123: Organizational research and decision

Chapter 122: Organizational Research Decisions

Both sides stood facing each other, swords drawn and bows strung.

Arthur could tell that the impassioned merchant didn’t care about the devastating consequences of internal conflict.

Especially at such a moment.

As long as he could eliminate Father Dragan and the Sheriff, he would have two fewer enemies, bringing him closer to his goal of absolute power.

During the standoff, the Sheriff’s remaining followers all arrived at the scene.

In addition, Joshua’s men had “invited” the townspeople to the church.

Joshua, who had the moral high ground, grew more arrogant as the townspeople arrived, once again loudly proclaiming the Sheriff’s and Father Dragan’s crimes.

This time, even among the Sheriff’s followers, there were signs of wavering.

Clearly, not everyone knew about the beastmen.

Father Dragan, being impatient, stepped forward to face the townspeople and declared, “I did indeed shelter those beastmen.”

At these words, the crowd immediately erupted in an uproar.

Murmurs rose like a tide from all directions. “As for the right or wrong of this matter, the Hand of Justice will make its judgment.” He paused, then continued, “But I have violated the local laws, and thus I am no longer qualified to serve as the local Pastor.”

With that, Dragan turned to Arthur: “I believe that Sir Arthur is the most suitable person to take over this position.”

“He is a Priest of Mother Earth and will surely lead us to victory over the darkness.”

Arthur was completely unprepared for this, and so was Joshua.

Although the Pastor’s position in Mist Town was not highly respected, and there were very few local believers in the gods.

However, this position absolutely could not fall into the hands of an outsider.

Moreover, the power within the church, which was capable of resisting the mist, was what he truly desired.

The merchant was about to object, but Father Dragan threw out another piece of news that shocked everyone: Arthur had dispelled the Night Mist.

After the initial shock, Joshua frantically shouted, “Lies!”

“This is a complete lie, no one can dispel the mist!”

“I swear on the name of the Hand of Justice,” the Pastor said in a loud voice that drowned out the merchant’s roar, “I firmly believe this.”

“Joshua, you say no one can resist the mist, so what about the power that protects us?”

Joshua was momentarily speechless.

At this moment, the Sheriff also stepped forward.

“I made a mistake,” he confessed, “I couldn’t bring myself to execute my own son.”

“I will bear the consequences, resign from my position as Sheriff, and await judgment.”

Grey’s followers gasped in surprise.

The Sheriff slowly unclenched his fists and continued, “I once commanded the defense on this town’s walls for twenty days and nights.”

“I watched with my own eyes as people I had known since childhood fell under the claws of monsters I once thought only existed in nightmares.”

“I watched brave and upright people like yourselves fight valiantly, only to inevitably meet their demise.”

“I watched those who had lost loved ones collect bodies on the battlefield, their eyes filled with helplessness and despair, desperately searching for some form of protection and hope.”

“But the undead are like shadows, and Mist Town is no longer a refuge for Qingfeng Valley.”

“Those filthy creatures could break in at any moment, perhaps tonight, perhaps a month from now.”

“Therefore, I do not wish to see Mist Town fall into internal strife because of this.”

With that, he walked to Arthur, knelt on one knee, and offered his sword: “Sir Arthur will continue to lead my warriors.”

“If they are still willing to follow my decision.”

Joshua gritted his teeth, watching everything unfold nervously.

He wanted to intervene, but he worried that over-involvement would be counterproductive.

He understood the principle of a cornered beast fighting back, and what he wanted most was a peaceful handover.

Even if things didn’t go his way, the incited townspeople should still be on his side.

The Sheriff’s men wouldn’t turn their swords on their own people.

The series of events caught Arthur off guard.

But he quickly calmed down, silently and rapidly weighing his words in his mind.

At this moment, the Sheriff urged in a low voice, “This is the best way for now, Sir.”

“We absolutely cannot let the church and the soldiers fall into Joshua’s hands.”

Father Dragan also kept winking at him from the side.

So Arthur took the sword.

The Sheriff’s followers began to rally around him, but many still chose to stand with Joshua.

Arthur looked at the bewildered townspeople.

He felt a shadow of despair, like a brewing thundercloud, enveloping the chaotic town.

He walked to the townspeople, his voice, amplified by his sorcery, resonating throughout the square: “I dispelled the Night Mist.”

“I can swear on the name of Mother Earth.”

“But the enemy who controls the mist will not give up easily.”

“If we are lucky, it will return in three days.”

“If things are bad, then it will return in two days.”

“By then, I will fight alongside you, and we will drive it away again!”

Arthur’s declaration carried an undeniable certainty.

His words, enhanced by sorcery, indeed worked.

The resentment in the townspeople’s eyes lessened slightly.

“As for those infected beastmen,” Arthur continued, “I will grant them release, but not now.”

Murmurs rose again.

“How do you know this?”

“On what basis do you assert that the mist will attack in three days?”

A townsperson questioned.

“Because Mother Earth protects me.”

This answer was ambiguous, and most people might not believe it.

But in this land lacking faith, abandoned by the gods in Qingfeng Valley, these words undoubtedly brought a glimmer of hope.

Joshua’s men immediately shouted loudly, calling Arthur a liar.

Arthur spoke: “Give me two days.”

“If those people truly cannot be saved, I will personally grant them death.”

“What if you break your word?” Joshua pressed.

Arthur smiled calmly: “Then I will give up everything, leave this place, and never return.”

After weighing the pros and cons, the merchant accepted the proposal, but still insisted on prosecuting the Sheriff and Father Dragan.

The trial was set for the following afternoon, at the town square.

If nothing unexpected happened, according to the laws of Mist Town, the Sheriff would be sentenced to hanging, and Father Dragan would be exiled.

Arthur wanted to buy more time, but Grey and Dragan dissuaded him.

And so, this crisis temporarily ended.

Arthur couldn’t say whether he was a winner or a loser. But he knew very well that he had little time left and no way out.

After a brief rest back at the church, Arthur asked Father Dragan to show him the magic circle protecting the town.

So Dragan took him on a tour around the town.

The magic circle covered the entire Mist Town, with guiding objects placed at each magic node.

Unlike the magic circle used by the Priests of the Place of Breezes, the magic circle taught to Heir by Gedada was wilder and cruder, which might be why it could only resist the mist.

“This method was still thought up by Mordred,” the Pastor said, “I never thought that boastful eccentric had this ability.”

Arthur chuckled at this and told the Pastor the truth.

The Pastor’s face was filled with disbelief: “So, all of this is the work of that Granny?”

“By the Hand of Justice, this is truly hard to believe.”

“I was as shocked as you when I first learned of it,” Arthur said, “The magic circle has some flaws, but I’m not skilled in that, so I can’t improve it further.”

“Don’t blame yourself, brother, you’ve done enough.”

The Pastor comforted him.