That's right, that's what paladins are like.

Chapter 131 Don't think I won't beat you up just because you're pretty!

struggle?

Rowan's question startled Winona.

She looked at the corpses of those extraordinary beings from the blazing sun, and realized that this was her own struggle.

She turned around and met Rowan's calm gaze.

Winona then realized that Rowan was asking her why she didn't struggle against fate, but instead bowed down to it.

At that moment, Winona felt a strange mix of amusement and exasperation.

She thought Rowan's statement was extremely naive; who could defy fate?

Becoming the agent of "Blazing Sun" was not a path Winona deliberately chose; rather, it was a fate that landed on her head the moment she woke up one morning.

"Ha—struggle? Fine, tell me, how am I supposed to struggle?!"

This is an elusive destiny; only when it falls upon your head will you understand—it's something that humans simply cannot control—

Winona initially retorted to Rowan, but as she spoke, she couldn't help but feel a surge of sadness and lowered her voice.

"Can't understand!"

To Winona's surprise, Rowan raised his head and said, "When I knew that the old man—my father—was going to die, and when I was facing the Demon King Bruru, I never lost the courage to pull the trigger!"

Leona can vouch for that!

Rowan looked at Leona, and Leona immediately smiled and nodded back at Rowan.

When it comes to fighting against fate and struggling against destiny that is beyond human control, Rowan definitely has the right to speak.

He glanced at Winona, who seemed somewhat taken aback, and then at the old Pope.

"Oh----"

Rowan curled his lips into a contemptuous smile at the father and daughter!

"Your situation is much better than mine was back then; at least you can clearly understand where the problem lies."

But you didn't even try to struggle, didn't seek a better, more acceptable outcome under so-called fate—tsk, how pathetic!

"Ahem, Rowan—"

The old pope was somewhat uncomfortable with Rowan's "newborn calf is not afraid of tigers" remark.

Although Rowan did kill "Tiger", not everyone is like him!

"You take 'the gifts of fate' and 'the inevitable end' too lightly, which is not a good habit."

History has proven that, when faced with a predetermined destiny, humanity is truly difficult to defy.

"History? What is history?"

But to the old pope's surprise, his admonition only earned him Rowan's resounding question, leaving him looking at Rowan with disbelief.

Luo Wenzheng raised his hand aggressively, pointing to his face at the father and daughter in front of him, and said, "I am 'history'! Was the God of Light who overthrew the blazing sun a man or a god back then?!"

History is created by people, not some bullshit destiny!

You have all the advantages you could possibly have, yet you insist on submitting to so-called fate.

That wasn't even a "divine oracle" sent down by our boss, the God of Light!

I'm putting my words right here today: I despise cowards like you who lack the courage to create new history!

Rowan felt that if his god asked him to kneel...

For the sake of faith, I'll kneel down.

But what does "the blazing sun" have to do with our Church of Light?!

"A pope of the Church of Light, a 'former saint' of the Church of Light—you actually submit to the fate of 'Blazing Sun'? I'm ashamed for both of you and for the sake of our leader!"

After Luo Wen finished cursing and sorting out the cause and effect, he finally vented his anger on this seemingly complicated but actually ridiculous mess!

"No—Rowan, you have no idea what her fate means."

Of the father and daughter who were stunned by Rowan's scolding, the old Pope reacted first than Winona.

He immediately wanted to explain to Rowan how serious the impact and damage would be to the Church of Light if Winona, who carried the destiny of the blazing sun, continued to live in the world.

But Rowan shut him up with just one sentence: "Have you tried it? If you haven't, shut up!"

For a paladin to tell his own pope to "shut up" is clearly an act of "great disrespect".

But Mendalos subtly stood beside Rowan, saying nothing more.

"Do I really have the right to seek a reason to live?"

Winona looked at Rowan hopefully, but Rowan didn't give her a friendly look: "Why are you asking me? Even our boss who overthrew the Sun didn't send down divine punishment to kill you, what do you think?"

Sometimes Rowan thought these people from another world were really stupid.

In a world where gods truly exist, and they haven't said much, why do you choose to give up the struggle?

If the boss didn't say "no," doesn't that mean "yes"?

Rowan noticed that Winona's eyes suddenly lit up, which made Rowan laugh in exasperation.

Winona was willing to sever her memories and kill so many innocent people while trying to regain them, all to secure a chance for her own survival.

But she only realized now that she didn't need to live such a hard and miserable life.

Winona cautiously glanced towards the old Pope one last time, but Rowan grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him: "Why are you looking at your father? He's an old fogey who can't see things clearly and even wants to kill you. You want to struggle for your own life? You're relying on him?"

"————Yes, thank you."

Meeting the old pope's complicated gaze, Winona lowered her head and whispered her thanks to Rowan.

"Heh," Rowan sneered at Winona again, "No, don't thank me. One thing at a time. I didn't say these things to comfort you and your daughter. I just feel uncomfortable if I don't say them out loud!"

You've killed so many people, and you even tried to harm Leona just now—I still remember these "debts"!

In other words, I need to keep you alive first—guess if I'll beat up a woman or not?

Rowan grinned at Winona, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.

Whether Winona struggles against fate is her own business.

But whether or not Rowan should beat her to death after she offended him is Rowan's business.

Leona can attest that Rowan can be ruthless when necessary!

"Could you—be a little more gentlemanly?"

Winona was intimidated by Rowan's aggressive attitude. She hadn't expected Rowan to be so clear about his grudges and to be so meticulous about every single thing.

"You can talk to my father about my upbringing."

Anyway, Rowan won't let Winona off so easily.

Don't think I won't beat you up just because you're pretty!

"Ahem—Rowan, I, this old fogey, will consider your suggestion. Now—let's get back to the present."

Rowan's expression, as if he wanted to beat Winona up right in front of him, made even the old Pope somewhat uncomfortable.

But he finally understood why Roman Tam had been able to walk so confidently to this day, without showing any of the confusion that young people face when it comes to "big things".

"Right now? There's really not much to say right now. Just kill or drive away that demon king who wants to be my father-in-law! Drag out Anthony and gang up on him, it's that simple!"

"Hmm? Cyril wants to be your father-in-law? I can't believe it—"

"That's not important! What's important is that you need to go back to 36th Street and keep an eye on things there. Commander Mendalos, you have to stay with me for now, otherwise we won't be able to hold off Anthony."

Rowan accidentally let slip the secret, but he quickly made up an excuse, which earned him a strange look from the old pope before he disappeared into the white light.

"The Demon King Cyril wants to be your father-in-law?"

But even though the old Pope is gone, there's still Winona, who is also very interested in what Rowan let slip.

Rowan glanced at her silently, then looked at Leona, seeking her approval with his eyes.

Leona quickly shook her head at Rowan, then said to Winona, "Shut up, Winona, or Rowan might really beat you up!"

"If this can help you vent your anger, I don't mind suffering some consequences—"

"Snapped!"

Rowan slapped Winona across the face, leaving a handprint, and Winona immediately shut up.

Even Mendalos was startled by Rowan's swift and decisive slap. He had always thought Rowan was just bluffing Winona, but he hadn't expected this—

"You are now our prisoner. We only need you to live, not necessarily to live healthily."

Rowan, having lowered his hand, calmly addressed Winona, whose face was filled with disbelief: "If you're going to bother me any further—"

Rowan's gaze shifted downwards, then back up.

"I will cut you up, just like your men tortured Michaela."

Winona's body trembled noticeably. She lowered her head and remained silent, finally accepting her status as a prisoner.

However, in order to keep Winona from running around, Rowan, the only one who could ignore the Sun God's magic, had to keep Winona in his sight at all times, and the two could not even be too far apart.

Although there is Anthony in the Holy City who is eyeing Winona's life, who can guarantee that Winona won't take the risk of running away?

Rowan did the ideological work for her, and even if it would be a little hard for him, Rowan wouldn't do anything to give Winona an opportunity.

Mendaros, who could provide immediate support to Rowan, stayed at the hotel entrance to meet the clergy who arrived at the hotel and dealt with the bodies.

Rowan then took Leona and Winona back to their hotel room. Fortunately, their suite was on the top floor of the hotel, so it was spared from damage by the Solar Transformers.

But as he went upstairs, Rowan noticed that the hotel bar seemed to have been searched by the Lieyang superhumans.

He glanced at the chaotic bar, then looked at Winona.

Winona finally became obedient and whispered to Rowan, "I had my men do it—if you had come back two minutes later, I could have just led my men away—"

It turns out that Winona regained her memories earlier than Rowan had imagined.

After her explanation, Luo Wen finally understood the true nature of the incident that had occurred at the Mainland Hotel.

About two hours ago, when Rowan and Leona were still exploring the east side of the Holy City, and hadn't even encountered Elise and Stryker yet.

Winona had arranged for these Solar Transformers to arrive at the hotel long ago.

Their goal is to return Winona's memories, which are sealed within a blazing sun emblem, to her.

However, a number of people who had come specifically for the miracle were gathering at the mainland hotel, and Tiffany would not allow a group of strangers to approach Winona without Rowan's prior instruction.

And so—a massacre began.

The solar divine power used by these blazing superhumans triggered a stress response in Winona, who had not yet regained her memories.

She instinctively couldn't trust these unfamiliar, superhuman beings, especially since they were indiscriminately attacking everyone while approaching her.

Winona then began to run away, with Michaela and Matilda covering for her.

However, they were still caught up by these Solar Transcendents, and Matilda and Michaela, who resisted fiercely, were killed on the spot by these Solar Transcendents.

After regaining her memories, Winona transformed herself into the leader of these Sun-type superhumans.

She assigned people to set up an illusionary disguise at the hotel entrance and also sent people to search the bar to see if there were any Miracle Specials left by Rowan.

Just when she had gained nothing, Rowan and the others suddenly returned to the hotel entrance.

Winona, trapped in the hotel, immediately set her sights on Leona, who had returned with Rowan.

She coveted Leona's identity as a hero, so she had her subordinates use Michaela's corpse to create a maze in which she was still resisting.

"I only told them to hang Michaela up—to be honest, I didn't tell them to desecrate Michaela's body—"

—”

Winona, who was sitting in the living room with Rowan, gave Rowan a wry smile and offered a defense.

"It doesn't matter, I will still hold you accountable for this debt."

Rowan, however, remained wary of Winona. He calmly told her, "You have lost all my trust, including everything you just told me. I won't believe you completely."

I don't particularly care who you killed, nor do I care whether it was intentional or unintentional, whether it was on your orders or an accidental mistake by your subordinates—

All I need to know is that you killed someone.

As for you setting your sights on Leona—that's another "personal grudge," Leona. What do you think is the best way for you to get revenge?

The simpler Rowan's explanation, the more flustered Winona became.

When he was downstairs, Luo Wen slapped him so hard that he loosened a few of his teeth.

This boy is too "straightforward". His rationality is only used for "calculating accounts", but "clearing accounts" is done on an emotional basis, without any regard for laws or rules.

Falling into his hands might not be any easier than falling into Anthony's hands!

"Um----"

Leona, standing behind Rowan, leaned forward and hugged Rowan's head, resting her chin on his head.

Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. If Winona wants to harm me, then I am her "creditor."

But given Leona's personality, for her, stabbing Winona in the neck would be the end of her revenge.

But Leona has to keep Winona alive for now, which leaves her at a loss for what to do.

She knows how to kill, but she doesn't know how to torture people.

Moreover, tormenting someone will only make Leona feel uncomfortable and won't make her feel any better.

She's not some kind of psychopath.

But Rowan had already asked for his opinion.

Leona's gaze swept back and forth over Winona for a moment, then suddenly her eyes lit up, and she immediately whispered a few words in Rowan's ear.

"Forehead----"

Rowan's real intention was simply to have Leona scare Winona, hoping to leave Winona with a psychological scar on Leona so that Winona wouldn't easily attack Leona again.

Corleona's suggestion just now —

"The east needs time for the residual effects of those forbidden spells to dissipate. The captain just said there shouldn't be anything else happening there today—can I switch too?"

Leona explained to Rowan her reasons for making this suggestion.

But Winona, sitting right in front of the two, couldn't understand what Leona was saying.

How exactly are they going to torture themselves?

"All right."

Rowan was persuaded by Leona.

They didn't have enough strength to go out and search for Anthony, and the eastern side of the Holy City was also affected by the release of forbidden spell power, making it difficult for anyone to approach.

It seems like there's really nothing to do for the rest of the day.

Moreover, this was Leona's suggestion to "get back at" Winona and to vent her own anger, and Rowan had no reason to refuse in order to maintain his image of "settling scores clearly" that he had just established.

So he stood up and led Winona into an empty bedroom by himself.

"What do you want? You're paladins!"

Winona was startled by the large bed in the bedroom. Were these two young people really going to do something inappropriate?

But Rowan simply pulled a set of clothes out of the closet and threw them on the bed.

Then, pointing to the outfit, he said to Winona, "Put this on. This is Leona's 'revenge' on you. Until things calm down, you'll be our maid!"

Winona stared in astonishment at the clothes on the bed; it was a maid's outfit.

The problem is—can the maid outfit placed in the bedroom of a top-tier suite in such a luxury hotel be a proper maid outfit?

Rather than feeling insulted by the outfit, Winona felt a mixture of exasperation and amusement at the absurd way the two young people were handling the situation.

But when she looked at Rowan's innocent face, she immediately realized that she probably had no choice.

So Winona eventually went closer to the maid outfit.

She first looked at one of the thin "outer garments" that could be worn as pajamas, and raised an eyebrow.

Then she deliberately smiled at Rowan and said, "I've lost an arm, so it's a bit inconvenient—could you help me put it on?"

"Okay."

Rowan immediately stepped forward, grabbed Winona's collar under her astonished gaze, and tore it open from both sides!

"Sizzle!"

"Stop! Stop, stop, stop—you—"

Winona, holding her only remaining right hand in front of her, retreated repeatedly, a blush creeping onto her face.

This boy—he's gone too far!

"You asked me to help you, and you know this wasn't my idea."

Rowan casually tossed aside the tattered clothes in his hand and gave Winona a remarkably straightforward shrug.

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