However, today’s gains were not yet over.

After William Clark performed a miracle, summoned the Spear of Judgment, and executed Nick with thunderous might, the morale of the entire Third Patrol Squad had completely collapsed.

Faced with a god descending to the mortal world, they didn’t even have the courage to run. All they could do was throw down their weapons, kneel trembling on the ground.

The bolder ones kept murmuring pleas for mercy, hoping the God of Light would be compassionate and forgive their sins.

“Reporting to my Lord.” The swordsman Landon knelt on one knee with solemnity, suppressing the fervor in his eyes. “These soldiers of the Third Patrol Squad dared to blaspheme against the divine. They should be classified as heretics and publicly judged as a warning to others.”

A total judgment, of course, did not align with William Clark’s interests.

Although this patrol squad was merely a neglected third-rate security force, it was still an army.

And now, under William Clark’s command, there were only four soldiers including Landon; the rest were all civilians. If he could bring this army under his control, not only would he expand his followers, but also increase his armed strength.

However, the Third Patrol Squad had a terrible reputation. They were known for bullying the weak and fearing the strong, often harassing civilians. They had also assisted the city lord in hunting down hidden followers of the God of Light.

More importantly, this time they had nearly inflicted devastating harm on the believers.

If he forgave them too easily, first, it would be unfair to the existing followers and might shake the hard-won foundation of faith. Second, it would give everyone the impression that divine forgiveness was cheap.

“We beg our Lord to judge the heretics publicly, as a warning to others.”

As expected, the hundreds of devout followers all followed Landon, praying to William Clark, their eyes filled with hatred toward the soldiers of the Third Patrol Squad.

With shouts of judging heresy and warnings to others echoing out—

The members of the Third Patrol Squad all looked ashen, their eyes full of despair. A small handful of tough ones had a flash of ruthlessness in their eyes, ready to grab their weapons and fight desperately at any moment.

After all, if they were going to die anyway, fighting back offered a sliver of hope.

Just as the atmosphere of fanaticism and despair reached its peak, the Saintess of Light, Catherine, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

“Silence!”

Her voice was ethereal yet full of authority, and with a wave of energy, it enveloped the entire square.

In an instant, the whole statue plaza fell silent—you could hear a pin drop.

For over a month now, it had been the Saintess of Light, Catherine, who presided over the situation, reestablishing the faith of every believer and organizing them all.

Because of this, her prestige among the followers was extremely high.

……

Chapter 13: Purifying Sin

“Reporting to my Lord!” The Saintess of Light knelt before the statue of William Clark, her tone both devout and calm. “The Third Patrol Squad is indeed suspected of blasphemy, but as soldiers, their duty is to obey orders. Now, the chief culprit, Captain Nick, has already been judged and executed by our Lord personally. As for the members of the Third Patrol Squad, at the critical moment, they pulled back from the brink and did not truly harm the holy believers. Therefore, Catherine earnestly begs our Lord to give them a chance to return to the embrace of the Light.”

The Saintess of Light’s prestige was high, and as soon as she spoke, more than half of the followers secretly nodded in agreement.

But there were still some followers who deeply resented the Third Patrol Squad. They didn’t voice opposition, but their faces remained full of indignation.

The swordsman Landon couldn’t help but frown. “Saintess, you are merciful. But if we forgive the Third Patrol Squad’s crimes so easily, how can we demonstrate our Lord’s divine might?”

Landon’s prestige among the followers was second only to the Saintess of Light, and his words also won the approval of some believers.

If sinful followers or heretics could be forgiven so easily, wouldn’t that mean anyone could blaspheme at will, as long as they begged for forgiveness after being defeated?

“Landon, the four of you are our Lord’s most loyal warriors.” The Saintess of Light, Catherine, turned to look at them, her voice calm and authoritative. “But you too once committed the sin of blasphemy. It was our Lord’s mercy that forgave you, and because of that, you turned over a new leaf and now serve our Lord with devotion.”

“Now our Lord has just returned from crusading in another world, and our strength is weak. If we pardon them, we can gain a group of holy warriors to serve our Lord, expand our territory, and strike down heresy. Or do you want our Lord to descend and personally fight on the battlefield every time?”

The followers nodded thoughtfully. The current shortage of warriors was a fact. The great Lord of Light was invincible, but if He had to personally appear on the battlefield every time, what use were the followers?

The soldiers of the Third Patrol Squad, kneeling on the ground, also listened intently to this debate that concerned their very lives. The meaning in the Saintess’s words filled them with joy, and they scrambled to shout, “Your Holiness, we are willing to turn over a new leaf and return to the embrace of the Light!”

These words were not entirely insincere, spoken only to save their lives. In the past, they didn’t believe in gods because the divine was too distant, too illusory—something they could never encounter in a lifetime. Now that the God of Light had descended in person and performed miracles before their eyes, most of them were already filled with awe and remorse.