Chapter 358: Chapter 238: Following Duke Augustus, There’s Meat to Eat (Part 2)

"Augustus! Augustus! Augustus!" The soldiers roared in perfect unison. The voices of more than 5,700 men billowed out with the force of a tsunami.

In the face of such overwhelming power, Count Quentin’s face turned ashen. The other nobles trembled in their boots, struck with terror.

Fang Zhen pressed his lips together, suppressing the urge to glance back at Tahar.

’He hadn’t wanted the men to shout like that. It was too high-profile.’

However, Tahar was getting more and more into character, as if he truly enjoyed his role as the hype man. It was always Tahar who started the chants, rousing the soldiers’ spirits.

The soldiers of the Augustus Army seemed to love this routine. They never tired of it and required no prior training. They clearly enjoyed shouting the name of Augustus and took great pride in it.

Fang Zhen inwardly shook his head.

’Still, it’s good for the soldiers to have this sense of honor. It boosts their loyalty. I’d better not stop them. Let them be a little showy.’

"Y-you... How can you prove that you are a descendant of the Augustus Clan?" Quentin asked Fang Zhen, forcing himself to suppress his fear.

Before Quentin could even finish speaking, Fang Zhen produced the Double-headed Eagle Badge. He channeled his source power into it, and a golden light as brilliant as the sun flared from his hand.

The light—it was a blinding, sacred glow.

The light from the Double-headed Eagle Badge made Quentin and the others shield their eyes, turning their heads away, not daring to look directly at it.

A few seconds later, Fang Zhen withdrew his source power, and the golden light slowly dissipated.

Only then did Quentin and the others turn back. Their gazes, now fixed on Fang Zhen, were filled with a deeper sense of awe. All questions about his identity and origins vanished.

Fang Zhen put the badge away.

’I’ve gotten used to this routine. I don’t even have to wait for them to question me anymore. I just take out the badge, hit them with a blast of holy light, and the effect triggers automatically.’

’It feels like flashing the Double-headed Eagle Badge immediately triggers a debuff: Opponent’s Morale -3, and a buff: Our Army’s Morale +3, Regional Reputation +10. It works every single time. The people in this Nameless World never get sick of it.’

’I’m happy for the convenience. Besides, for both my enemies and my own men, seeing is believing.’

’Take Count Quentin here, for example. He hasn’t officially acknowledged my status, but his doubts have certainly vanished.’

Count Quentin, however, was feeling something else entirely.

In fact, over the past few days, merchant caravans from Nottingham City had arrived in the Count’s territory, bringing news of the duel in Nottingham City between Fang Zhen and Tarrenno.

Quentin and the others knew of Tarrenno’s death and also knew that Fang Zhen was supposedly a descendant of Sword Saint Augustus.

However, this only made Quentin even more terrified.

Quentin and the nobles of his territory were all too familiar with Tarrenno. He was irascible and cruel. Dealing with him always left them walking on eggshells.

’If Tarrenno was that bad, then Fang Zhen—the man who killed him in a battlefield duel—must be even more terrifying, even more violent, right?’

This obvious comparison weighed heavily on the minds of every noble in Quentin Territory.

With this dread filling his heart, Quentin felt an immense weight upon his mind.

’And it seems Fang Zhen really is a descendant of the Augustus Clan. After all, we nobles know more than the commoners about the family’s traits: the Double-headed Eagle Badge, the tall and sturdy build, the black hair. Comparing what I know with what I see, I’m ninety percent convinced.’

’But what does this Fang Zhen Augustus actually want?’ 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Ahem. Lord Count Quentin, Lord Fang Zhen," a clergyman in a purple robe spoke up. He had white hair and a white beard, a benevolent face, and a ruddy complexion that, despite his age, showed he was exceptionally well-kept. "Since we have all gathered, why don’t we dismount? The church is right here. We can rest inside for a while and discuss the purpose of Lord Fang Zhen’s visit. What do you say?"

After a brief pause, the clergyman added, "Forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Maldon, the Bishop of the Tade Church in the Quentin Territory."

Fang Zhen looked at Bishop Maldon and nodded slightly.

Matthew, who was beside Fang Zhen, looked a bit reserved. He awkwardly greeted Bishop Maldon and introduced himself, "Your Grace, I am Matthew, the Parish Priest of the Ashton Territory..."

Maldon gave a slight nod. His expression wasn’t stern, yet it showed a clear lack of interest. His placid acknowledgment served as a greeting to Matthew.

Matthew seemed to deflate at once. He couldn’t help but lower his head, looking crestfallen.

Fang Zhen took it all in, understanding the situation perfectly.

’The Tade Church has a very rigid hierarchy. You only find a Priest where there’s a church.’

’Matthew, for example, is a Parish Priest, responsible for the area of influence covered by a single church. The only difference is that the parish in the Ashton Territory is quite large.’

’Strictly speaking, Matthew’s rank in the clerical hierarchy isn’t high. It’s a fairly junior position in the formal structure. But he has two advantages. First, his parish is huge. Generally, a larger parish means higher status and more importance among priests of the same rank. Second, he’s young. While a Parish Priest is a junior role, it’s still an official position. As long as he bides his time, avoids major mistakes, and plays his cards right, he could eventually become a Bishop.’

’But right now, he’s a long way from Bishop Maldon’s level.’

Fang Zhen inwardly shook his head.

’Even clergymen are only human. They can’t escape the ways of the world.’

’There’s a pecking order among the clergy, too. Those in the formal hierarchy tend to look down on low-ranking Deacons on the fringes. And a Bishop doesn’t pay much attention to a Parish Priest, especially one from outside his own diocese.’