In Another World, All Milfs Will Be Mine-Chapter 135: [ - - ] - The Saint, The Sinner, and The Pardon of Blood (Part - 2)

Chapter 135: [Chapter - 135] - The Saint, The Sinner, and The Pardon of Blood (Part - 2)

"I knew of this heresy!" Remus declared, his voice trembling with righteous indignation. "The Temple sees all! I was preparing to act! I had drafted the decree of excommunication this very morning! I was ready to march into that Keep and drag the sinner from his throne to face the judgment of the Light!"

He paused for dramatic effect, looking up at the smoke-filled sky.

"But the Gods... the Gods are impatient. They did not wait for my decree."

Remus’s eyes rolled back slightly, as if recalling a holy sight.

"I saw it in a vision!" he shouted. "As the monsters breached the walls, I saw the coward trying to flee! I saw him running through the secret tunnels with his lover, clutching stolen gold!"

"But the forest does not forgive!" Remus roared. "Lord Caelum Dargan has been struck down! I saw the shadows consume him! He was eaten by the very evils he allowed to fester! His reign of incompetence and perversion is over!"

"But fear not!" Remus smiled, the benevolent grandfather returning. "For where one leader fails, others rise!"

He gestured to the side, towards the Silver Route headquarters.

"We thank the Silver Route! We thank Lady Ryana, who opened her stores and armed the people when the guards failed! A true pillar of our city!"

Then, Remus turned his eyes to the black-clad army filling the square. The bandits.

The citizens tensed. They were still terrified of the Blackfangs.

Remus sensed the fear. He raised his hands soothingly.

"I know what you see," Remus said softly. "You see the Blackfang Bandits. You see the outlaws who have haunted our woods. You see fear."

He shook his head.

"But... look closer!"

"When the gates broke... who came?" Remus asked. "When the City Watch ran... who stood?"

He pointed at Belladonna.

"They did!"

"They are not bandits tonight!" Remus declared. "They are saviors! They are the sword that struck from the shadows when the shield of the Lord shattered! They came not to plunder, but to protect! They fought for your homes! They fought for your lives!"

He looked at Belladonna with a theatrical nod of respect.

"The Temple of Light recognizes their sacrifice! We recognize their redemption! The blood of the monsters has washed away the sins of the past!"

"Forgive them!" Remus commanded the crowd. "Embrace them! For without them, Auravale would be a graveyard!"

It was a masterstroke. He twisted the narrative so hard it snapped.

A few citizens started to clap. Then more. The Blackfangs, confused but happy to be cheered instead of hanged, puffed out their chests.

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves echoed from the northern road.

The crowd parted.

A squadron of heavy cavalry thundered into the square. They wore polished steel armor and yellow cloaks.

At the head of the column rode a massive man on a white warhorse. He was fat, bearded, and covered in jewels.

Baron Volkov.

Leo smirked. "Right on time."

The Baron pulled his horse to a halt. He looked breathless, his face flushed, sweat dripping from his brow. His horse was foaming at the mouth, looking like it had been ridden hard.

"I am here!" Volkov shouted, drawing his sword and holding it high. "Hold the line! The Barony stands with Auravale!"

He looked around, blinking in confusion at the pile of dead monsters and the cheering bandits.

"Is... is it over?" Volkov asked, feigning shock.

High Priest Remus hurried down the steps to meet him. "Baron Volkov! Praise the Gods! You came!"

"I rode as soon as I felt the disturbance in the mana!" Volkov proclaimed loudly, for everyone to hear. "I rode the wind! I killed three horses to get here! I could not let my people suffer!"

Leo snorted. "Bullshit."

’Aiva,’ Leo thought. ’How far is his barony from here?’

The distance from Auravale to Baron Volkov’s Barony is nearly 180 miles]

[Estimated travel time for heavy cavalry at full gallop is about 12 hours minimum.]

’The attack started about 3 hours ago,’ Leo calculated, ’There is no physical way he could have gotten here. Unless he has a teleporter... or.’

’Unless he was camping ten minutes down the road, waiting for the signal.’

Remus did a good job taking Volkov in confidence. This was the final key which Leo had been waiting for the last 7 days.

And when he got the news today that Volkov has camped 20 miles away from, Leo decided to make his move.

It was a setup. Volkov had been waiting for Caelum to fall so he could swoop in and play the hero.

Remus knew it. Leo knew it. But the people? They just saw a Baron on a white horse who had "ridden to death" to save them. They cheered.

"Baron!" Remus said, bowing. "Your arrival honors us. But the battle is won. Thanks to this man."

Remus gestured to Leo.

Volkov turned his horse toward Leo. He looked at the young man standing on the corpse pile. He looked at the Blackfang army kneeling to him.

Volkov’s eyes narrowed. He recognized the threat. But he also recognized the political reality. He couldn’t fight the hero of the hour.

He sheathed his sword. He smiled—a politician’s smile.

"A hero!" Volkov boomed. "Auravale breeds lions! Young man, the Kingdom owes you a debt!"

He turned to the crowd.

"And these... warriors," Volkov gestured to the bandits. "I have heard the High Priest’s words. I have seen the carnage."

Volkov raised his voice, making an official proclamation.

"By the power vested in me by the Crown! I hereby declare a General Pardon!"

The crowd gasped.

"The Blackfang Bandits are no more!" Volkov shouted. "From this day forth, they are the Blackfang Mercenary Company! Their crimes are forgiven! Their bounties are cleared! They are the protectors of Auravale!"

The bandits roared. They threw their hats in the air. They hugged each other. They were legal. They were free.

Belladonna looked up at Leo. Her eyes were shining with tears of victory.

"You did it," she mouthed.

Leo winked at her.

He looked at the Baron, who was soaking up the applause. He looked at Remus, who was blessing babies in the crowd. He looked at the kneeling army of killers he now commanded.

He had won. He had the money, the army, the girl, and the city.

Leo stepped down from the corpse pile. He walked over to Belladonna.

"Well," Leo said, wiping the last of the blood from his hands onto his trousers. "That was a productive afternoon."

He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close in front of the Baron and the Priest.

"Now," Leo whispered in her ear. "Let’s go home. I believe you owe me a fashion show."

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