Chapter 002: The Trial

Sunlight streamed from the farthest reaches of the horizon, illuminating the entire city of Mordo during the day. Outside the central square of Mordo, a massive magic circle had already taken shape. Outside this circle, the cavalry of the Northern Legion surrounded it, ensuring that no one could interfere with what was about to take place in the square.

Several squads of Temple Knights raced through the square, their combat auras flashing like the sunlight above them. These blazing auras seemed to activate the magic circle laid out in the square, causing a radiant holy fire to burn fiercely in the air, like a miracle.

Among the people of Mordo, there were not many followers of the God of Light, so they did not understand what all this meant. Yet, a powerful, solemn, and sacred pressure overwhelmed them, forcing every citizen to kneel involuntarily.

Was this what was meant by a miracle?

Along the stone pillars in the center of the square, rows of neatly arranged nanmu trees stood ready. To the west of the square, a crimson carpet covered the platform. Aside from the Temple Knights, almost all the priests from the Northern Lands had arrived, softly chanting hymns. Each sacred note transformed into a magical rune, which slowly floated into the air. These runes fell onto the holy fire, making it shine even brighter.

At the entrance on the east side of the square, the cavalry of the Northern Legion suddenly withdrew, replaced by a squad of fully armored heavy cavalry. Their spears gleamed menacingly, forming a sea of steel.

The Northern Legion cavalry wondered why such an important passage was guarded by others rather than the elite cavalry of their own army. But orders came from above, and they had no choice but to obey. The position they had guarded for days was quickly vacated.

Following the heavy cavalry were the imperial defense forces of Mordo. Soon, the east-side streets were filled with cavalry, as if all of Mordo’s defense forces had gathered there.

The withdrawn Northern Legion cavalry were ordered to equip themselves with crossbows and retreat into the square, guarding both sides of the platform. Beside them stood the Temple Knights, whose combat auras burned brightly, creating an impenetrable defense.

After a while, the chanting stopped, and hundreds of priests slowly stepped back to both sides of the platform, revealing a passage in the middle.

Those who paid close attention noticed that among the priests present, the highest-ranking one was merely an ordinary priest—there wasn’t even a single high-ranking White Robed Priest. Clearly, this had been deliberately arranged by someone, and it seemed obvious who that someone was.

A group of Templar Knights entered the square from the eastern street. Once inside, they instinctively split into two sides, revealing the person they were guarding. At the forefront was Du Fan!

He was wearing his most traditional priestly robes for once, holding a Holy Scripture radiating holy light. His solemn and devout expression was so pure it seemed that merely looking up at his face would allow one to sense the glory of the gods.

He slowly made his way to the podium but turned back with a gentle smile and said, “Lord Joshua, please go first!”

Behind Du Fan stood Joshua, clad in military attire. After glancing at Du Fan, he said calmly, “Historically, heresy trials have always been presided over by priests. Among the priests here, only you are a White Robed Priest, so naturally, it falls to you to preside.”

Du Fan nodded slightly but did not refuse.

This time, he had only brought Fei Lei with him. Nicholas and Tasia held too high a status in the Holy Church, so if they were present, Du Fan would not have the authority to preside. As for Ringtone, she was a shaman priestess and an outsider—her presence at a heresy trial would only be awkward, so Du Fan naturally did not bring her either.

At this moment, the only one who could protect Du Fan’s safety was this Grand Knight Joshua… As for George and Allen, they were leading the northern army. Moreover, given their status, they would not appear at such an event during a Holy Church heresy trial.

Du Fan slowly stepped up the stairs and sat down on the jade-like seat on the podium, then gestured for them to proceed.

Joshua stepped to his right but had to back up half a step. Although there was a significant difference in their statuses, Joshua did not dare overstep his bounds in such an occasion.

Another dozen Templar Knights stood guard around Du Fan, their expressions solemn.

Du Fan simply smiled gently and said, “Lord Xiao Yulong, please come over too!”

There was some stir among the Templar Knights, but after a moment, Xiao Yulong stepped forward from the crowd and stood to Du Fan’s right, also backing up half a step.

In such an occasion, even the choice of standing position was carefully considered. By inviting Xiao Yulong voluntarily, Du Fan was already showing goodwill!

Seeing that everything was ready, Du Fan looked up at the sky and finally sighed softly, saying, “Let’s begin!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of holy light flashed over him. The priests on both sides of the platform chanted in unison, and another beam of holy light shot upward, merging with the blazing Sacred Flame in the air to quickly form a giant holy cross symbol! Countless light dots seemed to scatter within the symbol; upon closer inspection, they turned out to be tiny holy cross symbols themselves. A group of masked priests came from the east side of the square, with a graceful figure leading the way! She wore a faint smile on her face—it was Kris! Kris was now dressed in a priest’s robe. Under the guidance of the masked priests, she was brought to the stone pillar at the center of the square in no time. She stepped up the steps made of nanmu wood and climbed onto the pillar, where she was quickly tied up. The masked priests slowly retreated, but Kris remained unafraid. She merely glanced at Du Fan from afar, her expression complex and indescrivable. Joshua coughed softly beside Du Fan and said, “Du Fan, have you really thought this through? If you burn her, there will be no possibility of reconciliation between your family and the Belinger family!” Du Fan smiled faintly and replied, “Lord Joshua, when has our family ever reconciled with the Belinger family?” Joshua fell silent for a moment before continuing, “Besides, this woman’s identity is complicated… You’d better think it over carefully…” Du Fan said calmly, “There’s no need to think about it. In past trials of heresy, no one cared about her identity. As long as she was deemed a heretic, even the princess of the current dynasty should be burned to death. Otherwise, it would be the greatest blasphemy against the God of Light! Does Lord Joshua refuse to admit this?” Joshua sighed softly and stopped arguing further. Du Fan sneered inwardly. It seemed the Holy Church still didn’t want to completely ruin their relationship with the Belinger family, but at this moment, it had to side with him—what an interesting situation! It was a pity, though, that the Belinger family belonged to Roland Academy, not the Holy Church! With these thoughts, Du Fan slowly stood up. He waved his hand slightly, and the sacred songs echoing in the square quieted down. He took a few steps forward, and the temple knights in front of him instinctively stepped back. He immediately saw the expression on Kris’s face.

Du Fan let out a low sigh and said, “Miss Kris, it’s not too late yet. If you can abandon your beliefs and embrace the Light God… then I might still spare you… This is your last chance—don’t miss it!”
It was an ordinary sentence, but it carried two meanings, which Kris naturally understood.
Kris opened her mouth, seemingly with great effort, but after a moment, she managed to force out a dry voice from the depths of her throat: “Burn me then! Don’t talk to me about some damn Light God!”
She could have exposed Du Fan’s scheme here, but she had just seen over a hundred people locked in the dungeon before coming, so she could only say this… because Du Fan demanded it…
The entire square immediately erupted in chaos!
Du Fan waved his hand reluctantly, and the crowd quieted down. He turned to look at Joshua deeply, then at Kris, before letting out another low sigh and saying, “Is this your choice? Then don’t blame me!”
He walked back to his seat and sat down slowly. He tapped the armrest with his index finger and sighed softly, “It seems we can begin now!”
Joshua hesitated no longer. He drew the Holy Cross Sword from his waist, stepped forward a few paces, and pointed gently in Kris’s direction!
Four flames descended neatly from the burning holy fire in the air, like flaming tulips. With their pale beauty, they landed in the four corners of the piled camphor wood and began to burn slowly but steadily.
Watching this scene, Du Fan gently closed his eyes. The game had reached this stage—why hadn’t the final protagonist appeared yet! Without you, this game called the Final Judgment would be such a bore!
“Stop!”
Just as Du Fan began to sigh, a sharp shout rang out. Though not loud, it seemed to reach everyone’s ears in the square at the same time!
Immediately afterward, the sound of horse hooves was heard. Du Fan looked in the direction of the hooves and saw a rider speeding along the main road leading to the gate in the east side of the square!
Seeing this, Du Fan couldn’t help but smile slightly. A beautiful curve appeared at the corners of his mouth—now, the game truly began!