Chapter 812: Chapter 154 Ingrid’s Return_2

The Aisier people nearby, upon seeing Tiefling Guards by Hans’s side, hurriedly dodged with tense expressions, fearing they might offend them and be identified as “rebels” and possibly shot indiscriminately by those Guards.

Hans turned his head abruptly and asked, “By the way, Miss Ingrid, do you know which power in the city is the most restless?”

Instantly, a bad premonition rose in Ingrid’s heart, but she still silently shook her head.

“Dawn Holy Army.”

As he spoke, Hans pulled out a brand-new Parchment Scroll from his uniform pocket.

He said in a detached voice, “The Dawn Holy Army is the largest rebel organization within Dragon Head City. Since the Empire started ruling over Dragon Head City, the Dawn Holy Army has launched eleven riots, causing massive damage to the Order of the Empire and the stability of society.

According to the Empire’s intelligence agents, the main objective of the organization is to overthrow the imperial rule and restore the theocratic rule of the Church. It is highly deceptive and incendiary, and its leaders are mostly former members of the Amanata Church…

Oh, right, we have compiled a list and identified these damned rioters.” As he said this, Hans unrolled the Parchment Scroll, which was densely filled with names.

“This is…”

Ingrid’s heart sank immediately; with just a fleeting glance, she saw many familiar names on it.

Hans grinned again, but to Ingrid, this smile seemed especially horrifying, no different from that of a Devil: “Miss Ingrid, I really deeply detest such riotous acts. In fact, I was planning to…”

He did not continue, but made a throat-slitting gesture.

This caused Ingrid’s hair to stand on end, and she quickly extended her hand, stopping him: “No, Count Hans, please don’t…”

Hans patted Ingrid’s shoulder, whispering “comfortingly,” “Don’t worry. Since I have come to you, I definitely won’t let such a tragedy happen.

After all, these Priests have significant influence on the Aisier people. Killing them all would surely damage the reputation of the Empire and also harm His Majesty Cassius’s prestige.”

He stuffed the list into Ingrid’s hands, saying, “Miss Ingrid, I am giving you a chance to save their lives.

As for how many can be saved… that will depend on your performance.”

Ingrid was silent for a long time, hesitation, conflict, and shame flashing across her lovely face. Eventually, she just nodded numbly, tears welling as she replied, “Okay.”

In the meantime, they had arrived at Ceremony Square. This place used to be where Ingrid led Priests and believers in worship and sacrifice, but now it had become a place for officials of the Ashen Empire to give speeches and promote policies.

The massive Sun Holy Emblem on the ground had vanished, replaced by the vertical pupil emblem of the Ashen Empire. The Aisier people were gathered there under the drive and threats of the Guards, crowded together, making the square extremely noisy.

Hans clapped his hands with a smile, encouraging, “Go on, Miss Ingrid, reveal your identity to the people and influence those rebels hiding in the shadows.”

Ingrid hung her head and wrapped herself in her robe, her full body shaking continuously.

But under Hans’s subtly coercive gaze, she still stepped up to the podium in the view of tens of thousands of spectators.

“Who is that?”

“I can’t see her face. Why is she standing up there?”

After much hesitation, Ingrid finally lifted her hood, revealing a beautiful and moving face, her golden hair shining brilliantly in the sunlight, as if blessed with a layer of sacred glow.

“By Amanata above, it’s Bishop Ingrid! Wasn’t she said to be dead?”

“God, she’s alive!”

“She was the one who cured my illness years ago!”

Suddenly, the crowd was abuzz as Ingrid, a once-presumed-dead former Bishop, made a sensational appearance.

“Sometimes, cowardice is also a kind of original sin.”

Hans looked at Ingrid from afar, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, his face gradually changing into the visage of the Ashen Empire’s Emperor, known as the “Merciful Lord.”

…

In the basement of a house in Collins City, the surroundings were dark and damp, candlelight flickered, intermittently illuminating the walls which bore the Holy Emblem of Amanata.

Several people clad in robes sat around a round table, their voices hushed, whispering among themselves as if discussing something.

“Gentlemen, I suspect a traitor among us,” said a man who looked to be in his fifties. He was Yarn Strauss, a former Priest of the Amanata Church, and also the leader of the Dawn Holy Army.

“Otherwise, those Evil Dragon Minions wouldn’t have received the message so quickly. That was our most confidential operation, I even suspect… that the traitor is among us,” Yarn tapped the table rhythmically, scanning the room with a piercing gaze.

“Should we proceed with our operation?” Another man asked eagerly.

Yarn sighed and responded, “Let’s postpone for now. We lost many people in the last operation; we can’t allow their sacrifice to be in vain.”

“But, those damned Evil Dragon Kin, they even conducted publicity on the sacred Ceremony Square! That’s where Bishop Ingrid often visits, it’s absolutely unforgivable!” said the same man as earlier.

The man, who appeared to be in his late thirties, was unkempt with a scruffy beard and disheveled hair, looking rather shabby, but his face was filled with rage.

He was Fier Burles, a former member of the Amanata Church and now a backbone of the Dawn Holy Army.

Fier held an extreme hatred towards the Ashen Empire, having plotted numerous assassinations and sabotage operations, wishing nothing more than to devour the flesh and blood of the Red Dragon.

Because the one he admired–the former Honorary Bishop, Ingrid Garses, was said to have died under the claws of that Red Dragon.

Fier was originally a blind boy, but Ingrid, like the Sun, burst into his dark world, easily curing his eyes, bringing light to his life.

In his memory, the young Bishop was gentle as water, beautiful and moving, and he vaguely remembered the moment Ingrid led them in singing hymns under the sunlight.

At that time, Ingrid shone brightly, dazzling, like a magnificently beautiful goddess statue, leaving him to only look up.

Even looking up from afar was an immense joy for Fier, wishing to stay forever in that beautiful moment.

It would be more accurate to say he worshipped the young Bishop rather than Amanata.

Fier thought such life would go on forever, continuing to adore Ingrid, worshiping, praying, and chanting hymns alongside her.

But the good times did not last long. Soon Ingrid traveled abroad and was said to have died at the hands of the Ashen Empire’s Emperor in the North. The beautiful scenes in Fier’s memory were crushed by the descending Dragon Claw, turning bloody.

To this day, as the huge Red Dragon like a nightmare descended upon Collins City and the temple where he placed his fond memories was smashed to rubble by the Evil Dragon Kin, the hatred in Fier’s heart was bone-deep.

Yarn sighed again, advising, “Fier, don’t be impulsive, I know you are eager for revenge, but your recent actions have been too reckless, easily giving away flaws.”

Another woman consoled, “The enemy is in the open, we are in the shadows, we still have many opportunities…”

Nobody thought Fier was a traitor, after all, his hatred for the Ashen Empire was too deep, reaching the point of madness, throwing himself into the frontlines of action without regard for his own life.

After a long silence in the face of everyone’s dissuasion, Fier stood up, his tone resolute, “You don’t need to say more, my mind is set.

I must kill the speaking Evil Dragon Minion in front of the public, let the face of the Evil Dragon be swept into dust, and let the people witness the bravery of our Dawn Holy Army.”

“Sigh…”

Yarn said no more.

He knew that Fier was about to give his life for that shining figure in his heart, making his ultimate revenge.

This was an assassination with the determination to die.