The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 542: Do the Gods Know How Shameless You Are?

The problem is still the same. A lord of Peace Haven at the Iron Rank is an outcome the nations find difficult to accept.But what gives the royal families of the nations a headache now is that Henwell has just made a great contribution, so they cannot possibly look for trouble with him.

Also, if they truly force Henwell to the church's side and turn him into the church's agent in the eastern nations, the situation will become even more troublesome.

The problem now is that targeting Henwell does not work, but if they do not target him, they can only watch as he gradually grows stronger.

They are trapped no matter which way they turn.

As for Henwell, he needs to finish handling the matters here as quickly as possible and run back to Peace Haven to lie low.

For the near future, he cannot keep drawing attention.

The stage of the continent is far too large. If he keeps performing in the center of it, problems will appear very easily.

The next part of the story should be left for others to perform.

In the final camp, nearly a thousand more young people are rescued. Henwell has Chick and the others escort them back to Peace Haven.

He stays behind to handle the final cleanup and to keep an eye on both Billie and the church.

At this point, everyone realizes Henwell is seizing the young people.

When they connect this to the fact that many of Peace Haven's upper ranks, including Henwell himself, came from the Veil's training camps, every side has reason to believe that these young people are rare talents.

But if they want to pry any benefits out of Henwell's mouth, they will obviously have to pay something.

The captives and documents have all been handed over to the two sides. Henwell only takes away some half-grown children. That is already the smallest demand he could make.

Henwell remains in Divine Revelation City now to prevent anyone from secretly snatching people away.

The last matter is the pardon for White Butterfly.

The church had already agreed to it, but now Henwell has shown even greater value.

So someone wants to use this chance to control Henwell.

The people sent to persuade Henwell are those who took part in the previous battle at Sunflower Fortress.

In that battle, five teams suffered heavy losses.

In Henwell's Penitence Squad, the deputy captain Sosie died, McComb was badly wounded, and more than half the members were killed in battle.

Among the surviving half, several are disabled and must be transferred back to second-line work.

It can be said that Henwell's Penitence Squad now exists in name only. For various reasons, however, the church has not abolished Henwell's unit designation.

Another Paladin squad that took part in the battle has Captain Pakrik badly wounded, with only eleven people under him still alive.

The third Penitence Squad lost its captain Zoffern, and only nine members remain. Its designation is basically canceled.

As for the Imperial Hunting Knights, Kimir, one of their Hunting Knights, died. His team suffered near-total losses, and its designation is effectively gone.

Another Hunting Knight, Diara, is badly wounded, with only a dozen or so people left under him. That is a severe blow as well.

Of more than two hundred elite warriors, only a little over fifty came out alive.

Almost three months have passed, and only now can the three surviving Grand Knights barely move around.

Now McComb and Pakrik have been sent to persuade Henwell.

But after seeing Henwell, neither of them knows how to begin.

Henwell pours three cups of wine and breaks the silence. "To the heroic spirits whose souls have returned to heaven."

The two accept the cups and drink them down with Henwell.

After putting down his cup, Henwell first congratulates McComb. "Congratulations on becoming a Paladin. You are experienced. I believe that if you lead your own team, you will definitely make new contributions."

"Take the old comrades from the squad with you."

"You understand. I probably will not have many chances to go into the field in the future. They will have more opportunities by following you, and I will feel more at ease."

"Your team has just been rebuilt. Having a few close brothers to support you will help greatly with your work."

"As for the comrades retiring from the front line, do not worry about them. Whether they stay in the Western Regions or follow me back to Peace Haven, I will not treat them poorly."

After saying this, Henwell looks at Pakrik. "We had barely met before we went through a bloody battle together. That can also be called a bond forged through life and death."

"No matter how my relationship with the church changes in the future, we are comrades who once fought side by side."

"You may still need to operate in the eastern nations later. As you know, I still have some minor channels among the nations."

"If you need anything, send someone to inform me directly. If necessary, I can personally come and help you."

Neither man knows how to respond. In their eyes, the church is truly being somewhat unreasonable toward Henwell.

Without Henwell, the result of the entire operation would have been even uglier.

The church had already promised Henwell something, yet now they have gone back on their word. No matter how one looks at it, this treatment is unfair.

Henwell does not make things difficult for them, and these words make them feel even more guilty.

After a moment, the one-eyed Pakrik sighs. "Ah, Henwell, why do you not leave first?"

"As long as you take that woman back to Peace Haven, I do not think the lords above will make things too difficult for you."

"The church now realizes that if local elite forces provide support, its operations will become much more convenient."

"Not every battle will happen in a royal capital, and the church will not come to support every battle."

"So you are still very important to the church. I do not think the higher-ups will truly punish you over such a small matter."

McComb also says, "Henwell, there is no need to insist on the name of a pardon. You said it yourself. That woman will never cause trouble again."

"Whether the church gives her a pardon decree or not is not actually important. What matters is that you protect her."

Henwell says calmly, "It is important. It is important to me, and it is important to her."

The two no longer try to persuade him. They can only rise and bow to Henwell in apology.

That evening, an attendant of Archbishop Ashiburn comes to Henwell. "Henwell, are you determined to shelter that woman?"

Henwell glances at him. "Yes."

The attendant says coldly, "Then I will also tell you clearly. That woman must be escorted to the church to accept punishment."

Henwell rubs the counterweight ornament on the hilt of his sword. "Then you can try."

"Are you threatening the church? Are you betraying the church?"

Henwell says calmly, "Why do I find that the church's promises stink worse than farts? I did what I promised."

"But what about what the church promised me? Why has it gone back on its word now?"

"Do the gods know how shameless you are? Do they know how badly you are damaging their authority?"

The attendant slams the table and rises. "Insolent! Henwell! Are you even a Paladin of the church? Are you loyal to my Lord, or loyal to yourself?"

Henwell does not look at him. "Use your brain before you speak. Are you asking me to make a choice? Can you bear that responsibility?"

"Whose meaning is this? Is this your personal meaning? The archbishop's meaning? Or the church's meaning?"

The attendant does not dare to answer. The church wants to use this opportunity to restrain Henwell and pull him fully into its side, not force him away completely.

Two days later, Henwell brings the pardon decree to Yinxin City.

Outside Bloodhorn Arena, Ruper is already waiting at the entrance.

Henwell is silent for a moment. "How is the situation?"

Ruper does not speak for a long while. At last, he says quietly, "Go see her again."