Chapter 1571: Chapter 265: Slave Knight
When Hayna was brought back by Lily, they did encounter some trouble.
Indeed, there was a group of Slave Knights who came to block the road, and from afar, their loud voices could be heard — shouting that they would arrest those causing disturbances here.
The noise from over there made Hayna instantly tense up.
Since school, Hayna had always been a model student, and after starting work, she was specifically responsible for apprehending those who broke the law... When had it ever been her turn to be hunted all over the city?
And along with the tension, Hayna felt an unprecedented sense of exhilarating excitement.
But Lily, upon seeing the ones coming to arrest them, only about a dozen people... and all at only Fourth Level, straightforwardly laughed.
She directly led the very resistant Hayna without any dodging to appear right in front of that group of people.
— Then, after several flashes, those Slave Knights were killed in place without any ability to resist.
The entire process was clean and swift, without making any noise. Just like during the first promotion ceremony when Aiwass used the power of the Shadow Demon — the shadows beneath Lily squirmed, transforming into spears and sharp blades, and when she flashed behind each person, these sharp shadows pierced through, chopped open, and sliced them.
She didn’t even raise her hand throughout, and the blood didn’t splatter onto Lily’s skirt. When Lily walked out from behind Hayna again, her maid outfit wasn’t the slightest bit disordered.
"...Is it really okay to do this, Miss Lily?"
Hayna was somewhat confused, being led away by Lily and constantly looking back at the bloody scene: "They didn’t block the way, if they took action, wouldn’t it cause trouble for Aiwass... Do I need to help manage the scene? I have some experience in this..."
"How did I just teach you?"
Lily answered simply.
The maid’s words were highly imposing, making Hayna think of her professors. Thus, she instantly calmed down.
...But she shyly didn’t dare to answer.
Because Hayna indeed didn’t know what mistake she had actually made here — since the others hadn’t even discovered them, couldn’t they just bypass directly without causing a scene? And Lily didn’t completely hide her capabilities, wasn’t it something that could easily be traced back to her?
Seeing Hayna still not acting, Lily turned back to glance at her.
"Go back and let the Young Master teach you."
Lily sighed, still choosing to give up.
Upon hearing this, Hayna realized she had indeed made some mistake. Thus, she followed Lily back in a dejected mood.
But unexpectedly... her mood now was much better than before. Although she had just completed the so-called "revenge," her mood turned worse, making Hayna a bit sad. It felt akin to wasting her emotions and time, doing something meaningless.
Yet now, for some reason, she felt somewhat better.
Upon returning, Hayna saw Aiwass reclining in a chair.
He appeared very fatigued and weary, as if he was ill. Hayna had never seen Aiwass so weak — in her impression, Aiwass had always been full of energy, dazzling like The Sun. Now, he seemed like a candle about to burn out, which made her heart slightly tighten.
Next, Lily recounted the events on the road and Hayna’s problems to Aiwass.
Hayna, akin to a canine about to be scolded for wrecking the house, shrank silently before Aiwass.
Aiwass, after listening, smiled and glanced at Hayna: "Why, still not convinced?"
— Indeed. Mainly because Lily’s actions were completely opposite to the education and experience she had accumulated. She didn’t actually understand why she should do this, merely obeying and trusting Lily, which was why she followed back.
Both not comprehending and having to work diligently. Even before graduation, when interning at the Supervisory Bureau, there were times like this.
Hayna shrank her head but didn’t speak.
"The reason Lily led you to slaughter them is quite simple..."
Aiwass spoke softly: "You’re right, traces of that level on the Path can indeed be easily discovered... just like when I was investigating in Avalon, discovering those from Noble Red. And here the difference lies in, we actually need to be discovered."
Upon hearing this, Hayna, somewhat surprised, raised her head to look towards Aiwass.
Just hearing this statement, she vaguely understood something.
"Is it to... intimidate them?"
"Half right."
Aiwass laughed and rebuked: "Seems you’re not too dumb after all. Perhaps becoming a warrior, your brain is filled with muscles proliferating."
"If I’m not mistaken..."
The nearby Prodeno pondered and questioned Aiwass: "It should be to avoid suspicion, right?"
"Exactly."
Aiwass nodded: "Now the Red Hand Gang is at hand, and their influence has already infiltrated various city-states. Even in Clear Spring City, there might be those supporting the Red Hand Gang. Should anything happen here, it could very well be the Red Hand Gang’s conspiracy, or part of their plan.
"With so many Benevolent Lords gathered here, if something occurs without any investigation, that’s akin to the Benevolent Lords themselves admitting ’this incident is my doing.’ If it later comes to light that this matter is related to the rebel army... such as the Sand Throat sect or Red Hand Gang or something, then trouble arises.
"Therefore, if this matter is not claimed by anyone, if no one takes responsibility, it becomes significant — it will certainly undergo thorough investigation, and eventually, there must be a resolution, forming a dead feud. Clearly, the Benevolent Lords of Clear Spring City are rather smooth in character... with so many Benevolent Lords here, who knows whose doing this is? Can’t investigate everything, what happens if something is truly uncovered?
"And comparatively — whether their Master of Ceremony is killed, or merely causes an earthquake leading to some building collapse, those are minor. Unlike our rules there... in Parthia, ’human life’ is not the most precious resource."
Aiwass spoke, looking at the cards on the table: "When playing Parz game before, wasn’t it apparent, Hayna? In Parthia, the value of slaves only ranks above pomegranates and books... and the Red Hand Gang’s comments are actually quite accurate — to Benevolent Lords, all people in their city-states are, in some sense, their slaves.
"Whether ordinary free people with no substantial assets, beautiful concubines, valiant guardians, or those nobles, officials, Transcendents... they are merely slaves to the Benevolent Lords. To them, these are merely parts of their property, while other Benevolent Lords are people on equal footing.
"When a colleague spills a cup, topples some decor, at most a few complaints ensue. Certainly, it doesn’t lead to murder. But if at home a stale pastry was pinched by some unknown thief or vagabond, it would incite madness — because the focal point isn’t the pastry itself, but how you got in."
Aiwass spoke softly: "And to Benevolent Lords, those rebel armies are like ’small thieves.’ Their threats bring instability... but compared to these ’disgusting rebels,’ just merely subordinates under other Benevolent Lords breaking a few things doesn’t warrant grand gestures."
"Then why, kill those who came to investigate a suspect..."
Hayna instinctively questioned, but suddenly realized she had labeled herself a suspect, so she hesitated momentarily, ultimately voiced: "They are merely... unfortunate people bound by circumstance, aren’t they?"
"Indeed, they’re bound by circumstance."
Aiwass nodded: "But not necessarily pitiful."
He then counter-questioned: "Do you know why Slave Knights are called ’Knights’?"