The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 132 - 18: The Papal Secret Command (Part 3)

Chapter 132: Chapter 18: The Papal Secret Command (Part 3)

Throughout the entire night, Gray stood motionless on the hillside, gazing into the distance toward Levi’s residence. Levi was equally defiant, standing on the balcony and locking eyes with Gray.

Lusien V, Gene II, Arthur, and Camilla had all returned to their respective camps.

When the first ray of sunlight illuminated Buck Town, the various factions sprang into action.

The Golden Snake camp’s army began to reorganize and assemble. The White Fox camp’s forces likewise started preparing and gathering.

The dwarves lifted the tent flaps and cautiously came out one by one, taking up their weapons. Shelley, dressed in plain leather armor, also emerged carefully, surveying her surroundings.

Jones and Dora had already brought the Bone Horse prepared for Shelley and presented it to her.

Carl, Gray’s right-hand man, was galloping back and forth on horseback, commanding the troops to form up. Naturally, his primary focus was managing the dwarves. The Silver Moon Knights, being magically linked to Gray, moved as if they were extensions of his own body; orders could be instantly conveyed and executed.

Noticing Shelley stepping out of her tent, Carl immediately rode over and said to her, "Miss Shelley, you will stay here today to observe the battle. These two will protect you."

"These two" referred to Jones and Dora.

Shelley silently nodded and cast a distant glance at Gray, who stood at the forefront.

Tenidas had already taken his place behind Gray, while the Black Cat lay nestled against Gray’s chest. Catherine and Vivian had each concealed their forms and were hovering around Gray.

Andrew, wrapped in a cloak, stood beside Gray, holding the reins of a horse.

"Do I really have to stay inside your armor?" the Black Cat muttered quietly. "Maybe if you let me roam freely, I’d be even safer."

"Having you here gives me peace of mind."

"Ugh... So I’m that important, huh? Hahaha. What’s your plan?"

"I don’t know. It depends on their choices. If they adhere to the agreement and compete as planned, that would be ideal. But if anyone breaks the pact, I’ll have to strike immediately to enforce justice."

"Hmm... Will their Guardian Angel intervene? That’s the crux of it. If the Guardian Angel gets involved, we probably can’t win. Forget about enforcing the pact—we might not even make it out alive."

"If I’m allowed to join the fight, we could win—they’d be the ones running from us," Vivian said softly. "Are you really not going to try harnessing the power from Hell?"

...

Gene II rode onto the battlefield atop his horse. Camilla appeared as well, dressed in plain clothes, following closely behind her father on horseback. Her brow remained furrowed.

"Did Holy Knight Gray only reiterate the previous agreement last night? Nothing else?"

"Nothing else."

"For example, did he offer governance over the entire Ailuo Peninsula if only one side supported him?"

"No, he said that even the rights of the losing party in the competition would be safeguarded."

"Ha! That kind of condition sounds hardly enticing. It’s far less appealing than Holy Knight Levi’s proposal."

"Father..."

"Speak your mind."

"Do you wish to support Holy Knight Levi?"

"Do you think supporting Holy Knight Levi is wrong?"

"No, I just think... Holy Knight Gray is an honest and upright person. We shouldn’t betray him, nor should we break our own promises."

Gene II turned his head, giving his daughter a meaningful look before softly asking, "Tell me, if the two Holy Knights clash, who do you think will win?"

After a brief moment of hesitation, Camilla mustered the courage to reply, "I believe Holy Knight Gray will win."

"Alright, I see. You might not be able to contribute much to this battle, but afterward, you must continue to strengthen your relationship with Holy Knight Gray. I’ve always dreamed of having a Holy Knight as my son-in-law. A mere earl’s daughter does not match a Holy Knight." With that, Gene II spurred his horse forward.

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Lusien V also rode onto the battlefield.

Prince Arthur chased after him on horseback, urging, "Father, are you really not going to think this through further?"

"I’ve already made up my mind. There’s no need to reconsider."

"But... based on what we’ve seen, Holy Knight Gray clearly holds the advantage. An undeniable advantage. Unless Holy Knight Levi has some hidden strategy, there’s no way he can defeat Gray’s Silver Moon Knight Order. And yet, Levi refuses to disclose any follow-up plans he might have."

Lusien V tightened the reins, halting his horse, and turned his face slightly to look at his son. With a deep, knowing tone, he pointed toward Gray’s camp and said, "That is an honest Holy Knight."

Then, pointing toward Buck Town where Levi was, he added, "And that is a somewhat less honest Holy Knight."

"Father, I... don’t quite understand."

Lusien V sighed deeply before continuing, "An honest Holy Knight does not retreat, does not compromise. A less honest Holy Knight will not engage in a battle they are destined to lose. If Levi has entered this fray, then at least, prior to the conflict, he must believe he’s guaranteed victory. Although he hasn’t revealed anything, I trust he has a plan. He doesn’t seem like the type who would willingly come here to embarrass himself. Furthermore... Holy Knight Gray’s terms are awful. Extremely honest, exceedingly fair, but utterly lacking in allure. If we support Holy Knight Gray, Levi might threaten to wipe us off the Ailuo Peninsula. But if we betray Gray’s pact, the worst we will face is Gray waging a campaign against us, at which point we’d have another chance to amend things. He’s even promised to safeguard the rights of the losers..."

Arthur listened in stunned silence, his eyes slowly widening.

Lusien V chuckled coldly. "Good heavens... This is the strangest promise I’ve ever heard. Protecting the rights of even the losers? Even if you fail in the competition, the most you lose is some inconsequential little town. But if we place our bets on Holy Knight Levi, we could potentially win the entire Ailuo Peninsula. Gray is a righteous Holy Knight—but he’s not clever. Any gambler would recognize that this is a highly imbalanced wager. The stakes are low, but the odds are high. And Levi may not necessarily lose. So why not take the gamble?"

...

"Mount up!" Carl shouted.

In unison, all the Silver Moon Knights placed their feet in the stirrups and mounted their horses. Gray mounted up as well.

"Silver Moon Knight Order, advance!"

With a force comprising fifty dwarves forming the Dwarf Army, the Silver Moon Knight Order began a slow, deliberate march forward.

The wind gently blew, making the banners flutter audibly.

Shelley, along with Jones and Dora, stood on horseback near the camp’s rear, watching from afar.

Meanwhile, the sizable forces of the Golden Snake and White Fox factions had also completed their assemblage, forming into orderly formations.

The gates at the eastern exit of Buck Town swung open, and Levi, clad in his resplendent armor, emerged on horseback onto the battlefield. Following closely behind were a host of clergymen and many of the Buck Town townsfolk who had come to witness the spectacle.

...

The shield formation at the forefront of the White Fox Army parted to create a passageway, and Gene II rode through it on horseback until he reached Gray.

Immediately, all eyes turned to Lusien V, who remained within the army formation. He sat quietly on his horse, observing the scene.

Behind him, Arthur quietly murmured, "Father, I believe you should reconsider. Holy Knight Gray’s strength is undeniable, laid bare before us. Although he has promised to protect the losers’ rights, a defeat here will greatly damage our reputation at home. That might hurt us more than losing an insignificant little town."

Lusien V raised a hand, signaling Arthur to speak no further. Yet he remained mounted, silently observing.

"King Fides, please step forward and honor the pact!" Carl shouted forcefully.

The voice rang loudly, ensuring everyone heard. Yet Lusien V remained still on his mount, his gaze flitting back and forth between Gray and Levi. He gave no response.

"King Fides, please step forward and honor the pact!" Carl repeated.

Every head turned, necks craning, but still, there was no response. Lusien V merely pressed his lips together, watching Gray from afar.

"Could it be that King Fides intends to breach the agreement?"

"How can he breach it before the fight has even started? Isn’t he afraid of the Holy Knight’s retribution?"

In the distance, even the townsfolk had begun murmuring among themselves.

Gene II glanced toward Lusien V and chuckled.

"King Fides, please step forward and honor the pact!" This was Carl’s third call, and he added, "If you do not respond, it will be deemed a breach of the agreement!"

After casting one last glance at Levi, Lusien V finally moved.

The soldiers in the shield formation parted to create a passageway. Riding his horse, Lusien V advanced slowly but came to a halt just as he crossed the defensive line.

Raising his head, he called out loudly, "Holy Knight Gray! Lord Gray! I, the ruler of Fides, the King of Fides, the thirty-fifth heir of the Golden Snake Family, Lusien V, after careful consideration, find the agreement between Gene II and myself unsuitable! I hereby demand a revision to the pact!"

Levi’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Gene II was about to protest, but Gray raised a hand to stop him. Turning his horse, Gray shouted back, "What kind of revision do you propose?"

"I demand that the agreement be sanctioned by the Holy Father! Without the Holy Father’s approval, the agreement cannot take effect, nor should it be honored!"

Gray replied decisively, "The original agreement made no mention of the Holy Father, nor does it require his sanction! Your demand is denied! The agreement must be honored immediately!"

Lusien V spread his hands. "In that case, I must refuse to participate in the competition!"

This was, perhaps, an expected outcome.

Gray’s voice boomed in response. "Then, as the arbitrator, I have no choice but to enact the agreed-upon consequences upon you, your family, and the entire Kingdom of Fides!"

The crowd of citizens and soldiers erupted in commotion.

"What does this mean? Is Holy Knight Gray declaring war on Fides?"

Before anyone could fully process the situation, Levi spurred his horse forward and declared loudly, "I, Holy Knight Levi, acting on behalf of the Holy Father, hereby announce that the competition agreement between the Kingdom of Fides’ ruler Lusien V and the Bert Duchy’s ruler Gene II is null and void! The violators are not required to pay any penalties! Furthermore, as a king blessed by the Holy Father, the Church will protect Lusien V’s rights from any infringement! Any actions attempting to harm the rights of the Fides Royal Family will be condemned and punished!"

"Wait... Did I hear that correctly?" someone whispered amid the confused and astonished crowd. "The Holy Father just invalidated the agreement arbitrated by Holy Knight Gray? Now Gray must either admit his arbitration is void or declare war on Fides to enforce punishment. And if he does that, Holy Knight Levi will step in on behalf of the Church and Fides to fight against him. This essentially pits Gray against the Church... Is that right?"

"Seems like it..."

"Good heavens, is this a holy war within the Church?"

The soft breeze blew across the battlefield, rendering the world eerily silent. Even the murmurs of discussion faded, as everyone held their breath and fixed their gaze on the lone figure of Gray at the heart of the field.

After a long pause, Gray raised his head, drew his longsword, and shouted, "Silver Moon Knight Order, form up—! Prepare to charge—!"