As Sylvester had planned, he arrived at the noble lands of Lord Harmund. The region the noble lord lived in was one of the most coveted and still somewhat livable regions as it was close to where the previous tributary river of the Snake River used to flow before The Patch diverted the river waters.
Harmund County had relative peace from what Sylvester noticed. But that was only from the outside, as the moment he entered the lands, he saw nothing but misery. There were poor refugees working in the fields under direct sunlight with no clothes but pants on their bodies. They had dried skin and thin bodies. Their eyes were devoid of any hope.
All that when some guards roamed around them on horses and whipped them for slowing down even for a second. The same was the fate for all, be it men, women or children. All were beaten and forced to work.
'Now I don't feel bad at all. The whole family is cancer to the region.' Sylvester passed his judgement, for he was the Special Judge and had the power to do so. The lord was just a Count, which was well within Sylvester's authority.
Soon, Sylvester's small entourage of ten horsemen arrived at the small castle made of sandy yellow walls. It was nothing special, just a simple castle on a hill. A small town was around it, but it was crowded with more slaves and workers than the original people.
"My lord!"
The people started to bow to Sylvester as he inched closer to the castle gates beyond the moat. The guards didn't stop him and merely saluted to show respect.
Sylvester spoke with the Prima behind him, the man who should know the most about the Count. But, even he could not realise that Sylvester was an imposter and the entire way, he gave all the information to Sylvester willingly.
Slowly, Sylvester formed himself into the exact replica image of the Count. Of course, he didn't see the man walk around and speak too much, but he could read a lot from how someone walked, talked and generally acted.
Eventually, they entered the castle, and the drawbridge got lifted. Sylvester carried himself regally and got off his horse. A middle-aged, regal-looking, beautiful blonde woman was waiting at the entrance to the castle, looking anxious.
Sylvester went to her straight away and pulled her in his arms. He hugged her and whispered something in her ears that made her blush instantly.
'I could already smell the worry, the love and the lust. Harmund was a strong, handsome wizard warrior, and he had a love marriage with this woman. I must keep her senses flooded with lust so she can't sense anything else about me.'
Sylvester discreetly touched her neck with his hand and spread the ointment on the skin that could increase her lust to some degree. In response, she hugged him tighter, so much so that Sylvester had to push her to be free.
"Let's get inside, Duchess," Sylvester said.
"What?!" The woman exclaimed and jumped in excitement. "You're not lying? You're serious?"
Sylvester nodded. "Of course, my love. The plan was successful, and now you are a proud Duchess, the keeper of my heart."
She blushed and tucked her hand around his arm to walk with him inside. The castle was magnificent and well-decorated, like all other castles. But, it was evident by looking that the region was not as rich as those in the north. In the Sorrow Kingdom, a Count's wealth was not even equal to a Viscount in Gracia and Riveria.
"It's nearly nighttime, so I shall move to my bed chambers and rest." Sylvester authoritatively ordered.
No one dared to say anything, and he let the Count's wife drag him to the bed chambers. She was in a hurry, however, and Sylvester was prepared for everything.
Soon, they climbed the stairs and arrived at the tower's top floor. There, the glasses covered the wall in all directions, giving a magnificent view of the entire landscape. Under the moonlight and the dimly candlelit room, the view was beautiful.
"My lord husband, you were gone for so long." The woman muttered and started to take off her clothes in a rush.
Sylvester sighed and did the same. 'Why do I put myself in such situations?'
Eventually, the woman unclothed her completely and lunged at Sylvester. She tried to pin him down and shower his neck with wet kisses.
'What kind of sexual life were they living? A good one, it seems.'
But Sylvester had no interest in the woman, so he just pushed his index finger into her mouth. At first, she licked it, thinking it was some sort of foreplay. But soon, her eyes started to get heavy, and she instantly fell unconscious.
After that, Sylvester tucked her in the sheets, and then left after dressing up — His oath and purity still intact.
"Chonky, did you find anything?" Sylvester asked as he found the chubby furry cat dozing outside the room.
Miraj jolted up and jumped to sit on Sylvester's shoulder. "Aye, aye, Maxy! I found a big secret vault underground. It has a big door, but I easily ate it and took the money. Nothing can stop the Chonky bank from taking the taxes."
Sylvester patted him and handed him a banana. "Good job. Let's just burn the castle down and leave. If they die, they die — they are all heathens who abuse the commoners. Their death shall not bring me any sin."
With the plan in mind, Sylvester strategically poured some special fire alchemical solution around the castle. He walked around and greeted the servants, the knights and the rest of the staff. The Count only had a mother and wife, so he didn't see them again.
Three hours past midnight, Sylvster was done and exited the castle in the name of inspecting the town.
"Stop there!"
However, as soon as he exited the drawbridge, he noticed a man trying to run into the castle. He looked dirty, with his face burned, his clothes dirty black.
"I-I am your Count! What are you doing? Unhand me!" The man screamed.
The guards caught him and made him kneel quickly. One of them ridiculed him while smacking the hilt of his sword on the head. "Filth! The Count is already in the castle. Do you think we are fools?"
"I… I am your Count! I was married to Lady Maria ten years ago, in this castle. I have a mole on my back, and when I was a kid, I killed a lion with a small knife! I am your lord!"
Sylvester arrived near just then. "What is going on here? Who is this pest?"
The Guards saluted. "Nothing, my lord. Just another maniac trying to enter the castle."
The real Count, with his burned face, looked at Sylvester in shock and fear. He had no idea what was happening, but he understood he had no chance to prove himself as real.
"I will kill you!" The real Count got up and tried to run away while shouting.
Sylvester scoffed and grabbed the sword from the guard's waist. He aimed it at the fleeting Count. "You dared put my woman and mother in danger! It's you who must die!"
Woosh!
Sylvester threw the sword masterfully. It swung fast, cutting the air smoothly. In a moment, the blade struck the back of Count's head, instantly throwing him down and cutting open his skull in two.
"Burn his body and throw his ashes into the moat," Sylvester ordered haughtily and continued to walk out. This time, he felt much better as he killed the last witness of the massacre in Wailing City.
Ting!
Ting!
"Fire in the castle!"
Just three minutes after he left the castle, the shouts resounded across the town outside. The people rushed to quench the fire. But it was too big and strong for anyone to control.
On top of that, they couldn't find the Count anywhere. People feared that the fire took him. But the guards at the drawbridge revealed the Count had already left. In absolute pandemonium, the castle burned down slowly.
The morning sun came hours later, and Sylvester watched the fire in the distance as he made his way to another County with a different disguised face.
…
Over the coming weeks, Sylvester received the words from the Holy Land as he went from one castle to another and emptied their vaults with Miraj's sneaky skills. Only once was he caught by someone, but even then, he quickly solved the situation with a blade to the throat.
Just… that there were more than one throat, fifteen to be precise. Yes, he killed an entire bloodline to keep the secret and then burned the castles. But he didn't kill the kids as that would accumulate sin and enrage the Shadow Knight.
For some reason, the being had stopped chasing him, and he wanted to keep it that way.
"Maxy! Where to go next? I want more blood… I mean money!" Miraj roared like a lion while sitting on the head of Sylvester's horse.
Sylvester chuckled and rubbed the little white lion on the back. "Calm down now, Chonky. There are no lords left to loot. Anyway, how's your back? Is it still itchy?"
Miraj, as if suddenly remembering, began to scratch his back again with his legs. "I forgot I was itchy there. I think I got used to it."
'I hope it's nothing dangerous.' Sylvester still felt somewhat worried for him.
"Well, I'll give you a bath then. It'll heal you up."
"No!" Miraj jumped on his hind legs, his hair erect. "Maxy, don't worry. My tongue is very good. I can reach anywhere and make myself wet easily."
"..."
Seeing Sylvester so silent and with a blank face, Miraj realised his folly. "Did I say something suspicious again?"
Sylvester merely nodded. "You did. Just remember not to say those words in that order again. Let's return to the Wailing City now. Sir Dolorem and Bishop Lazark must be waiting for us."
"Aye, Aye!"
And so, their journey picked the pace, and they rushed to the South.
The effects of the earthquake that devastated the region a month ago had only started to surface properly now. Still, sadly, the one-month time limit that The Patch imposed on themselves for non-interference had already passed. The Widowmakers had once again become active, and the cycle of misery yet again continued.
Along the way, Sylvester found a few villages full of nothing but dead bodies. He reckoned they were the villages that got hit with the plague, and there was nobody to warn them that a plague had taken hold.
There were just hundreds of rotten bodies of men, women and children being eaten by birds and dogs alike. The smell of filth and death overwhelmed his senses, but Sylvester could not stop. He knew that good days were ahead as King Highland was nearly done with his dam construction.
In three days, he finally arrived at the Wailing City. But it looked much different now. The Inquisitor Army had arrived in full, so their flag was everywhere. Count Bradley and his army had also arrived but flew the Church's flag.
The site where Sylvester destroyed the castle was cleaned, and it was now merely an empty field with the monastery still intact. Above all, it appeared someone from the Holy Land had also arrived as Sylvester saw a carriage.
"How is the Archbishop?" Sylvester asked the first thing after arriving at the monastery.
Sir Dolorem, with a heavy heart and sorrowful face, shook his head. "Saint Medico is here — He believes the Archbishop won't survive this week."
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