Chapter 1844 - 509: The Bishop Tripped the Knight's Horse (Part 4)

But... what does it matter?

Just as he didn't mind being used by the King, Himenes, of course, was willing to turn a blind eye to being used by the Governor.

As long as he could eradicate the "New Testament," as long as he could return to the Holy City with illustrious merits, what did it matter to him who governed this frontier province?

Looking at Chief Referee Himenes, who was expressionless, Elaric stood quietly, a barely noticeable smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

He knew, the honorable Judge had already been tempted.

The Holy Light defending the law didn't burn this "disrespectful" authorization on the spot, which in itself spoke volumes.

Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the prayer room, and someone gently knocked at the door.

"Enter," Himenes said casually.

Soon, a Judge wearing a black robe walked in, leaned close and whispered in his ear.

Himenes listened expressionlessly, suddenly his face slightly changed, his eyes turned dreadfully grim.

After receiving the subordinate's report, he whispered a few words in his ear, then waved his hand to signal him to retreat.

Seeing Himenes's face suddenly grow dark, Elaric couldn't help but feel uneasy.

After the Judge retreated, he carefully asked the Chief Referee.

"... What happened?"

"Nothing."

Himenes briskly replied, seemingly unwilling to explain in detail.

He picked up the disrespectful manuscript, and shook it.

"I'll take this with me."

Baron Elaric promptly bowed in salutation.

"Please take it, I dare not keep such a disrespectful thing."

Himenes said nothing more and walked out the door, leaving the Governor of Twilight Province and a group of theologians in the prayer room.

…

In the north of Twilight County, outside Gelang Village's lumberyard, the gray-black columns of smoke sway in the cold wind, as if snapped in backbone.

Once a knight's fiefdom, later occupied by the Green Forest Army, with its defeat it became a land without an owner.

Later, the Kingdom Guards settled in here.

They built an outpost at the lumberyard and set up a barracks at the village entrance.

As for now—

This village has again become a land with no master.

The heavy sound of hooves shattered the dead silence of the morning, Knight Heigmer Devalu led the charge near Gelang Village.

Behind him, a thousand elite cavalry came like a torrent of steel, with a momentum enough to crush any obstacle.

Seeing this relentless army, the villagers hid in their homes, afraid of provoking these harbingers of doom.

Heigmer pulled in his reins and rode his horse past the windmill, from the highland overlooking the situation in the village.

Given the scattered intelligence from the routed soldiers, the attackers were at least two forces of thousands, suspected to be the Salvation Army's main force.

However, when he finally assembled his elite troops and charged to the front line, all he saw were smoldering embers and laid out corpses at the barrack gate.

The rebel army had vanished.

Silent, Heigmer rode to the ruins of the barracks and dismounted.

Lion-patterned combat boots crushed the charred soil below, creating a subdued sound.

He walked to an undamaged stone wall, removed his steel gloves, and touched the wall's dense pitted surface, involuntarily furrowing his brow.

This was not the Kingdom's firearms.

No Kingdom firearm held such power!

"By Saint Sis, I've never seen a firearm that could turn a stone wall into this ghostly state…"

The Deputy Officer approached Heigmer, the shock in his voice confirmed what the latter suspected.

Gazing at the bullet holes in the wall, the Deputy Officer's heart involuntarily tightened.

These holes were deep and concentrated; if confronted on the frontline, even he feared they'd suffer a harsh defeat!

Seemingly hearing a commotion outside the village, several surviving Kingdom Guards cautiously emerged from the village.

Sartorially disheveled, fear filled their eyes, akin to encountering demons from Hell.

Heigmer approached them, signaling them to reveal everything they knew.

The soldiers did not dare hesitate, quickly expressing their grievances.

"Sir… they're not bandits, hardly even human!"

"It was truly terrifying! I've never seen such concentrated firepower!"

"Speak slowly, one by one."

Gazing at the clamorous soldiers, the Deputy Officer snapped, restoring some order to the scene.

A guard trembled, his teeth ceaselessly chattering.

"… I'll start. They occupied the perimeter lumberyard first, luring us into the forest. Once inside, we heard gunfire. Our comrades were felled without seeing the enemy's face, leaving us no choice but to flee."

Heigmer did not pursue why they deserted nor discarded the guards' uniforms, only succinctly asked.

"Then what? What else did you see?"

Another guard beside him swallowed, supplementing his comrade's account.

"The chaos was immense, we couldn't see clearly. We first withdrew to the barracks, intending to call for reinforcements, only to find it was already occupied by rebels! I lost my shoe, barely escaping!"

The first guard quickly continued.

"Right, I only realized upon retreating to the village! Those lucky to escape informed me those bastards had donned our uniforms, escorting a group of so-called captives. Once they crossed the barrack gate, they turned on us, pulled out firearms, and fired indiscriminately…"