Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 312 The Mask War
"This is my money, all my money! They took my money and now they want to occupy the moral high ground, and they even dare to ask me to thank them!"

The believer of Dawn's Lamp, a middle-aged pastor who should be pursuing the light and bringing sunshine to believers and ordinary people, fell into rage and anxiety.

He's deeply entangled and there's no turning back.

Villette, a fourth-order pastor, is already destined for the upper echelons of the church, given that he is not yet forty years old, and will become a true great pastor sooner or later.

He was once the Lamplighter in the church, an honorary title given to those who sacrificed themselves and those who protected others. He earned this honor by fighting to the death against cultists to protect his village. He fought until he was on his last breath for the children. But now, he has donned the robes he once despised and become the very thing he once loathed.

"I'm out of money! My cash flow has dried up, how am I supposed to survive? I need to buy a new house, my seventh lover is asking me for money, my fourth child needs to have some savings, and I even have to bribe the high priest."

Some things, once you take the first step, there is no going back.

Perhaps the singer who sang of peace was right; ambition and desire are the source of conflict. Once you take the first step in pursuing desire, you will only fall deeper and deeper into the abyss.

In the eyes of others, it was only a matter of time before Villette became a high priest, but he himself knew that he could no longer face his own faith, nor his past self, and that while enjoying a good life, there was no possibility of taking another step on the path of "dawn".

God is a signpost and a great road. When you turn away from this road, if you happen to encounter a "check-up", you may even be directly destroyed by humanity. But as long as you do not have a direct connection with God, He does not have the ability to perceive the changes in the hearts of all believers.

However, if he tries to advance, tries to analyze God's grace, and tries to further seek divine power in order to become a high priest, that "degeneration" will certainly not be hidden.

Back then, failing to advance was considered a sign of the divine system's leniency.

“Becoming a great shepherd is nothing compared to being a wealthy man,” but Villette had no regrets. He felt he had seen through it all long ago.

His years of hard work and diligence had exhausted all his efforts, and in his view, he now had a reason to enjoy life.

This insatiable greed for money, wealth, and status led him to become one of the main collaborators in the slave market. No one could have imagined that the outstanding pastor of the Church of Dawn, symbolizing "redemption" and "light," would be the most deeply fallen.

"I'm doing this for the church. Only with wealth and successors can the church better redeem the world." The old Violet was adept at finding reasons to convince herself.
"My money, my money, my money!!"

But now, the ferocious expression on that mask no longer carries the slightest trace of a shepherd's compassion.

The self-deceiving lies were exposed long ago. If this money chain is lost, this already useless pastor will sooner or later become a stain on the church and be kicked out.
"Boom!"

The "Dawn Lamp," used to dispel darkness and purify the evil sun fire, was used to burn down the refugees' dilapidated shacks.

The cloaked "cultist" set fires everywhere; he was the most active of all the attackers.

"As long as these bastards get out of here, my slave-catching team can recover some of their losses."

He didn't even feel that he was committing a crime or doing something evil that went against the teachings of God; he felt that he was just trying to recover the property he had lost.

Since I can't get these "assets" back through normal channels, I'll resort to abnormal methods.

Attack this garbage village, let the garbage escape on its own, and then I'll turn it into slavery again. Even if you come to me with new resident records, I won't recognize them!

This is the era we live in: "rules" are only useful on the surface; ultimately, everything depends on strength.

During the day we follow the rules, but at dusk and night we'll only show our strength.

"You look familiar. Oh, that Blood Earl already took your virginity."

Villette smiled happily; he had actually found a valuable "goods," and it seemed he could salvage some of his losses ahead of time.

"Ahhh!" the girl screamed, recalling her nightmarish past. She even took out a fork and stabbed it into her neck.

She would rather die than return to that hell.

"Snapped!"

A sudden "human immobilization spell" froze the woman who had barely escaped from hell.

In the very center of the dilapidated house, a puppet-like, stiff face was filled with fear and despair.

Her body had completely lost control; only uncontrollable tears streamed down her face.

"Yes, yes, that's the expression. That's what that old pervert likes."

Villette smiled happily, feeling that he could perhaps raise the price.

For a "middle-level cadre" like him, after losing his faith and reasons, all that's left is this hobby.

His greedy gaze swept over the surrounding slaves. Perhaps he could keep this "unexpected harvest" to himself, so he would shut these slaves up.

His fingers happily reached towards the lower half of the "puppet's" body, intending to inspect the goods first.

If it's already gone, and I might even have to pay compensation, then I'll have no choice but to get rid of this woman. "Boom!"

The ceiling of the shed was shattered by the falling object, and a black knight descended from the sky, his bat-like black wings folded behind him like a cloak.

"boom!"

Before Villette could react, the large, black-armored hand was already covering his face.

"Who are you"

The shepherd, cloaked in gray, struggled, but to no avail.

The overwhelming force pinned him to the ground.

"Snapped!"

With immense strength, he swung it around as casually as a doll.

The shepherd's noble head struck the earth repeatedly, and the black knight happily turned it into drumsticks.

One blow after another, the movements became faster and more ruthless.

"Wow, you've got a pretty hard head."

Rean greeted the shepherd he had just met with cheerfully.

I must say, he truly lives up to his reputation as a shepherd of at least the fourth rank. He's got some nerve.

"Rean Sudar!!"

Vilette screamed, but it was too late. The black knight's eyes, with their yellow vertical pupils, were filled with murderous intent.

This Black Knight has no principle of not killing.

"boom!"

Another punch landed hard on his head.

The black knight glanced back at the girl standing like a statue, tears still streaming down her face.

"boom!"

Rean sat directly on the shepherd's chest, and through the mask, he unleashed a barrage of punches, one after another.

"boom!"

One punch landed, and blood splattered out.

Another punch landed, and the tooth flew off.

He slammed his head on the ground again, and an eyeball popped out.

"Oh dear, this beast is so fragile. Regenerate, my friend." Rean seemed to be laughing happily, but there was no real joy in his voice.

"Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me!" Finally, the noble shepherd begged for mercy.

He still has fertile land and beautiful concubines, a wonderful life ahead of him; he absolutely cannot die in this awful place, die here...
"I am...shepherd...I am Vivi."

He wanted to reveal his identity, stating that even as a prisoner, he, as a "religious nobleman," had the right to ransom.

All he wanted was to survive. But what fell upon his one eye was a steel boot.

"Boom!" The ground shook, and the head was instantly smashed into a shattered watermelon, scattering everywhere.

The villain in human skin met his end prematurely.

"Sigh, there's no point in talking about it. I won't even take off your masks until I see it," Rean shrugged and looked again at the distance where there was another prey.

Judging from the cross markings, this person appears to be a member of a multinational organization? Perhaps a charitable one?

"If you want to be a villain, at least be prepared. Die quietly." Rean walked happily toward his next target, hoping this bastard would last a little longer.

(End of this chapter)