"That is the army of the Holy Light, Inquisitor Knights, one of the world’s mightiest armies, and we stand no chance," Ralph said as he returned with Lyle to Echel’s secret hideout. Dreya Knights were conducting thorough searches on the streets, and it would not be long before this place was discovered. "Their target is Liveser, Devonrayla has formed an alliance with the Church, and their goal is to manipulate Dreya into waging war to annihilate Liveser."

"Zither Bird has been caught."

Ralph sighed, his icy gaze unable to suppress the restlessness in his heart. "It’s a trap, they will use the Liveser Ranger as a fuse to ignite the flames of war in Liveser."

"Your Majesty, you need to return to your country, they have already succeeded in their conspiracy, and you must inform your people to prepare for battle, to meet the war."

"And what about Zither Bird?"

"They only need a pretext, and to achieve their goal, the Inquisitor will likely publicly execute him. I will organize a rescue attempt," Ralph paused, "but you need to be prepared for the worst."

"Mr. Ralph, I entrust the Night Owl Squad to you, please take care of yourself." Echel was packing his gear, "Go back and warn Kayla, I alone am enough."

Ralph wanted to dissuade him further. "Your Majesty, your safety..."

"Zither Bird needs the Night Owl Squad more than I do," Echel said with a stern face, his every move exuding the authority of a king. "Mr. Ralph, thank you for bringing me such important intelligence."

"Liveser will remember your kindness, whether this last operation succeeds or not. You are Liveser’s savior, the protector of the Ranger nation. I look forward to personally awarding you, though this title of nobility probably only applies within Liveser."

"My friend Echel..." Reed watched his old friend depart, his own kingdom, his own legacy about to become a tool for vile men to harm his friend. Fury transformed into the wrath of a king, propelling the nation’s founder forward.

"Mr. Ralph, I need to make some arrangements in Dreya that will not interfere with your plans. Please allow me to leave the group alone," said the king behind his iron helmet.

"Your Highness Reed, Dreya is now in the midst of crisis. If the Inquisitor’s plan is obstructed, the people of Dreya will be the first to bear the brunt..."

"No, I won’t stop them," a cold light burst forth from behind the iron visor. "If the scum of the Holy Light expect Dreya to start running, then that’s exactly what I’ll make it do."

"But a running Dreya will not be stopped easily."

Both kings began their actions, not doing as the other wished, Ralph started his nearly forlorn rescue plan.

The envoy from Devonrayla made yet another visit to the Dreya Royal Tower, but this time, was "invited" by the Dreya Knights.

"Devonrayla has quite the nerve! You actually dare to harbor the army of Holy Light within the land of Knights," Lina Dreya no longer had the leisure to change into formal attire, her black armguard clutching the envoy’s throat singly, like lifting a twitching lobster. Her murderous intent unmasked, acting upon the man with the nauseating smile. "You have betrayed the goodwill of Dreya, Devonrayla, begone from my nation before my knights drive you out, you lapdog of the Holy Light!"

The envoy from Devonrayla struggled with the iron hand controlling his breath, finally getting a chance to breathe and to speak.

But it wasn’t the expression of fear or curses Lina had expected.

With his usual smile, the envoy from Devonrayla said, "First quell the resentment of your people, my Queen."

"The spirit of Dreya’s founder must be weeping."

Lina’s eyes widened, her once firm voice beginning to tremble as though her lifeline had been seized.

"The remains of the first King of Dreya, Reed Dreya, are no longer in his tomb, are they?"

"The pillar of the Dreya Knights’ spirit, the King of Knights, even the remains of the support of the nation are not safe. What crime should you bear, Your Majesty?"

"Bastards, it was you who did this! You actually dared to..."

The envoy shook his head, "No, that was not my doing, and furthermore," his smile grew even brighter, "we have found the true blasphemers of the former king, borrowing the power of the Holy Light."

"What?"

The envoy from Devonrayla walked over to the tower window, admiring the view outside, and extended his hand, inviting the Queen to join him.

"Come and see, Your Majesty, your nation is conducting a ’justice’ trial."

Shadows gathered in the dungeon of the Church of the Holy Light, where several Inquisitor Knights were escorting Zither Bird, whose leg bones had been broken, to the presence of the Legion Commander.

"Legion Commander Algernon, we have brought the enemy of the Holy Light."

Algernon let out a haughty laugh, looking at Zither Bird’s bloodshot eyes, a bottom lip bitten raw to endure the pain and still bleeding, and a murderous glare.

"Welcome our guest, you have brought us an opportunity, a chance for Dreya and Liveser to turn on each other like dogs. The Inquisitors will be grateful for your forthcoming contributions."

Zither Bird knelt down, spitting a mouthful of blood mixed with saliva at Algernon’s feet. "Don’t expect to hear any words you want from my mouth, filthy Holy Light."

The Inquisitor Commander raised his hand, his smile tracing a dangerous arc. In the palm of his hand, the dazzling light transformed into a lightless shadow.

"You will, no one can refuse the Holy Light." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

In the gloomy dungeon, screams were unceasing.

The people of Dreya watched those knights, clad in armor that shone with brilliant light, dragging the disfigured body to the hastily constructed execution ground.

Algernon looked at the indifferent gazes and displayed a mocking smile.

"I know, you despise our existence, people of Dreya. But the Paladins are not your enemy! Not only that, we have brought your real enemy, the Holy Light is with you!"

Looking at the so-called enemy that was dark and smeared with filthy blood, the people of Dreya filled their gaze at the Paladins with loathing. Dreya appreciated combat but would not torture prisoners; that was a rather despicable act.

"Hmph! Foolish! If this Liveser Ranger desecrated the remains of your founding king! Would you still grant him your pathetic sympathy then!"

"What?!" Questions arose, causing unrest among the confused crowd as people seemed to recall something.

"That’s right! Your founder! Reed Dreya’s remains have already been desecrated by this group of forest thieves, they took him, and let the enemy’s body be devoured by filthy beasts! And your queen! She did nothing! Not only that, she even concealed all of it, to protect her increasingly poor rule!!!"

Surprise and confusion spread among the crowd, the people of Dreya endured their anger but had not yet lost their reason.

"No, these are merely the Holy Light’s wishful thinking! Fellow citizens! Why should we let the Holy Light spout nonsense on our own turf! Queen Lina is of the founder’s bloodline! Would you rather believe the deceitful Holy Light than our own monarch!"

Algernon revealed a smile, "Let him explain for himself then, come, vent your foolishness and savagery, Zither Bird of the Night Owl Squad."

"The Night Owl Squad? Could it be the ’Night Owl’ from the Night Owl Insurrection, that damnable mad king of Liveser?!"

All eyes turned to the dark figure.

In the silent execution ground, breathing became heavy.

Zither Bird lifted his eyes, bloodthirsty and crazed, no different from the Night Owl mad king of the past.

"I really should have listened to the captain’s words, directly assassinated your incompetent and corrupt queen, and if I had been more careful, slipped the poison into those supplies. People of Dreya, like your laughable founding king, you too will be devoured by wild dogs!"

"If it weren’t for the damned Holy Light, I could be listening to your delightful wails right now, but never mind!"

"My country is beginning a frenzied hunt, our arrows will pierce your eyes, and our blades will slit your throats!"

"Liveser will nourish a new forest with the bones of Dreya!"

Maniacal laughter accompanied the flowing blood, staining the execution ground red, watching the convulsing pathetic body, the people of Dreya had no more sorrow.

The entire world was filled with only two laughters.

The tragic cackle of Zither Bird.

The madness of Algernon’s laughter.