Chapter 16: The Furious Carlisle, The Fleeing Wolves

Reed had only just left.

The door was suddenly slammed open.

A guard stumbled inside, his face as pale as a corpse.

“Lord Carlisle! Bad news!”

“The guards at the camp outside the city—all dead!”

Carlisle turned around, his pupils contracting sharply.

He instinctively growled, “Was it that damned Lich?”

“Damn it! Taking the lion’s share from our deal wasn’t enough for him? Now he wants to cross the river and tear down the bridge—trying to intimidate the Morgan family?”

“Hurry up! Tell me everything clearly! Or I’ll twist your head off!”

“I–It was… a massacre, Lord Carlisle…”

“There were a few Ghouls gnawing at the remains, but they must have arrived later, drawn by the scent of blood.”

“Because those wounds weren’t caused by claws or fangs—all of them were killed in one strike by some kind of sharp weapon, their heads separated from their bodies. It looked more like the work of a powerful human!”

The guard swallowed hard. “In any case, it definitely wasn’t done by the Undead!”

Carlisle froze, his eyes darting back and forth.

“A human expert?”

“Could it be that the matter of me feeding the Undead with refugees has leaked out?”

“Or perhaps my elder brother’s plot against Florence has been exposed? Is this a warning?!”

He muttered to himself.

A terrible premonition rose within him.

An adjutant stepped forward and whispered, “Lord Carlisle, if the upper ranks of the Empire learn that we’ve been trading with the Undead, the consequences will be dire…”

“Shut up! You think I don’t know that!!” Carlisle snapped harshly.

The veins on his forehead bulged—he was losing his composure.

Trading with the Undead was a trend of the times.

Many middle and lower nobles were secretly doing the same.

But who dared to do it openly?

If an Imperial investigation team were to arrive because of this, their rival families would definitely receive the news and ruthlessly add insult to injury!

Those jackals!

Each one of them would love to strip the Morgan family clean!

That was the real crisis!

Carlisle took a deep breath, forcing down his panic.

“Investigate!”

“Find the killer—at any cost!”

“Mobilize the spies and post a bounty. I want that bastard’s head!”

The adjutant bowed. “Yes, my Lord!”

However—

Carlisle had no way of knowing that the killer he sought had already vanished into thin air.

All his frantic efforts would be in vain…

…

The incarnation dispersed.

Lynn, through the synchronized memories of his church body, naturally learned everything that had happened.

“Damn it, these nobles in this world are truly black-hearted!”

Lynn’s anger finally subsided.

But this trip—neither loss nor gain.

After all, a hundred units of Holy Radiance had only been enough to reach the gates of Williams’ territory and take the lives of a few lowly soldiers.

No real achievement to speak of.

“With my current strength, to destroy the puppet master behind all this—Lord Williams and his vast Morgan family—is still far beyond reach.”

“Besides… I’m merely a church, a sanctuary at best.”

Lynn gazed at the believers busily working.

“The vengeance for Liz and the others must be fulfilled by their own hands…”

Night fell.

In Holy Light Town, one after another, torches made of pine oil were lit.

Liz stood before the unfinished wooden fence, her linen shirt soaked with sweat.

Ulf staggered toward her, carrying an oak beam, panting heavily.

“Lady Liz, this won’t work!”

“The defensive line stretches so far, but we’ve only a few dozen people. Even if we chopped down the whole forest, we’d never finish!”

He wiped the dirt from his brow, his voice hoarse.

Colin pushed up his cracked glasses, spreading out a parchment map as he shook his head.

“Theoretically, it’s indeed impossible.”

“At present, the circular range of the Holy Light’s protection covers nearly a kilometer—about 120,000 meters in circumference. Our daily progress is less than two hundred.”

“Even working day and night, it would take at least half a year to complete. That’s far too long, Sister Liz.”

Then Colin pointed eastward. “We should focus our strength and first fortify the route where the Lich is most likely to appear.”

“That would be the direction of the Williams Camp!”

Liz nodded gravely. “Understood, it was my oversight. We’ll defend the east first.”

“The Licker that mysterious man killed earlier was also from that direction.”

“If the Lich comes searching for its missing minions, it’s very likely to approach from there. Yes, that side must be reinforced first.”

She swept her gaze over the weary faces of her people, her tone softening.

“But let’s rest for tonight. We’ll resume construction tomorrow morning.”

“Ulf, arrange for a watch rotation. Don’t let your guard down.”

At that moment—

A timid voice spoke up. It was young Luke. “Aunt Liz… Is it true that Lord Williams made deals with the monsters?”

“Can we… really win?”

Liz smiled and gripped his shoulder firmly.

“The nobles traded flesh and blood for power, but they don’t understand—Holy Light never dies!”

She looked up toward the cross atop the church spire.

Even in the pitch-black night, faint golden radiance still shimmered.

“Remember the tragedy that befell Florence, and the suffering we’ve endured!”

“We fight not only for revenge—but for survival!”

Everyone nodded solemnly.

Liz’s words struck deep into their hearts.

However—

From deep within the forest came a strange rustling sound.

Everyone froze instantly, gripping their weapons tightly.

Ulf couldn’t help but growl, “More Ghouls smelling our scent again? Damn it, will they ever stop coming!”

Liz raised her hand, signaling silence.

“No… the footsteps are heavier. It might be wolves—or worse.”

She took a deep breath. “Colin, take the women and children back into the church.”

“Ulf and the others, come with me to scout ahead!”

Colin quickly grabbed her arm. “Sister Liz, don’t take risks!”

“Our fence isn’t done yet. If we run into the Lich leading a pack of Ghouls, it’ll be disastrous!”

Liz gently shook him off, the Holy Sword Durandal humming as it left its sheath.

“The Lord Angel granted me this sword—not for decoration. Don’t worry.”

She stepped forward, her figure melting into the darkness.

Ulf and the others followed close behind, their axes glinting with cold light.

Meanwhile, Lynn’s divine awareness remained spread across them at all times.

Before long—

They reached the outermost edge of the Holy Light’s protection.

Liz’s steps faltered slightly.

She pushed aside the bushes, her pupils adjusting to the dark.

In the distance—

Green eyes flickered, and low growls rumbled like thunder.

Not Ghouls—wolves!

They were starving, yet driven by an even deeper terror, scattering in all directions.

“The wolves… are fleeing!”

Ulf whispered in fear, “Something terrifying is chasing them!”

Liz frowned tightly. “It could be the Lich’s vanguard… or perhaps a pack of united Ghouls.”

“In any case, stay alert. Don’t act rashly!”

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