Chapter 42: Remnant Sin

Leimeng's heart was secretly startled, knowing Robin's current strength could not be taken lightly, and continuing the fight would likely turn against him.

He only saw his eyes flick, the long sword in his hand feigned a spear thrust, pretending to attack; when Robin made a defensive reaction, he suddenly turned and sprinted wildly out of the barracks.

After all, in a battle between knights, the clash of great forces creates huge commotion, and the light and sound of skill releases easily draw other knights' attention.

If reinforcements were summoned, his plan for today would be completely ruined.

Robin, seeing this, without hesitation chased after him.

But when he chased out of the camp, his steps abruptly halted. He furrowed his brows, a strong unease welling up inside.

Recalling Leimeng's expression and movements while fleeing, he felt they were somewhat deliberate; he vaguely sensed Leimeng was intentionally luring him away from the camp.

Perhaps somewhere ahead, hidden, lay a trap or accomplice detrimental to him.

Robin knew that at this moment he must not act impulsively, so he swallowed his anger, turned and returned to the barracks.

Leimeng, while sprinting for his life, also took a moment to glance back.

He saw Robin resolutely turn and return to the camp; he couldn't help muttering inwardly, "That cautious little fox, why didn't I see how sly he was before!"

Leimeng had originally plotted to draw Robin into a pre‑set ambush, leaving him with no way out.

He hadn't expected Robin to be so alert and see through his scheme.

Leimeng was not satisfied to stop there. A malicious smile spread across his face, as chilling as a venomous snake spitting its fang. He whispered, "But it's fine, soon you'll be unable to hold back!"

In his mind, another even more insidious plot had already taken shape.

Lily's death dealt him a huge blow; if Eric and Tomson also met accidents, it would surely enrage Robin again, driving him mad.

In the quiet, slightly dim study of the Lord's Manor.

Damia Great Knight straightened his posture, his gaze steadfastly meeting the Buluote Lord's, arguing firmly.

Lily's untimely death was like a fuse, completely detonating the long‑standing conflict between the lord and Damia Great Knight.

"Viscount!" Damia Great Knight said earnestly and anxiously, "If we continue to let other lords run rampant in the city, how can the knights and soldiers under your command maintain high morale?

Over time, they will only feel inferior, which would be a massive blow to the construction and stability of your domain's army."

The soldiers' morale is the soul of the army; if it is shaken by such injustice, the consequences are unimaginable.

The Buluote Lord, however, wore a furious expression, waved his hand impatiently, and retorted, "They're about to leave; there's no need to make a big fuss over this trivial matter. He's just a Knight Apprentice, how can he be compared to the current struggle against the wizard?"

In his view, uniting the lords now to oppose the wizard was paramount; any factor that might undermine the alliance should be downplayed, Lily's case merely a negligible interlude.

Hearing this, Damia Great Knight's face showed an incredulous expression as he stepped forward, "Viscount, you consider a Knight Apprentice's life so cheap in your eyes? This is no small matter! Once the soldiers' sense of fairness and justice is trampled, who will still be willing to serve you later? Have you ever thought this would chill the hearts of your troops!"

The Buluote Lord's complexion grew darker, he slammed the table hard, causing the documents on it to tremble, "Enough! Damia, I think you're blinded by these trifles! Now the great enemy looms, the Black‑robed Wizard's threat is right before us; a slight misstep and our lands will fall into endless ruin! Compared to that, a Knight Apprentice's fate is insignificant!"

"Insignificant?" Damia Great Knight shivered all over, his voice involuntarily rising, "Those soldiers shed heads and hot blood on the battlefield to protect the safety of the lands and its people. Yet now, the citizens are abused to death, and we must swallow our anger; this contradicts the protective doctrine we have always proclaimed! If you persist, who will later trust your fairness?"

"Fairness?" Buluote Lord sneered, stood up, looking down from his height at Damia Great Knight, "In this cruel reality, fairness must yield to the greater cause! If because of a Knight Apprentice we ruin the alliance with other lords, causing the anti‑wizard plan to fail, can you bear that consequence?"

"I only know that if we cannot even protect our own people, then even if we defeat the wizard, what good is it?" Damia Great Knight said without flinching, his eyes blazing, "A land that loses the people's hearts is merely an empty city—what victory is there?"

"You…" The Buluote Lord was left speechless, pointing at Damia Great Knight, so angry he could not speak.

The study was filled with a suffocating silence, only the two heavy breaths.

Until Damia Great Knight slammed the door and left, his angry footsteps still echoed in the study.

The Buluote Lord stared at the heavily shut door, his gaze instantly turning ice‑cold, grinding his teeth as he whispered, "If I didn't need you now, would I still keep you?"

At that moment, the statue in the corner that had been motionless began to move slowly.

Its movements were stiff yet oddly eerie, emitting a faint rubbing sound in the silent study.

Then the statue spoke, its voice hoarse like sandpaper, sending a chilling shiver down the spine: "This is something Damia left for me to handle later, a rare Puppet Material."

Hearing this, the Buluote Lord immediately bowed respectfully, a humble expression appearing on his face: "Sorry to trouble you, Master."

In his heart, this hidden‑identity teacher was unfathomably powerful, the firmest support on his path to power.

The statue slightly turned its inflexible "neck", and continued, "How much longer before I break through the Great Knight?"

The Buluote Lord frowned slightly, thought a moment, then answered, "Just a bit more, just a little more time."

After hearing, the statue nodded, its voice carrying a weighty tone, "Break through quickly; I suspect that Knight Apprentice is not alone, and I've also uncovered some news—it may be that person's remnant sin."

"That person?" The Buluote Lord was startled, a terrifying figure flashing in his mind, his complexion turning a bit pale, "You mean… that damn …"

"Exactly!" The statue's voice grew colder, "If it really is his remnant sin, then we're in trouble. We must quickly strengthen ourselves to face the coming crisis, otherwise you'll be in danger."

(End of Chapter)