Amber Sword

Williams was interrupted by Brand, his face turning pale, and he replied coldly, "Here, I can naturally represent the Holy Temple. I have no interest in explaining to someone like you, a sinner’s descendant. You just need to understand that the Holy Temple never makes mistakes."

Brand sneered disdainfully. To be truthful, if not for the heavy influence of the Holy Temple and to clarify the Princess’s innocence, he wouldn’t even bother looking at the other’s face. In his view, Williams was nothing more than a complete fool throughout history. "Whether it’s right or wrong is for you to judge, naturally you wouldn’t make mistakes. Unfortunately, Saint Ausor, Fanzan, and even Elrant wouldn’t agree with your nonsense. The Holy Temple doesn’t make mistakes? Is the history of the Chief Priest in the Ruth Region being bought by the All Things Return to One truly nonexistent?"

"What Chief Priest of the Ruth Region?" Williams’ face slightly changed, and he placed his hand on the sword hilt.

"Ruth’s High Priest Han Fuke, close to the people like a child, was once a strong contender for the position of Central Priest, yet later mysteriously disappeared. The Holy Temple declared he died of illness publicly, which is laughable. Would a dignified priest die from illness? Was the Healing Technique a divine art you fervently researched after the Saint’s Year of Division? How do I remember it was a spell that existed since the Saint’s Year?"

Williams’ complexion showed signs of turning from blue to black, but Brand did not intend to let him off. To be honest, the Flame Temple’s organization is vast, with countless regional High Priests, and peripheral areas like Erune have long been infiltrated like a sieve. The Anman he encountered in the Trade Wind Ring is definitely not the first Lurker from the Unity of All Things, nor will he be the last.

"It’s ridiculous that a grand institution like the Flame Temple can’t even come up with a decent excuse. Perhaps it’s due to its bureaucratic rigidity. Yet, your authority truly reaches deep into the hearts of the people, with no one pursuing such bizarre reasoning. But do you really think that apart from the Cruz people, the rest of the continent’s nations are fools?"

Brand’s words made the battlefield seem to plunge into an ice point. Such words would have been considered blasphemous in the past. For centuries, under the rule of the Four Great Sanctuaries, civilians never thought to question the Supreme’s authority. But it’s like a piece of window paper; once someone breaks it through, it can instill doubt in most people’s minds.

Moreover, it’s not like the nobles haven’t suspected something shady behind this; they’re merely aware of it.

Brand continued, "Moreover, do you think there’s truly no one who understands everything about the secrets within? Don’t forget that there are too many eyes in this world. Wizards record history; astrologers foretell the future. Only you could believe you’ve deceived the world. Though religious incidents in the Ruth Region have been sealed for nearly three centuries, in Bujia and White City there are many documents recorded, even under the Flame Temple’s rule. In Jia Ka and Yaladebu, there are still many descendants of those aware of the truth residing alive."

"Do you think I’m lying? Then let me tell you, in the First Epoch, year 101, in Xiqifran—"

"Enough!" Williams looked at Brand as if he’d seen a ghost; Brand’s words were precisely the most strictly sealed secret of the Flame Temple. Actually, the upper ranks of the Flame Temple all know about the infiltration from below, but there’s no way to make everything public, because authority is everything to the Holy Temple. But the problem lies in, how does he know?

As Brand mentioned the First Epoch, year 101, Williams felt as though a sword pierced his chest. That was precisely the critical point in the religious case. He didn’t know how Brand knew these details, but one thing was certain; if this were a nightmare, then Brand would surely be the largest nightmare in front of him.

With such serious leaks, even if he’s implicated, he’ll end up in trouble. Although he’s the Deputy Commander of the Holy Temple Knights, let’s not forget that while the Holy Temple Knights have only one Commander, there are seven Deputy Commanders.

"This is simply the difference between a Saint and a Mortal. Human hearts are restless, and those bought by cultists can only be said to have willingly fallen. What does it have to do with the Holy Temple? The Holy Temple dealing with such traitors just shows that the interior remains pure." Williams suppressed his inner unease and replied sternly.

"Eloquent, Your Excellency Williams, if this were an isolated case, you might be correct. But as far as I know, the Holy Temple’s performance externally doesn’t seem as good as you claim, for example—" Brand replied aggressively.