The external affairs were settled.
Why had Aililan come personally? She was worried the Jackal Tribe might not put in real effort, or might develop other unrealistic ideas, so she needed to come personally to give them a warning.
Next came internal affairs. She had to make the interior as solid as iron.
On the way back, they passed Bitgel. The flags of the War Pig Tribe had long been raised there. Standing on higher ground, one could see the place brightly lit inside, a banquet in full swing.
Downwind, one could even hear bursts of cheering.
Renata clenched her fist, saying unwillingly, “This was originally ours, and it cost countless manpower and resources. Now it’s just a pigsty.”
Aililan merely smiled faintly. “Are you blaming me for giving it away without even putting up a fight?”
Renata hurriedly shook her head. “Saintess, you misunderstand. That’s not what I meant.”
Aililan waved her hand, interrupting her. “It’s fine. But you must understand, precisely because Bitgel was hard-won, I didn’t want to see it smashed to pieces.”
At that moment, Fina Nisi, standing to the side, patted the longsword on her warhorse and eagerly said, “Saintess, why worry? If this is your wish, I will go in right now and slaughter all those pigs. I am willing to do anything for you, Saintess.”
Aililan glanced sideways, knowing this was Fina Nisi trying to curry favor.
“Let’s go, back.”
The group left Bitgel.
After another day’s journey, the group arrived at a village outside Atester. Aililan had the brave and skilled knights return to Atester first, leaving only a few trusted confidants. She then entered a house in the center of the village.
“Greetings, Saintess.”
Aililan walked into the house and sat in a reclining chair. She was truly exhausted these past few days. She settled into a slightly more comfortable position before looking at the person who had just bowed.
“Betiliana, report.”
Betiliana stood up and handed over a piece of intelligence. “This is the intelligence we’ve gathered. Today, a merchant caravan will transport a large quantity of grain, avoiding the main roads, heading to the War Pig Tribe.”
“Grain? How much?”
“At least two hundred carts.”
“That’s at least one hundred thousand jin.”
Aililan took a deep breath, her expression turning cold and stern again. “At a time of crisis for Atester’s survival, instead of thinking of how to serve the Church, those people dare to collude with foreign tribes and supply the enemy with provisions. They betray not only the Church, but all of humanity.”
Betiliana kept her head deeply bowed. After a long moment, she asked in a low voice, “Lady Saintess, what do you intend to do?”
Aililan’s tone was icy. “Not a single grain of rice can flow into the War Pig Tribe. That caravan—leave no one alive.”
“Also, I’m only giving you one day. By this time tomorrow, I want you to bring me the solid evidence.”
Betiliana swallowed hard and continued, steeling herself. “We’ve also identified quite a few people. Should we arrest them all now?”
Aililan said slowly, “Of course they must be arrested, but not now. Arrest them when they are transporting the goods. To catch a thief, you must catch them with the stolen goods. That way, no one can say anything.”
Betiliana understood perfectly. Who would complain about having too much stolen evidence?
After dismissing Betiliana, Aililan went into the inner room and lay down on the uncomfortable bed. Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.
It was as if everything outside had nothing to do with her.
The night was deep.
A troop of elite light cavalry quietly arrived outside the village.
“Knight Arkernard, you’ve finally arrived,” Betiliana said, looking forward eagerly.
“Miss Betiliana, greetings. I have received the Saintess’s orders. I will cooperate with your actions from now on. Please give your commands.”
“There is a merchant caravan, over four hundred people, with more than one hundred guards and quite a few powerful mercenaries. The Saintess’s meaning is—leave no one alive.”
“Please rest assured, Miss Betiliana. Not a single person from that caravan will see tomorrow’s sun.”
“Then let’s set off.”
A large number of light cavalry quickly departed.
Among them were also interrogation experts from the Investigation Bureau.
Because the Saintess’s command had been clear: before tomorrow afternoon, “ironclad” evidence must be presented.
Midnight, a solitary moon hung high.
On the calm, cold plain, faint sounds of hoofbeats suddenly began to be heard.
At first, they were very faint, but by the time people noticed, it was already too late.
Before the entire caravan camp could react, they were charged by hundreds of light cavalry. Many left this world forever in their sleep.
Half an hour later.
Arkernard reported the results. “Four hundred and twelve people. Not one less.”
Betiliana nodded with satisfaction, then walked towards a few important figures who had been deliberately left alive.
“Do you know who is behind us? The Marquis! A personage you cannot afford to offend!”
“You are human soldiers? How dare you attack us?”
Betiliana smiled faintly. “I haven’t even started the interrogation, and you’ve already admitted there’s a Marquis backing you?”
“Wh-what Marquis? I don’t know what you’re talking about! I know nothing!”
“It’s fine. Our Investigation Bureau loves stubborn people the most. This is Healing Art. This is an Iron Comb. Do you know what an Iron Comb is? It’s something that can comb your flesh from top to bottom, just like combing hair.”
“I would rather die—”
“This is a Soul Binding Scroll. This is Black Flame Potion. So even if you die, it’s useless. Understand?”
The caravan leader completely broke down.
They could torture you while you were alive, and continue torturing you after you died.
Therefore, the evidence was quickly and completely extracted.
The next day.
Aililan woke leisurely.
Riding for several consecutive days had made her feel as if all her bones were about to fall apart, aching all over.
At some point, Yarandale had actually rushed from the city to this remote village.
“Saintess, you slept soundly last night, a rare occurrence, so I didn’t wake you this morning. I have prepared lunch. Please wash up first, then eat.”
Landale respectfully stepped forward to help Aililan arrange her clothes.
“Why have you come?”
“Not just me.”
“Oh? Who else?”
“The one from the Secret Chamber.”
“Her?”
“That lady said, how could she miss such excitement?”
“Wasn’t she recently recruiting soldiers, preparing to support the maritime power struggle at sea?”
“You’ll have to ask her that yourself.”
The visitor was, naturally, the “Diligence Saintess.”
When Aililan walked out of the room, she saw a figure entirely shrouded in a black robe. The robe seemed to have a concealing effect, making it difficult to see the face clearly, and naturally impossible to recognize it as another Saintess.
Aililan gave her a slight nod, then walked towards the dining area.
On the table were the results of last night’s interrogation. Betiliana was also waiting nearby for inquiries.
“Very detailed. Very good.”
Aililan praised lightly.
“Saintess, but that is a Marquis after all…”
“What, you think I can’t touch a Marquis?”
“That’s not what I meant. I just feel it’s somewhat unreal. After all, that’s a Marquis. Since the establishment of the Fifth Wing, we have never seen such a high-ranking personage being held accountable.”
“You want to see it?”
“May I?”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with your work, of course.”
“Thank you, Saintess.”
“You worked hard on the overnight interrogation. Go rest for a while. We depart in two hours.”
Aililan flipped through the interrogation materials again—those selling grain, those selling equipment and weapons, and even those trafficking people.
There was nothing they wouldn’t dare to do, only things you couldn’t imagine.
They all deserved to die.