Chapter 213: Compromise
Despite Sarah and Manny’s compromise, Jack and John still had their men tear down the castle gates.
Duane was using this action to send a message: on Black Forest Island, every faction, without exception, had to play by the rules.
Furthermore, he planned to take this opportunity to assign tasks to Sarah, Manny, and the others.
As the group passed through the courtyard, they heard babbling and groaning.
Duane glanced over and saw the people who had been driven mad by torture.
Although they were still babbling incoherently, their clothes weren’t dirty, a clear sign that someone had been looking after them.
"Who usually looks after these people?" Duane asked.
Sarah was a little surprised. She wondered why the Baron was suddenly asking about this. ’Could it be that something is wrong again?’
She shot Jesse a look.
"I am, Baron!"
Jesse mustered her courage and stepped forward. "Do you have instructions for me?"
Duane could tell from her cautious demeanor that this Little Priest was rather timid.
He smiled and said, "You’ve taken good care of them. This is the first time I’ve seen kindness and compassion from any of you."
At his words, the faces of the two Priests, Sarah and Otto, darkened, and Manny also felt uneasy.
’What? As if we have no kindness or compassion?’
Hearing such praise, Jesse didn’t know how to react for a moment. She said shyly,
"May the Holy Radiance protect all life! As a believer, it is my duty to uphold this responsibility!"
Duane laughed. "Priest Jesse, you look so young, yet you have such firm faith. It’s truly admirable!"
According to his intelligence reports, the Priest was seventeen years old and a Level 1 Mage. Her aptitude was considered decent.
"Owington!" he called out.
"Sir, what are your orders?"
"Go get half a pound of Hot Spring Mountain Tea and give it to Priest Jesse," Duane ordered.
"No, no, no!"
Jesse quickly refused. "You don’t have to give me anything. It was just my duty."
"No, it’s what you deserve!"
Duane smiled and walked toward the castle’s great hall.
Sarah followed with her gaze lowered. She didn’t understand. Just a moment ago, Duane had been completely merciless, and now he was giving away Hot Spring Mountain Tea.
Even if it was only half a pound, that was still worth one Gold Coin.
Jesse, walking at the rear, also wanted to follow, but Priest Otto blocked her path.
"Hmph. You just stay out here and take care of these people. The business inside is no concern of yours."
Jesse was startled. "Oh... Oh, okay."
She didn’t follow them inside.
Otto scoffed internally. ’Just for taking care of a few people? The Baron is giving a reward for such a trivial matter?’
He glanced at Jesse’s small, thin figure. ’Heh, that Hot Spring Mountain Tea is as good as mine.’
When Duane reached the great hall, the kind expression he had shown Jesse vanished.
He sat on a long pew in the hall, which had been converted into a chapel. "Bring him in," he said.
As soon as he spoke, Manny walked in, leading a Warrior who looked somewhat dejected.
Duane looked at the man, but the man didn’t dare to meet his gaze.
"I hear you’re saying my constables, Jack and John, framed you for this?"
He said coldly, "So I’m asking you now, what really happened?"
The aura of a Celestial Tier Warrior radiated from him again. Kendrick was so terrified his knees gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
"It was me! I did it!"
He cried out tearfully, "I was the one who stole the twenty pounds of Frog Fish Monster meat! I was the one who injured those people!"
Manny kicked him. "Then why are you only admitting it now?"
Duane had no interest in such theatrics. "Since the facts are clear, tell me how he should be punished."
Only then did Sarah speak, her voice full of apology. "I will suspend him from his duties and have him repent in the chapel. We will also compensate your subjects for their losses. What do you think of that arrangement?"
"Is that all?"
Duane said, dissatisfied, "For the stolen goods, compensation will be triple the value. You will provide free treatment for the injured, and you will pay them three Gold Coins in damages."
He continued, looking at Kendrick, "As for the assailant, take him to Judgment Crossroad and give him sixty lashes!"
"Baron!"
Sarah objected again. "Kendrick may be a Basic-level Warrior, but sixty lashes is too severe! He might never walk again!"
Duane retorted, "The people he beat still can’t get out of bed!"
Panicked, Sarah voiced her concerns directly.
"If you insist on a public punishment, I’m afraid the Holy Radiance Court will have to withdraw from Black Forest Island. We will be unable to continue spreading our faith in your territory!"
Duane’s response was cold. "That would only prove your faith isn’t sincere enough. Besides, whether you can spread your faith is your business. Grand Mage Clement never said I had to cooperate with you."
Then, feigning a bit of anger, he said, "Jack! John! Can you two be a little more proactive? Do I have to say everything twice?"
The two men scrambled forward, flanking Kendrick on either side and dragging him out.
"Knight Commander, save me!"
"High Priest, save me!"
Kendrick screamed, but Manny and Sarah didn’t dare move a muscle. Kaelon’s gaze was already locked on them.
If they dared to interfere, they would undoubtedly be sent flying, just like Deputy Captain Benson.
Sarah gave Priest Otto a meaningful look, and he understood immediately, following them out.
If the punishment couldn’t be avoided, then he had to ensure Kendrick received treatment afterward so that he wouldn’t die.
Soon, only Duane, Sarah, Manny, and Kaelon remained in the chapel.
The High Priest said bitterly, "Baron, I think I finally understand. You never had any intention of letting me recruit believers on Black Forest Island."
They had recently discovered that many people on the island treated them as nothing more than doctors.
Even those they had saved with their magic were only grateful for a few days.
When Sarah and the others tried to use faith and doctrine to get these people to join the Holy Radiance Court, offering the Holy Radiance’s Protection in exchange for labor, they were almost universally refused.
After all, they could earn money by working for Duane, but working for the Holy Radiance Court was purely an "obligation."
After thinking it over, Sarah finally concluded that Duane had twisted the concept.
The people only saw this place as a Medical Sanctuary, not a chapel of the Holy Radiance Court.
Likewise, the people only saw them as doctors, not followers of the Holy Radiance.
"Now you’re just blaming me unfairly."
Duane retorted, "I only returned to my territory today, and my men wouldn’t dare to touch you. Whether you can recruit believers or not has nothing to do with me."
Sarah shook her head. She didn’t know how to argue, because what Duane said was, in fact, the truth.
"Baron, what must we do for you to spare Kendrick and give us a way forward?"
Judgment Crossroad was the place where Daniels and the others had been executed.
If Kendrick were to be punished there publicly, the island’s subjects would surely draw many conclusions.
Their mission would become incredibly difficult.
Duane’s fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the pew. "Somehow, I’m being made to feel like I’m the one in the wrong."
He sneered. "Let me repeat myself. His Majesty Eric has promised in writing that for the next twenty years, all affairs on Black Forest Island will be decided by me, and me alone."
"So, I don’t care if the Holy Radiance Court has issued its own laws, and I don’t care if they’ve reached Black Forest Island. Here, my rules are the only law that matters!"
Sarah’s face paled. She had lost both the will and the ability to continue the conversation.
’If she could, she would write a letter to Bishop Clement right now, requesting to withdraw from Black Forest Island.’
But she couldn’t.
’Returning to the Royal Capital like this would be a great personal loss!’
Just then, Manny stepped forward.
He was of noble birth and understood the rules of negotiating with other nobility far better than Sarah did.
"Baron, now that Kendrick has confessed and we will pay the fine as ordered, would you consider allowing the punishment to be carried out inside the chapel?"
Manny explained, "If you are willing to show us some support, we will do our utmost to repay your kindness!"
Duane narrowed his eyes, saying nothing.
Manny continued, "We can provide free magical healing for your soldiers and assist you, free of charge, in maintaining order and security in the territory."
After a moment of silence, Duane suddenly smiled.
He much preferred Manny’s way of speaking. Sarah simply presented problems and expected him to provide the solutions, which was not an effective way to communicate.
"That sounds promising."
He stood up. "Things have been very unsettled in the south of Thorn Valley lately; the Demon Beasts are unusually restless. Since you’re willing to contribute to the territory’s safety, I’ll have Kaelon designate an area for you to guard."
"No problem!" Manny agreed at once.
They had already planned on defending an area for Duane.
The only difference was that Duane would have had to pay them for it, whereas now it was completely free.
He couldn’t worry about that now.
As long as he could continue his missionary work for a few more years, Clement would bestow upon him the Secret Technique, *Holy Radiance’s Protection*, which could alter one’s constitution.
Duane looked at Sarah. "You will not only provide free healing for my soldiers, but during any large-scale extermination campaigns, High Priest, you must personally accompany them. How does that sound?"
Sarah took a deep breath.
If she agreed, she would have practically no status left.
But if she refused, and Kendrick was punished in public, their reputation would be utterly ruined.
She slowly nodded. "Since the Knight Commander has already spoken, I have no objections."
A satisfied smile spread across Duane’s face. "Since you’re contributing both men and effort to Black Forest Island, I shouldn’t be too unreasonable. Kaelon, go inform Jack and John immediately. Have them bring the man back here for his punishment, and cut the number of lashes in half."
"Alright!"
Kaelon vanished in a flash.
The conversation had been so brief that Jack and John had probably not even left the castle grounds yet with their prisoner.