Chapter 1261: Heretics?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Hao Ren was not clear about the complex emblems of the Kingdom of Taros as well as the connection between the cavalry’s costumes and their corresponding legions. He could only guess that the troop was from the Royal Family based on the eagle symbols on the flags carried by the knights. It seemed that the shock caused by the disintegrating rays had caught the attention of the guards in the White City.
Hao Ren instinctively felt that the team had arrived faster than expected. It would take some time for them to see the explosion at Kant Estate, set off, and travel from the White City to the Kant Estate. But it seemed like they had antic.i.p.ated that something would happen at Kant Estate, and were ready in advance.
The cavalry came to the small square in front of Kant Estate, pointing and talking about the sight of the half-ruined estate. They were astonished by the scene. Shortly after, some of the knights left the team and rushed into the estate from both sides. The surviving servants were fleeing, and the knights were not going to let anyone leave the place.
The main forces of the army went straight in Hao Ren’s direction.
They probably could not see Hao Ren yet, but it was easy to see from the distance that the ground, which turned into white sand, started from the main hall of the manor. That was the starting point of the disintegrating rays, and the investigation would definitely begin from there.
Hao Ren watched the knights as they approached him. He thought for a few seconds and took the initiative to go out. In case anyone could not see him, he raised his lance and waved it.
Then, he immediately saw the knights speeding up, and they reached him in the blink of an eye. The knights circled Hao Ren, apparently in great surprise, before the knight in charge took off his mask.
He was a tall, middle-aged man with red hair and a scar on his face. Hao Ren noticed that the man’s chest armor was engraved with complicated lines of enchantment. The golden eagle and sword emblem could be seen on his cloak.
The great knight dismounted. He looked at Hao Ren in surprise and asked, “Sir Guardian?”
“Yes, it’s me.” Hao Ren looked at him and felt that they had met before, but he could not remember his name. “You are…”
“I’m Gloen. You should have met me,” replied the tall knight in a m.u.f.fled voice. “I’m the king’s chief military adviser, the General of the White City, the supreme commander of the Brave Eagle Regiment. Sir Guardian, what the h.e.l.l is going on here?”
“In short, there was a scheme against me, and I was ambushed by an aristocrat.” Hao Ren shrugged and pushed Lamore forward. “This is him.”
He waited in silence for further developments. He knew it was an interesting situation: he was an “ancient guardian”, respected due to his status. However, he had no roots in the kingdom and would not necessarily command much trust from the king. On the other hand, Count Willie, a rebel who had been lurking at the top of the kingdom for years, his ident.i.ty seemed to be well concealed. Until now, the n.o.bles of Taros still considered him a rare young talent and a pillar of the country. He was a member of the complex aristocratic system of the country. Although there were many aristocrats of that sort, every aristocrat was protected by their system. In other words, he was deeply trusted by the king.
An ancient guardian and an aristocrat met in private. After a big explosion, the aristocrat’s manor was destroyed. The ancient guardian was unharmed, but he testified that the aristocrat was a criminal. Who would first be suspected under normal circ.u.mstances?
Nonetheless, Gloen did not look surprised after he listened to Hao Ren’s explanation. He did look a little stunned earlier. However, it did not seem to be because of Hao Ren’s accusation, but because of the unexpected way things had gone. The general glanced at the half-ruined Kant Estate and said, “I didn’t expect it to get this far… Sir Guardian, did you kill the heretics here on your own?”
“Heretics?” Hao Ren frowned. He suddenly remembered that Lamore had mentioned a “cult” before. “They seem to have mentioned it, but I don’t know what happened… Do you know anything about this Count Willie?”
“I’m just a warrior. Someone else will explain it to you clearly,” said Gloen, looking the other way. “Well, they’re coming.”
Another group of troops was on its way.
This cavalry was even larger, including wizards and well-equipped, high-ranking knights. Hao Ren knew what was going on at a glance. They had probably set out together with the first cavalry, but in order to save time, the light cavalry led by Gloen arrived early at Kant Estate, so the wizards who were slower and needed to be protected could arrive later.
Such a large-scale force showed that what happened at Kant Estate was extraordinary.
The second batch of troops approached Hao Ren. However, Hao Ren was stunned when he saw the leader.
It was Grand Duke Loen.
Seeing the Grand Duke coming towards him, Hao Ren touched his chin and said, “Things seem to be a little interesting now.”
Grand Duke Loen dismounted as nimbly as a trained knight. Collow was mired in chaos and war, therefore the aristocrats were surely skilled in archery and horseback riding. It was rare to see high ranks of the kingdom who were incapable of fighting.
“Guardian…” Grand Duke Loen remained expressionless. He looked Hao Ren up and down before he said, “It appears that you’re not one of them.”
“One of them? Do you mean the Kant Family? You’ve always suspected that I was one of them?”
Grand Duke Loen nodded and explained, “A stranger suddenly appearing beside Princess Veronica and also approaching the royal heirs—I have to doubt that. But a moment ago, my spy in Kant Estate sent word that you have nothing to do with them, and they are opposing you.
Grand Duke Loen frowned at the ruined estate as he spoke, “They have already planted this level of power in the kingdom… I can’t imagine what will happen to Taros if everything goes according to their plan…”
“Wait… You’ve been wary of me since we first met because you thought I was a heretic?” Hao Ren asked.
“The timing of your presence is too much of a coincidence. Your background is a mystery and your behavior is suspicious. Besides, the White City is shrouded in shadows. Princess Veronica trusts you, but I don’t,” said Grand Duke Loen, turning his face to Hao Ren. “Guardian, I know that you want a more detailed explanation. His Majesty is waiting for us in the Palace of the Golden Roses. You’ll get all the answers.”
Hao Ren nodded. The knights had split into several units to block the entire Kant Estate. More than half of the surviving servants who fled the manor house in all directions had been captured. The knights herded those panicked servants as if they were herding livestock. Hao Ren frowned at the scene and said, “The knights shouldn’t treat these ordinary people like they’re animals.”
“There’s no need to pity these ‘ordinary people’,” said Grand Duke Loen without any emotions on his face. “There are no truly innocent, ordinary people in the places where these heretics gather.”
There was a sudden commotion among the household servants. There was a wizard among the servants. He summoned a poisonous cloud, and in a moment, a soldier fell to the ground. Following that, the other servants pulled out all kinds of weapons from under their clothes and rushed frantically at the nearest soldiers, shouting wildly.
It all happened in the blink of an eye, and three more soldiers fell. But the commotion was soon over. A bolt of lightning came from a distance, and the lightning split into several parts in the sky, killing those “servants” instantly.
Above the cavalry regiment in the distance, a silver-robed wizard floating in the air nodded slightly at Grand Duke Loen.
Order was quickly restored, and the soldiers of the kingdom continued to gather the servants of Kant Estate, but this time, they were obviously more violent than before.
“These believers of Armageddon…” Grand Duke Loen said coldly. “You don’t need to treat them humanely.”