Chapter 75: The Sword Points to the Church

“With the consent of the majority of the cardinal bishops, the Central Court has decided to pledge allegiance to Lord Cliff.”

Xino retracted his smile and closed his visor. He waved his hand, and the surrounding knights parted to make way.

“Please return. Otherwise, I will order your complete annihilation.”

Xino’s tone was resolute. Chloe knew she couldn’t change his mind. She tugged at Alice’s sleeve, hoping for an idea.

Alice clenched her teeth, her face twitching slightly. Chloe could feel her anger, but it soon dissolved into a helpless sigh.

“If you want to be Lord Cliff’s dogs, be my guest. But first, release our people.”

Chloe thought the same. At the very least, they had to rescue Anna.

“You mean that female doctor? She’s pretty, but a pity.”

Leon yawned, a flicker of lust in his eyes.

“Pity…?” Chloe asked urgently.

“She was taken by Archbishop Andrew. No woman survives more than a few days under him,” Leon said coldly.

“You… you all… weren’t you just going to detain her for observation?” Constantine stared at Leon in shock.

“Heretics and infidels belong before the tribunal, but Anna is neither a heretic nor an infidel. Why treat her like this?” Una said angrily.

“Poor Constantine. All you do is pimp for the cardinal bishops. The ones you capture either become slaves or objects for the cardinals’ release.”

Chloe clenched her fists, feeling her blood surge again.

She nodded to Anjie, who raised her hand in understanding.

Leon chuckled, completely disregarding his knightly image. The other knights began laughing too. Xino frowned, about to quiet them.

But Leon’s laugh died in his throat.

A faint streak of blood appeared on his neck, as if cut by a sharp blade. He fell from his horse, blood staining his white armor.

Xino’s eyes widened. He turned to see Anjie’s hand steaming, a smile on her face.

“Anjie, begin.”

Chloe stepped back, her crimson eyes blinking, her body wavering slightly.

“It’s come to this.”

Alice took off her clergyman’s hat, letting her shiny blonde hair spread in the air.

“As you command, Master.”

Anjie added the title ‘master’ on her own, but Chloe had no mood to correct her.

Xino clearly sensed the source of the anomaly. His brow furrowed as he frantically directed the church knights.

“Spread out! Spread out!”

The knights retreated, some even dropping their swords and fleeing, but it was too late.

“‘Sever.'”

Anjie coldly swept her hand through the bodies of the knight order, the precise arc encompassing everyone.

Chloe closed her eyes to avoid the bloody scene.

Thwack.

When she opened them again, only Xino remained standing, his knees weak, crashing to the ground with a thud.

“God… oh God…”

His hands were covered in blood, but none of it was his own.

Leon should consider himself lucky—he was the only one left with a whole corpse.

“Who gave you the courage to defy the elder?”

Alice walked past him, snapping her fingers and reverting to her girl form.

“Constantine, any objections?”

Anjie winked at Constantine.

Constantine ignored Anjie, instead drawing her magic sword and pointing it at the cross.

“I shall cleanse this corrupt church in the name of God.”

“Count me in!” Una said indignantly.

Chloe took a deep breath. She had never expected things to escalate like this.

Now, there was no turning back—only one path forward.

Chloe lifted her eyes and declared, “Rescue Anna, then turn the Central Court into history.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Anjie licked her lower lip, visible excitement on her face.

“Don’t harm those without weapons or those who surrender,” Alice said, holding Anjie’s shoulder in gentle caution.

Chloe nodded. They weren’t butchers. It would be best if this show of force could compel obedience.

But first, they had to rescue Anna.

“Who is this Archbishop Andrew?” Chloe asked.

“On the surface, he’s a proper cardinal bishop, but privately he keeps mistresses… I thought he had some limits.”

Constantine’s face was pale, clearly disgusted by the title ‘Andrew’s pimp.’

“Andrew is probably in his residence. If we confront him, we’ll find Anna. Una can lead the way!” Una said.

“You’re wonderful.”

Chloe praised her, patting her head. Una snuggled into Chloe’s arms like a kitten.

“Hehe, Lady Chloe praised Una~”

Chloe looked up, gazing at the distant church.

“I, Alice, and Una will rescue Anna. Anjie and Constantine will attack the church. That okay?”

“I’m enough alone. Constantine is a cripple now,” Anjie retorted.

Constantine knocked Anjie on the head and said coldly, “You can only sever things within your field of vision. I can’t guarantee you won’t be hit by stray arrows, and my left hand still works.”

With that, Constantine dragged the magic sword with her left hand, the tip tracing a red snake through the blood on the ground. She strode toward the church, casting a solemn silhouette, and Anjie had no choice but to follow.

Chloe had no doubt that the two of them alone could slaughter the entire church.

But violence alone couldn’t solve anything.

Chloe walked to Xino, who was still kneeling. He turned, his face still filled with shock.

“Why didn’t you kill me?”

“Because you’re not beyond redemption.”

Chloe took Xino’s hand and pulled him up.

“I can also deliver what Lord Cliff promised.”

“Lord Cliff is a king of a nation, while you’re just a minor count.”

Chloe looked at Xino, her eyes like rubies reflecting his anxious, fearful face.

He wasn’t wrong. Without war, the law was ended; Cliff could easily annex Avros. The elder might be strong individually but couldn’t fight an entire army.

She pondered what to say to persuade Xino. Just then, Una and Alice came over.

“Xino! You despicable guy, you’re not dead? I mourned for you half a day!” Una said angrily.

“Sorry for making you worry.”

“I never thought the church would seek to use Augustus’s power… Now I understand why Ellysia wanted to possess Chloe.”

Alice shook her head helplessly.

Ellysia wanted to answer Augustus’s call? Was she trying to resurrect someone too?

Chloe thought of Caesar, her dearest sister. She had crossed into this world to cure Xia Ni’s terminal illness.

But her sister failed, and Alena failed too. The pointer of fate quietly pointed to her.

Chloe lifted her eyes to meet Xino’s gaze and spoke her answer: “Unifying the world is my destiny.”