Others acted too ruthlessly, mistaking fear for corruption.
Awards were given, punishments issued, and records sealed. No order was left unjudged.
"Temple of Light...."
Finally, Reinhardt’s order was called out. The Minister was just about to speak when suddenly he paused; his finger tightened around the scroll.
"Order of the Temple of Light, under the command of Divine Paladin Reinhardt. Assigned territories: northern provinces, Snowpoint City, fourteen towns, twenty-three villages, mountain passes, ruins, forests, frozen trade roads, and unclaimed frontier zones."
It was clear from the previous announcements that the Seven Great Orders, being the most powerful and prestigious orders, had to do the lion’s share of the work.
However, when they heard the Minister continue to list out the areas the Temple of Light had to cover, they realised that even among the Seven Great Orders, this order was given the most work.
All eyes fell on the members of the Temple of Light. While they carried themselves like sheathed swords, their armour and bodies naturally bore the aura of weeks of gruelling battles.
Their armor was riddled with scratches that were hastily polished, edges still nicked, and cloaks that, although washed clean, were never quite free of the scent of ash and blood.
Seeing how there were still remains of battle lingering on them, one could imagine the kind of battles and journey they had to go through to make it back to the capital within the time limit of one month.
The long list of areas they had to cover drew breaths from everyone. However, the true surprise came when the Minister read the next part of the report.
"Demons purged: Thousands... all confirmed targets eliminated. No infiltrators escaped. Civilian casualties: none. Infrastructure damage: negligible."
By those words, unrestrained murmurs spread among the crowd. It needs to be mentioned that all those who were present here were disciplined individuals. Yet even they were fazed by the absolutely flawless result of the Temple of Light.
"Psychological aftermath among the populace: minimal. Reports indicate increased trust in knights." Finally, the Minister closed the scroll and finished the last of his sentence.
"For your flawless work, there are... no formal reprimands to issue."
Silence descended onto the hall, all eyes focused on the members of the Temple of Light. Just until a year ago, their reputation had dwindled to the point where even the status as one of the Seven Great Knight Orders became shaky, and their light had almost faded.
Yet in justa little over a year, they became the talk of the kingdom again, completing mission after mission, their reputation spreading like wildfire.
And now, in this Great Holy Cleansing where all knight orders participated, they had once again shown everyone why they were the knight order who were always the subject of hot debate amongst the masses. It was because they were that splendid.
Hahaha... Unable to hold himself back, Brutus started laughing. Of course, it was not a laugh of ridicule but one of recognition and admiration.
It was not just Brutus; the other great commanders showed their admiration for Reinhardt and his order in their own way. They all thought that they had completed the mission in the perfect way possible. But when compared to the Temple of Light, it could be said that they completely lost, hands down.
"Divine Paladin Reinhardt, step forward."
Just when the hall settled down, the King spoke. He leaned forward from his throne and placed his attention on the knight.
Reinhardt stepped forward. His armor which seemed like the craftsmanship of a god, gleamed with light. Behind him, the knights of the Temple of Light stood like a single, unmoving wall.
The King continued, "For exemplary leadership, for discipline without cruelty, and for achieving the impossible without sacrificing the innocent, the Temple of Light is hereby recognised as the standard by which all future crusades shall be measured."
A ripple of shock ran through the assembly. To receive such words from the crown, that in itself, an incredible honour and achievement.
"Your methods not only saved the kingdom but its people, too. For accomplishing such an exemplary result, I hereby announce that the Temple of Light’s achievement shall be recorded in the Hall of Fame."
The Queen spoke, locking eyes with Reinhardt.
Hall of Fame... it was not just any monument, but a place where one’s achievements and deeds are carved into immortality. For any knight or knightly order, to have their name inscribed upon its walls is the highest honour imaginable.
It is said that the Hall itself is carved from a special stone that has been passed down as a means of passing information from the ancient times. Whenever a new name or deed is engraved in the stone, the entire hall glows with a mysterious light.
Of course, not just anyone can get this honour. Only those who have achieved feats so great they alter the course of the kingdom, victories against impossible odds, sacrifices that saved the nation, and purges that cleansed lands of corruption are recorded here.
Once a name or deed is inscribed in the Hall of Fame, it never fades. Even if the order itself falls, its glory remains, echoing through generations.
As one of the few legendary knights of Solaris to reach level 10, Reinhardt’s personal achievements were long ago immortalised in the Hall of Fame. His name shines among the greatest champions of history.
However, now with this latest purge, the deed of his knight order was also promised to be inscribed beside him. Future generations would remember Reinhardt not just as a lone hero but with his entire brotherhood of steel, who stood alongside him, their glory forever etched in the Hall’s eternal light.
The Queen’s words naturally drew sharp gasps and stares of envy towards the members of the Temple of Light.
Those senior knights who were aware of the Hall of Fame felt like they were dreaming. While those who didn’t know about it felt confused and lost by the stares.