Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire
Chapter 435 - 265 The Future Fairy Queen’s Spirit_2

Chapter 435: Chapter 265 The Future Fairy Queen’s Spirit_2

Fortunately, he discovered it not too late, he could still correct it.

"Please calm Your Highness’s anger!"

The bowing fairy lowered her head even more, her body trembling uncontrollably, not because she was weak, but due to the absolute suppression from a superior bloodline.

"Calm my anger? Very well, Sifreya, I will give you a chance to appease my wrath. Since you believe this list is insufficient to cleanse the fallen among the fairies, you shall personally conduct the first round of inspection."

A breath of fire from Noah turned the list before him into ashes, not even bothering to glance at the names recorded on it. No need to look, he already knew it would be full of attempts to deceive him.

"Do not disappoint me again!"

"Yes."

Hearing Noah’s cold tone, Sifreya no longer held any hope.

"Show me if you indeed have the caliber to become the Fairy King!"

After watching Sifreya leave, Noah summoned the existing leaders of the paladins in the territory; he wasn’t joking with Sifreya. He truly planned to use the paladins to conduct a cleansing of the territory.

Of course, it’s only targeting the judicial system, not the entire administrative system. Otherwise, it would truly be overturning the table, requiring a thorough cleansing from top to bottom, a price Noah was unwilling to accept.

The Golden Dragon also knew that no one is perfect; while he could encourage his subjects to emulate saints, he couldn’t demand everyone to be a saint, living by saintly words and deeds.

People have desires, and thus may engage in harmless little deeds, something Noah could understand, turn a blind eye to. Imposing the strict standards of the paladins on everyone, inspecting each individual, would cause any nation or civilization to collapse, for it is simply unrealistic, not even a matter of ideals.

"My Lord!"

Upon receiving the Holy Dragon’s invitation, the leaders of various paladin groups responded very enthusiastically. Almost anyone remaining in the Noah Territory had heard some news.

"Rumor has it that you plan to conduct an investigation on the officials in your territory?"

When up to seven paladin leaders were present, an experienced middle-aged paladin asked eagerly, clearly unable to wait.

"It’s merely a review of the judicial system!"

Noah emphasized. Although he planned to utilize the paladins’ power, he had no intention of abusing it.

"Because of the atonement money?"

The paladin also understood the cause of the Holy Dragon’s fury.

"Indeed related, but not the main reason."

Noah was not only furious that someone turned the Law Code he crafted into a price list for profit, but also enraged that he was unaware of this matter, as no fairy reported it, and he discovered it himself through consciousness projection.

"What do you need us to do?"

After learning the ins and outs of this investigation from the Holy Dragon Noah, the leaders of these paladin groups exchanged glances and actively asked.

Already eager to give it a try, this was a perfect opportunity to practice their faith in the path of justice; under the rule of other countries’ nobles, they would never have such an opportunity.

"First, I need you to conduct a round of inspection on the fairies under my command, but that will have to wait until one of my Favored conducts a self-inspection.

Secondly, once the fairy inspection is complete, I hope you can deploy and assemble a sufficient number of paladins to investigate the judicial officials appointed in various towns within my territory. Anyone found unjust may be detained on the spot."

Looking at the increasingly excited faces of the paladin leaders, Noah presented the third request,

"Lastly, given that the judicial system in my territory will likely experience significant vacancies, resulting in paralysis after two rounds of investigations, I hope you can provide me with a batch of reserve paladins who adhere to fairness and justice to replenish the judicial sector."

"This..."

"Hmm!"

If the first two requests exhilarated the paladins, Noah’s third request left the paladin groups feeling a bit cornered.

This Holy Dragon was blatantly trying to poach paladins, asking them to send people over. Such a request was indeed hard to decide upon.

Training a paladin requires significant resources in the initial stages, as each paladin is an all-round talent with virtually no weaknesses. Whether as an individual warrior or a leader commanding a team, they adapt well.

The sheer cost of training resources and high initial investment are already significant, but what’s even rarer is the need for a paladin to uphold the path of justice and virtue, the highest threshold.

Without receiving a response from Holy Light or mastering the Holy Light Power, no amount of learning would make one a paladin.

"It is only temporary, to maintain order. My territory’s officials are not lifelong positions. I believe, serving as an official for you paladins should also be a very good experience and training."

Seeing the hesitant and unresponsive paladins, Noah added, clarifying he was not trying to poach, but merely requesting a temporary transfer.

As for the duration of the transfer, that could be discussed later, as the tenure of officials was ultimately decided by him, the Great Lord.

Targeting paladins was his last resort, for the most crucial need of the judicial system was fairness. With unending human desire, fairness gets eroded by desire and will naturally cease to exist.

After the first cleansing, how to ensure the newly supplemented officials wouldn’t make the same mistakes, maintain integrity, and uphold the law impartially?

Impossible, or rather, completely unguaranteed.

Noah neither desired nor had any interest in conducting round after round of cleansing; the exhaustion aside, even if he were interested in such an endeavor, what about the people? How many innocents would die as a price during this rectification?

Therefore, Noah had to target the paladins. In the judicial system where fairness, integrity, and exemplary conduct for the people were most needed, inserting paladins could best prevent the judicial system from deteriorating and falling.

Of course, it’s not that paladins were foolproof; there were indeed fallen paladins in the world. Nonetheless, this group was far more reliable than the officials selected from among the fairies.

The average lower bound for paladins was an upper bound that worldly officials could hardly reach in a lifetime.

"My Lord, we are not refusing; rather, have you considered whether your people would be willing to accept our paladins as officials?"

A paladin leader voiced his concern. Paladins, of course, were favored by everyone as they stood as moral models and righteous warriors.

However, even the struggling, cold, and hungry ordinary people only thought of them and needed them when suffering. Once their lives reached basic needs fulfillment, they would prefer to keep their distance and avoid excessive interaction.

"They will get used to it."

Noah dismissed the paladin’s concern with a simple statement.

Considering whether the people would be willing to accept it? What a joke?

He believed that the Wisdom Species’s lower strata had many potentials yet to be tapped but had no faith in their judgment, even less in their wisdom and discernment.

A dictator!

Paladin leaders exchanged looks; some appeared indifferent, while others showed helplessness.

Noah’s response fully embodied the traits of a ruler, a common characteristic shared by Dragon Clan Lords.

Not questioning whether the people needed something but deciding whether the people needed it based on one’s judgment.

"In that case, I am willing to recommend a group of outstanding young people for you."

"I also have a group of young people needing experience."

While it’s not uncommon for paladins to undertake official roles and engage in politics, large-scale collective involvement in governance is indeed an extremely rare event.