Strength increased by nearly twenty percent, the surface of my skin became tighter, resistance to blows improved, speed saw a slight uptick, and Recovery Power should also be enhanced to a certain extent.
Carl clenched and unclenched his hand, silently feeling the changes in his body.
Negative emotions like caution, fear, and worry have been dulled, replaced by intensified boldness.
All these changes occurred in the blink of an eye.
Though it can’t directly harm the enemy, it greatly amplifies one’s own combat strength and morale. And it’s not just one-on-one; it’s a wide-ranging blessing.
If used on the battlefield...
Turning the tide would be a trifling matter!
Carl felt surprise at the priest’s methods, but not shock. Could the Church possess such extraordinary power in this world, wielding authority that transcends the secular, simply because of ethereal faith? Without significant might, it would be impossible.
With a grand gesture from the priest, the crowd surged forward, two ironclad figures leading the charge towards the front wall.
The stone-built high wall crumbled under their onslaught as if it were made of tofu, effortlessly breached. In an instant, two person-shaped holes gaped in the wall.
Knights! And fully armed Knights, no less.
The strength of a full-fledged Knight could crush a wild beast. Their weapons alone weighed dozens of pounds, enabling a lone Knight to massacre an entire wolf pack in the wild. Their heavy armor could ignore common attacks.
The pair charged into the manor, unleashing a one-sided slaughter amidst the blazing flames, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.
By the time Carl and the rest surged inside, the skirmish was nearing its end—blood streamed along the ground, and not a single survivor was in sight.
They even killed the elderly and children?
The corpses on the ground weighed heavily on Carl’s heart, deepening his understanding of the Church’s ruthlessness.
"Don’t just stand there," Dana patted his shoulder. "On to the next place."
Carl snapped back to reality and nodded in agreement.
Perhaps the Church’s power was too overwhelming. In his view, the day’s operation had a strong start but a weak finish. Besides minor resistance at one suburban manor, other places were swept through with ease, almost without significant hindrance.
By evening, the mission concluded.
Pushing aside the fatigue from a day’s exertion, Dana adjusted her clothes and, led by others, stepped into the hall.
This was the council hall.
The three most influential figures in Sigerno City were the Bishop, the City Lord, and the Elder of the Noble Council. The Elder’s health was poor, and he had not been involved in council affairs for several years. Most responsibilities were handled by the Speaker of the Council, Frank. Frank, a Viscount of high moral standing, was deeply respected by the nobility.
"I hadn’t expected that followers of the Evil God Iris would lurk within the city. Fortunate that you discovered them in time." Upon Dana’s entry, Frank waved the others away and praised, "Viscount Shaxon should be proud to have such a daughter."
"Thank you, Speaker, for your compliments." Dana placed one hand on her left chest and bowed respectfully, then inquired, "Do we have any leads on last night’s incident?"
"Hmm..." Frank pondered deeply, "According to the investigation, those who killed the followers of the Evil God were likely Pyre Thieves. The scene bore evident traces of fire."
"Pyre Thieves?" Dana frowned unconsciously.
"Indeed," Frank nodded. "Previously, when you investigated the dried corpses case, followers of Iris deliberately lured you to a Pyre Thief stronghold, resulting in its destruction. It seems this was their retaliation. Though they are both followers of Evil Gods, they are at odds with each other."
Dana slowly nodded in understanding.
That could make sense, but if it was the work of Pyre Thieves, why didn’t they kill me on the spot? Moreover, they helped me by releasing the spider silk bonds. I was the main culprit in destroying the Pyre Thieves’ stronghold.
"Speaker," Dana began, "according to our investigation, besides those killed yesterday, there seems to be a mastermind behind them. This person holds a certain social status, often frequents upscale venues, and picks the targets." She continued, "It seems we didn’t catch him in today’s operation."
"Is that so?" Frank stroked his chin and then nodded. "I understand. This matter will be further investigated by others. Now, let’s talk about you. Considering your performance adheres to the Knight’s code of protecting justice and the weak, and demonstrates fearless bravery, the council has decided to reward you with a Life Potion."
He took out a bottle of potion from a drawer and handed it over. "Congratulations! I hope you can truly join the ranks of the Knights. The nation and people need someone like you to protect them."
Dana’s heart pounded wildly, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she carefully took the potion, momentarily forgetting all the doubts she had about the case.
"Speaker, I... I will definitely do it."
"Mm." Frank smiled and nodded. "Go now. Take good care of yourself during this time and prepare for taking the potion. I’m looking forward to the day you become a Knight."
"Mm." Dana nodded firmly.
After watching Dana leave the hall, Frank’s smile slowly faded, eventually turning ashen. He turned and walked into a side chamber.
Someone had been waiting here.
"You gave our enemy the Life Potion." As he entered, the person waiting in the chamber spoke in a subdued voice, "It might become the weapon that kills us."
"Hmph!" Frank scoffed. "The approval and distribution of the Life Potion aren’t solely up to me. Besides, if you had been more discreet, it wouldn’t have come to this."
"Discreet?" The other sneered. "Taking other people’s lives pleases the Mother Goddess, but it’s not us who need the purified potion, it’s you. The blood of virgins maintains eternal youth. The noblewomen of the city can’t wait for us to kill more people; they’re willing to pay any price for their looks."
If Dana had heard the conversation between the two, she would have been utterly shocked. The respected Speaker Frank was secretly colluding with followers of the Evil God. Even though he was aware of their actions, he didn’t stop them but chose to let them be.
"Forget it." Waving his hand dismissively, the bald man with tattoos said in a muffled tone, "I need to know who killed Jeff!"
"There are no leads at the moment." Frank spread his hands. "Are you sure it wasn’t the work of the Pyre Thieves?"
"Of course." The bald man narrowed his eyes. "I know them well. If it was them, there’s no reason they would have let that girl go." He looked at Frank and spoke slowly, "Perhaps... was it a Wizard?"
"A Wizard?" Frank’s expression changed, evidently very wary of the term, and he shook his head instinctively. "Even the Church can’t restrain them. Don’t expect me to investigate. They are a group of unbelievers."
"I know," the bald man asked. "But you should have some idea of the Wizard Apprentices in Sigerno City, right?"
"...Yes." Frank hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I do know some, but it seems none of them possess the capability to unleash fire."
"They usually hide their abilities." The bald man was equally troubled by Wizards. He shook his head and changed the subject, "The front line’s defeat is certain. You should make a decision."
Frank’s face darkened. The Duke of Saxony, who led the assault on Coburg, had died in battle a few days ago. With the front line crumbling, enemy forces were rapidly advancing towards the Gando Kingdom. This was the latest news from the front, not yet announced to the public.
"Sigerno City isn’t the front line," Frank said. "And we’re not necessarily going to lose."
"Heh..." The bald man scoffed disdainfully. "You’d better pray that’s the case."
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