Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Hello everyone, I want to start by apologizing for not providing updates over the past few days. I've been sick.
Explosions reverberated through the canyon, the deafening echoes bouncing off the winding cliffs and spreading far and wide.
Inside the cabin, Garrett Nordmark remained oblivious to the cacophony outside. The only sensation he experienced was the thunderous explosion.
Boom!
A resounding noise.
Behind Garrett, the barbarian tightened his grip on the steel shield, pushing him forward and creating pressure on his chest.
Meanwhile, propelled by the force, Bernard soared forward. The powerful warrior, towering over two meters tall, felt the rush of air nearly lifting him off his feet.
"Tsk tsk tsk... good thing I was prepared..."
Garrett silently celebrated.
Had he been careless, relying solely on his shield or allowing Bernard to pull him along, he might have found himself vomiting blood by now.
Hanging onto Bernard's back, Garrett rushed out of the cabin. As he stepped onto the deck, the cargo ship was already swaying and beginning to sink.
The barbarian decided to abandon rowing. Instead, he seized a small boat nearby and flung it with all his strength. Leaping onto the boat, he stomped fiercely, jumping directly to the edge of the cliff, heading for the mountaintop.
Upon reaching the mountaintop, a bright light ball ascended from the direction of the Radiant Lord's fleet, casting its glow across the surroundings.
"They've found us!"
"Run!"
Several voices shouted simultaneously.
Bishop Hilde of the Radiant Church seethed with unusual fury. While others led the main fleet effortlessly for dozens of miles, he traversed the turbulent sea, enduring hundreds of miles of hardship. His opponent, a mere local count, presented a stark contrast. To make matters worse, in the middle of the night, he was rudely awakened by a loud noise!
Startled by the tremendous roar, Hilde woke up with a pounding heart. He reached for the water cup on the bedside, took a sip, only to find it cold. He angrily threw the cup down:
"What's happening?"
"Not... not here... somewhere far away..."
"Investigate!"
The bishop gave the order, and immediately, a team of black-clad knights climbed the cliff to search for the source of the noise.
These knights belonged to the Inquisitorial Order, not adept at direct combat but skilled in tasks such as searching, arresting, and interrogating. A squad of ten, led by a level 9 knight, ran upstream and saw torn sails, shattered wood pieces floating down the river.
"Upstream!" a sharp-eyed young squire exclaimed. The captain glared at him: "Vilbo, what does Chapter 7, Verse 15 of the scripture say?"
The young squire's face turned pale. He lowered his head but dared not delay in answering:
"God said, when you see strange things, do not be alarmed. For I am with you, protecting you. Be quiet, calm, and convey my grace to my lambs."
"After returning, confess to Father Richard." The captain coldly dropped a sentence and continued the pursuit. Following the clues, they saw the cargo ship slowly sinking as they turned around a bend in the mountain wall, with only the tip of the mast remaining.
"The ship is sunk." The captain concluded while standing on the cliff top. He then scanned his subordinates: "What are you all staring at? Mellen, go report to Lord Hoke. Tell him a ship sank upstream, we are still investigating the details. Lynch, go check the water depth, see if the channel is blocked. Payne, Nick, both of you go down the cliff and search for any signs of foul play or skilled individuals. Mellen, Gordon, Fechi, continue forward..."
He issued orders in an orderly manner. Soon, one message after another was summarized in front of the captain.
"Footprints found at the bottom of the cliff!"
"Traces of rope climbing! This kind of cliff requires a rope to climb; someone in the team is definitely below level 5!"
"Hull planks at the bottom of the ship shattered, not deliberate sabotage! Not much oil on the water surface, not set on fire! Whoever sank the ship either used alchemical tools or magic! There's a mage in the team!"
"No dead bodies in the water! The ship was intentionally brought here to block our path..."
More clues surfaced, and the situation became increasingly clear. Without waiting for all the subordinates to return, the captain issued the second command:
"Chase! Follow along the ridge, pursue quickly! Inform the rear, there are heretics maliciously sinking ships, obstructing the Holy Fleet. We are searching for the enemy's location, and we need magical assistance!"
The messages from the Inquisitorial Knights quickly reached Bishop Hoke.
At first, Bishop Hoke could maintain a poker face, sitting at his walnut desk, slowly drinking tea. The wide sleeves hung straight down, and the gold threads on the sleeves shimmered in the candlelight without a ripple. However, when he heard, "The big ship can't pass, clearing the channel will take at least three days," he finally lost his composure, smashing another teacup:
"Damn heretics! Intensify the search. Who's leading the team? Benjamin? Inform him, make sure to capture those heretics and burn them at the stake! Burn them! Hmm, do they need guidance on tracking the enemy? Go and summon Master Asa, have him cast the Grand Illumination Spell!"
The knights of the Radiant Lord continued their search for the enemy's traces, while the special squad that successfully sank the cargo ship continued their mad dash. Bernard didn't let Garrett down; he carried him forward without letting him touch the ground. The mage Daniel cast a levitation spell on himself, leaping up, grabbing the edge of the steel shield, and hanging next to him like a kite.
The group didn't dare to light torches as they rushed to the foot of the mountain, fleeing eastward along the cliff. This was previously agreed upon: heading south meant going back to the main camp, a straightforward path where they could be easily caught. The only option was to go east, utilizing the cover of the mountain, hoping the pursuers wouldn't find them!
They rushed two or three miles without stopping. Just as the mountain wall began to twist, and they were about to enter a recessed area, a bright light suddenly rose behind them!
Garrett looked back in horror. Far, far away, a figure in white robes rose into the air, holding a spherical magical object in their hands, radiating countless beams of light. The person looked down, started praying, and though the voice seemed soft, it calmly reached Garrett's ears:
"My Lord, you are the origin of all things, the creator of the world, the only divine. You are supreme, your gaze sees everything, all evil cannot hide..."
After a long prayer, the glowing sphere suddenly burst into dazzling light, illuminating several miles. The brilliant white light turned the surroundings as bright as daylight for Garrett.
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