The Most Arbitrary Wizard

Chapter 158: Chapter 95: Hand of the Church Court

The difference between Tier Ten and a level above Tier Ten might seem like a single step, but they are two entirely different realms. Lord Blake was the only one to ever reach a level above Tier Ten during the Era of Polymath; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him unmatched in the world.

However.

"At that time, Lord Blake was already ’dead’," Sopea said, looking at Sean.

Without Blake, the Hall of Truth was just an academic faction slightly stronger than the great families. The Pope alone might not have been able to destroy them, but with the full might of the nation, it would have been effortless.

"That’s not right, though," Elvire said, confused. "The Pope is Saintess Olivia’s father, and Blake is Olivia’s husband. Why would he move against his own son-in-law?"

"Besides, would Olivia have even agreed to it?"

Like the Pope, Saintess Olivia was one of the most powerful Tier Tens of the Era of Polymath. If they were to fight, the outcome would be uncertain. Olivia loved Blake so much that she was even willing to coexist peacefully with her sister, Daeli, for his sake. How could she have let the Pope destroy the Hall of Truth?

Elvire frowned. "Could what Klintor said be true? That Olivia was forced by Blake back then?"

Sean: "?"

Sopea: "??"

Kate: "???"

"Forced?"

"Forced to do what?"

Elvire explained, "In the history of the New World, Blake is an infamous Heretics Leader who supposedly forced himself on the Saintess. That’s why they all hate Blake."

"What a load of fucking bullshit!"

This time, even Sopea couldn’t stop himself from cursing.

’Lord Blake lived his life openly and selflessly. How could he possibly do something like that?’

’Besides, Lord Blake’s mind was always focused on his studies; he wouldn’t have had time for such things.’

’Furthermore, from what I know, Saintess Olivia had invited Blake to the Holy City on many occasions to teach her the old tongue. If she had really been forced, how could the Saintess have fallen in love with Blake?’

’What, was it some kind of Stockholm syndrome?’

However...

Sopea calmed down and thought about it.

’Assuming this was true, then the Pope moving against the Holy Sanctuary, and the Saintess not stopping him... it all starts to make sense, doesn’t it?’

Sopea: "..."

He couldn’t help but look at Sean.

Elvire didn’t know why Sopea was looking at Sean, but out of some kind of herd instinct, she also turned to look at Sean and said, "Let me be clear, I don’t believe it. It’s just a logical possibility."

Sean scowled. "You guys are actually falling for this tabloid history written by who-knows-who?"

’Especially Sopea. What’s with that look, you old coot?’

Kate sneered. "You have to admit, that ’unofficial history’ is pretty wild."

’They must have guts of steel to dare fabricate stories about Lord Blake.’

Kate had unconditional faith in Blake. His face filled with killing intent as he said, "So, what’s the plan, everyone? I want to teach these sons of bitches a lesson on Lord Blake’s behalf."

For once, Sopea actually agreed with Kate. He glanced subtly at Sean and speculated, "They probably heard Lord Blake is still alive, so they deliberately fabricated this dark history to slander him, hoping to turn everyone against him."

This theory was the same as what Sean and Elvire had discussed earlier.

But one thing had to be made clear.

"This is the ’New World.’ It’s fictional. It’s useless for us to vent our anger on Lord Blake’s behalf here." Sean, looking utterly devoted to Lord Blake, said indignantly, "We should use the similarities between the Consciousness Riverbed and the Real World to find these people, and then make them pay in the Real World!"

"I agree!" Kate was the first to voice his agreement.

’When something like this happens, what’s the point of meditating?’

’Daring to slander Lord Blake like this... these bastards must pay the price!’

’Hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to Lord Blake!’

And so, the group returned to the basement.

Sean blasted Klintor’s face with a Water Ball Technique.

Klintor jolted awake, his eyes flying open. Water dripped from his eyelashes as he stared warily at Sean and the others. "What are you trying to do?"

He noticed the two unfamiliar faces, Sopea and Kate, and was filled with shock and anger.

’I can’t believe Sean and Elvire have helpers. They must have been duped by Blake, too. The Hall of Truth is a true menace!’

"Take us to the nearest city," Sean said.

Klintor’s first instinct was to refuse. ’The more the enemy wants you to do something, the more you shouldn’t do it. That is the mark of a proper Knight.’

But on second thought...

’A city isn’t as desolate as these ruins. You could scream for help and no one would hear you. In a crowded place, my chances of escape would be much higher.’

In order to bring back news that the Holy Temple Remnants still existed and that the Blazing Angel Family might be colluding with the Holy Sanctuary, Klintor decided to endure the humiliation and fulfill his duty. "Fine," he agreed, "but I have one condition."

Before Sean could speak, Sopea’s expression turned cold. "Who do you think you are, to speak to us like that?"

"Know your place!"

’A prisoner deserves to make demands?’

Klintor’s face turned ashen.

A Knight can face death, but not dishonor. To be captured alive by the enemy was the greatest shame a Knight could endure.

But he was only acting.

Agreeing without trying to set a condition would seem too eager; Sean and the others might suspect he had an ulterior motive.

What Klintor didn’t know was that Sean wasn’t the least bit worried about his little schemes.

With Sopea around, once the Dream Building Skill was used, what scheme could possibly remain hidden?

It would be best for Klintor to just behave.

Otherwise, they would *help* him behave.

They didn’t bother with the remaining soldiers; taking Klintor alone was enough.

To be on the safe side, Sean even used his Truth Technique to create two sets of shackles for Klintor.

One set for his hands, and one for his feet.

If he could still escape after all that, well, that would be a testament to Klintor’s skill.

A moment later, the four of them marched Klintor out.

The car Kate had bought came in handy.

It was a perfect fit for the five of them.

Following Klintor’s directions, Kate drove the car, getting everyone to the nearby city before nightfall.

Along the way, they stopped at a service area for a while to rest and get something to eat.

It wasn’t about filling their stomachs, but about checking out the local food options and casually asking the staff if there were any "fun" places nearby.

"Oh, plenty."

"If you drive about ten kilometers further, there’s a fork. Take the left exit off the highway, and you can go to the coast."

"Or you can just stay on the highway, and in about three hundred and seventy kilometers, you’ll reach Felman Snow Mountain."

"You’ll pass several exits along the way. You could just pick one at random."

"Anyway, it’s the Day of Abstinence right now, so every city is holding festivities. You won’t be bored no matter where you go."

’Day of Abstinence?’

Sean was taken aback when he first heard it. He hadn’t expected the "New World" to also have a Day of Abstinence. ’This "Consciousness Riverbed" really is something else,’ he thought. ’It can even replicate religious holidays.’

When they arrived at the city Klintor had mentioned, Sean and the others did indeed see a lot of people.

They hadn’t even entered the city yet, but the tollbooths were already bustling, with more than ten cars lined up in each lane.

"This is Selona City, the largest city near the restricted area," Klintor proactively explained.

Perhaps infected by the festive atmosphere, a flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes.

Sean glanced at him. "This is also the city where your family is based, isn’t it?"

Klintor: "..."

His excitement vanished instantly. He stubbornly retorted, "Didn’t you tell me to take you to the nearest city?"

’Nearest, yes, but not the largest.’

Sean and the others weren’t blind. There were signs on the highway. They knew perfectly well whether or not Selona City was the closest city to the Kovri Restricted Area.

As for why they didn’t call Klintor out on his lie... it was because this was exactly the effect they wanted.

Klintor was a "Knight," an archaic title that no longer existed in modern society. Such noble ranks only survived within the great families. And that was their true objective—they weren’t looking for a city, but for the family to which Klintor belonged.

Sopea suspected the Holy Sanctuary had been annihilated by the Church Court. But the Church Court was powerful and secretive, so they couldn’t seek revenge directly. Instead, they would first eliminate the Church Court’s allies, seize some resources, and once they found the Holy Temple Ruins and everyone had reached Tier Six, they would rally their forces and return to New Elderidge to confront the Church Court.

"Now, tell me your family name," Sean said.

Klintor had intended to refuse, but he couldn’t resist as Sopea’s eyes, right beside him, suddenly turned black. A trace of confusion appeared in his own eyes, and as if possessed, he answered, "Flores."

"My name is Klintor Flores."

...