In a magnificent, golden palace, the seat of the Ryan Empire's Cardinal Tribunal, Jas Watson, editor-in-chief of [Legendary Incantations], sat before his desk, ticulously reviewing a thick stack of reports.
Perhaps, at this mont, it was more appropriate to call him the Supre Adjudicator of the Ryan Empire, Lord Watson.
Being an editor was rely a side job; Jas Watson's primary duty was to pass judgnt on the heretics within the nation.
The only legal faith in the Ryan Empire was that of the Lord of Dawn. Any act of worship toward other deities within the empire's borders was considered heresy.
But the Ryan Empire had recently expanded its territory considerably. Many of the newly incorporated freen couldn't imdiately adapt to such stringent religious laws and still clung to their old gods.
These people were human, however—compatriots who could be educated. Jas Watson didn't just send everyone to the pyre without a second thought. Instead, he carefully read the investigative reports sent to him, devising tailored faith-promotion plans for the new territories based on their different regions and circumstances.
Whether through gentle persuasion or strict enforcent, his thods were always clear, effective, and targeted.
The work seed daunting, but for Jas Watson, a devout believer who had risen from the ranks of a grassroots cleric, it was second nature. He was confident that in a few years, the people in these regions would beco staunch followers of the Light.
Problems that would take others ten days or even half a month to resolve, Jas Watson could handle in just over half a day. This was the very reason he held the position of Supre Adjudicator so securely.
Only after his official duties were done would Jas Watson begin his part-ti work of reviewing manuscripts. He usually treated this review process as a form of entertainnt, a delightful ga where he would read articles written by heretics and then harshly reject them.
After scribbling reasons for rejection on a few manuscripts from dwarves and elves, Jas Watson's gaze was caught by a peculiar article.
[My Paladin Friend Alan—A Brief Discussion on the Effects of Faith on the Youth]
"What is this?"
The title alone told him it was a submission for the supplent of [Legendary Incantations]. These tabloid-style stories and fabricated tales had beco quite popular recently. Jas Watson usually paid them no mind; no matter how well they sold, their influence couldn't compare to the main publication of [Legendary Incantations].
In fact, Jas Watson hoped those heretics would write more of these supplentary gossip pieces. Let them continue down their path of depravity, allowing [Legendary Incantations] to beco a true treasure of human magical academia. Thus, he was very lenient with the approval process for the supplent, typically giving submissions a cursory glance before passing them.
But that na—Paladin Alan?
Jas Watson looked at the author's na: William Harvey. A na he'd never heard before, either a pseudonym or so insignificant nobody.
But after reading just the opening, Jas Watson's expression changed.
The Supre Adjudicator's brow furrowed, and he began to rub the ring on his finger. A screen of light unfolded before him, but where a clear communication image should have been, there was only a cascade of static.
This was a communication ring linked to his son, Alan, allowing them to speak anyti, anywhere. Now, the connection was lost.
This article probably wasn't fake. His son, Alan Watson, had truly been captured, and by a lich, no less.
Jas Watson picked up the article again, carefully reading every sentence. His face soon turned ashen.
The article portrayed Jas Watson as an irrational, fanatical zealot who had brainwashed his son with a twisted version of the light's doctrine, using all sorts of inhumane thods to torture the bodies and minds of others. If it were rely such a distortion of the truth, he could have dismissed it. Jas Watson had endured countless instances of slander and defamation in his life; a single article would have no effect on him.
What truly enraged Jas Watson was how the article analyzed the faith of the Lord of Dawn from a different perspective. The author, adopting an observer's viewpoint, suggested that the Lord of Dawn was not much different from other gods. The Lord of Light, the God of Nature—their doctrines were similar, their followers acted in similar ways, and even their enemies seed to be the sa, all hating the undead. Yet, the followers of the Lord of Dawn were far more exclusionary than the druids.
The author argued that this was a blasphemy against the Lord of Dawn, a misinterpretation of the doctrine of Light. Under this distorted faith, the Ryan Empire was creating countless tragedies and conflicts, all a result of Supre Adjudicator Jas Watson's personal ambition.
This line of analysis made Jas Watson's expression turn ugly. The Ryan Empire was currently engaged in aggressive expansion, which naturally involved war. The article's argunts were nonsensical and lacked any substantive evidence, but it reeked of conspiracy theory—and readers loved nothing more than a good conspiracy theory.
Jas Watson was certain that once this article was published, such theories would spread like wildfire, placing the Ryan Empire in an unfavorable public light. It might not affect the outco on the battlefield, but it was an undeniable disadvantage.
However, if he didn't allow the article to be published, his son Alan would likely lose his life.
"I clearly told him to go to Silvermoon High Court, so how did he end up in the City of Alchemy? That brat, could he have heard that nonsensical prophecy too?"
Jas Watson wished he could drag Alan before him and give him a harsh scolding. The paladin's training pilgrimage had been arranged long ago. The boy must have changed the plan himself and run straight to the City of Alchemy.
A prophecy claiming that a treasure capable of granting godhood lay in the sewers of the City of Alchemy had been circulating in the Ryan Empire for so ti. But a legendary-tier expert like Jas Watson disdained such things. Logically, Alan wasn't an ignorant boy, so how could he have believed a prophecy and run off to the City of Alchemy?
But dwelling on that now was pointless.
"Foolish! Reckless! Utterly clueless of the world's dangers..." Jas Watson cursed under his breath.
The author had made it clear: if he wanted Alan to live, he had to publish the article and then use the editor's comnts to reply whether he was willing to pay the ransom. The ransom itself wasn't an issue, a re few million gold coins. But the article's impact on the empire was too great. It absolutely could not be published, or he would beco a traitor to the empire.
After a mont of deliberation, Jas Watson said in a sorrowful tone, "Alan, forgive ."
Jas Watson placed his palm on a crystal on the desk. A flash of holy light erupted, and a paladin clad in silver-white armor appeared before him, kneeling respectfully on one knee.
"My Lord Adjudicator, your orders."
"Select ten n from the Knights of Judgnt and head to the City of Alchemy to find my son, Alan. If he's alive, do your best to rescue him. If he cannot be saved, then utterly annihilate the lich who abducted him. Be cautious. You may be facing a legendary-tier undead."
The paladin spoke with imnse confidence. "Rest assured, my lord. The Knights of Judgnt were founded to combat the legendary. The sha of the past will never be repeated."
Hearing the words "sha of the past," Jas Watson couldn't help but recall the legend. Before he was born, the Ryan Empire had dispatched an entire legion of paladins to hunt down a headless knight. The result had been a catastrophe. The paladin legion suffered heavy casualties, and the headless knight cut a bloody path out of the empire, eventually vanishing without a trace.
This was a major historical event etched onto the empire's pillar of sha. It was after that humiliating pursuit that the empire established the Knights of Judgnt, a force specifically designed to deal with special enemies like legendary undead. Unfortunately, the Knights of Judgnt had been established for many years, and the older generation of paladins never got their chance to redeem their honor; all of them had already returned their souls to the divine kingdom of Light. The new generation of Knights gritted their teeth and trained relentlessly, all for the day they could avenge their predecessors.
Though their opponent this ti might not be their old nesis, the opportunity to face a legendary undead was a challenge the Knights of Judgnt had longed for.
Let this undead's soul be an offering to the Lord of Dawn. May that evil soul find purification.
Jas Watson stood up, clenching his fists. "Rember, no matter what terms the enemy proposes, do not agree. The Ryan Empire does not negotiate with threats."
"As you command, my Lord Adjudicator."
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