Chapter 207: Ordered to Beat Someone Up

Chapter 207: Bound by Orders to Strike

"Tomorrow, the Council of Elders of Order will formally convey this divine decree to all churches in the world. Any entity that dares to assist the Pamireth Religion shall be deemed an enemy of Order!"

The atmosphere inside the meeting hall had already solidified, not because everyone had deliberately suppressed their emotions, but because emotion had found its most fitting outlet.

At this moment, Karen thought of that wicked dog of his own family.

When he first came into contact with information regarding the churches, Karen had wondered what the difference between a True God and a Wicked God was. The explanation he later received was this:

When a more powerful entity judges you to be a wicked god, then you are a wicked god.

It had absolutely nothing to do with whether you were kind or evil.

Just like right now,

Chief Bishop Wolfrun read aloud the divine decree issued by the Council of Elders of Order. Inside were two judgements: judging the Pamireth God to be a wicked god, and judging the Pamireth Religion to be a wicked cult.

The existential attributes of the weak were actually judged by the strong.

Looking around, the eyes of the priests of the Church of Order were filled with solemn flames, while the priests of the Pamireth Religion each wore expressions of utter despair.

The former had shifted from their initial anger to a kind of reserved dignity, as if looking at an opponent already locked in a cage;

The latter did not hysterically shout "on what grounds," "why," or "how could you." They seemed drained of all strength, both physical and mental.

How many people chose to enter the clerical circle just to escape reality, yet remained unaware that no matter how many embellishments of faith and decorations of dogma were used, and no matter how many times confessions were made, they could never redeem a single original sin—weakness.

Karen felt that if the Pamireth Religion could be stronger, stronger to a certain degree, perhaps this divine decree would still exist; it would not be changed, but it would be redacted.

For instance, the first and second clauses would be retained, but the third clause's declaration of war might be cut out.

They would desperately stigmatize you, but they would not truly declare war on you.

Aside from these reflections, Karen was also slightly curious about one thing: was the reward for their security mission still valid?

The target of protection had become the target of arrest; did this security mission still count?

Streaks of black light and shadow began to rotate above the meeting hall, and black phantoms were projected onto the walls of the hall. They were the maintainers of the formations of this Ankara Hotel.

Their appearance was a form of deterrence, meant to tell the Pamireth personnel present exactly whose territory this was.

Any resistance at this moment would become entirely meaningless.

"Ding... Ding... Ding..."

The elevator doors on this floor all opened, and a group of figures clad in black armor entered the meeting hall, accompanied by the orderly friction of metallic textures.

Karen also saw Captain Neo and the others appear at the entrance, which meant the security mission had ended, and the hidden security personnel could show themselves.

Delius raised his hand and said:

"I hope to be granted an opportunity to elaborate and explain."

Promptly, he faced the crowd from the Pamireth Religion inside the hall:

"I believe the truth will arrive, and I believe the charges against us will be washed away. Therefore, before the truth comes, I hope you will not resist. Please believe in me, and please believe in the great Pamireth God.

The God's letter is already on the way!"

Was this merely scene-setting talk? Karen did not know.

But Karen could see that the Son of God's words seemed to give all the Pamireth members present a way down. No one chose to resist anymore; all were placed in special handcuffs and escorted out in rows.

This process required nothing from Karen, but as each figure clad in black armor passed before him, Karen would curiously note the Knight Regiment insignia on their armor.

Ranging from the Second Knight Regiment to the Twelfth Knight Regiment, these armored figures did not belong to the same system as anyone present. If put into the context of a nation, it would be easier to understand: all other departments, including the Whip of Order to which Karen belonged, were administrative departments. They could be divided into many types and possessed many functions, but these black armors belonged exclusively to the "army."

The army answered directly to the Council of Elders of the Church of Order and usually did not participate in any local affairs.

These people were not on active duty; they were more like reserve garrisons stationed locally after discharge. Once a great church war commenced, they would be rapidly replenished into new Knight Regiments to go to war.

When that time truly came, personnel from various departments would be drafted into the military. The Whip of Order sequence stood ahead of various departments, becoming a gear in the war machine, but the sequence of these garrisoned troops was ahead of even the Whip of Order.

Not seeing the insignia of the First Knight Regiment was quite normal, because among the Twelve Knight Regiments of the Church of Order, the First Knight Regiment's combat capability was universally acknowledged as the strongest. Yet strength was not the reason they did not appear in the reserve garrisons; rather, it was because all members of the First Knight Regiment were... lying in coffins.

All the Pamireth members inside the meeting hall were escorted away. They were not considered prisoners; under a state of war, they were prisoners of war.

Even the Son of God, Delius, was placed in handcuffs. Due to his special status, a set of shackles was added to completely bind him. When he was escorted down and passed by Karen's side, he paused and nodded to Karen, seemingly thanking Karen for taking care of him over the past few days.

Immediately afterward, all remaining personnel left one after another. However, almost no signs of tension or anxiety could be seen on the faces of the people from the Church of Order. Because even if an accident had occurred with the Seventh Knight Regiment, the foundation of Order remained immensely powerful. For a war against the Pamireth Religion, there was no need to worry about victory or defeat.

At the entrance of the meeting hall, the Neo Squad gathered.

Including Richard, who also stepped out of the elevator;

Karen noticed that Fanny and Peg had both taken out a silver mask to put on. He had one too; after entering the hotel, Fanny had given him a newly customized silver mask, though Karen had left that mask in his room.

The reason for forgetting it was simple: he had one that he carried with him. Thus, turning slightly to fake the action of taking out a mask to put on, he tapped his ring, and a silver mask appeared on Karen's face.

Karen felt as if he were performing a "face-changing" act, and it truly was an ancestral art.

After the squad finished assembling, led by the Captain, everyone walked out of the hotel.

"During wartime, according to wartime regulations, all Whip of Order squads need to guarantee a half-day assembly efficiency," Neo spoke.

"Yes, Captain."

"Yes, Captain."

"During this period, everyone has worked hard. Dismissed for rest and regrouping."

The squad disbanded. The Captain did not say how the security mission rewards would be settled, and no one would ask at this time. A war was being fought; haggling over this made little sense, as these were special circumstances.

Richard pointed toward the VIP vehicle and said, "I've packed all the luggage from your rooms and put it in the car, including that sword of yours, Karen. It really is heavy."

"Good boy." Peg patted Richard on the head, gesturing for everyone to get in the car. "Come, I'll drive you guys home. Eh, Captain, do you need a ride too?"

Everyone else had left, but the Captain was still here. This did not fit the Captain's usual style. Generally, after dismissing, the Captain was always the first to leave; every time, he was the one who could least wait to get off work.

Of course, this was also one of the reasons the Captain was loved by his members. A leader who disliked overtime the most—who wouldn't like that?

"Yes," Neo responded.

Karen opened the car door for the Captain, and everyone sat inside.

This VIP vehicle could still be used for private purposes for one more day and needed to be returned tomorrow morning. Not only was the manufacturing cost of this car high in the market, but it had also undergone modifications by the Church of Order, meaning there was formation reinforcement and protection inside.

It had little to do with the car brand that produced it; designing the exterior this way was merely convenient for executing missions in the secular world.

Peg drove. Sitting in the car were five people: Neo, Karen, Richard, and Fanny.

"Captain, should I drop you home first?" Peg asked.

"Drop you home first."

"How can the driver be the first to go home," Peg laughed.

"This is an order."

"Yes, Captain."

Richard looked left and right. Because everyone was wearing masks, the changes in expressions were unclear, but he sensed something unusual.

Karen also sensed something unusual. No matter what, letting Peg arrive home first was indeed somewhat strange.

Soon, Peg's home arrived. It was an old apartment. Not everyone liked living in big houses; some people, even if their conditions were sufficient, still preferred old and small houses that held a special bond for them.

"Which of you will take over driving? I've arrived home."

Peige stepped out of the vehicle.

"Let me take the wheel," Richard offered, volunteering himself.

The captain nodded in approval.

Richard immediately flung open the car door and slid into the driver's seat.

Just then, the captain turned his gaze toward Karen and said, "Get out, knock Peige down, and draw blood."

"..." Karen.

"This is an order."

"Yes, Captain."

Karen could not fathom the reasoning behind this command, but he resolved to execute it nonetheless, trusting that Neo must have his reasons for having him do this; above all, drawing a bit of blood was far from killing her.

Having just alighted, Peige had intended to wait for her teammates in the car to depart before heading inside, only to see Karen step out of the vehicle holding the Sword of Arreus, walking toward her.

"Are you here to see me off? Karen."

Karen continued his advance toward Peige, dragging the tip of his blade along the ground, showering sparks—the implication was plain enough: I am going to strike you.

Peige made no move to defend herself, nor did she retreat; she simply asked in bewilderment, "What is the meaning of this?"

Karen angled his body slightly, settling into the opening posture of a sweeping swing, making it blatantly obvious that he was about to attack.

Peige still offered no defense, her curiosity remaining piqued as she asked, "What are you doing?"

Karen swung the sword, bringing it crashing toward Peige, utilizing not the edge of the blade, but its broad flat side.

"Thud!"

Peige was swatted down to the ground by Karen's single strike, still speaking in utter disbelief upon landing:

"You've gone mad!"

Karen stepped forward, delivering another heavy blow with the flat of his blade upon the recumbent Peige.

Peige still did not retaliate, choosing instead to parry with both arms.

"Thud!"

Even without Karen channeling the power of the Dark Moon Blade, the sheer weight of the Sword of Arreus combined with the momentum of the descent sent a concussive shockwave through Peige that injured her, causing fresh blood to spill from her lips.

This time, however, she did not ask Karen what he was doing, for he had already delivered two consecutive strikes, yet the occupants within the car—especially the captain—remained entirely still.

Seeing that Peige had bled, Karen sheared his weapon and gave her a nod; he himself was unsure what the gesture signified, but having beaten someone until they bled, it felt only proper to bid them farewell.

Turning on his heel, Karen dragged the Sword of Arreus back into the vehicle.

The engine roared to life,

Richard, somewhat anxious, enquired:

"Are we heading to my house?"

Richard had mistakenly assumed this was the Hound Squad's customary ritual following the conclusion of every mission.

Neo spoke up: "The West Water Street Bowling Alley."

"Understood, Captain."

Hearing that they were not bound for his own residence, Richard let out a long sigh of relief.

The luxury vehicle arrived at West Water Street; since today was a weekday and it was only midday, there were not many patrons inside the bowling alley.

Yet on one of the lanes, two figures were currently playing: none other than Marlo and Gray.

"How intriguing, for the captain to actually invite us out for a game of bowling."

With that, Marlo rolled the ball forward; with a resounding crash, it achieved a strike—albeit on the adjacent lane.

"Oops." Marlo looked on in slight embarrassment, quickly covering for himself, "I was just adding an extra layer of difficulty for myself."

Gray ignored him, casting his gaze instead toward Karen who was walking in from the entrance; most significantly, Karen was carrying the Sword of Arreus upon his shoulder.

Sensing the commotion, Marlo looked up and called out:

"Did the captain invite you along to play as well?"

Shouldering his sword, Karen walked up to stand before the pair and spoke: "I am going to beat you until you bleed. Who goes first?"

The two men froze in astonishment.

Marlo scratched his head and laughed, "Is this what they call internal strife? No, even if it were, surely it wouldn't be this direct?"

"I'll go first," Gray said.

"Mhm," Karen acknowledged, then asked, "Will you resist?"

Gray shook his head: "Just drawing blood, right? Then I won't resist. Besides, I'm no match for you right now anyway."

"Very well, stand firm."

"Mhm, I'm ready."

Karen swung the Sword of Arreus, playing a round of golf inside the bowling alley; Gray was sent flying through the air, crashing down onto the bowling lane, clutching his chest as he coughed up blood.

Immediately following this, Karen looked toward Marlo and tilted his chin, indicating that it was his turn.

Marlo promptly straightened his posture and said, "I am a formation master, not nearly as durable as Gray. Go easy on me."

"I feel as though the captain sent me here merely to offend people," Karen sighed, lifting the Sword of Arreus horizontally.

"No, I think the captain sent you here to collect favors," Marlo replied, seemingly having realized something.

"Give me a countdown, three seconds."

"Alright, alright, three..."

"Thud!"

Marlo was sent flying, landing near Gray's position, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Having finished the task, Karen waved his hand toward the two over there, then picked up an opened but unconsumed bottle of soda from nearby; holding the hilt of the sword over his shoulder with his right hand and the soda in his left, he walked out of the alley, sipping as he went.

Outside, he found Richard and Fannie standing by the car, while the captain sat right by the vehicle door.

"Captain, in accordance with your instructions, they have all bled."

"Mhm." Neo nodded and said, "Drive."

Karen looked toward Richard and Fannie, and Richard spoke up: "The captain wants us to find our own way back."

"Oh, very well."

Karen had no inkling as to what the captain was playing at with this display, but judging by what Marlo had said earlier, the man seemed to understand it; Karen, however, did not deliberately walk back over to ask.

After all, when you have just beaten someone until they bled, to run back and ask them:

"Please tell me quickly, why did I have to hit you?"

Such an approach would seem entirely uncalled for, regardless of the angle.

Placing the Sword of Arreus inside the vehicle, Karen slid into the driver's seat and started the luxury car; as he steered it outward, Karen asked, "Captain, where to?"

"The Ivy Cemetery."

"Understood, Captain."

After the luxury car had traveled a short distance down the road, Karen took the initiative to ask.

"Captain, why did you have me beat them?"

As he spoke, Karen raised his eyes, looking through the rearview mirror at Neo, who was seated in the back.

"To give them a reminder."

"A reminder of what?"

"Did you know, Karen? There are a lot of traitors within the Church of Order."

"Oh? Really?"

Karen glanced at Neo. He felt it was odd for Neo to say such a thing, because Captain, aren't you yourself a...

At the same time, Karen realized that he, too, seemed to be... one.

For it appeared that both he and Neo had used the exact same method to forge their identities within the Church of Order.

"There ought to be some within the negotiation delegation as well."

"Who?"

"I don't know, but there certainly are. While the ones seated at the negotiation table are the proper figures who belong up there, the retinue sitting below them forms a rather peculiar lineup."

"Oh?"

"The presence of your two former cellmates, Leon and Laure, in this delegation is the best proof of that. For a matter this monumental and serious, arranging for one gilded playboy to tag along would suffice, yet they arranged for two.

This implies the tone set by the higher-ups—it means the selection for the entire delegation was highly arbitrary. The screening of other personnel lacked its usual gravity, becoming far more flexible. Thus, many were able to pull strings to squeeze themselves in just to add a stroke to their resumes."

"And among them... there are spies?"

"Some are, but some don't quite count. For instance, the three you just drew blood from are not. However, they naturally maintain rather intimate ties with other churches, and routinely sell off a bit of intelligence to earn some extra pocket money."

"So, you had me beat them in order to..."

"With a mouth full of blood, it becomes quite inconvenient to talk nonsense."

Karen recalled what Marlo had said when he was sent flying by the slap: "No, I think the Captain wanted you to collect some favors."

"Captain, you wanted me to warn them to keep their mouths shut this time, so this matter..."

"By having you draw someone else's blood, I managed to skip a step—the step where I would personally have to beat you until you bled."

"..." Karen.

"Though, I hear your strength has improved significantly of late."

"I am still a long way from you, Captain."

"Yet my hands are truly starting to itch a bit."

"Captain, I know of an ointment that is highly effective for eczema."

The Ivy Cemetery had arrived.

Karen and Neo stepped out of the vehicle, and before they even reached the caretaker's cabin, they could hear the musical duet inside.

Pushing open the door,

Karen saw Old Saman holding a new recorder, blowing into it, while Alfred had a radio resting by his feet, providing the rhythm and accompaniment.

It was plain to see that Old Saman was enjoying himself thoroughly, his face beaming with smiles.

Upon seeing Karen and Neo enter, Old Saman stopped his playing.

Alfred stood up and moved to the side.

Old Saman let out a sigh and said, "The negotiations are over? It seems my funeral is about to begin."

Karen spoke up, "The Church of Order has declared war on the Church of Pamires."

"What?"

Hearing this, a sharp gleam instantly flashed through Old Saman's eyes, and his entire demeanor shifted abruptly. In that moment, he resembled a ferocious beast breaking free of its chains, poised to devour someone!

"I won't beat you two, but you can tell me where the new theological affairs building is located. I don't know who tore down the first one, but I can go tear it down again."

"Heh..."

Neo let out a laugh.

"Just keep preparing for your funeral."