Chapter 599: We... Will Control York City! (2/4)

Chapter 599 We... Will Hold York City! (2/4)

Once you pass this stage, or rather, go deeper into it, you should grasp another realization:

As long as your faith remains sufficiently steadfast, the methods of struggle can be flexible and ever-changing.

Charging forward like a martyr while shouting long live the faith is certainly a magnificent death; but bowing your head and curling your body for the sake of the spark of faith, waiting for a better blooming, is actually more worthy of respect.

As long as your own true heart is not lost, that is all that matters."

Karen bowed and said, "Thank you for your teachings."

Bishop Bern said with dissatisfaction, "You are corrupting the youth."

Wolfrun rolled his eyes at Bishop Bern and said, "I was merely describing you."

Bishop Bern: "..."

Wolfrun picked up the bowl in front of him, brought it to his lips, took a large gulp, swallowed it down, and smiled:

"But how should I put it, what you did was not without effect; only after stirring up these wrappers and fillings can it be convenient for us to swallow them down directly."

Having spoken, Wolfrun struck the edge of the bowl with his spoon.

"Ding..."

A crisp sound echoed out.

Setting down the bowl, Wolfrun took a napkin to wipe his mouth, then crossed his hands over his abdomen, speaking to Bern and Karen:

"The chat is done, the meal is finished, and the tea has been

"My Lord, it has already come to this, and yet you..."

"I am not testing you, nor do I intend to investigate you. If I truly wished to launch an investigation, the matter with Inquisitor Pavaro last time would have been the perfect point of entry. I am merely a little curious. But I have a single rule: I will never launch an investigation to satisfy my own curiosity, for that is an easy way to lead oneself into a deep ditch, the kind from which you can never climb out again."

For a moment, Karen did not know how to respond to those words.

"Just treat it as my mad ravings before a monumental event. As for whether it is or not, well, you already have the answer in your heart anyway. Come now, let us go inside."

Led by Bishop Burn, Karen followed him into the largest factory building before them, a place so utterly pitch-black that it seemed as though some strange entity within could swallow all light.

"Karen, do you have enough hands?"

"Which kind do you mean? If we are talking purely about headcount, it is actually sufficient."

When the investigation first began, Bernie, in order to create the illusion of his overwhelming support, had summoned Whip of Order squads not only from this district but also from neighboring city districts to assist.

Many squads had arrived, but they were only responsible for catching small fry, with no grand actions whatsoever; after nearly half a month, everyone's morale was abysmal, and squads had gradually begun submitting reports to return to their own tasks.

This was just like centuries ago when a king would summon lords to lead their subordinates to war; if they kept losing battles or simply wasting time without seeing any real profit, the lords would gradually disperse, leading their own men back to their domains.

"What I am asking is, is it enough to be of use? Tomorrow, when they intend to release the prisoners, you will have to lead your men inside to re-arrest those five Lords Bishop."

Karen hesitated for a moment before replying, "Probably not."

Bernie and Harry, having suffered consecutive losses twice already, would certainly not give him another chance to act recklessly; furthermore, they held the power of discourse and had stripped away the aura that once surrounded him, a fact evidenced by the recent sharp decline in the number of journalists.

In addition, Director Bernie had told him to his face that this was the Church, not the secular world, and even in the secular world, relying purely on external means to interfere deeply with power was predicated on the other side still wishing to act like gentlemen.

Karen could well imagine that if he truly intended to lead men to re-arrest the prisoners tomorrow, he could bring quite a crowd with him, but inside the Ecclesiastical Affairs Building, the moment Director Bernie stood up and gave the word, half his men would immediately choose to stand down;

And by the time Governor Harry appeared, he would likely have only three squads left behind him.

His own original squad, Neo's Hound Squad, and that squad under Gendi... and a question mark even had to be placed over Gendi's squad.

Yet the trouble was that he was not truly leading men to break into a prison or launch a rebellion; it was more akin to gangs calling upon their men for a turf brawl.

After all, neither side was willing to trigger a substantive internal conflict, so if he had too few men, how could he possibly play the game?

"I shall transfer men to you," Bishop Burn said.

Karen asked, "If I use your men, will it be compliant with the rules?"

"Between system and system, department and department, is it not the most normal thing in the world to cooperate occasionally? Besides, you are currently qualified to send out formal application letters, though given your current rank, if you send an application to higher departments or request an excessive level of cooperation, they will choose to ignore it in all probability. I am different; I am a man who delights most in helping others, haha."

With that,

Bishop Burn clapped his hands twice.

Instantly, the factory building lit up.

Standing in what had once been the darkness were rows upon rows of garrisoned knights, formed in immaculate ranks, completely motionless; and upon the two flanks of the formation, giant falcons lowered their heads, the falcon knights atop them gripping their reins with both hands, without a single movement.