It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

As we all know, this is a fantasy world, so magic like suggestion and illusion... naturally, is not infrequent. Of course, generally speaking, these magics are not cheap, especially when dealing with enemies with extremely high mental alertness. But when dealing with one's own people, they can be much more relaxed.

The method they used was surprisingly simple. Because the Dark Knights only had half a day off each time, they would be assigned to a handover the morning before. Afterward, officials would send someone with sufficient supplies to alleviate the Knights' fatigue and boost their spirits, ensuring they could appear in good spirits in front of their families and reassure them.

Normally, they wouldn't have been able to avoid eating these foods and drinks, as there were no supplies during a mission. These specially prepared supplies were indeed tempting, as there was no need to consume the already distributed supplies. These supplies were already infused with drugs that would produce special effects on the brain.

After eating, most of the knights would even take a nap on the way back in the carriage. During this time, the accompanying personnel could act more recklessly towards them and carry out the next step of their work.

"Of course, those who know magic are precious talents. They were only sent here to control us. They are a cheap cost saved. How could they possibly learn those things? The methods they use are simpler than we imagine."

"Using illusionary spell props when someone is already off guard is nothing more than something a magician might have crafted while practicing. They might not be very effective against politicians, as there's little trust among officials. And using them on civilians might seem a bit wasteful; even if they're scraps, they're still materials."

"And it seems just right for us."

The bearded man rubbed his hair while speaking, he scooped up a spoonful of soup and continued,

That's right, for the Dark Knights, "protecting their families" was a scam from the beginning. They were just a group of easy-to-use, easy-to-control, and very cheap combat forces.

Some people may say that the knights knew about the existence of these doubts, but they were deceived by the scam for so long. Isn’t it a bit too stupid and unreasonable?

Chapter 883 What if I don’t know at all?

First, blaming the victim is inherently foolish. Second, if you think being smart is enough to see through everything, you're overestimating the word.

When someone writes down a number sequence like 1, 2, 3, 4, he or she will naturally think that the next person to fill in the sequence can also easily write down 5, 6, 7, 8...

But what if the people behind don’t even know that “5, 6, 7, 8” exist in this world?

This point brings up the shrewdness of Camitlan. Before the war, the more prosperous metropolises would have attracted a large number of magical talents, while the surrounding villages would generally retain only a small number, or even completely lose them. The rare few settlements that maintained their village ecology and completely avoided the outflow of talent were completely unrelated to this incident.

Because the Dark Knights were also "absorbed," the more closed-off villages naturally weren't persuaded. Villages that left behind a large number of talented people were already fortunate to have the basics of magic taught. Of course, they were almost completely unaware of the concept of "magic props," and certainly didn't know that food could be used to create a complete illusion.

To prepare for battle, they learned as they went along, and could basically distinguish most types of magic. They were certainly familiar with spells like illusions, and even received intensive training in this area. But who could have imagined that Camillan would resort to the most basic methods, using the most "low-level" ingredients to keep them captivated?

Of course, this method can't last long. After the war subsided, the Dark Knights' activities became more extensive, which easily led to more problems. Therefore, the authorities would give them a lot of miscellaneous items to fill their daily space, keeping them busy and leaving no room for suspicion.

Even so, lies would eventually be exposed. Once public opinion turned against the authorities, the ruling class would inevitably be shaken to some extent. Therefore, the plan to expel the Dark Knights was launched early. "Just in time," they were stripped of their military status, a "divide and conquer" strategy. This was intended to weaken their organizational power and facilitate subsequent operations.

"And you all know what happened after that. The Dark Knights were completely overthrown overnight. Those who survived survived, and those who died we don't even know how. But I guess they couldn't speak when they died. But anyway, no one would believe it if they did."

The liquid dripped from the spoon, creating ripples in the oily soup. From the bowl, it looked like a turbulent sea, but it was just a bowl. The story of the Dark Knights was precisely like this. For those involved, it was a 100% disaster, a turmoil and catastrophe, a tragedy. But for the upper echelons of Camillan, it was merely a predictable, minor incident.

As for Bai Lin, her eyes were slightly downcast, as if she was looking at a bonfire in the distance, or at the bearded man. There was an indescribable feeling in her eyes. She opened her mouth slightly, as if she wanted to comment on something in the story, but in the end she fell silent for a moment and sighed.

“It’s so inhumane.”

Yes, it's so inhumane. They tricked the Dark Knights into replenishing their manpower, then fabricated public opinion and simply killed them all to silence them. They had absolutely no intention of treating the Dark Knights as human beings. And all of this was done solely for profit.

"Okay, don't be too depressed. This happened to us, and we've all moved on. Don't dwell on it too much. That's why the poet didn't tell you in advance. Otherwise, you'd definitely look at us as if we were pitiful, right? We don't want that to happen."

A hand was placed on Bai Lin's shoulder. It was the bearded man, of course. He patted Bai Lin's shoulder armor. His expression didn't show any heaviness that matched the previous story. Bai Lin was a little confused. She looked at the bearded man and asked,

"Is this something that can be forgiven? Seeing how much trust you have in the poet, aren't you also accepting his guidance? After experiencing something like that, you're still willing to trust outsiders?!"

This question came from the heart, and Bai Lin didn't worry too much. The bearded man laughed twice and replied,

"It's more than just trust in the poet boss... We're all here thanks to her. It was she who gave us, oh no, it was she who helped us think of a new direction to move forward, and then she brought us, the surviving knights, together."

Bai Lin naturally wouldn't believe that the poet would do such a shameless thing as deceiving an honest person. She looked at him and confirmed one or two things. Then, the poet consciously replied,

"I didn't say much to them, Holy Son. There was absolutely no attempt at seduction or guidance; I simply explained the facts. They gathered here simply because they spontaneously wanted to do this after learning the truth about the world."

"At first, we might have hoped to protect our family, but we were tragically betrayed by the Camitlan authorities. But now I think, if we can't protect everyone else, how can we protect our own family? Since our tragedy is already inevitable, at the very least, we shouldn't let it happen to anyone else."

If the world were destroyed, all so-called happiness would be nothing. A seemingly free life would already be doomed to a common, irrational end that could easily come at any moment. Perhaps this was the tragedy the bearded man was referring to. Yet, it still sounded unbelievable to Bai Lin.

He... No, were the Dark Knights here fools? Despite being treated like that and experiencing such tragic events, they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the love and happiness of others. Why were they so passionate? Did such kind people really exist in this world?

At this moment, the poet called back Bai Lin's distant gaze. She said softly,

"That being said, the Dark Knights aren't exactly good guys, don't get the wrong idea. What they think and do is always straightforward. They simply pursue a better world with a brighter future than this gloomy and chaotic forest."

"Haha... Actually, that's the reason. After all, I wouldn't be happy living peacefully in this forest forever. Instead of that, I might as well use my life to do what I want."

Chapter 884 Half of the body is buried

The bearded man laughed heartily, and seeing the confusion on Bai Lin's face, he seemed to understand something, and belatedly said "Oh", and replied,

"The poet didn't tell you that, did he? Actually, there's a mysterious force out there targeting us, the Dark Knights. Therefore, we can't leave easily. Look, even if we don't risk our lives to shine, living here for a few years is almost enough. It's really boring."

After he said this, Bai Lin's doubts increased and decreased, but she was still confused. This was a huge leap from the previous story. After all, the previous content was within Bai Lin's understanding, but she still didn't quite understand the "mysterious power" targeting the "Dark Knight".

At this moment, Xiao Nuo, who had not spoken for a long time, raised her hand. Perhaps out of respect for this period of history, she did not interrupt casually this time. Bai Lin also responded seriously to her slightly cute behavior, and then Xiao Nuo spoke,

"Honestly, the pacing of that story is a bit odd, isn't it? The opening prelude drags on far too long for the entire story. So many words are devoted to describing the first knight of modern times, using such gorgeous, fantastical techniques to depict his acceptance of his mission and his arrival in Camillan."

"But then the story takes a sudden turn for the worse, consisting almost entirely of compact, real-life events. Even the ending happens abruptly, which is quite a contrast."

Xiao Nuo's analysis was very logical and sounded very reasonable. She changed the subject slightly and asked the bearded man,

"Shapi, I'm not questioning the story's authenticity. I've heard this story several times, and your versions are roughly similar. But you should be clear about that so-called origin, that ancient book, and that old man's thoughts."

"Of course, I know you've been refusing to tell me what it is, but the Holy Child is here today. If she doesn't know, how on earth can she teach me to be a Dark Knight?"

It seemed that Xiao Nuo was a little anxious. Bai Lin was about to make a joke and say, "You also understand stories?", but suddenly she seemed to think of something and fell into deep thought. She pondered for a long time, thought about it, nodded, and then she patted Xiao Nuo on the shoulder and said,

"Well, you're smart, so he told me this in a way I could understand. I thought about it and I understood. Don't worry, let's start tomorrow, or tonight, right? Once you've rested enough that it won't affect your activities the next day, come and practice with me."

"Huh??? You're not kidding me, are you?"

Xiao Nuo was of course in disbelief. She looked at Bai Lin with surprise. Bai Lin, on the other hand, said with a serious face,

"I know that even though the beliefs you Dark Knights hold may seem far-reaching, you all start small, not just clinging to empty dreams. I'm the same way. So, rather than questioning you, I hope you can listen to me little by little. Once you've accumulated enough experience, you'll naturally understand that trusting me isn't wrong."

At this point, Bai Lin changed the subject and smiled crookedly.

"After all, you don't have any other choice, right?"

"...Okay, you're right."

Xiao Nuo looked at the Saint, whose expression was sometimes serious and sometimes playful. She didn't know how to express her feelings for a moment. She was a little annoyed, but she had to believe him. It seemed that Bai Lin had become the person she hated the most in this moment. Bai Lin patted his shoulder again, smiled with satisfaction, and then turned back to look at the poet.

"Well, boss, you definitely didn't bring me here just to listen to stories today, right? If there's anything else you need to do before assigning the mission, tell me all about it."

"Well, the main reason is that I want you to get in touch with everyone first. You'll be more familiar with each other, and it will be much easier to do things. You should be able to sense this without me saying it."

As he spoke, the poet stood up, holding the bowl, looked at Bai Lin and said,

"But there are a lot of people who want to talk to me. We'd better separate as soon as possible before everyone finishes eating. Although everyone is very straightforward, some people will still be a little reserved when they first meet. I'll come back when I'm almost done."

With that, the poet walked away. What she meant was, "Someone has something private to tell me, but they might not be willing to mention it in front of a stranger like you." Bai Lin could understand, of course. She smiled helplessly, looked at the sky and sighed,

"It seems that I haven't integrated into the team that quickly."

"It's actually pretty quick, Holy Son. To integrate into a group doesn't necessarily mean you have to get along with every single person in the group like old friends, right?"

While we were chatting and laughing, our tea sister came back. She directly held a larger basin filled with broth. It seemed that she was going to buy some goods. She came over and said with a smile,

"Sorry, I just went somewhere else to chat for a while. Anyone want more food? I brought back a lot."

"I want!"

Three voices rang out simultaneously. It was obvious that Bai Lin, Xiao Nuo, and Hu Zinan were all very happy to take on the role of the glutton. The eldest sister also honestly added soup to the three of them, then put the basin aside, took out her own small bowl, and started eating. While eating, she leaned her head towards this side and said,

"What do you think of the poet?"

"She's pretty good. She seems powerful and reliable, but actually, she feels more like a little girl. If I had to say something... I've never seen her so enthusiastic around anyone other than me."

Bai Linsi thought for a moment and answered briefly, while the eldest sister smiled slightly.

"Jealous?"

"How is that possible? She and I are just friends. But we haven't known each other long enough, so it's normal for her to have other friends that I don't know about."

Such a natural answer, Bai Lin did not show any hesitation. When the elder sister heard it, she did not mention it anymore and returned to the previous topic.

"It's just like what you said. She is indeed a girl. At least, that's what we think. Compared to old guys like us who are already half in the grave, she should live a good life instead of wasting her life on this kind of thing."

After hearing this, Bai Lin looked him up and down and asked with some doubt,

"Sister, I believe you said that Shar Pei was buried halfway. After all, he does look a bit old like this. You're still buried? So young? You must be kidding."

Chapter 885 Quality Needs to be Improved

"Hey, what do you mean? You're calling me old the first time we meet? You, the Saint, need to improve your qualities."

Shapi protested immediately, and seemed to have expressed the thoughts of many people. Of course, neither of them paid attention to her. The eldest sister just replied,

"It's not about age. Haven't you heard? We Dark Knights can't leave this place. If this is our only chance to stay here, then we're no different from being buried in the ground."

"...That's true. Oh, and these children too? Judging from their ages, they don't look like they've experienced that war."

Bai Lin asked, while the eldest sister shook her head.

"Not really. They are either found abandoned babies, or the children of knights, or the children of those deep in the forest. They actually have a future and can go out and choose their own lives. We are only responsible for raising them for a period of time until they can survive on their own."

At this point, she looked at the children who had already started playing not far away with a little concern, and said,

"After all, they're not like us. They're all just newbies. How could they possibly survive in the wild? And it would be hard for them to be accepted by other villages, let alone enter Camitlan..."

After that, she turned her gaze to Bai Lin and said to him in a gentle and pleading tone,

"Son, if possible, after everything has settled, at least take them to a place where they can live in peace. They are actually quite capable. As long as it's not a place where monsters are frequent, they should be able to live normally."

"Well, I don't know what the mysterious force that's holding you back from leaving is, but I'm sure it won't exist after I save the world... You can definitely lead them out yourself."

Bai Lin replied calmly, and the eldest sister chuckled to herself twice, then replied,

"How sensitive, Holy Son. I mean, what if we don't have that ability? It seems that few dark knights have long lives."

"Why say such unlucky things? You'll definitely survive. But since you said so, I'll definitely say the same thing. Of course, I will take good care of them. Don't worry about anything while you work."

Bai Lin was very savvy. She naturally knew what would happen if one's mind was full of distractions during a fight. Bai Lin herself was completely immersed in the state, and only when she had few distractions could she exert her strongest strength. But not everyone could fight with strong emotions and force them to be put aside like herself. The eldest sister also laughed with satisfaction.

"How refreshing! This is what we Dark Knights should be like!"

"Haha... Being a Dark Knight isn't so bad."

It seems that Bai Lin has accepted that he is a Dark Knight because he is dressed like a Dark Knight. It seems that he has easily obtained the title that Xiao Nuo has always dreamed of.

"By the way, what were those people you just mentioned in the deep forest? Are there still people here?"

"Well, some of the Dark Knights who survived but didn't want to fight have already shed their knighthood. We don't believe in loyally upholding knightly duties until death. We can leave whenever we want, and it's not an honor worth praising anyway. They're probably fewer in number than us. They're basically those who have suffered a great loss and have lost all hope."

She looked at the deep forest in the distance, her words became more profound, her eyes slightly drooping, as if revealing a tiredness that had accumulated over time.

"Most of them are people who have been hit too hard and don't want to move on. After all, there's really no such thing as a happy life here. After their own children were born, they looked at them for a few moments before handing them over to us for upbringing. They also know that we are the only place with hope. They come to see their children occasionally, and the frequency is quite frequent. But..."

"They have all ended their lives. Just a while ago, the last few chose this method. Because they no longer have half the hope for the rest of their lives."

As her words progressed, Bai Lin's gaze could not help but wander towards the deep forest, devoid of any light, shrouded in endless darkness. She understood her elder sister's gaze and the growing tremor in her voice, like long-brewed bitter coffee, which grew increasingly bitter and darker.

Living in a place like this for a lifetime is not a good thing. Why should those who have contributed to saving humanity be humiliated in such a place, while those who harmed them can live well? Thinking of this, Bai Lin clenched his fists and said,

"I will definitely get you out, one day. Also, I will settle accounts with those officials who were involved in harming you."

Hearing this, the elder sister smiled without comment, while Xiao Nuo said unconvincedly,

"Is that even necessary? Even if you didn't go, I would have gone. How can you tolerate something like this?"

As the saying goes, it’s good for the apprentice to resemble his master. Since they have similar personalities, it’s really easy to talk to them.

The eldest sister put her empty bowl aside with her hands. She took a deep breath, then looked at the sky and said,

"Actually, after looking at it for a while, I think this place is pretty good. Look at this chaotic starry sky, it's quite interesting."

"Is it interesting?"

Bai Lin followed her gaze and didn't pay much attention to the sudden turn. But the sky, apart from being confusing, didn't give her much feeling. It was just covered by countless fast-moving, interwoven light bands. And the eldest sister added casually,

"It is the poet who has drawn it here, with her own power. And it is this sky that protects us all from the mysterious influence."

"You know, Holy Son. Because of the disaster, many people like us will slowly disappear. The poet can actually use this ability of hers to protect stronger people, and they will agree to help her."

"But she didn't do that. Instead, she chose us. It seemed like she wanted to repay me in this way. She was betrayed by her employer, so she used a reliable employer and a partnership to mend the situation. It was a kind of tenderness that was unique to her. I can't let it go now, but if I can get this done and return to my life, I should be able to accept other bosses assigning me work."

Having said this, the eldest sister brushed off the dust on her body, then collected everyone's finished bowls and walked forward. Before leaving, she looked back.

Chapter 886 boogie

"I've already talked a lot with you, so I won't take up anyone else's time. You'll be a lot of people coming to chat with you soon, right? After all, everyone wants to know who this hero the poet is praising so much is. You'll have plenty to do."

The eldest sister smiled half-jokingly and waved her hand. Bai Lin simply smiled back as a farewell. Then, thinking about what she had said earlier, he fell into deep thought.

Is this a poet's ability...? Indeed, she is a very gentle person.

-

Brilliant lights filled the air, and the slow-paced music grew increasingly intense. Guests gathered in the hall, their tables laden with drinks and snacks. The crowds piled high, practically filling the medium-sized room.