The Head Priest leaned back and thought deeply. His fingers tapped slowly on the armrest. It was true that the dukes and larger houses were not present now, but their armies and powerful subordinates were still guarding their lands. It made everything more dangerous.

After a long pause, he finally nodded.

"Alright, we will take action. But not right away. Rushing in blindly will only bring more trouble. We will begin by targeting their people from within. Use disguises and mix in with the common folk. Start weakening them slowly. Create confusion and doubt among them. Once we have done enough damage from the inside, we will strike and take control."

The man bowed.

"Understood, my Lord. I request permission to send a message to the Head Church. We will need troops to support the plan when the time comes."

The Head Priest gave a slow nod.

"Send the message. Tell them it is time to begin the next phase. I want everything done carefully and silently. No mistakes this time."

"Also,try to trace that group who attacked us.."

...…..

"Haa..Finally,I have finished this.."

"Damn..I took a few days off and we have piles of files to sort at…It seems I need to find a capable assistant."

Oliver was getting old and he needed a new capable guy to take over the matter.

Alas..

It wasn't easy to find one.Ethan rubbed his temples thinking about the trouble ahead.

After taking care of work,he decided to enter seclusion.

Ethan looked down at the faintly glowing orb of Martial Insight floating before him. It pulsed with energy like a living heart. Without any hesitation, he reached out and absorbed it into his body.

The moment the energy entered him, his blood seemed to boil. Mana surged violently through every vein, rushing like a storm that wanted to tear him apart. His muscles tensed, and his bones crackled faintly under the strain.

Sixty years of Martial Intent or it's better to sixty years of knightly cultivation flooded his mind and body in a single instant. Every stance, every movement, every battle instinct condensed inside him. His breathing became heavy, his heartbeat louder.

The air around him started to tremble as invisible waves rippled through the hall. His aura began to grow stronger and denser, pressing down on the ground until the stones below his feet cracked.

Then, with a sudden flicker of light around his body, he broke through.

"Middle Stage of Master Knight," he whispered under his breath. His eyes opened wide, shining faintly in the dim light.

But it didn't stop there. The energy continued to gather around him, condensing once again. His body trembled as another burst of power surged outward, shaking the entire chamber. A faint shockwave spread, rattling the training hall doors.

The aura around him thickened like molten steel, and his eyes gleamed gold.

"Late Stage of Master Knight," Ethan muttered, his lips curling into a small smile. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw strength coursing through him. His muscles felt firmer, his body lighter, and the mana in his core flowed more naturally.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. His healing ability had improved drastically. The regeneration in his body was so strong that even a severed arm could reattach within moments.

"I wonder if one can even reattach a cut head," he said softly, half amused by the absurdity of the thought.

But he quickly shook his head. "I shouldn't entertain such nasty thoughts. It's not good."

Ethan then picked up a small shimmering crystal lying on the table.

An Advanced Breakthrough Card. He turned it between his fingers thoughtfully, the edges glinting faintly in the light.

"I have a perfect individual in mind to use this," he murmured.

...

Feeling satisfied, he called for Hall. Within minutes, Hall entered the training hall, bowing respectfully.

"Show is the operation going..Did you cleanse all those filths and get any information."

"My Lord," Hall began, "the shadow operation in Blanks is running smoothly. Our men have cleaned up the outer districts. A few hidden groups were eliminated last night. No traces were left behind."

Ethan nodded, his expression calm. "Good. Continue as planned. Keep it quiet."

"Yes, my Lord," Hall said, pausing for a moment before speaking again. "Also, my Lord… do you want to see that woman?"

"That woman?"Ethan asked with a questioning gaze.

"The woman that we captured."

"Uhh..I had forgotten about her."Ethan chuckled.

Ethan looked up from the crystal in his hand. "Yes. Take me. I've been busy, so I haven't had the chance."

Hall bowed and led him through the corridors. They exited the estate and followed a path leading deep into the mountains at the edge of Blanks. The cold wind howled faintly, and the moonlight shimmered on the rocky ground.

After a long walk through narrow passages, they reached an isolated stone building—a prison built into the side of the mountain.

It was eerily quiet inside. The torches on the walls flickered weakly, barely illuminating the corridor. There were only a few cells, most of them empty. The footsteps of the guards echoed faintly, breaking the silence.

Ethan's eyes scanned the cells as they walked until he stopped before one.

Inside sat a pale, beautiful woman with silver hair. Her face was swollen, her lips cracked, and her eyes dull from exhaustion. Her body trembled slightly from the cold. She had been beaten, though not yet tortured. Dried blood clung to her skin, and her torn dress barely covered her.

Ethan looked at her calmly, his expression unreadable. "So, you're that bitch?" he said, his voice low but sharp.

The woman flinched but did not look away.

"Tell me what I want to know, or else…" Ethan's aura erupted suddenly. A heavy pressure filled the cell, forcing the guards to step back instinctively.

Before the woman could speak, one of the guards beside her raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"Bitch! Just say what you're asked! Stop wasting time!" the guard barked.

Another guard raised his hand again to strike her, but Ethan's voice cut through the air. "Stop."

The guards froze instantly.

The woman's breathing was uneven, but her eyes burned with anger. "Tell…?" she hissed. "For that, you need to ask me questions first."

Ethan's brows furrowed slightly as she continued.

"It's been a month since you imprisoned me," she shouted, her voice shaking with fury. "All you've done is beat me! You haven't even asked me a single question!"

She spat on the floor, glaring at everyone in the room. "You fucking bastards!"

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