Chapter 1845 - 509: The Bishop Tripped the Knight's Horse_5

"Draw the gun?"

The deputy officer paused for a moment, showing a ghost-like expression on his face, "Are you blind? Where could they possibly hide a gun?"

The guard chuckled bitterly.

"Sir, those are no ordinary firearms; their barrels are quite short... I saw them draw it from their pants, but I couldn't figure out how they put it in there. We simply didn't have time to react."

The deputy officer stood frozen, unsure of what to say, subconsciously glancing at the smoothbore gun lying on the ground.

It was the Kingdom's flintlock gun.

He couldn't comprehend how such a large item could be hidden within pants.

Wouldn't the bullets and gunpowder fall out?

Heigmer knitted his brows, looking at the soldier as he spoke.

"How many of them are there?"

The guard being watched responded nervously.

"I didn't count, Your Highness... but from the sounds of the gunfire, there seem to be quite a few, estimated to be around a hundred."

He wasn't sure if there were really that many, but he couldn't tell the truth either—how could he admit that a hundred brothers in the camp were scattered by a mere few dozen men?

That would be too humiliating!

"Holy Mother Sith above, they seemed just like ghosts..." The guard standing beside said in a trembling voice, full of apprehension.

Heigmer was silent.

Such tactics—"lure the enemy deep, outflank them"—were not something ordinary ruffians possessed, and the weapons they used were certainly not obtained from the nobles' arms depot.

Clearly, this was an organized army, possibly armed and trained by the Campbell people!

As Heigmer thought of this, a touch of gloom rose in his eyes. These Campbell people had completely forgotten the bonds of kinship, resorting to such despicable means against their Majesty!

But what made his blood run cold were not these weapons and tactics, but rather the two bodies swinging in the wind from the distant watchtower.

They were two theologians accompanying the military.

They came from the Holy City, young men with bright futures, now mercilessly hung in a border watchtower.

Beneath those corpses, on the wooden boards, fresh blood splatters forming large letters remained undried.

Written with a shocking declaration—

[The Church Court that massacres God's children has betrayed the benevolent Holy Light!]

[In the name of the Holy Lady, avenge the fallen Ryan people!]

Heigmer stared hard at those words, coldness surging in his heart.

If attacking the army was a challenge to the royal authority, then killing these theologians was undoubtedly a direct provocation to the Holy City!

These lunatics!

Did they think about the consequences of such actions?!

Previously, the Salvation Army did cause disruptions, but they were minor skirmishes, never laying hands on members of the Church Court.

Who gave them the courage?

Edward?

Or Erin?

Heigmer's face turned dark as he looked towards the deputy officer.

The latter immediately understood, signaling his subordinates to burn the desecrating plank and bury the two unfortunate lads.

Just then, the sound of urgent hooves echoed from afar, breaking the heavy atmosphere on-site.

A messenger dressed in the Twilight City Governor's Mansion uniform dismounted swiftly, holding aloft a sealed urgent message.

"General Heigmer! Chief Referee Ximenes's urgent dispatch!"

The Judicial Court's letter?

Why would it be delivered by someone from the Governor's Mansion?

Heigmer raised an eyebrow but said nothing further, taking the letter from the messenger's hand and quickly scanning it.

Just as he expected.

The Judicial Court's wording was as always, forceful.

What he did not expect was that the court, which rarely interfered in specific military deployments, had extended its reach into his army this time.

"...Given the rampant and vile nature of heretic activities, it's evident local command is in chaos. In the name of the Chief Referee, I urge General Heigmer Devalu to immediately lead troops back to Twilight City to report. Thereafter, I shall reorganize the defense arrangements for the entire province."

"Reorganize? Now?"

Standing nearby, the deputy officer couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his face filled with disbelief.

Even if there are issues with the defense arrangements, why adjust them at the crucial moment?

Heigmer remained silent, merely clenching the letter tightly.

He sensed a whiff of conspiracy but couldn't grasp what benefit Edward gained from this.

Didn't they want the Judicial Court to leave sooner?

Or perhaps... they had bigger plans.

"Your Highness..." The deputy officer looked at him, asking with his eyes what should be done next.

Heigmer pondered for a moment, then put the letter away.

"Pass my command, return to Twilight City."

No matter what, the Lion Heart Knight Order could not defy the Church Court; he must go back to meet the Chief Referee.

Also, he has to have a conversation with his brother, the governor, to find out what's really going on.

The deputy officer's expression was filled with frustration, but eventually, he complied and ordered the cavalry to turn around.

Remounting his horse, Heigmer's mood was heavy.

He had an ominous instinct that despite not yet encountering the enemy, he had already lost a round...