Chapter 175: Duel Arena Reopened

In terms of power alone, the mid-level local gentry of York Territory vaguely understood that the Church of the Sanctuary now held the highest authority—just like the former Lords, it was the one who established the rules, looking down from above as they performed within those rules.

However, the church was ultimately not a lord. One by one, the small churches and priests penetrated to the lowest levels, helping those impoverished commoners, distributing the Sacrament to them and healing their injuries.

As for the middle layer—the local gentry, merchants, wealthy farmers, and free warriors—though few in number, they filled the large vacuum of power. In their eyes, the Church seemed to constantly influence their lives, yet also appeared to do nothing at all.

As long as they did not do things like what the Daniels Family had done—burning a small church—or openly commit the sins recorded in the Holy Scriptures, the people of the Church could not be bothered to interfere with their small tricks.

Although the Apprentices of the Monastery did stir up some storms, they were not fools.

After seeing the Priests of the small churches reprimand those overstepping Apprentices, they understood that in the eyes of the Church, the Apprentices of the Monastery held the same status as them—gentry and merchants.

At least, before they donned the Monk’s Robe, they were merely those who first came to know of the ‘new rules’ and, under the guidance of the Scholar-Teachers of the Monastery, seized power under the ‘new rules.’

It was no different from the gentry seizing the Lord’s power.

Thus, in the eyes of this group, Administrator Piero, who represented the legitimate legal authority of York Territory, and the decrees issued by the Senate that supported him, still held great authority.

At the Castlelot Market, an official was loudly announcing the decree from the Senate.

“Senator Sir Puniel will be recruiting a group of brave warriors to head north and drive out those Werewolves!”

“The Church is also preparing to dispatch Warriors to the north to continue the previous war to purge the Werewolves. Those Werewolves are Dark Creatures—sins that must be purified!”

Although it was a purely violent war, due to the Church’s involvement, the Senate, after some hesitation, still vaguely included the Church’s stance when drafting the decree.

“Therefore, this is also a war of Honor. The Werewolves are savage, so Senator Sir Puniel seeks only strong warriors! As long as you meet the standard and accept the hire, you will immediately receive three Gold Coins. Sir Puniel will bestow upon you battle equipment, and you will receive additional rewards after every battle! If you fall in battle, your family will receive an additional ten Gold Coins as consolation!”

“If you are a warrior already equipped with arms, you will be granted an audience with Senator Sir Puniel, and receive more Gold Coins, as well as a formal appointment to office!”

The Castlelot Market was now considered the economic center of York Town. Warriors seeking Honor mostly gathered here. They were also among the most elite, apart from the Lord’s Armed Forces and the Church Armed Forces.

So upon seeing the decree, especially with the implication of the Church’s approval, they were all stirred.

And besides them, the gentry and merchants also sprang into action.

There was nothing more profitable in gaining Gold Coins and power than war—especially for those families who had once met with Baron Belair.

Of course, after that, they had also met with Administrator Piero and learned of some other ideas.

…

“What a prosperous place,” Baron Belair sighed as he watched the bustling Castlelot Market from afar.

“Their passion seems enough to melt the ice and snow,” he said, thinking of the lifeless people within his own territory.

Knight Julian also nodded and praised, “They are all brave warriors.”

Then he continued, “With their help, we will surely drive out those Werewolves.”

Belair nodded and said, “Indeed. And the Church has once again dispatched people to the region to kill Werewolves. The group of over a hundred warriors you previously saw belonged to the Church. They crossed the Nation of Werewolves. Now, the Church is once again launching an offensive against the Werewolves. Hopefully, they can break through the Nation of Werewolves as before.”

Baron Puniel would conscript soldiers to aid him. The gentry were also willing to establish trade channels with him. With both goals now achieved, Belair had been in a good mood these past few days.

Especially after learning that the Church would also send armed forces, he felt even more at ease.

“I heard the Church plans to establish small churches in some villages. You could also welcome the Church. After all, there isn’t a church in your territory yet, is there?” Julian said.

In an instant, Belair’s expression changed. He looked at Julian with suspicion in his eyes, while Julian remained calm.

The atmosphere between them grew quiet for a moment before Belair finally spoke calmly, “Have you and those knights heard any news about Knight George these past few days?”

Julian, as if unaware of the earlier tension, replied indifferently, “After Knight George returned, he was conferred as a Guardian Knight by the Church of the Sanctuary. There’s a house for Knight George near the Church of the Sanctuary, but he didn’t live there. Instead, he chose to reside in an abandoned village. I heard it was the same village he was stationed at during his time as a Monk.”

“Just a few days ago, however, he left. According to my sources, he seems to have headed toward our territory.”

Belair let out a sigh and said, “That’s a pity. Had we arrived a few days earlier, perhaps we could have returned with Knight George.”

With that, he turned and boarded the carriage.

“Knight Julian, after I return this time, I plan to become an independent Lord.” His voice came from the carriage. “With your merits, I believe you can become a Baron Lord.”

“So, will you support me?”

Julian mounted his horse and said, “You are my Lord. Naturally, I shall follow your command.”

Silence fell within the carriage for a moment before Belair’s voice came again, “Let’s go back.”

“Yes.” Knight Julian responded, his gaze falling upon the distant Clock Tower.

During Belair’s stay in York Territory over the past few days, he had visited here several times, but each time he left without visiting the Bishop of the Church of the Sanctuary.

…

These days, due to the Senate’s decree, things were lively outside York Town.

Not only were there Free Warriors from the Castlelot Market, but also strong warriors from various villages who had come in response to the call.

They camped and gathered outside York Town, easily visible from the Church’s high grounds.

Senator Baron Puniel, emulating Lord Pegiraov, had constructed a temporary duel arena and hosted a seven-day-long duel.

He put forth a sum of Gold Coins as a reward, with the final winner of the duels to receive a set of meticulously crafted Full Plate Armor.

Compared to Gold Coins, the armor stirred their desire even more.

Especially as the duels progressed, gentry began appearing with their daughters to watch.

And when the first warrior won a duel and was given a fragrant kiss by a beautiful daughter of a gentry, who then declared her intent to marry him and gifted him a fine sword along with several hundred Gold Coins, the atmosphere of the duel grew even more fervent.

By the sixth day, word had spread throughout York Territory—not only could duel warriors gain Honor through bravery, some had also won the favor of beautiful women.

…

Church of the Sanctuary, atop the Clock Tower.

Four Apprentices were installing intricate gears and mechanisms.

One of them couldn’t help but say, “Today’s the last day, right? The strongest warrior should emerge? He will become the new First Warrior of York Town and will receive the final reward from three noble Barons.”

“In addition to Baron Puniel’s armor, Baron Bevan said two days ago that he would grant him the sword and shield he once used, and Baron Jeffrey will gift him a warhorse.”

“Such a great Honor this must be. I even heard that the Noble Daughter of Baron Bevan will appear there at that time. If…”

His words sent the young Apprentices into a reverie.

With a whoosh, a component was thrown and struck his head, drawing blood.

“If you wish to obtain the Honor of being the First Warrior, I wouldn’t mind expelling you, Mr. Holan,” said Oscar without even turning his head.

He held a book filled with densely drawn schematics, inspecting the installed parts against the diagrams.

“…No, I never had such thoughts, Dean, please forgive me, I was just… just distracted by their voices.” Holan hurriedly knelt down, ignoring the pain in his head, and pleaded earnestly.

The other three Apprentices shrank back, not even daring to breathe loudly.

It was well known that Oscar was not permitted to lie.

How could they dare to be expelled from the Monastery?

Here, even they could be treated as honored guests by great figures they could never have dreamed of meeting before.

They could hold the Laws and the Holy Scriptures, leading the village guards to raid the manors of the gentry and arrest people.

Such power—they had no intention of giving it up.

All four of them were First Batch of Apprentices of the Monastery.

At that time, relations between the Church and the gentry were somewhat delicate, so each of them had been marginalized members of their respective families.

But after arriving at the Monastery, as the Church grew stronger, they too gained power they had never dared imagine.

Power was addictive, and once they had exercised it for the first time, they could not help but seek more, again and again.

Although they were later stripped of the right to advance and become Monks by the Scholar-Teachers of the Monastery, they only panicked briefly.

Monks and Priests of the Church were indeed respected, but the dogma they had to follow was too strict—they knew they couldn’t endure it.

So, upon learning that the one-year term was ending and they would graduate and leave the Monastery, they began using the influence of the Monastery and the Church to seize power.

Moreover, with no opposition from the Church, tacit approval from the Monastery, and even those three Scholar-Teachers who had once served as Administrators sharing their political insights, their actions grew even more aggressive.

Proposals like founding new towns and reforming currency were all pushed forward under their radical initiatives.

So when Oscar said those words, Holan was nearly scared to death.

If he graduated normally, people would still treat him with some respect out of regard for the Monastery. But if he were expelled, he feared he’d be buried in some desolate field that very night by someone he had once offended.

These Apprentices were young, but not foolish. They knew what consequences their actions might bring.

But the thrill of wielding power—how could they, unlike the Monks, remain entirely unmoved?

“Hah, fools. If you have no such thoughts, then get back to work!” Oscar scolded without looking back.

“If not for how precise this work is, something those laborers couldn’t complete, you lot wouldn’t even have a role in it. This is the Clock Tower.”

“Oh, of course, naturally, you fools wouldn’t understand the importance of the Clock Tower.”

Oscar said as he closed his book and looked toward the four.

Holan trembled as he lay on the ground. The other three also knelt down, holding their breath, fearing they’d be implicated.

“What a bunch of fools!” Oscar couldn’t help but curse. “Still dazed?! Get back to work! Do I need to repeat myself a second time?!”

The four shuddered and scrambled to their feet to resume assembling components.

Oscar shook his head as he watched them. These fools.

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