The more they oppose, the more it shows that I am doing the right thing

```

"Hm?"

An Su Angelo was somewhat bewildered.

He felt as if he hadn't woken up yet.

Or perhaps he had misheard.

What did the person next to him call An Su just now?

Mayor An Su Moningsta?

In all the years since Angelo had been on the scene, now a Major of the Painful Court, what kind of bizarre situations hadn't he encountered?

There are plenty of geniuses in the Esoteric Religion.

Some who infiltrated the Orthodox Church had become converted enough to take holy orders, some who went undercover in the red-light district and ended up as its star attraction, some who started as street vendors and later established a chain of stores.

On the grand stage of the Esoteric Religion, there are plenty of living geniuses. What had An Su Angelo not seen?

But he had indeed never seen someone quite like An Su.

Weren't you sent to Farol to learn advanced techniques? How did you become the mayor in just three days, lad?

Back in the grueling training school, Angelo always thought this kid was born low and shameless, naturally cut out for the Esoteric Religion, and predicted his future would be bleak yet significant—yet he never expected that this kid would achieve so much so quickly!

And what were those followers of the Life Ecclesia calling him? Kavensis?

Which religion's follower is he, and how did he become a titled figure of the Life Ecclesia?

Whose side is he really on?

Is it Chaos, Life, or Pain?

An Su Angelo, recently gravely wounded by the High Priest of Life, was severely bleeding, and his thinking was not very clear, but one thing he was certain of was that he had been played by An Su.

Anyone who betrays the Painful Court must pay the price.

He's only a Third Order Magician!

"An Su Moningsta,"

"whose man are you, really?"

"What exactly do you believe in?"

"The glory of the Painful warriors does not permit your desecration."

An Su Angelo unsheathed his sword, the cold blade casting a chill over half the Municipal Street as his near-saintly presence exploded forth, pressing down on everyone present. The remaining members of the Painful Sect rallied and drew their blades as well.

"Commander Angelo, I belong to no one; I am just an ordinary citizen," An Su responded with star-like bright azure eyes and calmly explained, "It seems you have misunderstood something. I have never betrayed the Painful Court, not betrayed anyone."

To betray all churches is to betray none—that's the important equation Mr. An Su Moningsta has proposed.

"I merely wish to serve the people earnestly, striving to be a courteous and amiable healer, a compassionate doctor, while coincidentally being a mayor dedicated to public service."

What utter nonsense.

There's no one else here; who are you performing for!

Dragging his sanguine afterimage, Angelo moved with lightning speed, pressing down on An Su in a flash. His alchemic longsword thrusted straight down, as if tearing the very air apart.

But An Su, having been blessed by the Mother Goddess of Life during the past three days, had stepped up a notch in physical capability. Without any talent for combat, his proficiency was amassed solely through treating a multitude of eager patients.

Additionally, Angelo himself was already seriously injured, making his attack far from his best.

An Su stepped half back, his cheek grazing past the blade's edge, while the full extent of the techniques he learned at the arduous training school revealed itself fully within his body at that moment.

A flash of cold light from the dagger hidden up An Su's sleeve collided with Angelo's alchemic blade, sending sparks and embers flying. His smile growing ever more serene, he said, "Let's have an honorable duel then!"

Surprised, Angelo wondered firstly how An Su had improved so rapidly, reaching such a level of combat skill just days after graduation. Could he actually be a genius in the warrior department as well?

And secondly, Angelo was astonished by how shamelessly thick-faced An Su was.

An honorable duel my ass!

Angelo felt a chill in his lower back, blood seeping out coldly—there was an assassin quietly stabbing his flank!

Due to excessive blood loss, his attention was already scattered. Add to that An Su's distraction, Angelo had failed to notice Enya's approach.

```

"I don't believe in anyone."

An Su sincerely said, his clear voice echoing in the night sky,

"I do not believe in any deities."

"I only love this land deeply."

"My faith lies solely with this city."

"Even if I'm alone, I will fight to the end to protect the city I love."

In the depths of his azure eyes, there was only the purest love and sincerity, and even though he faced formidable enemies, even though he was only of the Third Order, and even though all the guards had died, this young man would still fight for the city he cherished.

What the hell is he talking spouting!

Commander Angelo felt that this guy was trying to fool everyone; who didn't know about his moral character? Who was he saying these words for?

It was making his skin crawl.

There was no one else around.

As he thought about this,

Commander Angelo gradually calmed down and considered carefully. Knowing this guy's shameless virtues, he should be hiding behind the scenes. He was only a Magician after all; did he really need to fight in person?

Piecing together all of An Su's actions... he sensed something was amiss.

"Your Excellency Lieutenant Colonel!" his adjutant exclaimed, "Look up, quick! Look at the Municipal Building, this guy is live streaming through the recovery hall!"

"?"

Commander Angelo looked up, only to see on one of the remaining buildings of the Municipal Building, a recovery Magician laying the Magic Prism across the surface of the building.

An Su, through 'Friendly Pain Transmission,' had passed all information he perceived directly to the recovery Magicians with his mind.

The magic network might have collapsed, but the internal lines of the recovery hall were still usable.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Dozens of recovery Magicians employed image preservation magic and echo magic to project the fight between An Su and Commander Angelo on the entire facade of the building. The Municipal Building, being at the heart of Farol and the tallest structure,

allowed all the remaining citizens, all the slums, lower-class orcs, dwarves...to watch this live broadcast.

And also to hear all of An Su's words.

They watched An Su, alone, desperately fighting against the invaders from the Painful Esoteric Sect.

All for the protection of their city.

This guy, he's actually engaging in political showmanship!

Commander Angelo had never seen a creature like An Su before. He signaled the remaining Painful Soldiers to swarm forward, intent on tearing this guy apart!

Explore more at empire

And to give them a buff as the enemy's aggression surged.

[Your overall support rate has reached 85%]

"Let's have an open and fair confrontation, then."

The corners of An Su's mouth lifted into an increasingly sunny smile,

"Dear Commander Angelo, one of my knight friends once told me what 'fearless courage' means."

"I will teach you the courage to face your own flaws with sincerity!"

A glint flickered deep within his eyes,

[X-Ray Illumination Skill]

This magic spell was something An Su had researched; X-Ray was indeed a special branch of Holy Light.

The baptism of the Mother Goddess of Life had not only enhanced An Su's physical fitness but had also improved his spirit and Perception,

thus bringing his control and usage of magic to a delicate level.

An Su could now control the X-Ray to penetrate only clothing, not skin.

The Holy Light in his eyes swept over the approaching Painful Believers, and everyone felt as if they had been thoroughly seen.

And now, what An Su was seeing and hearing was connected with the recovery Magicians through the Friendly Pain Transmission, and was being broadcast to all the citizens of Farol via projection.

Thus, all of Farol got to admire the nakedness of the Painful Esoteric Sect!

[You have attracted the gaze of the Painful Mother Goddess!]