Chapter 35: Accusations Require Basic Evidence...

  Hearing ie's words, everyone present was taken aback, and Stone curiously approached.

  "rad? You mean that cultist?"

  As he spoke, Stone squinted and scrutinized Alex for a moment before g his hands.

  "Hey, you know what, he does look a bit like him."

  So you never really cared about this at all!

  Hearing Stone's words, Alex rolled his eyes in exasperation. He had spent so much time with Stone, and the topic of rad had never e up. Alex had assumed Stone was unaware of rad's situation, but now it seemed he just didn't care about it at all!

  "Cultist? rad?"

  Malt was taken aback by ie's words. He g Alex, then shook his head.

  "Don't be ridiculous, ie! How could Mr. Alex be a cultist?"

  "What?"

  ie was stunned by her ander's rea. Her panions had died chasing rad, and she had etched his appearao her memory. Upon seeing Alex, she immediately reized him and attacked without hesitation.

  ie had expected ander Malt and the other knights to rush forward and execute the vile cultist. But to her surprise, not only did ander Malt not believe her, but the other knights also seemed indifferent. As for Sir Stone, he looked like he couldn't care less.

  What is going on?

  ie was utterly bewildered. She had no idea that while her words surprised Malt and Stohey didn't believe them at all. To them, Alex couldn't possibly be rad.

  The reason was simple: Malt khat Alex had previously used Holy Light Healing ohe serene and banced aura of the spell was at a bishop's level. Everyone knew cultists worshiped evil and chaos, and their power bore the taint of chaos. Power itself doesn't lie. For Malt, believing Alex was a cultist was impossible—since when did cultists uand the power of order better than temple bishops? Who's the real cultist here?

  Stone's disbelief was even simpler. He had seen Alex's divine prote firsthand. If Alex were a cultist, then the angel would have been proteg a cultist?

  Wow, saying that would get you bur the stake.

  "Are you alright, Alex? What's going on here? Why were you and ie fighting?"

  "How should I know? I was just talking, and she suddenly attacked me like she wao kill me. What was I supposed to do? I was desperate too."

  "Nonsense."

  Stone shook his head helplessly at Alex's ahen turo the shy girl—who had been stunned by the earlier battle.

  "What do you say?"

  "Ah..."

  Hearing Stone's question, the shy girl finally snapped out of her daze. She gimidly at ie, then looked down and spoke.

  "It was like this: I was talking to Mr. Alex, and Miss ie came over. When she saw Mr. Alex, she called him a cultist and then drew her sword to attack him..."

  "I was worried he would deceive you! Cultists are all smooth talkers and not to be trusted!"

  ie quickly interjected upon hearing the shy girl's response.

  "I'm certain he's a wanted man by the temple. His star mark has been distributed to all city halls. Just check it..."

  "I ducted Mr. Alex's star mark iion myself."

  Hearing the versation turn to her area of expertise, the usually soft-spoken and timid girl interrupted ie.

  "I assure you, Mr. Alex's star mark is not on the list."

  "How could that be..."

  ie gritted her teeth and turo gre at Alex. He responded with a cold snort, not b to show any friendliness. Alex was not oo go easy on women just because of their gender. When female employees pined about w overtime, he didn't give them special treatment. They were employees, not his wife, so why should he be le?

  It was the same here. Despite ie's det looks, her hot-headedness was intolerable to Alex. Her immediate attempt to kill him upon sight was something he couldn't five. Especially with such a sweet ale girl beside him, Alex found ie's appearance even less appealing.

  Inner beauty does enhaer beauty, after all.

  "I'm really sorry, Mr. Alex."

  Malt seemed to uand ie's temper well. Seeing her rea, he sighed, knowing she wouldn't apologize, so he stepped in to apologize to Alex himself. Alex nodded without saying much. He had a good retionship with Malt and didn't want to take out his frustration on others. Despite his youthful appearance, Alex's experience as a two-time reinate made him mature and level-headed. He didn't show any hostility towards Malt.

  Malt, aware of the awkward atmosphere, didn't say much more. He apologized on ie's behalf and assured Alex that ie would be severely reprimahen, he led the others away, clearly feeling it wasn't the right time for further iion.

  Alex, feeling no ination to chat, cast Holy Light Fsh on himself. The crazy woman's lightning attacks had severely damaged his right arm, leaving it covered in painful burns. Anger had kept him going during the fight, but now he felt the full extent of his injuries and began healing himself to ease the pain.

  "e on, cheer up."

  Stone, seeing Alex's displeasure, ughed and patted him on the back.

  "Being able to beat that proud woman is quite an aplishment. If wets out, you'll have many admirers iemple."

  "Sir Stone, is Miss ie very famous?"

  The shy girl, curious, asked as she listened. Her enter with ie was simir to Alex's first meeting with Knight —resg each other from undead creatures and traveling together. However, the oute had been vastly different.

  "Yes, she's one of the most outstanding of the younger geion, known as the Blessed of the Goddess. But perhaps because things have always gone her way, she has a terrible temper. Plus, her father is the Knight ander, so most people avoid getting involved with her. Over time, she's developed quite an attitude."

  Stone shook his head as he spoke.

  "Malt is her mentor and often has to up after her. She has no self-awareness. Since her strength is siderable, no one keep her in check, so she's bee very arrogant. But now she's finally met her match."

  Hearing Stone's expnation, Alex uood why none of the knights had defended ie, despite her closer retionship with Malt. They must have endured her tantrums many times.

  Meanwhile, oher side, Malt was sternly gring at ie.

  "You were reckless, attag without knowing the full situation. Did you fet your knight's code?"

  "But ander, he is a cultist!"

  ie remained defiae Malt's reprimand.

  "I'm sure he looks exactly like that cultist!"

  "So what? Many people resemble each other. As followers of the Goddess of Order, we need evidence! We've fought alongside him and are familiar with his power. It is certainly not chaotic. Besides, Sir Stone is his mentor, and his star mark doesn't match. Do you have any more questions?"

  "But he could be disguising himself!"

  ie still waue.

  "Maybe that cultist used some kind of method..."

  "Enough!"

  Malt interrupted her angrily, his face turning dark.

  "Remember, without suffit evidence, we have nht to accuse someone of being a cultist! This is a strict rule of the temple. No one wants a repeat of the Dark Fallen Moedy. We are the knights of the Temple of Order. We must adhere to our principles! If you still don't uand this, you should take off that armor. Do you uand?!"

  Faced with Malt's harsh reprimand, ie remained silent for a moment before relutly nodding.

  "I uand..."

  (End of Chapter)

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