‎Aurelia and the others were on their way back to the first layer of the Holy Nation. They were in the carriage when they saw commotion near the gate to the first layer where Paladins were patrolling around the walls. Aurelia’s face turned pale because the first thing that came to her mind was her mother’s safety.

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‎”What’s going on?!” Aurelia asked the Paladins, who were guarding the gate.

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‎”Your Holiness! It’s not safe inside! An intruder just killed seven Archbishops and Cardinal Eros. Please wait here while we are looking for the killer,” a Paladin answered.

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‎”What?!” Aurelia’s eyes trembled in disbelief. “What about my mother?! Where is she right now?!” She asked, raising her voice because she was worried and panicking.

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‎”Her Holiness is fine. She’s currently with His Imperial Highness, Julius and Lord Arandil. She’s safe, and we are sure about it. I will bring Her Holiness to your side, please wait here,” the Paladin answered and hurriedly went through the gate.

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‎Rasmus walked out of the carriage and looked at the commotion. Hundreds of Paladins were patrolling and guarding the walls. It would be impossible for anyone from leaving or entering without them knowing.

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‎”Saint Aurelia,” Rasmus called as he stood next to the carriage.

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‎Aurelia turned around and looked at Rasmus pointing at the carriage. She didn’t know why he wanted her to get into the carriage, but she followed his instructions and went back inside. She then watched Rasmus carefully get back inside and sit across from him.

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‎”It was me who did it,” Rasmus said with a cold expression. “I killed those Archbishops and Cardinal Eros,” he revealed.

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‎Aurelia’s heart plunged and it felt like her inside was churning and being squeezed tightly. She wasn’t speechless, but no words could come out of her mouth. She was devastated because Cardinal Eros was almost like a father figure to her. He was the one who made her feel that way, to be compassionate and kind. He was the one who listened to her problems and was the one who comforted her when she felt lonely.

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‎”Why…” Aurelia’s voice was barely above a whisper, tears fell to her chin.

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‎”I’m not someone who would kill for no reason or to harm you. If you want to find the answer, your mother knows the answer,” Rasmus answered.

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‎”This is my home, Count…” Aurelia said with tears that made her see nothing but tears on her eyes.

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‎Serena was about to open her mouth, but Rasmus raised his right hand. He shook his head because he didn’t want Serena or anyone else to get involved in his deed. He didn’t want anyone else to explain and to justify his actions because he didn’t need to be justified.

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‎”Then reveal it to the paladins, Your Holiness. I’m powerless, and I can’t defend myself. If you order your paladins to kill me, I’ll die,” Rasmus said as he slowly opened the carriage door for Aurelia. “I won’t threaten you nor stop you from doing so. My fate is in your hands,” he continued.

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‎Aurelia hurriedly walked out of the carriage as she wiped off her tears. She then looked at the Paladins that were only a few meters away from her. However, she couldn’t open her mouth, she couldn’t even move her hands to take their attention.

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‎When Aurelia slowly opened her mouth and was about to call for the Paladins, she saw Astrea walk out of the gate with dozens of Paladins on her side. She forgot about what she was about to do and hurriedly ran to Astrea’s side to hug her.

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‎”Mother…” Aurelia sobbed as she clung onto Astrea’s body.

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‎Astrea was shocked and confused by Aurelia’s reaction when she saw her. She realized that something had happened to her, and when she saw Rasmus walking out of the carriage, she knew what had happened. She slowly looked down at her daughter, trying to comfort her and calm her down.

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‎They both clung onto each other, one was feeling guilty and the other was clinging toward the person who had let corruption exist in the Holy Nation. Rasmus stood there, staring at them without any judgment in his eyes. However, for Astrea, she felt like she was being judged because it was the guilt that spoke to her, not her mind.

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‎Suddenly, they felt a strong earthquake coming from behind the wall. Everyone panicked and hurriedly went to check what happened near the temple.

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‎Julius and Isador ran for their lives when shockwaves almost made both of them stumble. The Paladins came to protect them and safely brought them to the gate. The others were baffled and petrified when they saw the temple crumble and collapse. The temple that had existed for more than a century and the symbol of peace had turned into rubble, unrecognized.

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‎”Count! Please stop her!” Isador said as he looked at Rasmus. “Lady Aristoria is planning to kill Lord Arandil!” He revealed.

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‎Isador’s voice echoed and everyone found out what was going on over there. They were supposed to be the protectors of the sacred temple. However, compared to Arandil, the strongest swordsman in the world and Aris of the ancient race, they were like fleas trying to conquer the sky.

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‎”You haven’t answered my question, Isador. Which one do you choose? Save one life or the countless?” Rasmus stood there, holding his cane with both hands.

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‎Isador remembered that confrontation from earlier that day. Arandil who executed and beheaded Rasmus’s parents, the one who killed his mother who was also an Aristoria. He hadn’t given an answer to Rasmus, and this moment was the moment where he decided the future.

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‎”The countless! But not right now!” Isador answered with determination.

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‎The others were confused what those two were talking about except for Aurelia and Astrea who were there when that happened. Rasmus then gave Isador a simple nod, and then began to walk toward the gate.

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‎When Rasmus was about to walk past Julius, he muttered something, loud enough for Julius and Isador to hear.

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‎”I’ll be taking your head, Emperor…” Rasmus muttered with a stoic expression as he walked past Julius.

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‎Julius and Isador were speechless, there was no moment in their lives where anyone would dare to threaten them. They were the Suncrown family, the strongest and the most respected family in whole Neva. The family that brought peace after the Great Era of Neva, a figure that had been respected for more than a century and would be respected for another century or even more.

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‎The paladins opened a path for Rasmus to walk through the crowds. They looked at how fragile he was, and yet his posture and his gaze showed no opening or fear.

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‎Aris relentlessly swung her greatsword in her left hand and Rasmus’s sword in her right hand. Arandil was overwhelmed and knew he stood no chance, not even if he could train endlessly for a hundred years. All he could do was to block and dodge because the moment he tried to attack, his head would fall off of his body.

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‎Rasmus stood there, holding his cane with both hands as gushes of wind and dust hit his face. He stood there and watched Aris try to kill Arandil even though she didn’t use all her strength to do so. He knew that Aris wasn’t blinded by rage while others thought she was. She wanted Arandil to know that the one who would take his head would be so powerful that not even Gods could save him.

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‎”If you want to live, go stand behind my back,” Rasmus said, his voice was loud and clear even amidst the chaos.

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‎Even during life and death situation, Arandil could hear Rasmus words. He took a split second glance at Rasmus and realized he could survive if he chose to run toward him. He then gathered all the Mana he could in a matter of a second and then released it like two walls of steel crushed onto each other at Aris.

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‎It didn’t even take Aris a second to disperse the Aura that Arandil made, not even close enough for her to get affected by it. However, Arandil already ran for his life and stood behind Rasmus with his trembling hands after blocking attacks that felt like the mountains were toppling on top of him. He was out of breath and he didn’t know if he could survive even another minute against Aris.

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‎Aris stared coldly and menacingly at Arandil with her stoic expression. Her breath was calm and relaxed, not even breaking a sweat.

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‎”Funny that you hide behind the child of the parents that you beheaded, Lord Arandil. I wonder what will happen if that same child has decided to condemn you to death,” Rasmus said without looking back at Arandil. “You were untouchable when the world bent to injustice, but now that the reality is slightly tilted toward the truth, you seem… powerless,” he looked over his shoulder and glanced at Arandil.

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‎”Every action has its own consequences, be prepared for them, Lord Arandil,” Rasmus said and then walked toward Aris.

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‎Serena stood at the gate with Videl standing behind her, acting as her personal Paladin. She witnessed everything and she had seen enough of what kind of a person Rasmus was.

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‎”A man who could bring destruction to a sacred place that has been protected for more than a century in a single day. He, who revealed his deeds, threatened the emperor, and humiliated the strongest man alive, and yet he’s still free and stood above them,” Serena chuckled as she smirked and stared at Rasmus.

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‎”Now you understand why I chose him in the first place. No humans can achieve something like that, nobody…” Videl responded.

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‎”Yes, unlike you who used lies to deceive. Humans are indeed better than the likes of you,” Serena glanced at Videl and gave him a mocking smirk.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep