At the highest point of the Temple of Light, Ford stood with his hands behind his back in front of the floor-to-ceiling stained glass window, gazing in the direction of the Cemetery of the Dead, while Yarlin stood behind him, filled with trepidation.
"It seems you haven't remembered anything I taught you."
Ford's aged voice carried a coldness, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
"I was wrong, Your Excellency."
A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on Yarlin's forehead, and his expression concealed a barely perceptible fear. He was only able to stand firm in the Temple of Light because of Ford. If Ford abandoned him, there would be only one fate awaiting him: death.
He was Ford's lackey, and had done countless dirty deeds; Ford would never spare his life.
“I shouldn’t have a conflict with the saintess, and I shouldn’t take sides so easily, which would damage your image.”
Yarlin's back was almost soaked with sweat, and his limbs were trembling uncontrollably. Anyone who had witnessed Ford's methods of torture would be afraid.
"You still haven't learned what I taught you."
Ford sighed and shook his head, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes as he turned to look at Yarlin.
“You shouldn’t have clashed with Her Highness the moment she showed any threat. The one with real power is me behind you. There are many ways to get rid of this obstacle.”
Perhaps Ford couldn't bear to part with the dog he had raised for ten years, so he still earnestly began to teach Yarlin.
"I taught you that you must always maintain your composure and never reveal any flaws."
Yarlin's eyes were filled with emotion. He had been trembling and keeping his head down, but now he finally dared to look up at Ford's face.
"Your Excellency is right."
As long as Ford showed even the slightest bit of a friendly expression, Yarlin would believe it without hesitation; he was convinced that Ford would never give up on him.
Ford waved his hand, his expression showing a hint of weariness, his kind face like that of a benevolent old man, radiating an aura of compassion and holiness.
"Go down. The Holy Maiden will not have a chance to return this time. You can start looking for the next Holy Maiden candidate."
He closed his eyes and spoke cruel words in that light, airy tone, effortlessly deciding Maggie's fate.
"yes."
Yarlin bowed respectfully in agreement and prepared to leave.
Before Yarlin could even turn around and take a step, Ford suddenly opened his eyes, his old face filled with shock. Before Yarlin could even ask what was going on, Ford had already disappeared from the spot, leaving Yarlin staring blankly ahead.
When Ford arrived near the cemetery of the dead, he found no cemetery, only a huge circular pit. Apart from the defensive magic array inside Santa Fe City, everything around had been razed to the ground.
"Such a strong magical fluctuation..."
Ford hovered high in the air, looking down at the devastation below, his expression more serious than ever before.
Since the temple was built, no one has dared to provoke the Temple of Light. Such large-scale and destructive destruction is something no one would believe unless it was premeditated and intentional on the part of a mage of the Archmage level or above.
If it weren't for the Pope's protective array that Santa Fe had set up, half of Santa Fe would have been blown up.
People in Santa Fe City also gathered around, most of them staring in disbelief at the scene. The explosion's range over such a long distance, especially near Santa Fe City, was simply unheard of.
Those living nearby in the city were still in shock, their expressions showing signs of relief.
"What happened? Did cultists attack Santa Fe City?"
"I don't know... even the bishop has come."
"The epicenter of the explosion was an abandoned cemetery. Could it be the work of ghosts?"
A crowd gathered around, buzzing with discussion, until the Paladin Order arrived, at which point they all made way.
"Your Excellency...this...."
Since Harun was not there, Vice-Commander Ferrier received the news and led the Paladin Order to the scene before him, only to be startled by what he saw the moment he turned around.
The Holy Knights are only responsible for the safety of the temple and are directly under the Archbishop and the Pope. Most of the Holy Knights are very talented, but unlike adventurers and mercenaries, they have not experienced as many life-and-death battles.
Attacks of this magnitude are still too rare for them.
"Where's Harlen?"
Archbishop Ford's gaze swept over the Holy Knights, and he discovered that his most useful man was not there.
“Um… the Knight Commander…”
Ferrier was in despair. Harun had never left the temple without permission, and he was extremely unlucky. Today, a major incident had occurred, but Harun was not there. How could he explain this?
Seeing Ferrier hesitate, Ford didn't press further. Instead, he opened his mouth as if to give an order, but then a faint sound came from the ruins.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a person crawling out of the pit. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Paladin Commander Harun.
His once noble and elegant knight's attire was now gray and torn in many places, revealing pale skin, and his cheeks and body were covered with bloody lacerations.
He struggled to climb out of the ground, forced himself to stand up, and stood ramrod straight, adhering to chivalry, his handsome face showing a slight pursing of his lips.
"..."
Ferrier stared at Harlen in disbelief, seemingly unable to believe that the person before him was actually the perfect Knight Commander.
Ford, as cunning as an old fox, almost lost his composure and stared blankly at the scene.
Harlan didn't even look up. He bent down and pulled the unconscious Maggie out of the rubble, then held her in his arms.
He walked straight ahead, not even glancing at Ford as he passed by, and simply brushed past him.
Ford's expression turned slightly colder than he could be, but as someone who had been in the position of bishop for over a hundred years, his composure and cultivation were hundreds of times greater than Arlin's, and he did not get angry on the spot.
Arlin arrived late and saw Harun carrying the unconscious Maggie as they slowly walked out of the crowd.
His gaze was fixed on Maggie, his eyes first filled with disbelief, then with resentment, and finally with hatred.
Maggie and Harlan were covered in mud, dust, and blood, yet they were both extremely beautiful, like gods who had been dragged down to the mortal world. Even in their disheveled state, they were still so beautiful that it was impossible to look away. Just looking at them made people subconsciously hold their breath, afraid of disturbing them.
The common people watched Harun leave until his figure completely disappeared from sight.
Arlin gritted his teeth in resentment, turned around and jogged through the Knights to Ford, where he asked in a low voice.
"Your Excellency, what do we do now?"
Ford closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, he had returned to his amiable demeanor.
"Her Highness the Holy Maiden and the Holy Knight Commander are seriously injured and need treatment. They should return to the temple first."
Ferrier bowed respectfully in a knightly salute, then turned and led his knights away from the area, returning to the temple.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Although he didn't know what had happened, he was sure that following the archbishop's orders was the right thing to do. He just didn't know if the knight commander's actions had offended the archbishop too much.
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