Chapter 292 - 290: Post-Battle Affairs

Chapter 292: Chapter 290: Post-Battle Affairs

After this battle, the Holy Radiance Court was thoroughly defeated on Black Forest Island, and the Medical Sanctuary had also fulfilled its "mission."

As the Guards were clearing away the bodies, Duane walked over to the moat.

The drawbridge was now unstable.

Ralph, leading the Civil Officers and servants, began to clean up the area.

He walked to Duane’s side and asked respectfully, "My Lord, should we arrange for people to rebuild this drawbridge?"

Ralph had always respected Duane, but after witnessing the monumental battle, his respect was now mingled with awe and adoration, his expression growing ever more humble.

"There’s no need to build another drawbridge."

Duane had no plans to build multiple castles on Black Forest Island. It would be a pointless waste of manpower and resources.

"Reinforce this bridge. If that’s not possible, just build a new one. Once the new castle is complete, this place and Forest Castle will be repurposed."

As he spoke, Duane turned to look at the pitted and scarred castle walls and the ravaged land below.

"Repair the walls. This place will serve as Black Forest Island’s Police Headquarters, courthouse, and prison. Have Jack, John, Legal Officer Dina, and the others move their offices here."

A place this large would be sufficient for the police force’s daily training, as well as for interrogating and imprisoning criminals.

Duane thought for a moment, then added, "Julian and the others are all injured right now, so you’ll be in charge of handling these matters. Also, take those who believed the rumors and joined the Holy Radiance Court to Judgment Crossroad and make a public example of them."

Ralph asked, "My Lord, are you going to kill them?"

After all, Daniels and the others had been publicly beheaded at Judgment Crossroad.

But things were different then.

At that time, Duane had needed to establish his authority, but that was less necessary now.

For that reason, Ralph wanted to suggest that his Lord spare their lives. After all, they posed little threat and could still be useful.

However, he was afraid the suggestion would be inappropriate, so he held his tongue.

Duane shook his head. "Enough people have been killed today. I won’t kill them. But while they may be spared death, they won’t escape punishment."

He thought for a moment and made his decision.

"Developing the Southern Plain requires a great deal of manpower. Send them there to clear the wilderness. They can return once they’ve cultivated one hundred mu of land."

Ralph bowed. "You are truly benevolent, my Lord. I’m certain your subjects will understand the reasoning behind your decision."

After handling matters there, Duane summoned his warhorse and returned to Forest Castle.

After instructing the kitchen to process the meat and materials from the Black Bear and other Demon Beasts, he went to the bathing chamber to prepare a bath.

The battle had consumed a great deal of his Fighting Qi and Spirit, and he had also been injured.

The blood on his arm had dried, sticking the fabric of his clothes to his skin.

Duane winced in pain as he tore the fabric away, revealing numerous other minor cuts and scrapes on his body.

’Thank goodness for my Scale Armor Defense. Otherwise, my injuries would have been much worse.’

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Duane cleaned his wounds. After applying his Healing Technique, the superficial injuries were no longer a concern.

Thanks to the powerful regenerative abilities of his Celestial Python Bloodline, they would fully heal in two or three days at most.

A feeling of immense relief washed over him as he submerged his entire body in the warm water.

While soaking in the bath, he opened his attribute panel.

Several of his Skills had achieved a breakthrough during the battle.

First were the two Combat Techniques, Sword Rain Storm and Rainbow Piercing Spear Skill. Their Skill Level had risen from Skilled to Mastery.

Although one was an Earth Tier Combat Technique and the other a Celestial Tier one, being enhanced with Attribute Fighting Qi already made them more powerful than normal.

Coupled with the reduced cost and increased power that came with reaching the Mastery level, their might was now comparable to Star Realm Combat Techniques.

Next was the Celestial Python Breathing Skill.

Through his consistent, almost subconscious practice, its Skill Level had also finally reached the Master Level.

In addition to his stamina recovery becoming stronger, his three other abilities—Celestial Python’s Eye, Scale Armor Defense, and Snake Fang Assault—were also enhanced.

With three Skills reaching the Mastery level, Duane had gained a total of 0.9 attribute points.

Considering the current situation demanded personal power, Duane didn’t hesitate to allocate all these attribute points to his Strength Attribute.

’94.5...’

’I’ll probably need 100 Strength to break through to the Scorching Sun Level. I’m still short 5.5 attribute points.’

’That’s not a lot of attribute points. If I push myself, I should be able to get there in two or three months.’

Duane lifted a hand and patted his cheeks. The warm water was invigorating.

With this slight increase in his power, his fatigue lessened considerably.

He stepped out of the water, dried himself, changed into a loose set of sleeping clothes, and went to his study.

He needed to inform Count Kais of what had happened.

’George and Fiona will be betrothed soon. I need to prepare a gift.’

This time, Count Kais had decided to ignore the military threat from Count Kudro and was determined to publicly announce the betrothal of his son, George, to Baron Uriel’s daughter, ensuring the continuation of the Kennedy Clan’s bloodline.

Furthermore, according to Count Kais’s plan, the marriage alliance between Duane and Natalia would also be publicly announced at the betrothal banquet.

This was a momentous occasion for both the Kennedy Clan and Duane himself, and it would likely stir up some conflict.

However, once news of Duane’s battle with Thomsen spread, even Count Kudro would have to be cautious and wouldn’t dare act rashly.

’For such a special occasion, I’ll send the Black Bear’s hide as a gift.’

’A complete Level 7 Demon Beast Hide is extremely rare and precious—a symbol of not only honor but, more importantly, of strength.’

Duane decided to make the Black Bear hide the main gift, supplementing it with some enchanted weapons and a portion of this year’s Hot Spring Mountain Tea. It would be a gift of immense sincerity.

He shook off these thoughts, picked up his quill, and began to write.

「Meanwhile, inside the church.」

The heavily injured Thomsen and Orisien were imprisoned together.

To prevent the two from recovering their strength to escape or cause trouble, Simone and his men ordered the Guards to stand watch day and night. They also restricted the prisoners’ rations to only the most basic bread and water.

As it happened, Simone and Gaius were quite experienced when it came to guarding high-Level prisoners.

After all, back when they were still High-tier Warriors, they had been responsible for guarding the Earth Tier Warrior, Knight Garrot.

They were treating their new prisoners exactly as they had treated Garrot back then.

In the church hall, the captives were sobbing, uncertain of the fate that awaited them.

Only Orisien and Thomsen, chained together to a pillar in the deepest part of the hall, remained silent.

After an unknown amount of time, Thomsen’s mind began to clear slightly through the haze of excruciating pain.

He glanced at Orisien, who was staring blankly at the ceiling, and felt he should say something.

"Holy Son, about Duane forcing us to turn on each other..."

"Don’t say another word."

Orisien snapped back to reality and cut him off. "If Duane hadn’t intervened, I would have died by your hand, wouldn’t I, Your Excellency, the Chief Judge!"

Thomsen fell silent. It was true; Orisien would have been powerless to evade his surprise attack.

Thomsen changed the subject. "This was just Duane’s attempt to sow discord between us and make us tear ourselves apart. I hope you can see that clearly."

"Heh. What’s the point of saying any of this now?"

He glanced down at his groin, where something was now missing. He was ruined.

A surge of resentment for Thomsen welled up in Orisien’s heart. ’If it weren’t for your incompetence, how could I have been ruined like this?’

Thomsen let out a long, helpless sigh. He knew that nothing he said now would make a difference.

Now, he could only hope that King Eric would negotiate with Duane soon and secure their release.

After that, with the intervention of Grand Commander Mitchell, Clement, and the others, perhaps his relationship with Orisien could be mended.

After all, they had come here with a mission to accomplish.