The beastmen gathered around to watch the excitement saw Jiang Hao take out a black robe and put it on. They immediately recognized it as a priest's robe—and a Scepter Priest's robe at that. After a moment of stunned silence, they all placed hands over their chests, lowered their heads, and bowed.
Before an Altar Priest, especially a noble Scepter Priest, they had to show sufficient respect.
Just then, someone in the beastman crowd suddenly shouted, "Anyone who dares offend a noble priest must not be allowed to go free! Don't let these human merchants off!"
"That's right, surround them!"
"Capture them and send them to the temple for punishment!"
Shouts rang out from all around. More and more beastmen gathered, encircling the fat merchant and his guards. The merchant was terrified.
"Y-You're a Scepter Priest!"
The fat man's voice trembled as he spoke.
Jiang Hao glanced at him and said softly, "According to the Behemoth Empire code, attacking a priest is the same crime as attacking His Majesty the Emperor. The highest penalty is death. Of course, there are many kinds of execution. Attacking a Scepter Priest seems to mean being fed to crocodile monsters."
The fat merchant's face turned exceptionally ugly.
"Oh, right. Your guards are equally guilty."
The human warriors were also frightened out of their wits.
After taking two ragged breaths, the fat man pleaded, "Priest, I—I wish to appeal! I didn't do it on purpose. What happened just now was only an accident. I never intended to attack you, and I didn't know you were a temple priest."
Jiang Hao shook his head slightly.
"According to the imperial code, you do indeed have the right to appeal. However, when a priest feels threatened, he may decide whether to retaliate against the person who attacked him."