So if Ed wanted to show off his power and make the entire Holy City submit, there was another way: to only display his power without actually using it.
And what could be more powerful than a real dragon in the hands of someone Ed could command?
To ensure the best possible outcome for this "armed pilgrimage," Ed had already arranged the order of the procession before entering the city.
Ed, carrying Noya and riding Seraphina, led the way, which goes without saying. Xilǐ'er, as Ed's messenger and with his own impressive character model, naturally became the leader of the main force behind them, currently holding a large, fluttering banner and walking at the very front of that magical team.
The "scepter" that Ed gave him was the flagpole itself, while the flag was personally handed over by Ed before the operation began.
It was a flag with a flaxen background, depicting a three-dimensional World Tree, and even embroidered with gorgeous gold trim.
Although it looked exactly like a modified version of Antiya Lisi's formal priestly robes and cloak, Ed would never admit it.
With a dragon in front of him, everyone's attention would definitely be drawn to it. He didn't believe anyone would carefully observe whether the flagpole held a cloak or a flag. It could only be said that Ed really had some experience in saving money and spending it wisely.
Behind Xilǐ'er, the rare cards that Ed did not participate in the battle walked in front, followed by the Gungnir boy soldiers who were on high alert.
Under the joint guidance of the legitimate knight Xilǐ'er and the otherworldly "knight" [ A Huan ], the entire Gungnir has become a well-trained and highly coordinated heavy cavalry force.
They wore identical exoskeleton armor, and the Hoofed Beast they rode were equally armed. The heavy, rhythmic sound of their hooves alone made the citizens hiding behind the windows, who had not yet entered the Dream of Rebirth, tremble.
Whenever they passed a new alleyway, a small team of three would step out from Gungnir's group and stand guard, ready to deal with any possible emergencies.
As for Adrian Imperial Guard carrying Cuiske through the streets, under Gungnir's influence, they were now quite orderly.
Because of the strict age requirement, those Soul Returner from another world must have had some kind of training experience.
Under the influence of the young soldiers at the front, their long-dormant memories were gradually awakened, and even while carrying Oathbreaking Cardinal Cuiske on his back, their steps became more and more orderly.
The long queue passed through the main road leading from the north gate of the Holy City to the central square, and the journey was smooth and unobstructed.
Even if some people had previously intended to cause trouble, they abandoned those thoughts after witnessing such an army and dragon.
Thus, Ed's party was able to advance straight to the central square of the Holy City, as well as the core complex of buildings, including the cathedral, the Holy Soul Hall, Records Office.
Perhaps I still have a tough battle to fight there; the enemy might be one cardinal, or it might be two...
With this in mind, Ed rode the dragon into the plaza area, where he saw a fat old man nervously trot up to him and suddenly kneel down.
Before Ed could ask a question, a hysterical wail rang out:
"Sinner Geliwusi Kruger, welcome back to your most faithful Holy City, His Highness the Great and Holy Son of God!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the countless people behind Geliwusi, who filled most of the Holy City Square, also knelt down.
Ed looked around and, with the help of Little Green's counting function, saw over ten thousand people in just one glance.
Commoners, clergy, Holy Crusaders, bishops, the Stained Ones, the Pure Ones...
The sounds of countless knees hitting the ground came together like a muffled rumble of thunder in spring.
Those who knelt the loudest were the several Archbishop-level Stained Ones bound by puppets behind Geliwusi.
Some of them were killed on the spot by Geliwusi's numerous puppets, but most of them ultimately chose to be captured.
"Oh?"
Upon seeing this, the Son of God atop the dragon's head exclaimed "Eh!" from his elevated position, then said with a smile:
"That's an interesting title. I thought it would be something like 'a monster from Aduolin ' or 'an unspeakable usurper'."
Geliwusi, lying on the ground, suddenly trembled. He lowered his head even further and whispered:
"That's all... that's all in the past. The sinners were blind back then..."
Ed hadn't expected that Geliwusi, this "outsider," would get the point about Napoleon's newspaper jokes.
But the fact that he garnered such a response from something he said casually suggests that this cardinal in charge of the Records Office is quite the expert in journalism.
Ed himself couldn't help but reflect on some universal principles that apply to any world. Although this world may not have Napoleon, some things will never change.
He already knew about the three cardinals, and looking at the cardinal lying on the ground trembling, Ed knew he had to get past him before he could move on.
As one of the three most important figures in the Holy City, Geliwusi needs to be dealt with very carefully.
Slaughter on the spot? Imprisonment? Acquittal?
Many possible solutions flashed through Ed's mind, but these solutions were either too lenient to be effective punishment or too harsh to deter onlookers.
After much thought, Ed finally found a way to both truly punish the other party and demonstrate his own authority.
The portly bishop lay on the ground, drenched in sweat. Ed, feeling genuinely sorry for him, reached out his right hand and gently lifted it upwards.
Geliwusi was still awaiting trial when he suddenly felt something change in his body.
The feeling was bizarre, something he had never experienced in his more than one hundred years of life. It was as if his soul and body were no longer in harmony and were about to disintegrate on the spot.
He looked at his palms and felt as if countless insects were wriggling beneath his skin, burrowing into his blood and flesh.
Bark-like tissue appeared and disappeared on his body surface, like a faulty light bulb constantly lighting up and going out.
Geliwusi's body trembled uncontrollably, large beads of cold sweat soaked his back and climbed up his forehead. He fell uncontrollably to his side on the ground, convulsing and struggling like an insect dripped with alcohol.
A spherical plant sprouted from Geliwusi's collar, but did not completely detach from him.
It was a strange mistletoe; Ed could even see Psionic Energy flowing through the natural Psionic Energy Circuit formed on its surface.
The plant bloomed rapidly, its small yellow-green flowers withering instantly, and its blood-red, round fruits began to swell little by little.
As the fruit grows, the unusual mistletoe quickly withers away.
After all the nutrients had been concentrated on that tiny fruit, the mistletoe finally severed its connection with the fruit, letting it float upwards and fall into Ed's palm.