Looking out through the gear-shaped window of the City Hall, Horn could clearly see a few prisoner carts slowly passing along the street.

The citizens and villagers on both sides burst into cheers, while some of the victims, losing control emotionally, threw garbage and rotten eggs at the bandits.

Over two hundred bandit accomplices and fifteen bandit leaders were all shackled with heavy chains, barefoot, walking numb and fearful on the rough ground of the City Hall.

After this battle, the new recruits had witnessed blood in bandit suppression; when they actually get on the battlefield, they probably won't be so panic-stricken.

Currently, among the veteran Holy Gunmen under Horn, around four hundred can still engage in melee combat after firing four shots in battle.

However, so far, only about ten have managed to break through to five shots, and none have reached six shots.

People like Dass and Madlan had long ago trained their Holy Power to the level of five shots, but no matter how hard they trained, they could only manage five shots.

Horn had a vague premonition that perhaps five shots were the limit of Holy Power for the Blessed.

But if faced with a larger scale war, denser volleys are needed, and an ammunition load of only five shots is certainly not enough.

According to Horn's historical calculations from his previous life, it was normal for each musketeer to be equipped with 9 to 12 rounds of gunpowder bullets.

Therefore, either find a means of external Holy Power or find a way to improve the efficiency of the spring box.

Unfortunately, there hasn't been much progress on either Hilov, Haimodin, or Brock's side.

After all, when it comes to research, slow progress is normal.

First, deal with the current issue of the bandits; maybe one day there will be a Eureka.

"Your Grace, were you looking for me?" Jilo poked his head in at the door.

Horn pointed to the chair in front of him, "Jilo, sit down."

Jilo quickly smiled and sat down on the chair.

"I heard that the bandit leader Grush is your Demon Hunter companion..."

"I have nothing to do with him!" Jilo had barely touched the chair when he almost slid off it. He asked with both surprise and anger, "Who is slandering me?"

"When passing by the Lubyanka Monastery yesterday, Grush recognized you and said you were both survivors from the Wolf Castle..." Giving Jilo a peculiar glance, Horn motioned for him to sit down with a patting motion of his hand.

"He was indeed my companion when I was at the Wolf Castle, but we parted ways a long time ago, I really didn't know he became a bandit!" Jilo's throat was unusually dry, "Really, I have nothing to do with bandits!"

"Don't get nervous yet." Horn couldn't help but smile and stood up to pour Jilo a glass of water.

Holding the cup with both hands, Jilo took a sip, gazing at Horn, fearing the matter would implicate him.

"I've conducted an investigation on this Grush." Horn stood up and pulled a file from the nearby shelf, "He has a good reputation, often taking the initiative to attack landlords during years of famine, then distributing the grain he couldn't carry away to the surrounding commoners.

When robbing rich merchants, he always targeted the wealthy, then evenly distributed the wealth among the vagabonds who hadn't done much, saving many of their lives.

In fact, quite a few people have approached the Wandering Cultivators to plead for his life."

Noticing the change in Horn's tone, Jilo's previously bent back straightened up again.

"That's how we people from Wolf Castle are, though forced into the mire, we still cherish true goodness deep inside." Jilo said seriously.

"Do you think he is innocent?"

"No, no, he's a bandit, he must be guilty, only the difference in severity." Jilo cautiously responded after sensing Horn's ambiguous stance towards Grush.

"Do you think his crime deserves hanging?"

Realizing that Grush might have a chance at life, Jilo coughed and said, "Of course, it should be according to the law."

"Slick." Horn picked up the file and flipped through it again.

When it came to handling these bandit leaders, Horn originally intended to have a public trial and hang them.

But immediately after the public trial, there were people pleading for Grush, mostly lower-class villagers, while city dwellers and businessmen demanded harsh punishment instead.

In fact, pleading like this is somewhat taboo.

Marshall even told Horn that originally it was a matter of life or death, but if they dared to plead, then he must be executed.

But Horn did not agree with Marshall's request.

Firstly, during the public trial, most people, especially the villagers, believed him innocent — which was wrong, of course, but represented a portion of public opinion.

Moreover, the lives in Grush's hands were mostly those of petty nobles and wealthy merchants, those whom Grush didn't kill, Horn later did himself.

Secondly, according to reports by Mira and Juer Dan, Grush showed decent cavalry command skills.

Whether it was attacking or fleeing, he and his North Knight followers moved swiftly and skillfully through forests and mountains, yet couldn't catch them.

When finally storming the mountain stronghold, if not for rescuing a companion, this Grush almost found a chance to escape.

At the time, Mira sensed something was off, wondering where a bandit learned cavalry command skills?

After interrogation, it turned out he had served as a mercenary light cavalry in Norn before.

Horn happened to have a vacancy in the light cavalry area and that was the reason for his hesitation.

"Your Grace, I might as well say it, personally I think he is guilty." Jilo swallowed and bravely said the latter half, "But not to death."

Putting down the file in his hand, Horn looked at him with a slight smile, "This Grush claims he served as a mercenary in Norn for two years and once learned from the Death Cuirassiers in the North, is it true?"

Swallowing, a few drops of cold sweat appeared on Jilo's forehead.

He knew that Grush had been to Norn as a light cavalryman, but was unsure whether he had learned from the Bear Castle Death Cuirassiers.

"From my perspective, I believe him." Jilo cautiously replied, "But after all, we are friends..."

Seeing that Jilo was still being vague, Horn closed the file and said directly, "I'll be straightforward, don't guess anymore, my reason for wanting to spare his life is because he is useful.

I plan to form a light cavalry unit, but most of my cavalry commanders only know heavy cavalry tactics and have no understanding of light cavalry strategies.

If he is willing to train our light cavalry, I can commute his death sentence to labor reform.

But with training comes a certain degree of freedom, so what if he escapes on horseback?

He has no family, and in Joan of Arc Castle his only friend is you.

The reason I called you in is to ask whether you are willing to guarantee him?"

"I..." Jilo opened his mouth wide, "I... I—"

...

"Jilo, where are you off to?" Jeska saw Jilo walking out of the City Hall and greeted him with a smile.

"My mind got muddled and I've taken on a deadly task." Jilo replied with a wry smile.

Knowing the sensitivity of Jilo's background, Jeska naturally didn't ask too many questions.

Jilo in turn asked Jeska, "What are you up to?"

Jeska waved the paper scroll in his hand, "Earlier, Your Grace commissioned Isolde to design uniforms for the Salvation Army, and they are finally completed. I'm bringing them to Your Grace for review."

"Oh oh—" Jilo grinned widely, "So how's your marriage with Lady Isode going?"

"Engaged this week, marrying next week." Jeska stated cleanly and neatly.

Jilo was taken aback by Jeska's words, "So soon? Is it a bit too rushed?"

"Not rushed at all." This time it was Jeska's turn to smile wryly, "Next month we're heading south to attack Jinhe Town, at least give me some time to leave a legacy before I die in battle."

After bidding farewell to Jeska, Jilo didn't ride a horse but walked towards his home along the main street for citizens.

The twilight in the sky was fiery red, casting its glow on the emerald-green trees lining the path, while a vast stream of smoke rolled across the rooftops.

Parallel to the smoke stream were the gallows where the bandit leaders' bodies were hanging.

Their faces were ashen and purplish, with their hands tied behind their backs, eyes bulging out as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

Beneath their bare feet, carriages loaded with gold coins, peat, and mortar were leaving Joan of Arc Castle one after another.

The golden-red light fell upon the canvas, as if draped with exquisite red silk.

"Next up, it's war..."

Jilo's murmur disappeared into the clouds at the edge of the sky along with the evening breeze stirred up by the carriages.

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