Chapter 268: Insults

The next day, the lord of Namwon City, having finally learned what really happened, falls gravely ill—looking like he’s on his deathbed and unable to get out of bed.

Everyone else scoffs. What kind of illness can knock down a Battle Knight overnight?

Clearly, he just doesn’t want to get involved in this mess.

That morning, Duke Kolen’s steward delivers an invitation to Henwell and Orak, asking them to visit the duke’s mansion for a meeting.

Before Henwell can even set out, the Ika Kingdom’s royal inspector from the South Regions, along with the South Regions’ noble council chairman, arrive with a large contingent of elite guards and firmly surround the manor.

Royal Inspector Bondis shouts harshly, “Bold bandits! Surrender immediately!”

South Regions Council Chairman Wist adds coldly, “Rebels! How dare you kill nobles and our subjects within our borders? Come out and face your death!”

After a moment, Henwell pushes open the door and looks out at the heavily armed troops. “Huh? Who’s barking like a dog this morning?”

Before either of them can speak, Orak steps out carrying a banner emblazoned with a platinum cross.

The two high-ranking officials from the kingdoms immediately scowl.

Orak deliberately tugs at the banner. “Bandits? Who are you calling bandits? Are you calling the Holy Spirit Church’s Atwood Archbishop’s personally promised initiates bandits?”

Henwell smirks. “Heh! Maybe so! After all, the Ika Kingdom is the strongest on the continent. It’s normal to look down on the Holy Spirit Church. Judging by this attitude, forget about an initiate promised by an archbishop—you’d probably lock up the archbishop himself if he showed up!”

“You… you don’t talk nonsense! We never mentioned the Holy Spirit Church!”

“We’re talking about you! Stop twisting things and dragging the Holy Spirit Church into this!”

Before stirring up trouble, these high officials have been repeatedly warned by the king’s confidants never to show any disrespect toward the Holy Spirit Church.

If they slip up, the king will have no choice but to distance himself from them.

They don’t fully understand how powerful the Holy Spirit Church is, but they know it’s an entity the king fears and absolutely cannot provoke.

So, now, with Orak and Henwell steering the conversation like this, they immediately jump to defend themselves.

Seeing them hesitate, Orak calmly says, “I’m an initiate personally chosen by Archbishop Atwood. This time, I’m about to enter the church to train as a knight—a quasi-church knight, you could say. So, when you called us bandits just now, were you talking about me?”

The two officials don’t know how to respond.

Orak turns to Henwell, who’s leaning against a pillar with arms crossed. “Since you two aren’t talking about me, then you must be talking about you, Henwell!”

Henwell waves his hand dismissively. “No way!”

He slaps a fancy platinum cross against his chest. “Look! This was personally given to me by the archbishop’s captain of the guard. It’s basically the same as being a church knight!”

Henwell cheekily holds up the platinum cross for the two kingdom officials to see. “Hey, guys! Know what it means? Not only does it mean I’m a church knight, but it also means I’m under the church’s protection.”

”By the way, do you know what a church knight is? They represent the church’s image, the will of the divine! Church knights embody all the virtues of knighthood! And you call me a bandit? Are you saying the church is a den of thieves, and the church knight is a criminal mastermind?”

“You… you… you’re talking nonsense!”

Henwell steps forward. “What’s wrong? Still haven’t come up with a reason or excuse to slander me? I’ll give you time to think it over! You better figure out how to insult a church knight, how to disgrace the church, how to tarnish the divine light—think it through carefully!”

This heavy accusation makes the two officials tremble all over; they can’t hold their ground at all.

Not to mention these two. If the Ika king were here, he’d be jumping up and down, vehemently denying such charges.

Just as the royal inspector and the South Regions council chairman start to falter under the pressure, a group appears at the street entrance.

Leading them is an elderly man, vigorous and commanding, walking with the force of a tiger and an unmistakable aura of authority as he approaches the perimeter.

The elite guards, loyal to their duty, raise their spears to block the way.

But the captain of Duke Kolen’s personal guard—a Grand Knight—kicks them aside with a single boot.

He snaps, “Are you blind? Do you even know who you’re trying to stop?”

Bondis and Wist immediately shout, “How dare you do that! Bring over the Grand Duke quickly!”

They hurry forward themselves to greet the newcomer.

Now that the South Regions Duke has arrived, their confidence grows.

Just as they’re about to explain the situation, Duke Kolen raises a hand to stop them. “This isn’t the place for talk. Come to my manor.”

He then turns to Henwell and Orak. “Lord of Blood Hill, Knight Orak, may I have the honor of inviting you to my place to chat?”

Henwell replies eagerly, “It would be my pleasure! I need the duke to see justice done!”

Orak adds courteously, “I’m honored. I trust in the duke’s character.”

The two follow Duke Kolen, leaving their men behind at the manor.

Before leaving, Henwell plants the platinum cross banner firmly into the stone slab at the manor’s entrance, using his war spear as a flagpole.

In front of everyone, he orders his men: if anyone tries to force their way in, they’re provoking the Holy Spirit Church—and you are free to kill everyone.

Seeing this, Duke Kolen leaves several dozen of his personal guards at the gate to prevent anyone from sneaking in under the cover of chaos.

Does the Ika Kingdom want to kill Henwell and Orak?

Absolutely!

Just take Duke Kolen alone—he’s itching to get rid of these two.

But killing people requires finesse: the right timing, the right place, and the right assassin.

Now that the situation is exposed and too many people know about it, Henwell and Orak can’t be eliminated just yet.

Otherwise, it would be a blatant insult to the Holy Spirit Church by the Ika Kingdom.

Besides, this is Namwon City—the administrative center of the South Regions in the Ika Kingdom.

If anything happens to Henwell and Orak here, there’s no way to explain it.

Finally, whoever ends up killing them can’t be linked back to the Ika Kingdom; the blame must be pinned to other people.

So, the timing, location, and personnel aren’t right for an assassination.

Knowing this, the Ika Kingdom must be wary of others trying to frame them.

That makes protecting Henwell and Orak’s men absolutely essential.

Henwell’s words before leaving weren’t just a warning about possible attacks on their group.

He was reminding Duke Kolen to watch out for opportunists stirring trouble.

The old fox Duke Kolen immediately understands the potential risks.

The two kingdom officials, belatedly realizing the gravity, also leave their troops to firmly encircle the manor.