Chapter 992: Chapter 558: Murder? Destroy the Heart! (Part 2)

And the Church? When facing evil, you ran away. After we, Hamlet, defeated the monster, what was the first thing you supposedly righteous comrades did?

When humanity was in danger, instead of finding ways to help your comrades resist the monsters, you incited chaos among humans and then hid behind the crowd to watch your followers loot and burn. Is this the Church?

You stand for righteousness and light, but I stand for humanity. Let’s see whose moral high ground is higher!

As he spoke, Lance’s voice suddenly rose, roaring: "Was it the Holy Light that caused you to create chaos in a peaceful and quiet town? Or was it the Holy Light that made you commit arson to burn a poor innocent family to death?

And why did the heretics attack at this time? And right after that, you showed up, and that very night the monsters came. Did you cooperate with the heretics to lure me away and then attack Hamlet with those monsters for some unknown conspiracy?"

He incited the riot, and naturally, he must bear the guilt for the mob’s crimes, but the latter part was somewhat conspiracy theory.

Because Lance knew very well the timeline of these events and also that the Fishmen were summoned by the ancestors.

But for ordinary people, who lack information, everything seemed too coincidental, directly connecting in a single line, making it difficult not to associate one with the other.

Not to mention, they needed an outlet, a tangible target for their hatred since most people had never seen the Fishmen but knew about the Church.

"You... you... this is slander!"

The Mendicant Monk was dumbfounded. Who could bear such a "hat"? You might as well just kill me outright.

At first, he disdained to defend, but now, even if he wanted to, no one would listen.

Because the emotions of those people had already been ignited, and there were hundreds of families who lost loved ones.

This is why conspiracy theories are widely accepted: they don’t tell you the complex truth but provide a clear target to vent emotions on.

"Hang him!"

"Burn him!"

"Heretic!"

The Mendicant Monk had judged many heretics, blasphemers, and even nobility, yet he never imagined that he too would become labeled a heretic one day.

How the hell did I become a heretic? Who can withstand this!

Meanwhile, Lance leisurely drew a longsword from beside him and walked back to the stage.

"Quiet!" Lance suppressed the agitated crowd, raising his sword and pointing at the tied-up Mendicant Monk, questioning:

"I’ll give you one last chance. Tell me why you disrupted Hamlet’s peace. Was it your doing, or did the Church instruct you so?"

"Just kill me, I have been ready for this." The Mendicant Monk looked at Lance, his unprecedented defeat making him appear even older, yet his devoted faith remained unshaken at this moment.

After speaking, he slowly closed his eyes, awaiting the end.

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak; everyone knows the answer." Lance showed little reaction, only raising the longsword and striking down fiercely.

However, the Mendicant Monk did not feel the pain of being wounded; instead, the ropes binding him loosened, and he tumbled uncontrollably.

Opening his eyes to look at Lance, the Mendicant Monk had a somewhat dark expression; was this to humiliate him further?

This scene not only puzzled him but also aroused the strong curiosity of the audience below as to why the Lord didn’t execute him.

Lance turned to explain to those ordinary folks:

"They enjoy weaving conspiracies and burning the innocent alive, but here in Hamlet, we settle scores clearly. Even if they came with evil intents that brought calamity upon Hamlet’s people, I cannot deny that they indeed saved many lives."

Saying this, Lance turned back around, fiercely driving the longsword into the platform, and pointed an accusing finger at the Mendicant Monk:

"Consider today’s spared life a debt repaid; from now on, you have no association with Hamlet!"

This declaration left the Mendicant Monk slightly stunned; he didn’t expect that the Lord would indeed spare his life.

And these words resonated with those below, for indeed, the Church’s divine arts had saved many at that critical time, otherwise they wouldn’t have garnered such prestige.

If the Monk were killed, these people would find it difficult to ease their conscience, fearing they’d feel guilty the next time they encountered the Church’s people.

Yet Lance’s "Sword of Mercy" did not fall on the Monk, but it effectively cut off the people’s guilt.

Moreover, for Lance, killing serves no purpose; it’s the most crude handling method.

What does killing the Mendicant Monk accomplish? It would rather make the Church lose face and come to bother him.

However, not killing the Monk leaves the Church in a morally disadvantageous position.

Killing is not important; what’s important is beneath the surface, using this affair to eliminate the Church’s influence on Hamlet.

As long as Hamlet exists, the conspiracy theory will continue to ferment. What Lance desired was to nail the Church perpetually on the pillar of shame.

It can even be said, the Mendicant Monk’s survival turns the Church into a joke.

Surely, there are those who understand Lance’s intention; surely there are those who see the sinister within.

But perhaps, very few, because creatures driven by emotion rarely ponder the vested interests within.

"Get out of Hamlet!"

The people readily accepted the Lord’s explanation, quickly losing interest in the two, as the Lord seemed not done with the public trial.

"Alright, now it’s time to address our internal affairs."

Lance turned his gaze onto the crouching mob, his demeanor gradually turning grim, roaring loudly without regard for decorum:

"What have I done to wrong you?"

"What has Hamlet done to wrong you?"

"We held off the heretics, we repelled the monsters, yet you stabbed us in the back. Did I and my soldiers fight at the front lines to protect traitors like you?"

The atmosphere, which had just eased a little, started seething again with Lance’s words.

Humans instinctively loath traitors no matter who or what they are.

The people pleaded with the Lord to punish the traitors severely.

The mob kneeling on the ground wailed, begging for the Lord’s forgiveness, only to be met by Lance’s cold gaze.

Did they think the Lord’s mercy would extend to them as well?

Lance didn’t make an immediate sentence but spoke of an event:

"Do you know what I saw first when I returned? I saw a grand blaze; I thought it was a ceremony welcoming us, showing our efforts were worthwhile.

But upon approach, I saw houses already ablaze, flames consuming them, and through the billowing smoke, only faint wails could be heard.

And these bastards... not only didn’t they save anyone, but they shouted to burn all of Hamlet. If you’re dissatisfied, come at me, why harm the innocent?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

With Lance’s incitement, people’s anger flared as if gasoline had been thrown into the fire, except now the mob was the target being roasted.

In both his past and current life, Lance had always loathed traitors, and these backstabbers needed to be dealt with decisively!

"You know full well what you’ve done; step forward."

Seeing no response, Lance wasn’t surprised, coldly mocking them.

"What’s wrong? Afraid to confess, or are all the Church’s men cowards?"

The Mendicant Monk wanted to retort but felt it more practical to wake the Candlelight Priest.

On the other side, without further ado, Lance signaled, bringing forth the woman who had nearly perished in the fire.

"Speak of the situation then, do you remember who acted?"

"It’s him! He did the burning!" the woman shouted frantically as soon as she came up, without bothering to describe the situation.

Looking at the person groveling, even burying his head like an ostrich in the sand, did he think he wouldn’t be discovered this way?