Chapter 197: Unbelievable (Part 2)

  "Is your friend really reliable? Won't he be seen through?" Talise said with a frown.

  Ethan nodded: "Don't worry, I have great confidence in him. With his scheming and depth of thought, he can definitely lure that guy here."

  This was the place outside the royal capital where they had seen the Empress and Bishop Javi meet that day. They were still hiding in the grass not far away. Now it was broad daylight, so it was naturally impossible to use Drow's Deep Gloom spell again, but Ethan was not worried about being discovered. Ethan and Talise's skill level was absolutely sufficient to hide their presence well before making a move, and as for Drow, needless to say, stealth was her race's innate talent. And Rodhart would naturally attract all of Javi's attention. And no matter how good a person's powers of observation are, as long as their attention is not focused, there can be loopholes everywhere.

  According to what Rodhart said, if he went to the Cardinal and said he had discovered traces of a vampire and asked him to come and see, the Cardinal would definitely not bring any extra followers, and all his attention would surely be focused on this matter. It was the perfect opportunity for an ambush and surprise attack.

  "Didn't you go get that weapon of yours back?" Drow asked.

  Ethan was silent for a moment, then said: "The four of us dealing with that guy together should be more than enough even empty-handed."

  Drow sneered disdainfully and said: "To think you're actually this shy. I just hope your shyness doesn't get us killed."

  Ethan thought for a moment. He sighed and said: "Besides, this place isn't too far from the Magic Academy. I'm afraid that if I use it and the priests there happen to detect that kind of fluctuation and people come, it will be troublesome."

  At this moment, two familiar figures appeared in the distance. The three of them immediately fell silent.

  The two figures slowly approached. The one in the lead was Bishop Javi, and beside him was Rodhart. And sure enough, just as planned, Bishop Javi had not brought any followers. His face, heavy with worry, was filled with a mix of strangeness and anxiety.

  "Your Excellency, look, this is the trace of the vampire I discovered." Rodhart pointed with a grave expression at the mounds of earth on the ground, one of which already showed signs of being dug up. Half a corpse was exposed inside. "It's unbelievable that the bodies of those who had been bitten by a vampire are buried here, and they are all stray youths from the royal capital. So I am certain that the vampire must exist, and is becoming more and more cunning. And the murderer we captured is obviously innocent."

  Although the distance was far, Ethan could still see Rodhart's expression and movements clearly. He couldn't help but feel proud of his judgment. Rodhart's scheming and depth of thought were indeed deep. Even though he clearly knew that this Cardinal before him was the one threatening the Empress, the mastermind behind that vampire incident, but now, whether in his movements, expression, or words, there was truly no flaw to be found.

  "Hmm..." Bishop Javi nodded absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the several mounds on the ground, then turned his head and gave Rodhart a deep look. "How many other people know about this matter?"

  Ethan's heart tightened slightly. He could naturally sense the implication behind this sentence. But now was not the best time to make a move.

  "Quite a few people know." Rodhart's answer made Ethan breathe a sigh of relief. "These were first discovered by a small squad captain of the Paladin Order while on a mission, and quite a few people in the order also know."

  "When you go back, instruct them. This matter must be kept secret..." Bishop Javi sighed, nodded helplessly, bent down, as if wanting to take a closer look at the mounds on the ground. At the same time, his hand seemed to intentionally or unintentionally touch the hilt of the sword at his waist.

  Without any warning, a bolt of sword light suddenly shot out from the Cardinal's waist, breaking the air.

  And at almost the same time, Rodhart beside him also leaped back quickly.

  Rodhart's movements and reaction were absolutely fast enough. Ethan even dared to say that even if he were in the same position, his reaction wouldn't be more perfect, but that bolt of sword light still grazed his chest. This sword was too fast, without the slightest hint of killing intent or sign of an attack. It was almost as if this fatal strike was launched with an extremely casual flick of a finger.

  With a scream, Rodhart staggered back after landing. A cloud of blood mist sprayed from his chest. Under this sudden strike from the Cardinal, the fine steel knight's armor actually had no defensive ability at all, like a piece of paper. If not for his fast speed and reaction, he would probably have been split in two through the chest.

  "Your Excellency, what are you doing?" Rodhart had a look of terror on his face, although the light of White Magic flashed on his hand at the same time, stopping the bleeding, but this sword had undoubtedly seriously wounded him.

  "It's nothing, it's just better if fewer people know about these things..." Bishop Javi said faintly, shaking the blood from his sword. "Don't worry, you will still go back to command the Paladin Order, but from now on, you will do everything completely according to my will..."

  Just at this moment, a figure emitting white light suddenly appeared from the deep grass not far away and pounced directly towards the Cardinal like a crossbow bolt.

  Now was not the absolute best opportunity to strike, but Ethan could no longer wait, could not wait, he had to make a move. It was too late to use Necromancy. He shot out from his hiding place like a bolt of lightning, and in the time it took to blink twice, he had already rushed in front of Bishop Javi, a fist carrying the white light of Battle Qi and the roar of breaking wind went towards him.

  Looking at this suddenly appeared enemy, the Cardinal was slightly stunned, but immediately raised his sword to meet him. A flash of white light, brighter, faster, and sharper than the previous bolt, flashed from his hand.

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  Familiar. This was Ethan's first feeling upon seeing this sword light. But he had no time to think carefully about where he had seen it before. This sword light was so strong that he could barely withstand it. The Battle Qi condensed on his hand could only just barely block the sword's edge. And the surging, heavy, and vicious nature of this sword light. It was as if a tsunami had turned into a mountain, then transformed into a venomous snake, and finally became this light.

  In an instant, the pair of fists and the long sword had already stabbed, bumped, collided, struck, grabbed, and sliced at each other countless times. The airflow produced by the collision of Battle Qi sent out bursts of muffled, thunder-like sounds. Ethan desperately tried to grab or deflect this sword, or land his fist on the opponent's body, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not succeed, instead, he was forced back a step in the continuous exchange.

  It was only at this moment that he realized with a shock that although he had already estimated this young Cardinal's strength to be very high, he discovered only now that he had still underestimated him.

  However, even so, this battle was still a near-certain victory. Although they were a step slower than him, Talise and Drow had also arrived. Dealing with this opponent with the combined strength of three people should be no problem.

  The Cardinal also seemed to have sensed the disadvantageous situation. He gave a cold snort, advanced again, and struck with his sword again. This time, the sword light was actually more surging and turbulent than the last.

  It was as if some important memory was about to surface in his mind. But Ethan had absolutely no inclination to grasp it. He had to advance instead of retreating, otherwise the Cardinal would use this opening to disengage and retreat. The meditation technique was fully activated. He could already see the boundless sword contained within the light before him.

  But just as he mustered all his strength and fighting spirit to meet this sword light, a cool, slow feeling suddenly arose from behind him.

  This thin feeling pierced his skin, broke his muscles, stabbed into his right lung between two ribs, and then exited from his chest in the same straight, opposite process.

  The meditation technique recorded all sensations completely and in detail. Ethan could even hear how each of his muscles was being cut and torn, and the sound of blood gushing into his alveoli, causing convulsions.

  Anyone who saw a tip of a sword protruding from their chest would only feel terror, but Ethan was not like that. He only felt surprise and anger, an anger so intense it could almost make him forget the pain in his chest. He knew whose sword this was, knew who alone could strike such a sword.

  With just this pause, the sword light in the Cardinal's hand had already flashed across his body like lightning. He immediately fell like an empty sack.

  Given his stamina and fighting spirit, even if his limbs were chopped off, he would not have fallen so powerlessly. But the Cardinal's sword, all of it, passed precisely over his joints, like a scalpel in Sandro's hand, and then all his strength immediately vanished.

  Slumping to the ground, Ethan could just see Rodhart behind him. Through eyes filled with his own blood pressure, so that everything was a blood-red blur, Ethan saw that there was not the slightest unease on Rodhart's handsome face, as if stabbing his best friend from the back just now was completely justified.

  Rodhart's right hand was on his chest, inside the armor, blood was still seeping out. That sword from before was indeed not faked at all. He and Bishop Javi exchanged a look of mutual understanding.

  Only now did Ethan fully understand what was going on.

  This was indeed a trap, but it was not a trap targeting the Cardinal, but a trap targeting himself. He had not been wrong. Rodhart's depth of thought was indeed deep, his scheming was indeed sufficient, it was just that such depth and scheming were used to deal with him.

  A groundless indignation surged in his chest, turning into a low, beast-like roar in his throat, but it was immediately choked into a cough by the blood gushing from his lungs. A large mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth.

  Seeing the original ally suddenly stab Ethan through the heart from behind with a sword, the Temple Knight and Drow, who were rushing halfway, both cried out in alarm, but after the cry of alarm, their reactions were completely different. Talise gave an angry shout and continued to charge towards Bishop Javi and Rodhart, while Drow turned and ran.

  Jessica's choice was undoubtedly much more correct than Talise's, but at this moment, no choice seemed to make a difference. Bishop Javi casually took out a scroll from behind him and unfurled it. A fluctuation of White Magic flashed by. Dots of light from a Paralysis Spell lit up around Jessica, and she immediately fell to the ground like a puppet, not moving.

  "You evil Necromancer, how dare you..." Talise had no chance to finish her nonsense. She was immediately drawn into the Cardinal's incomparably sharp storm of sword light and was instantly forced to the point where she could not even speak.

  "To think it's actually Knight Talise. When did you actually get mixed up with this guy? This really surprises me. What a fine disciple taught by Lord Lancelot." Bishop Javi sneered. The sword in his hand had already clashed with Talise's sword several times in an instant.

  Talise staggered back and shouted angrily: "Pah. For a guy like you to actually be hiding in The Radiant Citadel, I must... In the name of the Lord, grant me your demon-breaking blade..." She had to immediately shut up and change her words, casting a Blessing Spell on herself to barely block the long sword stabbing from the opposite side.

  "In the name of the Lord, grant me your demon-breaking blade." The Cardinal sneered and casually recited the same prayer. A snow-white light lit up on his sword. Both the casting speed and the magical power that lit up the sword were far superior to what the female knight had used.

  The figures of the two separated again with the dense sound of their clashing swords. Once again it was Talise who staggered back. A lock of blonde hair fell from her head, and a bloodstain also appeared on her forehead.

  "Without the Radiant Battleplate, do you think you are still my match?" Almost simultaneously, the same white magic light flared up on both the Cardinal and Talise, and the two fought together again.

  Rodhart did not help. He had long seen the difference in their strength. Finally, Talise was kicked hard in the stomach and bent over in pain. Javi then added a palm strike to her neck, and she also fell to the ground.

  "Lancelot kindly let you out to hide for a while, but you yourself ran into my hands. This is great. Now I've caught a handle to use against him. His disciple actually got together with this wanted man who assassinated Bishop Ronis and Bishop Eschol. I believe anyone will be very interested in this matter." Bishop Javi looked at the unconscious Temple Knight and smiled triumphantly.

  At this time, a group of figures began to slowly appear in the distance around them. They moved towards this place in a surrounding formation. These people were all dressed in the same attire, with neat steps and movements, but every person's footsteps were light, their movements were fluid and concise, approaching quickly but almost silently. These several hundred people were actually all experts of considerable skill.

  Ethan coughed up another mouthful of blood. A truly heart-wrenching, lung-tearing pain. He could hear the blood gurgling in his alveoli, pulling as if even his heart were about to fall out. But he couldn't help but give a wry, sad smile. He recognized this group of people. They were all members of the Paladin Order, and to think that hundreds of them had appeared here. I'm afraid the entire Paladin Order has come. Even the timing of their arrival was grasped so well. They had calculated that his attention would surely be focused on the Cardinal and that he would not notice their approach.

  But even so, the performance of Rodhart and Bishop Javi just now was still so realistic and effortful. One could see the deep effort and painstaking care put into this trap. He had indeed lost. Although he still found it unbelievable that Rodhart would actually side with this Necromancer who threatened the Empress, the facts were laid out before him. The sword that pierced his chest was more persuasive than anything or any inference.

  Bishop Javi walked over and looked at Ethan on the ground. Although his expression just now was so natural and measured, deeply hidden, now there was actually an almost uncontrollable ecstasy jumping on his face. This was just a meticulously and insidiously arranged, near-certain trap, but he acted as if he had accomplished a great feat that could go down in history.

  "In the end, I won," he said, his voice a bit excited. "And this is just the beginning. I'm telling you, I will win in other places as well."

  Ethan powerlessly coughed up another mouthful of blood. He did not answer, nor could he answer.

  Bishop Javi bent down, one hand using White Magic, and the other hand pulling the sword that was left in Ethan's chest cavity out. His proficiency in White Magic was actually no weaker than any full-time priest. Ethan could feel that his originally severe wound had immediately stopped bleeding, and even his spirit had recovered somewhat.

  "Do you know why I won?" The Cardinal squatted beside Ethan. His lowered voice and expression seemed to be showing off, yet also like he was sighing in wonder. He said, word by word: "I'm returning a phrase to you. Character determines everything."

  Ethan's body trembled. He looked up at Bishop Javi.

  The young Cardinal also gazed at him, a smile still on his face, and it was even brighter, more brilliant, and more triumphant.

  The strange, familiar feeling that had been surging during the battle now finally returned, and a single sentence cleared the final fog of confusion. He thought of a person. Ethan looked at him, the disbelief on his face even greater than when he was ambushed by Rodhart just now. He opened his mouth with difficulty: "It's you?"

  "Yes, it's me." Bishop Javi, this man who was once called Clovis, smiled and nodded. He said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I can finally return this phrase to you. Character determines everything. The reason for your failure is a problem of character. Because you believe in human nature, whereas I understand human nature."

  "How is it possible... it's you..." Ethan was still in shock, in complete disbelief.

  The Cardinal savored this face, a mix of surprise, failure, and despair, with extreme satisfaction. He was certain this was the most moving expression he had ever seen in his life. He sighed contentedly and said: "Don't worry, I won't kill you. I know this should be one of the bottom lines given to me by old Mr. Sandro. And I also promised someone else that I couldn't let you die... So don't worry."