The whip, braided from earth dragon sinew mixed with gold wire, was a meter and a half long. Its handle was carved from crystal stone and covered in gorgeous patterns, while atop it sat a fist-sized lion's head caught in a roaring snarl. This whip was exquisitely made, a superb work of art from the elven race.
Though it was a work of art, the elves—whose pursuit of perfection had reached pathological heights—had forcibly turned this whip into a top-grade magical weapon. The seemingly slender whip weighed several hundred pounds. Wielded at full strength by Bei Ya, it could even split apart a pure steel tower shield a foot thick. Used against people, a single lash was enough to cleave more than a dozen men in two.
Wood refused to hand over the captured assassin, and Bei Ya did not waste words. He viciously lashed his whip down at Wood.
Although Wood's true strength far surpassed Bei Ya's, he had never expected Bei Ya to openly strike someone in front of so many people. Bei Ya was indeed the Imperial Capital's Minister of Public Security; he was indeed the chief commander of the Garrison; he was indeed the superior officer of Berreley's original twenty thousand Copper Hats and thirty thousand dragoons!
But Wood belonged to the newly formed Second Dragoon Legion, and Holy Light I had personally issued an edict: the Second Dragoon Legion answered directly to Holy Light I. The fifty thousand newly formed dragoons were specifically responsible for maintaining public order around the Imperial Capital.
In terms of command authority, Bei Ya had no right whatsoever to issue orders to Wood, much less lay hands on him. Thus Wood stared at Bei Ya in astonishment and allowed the whip to strike his face heavily.
The heavy whip lashed