This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Retribution of the Conviction Knight Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Retribution of the Conviction Knight The grand and splendid palace, the heart of the Laine Empire’s Bureau of Judicial Review, where the main editor of “Legendary Spells”, James Watson, sat before his desk carefully reviewing a thick stack of reports.

At this time, perhaps he should be addressed as His Excellency, Watson of the Laine Empire, the Supreme Judge.

Being an editor was just a part-time job, as James Watson’s primary responsibility was to judge the heretics within the nation.

The only lawful faith in the Laine Empire was the Lord of the Dawn, and any worship of other deities within the boundaries of the Laine Empire was considered heresy.

But recently, the Laine Empire had expanded its territory significantly, and many of the newly included freedmen were not able to immediately adapt to such stringent religious laws and still retained their faith in the old gods.

However, these were humans, brethren who could be enlightened. James Watson didn’t blindly send everyone to the stake; instead, he read the investigation reports delivered to him with care and devised plans for faith propaganda for different regions under different circumstances.

Whether through appeasement or severity, the measures were clear and effective.

As burdensome as these tasks appeared, for someone like James Watson, who rose from a humble priest and was a devoted believer, they were now second nature. He believed that in a few more years, the humans in these regions would all become staunch believers in the Light.

Issues that took others ten days or a fortnight to solve, James Watson could handle in just half a day, and that was also why he was able to firmly hold the position of Supreme Judge.

Only after his official duties were done for the day did James Watson begin his part-time job of reviewing submissions. However, he often treated this editorial work as entertainment, taking pleasure in seeing which heretic had written an article and then rejecting it with relish—it was the most delightful game for him.

After casually writing reasons for the rejection on several submissions from Dwarves and Elves, James Watson’s attention was caught by a strange article.

“My Paladin Friend Allen—A Brief Discussion on the Influence of Faith on the Young”
“What is this?”

One could tell just by the title that it was a submission to the supplementary publication of “Legendary Spells”, which, filled with tabloid news and fictitious stories, had also become quite popular lately. James Watson didn’t usually care much for such things; no matter how well they sold, they couldn’t compare to the influence of “Legendary Spells”‘s main publication.

James Watson even hoped the heretics would write more supplementary tabloid stories, continuing on their path of degeneration and allowing “Legendary Spells” to become the true scholarly treasure of human magic. Therefore, James Watson was very lenient in approving supplements, often just glancing at them before passing.

But this name—Paladin Allen?

James Watson looked at the article’s author, William Harvy, a name he had never heard before; either it was a pseudonym or just an obscure, insignificant person.

Yet, having barely started reading the beginning, James Watson’s expression changed.

The Supreme Judge’s brow furrowed as he rubbed his ring, and a screen of light unfolded before him. However, what should have been a clear communication image was now only a mass of flickering lightning.

This was the communication ring he shared with his son Allen, enabling contact at any time and place, which was now lost.

The article must not be fake, his son Allen Watson was indeed captured—by a Lich.

James Watson picked up the article again, reading every single sentence with great attention, his face soon turning ashen.

The piece portrayed James Watson as an irrational zealot, using distorted doctrines of the Light to brainwash his son and employing various inhumane methods to torment the bodies and minds of others. If it were just a matter of distorting the truth, that would be one thing; throughout his life, James Watson had faced countless slanders and insults—just one article would not affect him.

What truly angered James Watson was this article that analyzed the faith of Lord of the Dawn from a different perspective. The author, from a bystander’s point of view, indicated that the Lord of the Dawn was not much different from other deities. Whether it was the Lord of Light or the God of Nature, their doctrines were similar, their followers acted in similar ways, and even their enemies seemed alike, all harboring animosity towards the Undead. However, the followers of the Lord of the Dawn were even more exclusionary than the Druids.

The author believed that this was a blasphemy against the Lord of the Dawn and a misinterpretation of the doctrines of light. Under such a twisted faith, the Laine Empire was creating endless tragedies and strife, and this was the result of James Watson, the Supreme Judge, seeking to satisfy his personal ambitions.

Such an angle of analysis made James Watson’s face quite unsightly, as the Laine Empire was actively expanding abroad, which naturally could not avoid warfare. The arguments of the article were nonsensical and unsubstantiated, but they were rife with conspiracy theories, and readers loved conspiracy theories the most.

James Watson was certain that once the article was published, such conspiracy theories would rapidly spread, and the Laine Empire would plunge into an unfavorable environment of public opinion. It might not necessarily affect the outcome on the battlefield, but it was definitely an adverse situation.

However, if he didn’t allow this article to be published, his son Allen might lose his life.

“He was clearly sent to the Silvermoon Tribunal, so how did he end up in Alchemy City? This reckless boy, did he also hear about that nonsensical prophecy?”

James Watson wished he could grab Allen and give him a severe reprimand. The Paladin’s excursion had been arranged long ago; it must have been the boy himself who changed the plan and ran off to Alchemy City.

The rumor of a divine artifact capable of deification lying in the sewers of Alchemy City had been circulating within the Laine Empire for some time, but James Watson, a Legendary Rank figure, held it in contempt. Allen should not have been naive enough to believe in such a prophecy and head to Alchemy City.

But now, fretting over this was pointless.

“Foolish! Reckless! Completely ignorant of the world…” James Watson cursed fiercely.

The author had made it very clear: if he wanted Allen to stay alive, he would have to publish the article and then reply with a comment on whether he was willing to pay the ransom. The ransom was not an issue—merely several million Gold Coins—but the impact of the article on the Empire was too significant. It absolutely could not be published; otherwise, he would be seen as a felon of the Empire.

After pondering for a moment, James Watson said with a sorrowful tone, “Allen, forgive me.”

James Watson stretched out his hand and pressed it onto a crystal on the desk. With a flash of holy light, a Paladin clad in silver-white armor appeared in front of James Watson and knelt on one knee with profound respect.

“Supreme Judge Sir, your command?”

“Pick ten from the Conviction Knight Order and head to Alchemy City to find my son Allen. If he is alive, rescue him at all costs. If he cannot be rescued, then completely obliterate the Lich that kidnapped him. Be cautious, as you might face an Undead of Legendary Rank.”

The Paladin confidently replied, “Rest assured, Sir, the Conviction Knight Order was established to combat the Legendary. The disgrace of the past will not be repeated.”

Upon hearing the reference to the past disgrace, James Watson could not help but remember the legend: before he was born, the Laine Empire had once sent the entire Paladin Legion to hunt down a Headless Knight, which ended in a terrible outcome. The Paladin Legion had suffered heavy losses and the Headless Knight had broken free from the Empire and vanished without a trace.

This was an event carved into the Empire’s pillar of shame, and after that humiliating hunt, the Empire established the Conviction Knight Order, specially addressing the unique threat of Legendary Undead. Sadly, the older generation of Paladins did not live to vindicate themselves and all returned to the Divine Realm. The new generation of Knights of Conviction honed their skills daily, all for the opportunity to avenge their predecessors someday.

Although they might not face the same old enemy this time, combating a Legendary Undead was a challenge that the Conviction Knight Order dreamt of.

They would offer the soul of this Undead as a sacrifice to the Lord of the Dawn, wishing that the vile soul would be purified.

James Watson stood up, his fists clenched as he said, “Remember, no matter what conditions the other party proposes, do not agree. The Laine Empire never succumbs to threats.”

“As you command, Supreme Judge Sir.”