Chapter 64: The Seven Noble Precepts

Seeing this, the joy on Baron Haus’ face deepened. He became even more convinced that his judgment had been correct. This young man was clearly intelligent enough to understand who the real master was, the one capable of granting him wealth and power. 

Just as Haus was preparing to offer a few more promises to secure his loyalty, steady footsteps sounded from the doorway. A large, broad-shouldered man dressed in simple priestly robes entered the room. His expression was calm, and a sacred, dignified aura surrounded him, utterly out of place in this chamber soaked with blood and lust. 

It was Kayan. 

Baron Haus stared blankly at the priest’s robes. 

Why was there a temple priest here? 

Nolan did not look at him. He merely nodded toward Kayan. “Kayan.” 

“I’m here, Mr. Nolan.” 

Nolan nodded once more and lowered his sword. In the next instant, he seized Baron Haus by the throat and lifted the fat man into the air with one hand. 

Haus’ laughter cut off instantly. His feet dangled helplessly as his face turned the color of liver. He clawed frantically at Nolan’s hand, but the grip did not move in the slightest. “Ghk… ghk…” Painful choking sounds escaped his throat. 

What… what was happening? Wasn’t this man supposed to pledge loyalty to him? 

Ignoring his struggle, Nolan looked at him coldly before gesturing toward Kayan. “Please save that man first. Then come back and use a healing prayer on him.” 

“Mr. Nolan… he doesn’t appear to be injured,” Kayan said hesitantly. 

Baron Haus was practically suffocating, but there was not even a scratch on his body. Why use healing magic on him? Was Nolan planning to restore his strength before interrogating him? 

Not only Kayan was confused. Rehanna, Hank, Vivi, and Little Donnie were equally bewildered. 

Rehanna in particular felt fury rise in her chest. She had nearly killed this beast moments ago before Nolan stopped her. She had assumed Nolan had some deeper plan in mind, but now he actually intended to heal this scum? “Nolan! What are you thinking?!” she demanded angrily. “A monster like him deserves worse than death! And you want to save him?” 

“Yeah, Brother Nolan,” Little Donnie added anxiously. “Why waste Mr. Kayan’s divine magic on trash like him?” 

Vivi remained silent, but confusion and concern filled her amber eyes as she looked at Nolan. 

Only Hank said nothing. He stared intently at Nolan’s profile. Though equally unable to understand, he sensed something unusual in Nolan’s terrifyingly calm gaze. The instincts of a veteran soldier told him to trust Nolan, so he held back his questions. 

Meanwhile, even while choking on the verge of suffocation, Baron Haus heard Nolan’s words. A spark of wild joy flashed through his oxygen-starved mind. Heal me? He wants to heal me! 

Could it be… could it be that grabbing him by the throat was only a display of authority in front of his subordinates? A performance for that madwoman who wanted to kill him? Yes! That had to be it! This man still intended to side with him! 

The thought reignited Haus’ desperate will to live. He stopped struggling and instead looked at Nolan with almost flattering eyes, making wheezing noises as though to say, I understand. I understand everything. 

Nolan smiled faintly at Kayan. “Don’t worry. He’ll need it soon enough.” 

Kayan was a deeply devout man. He trusted the judgment of Nolan, whom he regarded as a “divine incarnation.” Taking a deep breath, he asked no further questions. Soft white light blossomed from his iron staff, enveloping the wounded blacksmith. The horrific injuries covering the man’s body began healing at visible speed. Bruising faded, broken bones reset, and his weak breathing gradually steadied. 

A moment later, the man let out a painful groan and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was still unfocused, but the instant he saw his trembling wife curled up on the bed beneath Vivi’s cloak, endless grief and guilt erupted across his face. 

“Sherry!” Struggling to his feet, he staggered toward the bed and wrapped his wife tightly in his arms. “Sherry… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” 

The man who had just returned from death’s doorstep cried like a child. In his embrace, the woman finally broke down as well. The terror and despair she had suppressed for so long poured out all at once. 

Everyone in the room watched the sobbing couple in silence. The oppressive atmosphere made it difficult to breathe. 

Rehanna’s eyes reddened. She gripped her sword tightly and turned her face away, unable to keep watching. 

Then Nolan moved. Like dragging a dead dog, he hauled the still-hopeful Baron Haus into the center of the room and kicked the back of his knees. 

“AAH!” 

With a heavy thud, the fat noble crashed to his knees directly before the couple. The husband and wife stared through tear-filled eyes, stunned. 

“Wh-what are you doing?” Baron Haus finally realized something was terribly wrong, his voice quivering with panic. 

Nolan did not answer immediately. Instead, he pressed the tip of Mountain’s Resonance against the center of Haus’ back. The icy touch made every fold of fat on Haus’ body tremble. “As a hereditary noble, you should know that when the Kingdom of Elfin was founded, the late King Fleven established the Seven Noble Precepts. Tell me, what are the seven?” 

Baron Haus went completely blank. How could he possibly know any “seven precepts”? “I… I…”

“Can’t answer?” Nolan said, unsurprised. “Then I’ll teach you.” 

He grabbed Haus by the head and slammed his face hard against the carpet. The force was so great that Haus felt he might suffocate. 

“The First Noble Precept of the Elfin Kingdom: A noble must be just. They must not seize the property of commoners without cause, nor impose cruel taxation and exploitation.” 

Nolan’s voice echoed through the room. At the same time, the black blade of Mountain’s Resonance sliced mercilessly into Baron Haus’ back. It carved the first line of words into his flesh. 

“AAAAHHHH—!!!” 

Blood burst forth instantly, soaking the expensive carpet crimson. The agony made Haus’s entire body convulse violently. He tried to struggle, but Nolan’s knee pressed firmly against his lower back, pinning him motionless to the ground. 

“Kill me! Please, just kill me!” Haus wailed in agony. He would rather have his head cut off than endure being flayed alive like this. 

Everyone else in the room was stunned by the sudden scene. Little Donnie’s mouth hung open. Vivi covered her lips, her tiger ears twitching uneasily. Rehanna reacted most strongly of all. Her initial shock quickly transformed into fierce satisfaction. Hank inhaled deeply and silently turned away, but in his heart, he fully agreed with Nolan’s actions. 

This was a ritual. A declaration. Nolan was using the most extreme method possible to judge the sins of the old order and establish a new one. 

“Kayan,” Nolan said. “Heal him.” 

Holy light shone once more as divine energy sealed Baron Haus’ wounds, stopping the bleeding and rapidly forming scabs over the carved flesh. 

Haus had barely begun to feel relief from the healing when the “devil’s” voice sounded again. 

The second line. 

“The Second Noble Precept of the Elfin Kingdom: A noble must be merciful. They must not oppress the people under their rule, nor treat human lives as worthless.” 

Before the words had even finished, the black blade descended once more. 

“AAAAAAAHHHHHH—!!!”