Chapter 595: Mark and Question

The morning sun painted the sky orange-yellow, which should have been peaceful and serene.

But a thick plume of black smoke rising upward emitted searing heat and a acrid, charred stench from the clash of flame and water, destroying everything.

Grand Tuanzhang Carter stood on the street, where the floor tiles had been completely overturned.

The flames before him were slowly reducing the entire town hall to a skeletal frame.

The mage's water-creation spell and rainfall had no effect whatsoever on the deep blue flames.

They could only force their way in using fire-resistant spells, trying to rescue any surviving comrades inside.

Yet.

Only corpses—each with their skulls violently exploded—lay scattered.

Grand Tuanzhang Carter's eyelid twitched.

The fury in his eyes continued to build.

How long.

Since the Heavenly Flower Kingdom, how long had it been since someone dared to provoke and murder like this?

"Grand Tuanzhang Carter."

A gentle voice called out.

He turned to see the elderly Cardinal, leaning on his cane, shuffling slowly toward him, and shook his head bitterly:

"Your Eminence, I'm sorry for waking you."

"Old age means sleeping early and rising early—it's no trouble."

Cardinal Davide gazed mournfully at the bodies covered in white sheets on the ground, then closed his eyes in pain.

"What a pity—truly a pity."

"Ah—yes, all these children who came along had talent, but unfortunately…"

"Indeed, such talented children—unfortunately, their Divine Peaches are shattered, unable to make their final offering to Igo."

Grand Tuanzhang Carter froze, his eyelid twitching again.

Divine Peach

He remembered this was Igo's euphemism for the brains of intelligent races, and that the "Divine Peach" was also a crucial offering in their sacrifices.

After becoming the state religion, Igo had restrained itself—and deliberately concealed it—rarely mentioning it anymore.

This Cardinal was old; perhaps he still clung to old notions and simply forgot.

"How is the situation, Grand Tuanzhang Carter?"

"No survivors. As for the perpetrator, one gate guard survived—he said it was a bald man in prison garb, searching for the official who had imprisoned him."

"A clumsy self-confession."

"Yes, an obvious self-identification—but the newspaper bards arrived even earlier than us, already waiting at the battle site in Shi Ying Town; the prison cells also showed signs of forced entry."

Thud-thud-thud—

Heavy armored footsteps approached from afar.

He snapped a salute to Grand Tuanzhang Carter, his face streaked with blood and grime, utterly disheveled.

"Report, Grand Tuanzhang! Deputy Commander Levi has awakened! But he refuses treatment—he says he has words for you and Your Eminence."

"Bring him."

"Yes!"

Not long after.

On a blood-soaked white stretcher, Deputy Commander Levi—the last one to clash with Luo De, the 【Hero Candidate】—was carried swiftly by two soldiers.

The finely crafted armor on this Deputy Commander had vanished, shattered beyond repair, fragments embedded deep into his flesh.

Bandaging and treatment had barely even begun.

His handsome face, along with his chest, was smeared with churning blood and tissue.

Blood seeping through the stretcher formed a crooked trail along the way, pooling into crimson puddles with every brief stop.

"S-sorry, Grand Tuanzhang Carter… Your Eminence… I… couldn't stop him."

Grand Tuanzhang Carter's face was cold, but deep in his eyes, he couldn't suppress his pity.

Cardinal Davide gripped his blood-covered hand with tender affection: "It's fine, child—you've done enough. What do you have to say?"

Deputy Commander Levi's expression was grim: "When I fought him… I left a 【Blood-Stamped Mark】 on him as evidence. Go capture him—it will prove the case."

He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed into unconsciousness.

Grand Tuanzhang Carter could no longer hold back: "Take him for treatment immediately!"

"Yes!" x2

Cardinal Davide straightened his posture, wiped his hands with a towel, and smiled approvingly.

"A tiger doesn't raise a dog—Little Levi saw through Luo De's identity."

"That boy's still too young, reckless."

"If little Levi had died, his Divine Peach could have been offered."

Grand Tuanzhang Carter shuddered: "My son's life is worthless—don't waste it. Let him serve the Kingdom and Igo more first. Shall I go after him?"

Davide again wore a compassionate expression and shook his head: "That man is too powerful—no need to rush. Exposing him now would only lead to mutual destruction."

Carter gazed down the street.

The hazy dust had not yet settled, shrouding the entire street churned by the powerful shockwave.

He quietly exhaled.

He was beginning to believe what the newspapers said was true.

Thinking of his son's Canzhuang after being struck square in the face by that punch, his face turned grim.

Could this entire conscription unit withstand even one blow from him?

No wonder he's listed by the Half-Deers as the future 【Disaster-Bringer】.

But outwardly he snorted: "He didn't bother with subterfuge—he plainly warned us. What's Your Eminence's view?"

"He wants dignity—we must act with righteous cause. Campbell is a criminal family, disobedient, and needs a lesson. Let them destroy each other—that's best."

"Understood."

"Luo De!"

The witch Dimia stormed up to the shade pavilion of Henry's farm and slammed her palm onto the brown wooden round table.

Luo De swiftly lifted the black tea that Tally had just brewed, preventing it from spilling.

Facing the witch's accusatory wrath,

he felt guilty and turned his head away, quietly sipping the tea infused with Tally's essence.

He refused to meet her gaze.

His vision was again filled with the cattle grazing in the pen.

Dimia did not relent; she stepped forward two paces, her eyes blazing with anger.

Her soft chest trembled with each vigorous step.

"You killed—so why tear down the whole street?! What if Shi Ying Town's residents were hurt?!"

Her dog-tribe companion Sharon chimed in: "Exactly! What if someone got hurt? This is your fault for not bringing me! Hmph! If I'd gone, this wouldn't have happened!"

Luo De lightly kicked Sharon.

Instantly, he was kicked back—with double the force.

"I sensed beforehand that they'd all taken shelter in the cellars."

The residents of Shi Ying Town were battle-hardened.

After several invasions, they'd learned to dig basements beneath their homes and flee at the first sign of trouble.

Before Luo De's earth-shattering punch last night,

his 【Spider Sense】 was fully extended—he had indeed checked every house.

"But buildings collapsed! Windows shattered! A girl broke her leg from falling debris!"

Luo De felt even guiltier, turning his head away again, avoiding the witch's questions.

In truth, that final punch could have been avoided—it was pure recklessness.

He regretted it instantly afterward.

Indeed,

just like spiritual energy, excessive release brings guilt.

"I'm sorry—I'll pay for the roads, the buildings, and the medical care."

"It's not about money!"

Dimia leaned in again, hands on her hips, glaring.

Her face was now very close to Luo De's; their eyes met.

Her gaze suddenly flustered, and she quickly looked away.

She stole a glance at Sharon, who still wore a smug, gleeful expression toward Luo De, and relaxed.

Her tone softened: "I'm sorry, Luo De… I know you did this for Shi Ying Town. I'm just… deeply sorry. Please forgive me."

"It's my fault—I lost control."

Luo De waved his hand: "By the way, I've had forged Shi Ying Town official seals and documents distributed to the market—many newspaper bards will get them. Don't worry about it."

(End of Chapter)