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    Chapter 33: Bro, This Guy Wants You Dead!

    If the City Guard hadn’t intervened, Gretel’s fate would have been a toss in the dungeon, with a bamboo shoot and pork stir-fry (a common prison meal) or some other kind of package deal.

    As for when he would see the light of day again, that would depend on how much Captain Kalen could pull some strings and when he could persuade the City Guard to intervene and bail him out.

    If the War God Temple hadn’t stepped in, Gretel’s fate would have been to be thrown into some side hall, where a cleric would interrogate him with a barrage of questions. If he was lucky, he might be allowed to face a confrontation with Knight Roman.

    Traditionally, among practitioners of the same tier, spellcasters held a higher status than warriors. The Archpriest of the Spring Water Goddess Temple could sit on an equal footing with the City Lord of Hartland. The City Guard was merely subordinate to the City Lord’s Mansion. Even though Captain Nolan, as a Level Seven Knight, was of the same level as the Archpriest, he was indeed a notch below him in status.

    But now, the Bald-headed Bishop was smiling cheerfully, walking beside the Archpriest. Regardless of level or fighting prowess, the two heads of different Temples were nominally of equal status. The Bald-headed Bishop expressed his desire to observe, so the Archpriest could only lead them to the main hall, holding his nose as he arranged seats for them.

    The Archpriest stood tall on the pulpit, with several low-level clerics flanking him in a line behind him. Knight Nolan settled down on the right side of the main hall, while the Bald-headed Bishop, after repeated refusals, finally settled in the audience seats where believers would listen to sermons. As for Gretel’s own position, he looked around and saw – oh dear – the defendant’s seat.

    And it was the defendant’s seat for a criminal trial.

    Were they being so disrespectful? Could he ask for a defense attorney?

    Sadly, there were no lawyers. Knight Nolan took the seat of the defense attorney, looking quite intimidating. As for his defense skills, that remained unknown.

    What frustrated Gretel even more was that Knight Roman’s seat was on the left side of the Temple, facing his own Captain Nolan. It was the prosecutor’s seat! He sat in the prosecutor’s position, and how dare they make me stand in the defendant’s seat?!

    I haven’t committed any crimes!

    I really haven’t committed any crimes!

    Gretel was exasperated. Knight Roman, who had been summoned from the side hall, was practically spewing fire from his eyes. Looking at Gretel, who was lazily standing at the bottom, without any fear, he trembled all over, wishing he could pounce on him, tear him apart and eat his flesh:

    “You! You are the one! It’s you who hurt me! My hand, my hand!”

    Gretel was taken aback.

    In the span of a day, Knight Roman had completely fallen apart. His face was ashen, his cheeks were sunken, and a thick beard had sprouted on his once sharp-jawline. His once neatly trimmed short hair was now limp and disheveled, collapsing onto his head. Gretel glanced at him and sighed inwardly.

    He couldn’t be more familiar with this kind of change. In the hospital of his past life, those patients who knew they had a terminal illness, those family members who received the bad news, those who couldn’t afford treatment for themselves or their loved ones…

    Overnight, or even in an hour or two, their entire spirit could collapse like that.

    Compared to them, Knight Roman was still somewhat spirited. But that spirit soon disappeared. He looked around, seeing the City Guard’s Captain Nolan sitting opposite him, then the Bishop of the War God Temple sitting below, and his expression shifted rapidly. Pain, resentment, disbelief, a jumble of emotions flashed across his face, and his entire body began to tremble slightly.

    After a moment of daze, he slowly sat down, slumping his back inch by inch.

    Gretel observed him silently. Upon closer inspection, his right thumb was still in the same condition as yesterday, unable to straighten or bend fully. An experienced doctor could tell at a glance that it was unnatural.

    It seems that high-level healing potions are not omnipotent…

    Gretel lowered his eyelids slightly. The Archpriest sighed at the sight of Knight Roman, turned his head left, and nodded. Behind him, a Level Five cleric stepped forward and spoke in a loud voice:

    “Gretel Nordmark?”

    “That’s me.”

    “Knight Roman accuses you of colluding with a Necromancer and grievously injuring him. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

    Gretel was surprised. He stared at the cleric who had spoken, then at Knight Roman, whose entire body had slumped, as if his spine had been taken away. He slowly opened his mouth wide:

    Bro, are you that unpopular?

    With several bigwigs present, the cleric questioning him spoke in such a way. Isn’t this supposed to be a death sentence for me? They want you dead!

    After a moment of contemplation, Gretel stood firmly in his place. He raised his gaze to meet the Archpriest’s, and declared in a clear voice:

    “I did not!”

    “Gretel Nordmark!”

    The Level Five cleric, speaking on behalf of the Archpriest, shouted:

    “Behave yourself! – Knight Roman is a noble Knight of the Temple. Would he falsely accuse you?”

    False accusations, what’s so great about them? There are plenty of people who get discharged from the hospital and then file complaints against doctors. Gretel rolled his eyes inwardly, and calmly asked:

    “What does Cleric Donald say?”

    “Cleric Donald is currently in solitary confinement, reflecting on his mistakes. – Don’t drag others into this. Speak for yourself!”

    Gretel looked at Knight Roman and sighed. The fact that Cleric Donald could be placed in solitary confinement beforehand shows that Knight Roman had used some serious connections to get his revenge – why bother? Why? He’s ruined, use these connections to arrange his life for the rest of his days, wouldn’t that be better?

    Besides, even with connections, you should use them wisely! Look, when it comes to a matter of life and death, someone is stabbing you in the back, right?

    His reply was more lighthearted:

    “My squad and I were on routine patrol when we were summoned by the Temple Guards to join the search. After I went to sleep last night, Temple Guards discovered skeleton soldiers, and my entire squad and I gathered to storm the castle basement.

    After Knight Roman killed the gargoyle, he was about to open the inner door when the Necromancer appeared, knocking down everyone present – including me.”

    Gretel stopped talking and spread his hands.

    When I went down, the Necromancer hadn’t come yet. When the Necromancer showed up, I was already knocked out.

    How could they say I colluded? I didn’t even have time to collude!

    He looked around, the Archpriest stroked his beard and remained silent. Captain Nolan smiled slightly at him, looking encouraging, as if to say “Don’t be afraid, no one can falsely accuse you.” As for behind…

    He couldn’t see the Bald-headed Bishop’s face, but he could hear his voice. His voice was still booming, and as soon as he opened his mouth, the entire hall buzzed:

    “I heard Littlejohn tell the story. Oh, Littlejohn is a newly ordained Cleric Apprentice, and he also participated in the search. What Gretel said is exactly the same as his report this afternoon.”

    Gretel let out a long sigh.

    Thank you, Bishop!

    Thank you for standing up for me, for supporting me!

    Thank you, Littlejohn, for reporting it first!

    With the War God Temple backing me up, my statement is much more credible, and I won’t have to worry about them picking on me anymore!

    Well, I’ll write a full version of the battlefield first-aid class we talked about halfway through tonight!

    Thank you to @Yinhua Creek for the 200 Starting Coins

    I finally gained two more collections today, from 498 to 500, wiping away my tears…

    Continue to ask for your help, please collect, invest, recommend, comment… at the very least, please come and check for daily updates!

    (End of Chapter)

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