With a shrill wail, Best Dawn scrambled and crawled his way to Enzo, then wrapped both arms around Enzo's thigh.
As a direct descendant of the Dawn Temple, Best Dawn clung to Enzo with no dignity whatsoever, like a young girl left half-dead after being ravaged in turns by hundreds of burly men—terrified yet overjoyed. He howled himself hoarse, "A demon! She's a demon! Kill her, kill her!"
Clutching Enzo's thigh with both hands, Best Dawn shrieked, "Kill her, and I'll recommend to the Gallic Empire that they grant you a title—raise your rank—put you in charge of a region's military and civil authority! Kill her! Kill this demon!"
As the current head of Holy Radiance Cathedral and the Dawn Temple's highest representative in the Gallic Empire, Best Dawn's behavior had utterly disgraced both the Church and the Dawn Temple. Had any Church higher-ups been present, he would probably have been sent straight to the stake.
Enzo formed his left hand into a blade and lightly struck the back of Best Dawn's head. Best Dawn gave a muffled groan, rolled his eyes back, and fainted. His body twitched a few times, while a trace of relieved, relaxed smile appeared on his face. It was clear just how much psychological pressure Etris had placed upon him—pressure that had nearly ground his soul to dust.
Etris stared wide-eyed at Enzo. Word by word, without a shred of emotion, she said, "They took my father. Dragon Cavalry Uncle, they took my father. Are they going to send Father to the stake?"
Enzo tossed Best Dawn to Mo Gen behind him, then carefully approached Etris.
Covered head to toe in blood, Etris did not move. She merely stared blankly at the Dragon Cavalry insignia on Enzo's chest. Enzo drew a deep breath and, with