Chapter 472: The Prince Who Cherishes Fragrance and Pities Jade

The "big one" finally came.

That was the cleansing that the believers in the Dusk Saint Saint Xingsheng had been looking forward to for a long time.

In fact, before the Inquisition came here, it wasn't that no one had come to this land, it was just that the last time they cleansed those who believed in Saint Xisi, and now they were cleansing those who didn't believe in Him.

Either way, it was all themselves.

If one looked down at this land from the perspective of Saint Xisi, Earl Sailong Jiade was actually the luckiest person.

When the Green Forest Army came to attack the city, he didn't run; when the flag changed, he saw that he couldn't win and ran immediately; now that the Salvation Army was gone, he went back again.

Although he didn't get the Demon King's guidance, he was indeed as soft as a worm in his actions, following the principle of fighting if he could win, and running if he couldn't.

Sometimes Lei Deng also felt that perhaps Saint Xisi was really dead, otherwise why were those who were favored by fate all these rats?

And the final price was paid by many ordinary people.

He could almost be certain that the Inquisition's behavior would bury the seeds for the disaster twenty years later, but how could those "Shengcheng people" who would never go to the Kingdom of Lai'en once in their lives care about the flood that would happen in the frontier land twenty years later?

It was just drowning a group of ants again.

Standing on a hill far away from Quemubao, Lei Deng, carrying the "Holy Grail Shield," looked at the army heading toward the castle with a blank expression.

Having once regarded the Lionheart Knights as glory, he had never hated that fluttering lion so much; perhaps not having a King was the best ending for everyone.

At this time, a man wearing leather armor walked behind him, looked at the Holy Grail on the shield, and grinned.

"What's wrong, Knight old man, can't bear to leave your home?"

"That's not my home; my home is near the castle, by the river near the mill."

Lei Deng withdrew his gaze from the distance, turned his head to look at the unremarkable middle-aged man, and continued with a blank expression.

"I just want to see the end."

He recognized this man; his name seemed to be Geleijia, and he was one of Kalian's intelligence personnel.

Before this, this so-called intelligence force had no sense of existence, until recently when it began to emerge.

It was said that inviting Sailong to the outside of Dusk City without anyone knowing was their handiwork.

Including spreading various whereabouts about the Salvation Army and "Saintess Kalian" in Dusk City, etc., were also done by them.

"Please do as you please."

Geleijia shrugged his shoulders, not intending to stop him from doing so, nor did he have the ability to dissuade a Platinum-tier powerhouse.

Lei Deng didn't ask for his opinion in the first place, and seeing that he had nothing else to do, he turned his head back, raised the monocular telescope in his hand, and continued to look at the direction of Quemubao to observe.

It wasn't just Bulennan who was unwilling to withdraw.

Lei Deng, who valued glory, was also unwilling to leave the land where the Kaisitier family had lived for generations as a fugitive.

Even though he actually knew in his heart that staying was a dead end, and he would die with a more shameful status than a fugitive.

Selling one's soul to the devil wouldn't necessarily implicate others in the family, but "rebellion" was different.

It had to be said that although the bottom line of the Shengcheng Inquisition wasn't high, it was still far higher than the ceiling of the Green Forest Army.

They also killed without blinking, didn't skimp on interrogation methods, and even used family members as threats, but they rarely killed the whole family.

The handover of Quemubao was very peaceful, just like when it was handed over from the Earl to the Salvation Army at the beginning, without a single person dying.

The flag of the Lionheart Knights entered the castle, and standing under the city gate to welcome them was Earl Sailong Jiade, who had been "invited" back earlier.

That Earl's style was as exaggerated as ever, excitedly holding the Inquisitor's hand, probably grateful that they had come so timely.

That expressionless Inquisitor glanced at the priests and nuns in the castle, then looked at the Earl, his lips moved, and he seemed to say something.

Lei Deng couldn't read his lip language, but from Earl Sailong's ecstatic expression, he could see that the Jiade family's difficulty seemed to have passed, and he had even received a reward because of his piety.

After all, from the Church's standpoint, they didn't want people to think that it was the Saintess who saved them; by comparison, a pious Earl was more in line with their propaganda caliber.

Just like the King of Lai'en was more willing to praise a pig than to praise the greatness of the "Light of Praise," the Church certainly had its own considerations.

This lucky pig!

Lei Deng really didn't want to look at him, confirmed that everyone in the castle was fine, then moved his gaze away from him, and glanced at the "Radiant Knight" Haigemuo Dewalu on the side.

That guy's mood seemed very bad, his face gloomy as if it could squeeze out water, and this seemed to be after some easing.

Speaking of which, they came from the Lion Griffin Cliff territory.

Lei Deng couldn't help but think of the rumors he had heard before; Haigemuo and Earl Weifute seemed to be old acquaintances, and both were the pillars of the kingdom, so their private friendship should be good...

Although they had already buried the bodies of the Earl's family for the people there after taking down the Lion Griffin Cliff Castle, this blood debt obviously wouldn't just be forgotten.

Just then, Haigemuo suddenly raised his head, and Lei Deng immediately put down the telescope without a second's hesitation.

Geleijia coughed lightly and interjected.

"I suggest you still don't stare at a demigod for too long; the reason why a demigod is a demigod is because one foot has already stepped into the realm of the gods."

It wouldn't matter if ordinary people stared at them, especially those without extraordinary power, whose aura was as weak as wild grass on the roadside; it probably had to be monstrous hatred to be felt by the other party.

However, for an upper-tier extraordinary person like Lei Deng, no matter how he covered his aura, it would inevitably be noticed by the other party.

"I know, no need for you to remind me."

"Of course, I believe you know."

Looking at Lei Deng who put away the telescope, Geleijia nodded slightly, reminding him in as euphemistic a tone as possible.

"It's just... you are after all a wanted criminal of the Empire now, I still hope you can consider the overall situation."

"I will."

Giving a concise reply, Lei Deng suddenly turned his head to look at him and said.

"... I have always wanted to ask, do you trust Sailong Jiade so much? Based on my understanding of him, this guy is not a simple character."

Geleijia was stunned when he heard this, then grinned and joked.

"It can be seen that you have deep resentment toward him."

Lei Deng shook his head.

"Not at all, I have no reason to resent him; I am just objectively evaluating him."

Objective, huh.

Geleijia's expression became a bit playful, and he thought for a moment before saying.

"Then do you want to hear an ordinary person's evaluation?"

Lei Deng stared at him for a while.

"Go ahead."

Geleijia smiled and continued.

"I am very unfortunate to live under Sailong's rule, relying on hunting to just get enough to eat. My disgust for him is no less than anyone here, and I haven't complained less about his stupidity, but I still have to say... this fat pig really can't be called the worst choice for ordinary people, at least there is one thing he did quite well."

"Oh?"

Lei Deng raised his eyebrows.

"Can I know which thing it is?"

Geleijia said lightly.

"He isn't that extreme."

Not expecting him to answer like this, Lei Deng smiled and said.

"Is there anything more specific? What is extreme?"

Seeming to have guessed that he would ask this, Geleijia smiled and continued in a chatty tone.

"The Green Forest Army is, the Church is, and the King is too. Even Earl Weifute who has already died is. Especially the latter, he neither protected his family nor his people... even though I have to admit that he used a lot of effort, and even bet his own life."

"Conversely, look at Sailong, that greedy and cowardly guy; I don't dare say that no one around him died, but following him is definitely luckier than following Earl Weifute."

It was said that after seeing the tragic state of the Lion Griffin Cliff territory, the Inquisition issued a killing quota, and the "Radiant Knight" who should have protected the people was silent this time, directly acquiescing to the Inquisition's ruling.

Looking at the middle-aged man's smile that didn't look like he was joking, Lei Deng was silent for a while and said with a blank expression.

"I don't want to interpret the favor of the gods as his ability; I even feel that the existence in the dark might be blind. Otherwise, why should noble souls be punished, while humble souls are rewarded?"

Geleijia smiled and said.

"Perhaps it's just that mortals can't see all the causes and effects."

Lei Deng looked at him and asked.

"Is this also what the servant of the 'Son of God' taught you?"

Geleijia shook his head.

"Not at all, this is my realization after seeing many deaths. Everyone is a sheep walking in the mortal world, nothing more than the difference between knowing and not knowing; when will the killing end? Today you kill my whole family, tomorrow I kill your whole family, and both think they have cut the weeds and removed the roots, but in fact, you and I are both grass, and what is removed is the roots of you and me."

This time Lei Deng didn't refute.

A long time ago, he once thought that Saintess Kalian had really heard an oracle, and once really regarded her as a Saintess sent by Saint Xisi to the mortal world to support order.

However, when he was lost on the road to the future, she retreated. It was precisely this retreat that made his faith waver again.

Even if the Sword Saint recognized the Saintess's choice, and even thanked her for bearing everything for the civilians of the Quemubao territory, and taking care of that damn overall situation.

It was also from then on that he realized that behind Saintess Highness there was no Saint Xisi, and it didn't represent the purity and justice he yearned for.

Lei Deng even felt a trace of hidden pain.

His Saintess was just someone else's chess piece...

Seeing that this Knight old man didn't speak, Geleijia drew a cross on his chest, a pious smile appearing on his face.

Isn't it different...

Different, huh...

Lei Deng's lips curled into a curve, and he said in a tone with a trace of irony.

"Do you want to say that she isn't the 'extreme' you mentioned?"

"Of course."

Geleijia nodded, looked at Lei Deng who showed a trace of surprise on his face, and happily continued to say.

"I know she isn't as simple as outsiders see, but is this important to ordinary people like me?"

"She could have stood in the safest place and said the cruelest words, letting you and me die to please the gods behind her, and fight with another group of gods' chess pieces."

"However, she didn't do that, and neither did the gods behind her."

Lei Deng felt that the gods were blind, but Geleijia didn't think so; he even felt that the cause and effect in the dark had always been very fair.

Those who formed good relationships got a good end, while those madmen all met with retribution.

The Green Forest Army was the first to be proud, and had already been burned to ashes.

As for those guys from the Shengcheng...

Don't look at them pulling the list happily now, the gale of karma had never forgotten them, it was just that it couldn't blow them while they were in their prime.

They had better pray that they would never grow old.

But was this possible?

They just didn't want to admit that they were old!

Just in that frontier where the Holy Light couldn't shine, west of the Brass Pass that isolated Chaos, people who held the "Holy Word Book" and dug Saint Xisi's wall had already appeared.

And—

Such blasphemous people had actually received the acquiescence of a Grand Duke!

The Campbell army had briefly regarded them as friendly forces, and both sides tacitly didn't attack each other, and this tacit understanding was very likely to be maintained.

This was unimaginable in the past.

Geleijia even had an intuition that perhaps the devil of Hell had already quietly walked into the Saint Kelaimen Cathedral...

A small person who had never left the Dusk Saint Saint Xingsheng wouldn't know that the devil from Hell had not only been to the Saint Kelaimen Cathedral, but also held a funeral for his "father" there.

Although he used his younger brother's name.

Lei Ming City, Andes Manor.

Luo Yan had just stepped into the hall of this imposing manor when he heard a loud voice coming from the stairs.

"Prince Kelin! How have you been? I have finally seen you!"

He looked up and saw Grand Duke Edward walking down from the second floor quickly, with a sincere and enthusiastic smile on his face, as if he had seen a confidant he hadn't seen for a long time.

"How have you been, Prince Edward? It is also my honor to see you again."

Luo Yan saluted with his chest, then a trace of appropriate embarrassment appeared on his face, apologizing for his abrupt departure earlier.

"However, before I express the joy in my heart, please accept my apology first. I should have visited you at the first time, but when I read the news of Princess Ailin Highness going to the front line in the newspaper, my heart had already flown thousands of miles away, unable to control myself—"

Before his words fell, that loud voice came from the steps, resolving the "embarrassment" while returning the atmosphere of the two's meeting to the joy of reunion after a long time.

"Haha, no need to care, Prince Kelin, I completely understand your mood!"

Edward walked down the last step, laughing heartily, and shook Luo Yan's hand forcefully.

"Noble souls are always attracted to each other. The citizens of Lei Ming City are all saying that it was Saint Xisi who guided you there, and I think they make sense! It is Princess Ailin's luck to have a friend like you, and I sincerely bless you both."

This watertight and enthusiastic rhetoric really made Prince Kelin's face show a smile, feeling the warmth like a spring breeze.

Luo Yan couldn't help but sigh in his heart that the Campbell family was worthy of being a family favored by the gods.

In less than two years, it wasn't just Princess Ailin who had progressed; this Grand Duke's ability had also improved quite a bit.

If there were many unskilled aspects at the beginning, now this Highness had become a qualified "Your Majesty."

The only regret was one thing, which was that the territory of the Campbell Principality could no longer match his constantly expanding ambition.

No wonder his neighbors were so vigilant.

Luo Yan could feel the strong desire of this Highness for himself and the Kelin Principality behind him, even if he hid this desire behind hospitality and friendship.

A Duke couldn't fight the King.

But two might be enough.

While chatting with this Grand Duke, Luo Yan couldn't help but ponder.

Let's just...

Play the role of his chess piece for now.

The two chatted while walking toward the manor's reception room.

Edward walked beside him, chatting about family matters as if casually, and the two's topic soon reached the Kelin Principality.

"... By the way, that unprecedented storm a few days ago almost swept across the entire coast of the Vast Ocean, and even the Whirlpool Sea was affected. Princess Ailin and I were very worried about you; I don't know how your territory is? Was it affected?"

Luo Yan showed a wry smile when he heard this, with a headache expression on his face.

"I can only say... the situation is not optimistic, but it is generally comprehensive. Speaking of which, I have to thank General Hamu'erdun; he urgently allocated a batch of building materials from Saint Yier Castle that were originally scheduled to be sent to Sardo Port, which allowed us to repair several most important ports and barely survived the difficulty."

"So that's it... That storm was indeed too torturous," Edward was stunned, then sighed with empathy. "Our principality also lost several merchant ships; Mr. Andes has had a headache for a long time because of this."

"Same with us; a unlucky cargo ship was even blown to the mountain, and a group of crew members opened their eyes to find that the sea was gone, and they were all scared... Haha."

Luo Yan took over the conversation, and the indescribable voice had both lingering fear and luck, as well as the ease and detachment of surviving a disaster.

As if he had completely forgotten who did the good deed.

"... Almost no usable cargo ships can be found on the entire Vast Ocean, and some large cargo ships, even if they survived, couldn't dock because the ports were damaged. Finally, thanks to the help of the Imperial Navy fleet, a temporary port was established at Kumu Port, and we solved this big trouble."

"Haha... That was really a disaster."

"Yeah! A complete disaster!" Luo Yan sighed, then changed the subject, a trace of cunning smile appearing on his face. "Of course, we didn't let the brothers of the Empire help in vain. Relying on the connections of the Gutafu United Kingdom, we got a large batch of corn and transported it to Saint Yier Castle, which can be considered as solving the urgent need for supplies on the Imperial front line for General Hamu'erdun... Of course, this is not free."

"Corn? Are the boys of the Empire used to eating that stuff?" A trace of curiosity flashed in Edward's eyes.

It wasn't because he was really curious, purely because he couldn't get a word in on other topics, only eating habits could be said a few words.

For a Duke far in the frontier of the Empire, what this Imperial Prince from the center of the world said was as if it were things from another world.

"I hope they are used to it, but I also heard that some people seem to be unable to digest that thing, but in difficult times, they can only make do."

Luo Yan shrugged, and without waiting for Edward to speak, he brought the topic to that distant world, talking about things after the big storm.

"Later, I took the opportunity of transporting supplies to visit Marshal Highness in the Shengcheng, and we talked about the far-reaching impact of this storm on the future order of the Vast Ocean coast. We unanimously believe that natural disasters are both challenges and opportunities given to us by Saint Xisi; it is the gods guiding us to open up that brand-new land—the Jana Continent. For this reason, we established the Temple Knights."

"Temple... what is that?"

"A Knights order, specifically recruiting young people who are ambitious to expand the territory for the Empire, to go to the land in the sun they have been thinking about."

Speaking of the Jana Continent, Luo Yan seemed to open the chatterbox, talking eloquently to Grand Duke Edward who couldn't get a word in.

He talked from the unique geographical and climatic environment of that continent, to the long history of the Gutafu United Kingdom, and then to their intricate but little-known connections with various races in the old world.

He knew that Edward must be confused.

But what he wanted was this effect of "not knowing why but feeling awesome"!

Sure enough, Edward couldn't understand the names of people and places in his mouth at all, but was deeply shocked by the world outlined by these terms.

However, he was Edward Campbell after all, not those nobodies who thought they owned the entire Kelin Group after buying two stocks.

He endured the shock in his heart, while echoing with appropriate conversation, inducing Prince Kelin to say more information, and peeling the cocoon from the complex information, capturing those things that interested him and were very useful to the Campbell Principality.

Undoubtedly!

This Prince Kelin not only had interest exchanges with the Imperial military, but also had intricate connections with various families of the Shengcheng's elder faction!

He hadn't been to the Shengcheng, but he wasn't completely ignorant of the Shengcheng; at least he had read history books, and he himself was within the feudal system of the Shengcheng, and his understanding of the power structure was far beyond those standing outside the system.

Without the nod of the military, elders, and the Church, such a large project couldn't land at all!

And being able to handle these three factions at the same time...

This Prince's strength was probably even more not to be underestimated than he had shown before!

Thinking of this, Edward's heart became more and more hot.

Sensitively capturing the burning heat that flashed in Edward's eyes, Luo Yan knew that the pie he drew was big enough, so he stopped the rambling about the distant world just right.

"Sorry... Highness, I talked about some trivial matters that you might find boring without knowing it." Luo Yan smiled apologetically, as if feeling rude for his endless talking.

"No, Highness, just the opposite! I am not uninterested, but I was listening too intently, and for a moment I was a bit fascinated."

Edward immediately came back to his senses, his face filled with a sincere smile, and continued.

"We Campbell people have always been interested in the outside world, and have always been striving toward the Shengcheng with piety. The insights you just shared have benefited me a lot; if you have anything else you want to confide, your friend is very happy to be your listener."

He used a euphemistic tone to express that he still wanted to hear more inside information about the "Shengcheng," especially the part about "piety."

Luo Yan naturally understood the desire in his words, but deliberately didn't satisfy him, instead changed the subject and pulled the topic to a place Edward was caught off guard.

This was a course of Professor Lilisi that Mi Ya had never listened to seriously—

High-end succubi often don't focus on the art of "satisfaction," but are just good at the art of "dissatisfaction."

The smile on his face converged, Luo Yan changed to a slightly serious expression, stopped his steps, and looked at Edward who was caught off guard.

"Then Highness, since you regard me as your confidant, I will speak bluntly and confide my thoughts to you."