Chapter 328: So Many, So Many Monsters!

"Brother Brandon, how do you like it? Are you satisfied with the surroundings?"

Seeing Brandon return, Gervas immediately hurried over.

"Lord Gervas, the environment here is indeed excellent!" Brandon nodded.

To be honest, after circling the area, he genuinely approved of the surroundings—it was flat terrain, making travel convenient.

More importantly, no mountains were visible, meaning it was truly far from the Death Mountains, so there was no need to worry about beast attacks.

"Lord Brandon, does this mean we can decide to build the temple here?" Gervas beamed.

Brandon was about to respond, preparing to confirm this as one of the temple's potential sites.

But at that moment, Marshall's personal servant suddenly spoke up.

"U-um… Lord Brandon, I… I have something I'm not sure whether I should say…"

Brandon blinked, surprised at the servant.

Marshall immediately snapped, "Pia, when did you get the right to speak here? Do you want a whipping?"

"My lord, I dare not! I know I'm wrong… but I overheard something that might concern the temple's safety!"

"Concern the temple's safety? Really?" Marshall looked startled.

Gervas watched the master and servant play their act, and sneered inwardly.

Yet his face suddenly turned pale with anger. "Marshall, your servant has no manners whatsoever! How dare he speak before nobles and the Light Steward?"

Marshall instantly showed remorse. "Lord Brandon, my servant has been impolite—I'll punish him severely when we return!"

"No need, Magistrate Marshall. Since he has the courage to speak, let him explain what he heard!" Brandon wasn't foolish—he'd hear the servant out first.

Marshall subtly curled his lips, then barked, "Fool, hurry up! What exactly did you hear?"

The servant bowed his head. "My lord Marshall, Lord Brandon, this is what happened: just after we escaped the beasts and everyone was resting!"

"I went to the stream to clean the mud off Lord Marshall's boots, and happened to overhear someone talking…"

"They said: 'I'm having the Church of Light build a temple in Stormhold because Stormhold is simply too dangerous!'"

"'And those fishfolk and beasts aren't appearing for the first time—they've been harassing Stormhold regularly for a while now…'"

"'Once the temple is built, if a crisis arises, the Church of Light won't stand idly by—they'll have to protect the temple and Stormhold's serfs too…'"

"'Then, from now on, I won't have to fear the same fate as the previous three barons…'"

Holy shit! Everyone exclaimed in unison.

As the servant spoke, Brandon and the priests all frowned.

Marshall and the lesser nobles widened their eyes in disbelief.

"Lord Brandon, those were the exact words I heard! I wanted to rush back and tell Lord Marshall and you right away!"

"But I feared causing trouble, so I waited until now…"

"Slander! Lord Brandon, this servant is slandering me! I, Gervas, only wish the Light God's radiance to shine upon Stormhold—I have no other ill intent!"

"I admit Stormhold's reputation has been poor in the past, but that was long ago!"

"And those fishfolk and beasts just now? They appeared for the first time! Perhaps some evil force doesn't want Stormhold bathed in the Light God's radiance—that's why!"

Gervas's face turned ashen as he fiercely refuted the claims.

In response, Brandon and the others twitched their lips.

"You fool, are you lying?!" Marshall turned on the servant.

"My lord Marshall, Lord Brandon—I swear by all the gods that what I said is true! If I lie, let the gods strike me down!"

"You—" Even Gervas was left speechless.

Swearing by all the gods was the most damning oath in this world.

So even if Gervas doubted the servant, his doubts held no weight.

Besides, the servant was just a lowly servant—no grudge against Gervas. Why would he falsely accuse him?

"Lord Gervas, I require a reasonable explanation!" Brandon's face was dark.

This was the first time anyone had schemed against the Church of Light.

Gervas's expression shifted repeatedly—finally, "Lord Brandon, I apologize. I… I did consider that."

"But what I said—that I want the Light God's radiance to shine on Stormhold—is also true!"

"After all, the Church of Light makes even dark creatures retreat—how much more so for other races and ordinary beasts!"

"And the Light Knights are powerful; the dangers of Stormhold are nothing to the Church of Light…"

Brandon's face flushed and paled in turn.

He wanted to rebuke Gervas, but the man truly trusted the Church.

But how could the Church of Light let you be a cannon fodder?!

"Lord Brandon, those two previous sites were indeed dangerous, but this one—I guarantee it's no longer dangerous!"

"So please, Lord Brandon, consider building the temple here!"

"To be honest, this is also where I planned to build my manor…"

Holy shit! Everyone exclaimed again.

Another manor?

Why did every time he said that, something bad followed?

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just then, the sound of flapping wings came from the sky.

Looking up, it was Gervas's Swift Demon Hawks.

The demon hawks dove swiftly from high above.

No sooner had they landed than the rider cried anxiously: "My lord, disaster! Monsters—so many monsters! They're heading toward Stormhold!"

"Monsters? Heading for Stormhold?" Everyone froze, then paled.

Though individual monsters were weaker than beasts, they were far stronger than fishfolk and dark creatures.

And they were equally cruel, bloodthirsty, and fearless of death.

"What? More monsters? Didn't they just… cough, how could they appear again? Today alone we've seen fishfolk and beasts! Do they think Stormhold is a playground?!"

"My lord, it's true—they're about to cross the border and are advancing toward Wheat Aroma Village. At least a thousand, and some of them are unusually strong!"

"T-thousand? Damn it! Before, it was only a couple hundred! Why now a thousand?!"

"Are these monsters, fishfolk, and beasts all on drugs?!"

Hearing so many monsters, Gervas finally broke.

He stopped pretending.

After all, these beasts and monsters kept ruining his plans again and again.

And this time, the numbers were enormous.

"My lord, what do we do now? Monsters are extremely bloodthirsty!"

"What else can we do? Evacuate Wheat Aroma Village, then return to the castle and muster troops—head to Baron Cain's fortress!"

"Yes, my lord!" Iveland leapt onto a demon hawk and soared into the sky.

Gervas turned to Brandon and the others with pleading eyes. "Lord Brandon, the monsters are coming in force, in vast numbers—I can't hold them alone. I hope Your Lords will…"

"Cork! Lord Gervas, monsters are attacking—time is short! Go organize your defenses immediately!"

"As for the temple, I'll consider it later. If we do choose to build in Stormhold, I'll visit you again, Lord Gervas!"

"Enough. Magistrate Marshall, the day is still young—let's hurry to the next territory to inspect…"

"Yes, Lord Brandon…"