Leon Morsen grew increasingly furious.
He quickly scanned the square’s surroundings, where the townsfolk still knelt on the ground, their eyes wild and fervent like devout believers.
They worshiped the young girl before them with utmost reverence and gratitude.
And on the square’s ground were several faint black stains left behind after the Undead Creatures had been thoroughly purified by Holy Light…
Every detail silently proclaimed that the carefully orchestrated “heroic salvation” script he had meticulously arranged was now completely ruined by this woman who appeared out of nowhere!
Originally, the one who should have been receiving the townspeople’s thunderous cheers and grateful thanks was Leon Morsen himself!
Originally, the one who should have, like a god descended from the heavens, defeated the Undead Creatures and then produced the special “Holy Water” to save these lowly people was supposed to be him!
Merits, fame, wealth, women… and that noble status—all should have been within his easy reach!
……
Su Nian frowned slightly.
She could clearly feel the unmasked, intense hostility radiating from the other party.
Despite having saved so many villagers and slain the Undead Creatures, why was he still acting suspiciously toward her?
This Knight Commander in front of her felt very wrong.
“I heard that Bai Shui Town was struck by a plague with heavy casualties, so I came by to see if I could offer some modest help,” Su Nian said, adopting a magician’s formal courtesy.
She made a respectful gesture, simply not wanting to stir up unnecessary trouble at such a moment.
After all, the other party was numerous and powerful, clad in gleaming armor, and belonged to the Morsen Family’s knights.
Bai Shui Town was precisely the domain of the Morsen Family.
The proverb “a strong dragon does not oppress the local snake” applied here—she didn’t want to cause trouble for now and just wanted to get away as soon as possible.
Besides, beneath her cloak was the Collar that the Horned Demon Bastard had fastened on her…
“A mere detour? Modest help?”
Leon Morsen stepped forward another pace, nearly pressing up against Su Nian’s face.
His towering figure brought a strong sense of oppression, and the metal armor he wore radiated a chilling coldness.
Looking down on the slender figure wrapped tightly in a large cloak, his gaze grew colder and sharper.
“As far as I know, Light Magic users are rare, and most belong to the Church of the Kingdom of Light under unified supervision and are registered.”
“How is it that I’ve never heard of the Church dispatching a young girl like you to handle a plague outbreak in such a remote area? Where is your identification?”
Su Nian cursed inwardly—’this damn knight was outrageously unreasonable, turning black into white!’
Saving people wrong?
When she was still a boy, her greatest dream was to become a knight who punished evil and protected the weak.
She had imagined herself wearing handsome and imposing armor, riding a magnificent warhorse, wielding a shining longsword, galloping across the battlefield, upholding justice and honor.
But this group of knights, especially this leader Leon Morsen, cast a shadow over that pure and beautiful fantasy.
Their behavior was rough and arrogant, their eyes cold and proud, treating the townsfolk like livestock to be trampled at will.
Where was the protector in this?
They were nothing but a gang of villains and robbers disguised under a polished exterior!
“I am not affiliated with the Church,” Su Nian replied softly, still striving to keep her voice steady, though an almost imperceptible tremor at the end betrayed the fury she suppressed and the physical reaction caused by the Collar’s vibration.
She lifted her eyelids and quickly glanced at the exquisitely carved, lifelike griffin emblem on Leon Morsen’s chest—a symbol unmistakably belonging to the Morsen Family.
A cold and dreadful thought slowly took shape in her mind.
The Morsen Family’s knights had appeared so “timely,” as if they had arrived right on schedule to clean up the aftermath.
The Undead Creatures and the plague happened to break out within the Morsen Family’s territory.
On top of that, the Undead Mage Mal Morsen, whom she had personally slain, was himself the legendary patriarch of the Morsen Family…
Could it be… there was some dirty, unspeakable connection between them?
This speculation sent a chill plunging into Su Nian’s heart like falling into an ice cellar.
She found it hard to accept.
The knight profession she once revered as a symbol of honor and justice might conceal such vile, despicable, and appalling deeds.
Though it was still just a guess, a bad feeling already settled in her heart.
***
Meanwhile, Leon Morsen was also calculating rapidly in his mind, his cold and sinister gaze sweeping back and forth over Su Nian.
His plan had been disrupted, and his credit stolen.
But there was still a chance to turn things around, perhaps even into a greater achievement!
This unknown, suspicious Light Magic user before him was the perfect scapegoat!
If he could pin the outrageous charges of colluding with the Undead Mage, spreading the plague, and harming the townsfolk all on this woman’s head—
Then, as a “righteous enforcer,” he could publicly “bring her to justice” in front of all the townsfolk and capture her.
In doing so, he would earn credit for exposing the conspiracy and eradicating evil!
Perhaps, with this weighty “merit,” he could still gain the noble status he so desperately desired!
If he missed this opportunity—
How difficult it would be to achieve enough glory on a real battlefield to be promoted to nobility!
Battling through blood and corpses, facing death a thousand times over, most knights would fall on the path toward noble glory, becoming cold bones forgotten by all.
He had to seize this chance at all costs!
Even if it meant framing someone, even if it meant turning truth upside down!
Money, status, power, women… endless wealth and indulgence!
Such temptation, like a devil’s whisper, circled in his ears, and he could not resist!
Nor did he want to resist!
At this thought, a fierce and ruthless gleam flashed deep in Leon Morsen’s eyes.
His gaze toward Su Nian no longer scrutinized but looked upon her like a prisoner already sentenced to death, one to be trampled underfoot and used as a stepping stone for his ascent.
Even though she wasn’t a “commoner” but a magician…
Controlling her would be much harder and riskier.
But for noble promotion… it was worth the risk!
“Not affiliated with the Church?”
“Then you must be a wandering magician with no identification,” he deliberately emphasized “wandering.”
“Appearing out of nowhere in Bai Shui Town, just as the plague and Undead disturbances erupt—what a suspicious coincidence!”
His voice suddenly rose eight notes, filled with unquestionable authority and righteous accusation, echoing across the entire square and clearly reaching every townsperson’s ears.
“I now have reason to suspect you of colluding with the Undead and secretly spreading the plague.”
“Guards!”
Leon Morsen suddenly waved his massive arm, the rushing wind of his movement whipping up, his index finger like a sword of judgment pointed straight at Su Nian on the wooden stage, his action full of dramatic force.
“Bind this evil witch of unknown intent for me!”