When the eleventh chime of the clock rang out, everyone in Oak City stopped what they were doing, their movements orderly and synchronized, as if they were pre-set clockwork machines, heading towards the central square of the town hall, without a whisper of conversation, leaving only the sound of footsteps throughout the city.

Ethan looked down from the second floor of the apartment at the crowd passing in front of the building; the grand scene reminded him of the images in movies before a zombie outbreak, where they lost autonomous thought, driven only by bodily instincts.

Several Kaisaros followers undergoing purification knelt at the very center of the square, wearing identical golden masks, conduits with spikes pierced into the skin of their faces, bulging under the flesh like strained veins, their heads drooped, eyes level with the ground.

Marks had already been branded upon their bodies, and these special masks would accompany them for life, a proof of their past defiance against the King of Gold.

The one presiding over this purification ritual was none other than Charman.

The man wearing a mask of sorrow stood in the very center of the town hall square, but lacked the golden scepter, instead holding a thick piece of parchment.

As per the procedure, he read out the charges against these Kaisaros followers to everyone, including infiltrating the Sivalentine Palace, subverting Golden Kingdom scholars, and kidnapping the kingdom's princess, Vivian Gallog.

It was more like a synthetic voice, generated by those specially crafted golden masks.

Cynthia had mentioned to Ethan that the citizens of the Golden Kingdom do not need spoken language; they can understand the King's decree directly through the masks. Besides, they do not need to waste time on meaningless social interactions and rest, as this time could be used to contribute more to the Golden Kingdom.

Just as Ethan thought, these voices were deliberately produced because this purification ritual was never aimed at the Sivalentine residents who have already submitted to the King of Gold, but rather at the rebels still mixed among the crowd.

Ethan noticed many followers of the Old Gods, wearing counterfeit masks at this moment, seemingly plotting a rescue operation.

Hidden beneath the soil, Vivian was incredulous—the invaders who descended from the heavens and occupied Sivalentine were publicly declaring others as kidnappers.

She didn't even like the term "rebels" from the start; "liberators" was much more apt to describe them.

This purification ritual was quieter than she imagined; there were no means of religious fanaticism, no one threw stones or rotten eggs at the sinners, they just quietly stayed in place, waiting for the purification ritual to continue.

The harsh synthetic voice made him very uncomfortable.

"Before allegiance, I hope to see your repentance."

The synthetic voice paused for a moment, "Name your accomplices, under the witness of all."

This question caused a stir in the crowd.

When Ethan looked towards the sound, he noticed dim red light glowing under everyone's feet, symbolizing the power of Kaisaros. The giant pupil encircled the people gathered there at the center, and with the ongoing incantations of the followers, the dim red light once suppressed the golden radiance.

Soon after, an arm clad in silver-white armor tore a crack in the ground; it was an old friend Ethan had seen during the ceremonial trials—a Warlord created by the Father of War. Apparently, Kane, after inheriting Kaisaros's memories, was gradually becoming familiar with Kaisaros's power, steadily getting back on track.

This indeed made him feel relieved.

This was an overt scheme targeting the followers of the Old Gods; naturally, the followers hidden in Oak City also saw through the purpose of the town hall's announcement.

But the followers of the Father of War never retreat, for they were well-prepared.

They planned to summon a Warlord at the town hall square.

They never feared the King of Gold; in the eyes of the followers of the Old Gods, if their revered lord hadn't been sealed away from this world, the King of Gold's fleet would have been crushed like toys by Them.

The spreading arm caused the followers to smile with joy.

Their prayers to the Father of War were finally answered, marking the beginning of a reversal.

The situation was unfolding in the direction they anticipated. As everyone's attention was drawn to the Warlord about to burst forth from the earth, a swiftly flying spear fell from above the rooftop, and the "Hunter" impaled by the spear emitted unbearable static noise, with its uncontrolled body crashing heavily to the ground.

A towering figure, naked from the waist up and marked with red lines on the chest, descended from the sky. Amidst the chaos caused by the "Hunter's" fall, he was already striding towards Charman in the city center square. He picked up the spear from the ground and forcefully hurled it towards Charman's chest.

Over the past three months, they had gathered considerable intelligence on the Golden Kingdom, including the highest authority—the council formed by citizens personally selected by the six Kings of Gold. They were the spokespersons for the King of Gold, and only they could wear masks with unique expressions, said to be gifts from the Kings of Gold themselves.

Finding them was not difficult.

They all possessed near-eternal life, able to recover from any severe injury in a short time.

The towering figure moved as fast as lightning, appearing before Charman in the blink of an eye.