"Oh? Are you certain you want to kill me?" Ling Feng raised his hand to stop Saint Di Anfu before she could continue speaking. He turned to Harriet and said calmly, "If you dare draw your sword, I'll admit defeat. How about that?"
Harriet's face turned red in an instant. This was unmasked contempt—was it possible that, in Ling Feng's eyes, he didn't even have the chance to draw his sword?
"That's what you said!" Harriet gritted his teeth and forced the words out through clenched teeth. "If you lose, you can get out of here immediately!"
He understood well enough that since Her Holiness the Saintess was backing Ling Feng, he certainly couldn't kill him. But if he could render Ling Feng useless, that would be an excellent alternative!
Ling Feng glanced at Archbishop Berkeley, but, bafflingly, the archbishop didn't stop the two from battling. Instead, he watched the proceedings with a satisfied smile, as if he welcomed the spectacle.
"Madman, prepare to die!" With his right hand gripping the sword hilt, Harriet was on the verge of pulling out his knight sword when his body froze.
An overwhelmingly feral aura enveloped him. The smiling Ling Feng standing before him seemed more like an ancient beast draped in human skin.
Although Harriet firmly believed he was among the most outstanding of the younger generation, when faced with Ling Feng, and when that savage aura engulfed him, he found himself akin to a frail scholar cornered by a raging bear—utterly bereft of the will to fight.
"This can't be!" Harriet's right hand, which held the sword hilt, trembled, and his entire body began to shake slightly.
He felt as though if he drew the sword, Ling Feng would undoubtedly strike him down in the very next second!
"What should I do? What should I do!" Sweat dripped from Harriet's face one drop at a time, leaving streaks across his handsome features.
Ling Feng looked at Harriet indifferently and said, "What's wrong? Draw your sword. Let me see the spirit of a Knight of the Radiant Church! What are you waiting for?"
Harriet was on the verge of breaking down. Only now did he realize that Ling Feng's intention was not to deny him the chance to draw his sword but to rob him of the courage to do so!
If a knight loses his courage, is he still worthy of being called a knight? Loyalty, bravery, justice, honor… All these elements of knightly spirit began to crumble within Harriet under the pressure of Ling Feng's aura.
"Ahem! I think that's enough now!" At this moment, Archbishop Berkeley coughed lightly, breaking the oppressive atmosphere created by Ling Feng.
Ling Feng didn't insist on killing Harriet either, and he used this opportunity to withdraw his aura.
As soon as Ling Feng lifted the pressure, Harriet's body went limp, and the knight sword slipped from his grasp, clanging to the floor with a humiliating sound.
"Harriet, pick up your knight sword and go outside to reflect on this thoroughly!" Archbishop Berkeley said calmly.
With his head bowed, Harriet picked up his knight sword and left the room like a soulless puppet.
Even though Harriet cut a sorry figure, Ling Feng showed no trace of sympathy. From the initial hostility to the later aggression, Ling Feng refraining from killing him was already giving Saint Di Anfu face!
Anyone who dares to challenge the authority of a Demi-God Domain master must be ready to face the fury!
"Truly, a hero emerges from youth!" Once Harriet left, Archbishop Berkeley spoke with a smile, looking at Ling Feng. "A master of the Demi-God Domain at such a young age—I've never seen the likes of it. Remarkable indeed!"
"Doesn't the archbishop blame me?" Ling Feng asked curiously.
"Blame you for what?"
Ling Feng replied, "I nearly disposed of your exceptional young knight just now!"
"But you didn't, did you?" Archbishop Berkeley chuckled. "Break and rebuild—Harriet is considered outstanding among the younger generation in our church, but in the broader Underworld, he pales in comparison. By giving him a lesson this time and teaching him that there are always stronger individuals out there, I should be thanking you instead!"
"Oh, by the way, Harriet is my nephew," Archbishop Berkeley added with a touch of sentimentality. "His father was a knight commander in the church. Years ago, he was secretly ambushed by members of the Dark Church. To protect civilians, he fought against dozens of dark creatures of similar level until he exhausted himself to death."
"That boy has idolized his father since childhood, aspiring to become the strongest knight in the church. However, as his strength improved significantly over the years, so too grew his arrogance—to the point where he has all but forgotten the humility of knightly spirit! If this encounter can lead him to a moment of clarity, his future potential will be boundless. It would be his good fortune!" Archbishop Berkeley remarked calmly.
Ling Feng nodded in understanding. No wonder Archbishop Berkeley didn't step in earlier—he had intended for Ling Feng to act as Harriet's whetstone!
Although Archbishop Berkeley explained everything, Ling Feng still felt somewhat displeased.
Archbishop Berkeley seemed to sense Ling Feng's emotions. With a soft laugh, he said, "Let us now discuss serious matters."
In truth, Archbishop Berkeley was equally aware that Ling Feng's earlier actions had been a showcase of strength. Yet, both individuals merely pursued their respective goals—ultimately, the only person left in the dark was Harriet.
So when Archbishop Berkeley turned the conversation to the main topic, Ling Feng naturally didn't dwell on trivial matters.
"Her Holiness the Saintess has surely informed you that our goal this time is the map of the Atlantis Continent hidden in the Louvre," Archbishop Berkeley said. "But the Louvre, being a site of global prestige, makes locating the map without drawing attention far too challenging—perhaps even impossible!"
Ling Feng nodded slightly. France itself was a developed nation, and Paris the epicenter of global fashion and romance. Any notable occurrence in Paris would undoubtedly ripple through the entire world.
The Freedom Organization's attempt to replicate what it had done in Egypt, here in Paris, would never succeed. As of now, the Freedom Organization was merely a terrorist faction!
Launching a full-scale attack on Paris or raiding the Louvre… That would set the stage for a confrontation not just with France but with all of Europe! If the Freedom Organization's leaders had even an ounce of sense, they wouldn't carry out such a reckless plan!
Archbishop Berkeley continued, "According to the church's intel, a large number of Freedom Organization members have recently begun gathering in Paris—they will undoubtedly initiate some form of operation. However, Paris is also home to France's strongest force: the Rose Squad! No matter how thorough the Freedom Organization's plans are, in the end, it will devolve into a chase with the Rose Squad."
Ling Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Is the Rose Squad really that formidable?"
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