The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 147 - 31: Evolution (Second Update)

Chapter 147: Chapter 31: Evolution (Second Update)

In just over a month. A little over a month ago, news of the Church’s civil war and the four Holy Knights’ siege of Gray spread across the continent. Finally, a church that had been on a downward spiral seemed to have regained some semblance of respect. Before they could recover, Holy Knight Gray returned with a vengeance, defeating and capturing the four Holy Knights of the Church.

It wasn’t just about respect. Holy Knights were the core battle power of the Church, their ultimate deterrence against nations...

If Gray’s previous actions had already inflicted severe damage on the Church, then this time, it was undoubtedly a fatal blow.

"What does he want to do? He imprisoned the four Holy Knights. Does he want a trial? He’s just a Holy Knight himself. What qualifies him to judge the other four Holy Knights?"

"According to the rules, he can’t, but... I don’t think he’s planning to follow the rules anymore."

"We were the first to break the rules."

"What are you talking about? Are you defending him?"

"No, we’re just stating the facts. None of us wanted this situation, but it is what it is. We must acknowledge it."

"Maybe we should request a divine arbitration."

"There will be no arbitration. The Angels have already replied that they won’t support either side in our conflict with Holy Knight Gray. When we attacked him, the Angels didn’t intervene. They certainly won’t intervene now."

"So what should we do? My God, we should never have made an enemy of him to begin with. Where does his power come from? Why can he still defeat the other four Holy Knights even with his Guardian Angel captured?"

"If divine intervention is out of the question, we’ll have to negotiate with him ourselves. But how? What conditions can we offer that he would accept?"

Someone whispered, "He’s challenging our authority over the sacred... that’s probably what he wants. He wants to redefine the judgments we’ve already made."

Panic quickly spread among the Cardinals. Everyone understood what the capture of the four Holy Knights meant for the Church. It was as if a building had lost four supporting pillars, always on the verge of collapse. And if Gray was indeed challenging the Cardinals’ authority over the sacred, he was essentially saying to everyone: "I’m taking this house. I am its rightful master."

"Madness! Does this Holy Knight want to become the Pope?"

Amidst the chaos, the aging Pope sat silently, saying nothing.

The Keltos Continent, with its millennia-long history, remained unchanged, the same mountains and lakes. Yet, its people experienced endless cycles of rise and fall. Just like the Church, which had represented the sacred faith of the continent for millennia, seemed unshakable from its position. In reality, it always faced countless changes: new challenges, problems, crises. And this crisis was clearly "the most severe in history."

Since Gray became a Holy Knight, he had consistently caused crises for the Church, each crisis setting a new precedent. If in the past, the Cardinals dared to say, "The Church has endured countless crises, and each time has passed. Only the Church is eternal."

But this time? Would anyone dare to say that?

Gray was accomplishing something that even hell could only dream of but could never achieve. The scales of victory were tipping in his favor.

...

While the Church was in a state of panic and helplessness, the events on the Ailuo Peninsula quickly spread across the continent. The Cardinals expected another worldwide uproar, as always. However, there wasn’t. Instead of an uproar, there was a terrifying calm where everyone simply listened and thought. No complaints, no denouncements, not even opportunists trying to fish in troubled waters. No one took the chance to bargain with the Church.

"I think no one in this world can defeat him. Capturing four Holy Knights while being a Holy Knight himself, a person blessed by the Angels, no one in this world can defeat or threaten him. Not even the Pope. I’m considering whether our church taxes should go to the Church or Holy Knight Gray. Frankly, I think they should go to him. He’s the supreme holy authority of the continent, while the Pope is just a pitiful figure who let all his military power out and lost miserably." A duke from the East Continent said to his bishop.

If such words had been spoken before, this duke would likely end up on the Church’s blacklist. The Church would join forces with other nobles to pressure him into abdication. But now, nearly all nobles were saying, at the very least, thinking the same. The Church couldn’t blacklist all the nobles or there would be no one left to ally with. Moreover, the Church had lost its most crucial military power.

In the meantime, Gray was also undergoing some changes.

"Deliver this letter to White City, to Duke Beisher. Make sure to give it to her in person, and tell her I’m safe and will return soon, so she needn’t worry. And this letter is from Shelley to Count Gruglu. It must be delivered to him in person too. If you don’t know where Count Gruglu lives, ask Duke Beisher, she will tell you. And these letters, I wrote them to the kings of various countries, requesting provisions. Make sure to deliver them all, and once completed, arrange a time to retrieve their replies. I’ve wasted too much time here, the famine in Lion King City can erupt at any time, we can’t visit them one by one. Ask for their forgiveness on my behalf."

"I... did I hear that right?" Julian was stunned, looking at the thick stack of letters Gray handed him. "You want us to deliver these letters for you?"

"Angels can deliver messages faster."

"We are Guardian Angels, not carrier pigeons."

"I know. The Guardian Angels of the Church Holy Knights, whose Holy Knights are locked in my cell. They eat three meals a day without making any contributions. Never heard of such severe offenders enjoying benefits. Especially when I’m desperate for food. As accomplices, you can work to atone for your sins and theirs, earning their daily meals. Or, I reduce their meals to one a day, saving some food, though not much."

Gritting his teeth, Julian reluctantly took the stack of letters.

...

"Starting today, you are relieved of your duties as Bishop Fides and Bishop Bert. You may recommend a successor, but they must have my approval. Moreover, you are both stripped of your clerical status and must find your own livelihoods. You may also leave the Ailuo Peninsula and head to the Church, if they’re willing to take you in."

"Why..." The two bishops, Fides and Bert, were both stunned.

"You want to know why? Because I deem you both unfit for clerical duties. Your conduct has strayed too far from the sacred faith. If you continue preaching, it will make the sacred seem as you do. To me, that’s more terrifying than not preaching at all. It can even lead to hopelessness. Let me repeat, this is not a request for your opinion, but a notification."

"We... I was ordained by the Pope!"

"Then go beg the Pope!" Gray shouted. "There is no place for you on the Ailuo Peninsula!"

Bishop Fides and Bishop Bert were left speechless.

...

"When will you release us!" Levi, who was locked up and disheveled, shouted.

"All I’m doing now is what you intended to do to me. I won’t release you. You will remain imprisoned. Wherever I go, I’ll take you with me until I deem your release harmless to this world and my faith."

"The Pope will never agree!"

"This matter doesn’t require the Pope’s consent," Gray responded coldly.

...

"Your Majesty, not only did you break our agreement, but you also attacked Duke Bert proactively. Tell me, how should I handle you?"

Lusien V shivered on the ground and quickly said, "I... I’ll give you provisions, ninety thousand tons! Whatever you want!"

"But you don’t have ninety thousand tons of provisions."

"No, I do!"

Lusien V blinked, staring blankly at Gray.

Gray watched him quietly.

After a long time, Gray finally said softly, "You are no longer suitable to be a king."

"What?" Lusien V collapsed to the ground in despair, his eyes wide open.

Turning away, Gray said, "Arthur, he abdicates, you ascend the throne. Buck Town is part of the Bert Duchy, the price you pay for your actions. I heard you captured Duke Bert and his daughter. I want to see them, and their safety must be guaranteed. Additionally, I need to borrow provisions from you. Go back and calculate how much you can provide. I will repay you, but not soon. Also, requisitioning provisions must not cause famine. We don’t want anyone else to suffer. You understand what I mean. And."

Gray paused there.

Arthur cautiously looked at Gray.

"Don’t make me think you’re as unfit to be king as your father."

"Yes!" Arthur bowed respectfully.

After Lusien V and his son left, Gray was left alone in the room. Staring out the window at the sky, Gray said blankly, *"I think I have emotions now."*

"I can tell. Is it due to the influence of the Demon Lord’s power?" the Black Cat asked softly.

Gray slowly shook his head, "I still don’t think so. But I must admit, I indeed have emotions. It’s...hatred. Even if I had no emotions, I would still act the same, but I can’t find any kindness in the way I respond now. I wasn’t like this before."

"Having emotions is normal. Being emotionless like you were before is abnormal. Of course, I’m not saying having emotions is good. It’s just... the more you know, the more you understand, the more you’re disappointed. Everyone has emotions, even a Lich. This is growth."

"A new kind of confused growth?"

"Yes, it’s not the confusion from faith, but from growth. Just like that charlatan Priest said. People should have some emotions, or others will constantly challenge your limits, and you won’t be able to accomplish your tasks smoothly. You need some authority. Sometimes making people afraid isn’t necessarily bad."

"Alright," Gray said softly. "Then I’ll slowly adapt to this emotional self. Disappointment is allowed, but giving up hope is not. If the world isn’t good enough, then make it better yourself, instead of lamenting or standing idly by complaining."

"Yes, exactly."

"Black Cat, I think you’re greater than the Pope, honestly."

"Huh?"

"Isn’t it true? The Pope’s four Holy Knights are all in the prison of a Holy Knight you trained. What could better prove your greatness than that?"

"Hahaha, I think you’ve grown again and grasped the essence of things!"