Chapter 235 Chapter 232 Akanis
The corpse of the horned child was disposed of by Jima.
She was worried that George might do something irrational and use the horned child’s corpse for a “public execution,” which would be tantamount to announcing his own incompetence to everyone.
At such a critical moment, this couldn’t happen.
“Where is his body?”
“I gave it to Bishop Gregory, preparing to burn it.”
“I will make this matter public.”
“Well, do as you wish,” Jima said, “but now you need to attend the meeting.”
Under the guidance of the mounted servant.
George and his group walked towards Quinasburg. From a distance, they could see a fully loaded convoy, moving out of the castle like ants relocating, taking away valuable goods and food, while also carrying off the city’s resolve to resist.
Bishop Gregory rode up beside him and said:
“I have gathered all the members of the Sanctuary. They are determined to fight for this city.”
In front of the Sanctuary church.
The local sanctuary clergy and the warriors fighting alongside Gregory formed a square in front of the church. The priest, holding a thick book, was preaching discipline and assigning duties.
No one spoke; only the priest’s voice could be heard. Even the believers who came to report formed a line outside the raised red rope.
Meanwhile, the church of the lake goddess was packed with desperate people seeking to pray.
Gregory continued:
“As long as you can persuade the acting lord to hand over the highest power of the city to you, we will be able to organize the people to resist the beastmen.”
“I will do my best,” George said. “Has any old general been sent from the White City?”
“The highest military commander is you.”
“Me?”
“Go for it, George, cough cough.” Gregory coughed a few times with his fist blocking his mouth. “It’s not a big deal; sometimes the outcome doesn’t compare to the effort put in.”
Such trust gave George a sense of determination, and he strode into the roundtable meeting.
People had gathered early, but compared to the morning, the acting lord, the mustached nephew knight, was not as relaxed. As soon as George sat down, the nephew stood up impatiently and asked:
“We must act quickly; have you made up your mind? Dragon-slayer George.”
Knight Tande anxiously twisted his fingers together. Next to him, Lady Casson, who had been crying, looked at George with a gaze filled with expectation and resentment, seemingly unable to process what she had heard.
“Of course, I’ve thought it through,” George said. “Just through our message, which passed through the church, we received support from the White City.”
“Great!” The mustached nephew knight’s mustache curled. “The safety of Lady Casson and her children is assured.”
At this moment, several servants entered and took down the oil painting behind him. The painting was nearly two people high and was one of Lady Casson’s favorites, qualifying it to be transported in the knight’s guarded cart out of this city of despair.
George extinguished their hopes with a single sentence: “They are city defense experts.”
“City defense?”
“Yes,” George said. “I plan to hold the city walls until the beastmen withdraw.”
Lady Casson felt dizzy, but she believed she shouldn’t be too afraid; so many loyal knights committed to chivalry are willing to act as escorts for the convoy, all gathering in the castle courtyard. Just one treacherous wolf was missing.
But he was Dragon-slayer George, the strongest knight in this city.
She stood up, momentarily disregarding her upbringing: “Knight George, you hardly qualify as a knight; have you ever taken my husband’s sword?”
“He entrusted me to bring it to you. He was a brave knight,” George said. “Unfortunately, that war took too many brave knights.”
Knight Tande spoke up: “We are fulfilling the code of chivalry.”
“By running away.”
Knight Tande removed his iron gauntlet with one hand and said, “Even if I am not as powerful as you, I will fight for dignity and honor.”
However, the mustached nephew knight remained calm, blocking Knight Tande and saying: “At this critical moment, we cannot turn against each other. I have something to tell you regarding George.”
“Speak.”
“I know the Sanctuary values law and order the most,” the mustached nephew knight said. “Now that you are gathering troops, are you aiming to usurp the inherent powers of the knight lord? To take away legitimate authority?”
Time was pressing, and there wasn’t much to waste on words. His point was stark.
That is to say, to organize a city defense, military power is needed. Military power is not in the hands of the Sanctuary.
“No,” George said. “What do you want?”
“Since Dragon-slayer George intends to stay in the city, I hope you in the Sanctuary can arrange for some strong individuals to protect the widow of Duke Casson.” The mustached nephew knight’s gaze fell on Jima, looked at her several times, then shifted to Bishop Gregory, who was meditating.
He continued, “I will publically hand over the sacred power to you.”
“Ha.”
Jima scoffed.
George fell silent, but to Jima, it seemed he was gathering strength, waiting for the right moment.
A few seconds later, the mustached nephew knight asked, “What now?”
“Boom.”
A terrifying sound suddenly came from outside the window. It was the sound of a boulder hitting the city wall.
Knight Tande’s face turned slightly pale as he hurried to the window and gazed out at the city wall of Quinasburg, seeing a cloud of dust rising from one section of the wall.
“Sounds familiar, like the day of the breakout,” Jima said leisurely. “On the day of the breakout, over thirty cyclops threw stones.”
Have the beastmen already approached?
Their faces turned pale, and only the mustached nephew knight remained calm, but Lady Casson tugged at his cloak.
Although they wanted to sell the military power of Quinasburg to the Sanctuary at a good price, the situation was now urgent, and George was completely unhurried. It would be unwise to threaten at this moment; if fighting broke out, who knows how long it would drag on.
The mustached nephew knight quickly asked, “Dragon-slayer George, do you have a way to deal with the cyclops?”
“Yes.”
“Then please.” The mustached nephew knight said, “I hope you in the Sanctuary can protect this city well.”
George took out the prepared papers and said, “Sign the contract.”
The contract was signed quickly.
The mustached nephew knight and George went out to the terrace and announced to the knights below that the temporary acting lord was now George.
After saying this, they quickly turned and left.
George jumped down from the terrace, stood in front of the knights, drew his knight’s sword, and shouted:
“Who is willing to follow me and fight to the death against the beastmen!”
His voice was loud, echoing throughout the castle.
“Oh no.”
The mustached nephew knight rushed back to the terrace, only to see many heated knights drawing their swords, vowing to follow Dragon-slayer George.
Countless swords gleamed in the sunlight.
Reluctantly, Lady Casson could only abandon a few carts carrying jewelry, paintings, and other valuables, hiding in a carriage with her children to leave this city.
Knight Tande rode his steed, guarding beside Lady Casson’s carriage.
The knights who were to stay pointed at him, not bothering to lower their voices, saying:
“Look, the second knight to flee.”
“This time, he’ll be the first knight to flee.”
Knight Tande forced himself to hold on, holding his head high, more diligently guarding the convoy, indicating that he was merely escorting the lady.
The convoy left through the eastern gate. From above, it looked like a line of ants leaving an anthill.
Jima clapped her hands, removing the “rumor and illusion” combination with no real cyclops throwing stones, only false special effects.
…
…
According to the “Thief” plan.
That night, Jima crossed thousands of miles to find Akanis.
“Who disturbs my sleep?”
The witch hunter Akanis arrogantly propped his legs on the table and shouted.
The tavern was not lively at all. It was very old, with wood that seemed to have been taken from a tomb; the tables and chairs were gray and lifeless, and the whole tavern felt like a tomb.
The tavern owner and customers had gray faces and emaciated bodies, appearing like zombies. Whether they were eating or drinking, it was all performed in silence.
The cups were made of rotten wood, and the iron bands around the barrels were rusted, lacking any new items. The only thing that could be considered new was the fresh garlic hanging in the window.
The shout of the witch hunter Akanis was like waking the corpses in a grave; the zombie-like living people turned their heads, their countless sunken eye sockets coldly watching him.
“That would be your best friend.”
Jima appeared in the chair opposite Akanis, her black hair framing her face.
She was draped in a brown cloak, wearing long boots and tight pants, with a leather corset wrapped around her waist, filled with vials.
Akanis moved his square face towards the smiling Jima. His beard was a mess, and his black eyes locked onto Jima. He lowered his legs and put on a fake smile:
“Ah, long time no see.”
“Yes, I’ve missed you a lot.”
As Jima smiled, several flames flickered in the eyes of the zombie-like humans nearby.
“I’ve missed you to death!”
Before he even finished speaking, the witch hunter Akanis threw several throwing knives aimed at Jima’s throat, eyes, and heart, then leapt over the table, drawing his curved knife: “Cunning demon, die!”
The throwing knives pierced through the air, but they were merely illusions.
Akanis pulled out the throwing knives and angrily directed his middle finger at the surrounding air, saying:
“Don’t let me see you again! You, this evil and vile guy, actually wrote it so disgustingly!”
A ragged peasant approached with a paper note in hand, saying: “Witch hunter… sir, this is a note.”
“Who gave you this?”
“A very beautiful woman.”
“Oh, pay attention next time,” witch hunter Akanis took the note: “Sigmar said, the prettier the woman, the more likely she is a villain.”
“Witch hunter sir, you are absolutely right.”
The note read: “You actually read the pirated version, the pirated version is what I scribbled.”
Witch hunter Akanis tore up the note:
“The pirated version first appeared and was sent to me; it must be a pirated version that made me burn a large pile of heresies! Besides, it must be your scheme!”
The ragged peasant came again.
“How are you here again?”
“I can’t help it; she’s too charming.” At this moment, the ragged peasant held a book titled “Jojo’s Wonderful Adventures in Another World” in deluxe edition.
Witch hunter Akanis flipped through it, a smile appearing on his face as he tucked the book into his clothing.
He spread his arms to the air, a grin spreading across his face, and said: “Come out, my best friend; is there anything I can help you with?”
