The Collapsing Idol

"The speech is about to begin. Please remain quiet. There have been ongoing riots recently, and the Empire is concerned for your safety." A familiar male voice came from the loudspeakers in Ceremony Square.

In the crowded throng, Fair couldn't help but clench his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, and undisguised hatred shining through his eyes hidden by his hood.

"Hans, one day I will kill you," Fair said through gritted teeth.

This Earl Hans is an imperial official who took office just a few days ago. His origins are mysterious and he is mainly responsible for maintaining order in Dragon Head City, or rather, Collins City.

Shortly after taking office, Earl Hans displayed swift and decisive action. He learned in advance the exact time and location of the Dawn Crusader's operation and set up an ambush, almost wiping out the entire Holy Crusaders involved in the operation.

Immediately afterwards, Earl Hans executed all the captured rebels, hanging them on the gallows for three days and three nights. This shocking scene made everyone in Dragon Head City feel insecure, and even the most devout believers dared not extend a helping hand to the Dawn Crusader.

Fair was also involved in the attack; he would have been hanged and become a bloody corpse.

It was his comrade-in-arms and childhood friend, Nico Gibson, who risked his life to cover for him, that allowed Fair to escape the Empire's inescapable net.

Now, hearing that familiar voice again still brings to Fair the image of Nico hanging on the gallows, his flesh mangled and bloody, and sends shivers down my spine.

Thinking of this, Fair clenched his fist and muttered to himself, "Nico, do you see? The time for revenge is almost here."

The Imperial government issued a notice several days ago, mandating that people come to watch the speech. According to the deductions of the members of the Dawn Crusader, the speaker is very likely to be the decisive Earl Hans himself.

This damned Evil Dragon Claws have just completed a bloody massacre, surely intending to give all the people in the city, including the resistance forces, a warning and to fulfill his ambition of enslaving the Aisel people.

The task that Fair was to accomplish alone was to assassinate Earl Hans.

Fair knew very well that this was a mission from which there was no return.

Given the quality of the Imperial Guards, if he were to launch an attack on Earl Hans, he would surely be shot to death by the guards, or even riddled with bullets.

But at this moment, Fair felt no fear. He had long since given up on his life, and what sustained him was only the belief in revenge.

Ingrid's smile, Nico's instructions, and Kallen's roar—every single memory fueled his burning desire for revenge.

"Evil dragon, I will Blood War you and your minions to the death!" Fair looked at the distant podium and shouted silently in his heart, his bloodshot eyes revealing deep hatred.

The Ceremony Square was already overflowing with people, filled with Aisel people had been forcibly brought there, and the number of Tiefling Guard Wyvern riders patrolling the area was also increasing.

Fair knew the speech was about to begin.

He quietly loaded the Sun God Sleeve Crossbow in his hand, while pulling down his hood and looking around for a suitable position.

Under such tight security, he only had one chance to strike. If he failed, he would face utter ruin, and his desire for revenge would be impossible.

In the distance, a large crowd gathered, and surrounded by Tiefling Guard, the Dragon Blood Noble wore a fake smile and waved to the crowd with a beaming smile.

"Hypocritical villains"

Fair looked up and saw that it was indeed him, Earl Hans, who had executed seventeen members of the Dawn Crusader!

But now that there are too many people around, it's not the best time to strike. He will wait until the Earl goes on stage to give a speech, and kill him in front of everyone, when the count is at his most triumphant.

Only in this way can the people of Aisel know that the Embers of the Burned Empire is not invincible and that those Evil Dragon Claws can be killed!

Fair wanted them to know that His Majesty the Great Amanata had not abandoned North Aisel!

However, Fair also noticed that next to Earl Hans was a person wearing an imperial robe, whose graceful curves, which the robe could not conceal, suggested that she was a woman.

For some reason, the other person's figure felt somewhat familiar and warm to Fair, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

Fair frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "Is she also an official of the Embers of the Burned Empire? Hmph, they're all birds of a feather."

But soon, Fair discovered that Earl Hans did not stand on the podium as he had expected. Instead, the woman beside him slowly walked up the steps, seemingly reluctant.

Earl Hans remained on high alert and did not move, only watching the woman with a smile.

Immediately, Fair's expression turned somewhat grim. "The one giving the speech isn't Earl Hans!"

But soon, he made up his mind again, checking his crossbow and looking for an opportunity to kill the woman who walked onto the stage.

Although Fair did not know her, the fact that she was a member of the Embers of the Burned Empire was enough to put her to death.

Who gives the speech is not that important; what matters most is breaking the fear of the Empire among the people of Aisel and shattering the image of the Red Dragon in their hearts.

Fair slowly raised his hand, pretending to straighten his clothes, but actually he was observing the angle and taking aim.

"Bring it on."

He licked his dry lips, reached out, and pointed a sharp arrow from his sleeve at the woman's brow, his finger already on the trigger.

"The tyranny of the dragon comes to an end from this moment on."

Once the trigger is pulled, the arrow, carrying the radiance of the sun, will shoot out instantly, piercing the woman's head and ending this ridiculous speech.

However, at that moment, the woman slowly removed her hood, revealing her true face.

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Fair stood there, stunned, his Big Mouth, his bloodshot eyes a mixture of confusion, shock, and disbelief.

How could that be? The woman on the stage with her fair face and long golden hair gradually overlapped with the figure that haunted Fair's mind.

That figure should only exist in his dreams, in his fond memories of the past. How could it appear on a distant stage? Could it be that he's still dreaming?

Or perhaps... In an instant, a thousand thoughts raced through Fair's mind. He felt the world shaking, and cracks appeared in the flawless, goddess-like image in his heart.

Fair's face turned deathly pale, his lips moved, and finally he slowly uttered a few words: "Ingrid."

The surrounding Aisel people were also talking about it.

"God, she's still alive!"

"It's Bishop Ingrid!"

"Is it really her?"

"Wasn't she killed by His Your Majesty Keosius? Or was that just a rumor?"

"Even Bishop Ingrid has submitted to the Empire?"

The church held a very high position in the former Collins City, and as Honorary Bishop, Ingrid's prestige was self-evident.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Ingrid glanced at the familiar faces with their varied expressions and gave a somewhat forced smile.

Clutching her robes, she said in as gentle a voice as possible, "Gentlemen, it's been a long time Ingrid Garses, the former and current Honorary Bishop of the Collins Parish."

She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Imperial Court Cleric."

"What?"

"Bishop Ingrid, she really submitted to the Empire!"

Fair, sitting in the audience, suddenly had his pupils dilate, and the idol in his heart crumbled abruptly.

Everything he did seemed futile, even a joke.

"No, this is impossible!" Fair shook his head repeatedly from below the stage, his expression almost frantic. He collapsed backward to the ground, still shouting, "This is all fake! Ingrid will not be a slave to that evil dragon!"

Fair rolled up his sleeve, revealing the crossbow on his wrist, and almost pulled the trigger in a panic.

Upon seeing this, the people around quickly moved aside, afraid of causing trouble, and some even recognized the member of the "Dawn Crusader".

"Enemy attack! Maintain order at the scene!"

The surrounding Tiefling Guard immediately surged in from all directions, raising their rifles and surrounding the "madman."

"He has a weapon!"

"This man is listed on the wanted poster; he is Fair of the Dawn Crusader!"

"Grab him, don't let him get away!"

Fair was forcibly pinned to the ground and handcuffed by the Tiefling Guard, but he continued to struggle, crying and shouting, "Lady Ingrid will not surrender!"

Ingrid, who was on the stage, was also attracted by the commotion. She looked over in surprise and saw a familiar face, but it looked much more weathered and tired than she remembered.

"That's... Fair?"

Fair was also a former member of the Amanata Church. He was originally a poor blind man who was healed by her divine magic and converted to the Amanata Church after that.

In Ingrid's memory, Fair had always been a quiet, gentle young man who arrived early for every worship service and was extremely devout to the gods.

She simply couldn't reconcile that quiet young man with the wildly behaving and foul-mouthed "thugs" in the distance.

How could he have become like this? Hearing the angry shouts as the guards dragged him away, Ingrid wanted to save him but felt powerless, and could only silently say in her heart, "I'm sorry."

Ingrid felt guilty towards these former members of the Amanata Church, but she had no other choice.

Having lived in Istaria for many years, she was well aware of the Empire's military strength and knew that the Aisel people were simply no match for it.

All she could do was minimize the losses and save as many lives as possible.

"I'm sorry, but this is my only choice."

Thinking of this, Ingrid took a deep breath and picked up the manuscript that Earl Hans had prepared for her.

"I came here to tell everyone that I am not dead, and the claim that His Your Majesty Keosius killed me is a complete rumor."

Ladies and gentlemen, the goal of the Embers of the Burned Empire is not cruel exploitation and oppression, but to establish a more peaceful and advanced new order.

His Your Majesty Keosius once said that social change often provokes a fierce backlash from the old forces.

And so, under the gentle sunlight, Ingrid eloquently explained the various policies and philosophies of the Empire, while the people of Aisel listened quietly below the stage.

This scene was just like when Ingrid conveyed the teachings of Amanata and recited scriptures to the people more than a decade ago.

In the dark dungeon of Dragon Head City Prison.

"Impossible, impossible! Lady Ingrid is dead! She's dead! This is all fake!"

Fair, disheveled and filthy, huddled in the corner of the cell, hugging his knees, trembling and muttering to himself.

People said he was crazy, but Fair knew that if he chose to believe it, everything he had done would be meaningless.

When his faith crumbled, he chose to deceive himself, using those broken fragments to rebuild a dilapidated statue.

"Da, da, da"

The sound of footsteps grew louder as they approached.

Fair raised his head tremblingly and saw that the newcomer was dressed in a standard imperial suit, with the Dragon Blood Noble badge on his chest, and looked to be in his thirties—this was none other than Earl Hans.

Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with hatred.

Fair turned bloodshot. He gripped the railing tightly, banging his head against it as he cursed, "It was you, you damned Evil Dragon Claws! You lied to me! Lady Ingrid was brutally murdered by you long ago!"

Hans shook his head and said, "Fair, stop playing dumb. It will only make you more ridiculous. You should know the truth, you just don't want to face it."

"You--"

Fair collapsed to the ground, utterly dejected. His eyes were vacant, and he kept muttering, "Impossible, impossible, this must be fake."

He raised his head, wiped his face haphazardly, then leaned against the railing, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Where is Lady Ingrid? I want to see her myself!"

"Fair Grede, you have repeatedly launched rebellions, causing serious losses to the Empire and enormous damage to social order. According to Imperial law, you should be hanged and have no right to meet with Lady Ingrid."

However, Lady Ingrid, remembering their past relationship, gave you a chance to redeem yourself. She said that if you handed over all the intelligence on the ' Dawn Crusader ' and related organizations, you could see her again.

"But."

There are no "buts".

Hans walked up to the iron fence, stood in front of Fair, and looked down at him.

"His Your Majesty Keosius once said, 'A wise betrayal is better than a foolish loyalty.' You should know very well what that means."

Fair fell silent for a long time before finally speaking, "May I ask one last question?"

"Sure."

Are you referring to Lady Ingrid's own opinion?

"What do you think?" Hans bent down, a meaningful smile on his half-human, half-dragon face—a smile that, in Fair's eyes, was more terrifying than the devil.