Chapter 991: Chapter 558: Murder? Heartslaying!

Lance’s questioning turned into a furious roar towards the end.

It was like a speeding car that suddenly brakes hard after accelerating without warning, causing the lively atmosphere to drop to absolute zero due to the dramatic change.

There is no doubt that, at this moment, the thought that arises in those people’s minds is—I’ve disappointed the Lord.

The Mendicant Monk saw Lance easily control the audience and realized what he had lost to.

He had preached on stage all day, yet people’s reactions didn’t match a single sentence this man spoke.

If the Lord had been here then, probably no matter how much he spoke, no one would have responded.

Not only is he strong, but he also understands human manipulation well. If he had known the Lord of Hamlet was such a person, he probably wouldn’t have acted rashly.

No! Perhaps he would have allowed the Fishmen to breach Hamlet the night before, watching these Fallen who abandoned the Holy Light be drowned by the sea amid their wails.

But is it really possible?

Even if he didn’t interfere, this place probably wouldn’t have been destroyed.

A sense of powerlessness spread in his heart. After losing the Magic Wand, the Mendicant Monk felt aging was devouring him.

On the other side, Lance relaxed when the situation got tense, even finding the humor to make a jest.

"Looks like lots of things have happened these days, leaving you unsure where to begin."

Saying this, Lance randomly pointed out someone among the mob, "Then why don’t you tell us, how did it get to this point?"

"It’s all them! It’s those two performing Sorcery to control me. I didn’t want this..."

This was a selected target. Clearly, he didn’t know the battle details on the beach, only aware of the monster invasion and the numerous casualties.

Then, when passing by, he was beguiled by the Church and ended up following them.

It’s impossible to say he didn’t still have goodwill towards the Church, but at this stage, the mob pointed out by Lance naturally shifted all blame onto the Church Duo.

His testimony can be said to lack any fairness, bearing no reference value.

And Lance aimed for this exact effect, because these words weren’t said for his ears but for the citizens.

Through another’s words, he shifted all blame onto the two, planting a preconceived notion.

During this process, Lance wouldn’t bear any responsibility; not acting meant he wouldn’t lose.

Hence, he had selected this person.

Lance could logically hang these two from the Church, in the name of public judgment.

But Lance wanted not merely this, but a complete judgment.

"Who participated in that battle? Tell us what happened."

Under Lance’s order, another person emerged from the mob, a surviving militiaman, revealing what warfare looked like to the common folk.

The brutal battle brought severe casualties, and endless monsters led them to despair. He got injured in battle, and at that moment it was the Church’s Divine Arts that saved him.

Even if knowing they aided for reputation with hidden agendas, it’s undeniable the Church Duo rescued many, which is why so many militia joined the mob.

Dependency on Divine Arts established their trust in the Church.

Even though deliberately sparking the topic and knowing what he spoke, Lance wasn’t satisfied with his answer. He narrowed his gaze slightly at the man, such traitors should be sent to the sanatorium.

"Screw you!"

At that moment, a shout echoed from the side as an old soldier with a hook-arm stood from the crowd, condemning them.

"When the monsters stirred the storm, why not talk about how they turned tail and fled? Was it them who stormed in to sever the storm, or held back the waves?

We stopped the monsters, not these guys who wished to destroy Hamlet like the monsters!"

Clearly, it was their flesh-built defense that repelled the monsters, yet now denied by a casual remark with all credits shifted to others—anyone would be upset.

Indeed, the veteran’s words resonated with many, soon joined by the sheriff who criticized these Church members for beguiling the citizens, disrupting social order, etc.

"If not for the bigger picture, these guys would’ve been arrested long ago; we’re done with tolerating now!"

The citizens are like grass; whichever way the wind blows, the grass bends. The Church can stir public anger, Lance can too, rendering their already tattered reputation fully one-sided.

"Traitors!"

"Hang them!"

"They’re Heretics..."

Watching the agitated crowd below, Lance knew this fire wasn’t yet large enough, thus raised his hand to softly calm their emotions.

"Quiet! Quiet!"

Then turned to face the Mendicant Monk, "Come now, do you have any words of defense left?"

The Mendicant Monk wasn’t like Junia, a naive fool. After years in the underworld, how could he believe Lance would spare him; saying more would be humiliation by the opponent, better to be straightforward.

"I am a Martyr of the Holy Light, you cannot make me yield! I’ve endured the Holy Flame!"

"You think you’re a hero? Wrong, only cowards refuse to admit their deeds," Lance shook his head slowly, his tone tinged with contempt.

"We, in Hamlet, are fighting against Heretics, battling monsters, all for humanity’s survival against evil.