Especially when Herbert has a favorable impression of Fao, thinking that he is a talent worth nurturing as a potential ally in the future.

Herbert still doesn't want to damage his image in Fao's eyes because of such trivial matters.

It's not that I'm not telling you, just changing the timing—I took this opportunity to also check on whether Fremay and the others have started fighting...

Plan success!

The time management master Herbert's idea seemed quite idealistic, but the Archbishop gave a meaningful and strange smile after hearing his words.

"Are you talking about them?"

The old man blinked triumphantly and asked back, "When did you develop the illusion that I didn't meet them?"

Herbert paused for a moment, not understanding the mysterious words of the Archbishop at first.

But soon, he reacted, surprised, "Hm? You mean... just now?"

Could it be that he had already met those people when I wasn't paying attention?

When was it?

Was it just now when I was trying to approach him?

"Haha."

The old man smiled and nodded, not explaining the principle, but just motioned for him to start telling his story.

"I really want to know, along this journey, what did you see? First, tell me about last time, what did you see in Frost Crystal?"

See what?

Although Herbert found the Archbishop's question a bit strange, he did not take it to heart.

After pondering for a while, Herbert began to slowly tell what he saw and heard along the way.

"That day, I set off together with Nun Kaplan and others, heading towards the Frost Crystal Dynasty..."

"Arriving at the banquet site as promised, I met my old friend, who has changed somewhat from my impression, almost becoming a heartless ice block..."

"Later, I incited the fear hidden in the hearts of the nobles..."

"By the way, thank you for the help you provided at that time, your presence successfully subdued Bishop Lila, making her cooperate obediently..."

In the Sanctuary where Holy Power dissipated, the white-haired young man slowly spoke.

Speaking of a revenge journey that was not entirely satisfying.

Describing a cleansing journey that was not entirely thorough.

On a road to salvation filled with thorns and spikes.

His enemies were greedy, fallen, desecrators... conspiracies were everywhere.

Unlike the choices made by heroes in other stories.

Herbert did not choose the righteous way to eliminate evil.

Instead, he chose a more brutal method.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, blood for blood.

Using violence... to control violence!

Dark, bloody, cruel... kin killings.

Facing the noble abusers, he became more terrifying and ruthless than those fallen guys.

No matter how one looks at it, what Herbert described was not a story that would make people of justice feel pleased, and even involved many actions that risked breaking the commandments.

If some extremists were to hear it, they might very well send Herbert to the Religious Court for judgment.

At best, he'd lose a layer of skin, at worst, he'd be sent to the stake for a barbecue.

However, Herbert was almost completely open in front of the Archbishop, telling all about his deeds.

Only hiding a little bit about Nenasha... and interactions with Valentina.

Especially the latter one, those details would never pass scrutiny!

Outside of that, he did not hide anything, nor did he mix subjective thoughts, narrating completely from an observer's perspective.

Because he had a clear conscience.

Yes.

In this journey, he believed he undoubtedly was the "ally of justice."

A gentleman judges by deeds, not intentions; in terms of intentions, no one in the world is flawless.

No matter what Herbert thought inside, what schemes he plotted secretly, how dark and bloody his methods were... all he did was ultimately for justice.

He indeed brought death to Frost Crystal Royal City, but also brought new order to the Kingdom.

The decayed noble system of Frost Crystal was violently destroyed, those unruly old faces proactively optimized themselves, and were replaced by a group of younger, easier to control, and more timid newcomers.

The Ice and Snow Goddess Church was also introduced onto the stage, becoming the third force besides royal power and nobility, forming a subtle balance of tripartite division.

The Divine Spirit Church became the force that usually resisted the nobles and pressured the royal family at critical moments.

Besides these power structure changes, the impact on the populace was actually greater.

Without oppressors, their quality of life improved significantly, no longer fearing death from freezing in the cold winter.

From the final result perspective, no one can criticize Herbert—the ones who dislike him either permanently closed their eyes or are piled up just playing stacking games.

Oh, what a bunch of lazy, playful people~

"Finally, after finishing all this, Nun Kaplan voluntarily stayed there, leading Knight Order members to continue coordinating the aftermath with the Ice and Snow Goddess Church."

"Because I still had to guard Valentina, it was not convenient for me to stay in the Royal City for too long, so I brought her back to the Monastery ahead of time."

After half a day's storytelling, Herbert finally truthfully recounted his experiences in Frost Crystal Royal City to the Archbishop.

After the storytelling, he straightened up, sitting upright.

The Archbishop was curious about Herbert's experiences, and Herbert was also curious about how the Archbishop would evaluate his actions.

Would he criticize him like an old fossil?

Or would he praise him like others in the Monastery did?

However, the Archbishop's subsequent reaction was completely unexpected for Herbert.

He neither criticized nor praised, nor did he have any intention to comment.

Just looking at Herbert, a seemingly unimportant young man in front of him, he once again asked that slightly odd question.

"So... what did you see?"

Herbert: ?

Old Deng, what kind of riddles are you playing?

Are you acting like a mystery person!?

"Sir, I don't quite understand."

"Child, think again, do you really not understand?"

Herbert: ???

Not sure what I need to understand?

"Haven't I already told you? I saw everything..."

"No."

The old man gently interrupted Herbert, shaking his head, staring at his puzzled eyes, and slowly said, "I am not asking what your eyes saw?"

"I am asking you... along this journey, what did your 'heart' see?"

Heart?

Herbert's expression slightly lost control, uncertainly asking, "My 'heart'?"

The old man nodded slightly and confirmed, "Yes, it's your... heart."

"During this journey, did it ever bring you any feelings or insights?"

"Child, close your eyes, recall everything along the way, use your heart to feel, what did you 'see'?"

What difference would closing my eyes make?

Herbert grumbled internally, but outwardly still complied with the Archbishop's arrangement, slowly closing his eyes, beginning to recall the experiences along the way.

Closing his eyes, darkness enveloped.

But before Herbert could start to complain, change occurred before his eyes!

He saw a light.

Brilliant as if blazing flame, yet tinged with crimson hue.

!!!

"This is..."

Herbert's mind shook, he abruptly opened his eyes, just in time to see the Archbishop's kindly smile.

The old man nodded, indicating him to calm down, not to be startled.

"..."

Herbert's mouth moved slightly, closing his eyes once more.

This time, he remained quiet for a long while, meditating silently like a stone.

The entire Sanctuary was quiet and desolate, as though it housed stone statues of a young man, an elder, and a Saintess.

Humans, divine beings... and a presence in between, neither human nor godlike.

After a long time, Herbert opened his eyes.

Initially flashing a trace of hesitation in his eyes, finally gradually turning into determination.

Moments later, he looked up, seriously addressing the Archbishop:

"I saw... fire."

"Endless fire!"

"A fire that incinerates the Kingdom, collapses order!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.