Chapter 318 - 83: The Celestial Wing Knight Order’s Secret Order

Silence fell after Charlie spoke.

His superior’s face was ashen. His comrades looked at him with regret, yet their eyes were also filled with admiration.

Once he started, the words seemed to gain their own momentum, dispelling the nervousness in his heart. He began to speak with fluid ease.

"First, it has to do with the settlements we’ve established. To be self-sufficient with our food supply, we had to choose areas frequented by wolf packs, Arctic bears, and seals. But these are the same areas where the natives are active. Therefore, those Slimes just need to find the natives to find us."

"Wait," an old officer interrupted Charlie. "Aren’t those natives just another type of Demon?"

"No." Charlie shook his head grimly.

Looking at the men around him, he knew his words would shatter their worldview, but he had to say it.

"I know you’ve all been telling yourselves that the natives are Demons. That by killing them, we can use Magic to gain Power and grow stronger. But based on my observations, this view is wrong."

"The natives are people, too. They never attacked us. They have their own culture and language. They have their own social structure. They are simply a group of humans who have adapted to the environment of the fifteenth floor."

"We don’t understand their language because we assume language is only vocal. In fact, the natives’ movements are also part of their language. They use gestures to express their thoughts and to communicate."

The surroundings grew even quieter. Only the cold wind whistled past, sounding like a desolate sigh.

Finally, an old officer sneered, "Nonsense."

"You can deceive yourselves, and you can deceive most people, but you can’t deceive everyone. I know most of you have had your doubts about this, but you’re unwilling to speak up. Because the other floors are too dangerous, while the people here are safer to prey upon and provide more Power. You’ve been blinded by greed and forgotten why we came here in the first place!"

"Enough!" an old officer roared in anger. "Whose side are you on?"

"My own, and everyone else’s. Today you slaughter the natives for Power, tomorrow you’ll slaughter us for Power. Now, our retribution has arrived. The natives have secretly united, and the Slimes, led by the natives, have come here to wipe us out. Our only way out is to..."

"Enough."

The Knight Order’s Commander spoke softly, then drew his sword and took a ready stance. "Come, Charlie. Duel me."

Seeing the Commander’s stance, Charlie was stunned for a moment before a resolute smile appeared on his face.

A duel was sacred.

In the Celestial Wing Knight Order, any matter could be settled with a duel. For the gods watched every duelist, and only the one who was in the right could survive.

Facing the Commander, the strongest of them all, Charlie knew he stood no chance of winning, no matter how right he was.

Nevertheless, he resolutely drew his own sword and said firmly, "Commander, please believe me. The only way I know is to..."

The tip of the Commander’s blade flashed. Like lightning, the sharp edge instantly pierced Charlie’s heart.

The Commander appeared before Charlie like a phantom, wrenching his sword free and spilling the young officer’s lifeblood onto the snow.

"Charlie was the traitor. That settles it. Any other opinions?"

The onlookers’ expressions varied. Some smiled, some were suspicious, some were weeping, and some were confused.

Ignoring their gazes, the Commander shouldered Charlie’s body and said to the others, "I’ll dispose of his body. I’ll be back shortly."

Carrying Charlie’s body far away from the others, the Knight Order’s Commander made sure no one was around. He then took his sword and plunged it into Charlie’s chest again.

His Swordsmanship was so superb that the previous wound, being perfectly clean, had already begun to heal.

Charlie had only appeared dead because the blood pooling around his heart had temporarily stopped its beating.

After letting the pooled blood drain out, the Commander struck Charlie hard in the chest. The shock of the blow jolted Charlie upright, and he immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Tossing his handkerchief to Charlie, the Commander asked, "What was this ’only way’ you were talking about?"

Charlie stared blankly at the Commander, not yet having processed the fact that he wasn’t dead.

Then, it dawned on him. He hurriedly said, "Join them! From what I’ve seen, those Slimes aren’t evil. They’re also continuously exploring this entire dungeon and preparing to defeat the Demon King. So, if we just join them, we can survive."

"A good idea. Unfortunately, I can’t adopt it."

"Why not?"

"Interests. All sorts of interests. The Celestial Wing Knight Order has grown into a vast and complex organization. Joining the Slimes would mean a transfer of benefits and a restructuring of power, which is unacceptable to those old officers. They would rather drag the entire Celestial Wing Knight Order down with them to their deaths than accept such a plan."

Turning his head, the Commander looked at the astonished Charlie and chuckled. "You’re still young, full of passion. You don’t know how deeply power and money can corrupt a person. Go. Take those who think like you and leave this place. Join the Slimes, and become the seed for the future of the Celestial Wing Knight Order. As long as you survive, the Celestial Wing Knight Order will still exist. You, Charlie, are my final, secret order."

Only then did Charlie understand the Commander’s true intentions. He couldn’t help but grab the man’s hand. "Come with us, Commander."

"I can’t. I have another mission. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but some of our men have been acting abnormally. They’ve become more tyrannical, more powerful. This change started a few days ago, after a new shipment of supplies and personnel arrived from the Kingdom. Many have not been themselves since. I need to find the cause of this abnormality. That is my duty as Commander of the Knight Order."

Seeing that Charlie was about to say more, the Commander held up a hand to quiet him.

Then, he stood up straight, gave a standard salute, and said, "Officer Charlie."

Charlie immediately scrambled to his feet and replied solemnly, "Yes, Commander."

"Accept my secret order. Unite the remaining young officers and join the Slimes. Don’t disappoint my expectations of you, Charlie."

"...Yes."

"Go to the nearby native settlement. I will send those who are suitable to you. At five o’clock tomorrow morning, don’t worry about anything else. Just leave immediately."

With a heavy nod, Charlie got up and left, leaving a lone trail of footprints in the snow.

Behind him, the Knight Order’s Commander watched silently as Charlie departed, letting the wind and snow cover him until he resembled a monument.