Fierce Battle in Blackwater City (Part Two)

[Doesn't old Wilson feel so manly... Hehe, begging for votes and collections!]

Inside the City Lord's Manor, six nobles entered the grand hall one after another.

City Lord Ogdin and Baron Wengulit were already waiting inside the hall. Seeing the six nobles enter, Ogdin immediately stood up and said, "Please be seated, everyone. I invited you all here today to discuss a matter of utmost importance to Blackwater City."

"Is the City Lord referring to those bandits? I have no idea where those bandits came from, but they suddenly appeared and are harassing our territory. We have already dispatched knights to guard our lands, so there shouldn't be any major issues for now."

Baron Barman spoke up first.

Nearby, Baron Wengulit narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing sideways at Baron Barman with a sliver of icy murderous intent occasionally flashing through his gaze. Back then, he had personally proposed marriage to Baron Barman's daughter, Avril, on behalf of Tilafa, but Baron Barman had instead made Avril and Merlin betrothed, and that too under the witness of numerous nobles in Blackwater City.

In his heart, Baron Wengulit had long since detested both Baron Barman and old Wilson to the bone.

"Hehe, Baron Barman, the City Lord didn't gather everyone here today to discuss the bandits."

Wengulit sneered, his voice sounding grating to the ear.

Baron Barman's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately looked toward City Lord Ogdin, saying in a deep voice, "City Lord, didn't you bring us here to discuss how to deal with the bandits?"

City Lord Ogdin wore a cold expression and glanced faintly at Wengulit, seeming somewhat displeased by Wengulit's abrupt interruption. Nevertheless, he slowly began to speak: "Inviting you all here today indeed has nothing to do with discussing the bandits."

Pausing for a moment, Ogdin wanted to continue, but Baron Barman suddenly stood up and said coldly, "Since it's not a matter concerning the bandits, then I'll be leaving first. There are still matters in my territory that need attending to!"

With an ashen face, Baron Barman turned as if to leave immediately.

However, the moment he reached the doorway, several knights from the City Defense Corps instantly blocked his path, the greatswords in their hands flashing with faint chills.

At this, not only Baron Barman, but the expressions of the other nobles shifted slightly as well. In terms of status, they were all barons, standing on equal footing with Ogdin; Ogdin merely held slightly greater authority by virtue of being the city lord.

To block Baron Barman from leaving so brazenly now constituted a severe provocation.

"Ogdin, what is the meaning of this?"

Baron Barman demanded in a loud voice, his face turning iron-blue.

Ogdin's expression was somewhat unsightly. At that moment, Baron Wengulit abruptly stood up and declared coldly, "City Lord, since it is inconvenient for you to speak, allow me to say it. It is actually very simple: the City Lord and I have already returned to the embrace of the God, becoming members of the Church. Following the will of the God of Light, the Church will replace the Royal Family and become the masters of the kingdom. Now, the time has come for you to make your choice!"

Baron Wengulit's words were utterly shocking. Baron Barman and the others still found it difficult to believe, so they all cast their gazes toward City Lord Ogdin.

"Ogdin, is what Wengulit said true? Have you truly defected to the Church?"

Baron Barman sternly rebuked.

A trace of annoyance flashed through Ogdin's gaze as he looked at Wengulit, yet he also understood that if he wished to secure his position in Blackwater City henceforth, he had to properly execute the tasks entrusted to him by Mage Jason.

Thinking this, Ogdin could only nod, then spoke indifferently: "The Light Church follows the will of the God of Light to replace the Royal Family; this is already a fait accompli. You may not have received the news yet, but by now the greater part of the kingdom is controlled by the Church. Therefore, you ought to make your choice... Mage Jason is right here in the City Lord's Manor. He has stated that as long as you are willing to return to the embrace of the God, past transgressions will be forgiven, and you will be permitted to become members of the Church."

Following the sound of Ogdin's voice, over a hundred City Defense Corps knights surged in from outside, packing the grand hall to the brim and staring with hostile intent at Baron Barman and the others.

Many of the nobles fell silent.

After a long while, Baron Barman suddenly drew his greatsword and burst out laughing toward the sky: "Ogdin, do not forget who bestowed the barony of the Ogdin Family upon you in the past."

Ogdin's expression sank as he sneered in return, "Baron Barman, the barony of my Ogdin Family was earned by our ancestors through hard-fought battles, not bestowed as a favor by anyone."

Staring sinisterly at Baron Barman, Baron Wengulit suddenly spoke up, "Baron Barman, are you still harboring hopes that Wilson can come and save you? Hehe, it does no harm to tell you now: the large number of bandits harassing the towns around Blackwater City were actually disguised Guardian Swordsmen of the Church. The Wilson you pin your hopes on will probably never return!"

"Wilson... is he truly dead?"

A trace of sorrow colored Baron Barman's expression. He shared a close relationship with old Wilson, akin to brothers, and upon hearing the grim news of Wilson's demise, a sense of melancholy inevitably stirred within his heart.

"Everyone, the time has come for you to make your choice!"

Ogdin's face darkened, and immediately, the surrounding City Defense Corps knights appeared all the more bloodthirsty.

"Do we even have a choice?"

After a long silence, one of the nobles said despondently as he took the initiative to lower the greatsword in his hand.

A surge of joy washed over Ogdin, and just as he was about to say more, the entire ground suddenly began to tremble slightly, and faint sounds of battle cries could be heard drifting from outside the City Lord's Manor.

"In the name of knightly glory, kill!"

"In the name of knightly glory, kill!"

Bursts of shouts grew clearer and clearer, filled with a murderous aura.

"It's Wilson, Wilson has come!"

Hearing those ringing battle cries, Baron Barman immediately grew excited. That rallying cry was far too familiar; whenever such a cry was raised, it signified the arrival of Wilson and his Heavy Armored Knights.

"Not good, it's Wilson's Heavy Armored Knights!"

Ogdin and Baron Wengulit exchanged glances, shock written across their faces. They had heard with their own ears from Mage Jason that Wilson had perished in his territory, yet now, this clearly marked Wilson leading his Heavy Armored Knights in a charge against the City Lord's Manor.

Only the nobles of Blackwater City deeply understood just how terrifying Wilson's Heavy Armored Knights were. Even with a force numbering in the thousands, the City Defense Corps knights would likely prove incapable of stopping Wilson's Heavy Armored Knights.

"Hurry, go inform Mage Jason!"

Ogdin thought of Mage Jason at the very first instant and immediately prepared to head toward the rear.

"Bang."

The doors of the grand hall were smashed directly to smithereens by a tremendous force. A man of giant, burly stature clad in black armor charged straight into the hall from outside. Enveloped entirely in flames, his greatsword still dripped with drops of crimson blood, and a berserk aura filled his entire body.

The newcomer was none other than old Wilson. He charged into the hall, swept his gaze slightly across the room, and upon spotting Ogdin, Baron Wengulit, and Baron Barman among others, a trace of a smile appeared on his face.

"It seems I'm not too late..."

Old Wilson's voice sounded somewhat hoarse as he hoisted his greatsword and stepped forward, stride by stride.