Late at night, in a silent study, a single candle placed on a desk cast a flickering, dim glow.
Before the desk sat a lean man with a hooked nose and long purple hair, a thick book held open in his hands. In the dim candlelight, his features were shrouded in shadow. Just then, *bang! bang! bang!* — the sound of knocking rang out.
"Come in." The hooked-nose man didn't even look up, continuing to read.
*Creeeak* — the door opened, and a shrewd-looking, middle-aged man with blond hair stepped inside. The moment he entered, he shut the door behind him and bowed respectfully. "Grand Inquisitor, Lin Lei's forces have captured Motte County City."
The hooked-nose man was none other than Wuseno — Grand Inquisitor of the Holy Inquisition under the Church of Light.
On the surface, the leader of the Church of Light was the Pope. But to maintain its image of radiance, the Church dispatched the Holy Inquisition to deal with powerful individuals. The Inquisition's methods were extraordinarily cruel, and its leader — the Grand Inquisitor — commanded no less authority within the Church than the Pope himself.
"Oh." Wuseno kept his eyes on the book.
The blond man continued respectfully, "Capturing Motte County City is a minor matter. The most important thing is... Lin Lei's side deployed that mysterious Saint Realm leopard-type magical beast in the siege!"
"A Saint Realm magical beast?" Wuseno's head snapped up.
Wuseno's eyes were deep as the ocean. Under that gaze, the blond man felt his heart tremble, yet he forced himself to speak through his fear. "Grand Inquisitor, for Lin Lei's side to involve a Saint Realm combatant in war — that is an open provocation."
In ordinary warfare, Saint Realm experts did not intervene.
Once the Saint Realm entered the fray, it meant there was no room for negotiation — both sides would fight to the death.
Though Motte County City was not Church of Light territory, Lin Lei's actions didn't yet constitute a direct challenge to the Church. But deploying a Saint Realm magical beast in combat... that was a signal — a signal of provocation aimed at the Church of Light. Lin Lei's meaning was crystal clear:
"My magical beast has shown itself. This force is mine — Lin Lei's. How will you, the Church of Light, respond?"
It was also a show of intimidation: "I dare deploy even a Saint Realm beast. If the Church of Light wants to fight me, send your Saint Realm experts. Don't bother with the small fry."
"Grand Inquisitor?" The blond man looked at Wuseno.
Wuseno's unfathomable eyes revealed nothing of his current mood. Suddenly, he spoke. "Remember — from this day forward, do not confront Lin Lei head-on. We endure!" The blond man was stunned, staring at Wuseno in disbelief.
Wuseno was an absolutely terrifying powerhouse.
As one of the Church of Light's two great pillars, his strength was no less than Hedison's — if not greater. Moreover, the Church had no shortage of Saint Realm experts in the Land of Chaos. There was absolutely no need to fear Lin Lei and his handful of people.
"Grand Inquisitor, Lin Lei's side consists of only himself and two magical beasts," the blond man said, confused.
Wuseno said coolly, "No. Their Saint Realm experts number more than you think. Those five Buck brothers — if I'm not mistaken — should be descendants of Amanda. All five are currently ninth-rank warriors. Once they transform, they each reach the initial stage of the Saint Realm. It would take at least a mid-stage Saint Realm expert to defeat them."
"Undying Warriors?" The blond man was shocked.
Wuseno glanced at him.
Back then, when Hisei saved the five Buck brothers and threatened Steler in that manner, Pope Haitins had already suspected they were of Amanda's clan. After all, the only explanation for Hisei going to such lengths — and for their bodies being so extraordinarily powerful — was one.
"They're not far behind us." Wuseno lowered his gaze back to his book, his tone flat. "Remember — endure."
"What if Lin Lei's side establishes a duchy and attacks our territories?" the blond man asked. Though he was nominally the Church's chief representative in the Land of Chaos, Wuseno's arrival naturally made the Grand Inquisitor the one in charge.
Wuseno replied flatly, "If they attack our territory, we withdraw. Give them the land."
"What?" The blond man stared at Wuseno in astonishment.
Wuseno said coolly, "If he provokes us, we endure. If they attack our territory, we step aside! Let Lin Lei believe we fear him, that we're weaker than him... But understand — once he occupies our land, he'll naturally reorganize those cities' armies. And those armies are made up of the people living in those cities."
"Ah." The blond man's eyes lit up. He understood Wuseno's meaning.
"Grand Inquisitor, your wisdom is brilliant," the blond man said excitedly.
Wuseno smiled faintly. "In war, timing and terrain are secondary. People are what matter most! When it comes to true loyalty, what can compare to faith? Lin Lei... I will show him just how terrifying the power of 'faith' truly is."
The blond man's heart lurched with a chill.
Wuseno was far too cunning and ruthless.
With such overwhelming strength and so many powerful subordinates at his command, he still resorted to such insidious schemes. The blond man could well imagine... Lin Lei's forces, drunk on their triumph, would certainly be brought crashing back down to earth.
"You may leave." Wuseno kept his eyes on the book, his tone indifferent.
"Yes, Grand Inquisitor."
The blond man departed respectfully. In the dim study, only Wuseno remained, reading quietly. Beside the book on the desk lay a dossier, on which were inscribed several characters — "Lin Lei Baruch."
In the northern reaches of the Land of Chaos, a power that had claimed one county city and nine smaller towns — ruling nearly nine million people — had quietly taken shape. Though they had captured Motte County City, Lin Lei's political center remained Heitu City.
Present-day Heitu City was extraordinarily prosperous.
Zero taxation had driven countless people to seek immigration to Heitu City, but the city had long since reached capacity. The population management department had raised the bar for entry. Yet as the political center of this rising power, Heitu City continued to draw enormous numbers of people.
"Boss, Heitu City has changed so much!" Bei Bei stood on Lin Lei's shoulder as they walked along one of the city's main avenues.
Lin Lei gazed around at the taverns, clothing shops, and weapon stores lining both sides of the street. When he had first arrived in Heitu City, its residents had worn ragged clothes and many had been gaunt and malnourished. But after just a few months, the city had been utterly transformed.
Even the shabby shops of old had been refurbished and given a fresh new look.