"So that’s how it is..."

Frank felt a slight realization.

He touched the badge on his chest, savoring the word "comrade," and found himself liking it more and more.

"That’s right, from now on, I am also a comrade fighting for the liberation of all humanity!"

Frank said devoutly.

"Mr. Frank..."

Looking at the sincere Frank, Old John became solemn.

"Lord John, I am here." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Frank respectfully returned the gesture.

At this moment, he respected Old John even more, considering him as his life mentor.

"Mr. Frank, the demons in the Southern Territory have been completely eradicated by the Elf Chosen Ones, and the abyssal pollution has been purified by the Goddess’ power. Now, with refugees returning and many areas in need of rebuilding, it’s the perfect time for a guide and leader..."

"Would you... be willing to go there and become the new leader of the Life Church?"

Old John looked at Frank sincerely, his eyes full of expectation.

Faced with that genuine gaze, Frank suddenly felt a surge of passion and determination in his chest.

"Of course, Lord John, I am willing to carry the banner of the Goddess and lead everyone in the Southern Territory to forge a new path!"

He said resolutely.

"You must decide carefully; this is a road full of hardship and peril, and once you embark on it, it means you will completely oppose the nobles, the empire, and the Eternal Church..."

Old John reminded sternly.

"Of course, I am already prepared for this. For the sake of a better future, for the glory of Her Majesty the Goddess, I will give my all!"

Frank said solemnly.

"Even if it may lead to death?"

"Even if it may lead to death!"

"Even if it may lead to utter ruin?"

"Even if it may lead to utter ruin!"

"Very well... May the Goddess bless you, may the light of life always shine upon you, and may you lead everyone down a new path!"

Old John extended his hands, shaking hands with Frank, his face filled with comfort.

Speaking thus, he looked to his side:

"These are the Elf Chosen Ones and Life believers determined to head to the Southern Territory to accomplish something great, and they will follow you, becoming your right-hand men."

Following his gaze, Frank saw the gathered elves and Life believers, roughly a thousand people from afar.

A minority were humans, but the majority were elves.

The former looked at Frank with friendly and respectful eyes.

As for the latter... they were as friendly as the elves Frank knew.

It even seemed that their eyes sparkled... a bit overly enthusiastic.

However, quite a few elves’ gazes lingered between his and Old John’s clasped hands, looking somewhat excited and somewhat strange, which left Frank a bit perplexed.

Only when he and Old John released their hands did their gazes retreat.

Oh, many seemed to be female elves.

Of course, this was just a minor episode.

After receiving a task and clarifying his goal from Old John, Frank left Larona.

When he arrived, he only brought a thousand mercenaries, but upon leaving, the number had nearly doubled.

He didn’t visit Adam, the Divine Favored of the Eternal Church, again.

He had already found his own path.

After seeing Frank off, Old John also instructed the believers to pack up and embark on a new journey.

"Lord John, are you leaving Larona?"

The eyes of the poor were filled with reluctance.

"Friends, the faith in Larona is already on the right track, but in many parts of the continent, people are still struggling in deep water and scorching fires, without hope, without a future..."

"I have to go elsewhere to continue spreading the light of the Life Church."

Old John smiled gently.

"But... don’t you know? The Eternal Church has already ordered the arrest and execution of all Life believers preaching within the Eternal Church territories. If you go there... it’s too dangerous!"

Some Life believers, who had escaped persecution from other parts of the empire, said worriedly.

Old John smiled slightly:

"Facing challenges embodies the courage and determination of Life believers."

"Don’t worry, I will protect myself."

"Then... then we want to follow you! To spread the true faith of the Goddess together!"

Some believers said excitedly.

Old John gently shook his head:

"As everyone said, the places I’m going next are not exactly safe; the fewer, the better."

"Rest assured, with the Elf Chosen Ones, I’ll be very safe."

He smiled slightly and gestured to the sides.

Following his gaze, more than ten elves emerged from the crowd, saluted Old John, and stood behind him.

They were more than ten players, each with the strength of the Golden Rank.

They would protect Old John, continuing to spread the faith across the continent.

After bidding farewell to the believers in Larona, Old John set off on his journey.

When he first arrived here, it was an area of ruin and despair.

But when he left, he left behind light and hope.

As Old John departed, the slums of Larona were deserted, with tens of thousands of believers seeing him off...

It was an unprecedented spectacle, stirring the whole of Larona.

The seeds of hope have been sown.

Now, they await flowering and fruition.

...

Inside Larona’s inner city, within the Eternal Church’s cathedral.

An elder dressed in a holy robe, kneeling before the Eternal Divine Statue in prayer, paused and looked out the window.

"Lord Adam..."

Noticing the elder’s distraction, a young priest approached, bowed respectfully.

"Has he... already left?"

The elder suddenly asked.

"Yes, my lord, he has left Larona."

The priest hesitated for a moment before replying.

"Gone..."

The elder sighed deeply.

He turned around and approached the window.

Autumn had come, and the maple trees outside were painted with intoxicating red and gold.

A cool breeze gradually swept in, with leaves sailing down, as if palms, swirling in the wind.

The rustling leaves sounded, and in the distance was the azure sky.

The sky, without a cloud, was vast and deep.

"Autumn has come..."

Watching the spinning, falling maple leaves in the wind, the elder reached out with a trembling hand, caressing the sun emblem that symbolized the Eternal Lord in his arms.

His gaze, like the azure sky, was deep and serene.

...

After saying goodbye to Old John, Frank returned with his followers to the Southern Territory.

The war ended, and the Southern Border Territory welcomed a wave of returning refugees, with countless people moving their families back to this long-lost hometown every day.

However beautiful other places may be, they are not home after all.

Only the hometown where one grew up holds a warm, comforting power.

Yet, although the invading demons were wiped out, and the abyssal pollution purified, the scars remained.

Cities were in ruins, fields lay fallow, and everything in the Southern Territory had to start anew.

And elsewhere in the Holy Mandy Empire, the persecution of Life believers, and the pursuit and execution of Life Chasers, continued...

Not only that, but it was escalating.

The Eternal Church’s response was growing increasingly intense, with Judgement Knights appearing more frequently.

However, something deeply rooted, like the wild grass on the prairie, is undying, flourishing in the spring breeze.

Once people awaken, they unleash unprecedented resilience and determination.

That is not something simplistic violence can suppress.

Although the whole empire remains largely peaceful, beneath the surface, seeds of a storm have been sown.

Upon returning to the Southern Territory, the first thing Frank did was announce the establishment of the Life Chaser Alliance, centered on the Southern Territory, renaming the Dawn Mercenary Corps to the Life Chasers.

More and more Life believers flooded from all over the empire, joining in.

The spark has been ignited.