When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 658 - 617: To Kill Thoroughly... Is Also Good (4k Chapter)_2

They no longer argued, no longer refuted, just mechanically stood there, letting the cold wind and rain lash at their faces.

Henderson looked around coldly and said, "It's good if you understand, staying here is the best protection for yourself and your families."

Who knows who started moving first, but soon after, the villagers began to retreat under the eaves and to the base of the wall.

They lowered their heads, their steps heavy and stiff, like birds seeking a safe harbor in the winter cold.

No one mentioned the church anymore, nor did anyone bring up Brother Ansel, as if the monk who risked his life for them had been forced into the depths of their memories.

The rain grew heavier and heavier.

Standing in the center of the yard, Adrian watched everything and let out a soft sigh of relief.

He glanced back at Henderson and whispered, "Things have reached this stage, don't let these people stir up any more trouble."

"Understood, understood." With a fawning smile, Henderson nodded repeatedly.

But just as he finished speaking, his words were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.

"Look, look outside." A village boy suddenly shouted, pointing to the branches outside the courtyard.

Outside the wooden fence, amidst the swirling rain, Lalor, wearing a leather vest, clung to the tree trunk, climbing with difficulty.

His clothes were already soaked by the rain, and mud caked his face into lines, but his eyes shone bright as two clusters of flames in the rain.

Was he preparing to jump into the yard to hide? But what about his daughter? The villagers who heard the noise raised their heads.

However, as soon as Lalor spoke, the villagers involuntarily lowered their heads again.

"Brother Bryson has already sent someone through the back roads to request reinforcements from the higher monastery, they'll arrive by evening at the latest!" Clinging to the branches, Lalor shouted into the yard.

"Those rebels have fewer than 100 men, and with the rain, their knights can't perform. If we establish trenches and barricades around the church, we can surely hold out until reinforcements arrive.

I ask everyone to come out, to the village church, to defend our homes and constitution together!"

The villagers in the yard were silent, no one responded to him, and the rain pounded the ground with a dull thud, like a muffled drumbeat.

Before the villagers could respond, Henderson rushed out first: "You're crazy, staying outside will only get you implicated by those two monks."

"Isn't there anyone? We don't need too many people, just a hundred grown men." Lalor ignored him completely, still shouting into the crowd.

"You're possessed by the devil, but the rest of us are not." Henderson shouted at Lalor in the tree, "I'm telling you, not a single person will follow you today."

"Isn't there anyone? Truly no one?" Lalor's voice even carried a hint of despair.

In the midst of this dead silence, finally, a voice emerged from among the villagers with lowered heads.

"But why? Aren't we fine staying here?"

"Yes, this is a trouble the Saint Father's Association brought upon themselves, it has nothing to do with us."

The villagers' voices were hesitant and hoarse, but amidst these seemingly weak questions, Lalor seemed to hear something else.

"Brother Ansel has already said, the matter in Mason District is being stirred up by someone from behind, and the Saint Father Association guarantees it will certainly give everyone a reasonable explanation." He forced himself to shout aloud.

The villagers looked at each other, surprisingly appearing somewhat swayed in their expressions, while Henderson immediately stopped them: "He's with the Holy Father Association, of course he would say that, why should we believe him?"

"I have a fifteen-year-old child, if it weren't for Brother Ansel braving the storm to get medicine, she would be dead." Clinging to the tree in embarrassment, Lalor's nearly broken shout clearly reached everyone's ears.

"She managed to survive, and I want her to live in a country where monks dare to brave the wind and rain for villagers, not a country where priests exploit rituals to amass wealth!"

"Do you believe someone who works so hard for us that they cannot straighten their backs, or someone who holds a whip and forces us to pay taxes?"

"Do you believe someone willing to pay wages for labor or someone who forces us to work for free?"

"If the villagers abandon such a good person, then I ask you, who else will come to help the poor and desperate villagers?"

The villagers who initially hung their heads began to lift them one by one, the misty rain wetting Lalor's hair, though his face was as red as fire.

The firelight in the yard illuminated his face, reminiscent of the white light reflected on the cross that night.

"If you think someone who harvests grain for us, finds ways for us to make money, and genuinely cares about our lives is a bad person, then stay here."

"Watch the one who's worked tirelessly for you fall into the hands of thieves and bandits, then stay here."

Amidst the curses from Henderson and other Armed Farmers, Lalor stood on the swaying tree with his right hand grasping a branch.

He widened his eyes and let out a low growl like a beast: "Stay here, stay here, wait for the storm to pass like cowards."

"Open the door, the future world will still be the same as before!"

"Your wheat will only be harvested by others, your millet will only be stolen if left unfinished, and no one will uphold justice and help you!"