"Alright, it’s over now."
The middle-aged Paladin bent down and helped the old man, whose face was streaked with a mixture of tears and blood, off the ground. This was the reason for his sudden outburst today.
"Once my comrades arrive, we’ll safely take you ho."
"Uncle Rand, you..."
Iliad couldn’t help himself at this mont, stepping out from the crowd whose faces were full of admiration and awe, holding half a piece of vegetable pie, wanting to inquire about the other’s identity.
Although this uncle had already been working here before he arrived, he still suspected that this Paladin might be arranged by his father, known for the good relationship between the Holy Dragon and the Paladins.
"Don’t be afraid, Illia, I’ll help you find your parents too."
Just as Iliad was hesitating on how to ask, the Paladin, noticing the hesitation in the young man’s eyes, spoke first, comforting the boy before him, whose background seed tragic in his eyes, full of kindness and compassion.
Because Iliad had fabricated his identity, he portrayed himself as an orphan abandoned by his father and harshly treated by his mother.
This wasn’t a deliberate lie, just that if he told the truth no one would believe him and he’d be thought of as ntally challenged.
The chaos at the mine didn’t last long; before more henchn of the mine owners arrived, the Paladin’s retainers and followers had already entered the scene. However, what made the decisive difference was the Paladin already employed in the judicial system.
Mingling among the kidnapped miners, Iliad, who beca one of those being rescued, played his role as an ordinary human throughout, going with the flow, without any power to choose.
Even so, Iliad held a unique status among these miners as he was the only one who could and dared to speak to the Paladin.
Yet this did not prevent Iliad from becoming just an onlooker and part of the audience, turning into an anonymous figure among the many deeds of the Paladin.
Of course, Iliad did gain sothing, for he confird that the middle-aged Paladin was not arranged by his father; the reason he had infiltrated the mine, disguised as a miner beaten and scolded, was mainly to gather sufficient evidence.
The Paladin wanted to rescue not only the innocent immigrants among the black miners but also to take down the local nobles and officials who allowed and condoned the evil deeds of the black-hearted mine owners, along with many other villains who exploited and oppressed immigrants for profit.
In the Holy Dragon Land, although Paladins hold an extraordinary status and privileges, they are not allowed to casually judge evil, especially when it cos to officials and nobles.
To judge nobles and officials, sufficient evidence must be presented, after which the Judicial Court of Elisium City can issue orders, granting the Paladin the authority to arrest and prosecute officials and nobles.
During this process, Paladins have no right to privately execute judgnts; they must wait for the verdict to be issued before applying to beco the executor.
This does not restrict the Paladins but rather reflects the Paladins’ strict standards, which are not suitable for the current era; if everything were executed by their standards, it’s hard to imagine the consequences.
Upon confirming that his encounter with the Paladin was rely accidental and coincidental, still considered a kind of luck, Iliad felt an imdiate sense of loss, his emotions beca extrely complicated.
He couldn’t tell if this was a good or bad thing. If the Paladin was sent for him, it ant all his experiences after being sent to this border town were a scripted journey crafted by his father.
If not, then his father was rely giving him a larger space to explore, allowing him freedom of action.
"I don’t want to go back, Uncle Rand, can I follow you?"
When the Paladin had handled the majority of the miners and turned to inquire of him, Iliad, unwilling to reveal his family, presented a request that sounded quite audacious for an ordinary person.
"Follow ?"
The middle-aged Paladin, with ti-etched lines marking his unassuming face, looked at the youthful face before him in surprise,
"Why would you have such an idea? You witnessed my recent experiences yourself; my pursuit is different from the life you want. Following won’t be easy."
Paladin Rand could actually perceive that the boy before him was either wealthy or noble, probably from a family of fallen aristocracy. Such individuals, if given a choice, wouldn’t willingly endure the rough life of a Paladin; he should return to his family.
"Uncle Rand, I’m not after comfort and indulgence. I want to follow you to see a different world."
"A different world?"
Rand’s misunderstanding of Iliad’s identity deepened, inwardly confirming that he was likely a scion of a fallen noble venturing out in search of opportunity,
"You’re asking for trouble. I can take you along for a while, but if you find you can’t endure it, let know, and I’ll send you back ho."
Paladin Rand didn’t refuse; he saw the young man before him possessed good character and was worth considering taking along for a ti. If he couldn’t handle it, he’d naturally return on his own, and Rand wouldn’t mind. But if he could be trained, perhaps the world might gain another Paladin.
The Paladin profession demands a high level of cultural literacy, and hence a significant number of Paladins have backgrounds among wealthy rchants or nobles.
"Thank you, Uncle."
Iliad didn’t shout about how he could persevere, choosing instead to show his will through actions, bowing deeply to the Paladin before him.
Thus, the noble Dragon’s Son beca a retainer of a wandering Paladin.
It must be said, this was a very unique experience, allowing Iliad to perceive the lives and plight of the lower class from a completely different perspective, although those who misbehave in the Holy Dragon Land are, after all, a minority.
Most of the populace lives quite well, so many Paladins co to experience what the legendary ideal land is like.
After fulfilling their hearts’ desire, the Paladins would often set off anew, traveling to other places truly in need of their care and rescue.
The Paladin Iliad followed was no exception; he ca only to observe the ideal order of the Holy Dragon Land and happened to encounter wicked individuals exploiting loopholes in the Law Code.
Thus, he adhered to the local law, infiltrating the Black Mine Pit alone, gathering evidence, and coordinating with cohorts within the judicial system to capture the greedy and corrupt individuals in one massive sweep.
After completing all this, Paladin Rand once more set off, traversing the Holy Dragon Land, taking Iliad along, heading to Voyager Harbor.
"You still intend to follow ? I’m about to embark on a sea voyage."
"Yes, Lord Rand, I feel there is still much I need to learn from you."
Clad in a set of light half-armor, Iliad, upon learning that the Paladin was about to head to the Alviss Continent, showed no intention of parting, resolute in his decision to continue following.
"Think it over, if you board the ship with , you might not return for twenty years or more."
"I’ve already thought it over."
The Dragon’s Son, who had traveled to Heaven multiple tis, wouldn’t see such a sea voyage as daunting. Iliad never hesitated.
"If that’s the case, then co with !"
The young man’s resolve remained as firm as ever, and Paladin Rand nodded approvingly.
For he discovered that the youth before him excelled in many ways and had the potential to beco a Paladin. Soone like that, he did not want to miss.
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