pushed open respectfully by a waiter.
The noise in the lounge seemed to pause, and everyone subconsciously turned around to look, only to see Prince Colin standing at the door.
Prince Colin...is back?!
when?!
But what shocked them even more was yet to come.
The imposing and majestic Sack Gale, with the air of a lion, immediately sprang up from the sofa the moment he saw Prince Colin.
If it weren't for Colin's stern look, everyone would have wondered if his next move would be to kneel down on one knee.
Whispers filled the lounge, and burning gazes darted back and forth between Sack and Colin, their expressions shifting constantly.
Luo Yan knew exactly what they were thinking, because he had deliberately made them think that way.
With a calm gaze sweeping across the room, Prince Colin smiled and nodded to the businessmen who rose to pay their respects, as a greeting.
He then fixed his gaze on Sak and said succinctly.
"Mr. Sack, please come with me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Without any hesitation, Sack respectfully responded and immediately strode off to follow Colin, who had turned and left.
The two walked away until their figures completely disappeared around the corner of the stairs, at which point the lounge returned to its usual bustling atmosphere.
This time, however, the clamor wasn't just about the loud discussions, but also about an irrepressible excitement.
"By Saint Sith... what did I just see?"
“That Mr. Sack was like an obedient soldier in front of His Highness Colin!”
"It's unbelievable! Just how vast is the power that the mysterious and wealthy Colin family has built up on the continent of Gana!"
"Wait, did you guys notice His Highness's expression? I don't know if it's just my imagination, but he seems... a little serious?"
"You're not the only one who saw it; I sensed it too... Something big is about to happen in our duchy!"
(End of this chapter)
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