Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 127 - 121: Augustus Returns

「A few days later.」

An attendant rushed in to report, "My lord, Bishop Augustus of the Light Holy See has arrived outside the castle, leading a squadron of Pegasus Knights."

’Augustus?’

’I went through so much trouble to divert that disaster, tricking him into going to Baiyang Territory. Why is he back again?’

’Raylo had no good impression of this Bishop from the Light Holy See. The man was rigid, a ruthless killer who was always threatening to cremate people. Just thinking about it was terrifying.’

’And to make matters worse, as a Tier Five powerhouse, the Bishop was astonishingly powerful. An ordinary person stood no chance against him.’

’Hadn’t Viscount Baiyang, a somewhat famous Tier Four Sky Knight, had his entire family’s ashes scattered by this very man?’

’I wonder where that Vice Commander of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order sent by the Duke is. He should hurry up and bring this walking disaster to justice.’

"Show the Lord Bishop to the reception room and entertain him well," Raylo ordered.

He stood up and paced for a few moments, thinking. Once he had a plan in mind, he walked unhurriedly toward the reception room.

Inside the reception room, Bishop Augustus was already seated.

He wore a magnificent white robe embroidered with a golden sun pattern. His expression was solemn and his gaze sharp. Even while seated, he exuded an imposing, dignified air.

Two Church Knights with piercing gazes stood beside him, their armor polished to a mirror shine.

"Lord Baron, good day to you."

Seeing Raylo enter, Augustus nodded slightly, his voice booming.

"Bishop Augustus, your presence brings honor to Black Stone Territory," Raylo said, returning a Knight’s salute, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of the Lord Bishop’s visit today?"

A slight smile appeared on Augustus’s face.

"Baron Raylo, there’s no need to be so formal. I have come today on behalf of the Holy See to commend you."

"Commend me?"

Raylo feigned confusion.

"Precisely!" Augustus said.

"You exposed Viscount Baiyang’s heretical acts of colluding with an Evil Deity and performing blood sacrifices, preventing a greater disaster from spreading. This is a great service! I have already reported the matter in detail to His Holiness the Pope, and an official reward will be granted soon."

"It is my honor to contribute what little I can to the cause of the Light," Raylo said.

Augustus nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject.

"Baron Raylo, Black Stone Territory is currently in a state of ruin, waiting to be rebuilt, which makes it fertile ground for spreading the faith. I hope you can select a site within your territory and build a Divine Hall of Light as soon as possible, allowing the deity’s radiance to shine upon this land and protect your people."

’Here it comes,’ Raylo thought.

He put on a troubled expression and let out a long sigh, his normally straight posture seeming to slump.

"Lord Bishop, there is something you don’t know..."

Seeing his strange expression, Augustus asked, "Does the Baron have some difficulty?"

Raylo wore a pained expression, his voice laced with a hint of panic.

"Lord Bishop, to be honest with you, because of that damned Viscount Baiyang, I am now facing a great disaster!"

He paused, and only continued when he saw Augustus was listening intently.

"I received news that the remnants of Viscount Baiyang’s followers have paid a hefty price to hire an assassin from the Shadow Blade Organization to take my life! I’m told that the assassin, known as ’Night Owl,’ is already on his way and will arrive in Black Stone Territory any day now."

"He’s a Tier Four Sky Knight... Alas, Lord Bishop, because of this, my life is now in grave danger."

"Shadow Blade?"

Augustus furrowed his brow, clearly having heard of this infamous organization of assassins.

"The very same!" Raylo said, his face a mask of worry.

"My Black Stone Territory is newly established; I have few soldiers and even fewer commanders, and my own strength is meager. As you can see, my castle is crude, and I haven’t even built any proper defenses. Facing those elusive Shadow Blade assassins... I... I’m afraid I can’t even protect myself!"

He struck his forehead, his face wracked with sorrow.

"I’m restless day and night, and food has lost its taste. I’m terrified I’ll lose my life at any moment without even knowing what hit me. In this state, how could I possibly have the spare energy to build a Divine Hall and serve the Holy See? I’m afraid my head will be separated from my shoulders before the foundations are even laid. Alas, my own life is what’s most important right now. I really don’t dare get involved in the Holy See’s affairs any further, lest I bring more disaster upon myself!"

Raylo’s words were a mix of truth and lies.

The threat from Shadow Blade was real, but his current "panic" and "helplessness" were entirely for show. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After hearing this, Augustus was stunned for a moment before flying into a rage.

He slammed his hand on the armrest and shot to his feet, his white robes billowing as if in a nonexistent wind.

"How outrageous! Under the glorious Light of the Divine Lord, these heretics dare to be so rampant! To retaliate against a hero of the Light Holy See is to make an enemy of the entire Holy See!"

His gaze swept over to Raylo.

"Baron Raylo, rest assured! A mere Shadow Blade assassin is beneath my notice! Since I, Augustus, am here, I cannot simply stand by and do nothing. I have decided. I will remain in Black Stone Territory for a few more days. A mere Tier Four? I can crush him with the flip of my hand!"

A powerful aura erupted from the Bishop, and the very air in the room seemed to grow heavy.

The two Church Knights behind him straightened their backs, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords, their expressions grim.

Raylo rejoiced inwardly. ’The fish has taken the bait.’

He quickly put on an expression of overwhelming gratitude.

"Lord Bishop... you... you’re really willing to stay and help me?"

"Hmph. It is our duty to purge heretics and protect the faithful for our deity!" Augustus declared proudly.

"You have rendered a service to the Holy See, and the Holy See will certainly not leave you isolated and helpless. As for building the Divine Hall, it can wait until you’ve dealt with this worthless scum!"

"Thank you, Lord Bishop! Thank you, Lord Bishop!" Raylo said excitedly, as if he had just grasped a life-saving straw.

"With your help, I can finally rest easy!"

...

Over the next two days, the atmosphere in Black Stone Territory grew somewhat delicate.

On the open ground outside the castle, a large number of refugees began to pour in.

They were dressed in rags, their faces sallow and emaciated. Their eyes held a bewilderment about the future, mixed with a sliver of hope upon entering a new territory.

Raylo did some mental math. It was about time for Night Owl to arrive.

’Blending in with these refugees would undoubtedly be the best cover.’

Raylo had already made arrangements.

He had his Scribe, Elvin, set up a temporary registration point outside the castle to screen the incoming refugees.

The method was simple but effective.

Those who could find fellow villagers or relatives to corroborate their identities were registered and then temporarily settled in a simple shantytown built on the outskirts of Black Stone Town. If no one could vouch for them, they were politely asked to step aside to be "protected" by the guards while awaiting further review.

The sun was a bit glaring. Elvin wiped the sweat from his brow and handed a list to Raylo.

"My lord, a total of 473 refugees have poured in over the last two days. Most of them have had their identities preliminarily verified and been settled. These remaining eighteen people, however, have no one who can vouch for them."

Raylo took the list and glanced over it.

Half a day later, these people were brought to the open ground in front of the castle, watched over by a squad of Knights.