Norton's life returned to normal, seemingly confirming that the Werewolf were not targeting Lino City, which eased the atmosphere within the Lino City.
Although for security reasons, the city gates of Lino City remain closed and trade caravans have not yet set off, activities within the city have returned to normal.
The arrival of the Werewolf gave the people of Lino City more to talk about. Whether they were carrying heavy loads, doing business, or even being slaves, their conversations during their free time shifted from everyday matters to the Werewolf.
"My God, I heard that Holy Lord City is on the verge of falling! Those Werewolf have gathered and are almost completely taking over Holy Lord City."
"What are you afraid of? Do you think the Church is a vegetarian?"
"Aren't you afraid? How many people from Outer City have been eaten by Werewolf? If you're not afraid, why haven't I seen you continuing your business? Why don't you go out anymore?"
"I was just taking a break. I've worked hard for half my life, can't I even get a rest?"
Why didn't you rest before?
"What's it to you? I've never seen such a disgusting person as you!"
"Hey, Old Norton, you'd better watch out! Always loitering around here, one night Werewolf might come and carry you away!"
The two wealthy men, who were on the verge of a fight, couldn't agree on what to say. Angrily, one went left and the other right towards their homes. The one who passed Norton even hurled a insult at Norton, which sounded like he was trying to reason with him, but there was definitely a hint of resentment in his tone.
Norton had been squatting there for so long that everyone had gotten used to the sight of an old beggar squatting there. This coincided with Norton's earlier thoughts.
He knew that as long as he stayed in one place long enough for everyone to get used to his presence, that was true infiltration!
It now appears that his ideas have yielded some results.
The management of Lino City seems to be becoming more and more relaxed, and it even seems to be returning to its previous state.
But silence often foreshadows a greater storm.
Only a month of peace had passed when news began to spread throughout Lino City.
" Holy Lord City has fallen! My God, even the wise and great Church has been overrun by Werewolf. I heard that even the bishops within its walls sacrificed themselves for the country and tragically died in battle. How can the common people possibly survive!"
"So the Werewolf went to the Holy Lord City! No wonder the Werewolf outside Lino City disappeared. They were gathering with a purpose? Are they still Werewolf?"
"This is terrifying! How can Werewolf, those beasts, spontaneously gather together?"
Norton crouched in a familiar spot, using his superhuman hearing to listen to the various whispers and discussions on the street.
Has the Holy Lord City fallen?
Damn it, what a horrific mass extinction ending?
Norton remembered very clearly that when he left Holy Lord City, the Werewolf pack outside numbered only a hundred or so at most. Although Holy Lord City had experienced a brutal massacre, it still had tens of thousands of people remaining, and there was also the Holy Lord Cathedral. How could it have been destroyed so easily?
How large a population of Werewolf has grown in just a few short years?
What about his old acquaintance Father Mia? Could he be dead too?
No way! Norton hasn't even gone back to visit old Mia yet!
Norton was getting anxious. He was still working hard to develop his character, and now his old enemy had died at the hands of a new one. Wouldn't that ruin Norton's sense of revenge?
However, the situation changed far beyond Norton's expectations.
Less than a week after news of the fall of the Holy Lord City reached Lino City,
The entire Lino City was placed under complete martial law.
The streets were completely guarded by the Church knights of Lino City, and shops were operating at half capacity. Even Norton had to hide himself and lurk in the shadows of the city to obtain the latest information through his own observation.
Within two days of the Lino City being placed under martial law, the Gold Saint, also known as the Holy Knight, whom Norton had met once before, appeared in the Lino City.
The vast Lino City was completely controlled by the full Church knights.
Perhaps due to the transfer of some Church knights from elsewhere, the number of Church knights in Lino City is now significantly higher than in Holy Lord City.
One by one, Church knights clad in pristine white steel armor, swords in hand, followed a purple-robed archbishop with a synchronized pace that could be described as AI-mechanical.
Countless flower petals were scattered in the middle of the road by numerous missionaries to pave a holy path for Archbishop Duoxia, so that the city's filth would not taint his pure body.
Behind him followed nearly a hundred Church knights from two factions, each with their arms wrapped around a greatsword, walking slowly forward on the path piled with flower petals in an odd posture where their bodies were straight and their greatswords were also pointing straight upwards.
The entire scene was dignified, solemn, and immaculate!
This was the first time Norton had met the unorthodox Bishop Duoxia.
Although the two were far apart—one near the city entrance, the other atop a towering clock tower marking the boundary between the city's slums and the wealthy— Norton was still able to see every detail of Archbishop Duoxia with his sharp eyes.
However, this also confirmed one thing for him: the reason he was located last time was indeed due to the picture of God on the wall. Otherwise, all the Church knights in the city would be here now, and he even saw the Holy Knight in the distance, yet none of them reacted to his presence.
The only difference between then and now is that back then, he was exposed to the holy glory of God! The stinging pain, like the sun shining directly on naked body, still makes Norton certain that it was indeed a physical injury to him.
In fact, the arrival of the Holy Judgment Order did not require a bishop of Archbishop Duoxia's rank to come and greet them.
However, times have changed. Back then, the Holy Lord City was a test for His Adam by the old Pope, so the entire Holy Judgment Order lacked a wise leader. But now it's completely different. The Holy Judgment Order has come to eliminate the Werewolf, so His Holiness Adam has sent his trusted confidant, armed with Papal Holy Decree, to command the Holy Judgment Order. This trusted confidant of His Holiness Adam is the reason for Bishop Duoxia's arrival.
It's similar to the situation where the chief eunuch leads the imperial guards to a local area, and the governor has to personally receive him.
"Lord Duoxia, how could we trouble you to come in person!" Adam's confidant Wayne still knew how to behave, at least he didn't use his status to intimidate Bishop Duoxia.
"His Majesty Adam's will will proceed unimpeded within my Papal State, and my Lino City is fully fortified. The rest is up to Mr. Wayne." Archbishop Duoxia's old face appeared quite amiable.
In reality, he only got this position because of his face.
Although it wasn't modern times, the system of this era still valued appearance. People like Bishop Rosen, who looked sinister at first glance, couldn't hold high positions because they didn't fit the image of holiness and love in the Church, and even the Pope wouldn't be comfortable with them.
Upon hearing this, Lord Wayne's face broke into a satisfied smile.