"Lyle, go and extend an invitation to Mr. Ralph; he’s about to miss the most exciting part of tonight’s banquet!"

Echel Liveser’s shout echoed like a cold wind over the top of Liveser, but it was quickly drowned out by laughter.

The vast treetop platform was festooned with sacks of fireflies, and the dance steps of dozens of Liveser rangers made the wooden boards beneath their feet resonate loudly.

Lyle walked with a wobble, feeling as though the entire world was vibrating.

In the end, Echel couldn’t resist; he hopped nimbly in dance steps to move from the other side to where Lyle was amidst cheers from the crowd.

"Don’t forget our plan," Echel hinted with a knowing look, turning his gaze toward Ralph, who was gazing at the moon from the windowsill.

After delivering Verlet’s love letter to this untamed king, he had finally indicated he would make a move tonight.

To ensure that Ralph could be deceived, Lyle was kept ignorant of the details of the plan. According to Echel, Lyle was like a glass bottle, definitely not capable of containing secrets in his belly.

Lyle expressed concern over Echel’s current state; famished flesh might withstand an earthquake test, but surely not such intense shaking. He really hoped the next moment wouldn’t see the founder of Liveser hopping himself out of existence.

Trying to use vibration and jostling to make Ralph uncomfortable and lower his condition was a lousy idea. Lyle could hardly feel his own legs, yet Ralph seemed unfazed.

"He’s a natural ranger."

Lyle rolled his eyes, "Thanks for the compliment, but he’s more than just a ranger."

Echel shrugged, "I plan to involve the Protector of the Nation in a drinking game; Lyle, we need to find a way to get him completely plastered." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lyle showed great approval for this plan, "Good idea, I know Uncle Ralph doesn’t hold his liquor well."

"Yes, so the tricky part is... how to get a cautious man to pick up a wine glass."

Looking straight into Echel’s direct gaze, Lyle understood his meaning.

"Are you planning to substitute me for my uncle one on one?"

"Humans have a herd mentality; when one falls, they’re inclined to follow. I am now disguised as the deceased, I won’t get drunk."

"So, that leaves us with only one option, doesn’t it?"

"But I clearly saw Her Highness Kayla also..." Under Echel’s bear-like scrutiny, Lyle clamped his mouth shut.

For the sake of Ralph’s happiness, I’ll just bite the bullet and sacrifice myself this time.

With a sense of heroic sacrifice, Lyle took Echel’s hand, "Your Majesty! I entrust everything to you!"

"I swear upon the name of Echel Liveser, I will guard the happiness of the Protector of the Nation as I guard Liveser itself!"

"I’m off!"

With everything in place, Lyle bounded off towards the man.

Nia would never miss out on the banquet’s cuisine, but her original form had to remain undetected by Ralph.

Fortuitously, Liveser’s adaptability to new things is strong, likely related to the rangers’ love for hunting peculiar creatures. Nia was confined to a small room, where four of the most skilled chefs used an endless supply of delicious fare to keep her movement restricted.

She should be very happy, even if saying a temporary goodbye to Lyle was nothing more than a casual extension and wave of her free tentacle.

With food, she no longer proved clingy.

Liveser basked in the revelry of victory, Dreya sunk into the tranquility of it, and some were tasting the bitterness of defeat.

In the closest national church from here.

A graceful man wore a troubled look as he gazed at the knights sitting in silence below him, his headache compounded as his radiance also dimmed.

"Inquisitor Commander Algernon, look at the mess you’ve made!"

"Lord Raphael, we’re merely doing what our duty requires."

"Is your so-called duty to obliterate two human nations?! Do you not grasp the impact of your actions?! Relations between the Holy Light and the various kingdoms are already on thin ice, and now, you bastards want to crack it open. Think about what the other nations will think—’The Holy Light has started to encroach upon us’!"

"Firstly, they are heretics who do not believe in the Holy Light, essentially different from the human nations. Unpossessed by the Holy Light, they are enemies of the Holy Light. Our Inquisitor actions are not wrong, according to the doctrine! Secondly, Raphael, you are too weak. Your lenient policies will only embolden the vile who stand by and watch. We’ll remind them why the Holy Light must be their only faith."

Before Algernon finished speaking, the Guardians around sensed his disdain for the leader and stepped forward in unison, but Frey stopped them from moving further.

"Now is not the time for infighting."

Algernon snorted coldly.

"Eliminating potential threats is the duty and obligation of the Inquisitors. Or are you, Lord Raphael, still naively believing that the human races are united, all children of the Holy Light?"

"Humanity is the child of chaos, of discrimination, of strife. Our mission is to establish order amidst this chaos, our order."

Raphael sighed.

"Times have changed, Algernon. Now, the Holy Light needs guardians, not conquerors. Three of the four leaders are gone, and our strength is fading."

"That’s all the more reason to do this!" Algernon roared. "Don’t tell me you can’t feel it, the wheel of fate has begun to turn, the banners of the era are changing, and new powers are emerging. We need strength! The Inquisitors need a new leader! A new angel!"

Raphael narrowed his eyes, "No wonder, you’re pushing for war..."

The way for a Paladin to advance themselves is through merits and glory, and exterminating heretics naturally is one of them. The Inquisitors plan to nourish their legion with the spoils of war against heretics, to birth a new angel through the power of war.

"Algernon, are you advancing to the Seventh Tier?"

"Just one more step."

Raphael felt a trace of respect for this Inquisitor Commander. He might as well be the most inspirational figure in the Holy Light army, considering that the existing angels were mostly promoted by Raymond, who was a cheat himself. Those who had been through the process knew all too well the difficulty of advancing to become a Crusader leader.

An army commander zealously seeking advancement.

Regardless, a mistake was a mistake. And they had lost. If it weren’t for Raphael’s intervention, the number of surviving Inquisitors would definitely be fewer.

"All Inquisitor Knights, guard the Debyvan Sanctuary. Without the permission from an Angel or the Pope, do not leave the Sanctuary!" Raphael didn’t emphasize the consequences of breaking the discipline, for there was no possibility of it among the people of the Holy Light, because to break it meant to fall, and their faith would bring down its own punishment.

"As you will," Algernon replied briefly, ready to leave.

"Wait."

A streak of light pierced the ground in front of Algernon, and the dark blade burst out with a brilliant glow.

"The Dimglow Sword... are you insulting me, Raphael?" The Holy Sword that once belonged to the Inquisitor Leader, the Angel of Fire Saint George, could only be wielded by the power of a Crusader leader.

"This is rightfully the Holy Sword of the Inquisitors, and now it is returned to you."

"You’ll have use for it one day."