Chapter 146: Divine Retribution of the Arbiter

With just a single exchange, the two men understood that the other was not to be trifled with. Although Manigoldo's strength had only just broken through to the early fourth tier, protected by his sacred armor, his defense was entirely capable of withstanding Anderson’s attacks. Meanwhile, Anderson, as a powerhouse in the late fourth tier, was not someone Manigoldo could easily defeat.

If the two truly wanted to determine a victor, they would have to fight with their lives on the line. Otherwise, given their endurance, they would have to battle for hours before anyone finally fell.

"Enough."

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out, breaking the tense atmosphere between them. Turning their heads, the two saw Ezio approaching in full assassin attire, closely followed by two beautiful women.

Facing the new leader of the Assassin Brotherhood and the commander-in-chief of this operation, both Manigoldo and Anderson showed the proper respect. Ezio’s appearance provided a convenient way out, so they immediately separated and greeted him.

Ezio looked at the two of them, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "This is your first operation. I do not want any accidents to occur. The Arbitrators do not tolerate failure. Understood?"

Though neither Anderson nor Manigoldo was intimidated by Ezio's stern warning, they nodded solemnly. As Arbitrators, if they failed their very mission, they would have no face left to show the Arch-Prelate.

Seeing them nod, Ezio said nothing more. He turned to the younger of the two women behind him and said, "Lady Cecily, it is these two. Please go ahead."

With that, Ezio stepped aside to clear a path for Cecily. Hearing this name, both Anderson and Manigoldo were startled. As a grand apothecary of the Father God Church, Cecily had brewed many useful medicines over the past few months. She was a prominent figure deeply adored by all combat personnel, as everyone had benefited from the various medicines she concocted, with countless lives saved from the jaws of death thanks to her potions. It could be said that among combatants, even those who might not like her certainly did not despise her.

Rumors had it that the former Saintess of the Lotus-Ming Cult had numerous admirers, but gossip suggested that the person she fancied was the Arch-Prelate himself. Since the Arch-Prelate had never expressed any aversion toward her, countless people had their dreams of a goddess shattered, turning her into an immensely popular idol within the church—one to be admired from afar and never defiled.

Recently, word had spread that Cecily and her personal bodyguard, Mylene, intended to officially join the Father God Church and become part of it, though it remained unconfirmed whether this was true.

However, such gossip seemed irrelevant to the current mission. What was the purpose of Cecily and her bodyguard Mylene coming here? Could it be to deliver medicine to them?

Both Manigoldo and Anderson thought along these lines.

As it turned out, their guess was entirely correct. Cecily stepped forward and immediately produced several bottles of medicine. "Gentlemen, these are the new elixirs I have recently brewed: the Might Pill to increase strength, the Zephyr Pill to boost speed, and the Ironbone Pill to enhance defense. They have already been tested and yield quite good results with no side effects. The Arch-Prelate mentioned that you are undertaking a dangerous mission and asked me to bring these supplies for you. Please accept them."

With that, Cecily separated the medicine bottles and handed three vials to each of the two Arbitrators.

The two quickly accepted them and expressed their heartfelt gratitude. Cecily smiled and replied, "Please don't mention it; this is only my duty. By the way, remember to tell me how they perform in actual combat when you return. If the results are favorable, I will increase production so these can become standard provisions for elite combat personnel."

The two nodded upon hearing this. They understood this was essentially a field test, but they had no objections, especially since the medicines had no side effects.

Presently, Cecily and her inseparable personal bodyguard Mylene departed, while Ezio began briefing the two Arbitrators on the target and details of the mission.

After walking for a short while, Cecily couldn't help turning to look at the silent Mylene. A complex expression crossed her face as she asked, "Mylene, have you really decided?"

Mylene turned her head at the question. Her pupils were silver—the hallmark of an Apocalypse Knight. In a low voice devoid of much emotion, she replied, "Yes, my lady. Please grant me your blessing. I have already made up my mind. Over the past few months, I have become nothing more than a useless vase. I do not want this. Even if no one says it aloud, I refuse to accept it. I want revenge—revenge against those demons of the Fierce God Temple! When I failed the Paladin trial, I realized that someone with darkness and hatred in her heart could never become a righteous Paladin. Now, I have successfully become an Apocalypse Knight, so I must officially join the Father God Church and become a member of the Black Blade Knights. Therefore, please grant me your blessing."

Cecily listened silently to Mylene's words, a trace of internal struggle crossing her features. At last, she offered a somewhat bitter smile. "Then I wish you success, Mylene. I believe you will surely become a great Apocalypse Knight." She paused, lowering her head, and spoke with a wistful tone, "It seems it is also time for me to let go of those unrealistic delusions. Mylene, you need not carry any psychological burden. I have already decided; after a short while, once I finish the new apothecary work, I will petition Grand Prelate Neil to join the Father God Church. That way, we can still maintain our previous relationship, can we not?"

Mylene was stunned for a moment, then asked in pleasant surprise, "My lady, have you truly decided?"

Cecily nodded, her tone carrying a sense of both liberation and conviction. "During these past few months in the Father God Church, I have come to understand many things. I realize that for quite a long time to come, small and medium-sized churches will no longer have any space to survive. The religious circles of the Starry Kingdom and even the northern nations of the Oured Continent will inevitably become battlegrounds for the major churches. Even if I could rebuild the Lotus-Ming Cult, it would likely be swallowed up by other faiths. Rather than that, it is far better to thoroughly merge into the Father God Church."

Knowing Cecily well, Mylene understood that she must have thought this through thoroughly, so she said no more. Joyfully, she began discussing future plans with Cecily.

Meanwhile, on the other side, after listening to Ezio's briefing, both Manigoldo and Anderson were somewhat shocked. Manigoldo asked in disbelief, "Wipe out Mayor Beristotti's family in Charles Town? Why must we do such a thing?"

Hearing this, Ezio cast a cold gaze at Manigoldo. Knowing that the question was merely a reflexive reaction, he nevertheless said coldly, "Remember, as an Arbitrator, your eyes should see only the success or failure of the mission, not the 'why.' Should there be a next time, you will no longer serve as an Arbitrator. The Arch-Prelate has decreed that if an Arbitrator harbors doubts and hesitation when facing a mission, their status as an Arbitrator shall be stripped away!"

Hearing this, Manigoldo felt a chill in his heart and quickly declared he would ask no more. Without wasting further breath, Ezio raised a hand toward the sky.

Before long, a massive blue bird descended. It was none other than Bai Ling, whose colossal stature startled the two Arbitrators.

Ezio immediately vaulted onto Bai Ling's back and said to the astonished pair, "Get on. This is the Arch-Prelate's sacred mount, Bai Ling. You should be able to sense it—its power surpasses all of us. The Arch-Prelate stated that the Arbitrators' mission is fraught with peril, and Lord Bai Ling has been sent to assist us to ensure success rate and efficiency. Climb aboard immediately, and do not keep Lord Bai Ling waiting too long."

Hearing this, Manigoldo and Anderson quickly scrambled onto Bai Ling's back. Bai Ling immediately flapped its wings and took off, soaring toward Charles Town, a hundred kilometers away.

Back in his study, Link perceived through his connection with Bai Ling that Ezio and his group had set out. He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, then opened them again, whispering with a chilling intent to kill, "Beristotti, do not blame me. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for taking bribes from the Fierce God Temple and daring to collude with them against our church's branch. All those who aid heretics in harming the Father God Church must die!"

A chilling murderous aura blanketed the skies above Charles Town, and the blade of judgment began to bare its edge.

Flying at full speed, Bai Ling transported Ezio and the other two to Charles Town in a mere ten minutes. The three dismounted outside the town and quietly slipped inside. By now, both Manigoldo and Anderson were eager to eliminate the mayor's family.

Although Ezio had told them not to ask why, he had ultimately revealed the reason for targeting the Beristotti family, which left both men deeply angered by the mayor's collusion with a hostile church to ravage the branch chapel. This, too, was part of Link's design; while Arbitrators needed to be cold-blooded, a measure of 'reason' and 'righteousness' was also effective in sparking their combat spirit—as was the case now.

During this period, in addition to making preparations, Link had instructed his subordinates to thoroughly investigate the branch chapel affair. Learning that the Fierce God Temple and Beristotti had acted in concert led directly to today's plan.

Guided by Ezio, an expert assassin, the trio quickly arrived outside the Beristotti estate. Although it was merely the home of a small-town mayor, the residence was exceptionally luxurious, boasting a massive courtyard that could rival a noble manor. Since the mayor was no nobleman and no one in his family engaged in commerce, it was clear the man was an utterly corrupt official.

Killing such a person required no pangs of conscience.

Standing outside, Ezio instructed Manigoldo and Anderson, "You will launch a frontal assault and bring the Father God's wrath. There is no need to conceal your identities; our purpose this time is to strike terror into the enemy. There are several powerhouses sent by the Fierce God Temple to protect this household; your mission is to draw them out and eliminate them. I will keep watch from behind. Should the Beristotti family attempt to flee, I will be responsible for intercepting them. Remember, this mission is the debut of you Arbitrators. Do not disappoint the Arch-Prelate, and do not disappoint the Father God. May the glory of the Father God be with you!"

"Praise the Father God!"

The two Arbitrators whispered the four-word phrase, wearing matching sinister smiles as they each chose a different route to enter the luxurious estate.

The Beristotti family was truly a textbook example of corrupt officialdom. Not only did a minor town mayor possess a lavish mansion, but he also employed a large retinue of guards and had even turned the town garrison into his private militia.

In times of peace, the Beristotti family's actions would have been enough to get their heads lopped off. But now, with the Starry Kingdom mired in continuous internal strife and the upper echelons too preoccupied to care, such small fry seized the opportunity to rear their heads one after another.

Because they walked openly into the estate, Anderson was soon discovered. A five-man duty squad immediately blocked his path, demanding to know who he was.

Seeing this, the fierce grin on Anderson's face deepened. In a tone that seemed casual yet was filled with magnetic and devout gravity, he said, "We are Arbitrators, the blades of the Father God, the agents of divine punishment. Our mission is to purify the fools who resist the grace of the Father God—to purify every last scrap of their flesh and blood!"

As he spoke, Anderson grinned maliciously and raised the two short blades in his hands, scraping them hard against one another to produce a harsh, piercing hiss, while uttering four words at the same time:

"Praise the Father God!"

As the words fell, Anderson lunged like a cannonball toward the guards, who were momentarily dazed by his nonsensical speech. The razor-sharp edges of his twin blades flashed with cold light as he swung them. By the time he dashed past the guards, all of them had been hacked into pieces, their shattered bodies scattering across the ground.