"Sorry to keep you waiting," three words spoken lightly.
Leo's nose tingled, and he almost couldn't hold back his tears.
Gus turned to face the soldiers.
His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear:
"The Governor-General has given an order!"
The entire room fell silent.
" Leo St. Garus remains the loyal knight!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion arose in the crowd.
Some people breathed a sigh of relief, smiles appearing on their faces, while others began to whisper among themselves.
But Gus knew that one sentence from him wasn't enough.
He only represents Lynn's attitude, not everyone's.
He raised his hand, signaling for quiet.
Then, he invited someone out of the crowd.
The man was dressed in the white robes of Ministorum Priest, with a large Rosarius hanging around his neck and a heavy holy book in his hand.
His hair was gray, his face kind, but his eyes revealed unquestionable loyalty.
Anthony Douglas.
The Ecclesiarchy bishop of the Midtown, the recognized successor to the next archbishop.
Throughout Brevis, his religious prestige was second only to Goodwin himself.
Gus briefly introduced Bishop Anthony's identity to everyone present.
Then Anthony walked up to Leo and bowed slightly.
"Lord Leo, if you wish, I will stand here, before all, to testify to the Emperor and Brevis's loyalty."
He spoke softly, uttering the long-cherished wish of Leo.
Leo's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't speak.
He looked at Gus, Gus nodded.
Then he looked at Hammond, and the astral military political commissar showed a rare smile.
Finally, he looked at the soldiers, those who had fought alongside him, his eyes no longer filled with suspicion, but with expectation.
He took a deep breath and looked up.
"Um!"
The ceremony began soon.
A clearing was cleared out in the center of the site.
Bishop Anthony stood in the middle, Leo stood opposite him.
People from all the surrounding factions had gathered.
The Vanguard soldiers formed a circle.
The Ecclesiarchy's priests and believers stood behind the bishop.
The representatives of the Governor's House, led by Gus, stood to one side.
Those Noble Council generals who had not died were held captive and forced to watch.
There was even a bald man with purple hair wearing a blue robe.
That was the Ice Lord's messenger, leading a dozen or so savage warriors, standing at the edge of the crowd, silently watching everything.
Leo glanced at the group of people, feeling a little nervous.
He's been thick-skinned since he was a child and doesn't care what others think.
When he was a child, he was punished by his father to stand, and he could fall asleep standing up.
Later, when he led troops into battle and spoke in front of hundreds of thousands of people, he didn't even blink.
But this time is different.
This time, it's proof that he can regain his honor and loyalty.
Bishop Anthony picked up the heavy holy book, turned to a certain page, and handed it to Leo.
"He loudly recited Chapter 3 of Volume 7 of the ' Lectitio Divinitatus '," he said, his voice solemn and dignified.
Leo took the holy book and looked at the dense text.
He was literate, and in his aristocratic education, his favorite subjects were always swordsmanship and tactics, while his least favorite were these tedious scriptures.
However, studying these scriptures was a compulsory course for every nobleman.
He took a deep breath and began to recite:
"Consistent throughout history..."
His voice trembled slightly at first, but became steady as he read.
Those awkward sentences, when read aloud, actually developed a certain rhythm.
Everyone around him was staring at him.
Leo finished reciting the entire passage and looked up.
Bishop Anthony stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded.
If one's mind is Chaos and polluted, this will manifest when reciting the " Lectitio Divinitatus ".
It may manifest as discomfort, hesitation, or other physiological reactions.
But Leo read the first article steadily.
"The first step, through..."
The second step is the Rosarius.
Anthony took the rosary from his neck.
It was a sacred object consecrated through the highest rites of the Ecclesiarchy. Each bead was forged from the bones of a martyr and was extremely sensitive to Chaos energy.
He walked up to Leo, raised his rosary beads, and gently pressed them onto Leo's forehead.
Leo felt a cool sensation on his forehead, as if something had gently brushed against it, and then nothing happened.
The rosary beads did not react.
After staring at the rosary for a while, Anthony took it back and hung it around his neck.
"Step two, pass."
A low cheer rose from the crowd, but it was quickly suppressed.
There's one last step.
The third step is to apply holy oil.
A priest came up carrying a small silver bowl.
The bowl contained a pale golden liquid, emitting a faint fragrance.
Anthony dipped his finger in the holy oil and drew a mark on Leo's forehead.
It's cool and slippery, and doesn't seem any different from regular oil.
Next is the chest.
Anthony unbuttoned Leo's shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles.
He dipped his finger in holy oil and drew the same symbol on Leo's heart.
Leo held his breath and waited.
A few seconds passed.
There was no burning, no discoloration, and nothing at all.
The holy oil remained quietly on his skin, just as it would on any normal person.
Anthony took a step back, scrutinizing Leo's forehead and chest.
Then he turned to face everyone and raised his hands.
"In the name of the Emperor, in the name of the Ecclesiarchy!"
His voice was as loud as a bell:
"I declare that Leo St. Garus possesses a pure soul, untouched by Chaos!"
The entire stadium fell silent for a second, then erupted in cheers.
" Leo! Leo! Leo!"
The soldiers, weapons in hand, shouted the name they knew best, "General!"
Some people cried, some laughed, and some looked up at the sky...
They offered their blessings to Leo, thanked the Emperor for his recognition, and rushed forward to hug Leo, only to be stopped by those around them.
The Noble Council members who were being held captive had complicated expressions on their faces.
Some people lowered their heads, not daring to look, or gritted their teeth, their faces full of resentment.
But they all knew that from this moment on, Leo was back.
Even the savages cheered.
Although they may not have known what happened, seeing so many people happy made them happy too.
Leo stood there, watching it all.
He stubbornly tilted his head back, straining to look up.
Because he knew that if he lowered his head, tears would fall.
"Welcome back, General Leo!"
It's unclear who started it, but the phrase quickly spread throughout the venue, turning into a unified chant.
Leo kept his head tilted back, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.
The sunlight shone on his face, warm and comforting.