CHAPTER 53: 53 SOMEONE IS STEALING HOME!!? (PLEASE CONTINUE READING!)

"Name?"

"Herbert Albert."

"Age?"

"Eighteen... Are you suspecting me?"

"Hmm."

Herbert looked at the expressionless Cardinal in front of him, his mouth twitching slightly.

What on earth is going on here?

Looking at the rusty rivets piercing through the Rusted Nail Bishop, he wasn’t sure whether to say this man was avant-garde or a bit unorthodox.

But in any case... You’re quite rock ’n’ roll!

However, shouldn’t you sterilize and pay a bit of attention to hygiene?

Those nails look like they’re all rusted!

Thinking of these wild thoughts, Herbert maintained a calm appearance on the surface—at least it looked like he was "putting on a brave front."

Herbert hadn’t met this Cardinal before, but he could still match him with someone in his mind.

Rusted Nail Bishop, leader of the Mist Knight Order, a legendary paladin known for his coldness and cruelty.

Why is he looking for me?

And not even notifying through the proper process, but directly capturing.

Act first and report later?

Are you from the Discipline Inspection Commission?

No, even if you are, you can’t do this!

I’ve bled for the monastery, made contributions in the Alien Race prison, you can’t just capture me without evidence—

Of course.

Herbert could only mutter these words in his mind, not daring to actually speak them out.

"Knight Commander, I’m really not a Desecrator, I don’t understand why you suspect me?"

He looked seriously at the Rusted Nail Bishop and said solemnly, "Also, does the Chief Judge know what you’re doing?"

Herbert is the Prison Warden of the Judgement Hall, directly under Thorn Bishop, the Chief Judge.

Logically, if there was an issue, the Chief Judge should have dragged him into the interrogation room for the Great Memory Recovery Skill.

What is it that a Knight Commander is trying to pull here?

"Hmm, he doesn’t know."

The Rusted Nail Bishop didn’t even lift his eyelids, saying indifferently, "But he’s not in the monastery right now, and you won’t find him."

Hearing this, Herbert felt his heart sink.

Great.

Screwed!

No big shot to save me now.

Clink clank.

Herbert moved slightly, unexpectedly finding the chains binding his wrists behind him had somehow been unlocked.

Hmm?

They’re open!?

Just as Herbert was wondering what was happening, the long-silent Rusted Nail Bishop spoke: "Why did you stay in the Third Commandment Hall last night?"

Suppressing his curiosity, Herbert replied with a question: "What’s the problem? I’ve checked, there’s no rule in the Scripture against a Prison Warden staying overnight in the Commandment Halls."

"There’s no restriction in the commandment, but doing so is very dangerous." The Rusted Nail Bishop stared at Herbert with an unfathomable look in his eyes and asked, "Why would you take such a risk?"

Why do you ask?

Should I tell you, I was worried about the hook... Hmm?

No.

Herbert suddenly had an epiphany and changed his argument to a counter-question: "Knight Commander, is there anything that isn’t dangerous for a paladin?"

"Hmm?"

The Rusted Nail Bishop furrowed his brow, squinting at the young man before him.

This weak paladin appeared calm, his gaze firm, with no trace of negative emotions.

No fear, no indignation at being forcibly detained, just a remarkable calmness—a kind of serenity that comes after seeing through life and death.

"Battling against Evil God cultists, protecting humanity from dangerous Demons, resisting the Evil God’s erosion of the world... Is any of this safe?"

"Knight Commander, the moment I took the oath, I understood our duty."

"We are the sword that strikes at evil and the shield that safeguards the weak."

"And swords and shields should not feel fear."

In his final words, Herbert suddenly recalled a saying that had left a deep impression on him, and he spoke solemnly:

"We are guardians as well as a group of miserable wretches constantly opposing danger and madness."

Isn’t that how it goes?

Hopefully, I’m not wrong...

Facing dangerous Monster Girls and Harmonious God stirring up trouble all the time, my life isn’t easy either.

Anyway, praise the Fool!

Upon finishing his last sentence, the Rusted Nail Bishop’s eyes widened abruptly, and he fell silent.

He lowered his head in contemplation for a long time, finally letting out a slow breath, shaking his head, and rasping with emotion:

"...Miserable wretches, huh? Haha."

Compared to Herbert’s appropriation of the saying, he felt deeply moved by it.

"You’re absolutely right, we are indeed a group of miserable wretches, unsure of when we might be corrupted by evil."

He raised his head, nodded at Herbert and asked:

"What about the Desecrator?"

The Rusted Nail Bishop’s expression returned to calm, no longer mentioning whether Herbert was a Desecrator.

?

Herbert suddenly sensed something was off.

That attitude wasn’t because Herbert’s words convinced him, but more like he never really doubted him from the start...

So why did you abduct me?

I’m not playing this game.JPG

"He’s dead."

Despite wanting to retort in his heart, Herbert still cooperated dutifully.

"He was destroyed by the ’Furious’ in body and had his soul dissolved by the ’Apocalypse Singer’, ultimately falling in the Prison of Darkness."

Though he withheld some key information, Herbert’s words were the truth.

Realizing the Rusted Nail Bishop didn’t seem malicious toward him, his mind began to wander.

Should I... uh, ask for some compensation?

I was wrongfully detained, after all!

Herbert didn’t hesitate long, deciding to act boldly.

Take a chance.

Never mind if it succeeds or not, just try!

"Knight Commander, I survived thanks to their help, I’m genuinely grateful to them."

"My duty is to educate them and hope they might reform, and this help, I think, is a clear proof."

Herbert took a deep breath, adding a note of pleading to his voice:

"So, I would like to apply to you... no, to the monastery to give them a reward as encouragement for their actions."

"..."

Unexpectedly, after a long silence, the Rusted Nail Bishop didn’t immediately refuse but instead asked, "What do you want to give them?"

He didn’t refuse!

There’s room to negotiate!

Herbert took a deep breath, recognizing this as the critical moment of the conversation.

He suppressed his inner excitement, trying to appear as calm as possible, and said in a steady voice:

"I hope... to allow them to temporarily leave the Third Commandment Hall."

"Hmm, so they can get some fresh air outside."

...

...

"Chief Judge!"

Sister Kaplan reported to Thorn Bishop, who had just returned to the monastery, "Herbert was taken by the Rusted Nail Bishop!"

"Taken away... Oh no!!"

Thorn Bishop’s expression changed, his voice filled with anger: "Damn! That guy actually played dirty with me!"

Oh no!

Someone’s making a move back home!!!