Decision

Allen kept spouting nonsense. He didn't care whether Wood believed him; he had convinced himself anyway.

After taking a drink to wet his throat, Allen continued his wild talk. "Barbarians—do you think they're all softies? They saw your men drawing blades and took them down in three moves. We were the ones who stepped in to break it up. Otherwise, you think they'd have left you even two men still breathing? Dream on."

Wood had wanted to say that the two breathing men were basically half-crippled anyway, but when the words reached his lips, he helplessly changed them. "But this is Outpost County, not the barbarian-ruled Wasteland. They're far too arrogant, daring to attack Faith Guardian Knights."

"Oh, cut the act. Faith Guardian Knights, my ass." Allen pointed at Sakre. "You know Sakre, right? Is he any less noble than those crooked, useless men under you? He's an earl. He went over to break up the fight, and didn't he still get a front tooth knocked out? They even ripped out a patch of his hair. All because this kid took your deadbeat knights' side, so the barbarians taught him a lesson. And he hasn't even cried injustice."

Sakre covered his face and fled...

Wood didn't even know what to say. He truly couldn't imagine how chaotic it must have been: four well-trained Faith Guardian Knights, two barbarians who fought year-round, plus a high-level Qi Warrior. A front tooth had been knocked out, and what kind of Martial Skills even included hair-pulling?

Although a voice deep down told him Allen was talking complete nonsense, he had no idea how to refute him. Besides, Sakre really had been speaking with a slight whistle just now.

Seeing that Wood no longer wore that furious expression, Allen clapped his hands.

Big Babylon and Little Zack swaggered over from the distance. One young Faith Guardian Knight behind Wood, clearly a hotheaded fool, drew his sword with a swish and watched them warily.

As if kicking over his own mangy dog, Allen walked over and sent the Faith Guardian Knight sprawling with one kick. Ignoring Wood's angry expression, he said, "Still haven't learned your lesson, huh? Haven't learned it at all?"

Sakre's lackey pointed his sword at the humiliated Faith Guardian Knight without the slightest burden on his conscience.

Ungrateful bastard. Our master had just been ready to kill your bishop, and you still dared to act tough.

Wood frowned. This kid was giving him no face at all. That was his subordinate; Allen couldn't just kick him whenever he pleased.

Trying to salvage some dignity, Wood coughed and said, "Don't forget your status, Lord Allen. Faith Guardian Knights devote their entire lives to the Holy Father. You can't just kick one over whenever you disagree."

Allen rolled his eyes. "Is your man a knight or a turtle? You say flip, and he flips?" After saying that, he gave Little Zack a look.

Little Zack was very sharp. Recalling the speech Allen had just taught him, he walked up to Wood, sniffling loudly as he said, "I am the Son of Bloodhoof. We traveled thousands of miles to witness the Supreme God, and this is how you treat us?"

Wood looked at Little Zack, who stood half a head taller than him. It was the first time he had heard that the Supreme God could be "witnessed," but he still said instinctively, "May the Holy Father bless you, barbarian—no, tribesman from afar."

Little Zack pointed at Big Babylon behind him, whose face was expressionless and whose violent aura was impossible to miss. With a proud look, he said, "This is my guard, the Wasteland's acknowledged Number One Warrior, Big Babylon."

Big Babylon gave a cold snort.

Wood was dumbfounded. There really were two barbarians. Especially that fellow called Big Babylon—his body was packed with fierce muscles, covered in frightening scars. One look told anyone that he was an elite barbarian warrior hardened by countless battles.

And it seemed the two barbarians kept glancing at Allen, as though they followed his lead in everything.

Could what this fellow said be true? Wood looked at Allen with a complicated expression.

Allen grabbed Wood by the sleeve, pulled him aside, and whispered, "Do you know what those two represent?"

"What do they represent?"

"A raise, a promotion, becoming a rich and handsome man, and marrying a beautiful rich girl."

Wood's head was full of question marks.

Allen kindly reminded him, "The son of a chieftain and the Wasteland's Number One Warrior, inspired by Bishop Wood of Outpost County, follow Saintess Dina into the Holy Father's embrace. Understand?"

Wood had no choice but to believe him now. Ever since boarding Allen's pirate ship, things had become more and more thrilling.

They both knew perfectly well that Dina's faith in the Supreme God was complete nonsense. It had only been a temporary expedient, and later they had simply gone along with the mistake.

This old fox Wood was also an opportunist. Because of the Dina affair, he had already tasted the benefits. Becoming a cardinal bishop was only a matter of time.

It was like forcing a good woman into prostitution. Once someone did it the first time, all psychological burdens vanished. The second time came naturally, and their mindset changed quickly.

Looking at Allen's expression that said, you know it, I know it, Wood chuckled twice, having long since forgotten about the two dead Faith Guardian Knights.

Seeing that Wood had finally caught on, Allen asked, "Heh, those four Faith Guardian Knights..."

"They deserved it!" Wood said angrily, disappointed by their failure. "Who handles things like that? What did they come here for? To witness—no, to seek the Holy Father's divine light of the Supreme God. How could they draw swords against each other? They deserved to die."

"You catch on quick." Allen gave Wood a look that said he was quite sensible.

"Oh, right. You need to keep those two barbarians calm. I'll have to report this later."

"Don't worry. Leave it to me."

Wood left in high spirits, already wondering whether he should spend a little money to ask the merchant groups in Outpost County if they could find a couple of nonhuman slaves. With a little training, they could help put on a show when the archbishop of the Southwest Diocese arrived.

Watching Wood's departing back, Sakre looked unwillingly at Allen. "You really don't need that pledge of allegiance you mentioned? I've hated the sight of that old bastard for a long time."

Allen shook his head.

Sakre said disappointedly, "Don't regret it. He only has one Faith Guardian Knight beside him now. If we wait a few days, it'll be much harder to make a move against him."

Old Laixi walked over with a smile. "Don't worry, Sakre. Allen will let you travel with him. I've decided it. Rather than slaughter for the Church, it's better to seek a glimmer of hope that may not even exist."

Allen couldn't be bothered with the pair. Seeing candlelight appear in Dina's bedroom, he sighed softly.

He wasn't an idiot. He had never expected that one day they would truly find Dina's biological mother.

But when Dina cried out, "I miss my mother!" he could no longer refuse her.

He knew Dina had not asked for anything. She had merely voiced the purest thought in her heart, never even hoping for any response.

But Allen knew he could no longer keep drifting through life like this.

In his previous life, he had drifted through his hometown, drifted through school, drifted through the army, drifted through an overseas security company, and then drifted into another world.

Training, killing, killing, training. Allen had long grown tired of it, but how was he supposed to change?

After arriving in this world, he had originally planned to keep drifting. What else was there to do if not that? Fight the strong and protect the weak? Defend justice? Save the world? That was Ultraman's job.

Allen felt that today, he had done something incredibly right: he had given Dina hope, hope for a future filled with endless possibilities, even if that road had no end.

He had decided to take Dina out of tiny Outpost County and set out on the road to find her mother.

Seeing the smile on Dina's face just now, Allen knew that this kindhearted maid trusted her Second Young Master completely. If her Second Young Master said they could find her mother, then they would definitely find her. So, as usual, Dina returned to her bedroom and drifted into sleep, carrying beautiful hopes for the future into her dreams.

Sitting on the stone bench in the little garden, Allen would always find his gaze inexplicably drawn to the red moon in the sky.

Old Butler sighed, sat beside him, and asked quietly, "Are you really planning to take Nana to find her mother?"

Allen nodded.

"Good." Old Butler seemed to let out a breath of relief.

Allen looked at Old Butler and asked in confusion, "What do you mean, good?"

Old Butler tapped his cane and said, "If you'd said you were lying to Nana, I was going to break both your legs first."

Allen shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I can't tell which of us is the master and which is the butler anymore."

"Heh heh." Old Butler stood up. "I'll go make arrangements for those two barbarians. They mean no harm—I can tell. Oh, and I have to say, when an honest man starts lying, people really can't help believing him."

"Mm, yeah. Old people have the highest success rate when it comes to lying." Allen grinned at Old Butler, his meaning obvious.

Allen felt that if Old Butler left Old Castle and lay down in the middle of the market, he would surely make quite a bit of money every day.