Chapter 26

The officer of the city guard had long seen that the arriving priest was from the Church of Compassion and did not even bother to greet him. The status of the Church of Compassion was truly pitiful, to the point where even the casting of divine spells was sometimes effective and sometimes not. The officer of the city guard had no respect for the people of this church, even if they were priests.

Hearing the priest Raphael angrily say he would investigate the matter thoroughly, the officer of the city guard pursed his lips and said lazily, "This kind of thing happens a dozen times a day in the West District. If we were to investigate thoroughly, that would be fine, but I'm afraid I don't have enough men, Sir Priest."

The last four words, "Sir Priest," were drawn out, full of mockery and derision.

Priest Raphael said in a solemn voice, "The victim is someone who was just selected to study at the Church Academy. He had just passed the Church Academy's test when he was attacked. The timing is too coincidental; it must be investigated thoroughly! This incident may be related to the attack on the Alliance of the Light Temple."

Hearing Priest Raphael say this, the officer of the city guard inwardly smiled bitterly. If it were linked to the attack on the Alliance of the Light Temple, these street thugs would be flayed alive even if they didn't die. Although he looked down on the priests of the Church of Compassion, he could not ignore the matter if it were linked to the assassination of the believers and priests of the Alliance of the Light Temple.

Getting the Church of Compassion involved was no big deal, but if it led to trouble with other churches because of the assassination of the Alliance of the Light Temple, he would be in serious trouble. The officer of the city guard coldly glanced at the fallen thugs.

"Men, arrest them all and take them back for interrogation," the officer of the city guard said.

While Priest Raphael was negotiating with the officer of the city guard, some of the less injured thugs had already started to get up. Hearing Priest Raphael say that Jiang Junming had indeed been selected by the Alliance of the Light Temple to study at the Church Academy, they looked at him in disbelief.

A small herbalist's errand boy, really selected by the Alliance of the Light Temple? Although they still couldn't believe it, these words were spoken by Priest Raphael, and they couldn't help but believe.

When the thugs later heard that the incident was linked to the attack on the believers and priests of the Alliance of the Light Temple a few days ago, they were all shocked. Their faces turned pale, devoid of any color. This was a frame-up, a move to completely destroy them!

"Fortunately, it's the Church of Compassion..." some of the thugs muttered under their breath after seeing the emblem embroidered on Raphael's clothing.

The Church of Compassion was weak, and if they were framing them, there was still a way out. If it were another church, even if not the Dawnlight Church or the Justice Church, just a Guardian Church, it would be easy to use this incident to kill a dozen ordinary people.

When the thug leader Derrick heard Priest Raphael forcefully link a street fight to the attack on the Alliance of the Light Temple, he knew the gravity of the situation. Despite the intense pain all over his body, he struggled to raise his head and shouted, "I am a member of the Short Sword Guild!"

Hearing the thug leader Derrick say this, the officer of the city guard frowned, and his stern expression became somewhat stiff. Seeing a city guard kick the struggling thug to the ground, binding his hands roughly behind his back, his tone was no longer as harsh as before. He said in a stiff and wooden voice, "No need to tie them up, have them stand up and take them back for questioning."

Priest Raphael sighed inwardly when he heard that the thug leader Derrick was a member of the Short Sword Guild, and he shook his head slightly.

Jiang Junming didn't know what had happened. Seeing that Priest Raphael's face was still somewhat pale, with a hint of unhealthy redness on his cheeks from the hurried run, he was concerned about his injuries and wanted to ask how Priest Raphael was feeling.

"The Short Sword Guild is an underground force in Moonlight City. Everyone knows they commit crimes, but no one dares to do anything about them. Do you know why?" Priest Raphael asked Jiang Junming in a low voice.

Jiang Junming shook his head. Underground force? Was that like the legendary underworld? How could a priest be afraid of such a low-level underground force? Jiang Junming was a bit puzzled.

"Because the Short Sword Guild is rumored to be affiliated with the Thieves' Guild, a subordinate organization. Everyone knows about the Thieves' Guild, but no one knows where it is or how powerful it is. Those who dared to provoke the Thieves' Guild are already dead."

Priest Raphael warned Jiang Junming, "They won't dare to retaliate against the priests of the Alliance of the Light Temple, but you haven't joined the church yet, so they won't have any qualms. Go back and pack your things; I'll have someone take you to the Church Academy. Once you're there, the Short Sword Guild won't dare to do anything to you."

Jiang Junming saw that Priest Raphael's face was serious. Although he didn't know what the Short Sword Guild and the Thieves' Guild were, he knew that Priest Raphael was genuinely concerned for him. He nodded lightly and said, "Thank you, Sir Priest. I understand."

Seeing the thugs all taken away by the city guard, Priest Raphael asked Jiang Junming about what happened during the test and then said, "Go back and pack your things. I'll have a believer take you to the Temple of the Goddess of Compassion."

Jiang Junming nodded. Priest Raphael gave him a deep look and then turned to leave.

Seeing Priest Raphael leave, some of the onlookers who knew Jiang Junming came up to congratulate him on being able to study at the Church Academy. Their words were filled with more respect than before. Jiang Junming smiled and politely responded to each of them.

Back at the herbalist's shop, Vincent and the others had just learned that Jiang Junming was surrounded by thugs and were preparing to help him. Seeing Jiang Junming return safely and learning that he had passed the test and was preparing to study at the Church Academy, they were all very happy.

"I didn't think you would really be able to study at the Church Academy. That's great," Vincent said, surprised and then happy, after hearing Jiang Junming's story. Jiang Junming was always busy working and hadn't been seen praying or doing anything else. Vincent had always been worried that Jiang Junming wouldn't be selected. Only now did he feel relieved.

"I knew you could do it!" Stanm patted Jiang Junming's shoulder hard and said loudly, looking even happier than Jiang Junming himself.

"Hehe." Jiang Junming just smiled, feeling the joy of the herbalist's shop workers. He knew they were genuinely happy and excited for him. Suddenly, he felt a faint sense of reluctance, thinking about leaving.

*****

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