Chapter 20: The Bet

The camp was in chaos; daily tasks had come to a halt due to arguments. The adults were arguing fiercely, faces red with anger, while the children were terrified, crying helplessly. How could one feel happy in such a place? Even spending a few minutes there would leave one upset.

Zhanza took cover beside a tent, observing the two groups arguing most loudly, fiddling with a stone the size of a pigeon egg in his hand. With his strength, hitting someone with this stone could cause severe pain. The time was right—he began to look for a specific target.

“Instructor! I finally found you!” A enthusiastic voice rang out nearby, causing the scheming Zhanza to jump, nearly dropping the stone.

Rijef had been serving as an assistant in the guard unit since recovering from his injury, helping to share Ebute’s workload. In Zhanza’s eyes, he was a typical mercenary—with his usual habits: teasing young women and wives just enough, engaging in consensual affairs, and playing small games for fun… He wasn’t clever, but he knew who to please and how to act. In short, Zhanza had no interest in such a slick scoundrel!

“So it’s the deputy captain…” Under Rijef’s command, Zhanza was also a fellow ruffian. When they met, they usually started by flattering each other, as if those overlooked “treasures” were trying to elevate their own status.

“Everyone, quiet down!” Ebute, along with over a dozen guard members, tried to maintain order. He placed a rough table there and a low stool beside it, using them as a makeshift podium.

“Quiet! Young Master Dev is here—he has something to say to everyone!” Ebute signaled the guard members to help shout, their loud voices synchronized, quickly silencing the noise as people grew quiet.

Opinions about Dev were generally positive. He was young but talented, and some even praised him for governing better than Xavier. Of course, most of his supporters were those who benefited under his rule, while others lost out after Xavier regained power. Whether policies were wise required comparison—take compensation for casualties, for example. It was clear which was generous and which was heartless. To the people, a lord’s merits or demerits were often that simple.

“Everyone, there’s no need for me to explain the situation the migration group is facing. My father has also expressed his firm stance. Our goal is the same: time is of the essence—we must head east. While you were arguing, I’ve already gotten permission from my father and Miss Srod. I’ll take charge and resolve this dispute today!”

Hearing this, many felt uneasy, thinking it meant a complete split. People began whispering, and as more voices spoke, the area grew noisy again.

“Silence! All of you, silence!” The guards Ebute brought were the most loyal to the lord—true diehards who wholeheartedly supported him. Their unified command quickly restored silence.

“Before I announce my decision, on behalf of everyone, especially the people of Tures, I sincerely invite someone to speak a few words for us. Someone who is experienced, approachable, highly capable, concerned about the country and its people, treats us all as family, and is deeply loved by everyone…” As Div poured out his praise without reservation, Zhan Ga was almost dragged onto the makeshift podium.

“Let’s welcome Mr. Pierothe, the hero of the people, to share his insightful views on our current issues. I believe that with Mr. Pierothe’s wisdom and experience, he will surely be able to help us solve these problems,” said Div, leading the applause. Then Ebute and the members of the guard followed, and soon almost everyone else did as well. Needless to say, the Holy Sect was all in favor, and most of the Flesh-Eaters also had a favorable opinion of this instructor, if not complete admiration.

Zhan Ga had already mentally greeted the ancestors of Div, Rijef, and several others across generations. He had intended to stay low-key, but now he found himself at the center of attention without any preparation. His mind was in chaos—worried not about how to organize his words, as he was confident in public speaking. In the Migration Team, he was second to none; no one dared claim to be first. What troubled him was, “Where the hell should I sit?”

Like most of the people present, Zhan Ga also thought Div was a puppet sent by Xavier and Valentina to enforce the separation decision. Under such circumstances, the problem that had been plaguing him all along resurfaced. If he wanted to continue weakening the East Migration Team and keep an eye on Neo, he had to hold onto the Flesh-Eaters tightly. But doing so would make him a “traitor” in the eyes of the Holy Sect—betraying both their faith and their people. Choosing the Holy Sect would undoubtedly earn him popularity, and he might even become their leader after the split. But honestly, he had no interest in such power. Leading a bunch of ignorant people who lived in constant fear, struggling in this damned weather and place—it was insane! Besides, he had a mission to complete; he wasn’t here to be some worthless leader!

Should he align himself with the Flesh-Eaters? All his previous efforts would be wasted, even turning into losses, just to find a reasonable reason to stay among them. How could Zhan Ga proceed?

As he struggled to think, Zhan Ga began talking nonsense, starting with phrases of humility—claiming his knowledge was limited and his preparation insufficient, asking everyone not to blame him if anything went wrong… In short, he was paving the way for himself to exit gracefully.

It must be said that Zhan Ga was truly skilled in acting. His words, combined with his tone, body language, and appropriate expressions, left a great impression on everyone. They all thought, “Look at him—not only is he highly capable, but his character is excellent! Truly great! Much better than some others…”

Meanwhile, Div recalled what Neo had said to him last night after they talked in detail: “Success always has its reasons. I suspect there’s something wrong with this Zhan Ga, but I must remind you that he possesses strengths that neither you nor I have, or rather, fall far short of. By recognizing this, we will benefit greatly…”

With intent, Dave indeed noticed many nuances—such as the tone of delivery, control of pace, organization of words, and body language… “Hmm, a good actor, a strong speaker. I need to take this course; it will be very helpful for becoming an excellent leader in the future.” Ambitious as ever, Dave secretly resolved that one day he would make Zhanza root himself and force him to spill everything he had learned!

By this point, Zhanza was fully immersed in his speech. He was the kind of person who would quickly devote himself wholeheartedly to ‘performance,’ and it was precisely this genuine commitment that made his delivery so compelling and persuasive. Only this time, he was talking nonsense—spouting nonsense for over ten minutes. Aside from making everyone realize he was a rare person of excellent character and intelligence, it had no real impact on the matter at hand. This was the highest level of oratory: talking nonsense.

Of course, Dave wasn’t willing to let Zhanza gain popularity here. He gave Ebute a signal, and Ebute began asking questions he had prepared in advance. The questions were definitely the ones people were most concerned about at the moment, hit the mark precisely, and also carried distinct factional characteristics. Each question contained traps, forming a series of pitfalls that Neo, Dave, and Ebute had spent half the night devising with great effort. With Zhanza’s limited wits, he was nowhere near capable of cracking such a web of traps.

In short, Zhanza was thoroughly outmaneuvered—destined to be so from the moment he stepped onto that makeshift podium.

By the time Ebute asked the fifth question, although the crowd was already dissatisfied with Ebute’s cruelty and sharpness, they also began to develop negative views of Zhanza—simply because they sensed his slickness and cunning.

As an excellent actor, Zhanza paid close attention to the audience’s reactions. He knew he had to make a choice; otherwise, his image would be severely damaged, both in the eyes of the Flesh-Eaters and those of the Holy Sect.

After so much nonsense, Zhanza finally managed to analyze the situation somewhat. He chose to fully side with the Holy Sect. This way, despite political differences, even the Flesh-Eaters couldn’t question his character. Then…

“This is because of you…” Determined, Zhanza stepped from behind the curtain to the front stage—ready to unleash all his energy and turn things upside down!

Zhanza finally declared his stance in public. The members of the Holy Sect cheered, while the Flesh-Eaters’ morale plummeted. His well-reasoned arguments were incredibly powerful.

Yet just as Zhanza was about to further wield his rhetorical weapons, Dave personally called for a stop.

Of course, Zhanza was extremely annoyed, even furious. Having his performance interrupted was the thing he hated the most. Moreover, now that the factions had been clearly defined, like swords drawn from their sheaths, he naturally wouldn’t show any mercy to the opposing side—even Dave.

Crying out for freedom of speech and inciting the Holy Sect to fight for the right to speak… In just a few minutes, Zhan Ga transformed from a calm lake into an erupting volcano, even more furious than those radical members of the Frey Revolutionaries. The people of the Holy Sect were fine—they had mostly been swept up in the wave of passion ignited by Zhan Ga. But some of the Scavengers were surprised by this change in Zhan Ga; they sensed that this hero was by no means ordinary, seemingly harmless on the surface but skilled at hiding his true nature.

“Mr. Pieroth, no one here is stopping you from speaking, nor is anyone restraining you from expressing your opinions. The reason I interrupted you is because this is not just your platform to speak, nor your exclusive forum. And let me say this: after the Dark Invasion, I too am willing to become a devout Light Believer, to live under the radiance of the Divine Lord—not just in words.”

“This is indeed not my exclusive forum, but allowing one to fully express their arguments is the bare minimum of respect and courtesy… What?” At first, Zhan Ga retorted angrily at Dave, but as Dave continued, his thoughts stalled. He doubted he had heard correctly. If he hadn’t misheard, Dave’s words meant: I’m also part of the Holy Sect!

“That’s right! You didn’t hear wrong, Mr. Pieroth! And everyone else too.” Dave turned to the crowd below and repeated loudly, “I am willing to become a devout Light Believer, to live under the radiance of the Divine Lord—not just in words.”

Silence reigned below—everyone was utterly shocked!

After recovering from his astonishment, Zhan Ga quickly thought, “What is this? A father-son showdown?”

Dave wouldn’t give Zhan Ga any time to analyze or think. He shouted to the crowd, “The Dark Invasion is unforgettable! Like everyone else, I suffered immense trauma and had to leave my homeland, my home filled with so many precious memories, to let it fall into ruin. If you ask what this incident taught me most, I can tell you with certainty: people cannot live without faith, nor can a nation or a country.”

“I am willing to return under the light of the Divine Lord, not only to seek protection for my life but also to find solace and guidance for my soul.”

“Chapter 3, Section 4, Second Edition of the Divine Bible…”

“Chapter 3, Section 4, Twelfth Edition of the Divine Bible…”

“I believe even the most ignorant know that no one has the right to alter the Divine Bible, for it is the true transmission of divine will. Yet everyone can hear the difference between these two passages. Why is there a difference? Because God wants to use them to show people what is essential and what is secondary; what is the core and what are the details; what is the unchanging principle and what is the evolving change.”

“That’s right. The Divine Scripture does state that intelligent beings are no different from humans and enjoy the same fundamental rights. But God also says that none of His followers who commit self-harm shall enter heaven.” Dave looked at everyone and said, “I don’t expect you all to understand my views or follow my ideas. As Mr. Pirother has repeatedly reminded us, everyone is free—free to speak, free to think. I’ll only say one thing here: Disputes arise from interpretations of the Divine Scripture. Therefore, the truly impartial judge is not me, not my father, not Miss Srod, not Mr. Pirother, nor any of you—it is God, our faith, or rather, the supreme being we are ready to believe in.”

Everyone was stunned, mouths agape. This was unprecedented—absolutely unprecedented. Informal believers had no right to ask God to act as an arbitrator, and God would not respond to the prayers and pleas of those still hesitant about their faith. Yet now, Dave, the boy lord known as a genius, had said this and was ready to do it—letting God act as the arbitrator! Was he dreaming, or did he really have such audacity?

At that moment, Dave spoke loudly, “I’m here to restate my interpretation of the Divine Scripture: To cherish oneself and value one’s life is the most basic responsibility of intelligent beings granted life. Based on this principle, consuming the corpses of man-eating beasts is an embodiment of ‘change’ that God wants people to understand. Those who fail to apply knowledge flexibly and stick rigidly to dogma are the ones who truly distort God’s will!”

Boom! The crowd was in an uproar. The most outraged were the members of the Holy Sect, including one of its main leaders, Pastor Norlund. Some even claimed that Dave was desecrating the Divine Scripture and God Himself.

After the Holy Sect members argued for a while, Dave spoke up again, “You don’t need to argue with me. I’ve said it—this matter should be judged by God.”

His voice alone was too weak at that moment, so Ebute, along with a dozen guards, shouted in unison again, and the crowd gradually calmed down.

Zhan Ge ended his sneer and asked, “I wonder how Young Master Dave plans to prove God’s arbitration?”

“Yes? How can it be proven?” Some fanatical members of the Holy Sect joined in questioning. At this moment, the lordly authority in their hearts had completely vanished.

Then Dave declared, “Not long ago, we were attacked by the forces of darkness, suffering heavy losses. Take those wounded as proof. What do you, members of the Holy Sect, think?”

Silence reigned throughout the Holy Sect. Pastor Norlund was on their side, so they were all aware of the condition of those wounded. The most troublesome issue was the corruption caused by dark evil forces, similar to what had happened to Rijef before. Norlund didn’t have any particularly effective solutions—this was well-known.

“The changes in those wounded’s conditions concern everyone here. If God’s will is on your side, let their conditions improve significantly by sunrise tomorrow—at least let God’s radiance eliminate the most stubborn dark evil corruption. dark evil corruption. Do you have the courage to try?”

The members of the Holy Sect, look at me; I look at you—no one responds. Time has passed quite a while; we need to find a solution. How could we wait until now?

Someone in the Holy Sect muttered, “Using the wounded as stakes is too heartless!” Due to the silence, most people heard his words clearly.

“Someone, take him away!” Dave pointed at the man and shouted, “It’s precisely because everyone is worried about the wounded that we earnestly ask the God Lord to make an exception and show mercy to the living in this world. What’s your intention in saying such things now? Do you have a better, more proper solution? If so, I’ll lead everyone to kneel and thank you—any terms you set. If not, what’s your motive?”

“I…” The man had nothing to say. As he was tied up by several fierce guards, he could only look to Zhanza for help.

“Damn! Look at yourself! You didn’t realize we were prepared and still rushed into danger. Did your stupid head block the way?” Zhanza cursed inwardly, showing no recognition on his face.

“I’ll ask again, people of the Holy Sect—do you have the courage to try?”

Dave’s second question carried much more momentum. The group of flesh-eaters also straightened their backs and raised their chins. Everyone knew the Holy Sect wouldn’t dare, and Dave would publicly declare that they would if they did—since he had started this debate, he needed to convince everyone that he could be flexible. But it was indeed a high-stakes gamble, one even a Vatican cardinal might hesitate to take.

At that moment, Zhanza stepped forward and said, “Young Master Dave, so you mean you’re willing to make this prayer?”

Dave replied, “That’s right. I’ll earnestly ask the God Lord. If my interpretation of the sacred texts is correct, by tomorrow, all our wounded will show significant improvement.”

Hiss…

Although everyone was prepared, hearing Dave say it outright still filled them with awe. This was pushing himself to the brink!

Faced with Dave’s determination, Zhanza could only confront him head-on. “Then, Young Master Dave, what if you fail?”

Dave pulled out a scroll from his chest and unrolled it with a swish. “Here are the signatures of my father and Miss Srod. I take full responsibility for this dispute over the correct interpretation of the sacred texts—I hold supreme authority here. I declare that if I fail, the Eastern Migration Team will be entirely under the leadership of the Holy Sect. We will unconditionally support all their demands, including using every means to force the flesh-eaters to obey their orders.”

Hiss…

More gasps filled the air. The stakes were truly huge. To put it bluntly, it meant giving up all privileges and risking total ruin without complaint.

Then Dave countered, “Mr. Pielous, since you ask, I’d like to ask you in return. If I’m right and win, what will you do?”

“Uh… Of course, we intend to provide unconditional support for all resolutions and orders, just as you promised,” Zhanja said, immediately regretting his words. His reply was indeed clever and tactful, but it stemmed from his true feelings under Diuf’s relentless pressure. How could a people’s hero, a kind and virtuous person, act in such a deceitful manner at such a time? Sure enough, murmurs of disapproval arose among the crowd. Such a response was utterly lacking in courage—typical of those who couldn’t accept defeat. Even many members of the Holy Sect stared at Zhanja in disbelief. Was this the hero they admired? Diuf naturally wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. He declared aloud, “Well, my wish, which I expressed in Tures back then, I repeat today: to migrate to Asia together and rebuild our homeland hand in hand. If that can be achieved, I am willing to give my all!” Sparse applause began, gradually growing louder and more unified, like thunder, lasting endlessly. Diuf raised his hand to silence everyone, then proclaimed, “Save your applause for when the Lord’s grace arrives tomorrow. That will be not just my success, but ours all! We’ve braved hardships, remained unyielding, regained our faith through suffering, and strived to survive with hope in our hearts. This is our sincere offering to return to the Lord’s embrace!” “In the 773rd year of the Unified Era of Aemera, the Year of Frost, the Month of Snow, Diuf Manmoris wrote a new chapter in the official history of the Church of Glory. These words were widely passed down through the ages, alongside those heroic deeds of courage and sacrifice. They represent the believers’ glory to the Lord, the manifestation of the Lord’s light on earth, the essence that forms the soul of glory, a testament to the orthodox transmission of doctrine, and a beacon inspiring countless future generations. It’s worth noting that at that time, he was simply loyal to his beliefs and ideals, striving to do what he believed was right. This is similar to the experiences of those martyrs and heroes…” — Excerpt from “The Secret Records of Heroes of the Church of Glory”