Outpost County stood on higher ground at the center of the region. Supported by Sakre, the Old Butler Leisi stood atop a huge rock, squinting into the distance.
An unending torrent of steel surged through Outpost County's gates, stretching all the way toward the General Affairs Hall. Countless cavalrymen entered through the gates, continuously dispersing and regrouping.
In the blink of an eye, black banners of the Earth Dragon Legion filled Outpost County.
The tiny Outpost County was packed with cavalry from the Holy See.
"The Legion Commander has been attacked! Cavalry, move quickly to protect the Legion Commander!"
"Cavalry, assemble and reinforce the General Affairs Hall!"
"Infantry, search the civilians! Everyone else, secure all major routes!"
"Other than the local diocese, search all suspicious individuals!"
Mounted on swift horses with command flags on their backs, the messengers galloped through every corner of Outpost County, delivering orders without expression.
The charging warhorses knocked down countless civilians who failed to dodge in time.
The overbearing knights dismounted and kicked open house after house.
Infantrymen carrying massive shields occupied every major road.
The low roars of warhorses, the curses of knights, and the pleas of civilians replaced the usual bustle and clamor.
Countless civilians who prayed every night looked at the legion cavalry representing the Holy Father's sword, and the faith in their hearts began to waver.
Whether civilians or nobles, young adults or women and children, all were roughly shoved outside by the soldiers and subjected to so-called "inspections" with frightened faces.
Compared to the smiling but treacherous diocesan priests, these cavalrymen were even more loathsome, their desires far more naked.
Before Allen abolished the civilian tax laws, the diocese had been like a dull knife slowly cutting flesh.
But these cavalrymen were all about one big haul, grabbing whatever they could.
In the courtyards of certain minor nobles, countless slightly valuable possessions were seized by these cavalrymen on almost laughable pretexts. Many fairly attractive female relatives were molested and could only endure it through tears.
The civilians remained silent, silently enduring the unreasonable demands and fists of the Earth Dragon Legion soldiers.
Ever since eating the dragon egg, Allen's eyesight had become exceptional. He could see everything hundreds of yards away. Looking at the "unruly commoners" who were usually fairly kind-hearted, his gaze gradually turned cold.
But he had no way to stop it, at least not for now. The trouble before him had yet to be resolved.
Allen had originally stopped attacking, but after hearing Xiulunte's order to kill them all and then seeing Wood, he knew that Dina would at least survive today.
Allen looked at Wood with a faintly amused smile, wearing an utterly fearless expression.
Wood hesitated. He knew very well that Allen's siege of Xiulunte had already put him and the Earth Dragon Legion in a fight to the death. He himself would have loved for this useless noble who had made him swallow such a loss to die sooner rather than later.
But this Good-for-nothing Lord could not die now. And even if he died, he could not die in Outpost County. Wood had his own considerations and plans.
At Wood's signal, several dozen Faith Guardian Knights under the jurisdiction of Outpost County's Holy See rode behind Allen, warily watching the crossbow-wielding knights under Xiulunte's command.
It was Allen's first time enjoying the treatment of being protected by so many lackeys. Still, the mounted Faith Guardian Knight lackeys wore thoroughly unwilling expressions.
Xiulunte stared darkly at Wood, trying to demand an explanation.
Wood helplessly shook his head. Some things could not be explained in public.
To put it plainly, whether they were Faith Guardian Knights of Outpost County's diocese or knights of the Heretic Extermination Legion, both were armed forces and both belonged to the Holy See.
But there was an essential difference between them. The former was responsible for spreading the Supreme God's blessings and glory.
If anyone refused to accept the Supreme God's blessings, then it was the latter's turn to step in—beat them all up until they submitted, beat them until they accepted the blessings. Refusing was fine too; they would simply beat them to death.
The priests and bishops of the diocese were the code of law in the Holy Father's left hand, while the Heretic Extermination Legion was the lightning in his right hand.
One conned you with a smile, while the other conned you with a butcher's blade held high.
Xiulunte's private guards had been completely wiped out. Strictly speaking, it was not Allen's fault. In Outpost County, rashly attacking the local lord was equivalent to openly defying the Kingdom of Locke's authority. Moreover, those attendants had thought far too highly of themselves, failed to identify themselves, and ostentatiously defined themselves as "the private army of some important figure." So they had died quite unjustly, while Allen's group had simply cooperated with their performance.
Even taking a step back, they were merely Xiulunte's private army and did not belong to the Holy See.
But Allen had dared to attack a Papal Legion Commander, even joining forces with a heretic possessing the Titan Bloodline. That was enough to earn him ten trips to the Holy See's gallows and two complimentary burnings at the stake. His crime was unforgivable.
Wood had two reasons for not wanting Allen to die in Outpost County. First, there was the Grand Duke. You were operating on his territory, and then you got his youngest son killed. The Grand Duke's name resounded across the continent; both publicly and privately, he would certainly be the first to make Wood accompany his youngest son in death.
The second reason was that Wood had just finished playing the holy fraud a few days ago, solemnly declaring that Allen was a devout believer who had heard the Supreme God's whisper.
The Supreme God's whisper? What a joke. Something that grand was not something you could hear just because you wanted to.
The Holy See's high-ranking clergy had repeatedly stated publicly that only incomparably devout believers could be fortunate enough to hear the Holy Father's whisper—such as these old holy frauds themselves.
So the question was, was Allen devout? Extremely devout. Hadn't the Holy Father been whispering privately to him?
Then two days later, Wood, a clergyman, was going to have him killed in the Supreme God's name!
What did Wood mean by that? How was he supposed to explain it? How idle would the Supreme God have to be? First, he told Allen, "You are devout, I think highly of you. Follow me and work hard." Then, the next moment, he sent another underling to hack Allen to death. Just how bored was the Holy Father?
Moreover, Wood had already reported the matter of the "Holy Father's whisper and purification of the dragon egg" to a cardinal and had even received a commendation.
He had been praised for tricking another top-ranking noble into believing in the Holy Father. The family of holy frauds had gained another foolish, wealthy believer, and he was told to develop more high-quality followers like this, blah blah blah.
So, in order not to expose his own lie, Wood refused Xiulunte. Not only did he refuse, he intended to protect Allen and his group.
"I have my reasons, Legion Commander. I hope you will not interfere in the affairs of the local diocese." Wood lowered his head and said, "As for your losses, the diocese can—ah, no. As for your losses, I am deeply sorry."
Xiulunte laughed in rage, looking at Wood with contempt.
If a mere regional bishop could brush him off with a few words, Xiulunte might as well stop being a Legion Commander and go home to bully fools.
A knight in standard Earth Dragon Legion armor stepped forward with his men and declared loudly, "Attacking the Legion Commander is equivalent to defying the Holy Father. The offender should be executed."
Wood replied unhurriedly, "Attacking a diocesan bishop is likewise equivalent to defying the Holy Father!"
Allen, who had been completely ignored, interjected, "Damn it, attacking the local lord is considered rebellion in our Kingdom of Locke."
Sakre rolled his eyes. Big brother, they did not care about your opinion at all, okay?
Seeing Allen and Dina held at bay by twenty crossbows and unable to act rashly, Xiulunte finally walked up to Wood and growled, "Do not take me for an idiot. Do you know who that maid is? Titan Bloodline—a heretic with Titan Bloodline."
Wood's expression changed drastically. He looked uncertainly at Dina, who was whispering with Allen, momentarily unable to explain.
This had completely exceeded his expectations. He felt that Allen had tricked him for the second time, leaving him utterly disoriented.
Having finally understood what Titan Bloodline meant, Allen waved at Wood and called out, "Old Wood, come here for a moment."
Wood pretended not to hear him. He wanted nothing more than to draw a clear line between them, wearing an expression that said they were complete strangers.
Seeing that Wood was ignoring him, Allen folded his arms and shouted, "Old Wood, why don't you explain things to the Legion Commander? You didn't report Dina's situation, did you?"
Wood looked at Allen in confusion.
Allen continued, "Dina has long since returned to the Supreme God's embrace and is a devout believer in the Holy Father. Isn't that right, Old Wood? Under your guidance, Dina, who once worshipped Kakarou, has now converted to the Holy Father's embrace. Titan Bloodline, the beacon of hope for heretics—under your guidance, Dina ran wildly into the Holy Father's incomparably broad chest. Isn't that right, Old Wood?"
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