Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Borrowing Power to Oppress! Confessing Before the Gods

With things having come to this, how could Geoffrey not realize he’d walked right into a trap!?

This blue-eyed fellow had been targeting him from the very beginning!

From blocking his path, to trailing him, to turning the tables when accused—it was all designed to lead him to this point: a duel before the God!

Before the God, both parties would fight to defend their honor!

If that were all, it wouldn’t be so bad. It would just be a fight, nothing more.

But the crucial part was that before the duel could begin, both combatants had to explain the entire cause of the conflict to everyone present. This was so the witnesses could understand the full story and judge the fairness of the duel!

And during this process, it was impossible to lie!

He, Geoffrey, was riddled with secrets he couldn’t afford to reveal. If he accepted the duel, what could he possibly say?

That he had accepted a mission from his organization to confirm whether Reya Xavier had truly left, making it easier for his associates to ambush and attack her!?

The blond young man’s fists were clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. He stared into Jon’s ice-blue eyes, unable to either accept the challenge or back down.

’Does this guy know my hidden identity? Or is he just trying to stall me and cause trouble on behalf of his young mistress?’

’No... Whatever the case, I can’t agree!’

His mind made up, Geoffrey opened his mouth to refuse.

"I ref—"

But before he could finish, Jon cut him off, offering him a seemingly "magnanimous" way out.

"However, looking at you, you don’t seem much like a warrior capable of fighting. In that case, I’ll give you another option."

"If you won’t accept a duel before the God, then let us ask a faithful of Po Ao to preside over a divine debate to resolve our differences."

’What the hell is the difference!? Don’t I still have to tell the truth!?’

Geoffrey choked on his words, screaming internally. The look he shot Jon was so full of hate it was as if he wanted to tear him to pieces and swallow him whole.

Yet he didn’t dare make any rash moves, not even daring to utter a harsh word in rebuttal.

This was because the gaunt old man who had been silently observing from the crowd had now stepped forward.

His frame was gaunt and he wasn’t particularly tall, yet when he stood there, a warm aura spread out, making everyone feel as though they were basking in sunlight, causing them to relax instinctively.

"Gentlemen, I am the Priest of this church, Ingram Rich."

"My Lord Po Ao once said, ’Disputes arise from chaos, and chaos must be brought to an end.’ If you two have a conflict, I am willing to preside over a mediation."

The old man’s voice was not loud, yet it carried a weight that commanded respect.

Seeing the elder step forward, Jon dropped his previously aggrieved and indignant act. With a serious expression, he bowed to him.

"Priest, this man has accused me of having malicious intent, something I absolutely cannot accept."

"It would be for the best if you would preside and ensure justice is done."

With that, he straightened up and looked toward Geoffrey Newman.

"I just wonder what Mr. Newman here thinks of the idea."

Following his gaze, Ingram and everyone else in the crowd turned to the blond noble youth, who stood rooted to the spot, his body trembling slightly. They all awaited his answer.

"I... I...!"

Under the combined gaze of the crowd, Geoffrey stammered "I..." a few times without forming a coherent thought. Finally, he resorted to an incredibly clumsy excuse in an attempt to flee.

"I just remembered I have something very important to do today! I can’t waste any more time here!"

At this, even the most casual onlookers could tell this man had a guilty conscience.

"Sir, please wait a moment."

A man with a crew cut, even more powerfully built than Jon and with a frame like a tower, stepped out from the crowd. He extended a forearm almost as thick as a normal person’s thigh, blocking Geoffrey’s path.

"Although you are not a follower of Po Ao, and should not be strictly bound by the tenets of my Lord..."

"...since you have uttered such a clumsy lie in this place, as a Knight of my Lord, I cannot simply pretend I did not see it."

The man’s expression was grim, his eyes locked on Geoffrey’s. His attitude was firm and left no room for argument.

"I am Royce Aston. I ask you, under the watch of my Lord, to accept this mediation!"

As his voice fell, the round amber stone hanging high atop the church’s ceiling, the symbol of the [Eye of Po Ao], began to emit a searing golden glow. The temperature inside the entire Sun Church rose by several degrees!

Many of the clergy in their Priest’s Robes looked shocked. They clasped their hands to their chests and began to pray silently.

Jon was not a follower of Po Ao, so he didn’t need to be so solemn.

Still, he placed a hand over his heart and bowed to the statue of Po Ao, showing a basic measure of respect.

After that, however, his attention was fixed on the man who had stepped forward.

’The Sun’s Gaze!? This guy is a [Sun Knight]!?’

’Here of all places? In a Northern Territory town like Birch Town, there’s actually a Sun Knight?’

’What is he doing here?’

’One has to remember, in this era before the arrival of players, anyone holding that title wasn’t just some random person. They were individuals who could truly be called the "Lesser Chosen"!’

They traveled the continent, venturing deep into barren and unenlightened lands to save people from poverty and ignorance, taking it as their sacred duty to spread the grace and mercy of the Sun God.

It was precisely because of this fervent adherence to and practice of their faith that they had progressed so far along its path. The tangible result was this: anyone bearing the title of [Sun Knight] was, at a minimum, of the Advanced Level and capable of drawing the gaze of the Sun God!

At this thought, Jon couldn’t help but look at Geoffrey with a hint of pity.

’This guy has the worst luck. With this Knight here, he’s probably going to rot in prison for life...’

And not just any prison, but the Sun Church’s [Sanctuary of Purification]—or as the players called it, the [Personality Correction Center]!

Because what was about to happen next was going to be very interesting.

Even in his many years as a player, he had only witnessed it a handful of times!

Sure enough, faced with the dual psychological pressures of the divine majesty represented by the rising temperature and the oppressive aura of an Advanced Level Professional, Geoffrey completely collapsed. He fell to his knees, banging his head on the floor.

"I... I confess! I’ll tell you everything!"

"I’m guilty! I’m so guilty!"

The once-handsome and flamboyant noble youth was now drenched in sweat. Tears and snot streamed down his face, dissolving the powder on his cheeks into a mottled, ruined mess. He was an utterly pathetic sight.

He confessed between uncontrollable sobs, revealing his entire purpose for being there. Then he went even further, confessing every single dirty deed he had ever committed, one by one!

For a moment, the entire Sun Church was in an uproar!

But Jon’s attention was no longer on the clown.

He stood to one side with his arms crossed, appearing to watch the drama unfold, but he was actually looking at his own panel and muttering to himself.

’Wait a second... All I did was give him a little push. How did I get dragged into this?’

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