Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 129: Chapter 128: Tense Situation, Ingram’s Gift

As the results of the interrogation inside the Sun Church came to light, the crowd of gawkers outside had finally followed them here.

But as they watched the manticore squatting by the church entrance and drooling over the three horses, none of them ultimately had the courage to rush inside and see how things were developing.

One unlucky fellow was even accidentally pushed to the front of the crowd, and after a single glance from Big Mimi, he wet himself in public and had to scurry away, clutching his crotch.

In the end, it was the Birch Town guards under Yadri’s command who had to brace themselves and move to the front to maintain order, proving they weren’t useless freeloaders living off the public’s taxes.

Fortunately, the parties involved didn’t keep them waiting long. Just a few minutes later, Yadri emerged from the church doors with Alek and Hank.

All three wore grim expressions, their faces simmering with suppressed fury that seemed ready to erupt at any moment.

Even so, just before leaving, they turned back to earnestly bow and express their thanks to someone inside the doorway.

Unfortunately, from the crowd’s vantage point, they couldn’t see who that person was, leaving them to their wild imaginations.

Soon, the church doors closed once more. The trio of Yadri, Alek, and Hank descended the church steps and surveyed the crowd, but they said nothing. Instead, they silently mounted their horses, reined them in, and had the guards clear a path for their direct departure.

No one dared to provoke the three Knight Level experts, who were clearly furious, nor did anyone have the courage to ask what had happened.

But those who were more perceptive to the changing political climate could read between the lines of the trio’s behavior.

That young man from the Heta County United Commerce Association caused a huge ruckus at the Lord’s Mansion in broad daylight, collapsed half of the administrative hall, and even abducted a deacon from the Lord’s Mansion. Could an incident this big really be over just like that?

You didn’t need a brain to know there must be more to the story. It was probably related to the recent rumors of Viscount Paris’s disappearance!

Things have been getting more and more tense lately!

Meanwhile, the Blood Eye Association spies hidden in the crowd saw that only the three men from the Lord’s Mansion had emerged from the church, with no sign of the abducted deacon. Realizing the situation was spiraling out of their control, they immediately blended into the flow of people and dispersed.

When they gathered again, it was in a secret hideout, where they reported the situation to their superior.

The bald, muscular man’s face darkened as he listened, but he didn’t blame his subordinates for their incompetence.

Who could have guessed that the target and his beast would openly attack the Lord’s Mansion and still get away unscathed?

Didn’t the intelligence report say he was a Saint Knight? How could he show such contempt for order?

This was a question his subordinates also had.

An old man with a wizened face and dressed in ragged clothes asked in a low voice.

”Lord Damien, is that kid really a Saint Knight? Why does he act so... unrestrained...”

A portly woman dressed as a farmer’s wife chimed in.

”That’s right, my lord. The nasty tricks we had planned for him are likely useless now.”

The bald, muscular man glanced at them, his voice laced with a bone-chilling coldness.

”Whether he is or isn’t, now is not the time to worry about whether the kid’s a fake. What matters is that our cover here might be blown!”

Everyone was startled, but Damien continued speaking.

”But he clearly doesn’t know how determined we are to take this town, so we still have time to adjust our plans.”

”Now, return to your posts, gather your people, and await orders.”

”As for me, I’m going to find our partner for a nice little ’chat’!”

With that, he stood up, threw on a cloak, and pushed the door open to leave.

Meanwhile, after seeing off the three men from the Lord’s Mansion, Jon had to face the intense gawking of everyone in the Sun Church, young and old.

The magnificent celestial phenomenon he had triggered while interrogating Harir today was even more spectacular than the one the [Sun Knight] Royce Aston had caused a few days ago when questioning the malevolent Geoffrey!

The simple-minded sisters Xia and Xina couldn’t even stop themselves from asking Ingram if Jon was the Divine Favored they had been ordered to protect, which made Jon break out in a cold sweat.

’Me, a Divine Favored?’

’I’m as corrupt and worldly as they come. The only good karma I’ve accumulated was from saving Reya.’

’His great self, Po Ao, probably only manifested this time because he was bored and wanted to see what new shenanigans I, the Transmigrator, was up to!’

’But other people didn’t know that!’

In the eyes of the Sun believers inside the church, the young Mr. Jon was, without a doubt, someone who could draw the gaze of the Deities!

Even Julian, who had once taught Jon the arts of a Saint Knight, looked at him differently now!

His gaze had become respectful, tinged with a hint of understanding, as if a question in his heart had just been answered.

’No wonder Mr. Jon learned the Saint Skills so quickly. He’s a Divine Favored, too!’

Ingram gazed at Jon with a complicated expression for a long time before he finally couldn’t help but ask a question.

”Mr. Jon, are you certain you won’t consider joining our Sun Church?”

”Haha, let’s talk about that some other time...”

Jon laughed it off, changing the subject.

”For the operation to rescue Viscount Paris and fight back against the Eternal Frost Sect, who does Priest Ingram plan on sending?”

His gaze swept over the little twins, who were staring at him with stars in their eyes, then to Julian, who wore an expression that said ’As expected of you.’ His meaning was perfectly clear.

Ingram wasn’t discouraged by his invitation being rejected again. He simply nodded and replied.

”We certainly won’t stand by and watch the Eternal Frost Sect’s plot succeed.”

”But the decision of who to send is not mine alone to make.”

As he spoke, the old man looked at Xia and Xina.

”Wade came with you, didn’t he? Go and bring him into the town.”

”Okay, Grandpa Ingram.”

The younger sister, Xina, gave a serious bow, then turned to Jon and bowed as well.

”Mr. Jon, we’ll be going now. Goodbye.”

The little girl was so prim and proper, it was quite adorable.

After receiving a bow in return from Jon, she dragged her dazed older sister and ran out of the church. After sending the two sisters off, Ingram turned to Julian.

”I’ll have to trouble you to arrange for someone to guard this heretic for a while. Don’t let him cause any trouble before we hand him over to the Judicial Court.”

”It is my duty.”

The short-haired young man nodded, hoisted up the limp and powerless Harir, gave Jon a nod of acknowledgment, and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Jon understood. It seemed the Elder Priest had something to say to him in private.

Just as he expected, after sending everyone else away, the old man beckoned to him, then turned and walked toward the inner chambers of the church.

The two of them passed through corridors and doorways, finally arriving in a simple bedroom.

Ingram opened a desk drawer and took out a Gold Medal, about the size of a teacup lid and engraved with a Light Pattern, and handed it to Jon.

”This is a Talisman I used in my youth. I’m giving it to you now.”

”This—?”

Jon looked at the seemingly ordinary Gold Medal, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

’This is a prayer talisman. It’s a vital item that accompanies a Saint Professional from the moment they embark on the path of faith. Normally, it’s something they take to their grave!’

”Priest Ingram, I can’t—”

Seeing Jon about to refuse, the old man cut in before he could finish.

”My child, I know you are unwilling to be bound by Rules, but this item is useless to me now. If it can help you in your future adventures, that would be a good deed in itself.”

”You are one whom my Lord watches over. May your path ahead always be illuminated by light.”

With things having been said to this extent, Jon stopped being coy and directly reached out to accept the Talisman, nodding solemnly.

”Thank you. I will treasure it.”

As the Talisman entered his grasp, a deep, ethereal blue light flared on his panel.