She took a deep breath, "Speak, what do you suggest?"

Ethan, however, swallowed two pastries right in front of her, stuffing his mouth full, while looking at her with innocent eyes.

"Hiss——!"

This Senzi!

Mary glanced back at the people immersed in the joy of the aftermath. Ultimately, without Bazarian's protection, they were just a group of powerless weaklings in front of the Transcendents. Now that she understood the truth, eliminating these troublemakers only required a simple magic spell for her.

According to Ethan's "prophecy," their uncontrollable desires would eventually lead to even greater chaos.

Those who originally discussed her cast guilty glances away, clearly, Ethan's "prophecy" had come true. After some discussion, they had decided to write her name on the death list.

Just as Ethan said, "The Brotherhood" needs you to make a sacrifice.

This made Mary quite displeased.

"This is the inevitable result... Oh, Honorable Lady Saint Mary, may I speak?"

"Speak!"

"When the kingdom's laws cannot guarantee the residents here, once they grasp the power to resist, resistance will inevitably exceed limits, even become extreme, and in such extraordinary times, the more extreme voices often gain more support."

The moderates had long lost their faith and embarked on a completely opposite path.

"Bazarian has already taken the lead, He has armed all believers. At least at this moment, He, as a new god, has gained the recognition of the residents of Lower City. In my opinion, Hawke is a good entry point."

"Continue."

"If you think Hawke deserves to die, yet their way of judgment is misguided, then can you propose a better plan concerning Hawke?"

Mary did not respond immediately; she seemed deep in thought.

"This is a competition, a decisive battle between you and Bazarian."

In Ethan's view, there were many ways to engage in a decisive battle.

One of them was for Mary to stop thinking, wield the Wind Element Sword, storm into the Eternal Theater, and challenge Bazarian to a duel. Such a level of battle, regardless of the outcome, Oasis City would most likely be unable to survive. By then, both nobles and commoners would realize that no matter what obsessions they held, in the divine struggles, they would merely turn to dust.

No one would remember their names or know the details of Oasis City's past. Future generations would only remember a deity fell here, and a memorial hall was rebuilt on this site.

"Or, you can treat this as a 'campaign for the new mayor of Oasis City.' Look at them, these people are your potential voters."

"Campaign... Mayor?"

This was an entirely unfamiliar territory for Mary. As early as the end of the Crimson Epoch, the people from the Church Court deemed her unsuitable for management roles; her temper left quite a poor impression on many colleagues in the Church Court.

She never dreamed that one day she would find herself in such a situation.

"Your competitor, Lady Bazarian, proposed a new policy of 'arming everyone, fighting freely.' Based on the past environment of Oasis City, I think this new policy is very appealing to the residents of Lower City. Now her supporters have kindly decided to assassinate Hawke and everyone in his manor."

Ethan said, "Well, Lizi, can you propose a better new policy?"

Nevertheless, Ethan discreetly hid a small slip of paper under the pastries and handed it over.

"This is..."

"Ave-Margaret's contact information. I heard she's accomplished in this field."

"Thanks, Senzi."

When the two left the tavern, it was already daylight outside, and the security and Church Court's enforcement teams were still everywhere. The entire Lower City was shrouded in an extremely oppressive atmosphere, and some sensed an unusual air among the citizens, mainly from their gazes.

Many commoners had shed their past timid and humble demeanor, and gained a certain hostility, as if conveying a message with their eyes.

——One day, we will kill you all!

The two returned to the inn, Mary remained vigilant on the way, until she saw Miss Lindong, a smile finally appeared on her face.

Just as the rumors said, she was a vindictive person.

And now, she wanted to retaliate against Senzi for what he did in the underground tavern. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Miss Lindong."

She approached her, "I want to report."

"Hmm?"

"Ethan was peeking at the waitress's thighs in the underground tavern just now!"

Ethan was dumbfounded; at this moment, he lost his magical "prophecy" ability. This sudden backstab left him stunned, but then he chuckled coldly, "Do you think she will believe such a clumsy lie?"

Ethan proactively stepped forward, wrapping his arm around Lindong, "There, you see, this is trust."

"I know, but this has nothing to do with trust."

Mary's slightly upturned lips made Ethan's heart skip a beat. Simultaneously, Lindong seized his shoulder, "Didn't you notice? She just needed an excuse; the credibility of the excuse itself doesn't matter."

"Lizi——!"

This was Ethan's last outcry before being dragged into the room.

Damn politicians, he was going to vote for Bazarian!

That morning, yet another shocking news spread through Upper City like wildfire. Following Heriot's mysterious death, a fire burned Hawke's manor to the ground. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze, as someone had rescued them.

In the afternoon, this news finally reached the ears of Lower City residents.

To them, this was nothing short of a disaster.

Hawke was still alive; the fire only claimed his mansion, but for a villain like him, losing one room was inconsequential. With the wealth he extracted from the people of Oasis City, he could readily rebuild his manor.

This also meant their wishes had failed.

Could it be... even the Goddess couldn't completely punish these wicked people?

For a moment, Lower City was shrouded in despair until another bombshell spread through the crowd like wildfire—there would be a public trial for Hawke in the central square of Upper City at dusk. At that time, all blockades to Upper City would be lifted, and the person who announced this hoped the residents of Lower City would participate in this public trial.

"It's a lie!"

"This must be a conspiracy by those people!"

This was the commoners' initial reaction.

A public trial for Hawke?

Even a three-year-old child in Lower City wouldn't believe such an easily-exposed lie. Hawke's manipulation of medicine prices couldn't have happened without collaboration with other officials. In the past, all those who reported Hawke and Heriot were arrested by the security forces and jailed on trumped-up charges or secretly murdered.

"They want to lure us to Upper City!"

In the underground tavern, another emergency meeting was in progress.

On this issue, public opinion among the commoners was also divided.

Some advocated staying in Lower City and refusing to go; others planned to gather all the "Sharp-toothed People." The Goddess not only healed their ailments but also enhanced their physical abilities, giving them the power to resist even when facing the armed security forces.

"Let's fight them!"

This was the view of another faction. To them, Hawke's narrow escape was an opportunity and a test from the Goddess.

They also had to personally take to the battlefield.

But now, unlike the past, they knew the Goddess was with them.

The meeting quickly resulted in a resolution. Faith in the Goddess prevailed, and the people decided, "Gather everyone, today it's either them or us!"

Meanwhile, in the Upper City Town Hall, Hawke looked ashen.

He thought he had escaped a calamity in the fire, but never expected that the benefactor who saved him from the blaze did so only to deliver him onto the guillotine personally.

However, at this moment, none of the officials who routinely accepted his bribes dared to speak on his behalf.

Because standing before them was Mary, the former Saint of the Church Court.

As stated in the Holy Scripture, her every word and action represented the will of the Goddess of Life.