After some rest and reorganization.
Aililan set out again with her light cavalry.
The internal troublemakers were not something ordinary people could handle. Only her authority and status could swiftly suppress them.
The city where Marquis Borgula of the Fifth Wing, Second Feather was located wasn’t far from Atester.
They traveled day and night. The only thing that drew sidelong glances was the figure shrouded entirely in a black robe, who actually sat on equal footing with Saintess Aililan.
Even Aililan’s personal Head Maid showed the person great respect.
This inevitably sparked whispers.
“Who is she? This is far too disrespectful,” someone muttered quietly.
“Mind your own business. Perhaps she’s an esteemed guest of the Saintess.”
“An esteemed guest? I don’t believe it. The Saintess is the most revered existence in our Church. Who could be her esteemed guest? One of the Seven Regents?”
“Shh, why are you so stubborn? Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Curb your curiosity. Knowing too much isn’t necessarily good for you.”
Though many were puzzled in their hearts, they still adhered to their duties.
Beings of that level were simply not for them to discuss. Someone even the Saintess treated with courtesy and had her personal maid serve was even further beyond their reach.
Three days later, the group finally arrived outside the Second Feather city.
At that moment, the city guard hadn’t fully reacted yet. Someone was about to sound the alarm.
“Enemy atta—”
Before the words could finish, they were slapped back by the person next to them.
“Enemy attack, my foot! Look clearly at their banners! They’re from Atester, they’re on our side!”
“Should we stop them?”
“Stop them? Look at those cavalry from the Special Reaction Force! And look at the equipment of those people at the front—that’s the emblem of the Chastity Knights!”
“But if the Chastity Knights are on business, would you dare to stop them?”
“…”
Everyone immediately fell silent, not even daring to look too closely.
Aililan’s main force entered the city directly, heading straight for the Parliament building.
The Second Feather city wasn’t on the front lines, so it appeared quite peaceful.
Officials were chatting and laughing until a dense clatter of hooves erupted. Hundreds of cavalry surrounded the place.
An official from the Military Department saw this and flew into a rage. “Scoundrels! Which unit are you from? Who gave you permission to act so recklessly in the Parliament? I will have you punished!”
The soldiers of the Special Reaction Force gave no response. They simply dismounted, took over key positions, and swiftly gained control of the entire Parliament compound.
Aililan dismounted, her legs wobbling slightly.
Someone beside her gently supported her waist, steadying her.
Aililan glared at the person and whispered, “Diligence, behave yourself.”
Yegeerlinai, beneath the black robe, chuckled softly and teased in a low voice, “I’ve been restraining myself the whole journey. Isn’t that behaving enough? Otherwise, I would have slipped into your tent at night long ago.”
“You are the ‘Saintess of Diligence.’ Can’t you stop thinking about such things all day?”
“So you do remember I’m the Saintess of Diligence? Then don’t you know I’m diligent about everything?”
“Including climbing into my bed?”
As the two whispered, Renata had already stepped forward to handle the situation.
She took out the token of the Chastity Knights and slapped it directly onto the face of the Military Department official.
“The Chastity Knights are here on official business. All unrelated personnel, step aside. Furthermore, the city guard showed no reaction upon our arrival. Is this the defensive capability of your Second Feather? You people from the Military Department should first think about how to explain yourselves to the Saintess.”
The official looked into the crowd.
“What… Saintess?”
The next moment, his face turned deathly pale. He bowed his head sharply, his entire body trembling.
Within the crowd, that holy and beautiful young maiden—who else could it be but Saintess Aililan?
This wasn’t just the Chastity Knights handling business; this was the Saintess herself arriving in person!
And judging by the formation, bristling with killing intent, it seemed the sky of the Second Feather was about to change.
They paid the man no further mind.
The group strode directly into the interior of the Parliament building.
Inside the conference room, officials of the Second Feather were in session.
Everyone seated here was a heavyweight figure, mostly century-old nobles left behind from the Church’s campaign to conquer the Fifth Wing.
Although Marquis Borgula wasn’t sitting in the main seat, his status among those present was extremely high. There were even rumors he was approaching the “Duke” tier.
In a typical kingdom, Dukes and Marquises were the pinnacle of nobility. Above that were only a very few families of extraordinary merit.
Suddenly—
Bang!
The conference room doors were violently pushed open.
The ongoing discussion was instantly cut off.
The first reaction of these high-ranking individuals wasn’t fear, but anger.
The official presiding over the meeting had a face ashen with rage. “Who let you in? No matter who you serve, I will make you pay for this today!”
Aililan’s figure slowly walked in, asking indifferently, “Pay what price?”
Thud—
The man’s legs gave way, and he knelt on the spot.
“S-Saintess?!”
No high-ranking figure in the Fifth Wing failed to recognize Aililan. Scrolls had long since spread her likeness.
And the only one who would dare to barge into the Parliament with force was the Saintess.
“Saintess, what brings you here?”
“Official business.”
Aililan’s tone was cold. “Everyone here aside from Marquis Borgula, all unrelated personnel, leave now.”
At these words, Borgula could no longer remain seated.
He stood up abruptly and demanded, “Saintess, what is the meaning of this? I, Borgula, am, after all, a descendant of those with merit. My ancestors shed blood and earned glory for the Church. What matter cannot be discussed openly?”
Aililan’s gaze was icy, even somewhat amused. “You still have the nerve to mention your ancestors?”
“That is the honor of my family. Why shouldn’t I mention it?”
“I have never denied that your ancestors were heroes during the Church’s campaign for the Fifth Wing.”
Her tone suddenly turned frigid.
“But you? You colluded with Orcs, trafficking grain and supplies. For your family, this is glory? For the Church, this is treason for personal gain!”
“Saintess, this is slander! If you act so arbitrarily, I will never submit!”
“I am only here to seek justice.”
“The justice you speak of—is it rebellion?”
Aililan sneered. “The defiance you speak of—are you counting on your private troops to save you?”
“Unfortunately, it’s too late. While you were here in this meeting, my people have already taken control and cleared out all your cronies.”
“Aililan, you—”
“Silence.”
Aililan’s voice was murderously cold. “I am not here to negotiate with you.”
“Take him. No interrogation needed. Take him directly to the city center—give him a dignified death. Hang him.”
“Furthermore, conduct a strict investigation into the Borgula family. Punish all those found guilty severely, and confiscate all their property.”
Who said I was negotiating with you?
Aililan waved her hand. Renata immediately led people to apprehend Borgula.
Facing the shock and confusion of the officials present, Aililan signaled to Betiliana.
The latter promptly presented the collected evidence of the crimes one by one.
“This… delivering grain to the Orcs at a time like this? The first batch alone was a hundred thousand pounds… the total likely no less than two million pounds…”
“Is this real? Borgula… actually committed treason?”
“Could there be some mistake? He is a highly respected Marquis…”
“You fool, the evidence is conclusive. How could this be false?”
“…”
The officials gradually fell silent.
For such a matter, not to mention a Marquis, even an Archbishop would have to die.
Moreover—the previous Archbishop had already died over a similar matter.
No wonder the Saintess was so enraged as to come personally.
Then there was nothing more to say.
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