The news that the Salvation Army was preparing to take action against the bandits in the forest of caves quickly spread in Joan of Arc Castle.

Along with it, a papal decree was also released.

"Starting tomorrow, each Hundred Households District will thoroughly investigate any lurking bandits or former bandits. Those who know but do not report will have their tax exemptions revoked. Reporting is rewarded with a full set of iron farming tools or a large pig.

If someone confesses and their crimes are not identified by others, they only need to undergo one month of labor reform or pay a ransom, which can be reduced to seven days if they identify accomplices.

Anyone who harbors a fugitive bandit will be punished the same as the bandit, with the maximum penalty being hanging."

On the day the decree was issued, centering on Joan of Arc Castle, groups of horseback riding wandering cultivators and gendarmes began leaving the castle one after another.

On the sunny mud ground after the rain, hooves splashed up mud, and the diagonal capes were dotted with droplets shaken off branches by the sound of hooves.

"Hundred Households Captain, the Hundred Households Captain of this district is requested to come out quickly!"

The cavalrymen, reining in their horses, called out to the villagers hiding behind the walls.

Before long, a hastily dressed Hundred Households Captain would arrive. As long as the captain was present, the gendarmes wouldn't waste words.

"Papal decree..."

Under the watchful eyes of many, the wandering cultivators began to read the decree aloud.

After the reading, a gendarme dismounted, took a small wooden bucket, brushed paste onto the notice board, and posted the announcement.

After the wandering cultivators and gendarmes hurriedly left, the villagers slowly gathered around, and a few literate former Armed Farmers read aloud clumsily.

The Hundred Households Captains, however, were not so leisurely. They probably had to jog first to find the Captain of the Church Protection Army, then convene the Ten Households Leaders.

"Go, go call the representatives of the people and the Ten Households Leaders, gather before lunch, go quickly!"

In the over 300 Hundred Households Districts of Kush Territory, the anxious shouts of the Hundred Households Captains and the Captains of the Church Protection Army were constantly heard.

Under the orders and directives of the civil and military officials, the Church Protection soldiers spread the message to each village with spears and wooden clubs.

The Ten Households Leaders were even more anxious, donning fierce expressions, going house to house for inspections, fearing missing a single lurking bandit.

Almost as soon as the news spread in the morning, by afternoon, people incessantly came to the Hundred Households Captains to confess, identify, and report.

In the evening, after the Hundred Households Captains handed over the bandits to the returning gendarmes, the next day, those who reported came back cheerfully, driving big pigs or carrying farming tools.

Upon discovering that Horn truly distributed big pigs and farming tools, more people rushed to report eagerly.

Among them, quite a few were in a hurry to confess themselves, fearing that if they went too late, their uncles, aunts, or neighbors might exchange them for big pigs.

......

"Can a few big pigs really buy them off?" Bunaford, rubbing his stomach, looked bewildered at the dejected bandits standing by the field ridges.

How long has it been? The order was given on the first day, more than a hundred were caught on the second day, and now, on the evening of the third day, there are nearly a thousand here.

"They are truly giving out big pigs, and besides, issuing the decree used to take a month to spread throughout the Kush territory."

Unlike Bunaford, Sede, who worked in City Hall, was far too familiar with past efficiencies.

In previous times, by the time the copyists dawdled to write the decree, it would take two or three days.

Then, after being tossed around by a few errand servants for another day or two, it would usually be relayed by knights reluctantly.

By the time the decree was spread throughout the Kush territory, half a month would have passed, with another half month before the first lurking bandit was found.

Sede couldn't understand why this was happening. The people were the same group, only with a few so-called wandering cultivators and autonomous tax collectors added.

Those lazy, procrastinating, gossiping low-ranking monks and copyists suddenly became so efficient, how did that happen?

"After all, our Pope has a battlefield background, applying military management methods to the monks."

The crowd turned to the direction of the voice and saw Ernst, head of the dyeing guild, with his curled mustache: "Aren't those Cheka and gendarmes basically military judges? If the Pope can manage the army to defeat the decree, can he not manage these monks who can't even tie a chicken?"

"In this light, is it really possible for the Salvation Army to go independent?"

"It's highly likely that the Thousand River Valley will become the domain of Grand Duke, oh no, Great Monarch Moliat."

"In this state of Langsande County, if the Salvation Army really wins, Grand Duke Moliat might take advantage and enfeoff it to our 'Pope,' don't you think?"

"Well, that's hard to say, as long as His Highness Horn is willing to take off the pope's hat, it won't lose him the ducal position."

Listening to these citizens chatter, Sede's eyes shifted, approaching a skinny old man with lime-covered hands.

"Master Fante, I heard your grandson Vite is working for the Pope on Autumn Dusk Island?"

"Yes."

"Does Master Fante have any news about the Salvation Army's next plans, like the Ibe Knights to the south..."

"I don't know." The Master Stonemason interrupted him sternly, "Vite decided to go there himself, it has nothing to do with me."

Beside him, Rocker suddenly started coughing violently, but Master Fatel chose to ignore it, merely watching the gendarmes passing by.

Sede didn't say anything, unlike the widow Isolde, they had many choices amongst these guild workshops.

Even though they had to bow under Horn now, in the future, who knows what might happen?

The fertile Tbe Plain could produce over a thousand knights at Jinhe Town.

Others might not know, but Sede is aware; the Red Copper Fortress in Black Snake Bay still houses three hundred temple knights and a titled knight.

This Red Copper Fortress is located at the border between Black Snake Bay and Langsande.

If both sides really start fighting, who will win or lose is uncertain; Sede isn't ready to go all out to support Horn.

Especially now, when the former Chief Justice Sede's power is overshadowed by the Chief Judge Marshall.

......

The Hunter's Hut in front of the forest is one of the Empire's most common outdoor structures.

These huts are not uncommon at the edge and within the dense forest cavern.

But the hut standing on the hill in front of them is different from others; its interior is reinforced with wooden boards and iron nails, and the front door has iron bars and hooks.

The inside of the hut is now filled with flickering firelight, with a few men in patchwork clothes sitting solemnly by the fire pit.

The firewood in the fire pit crackles, and five or six strong men rest their feet by the fire pit, emitting waves of foul-smelling steam.

"How many were caught on your side?"

"From our village, five got caught."

"What about you?"

"Some of them turned themselves in; those without blood on their hands or not directly involved in killing all surrendered."

"That Demon Horn..." the bandits cursed through clenched teeth.

"You're lucky; I ran, but they shout at my wife and kid out in the wild every day," one large bandit cursed while stirring the fire pit, "If they've got the guts, they shouldn't touch my family."

"Me too... Sigh, retribution... We should have expected this day when we kidnapped others back then..."

The fugitive bandits sighed repeatedly.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

"Is anyone inside? We are the Church's Defensive Army."

The bandits, used to being besieged by peers and lords, immediately froze all movements.

The leader signaled with his eyes, and someone silently tiptoed to the ladder and quickly climbed up to the beams.

"If anyone's inside, open the door. The Pope orders free peat for poor families; we are here to bring warmth."

Balancing on the beam, the bandit carefully pushed open a cover to peek outside.

"...Is anyone there? I heard your voices; don't be afraid, we're good people..."

"Well? Say something!" another bandit whispered, urging the bandit doing the check.

"Bang!"

Those waiting didn't receive a response; a bloody and mangled corpse fell heavily from the beams.

The corpse knocked over the fire pit, causing small sparks to fly.

Almost in tandem with the shrill scream, the gentle voice outside the door suddenly turned into, "Cheka, open the door!"

"Bastard, run through the cavern!"

The remaining bandits scrambled to the chest, vying to open it.

Sounds of explosion came from the iron door, with wooden splinters flying, even piercing into the bandits' skin.

"Ah! Run quickly."

From the opening in the roof, a rope dangled down; a Cheka in black lacquer armor descended onto the beam: "Stop moving! Stand still!

But these fierce bandits wouldn't listen; they opened the disguised tunnel entrance from the chest to escape.

The young Cheka, seeing his words useless, directly bit the dragon bone whistle hung around his neck and covered his ears.

"Toot—"

The sharp whistle seemed to turn into a visible ripple, immediately making several trailing bandits freeze, stunned in place.

Only one bandit was immune to the sound, fearfully pushing away his companions, rolling and crawling into the tunnel.

As soon as he jumped into the tunnel, several bullets whizzed past his clothes, and the chest shattered into pieces amid cracking sounds.

"Damn, he got away!"

Sliding down the ladder, the young Cheka angrily kicked over a stool on the ground.

Stopping the gunfire, the Cheka looked at the tunnel again, noticing multiple openings, unsure of the exit.

At this moment, the assault team at the door finally broke through and rushed into the hut.

"Did you catch them?"

"One got away," the young Cheka whispered, "Send someone after him, there's still time."

"Don't chase," the Cheka officer peered into the dark tunnel, "Too risky, not necessary... We've caught enough, fill the tunnels and let's go."

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