This is almost a secret known only to the Divine Favored, and it’s why Old John can walk the Segis Continent as a mere mortal.

"Pretending! He must have something hidden on him! Get him, beat him up, and search him thoroughly!"

The prisoner leader ordered the other prisoners viciously.

With his command, the prisoners roared and charged at Old John.

However, after a burst of golden light, they all cried out in pain, knocked to the ground by the force rebounding from their fists or ankles...

In just a moment, the prisoners attacking Old John were all lying on the ground, groaning continuously. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The prisoner leader’s expression completely changed.

"Who... who are you?"

His demeanor carried a trace of caution and fear.

"Just an ordinary person seeking justice and equality."

Old John sighed.

"Justice? Equality?"

The prisoner leader hesitated slightly.

Then, he sneered:

"What’s justice and equality in this world, it’s merely the strong devouring the weak, the victor becoming the king!"

However, Old John simply shook his head gently.

He looked deeply at the prisoner leader and said:

"I know you."

"Me?"

The prisoner leader hesitated slightly.

Old John’s gaze rested on a wolf-head tattoo on the leader’s wrist and said:

"Over twenty years ago, the Empire gave rise to a Military God who led the Imperial Army to defeat the Beastman Alliance’s army, achieving peace for over twenty years..."

"Yet, after winning the war, he was persecuted by the great nobility, slandered as a blasphemer, and locked in the most impenetrable prison in Holy Maniya and the entire Segis World, the dungeon of Dorolia Castle, which holds numerous political prisoners and heretics..."

"This is almost common knowledge among the civilian population of the Holy Mania Empire."

Old John said, looking deeply at the prisoner leader:

"And his emblem is the wolf totem on his wrist."

The prisoner leader fell silent.

Old John sighed again, and continued:

"Lord ’Wolf Paw’ Charles, when did you start truly considering yourself a prisoner? And when did you completely give up everything?"

Upon hearing Old John’s words, the prisoner leader became confused.

A moment later, he sat on the ground, seemingly losing strength in an instant, and said self-mockingly:

"Ha... what does it matter being a prisoner? What does it matter giving up everything?"

"Nothing’s left, I have nothing at all, as a commoner, a half-blood with werewolf lineage, no matter how great my contributions, they will never be recognized..."

"This world is inherently unequal, the noble are born noble, the lowly are born lowly, and for someone like me, the stronger I become, the more the nobility will be wary of me..."

"Even the Eternal Church is the same, unbelievably hypocritical, claiming that after death, pious believers will ascend to the Divine Country in happiness and beauty, claiming that before the Divine, all believers are equal... but when reality can’t be changed, what’s the point in talking about after death?"

"I am merely a knife they discard after use..."

"And reality, it’s just a dark and corrupt prison, outside the prison are the nobility and the church, inside the prison are commoners and slaves, isn’t it just like this dungeon here?"

The prisoner leader’s face was full of dejection and self-mockery.

But Old John smiled slightly:

"Lord Charles, since you say so, it means you also hope to see change, so why not try to seek change, to pursue a true path?"

"Change? A true path?"

Charles hesitated slightly.

"Of course, a world filled with light, hope, happiness for everyone, fairness and equality."

Old John smiled warmly.

Charles hesitated, then sneered:

"A world of fairness and equality? Talking about fairness and equality in a world of extraordinary beings? You must be crazy."

"But, suppose the Divine are willing to become arbiters, to take on the role of upholding fairness?"

Old John suddenly said.

Charles was stunned.

This time, his expression finally changed.

He carefully scrutinized Old John, and soon noticed that although the other’s clothes were tattered, they vaguely resembled priestly attire.

His demeanor became wary:

"You... who exactly are you? Could you be a follower of the Evil God?"

"No, I am not a follower of the Evil God, but a believer in the most just, merciful, and great True God in the world."

Old John shook his head and said.

He smiled slightly:

"Mr. Charles, have you heard of the supreme Life Goddess, Mother Nature, the protector of the Elf Clan—World Tree?"

...

Old John being imprisoned did not seem to cause much of a stir.

Other than the disputes on the first day, no further bullying against Old John seemed to break out in the prison.

Moreover, no one knew exactly what Old John had said, but in just three days, Charles, who instilled fear in other inmates and caused headaches for the guards, seemed to transform, changing his attitude towards Old John from disdain to solemnity, gradually evolving into respect...

The dungeon remained as oppressive as ever.

But after Old John was locked up, there was now a full-bodied voice.

The voice was rhythmic, gentle and full-bodied.

The voice described to the prisoners a world just and equal, a beautiful world where true liberation could be attained...

As time passed, other prisoners began to gather, participating in listening, hearing Old John preach the teachings of the Life Church, listening to him speak of the greatness, mercy, and justice of the Goddess...

Gradually, the sounds of fighting among the prisoners diminished.

Replaced by faint daily prayers, and confessions mixed with sobbing.

As time went on, more and more prisoners gathered, even those from other cells began to cling to the iron bars, listening intently to Old John’s teachings.

Their gazes toward Old John became increasingly respectful, increasingly devout, increasingly fervent...

Subtly, something seemed to be changing.

The dungeon remained deep and damp, continually decaying and eerie.

However, in the darkness, there seemed to be a hint of light, a breath of life.

No one noticed the changes deep within the cells.

Yet, as the prisoners changed, the guards of the dungeon eventually noticed something amiss.

"What are you doing? You evil heretic! How dare you spread evil thoughts and beliefs!"

Watching the prisoners gathered reverently listening to Old John’s teachings, the Dungeon Guard Captain’s expression turned frightened.

Nevertheless, his response was met with only Old John’s gentle smile:

"Guard Sir, I am not spreading evil thoughts and beliefs, but preaching true faith."

"Bah! Ridiculous! Sophistry!"

The Guard Captain spat.

He shouted to his companions:

"What are you still standing there for? Quickly take him out, lock him in another isolated cell! Then hurry to call the Judgment Knights!"

The guards followed suit, but the prisoners acted faster.

Menacingly, they looked at the guards, protecting Old John behind them.

Seeing this, the Guard Captain was shocked.

"Crazy... you’ve all gone crazy!"

He cursed.

However, amidst the Guard Captain’s incessant ranting, Old John’s voice suddenly emerged again, still gentle and full-bodied, making one irresistibly want to continue listening:

"Guard Sir... have you never thought why, despite being loyal to the empire, you must remain in this dark and damp dungeon?"

The Guard Captain was stunned.

Inexplicably, he paused his actions, looking at Old John with uncertainty and confusion:

"You, what do you mean?"

Old John smiled slightly:

"Guard Sir, may I borrow a little of your time?"

"I wish to tell you about our merciful Goddess, the great World Tree—Eve Yggdrasil under her crown..."