The Silence follower worked quickly. Before long, she returned with a set of war supervisor's garb for Cheng Shi. The two changed in the river valley, then slipped along the route with the fewest sentry posts, disguising themselves all the way into the camp atop the highlands.
This was indeed the central army of the Grand Tribunal's southward encirclent force. The soldiers patrolling and drilling around them were Iron Law Knights from Katouting — elite among elites. Judging by the knights' morale and bearing alone, Cheng Shi could've sworn he was standing in the War legion's headquarters.
Historical records might be vague, but only by going back in ti and seeing both sides firsthand could you truly appreciate the terrifying scale of the battle that birthed the Kingdom of War.
Cheng Shi struggled to imagine how a force this formidable — one he'd dare march up to a god and shout at — could have fallen entirely to the supposedly "fragile" remnants of the War legions across the line.
Keinlaur, the battle-hungry Shared Law Faction military commander... had, in a way, achieved a remarkably unanimous reputation among players. Whether good or bad — at least it was unanimous.
Cheng Shi's target was naturally Keinlaur, inside the central army tent. He and Sun Miao advanced cautiously, scrutinizing every passing soldier. Not that their wariness was misplaced — there was still a potential ti bomb out there.
Beast Tars specialized in taming beasts. But let's not forget: humans are beasts too. In so Beast Tars' eyes, humans were rely slightly cleverer animals.
So to prevent Little Seven from causing trouble, every step Cheng Shi took inside the camp was painstakingly careful.
This continued until they fought their way near the main tent, where the identity verification system was too stringent. Staring at the tent right in front of them, they had to rethink their approach.
"Master, it's your ti to shine again.
I know Silence has certain talents that can control 'expression' — making these knights unable to perceive our presence. It's not dark yet, and everyone's attention is tied to their own duties. We can slip inside and hide. Then, once only Keinlaur remains, perhaps we can ask him... what exactly went wrong with Order.
How about it? Isn't that exactly the answer you've been looking for?"
"..."
'Why do you make it sound like I'M the one who wanted to co here, and you're just tagging along?'
'Don't forget — the History School's assignnt is tied to YOU!'
Sun Miao felt that from the mont this trial started, her role had been fundantally miscast. She was basically here to do grunt work for this new vice president. But they were both vice presidents — why wasn't he doing anything?
'If you used that threatening, coercive energy on NPCs, we'd have been inside ages ago!'
'Identity checks can't possibly stump a Deceit follower, can they?'
'Does he really think he's a Pen of Finality?'
But Sun Miao had no choice. She knew Cheng Shi's tug-of-war with Du Qiyu was still ongoing. Seeing that he wouldn't budge no matter how she urged, she grudgingly darkened her face, activated her talents, burned so items, and suppressed both their presences — allowing them to waltz into the main tent in plain sight.
Cheng Shi was no stranger to Silence's effects. When the surrounding knights began ignoring them, he chuckled softly and stepped back, yielding the lead to the Mi Master.
"..."
Sun Miao saw through him completely now. 'You will never gain even a sliver of advantage over this absurdly cautious man.'
'Risk is mine. The split of spoils... TBD.'
But she didn't dwell on it. Expressionless, she led the way. They quickened their pace toward the tent. Before they even lifted the flap, an aged yet steely voice reached them from inside.
"The ti is nearly upon us. The Truth followers have completed the final encirclent. The chance to purge everything lies before us. Everyone...
Return to your posts and prepare. Let us hope we bring Him a victory.
All for the new order."
"All for the new order."
Many voices echoed in unison. Then ca bowing and salutes as each person departed.
The heavy clatter of armor was enough to quicken anyone's pulse. Standing outside, the two watched as legion commanders filed out, lifting the tent flap one by one, faces grim as they strode past. Both were still processing the fact that the Grand Tribunal's prayer had changed.
Then ca a cold huff from the sole Supre Inquisitor still inside.
"All guests are welco here. Now that you've co — why don't you dare step inside for a chat?"
"!!??"
The words froze both Cheng Shi and Sun Miao in place. They exchanged a startled look. Then Cheng Shi saw Sun Miao shake her head with unusual solemnity, her aning clear:
'Even if soone could see through Silence's concealnt, it could NOT be the Keinlaur inside that tent.'
Initially, Cheng Shi had simply been stunned by Keinlaur's keen perception. But Sun Miao's certainty now made him realize: perhaps the ones exposed weren't them — maybe it was so other lurker with hidden motives.
Sure enough. As Keinlaur's words fell, a "war supervisor" crouching beside a campfire outside the tent silently brushed dirt from his body and rose from a shallow pit in the ground — right in front of Cheng Shi and Sun Miao.
Under Silence's influence, the intruder didn't seem to notice outsiders were present. He simply smiled, patted the dust off his uniform, and strode straight through the tent flap.
Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow. One look at the man's disguise technique — so convincing that even Cheng Shi himself hadn't detected it — told him this was unquestionably a skilled hunter.
Moreover, the war supervisor's face was completely unfamiliar, looking every bit like a native-born Grand Tribunal knight. That ant he was either a refined flesh puppet or a controlled... pet.
Given all that, it wasn't hard to guess who was pulling this war supervisor's strings.
Cheng Shi scoffed silently, then followed the war supervisor into the tent. Sun Miao cast one thoughtful glance toward a certain direction before slipping in after him.
Inside, the war supervisor showed zero deference upon facing the Supre Inquisitor who represented Order. Without so much as a bow, he launched straight into a condescending, practically top-down negotiation.
"Keinlaur, right? I know who you are.
I'm here to make you a deal. One you can't refuse."
Keinlaur sat on the judgnt seat...
That's right — absurd as it sounds, the tent housed a complete judgnt desk. Judge, Justice Official, Investigator — every seat was present. And there sat Keinlaur, high upon the judge's seat. By rights, he was the one looking down at the war supervisor. Yet in terms of presence, he was a full tier below this brazen stranger.
The white-haired elder said nothing. He rely regarded the visitor below him with hawk-like eyes. After a long pause, he spoke.
"Hill was a devout follower of Order. You killed him and assud his identity — that alone carries a death sentence.
A criminal. Daring to make boastful deals with
in this court of judgnt?"
The words had barely landed—
"Whoosh—"
An arrow grazed Keinlaur's temple with pinpoint precision, embedding itself in the Grand Tribunal emblem behind his head.
The war supervisor snorted, lowering a military longbow.
"That's my bargaining chip. Enough for you?
I know War's followers have caused you no end of trouble. But you're destined to lose this battle.
To spare your confidence, I'll skip the details. But I can tell you this: if I fight on the Grand Tribunal's side in this campaign, my bow alone can win you the war.
War followers? Legion commanders? Heh — just one arrow apiece.
I can purge every enemy you want purged. And the price? Very fair.
I don't need the Grand Tribunal to give
anything. I just want to take one item from that mountain of war spoils.
Just one.
Deal?
For you, that's pure profit — zero investnt.
After all, only victory brings spoils, doesn't it?"
Keinlaur was silent. He studied the man for a long ti before asking in a low voice: "What... do you want?"
"A bow. A great bow — hidden away by War's followers until all its edge was lost.
I'm not sure where it is right now, but I know it's sowhere on this battlefield.
That's why I'm here. I can bring it new glory — and that glory can belong to Order.
Keinlaur, you have one day to consider. This ti tomorrow night, I'll visit again. I hope by then, I'll have the answer I want.
As for searches and lockdowns... save it. Don't take pointless actions that anger . Otherwise, next ti, this arrow hits your throat, not Order's emblem."
With that, the war supervisor turned and swaggered out. At the exit, he tossed back one final line:
"Oh — and if anyone else like
cos looking to cooperate with you...
My advice? Kill them on the spot.
I alone am more than enough to bring you victory."
...
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