Ch. 43 - Last Wish

Grundy was imprisoned in a cell deep within the dark and damp prison. He was leaning against the old stone wall with dead eyes. The sight made Kaleqi sigh. He squatted down and handed over a jug of wine to him.

"Grundy, you should not expect those peers to come to your rescue. They forced you to come here and are willing to sacrifice you."

Grundy, who was mutely opening his mouth to drink the wine handed over by Kaleqi, heard what Kaleqi said. Some colors in his eyes returned. He jerked up his head to look at Kaleqi and bitterly said, "We have known each other for more than a decade. You know deep down that I did not murder Prad. Originally, our Nurba was a very calm town. With the forest as barriers, war will not affect this pure land. Although the royal family's special envoys keep the price of iron ore very low every time they come to take the purchase, it is enough for Nurba to become wealthy."

Grundy's chubby face was full of tears as he whispered angrily, "But since this Paladin came, my old buddy Prad and his family died. Surprisingly, many homeless people and travelers also went missing. This Paladin not only did not report to the Holy See, but also kept this matter securely under wraps!"

Kaleqi sighed again. Putting the wine jug on the ground, he said, "He has just arrived in Nurba. He is young and vigorous. Naturally, he doesn’t want accidents to happen in the town, where he is in charge of evangelizing. If not, his name will get smeared.”

“No, that’s not the case at all!” Grundy immediately shouted, his eyes were filled with despair. "In the church, he dropped the false mask he was wearing. This bastard doesn't deserve being called a priest at all! He is insidious, vicious, and merciless! He solely cares about money, position, popularity, and promotion! Kaleqi, this man will be an absolute disaster if he will stay here!"

Yet Kaleqi, who was facing Grundy, kept his mouth shut. Awoken from his reverie, Grundy seemed to have a revelation. He abruptly showed a desperate smile and added, "So you were bought by him too. What is it? Is it gold coins? Or is it women? You also get a share of Prad's assets, right?"

"I’m doing this with my children in mind. I don't want them to grow up and live a life similar to mine when I was young."

Grundy laughed at himself when he listened to Kaleqi's confession. "Carrot and stick, hahaha! It's simply a disgrace that a mere child has played us!"

In response, Kaleqi remained silent. Suddenly, the cell was plunged into an eerie silence. Neither of them spoke as their gazes drifted.

At that moment, the sound of the iron door opening in the distance could be heard. The guard at the door shouted loudly, "Father, what brings you to this filthy place?" Followed by Paladin's hateful voice, “It is my duty to pray for the dead, so that he may return to God's embrace."

"Here he comes!" With a hateful gaze in his eyes, Grundy turned his head to Kaleqi and sharply said, "Kaleqi, you and I have known each other for over ten years and I have never caused you any trouble or asked for any favors. For the sake of our friendship, please take care of my wife and daughter, I beg you!"

Kaleqi looked at Grundy's pleading gaze. Finally, he slowly nodded. "I will take care of your wife and daughter. Don't worry."

"Thank you... Thank you."

"Huh? The captain is also here?" Paladin had just arrived in front of the cell. He smiled when he saw the unexpected scene in front of him, which was Kaleqi squatting on the floor of the cell. Grundy immediately noticed that Paladin was holding a coal stove on an iron stand, complete with a squeaky iron pan on top. The tasty aroma of meat that was to-die-for was wafting from it. Kaleqi watched as Paladin walked in and placed the iron pot with the beef cooking on the floor. In confusion, he asked, "Father, what are you doing?"

"Oh? I came to let Grundy pray for confession and have a good meal because he is about to return to God's embrace." Smiling gently, Paladin stabbed a piece of fragrant beef with an iron fork and handed it to Grundy. He then said, "Eat. I purposefully added a bottle of Ysu red wine that costs a gold coin. It’s very delicious."

Grundy looked at Paladin with hatred and finally opened his mouth to eat the beef. Gulp! He swallowed it into his stomach.

Paladin simply ignored Grundy's gaze. Once again, he picked up a piece of beef, bringing it near Grundy's mouth, and laughed. "When the execution takes place, those peers who asked you to make a mess will undoubtedly attend the execution. I hope you don't say something obnoxious indiscriminately by then."

"Bah!" Grundy shook his head, hitting the beef around his mouth, causing it to fall on the ground. While sneering, he said, "Paladin, you should be afraid. When the Holy See captures a heretic, they will definitely follow the rules and ask the heretic to confess their sins. When the time comes, I will definitely tell everyone about how you, a despicable villain, plotted to seize Prad's assets and murder him with evil black sorcery! I will humiliate you in front of the entire population of Nurba! Let the Inquisition send you to the stake you built with your own hands! Go to hell!"

"Hey…." Paladin looked at the beef on the ground and sighed. He turned his head to face Kaleqi and said, "Why did you tell everything to him? If I am out of luck, will the condition of your family be better?"

Kaleqi was also a little upset. He looked at Grundy and said, "I promised to take care of your family, but now you are…."

"What? Where is that warrior who dared to break into the magical beast forest alone and retrieve the Flaming Scorpion Lion's tail?! Kaleqi, have all these years of living comfortably smoothed out the calluses on your hands?"

Kaleqi shuddered and then turned his head away in shame. He didn’t answer Grundy's questioning. Just when Grundy wanted to ask a follow-up question, Paladin suddenly laughed out loud, "Family? Kaleqi, you promised to protect his family? Hahahaha!"

"What are you laughing at, you heretical filthy evil creep?" Angry, Grundy immediately gave a deadly glare and roared at Paladin.

"Hmm." Paladin responded. He abruptly removed the iron pan in which the beef was cooking and used the iron fork to pick a small piece of red-hot coal from the coal stove. When Paladin looked at Grundy, his darkened eyes were filled with twisted intentions. He then added, "Don't worry, I'll look after your family. I have to be good to them, hahahahaha! Just like Prad’s!"

"If you dare touch even a single strand of their hair, I will never let you go. All of my friends will also not let you go!"

Paladin laughed and grabbed Grundy's mouth to squeeze it open. The hand that was holding the burning red coal gradually moved closer. Paladin sneered and said, "Hmph, you noisy crow. I will make you never speak again from now on!" He was about to make Grundy swallow the coal when Kaleqi shouted, "Paladin, stop! You can't do that!"

Kaleqi’s body trembled all over. Paladin stuffed the red-hot coal, which occasionally produced fire sparks, into Grundy's mouth just as Kaleqi was about to step forward to stop it. Grundy's eyes were filled with extreme terror. Then, Paladin tightly covered Grundy’s mouth. Despite Grundy’s trembling and struggling, coupled with the tears and snot flowing out as a result of the pain, he couldn't spit out the source of severe pain in his mouth that was burning his mouth.

After a while, Grundy passed out from the pain. Paladin calmly let go. Saliva flowed out of Grundy’s mouth, along with blood and the coal. Paladin smiled and reached for a handkerchief from his sleeve to help Grundy wipe off the blood.

Kaleqi put down his outstretched hand. He was glaring viciously at Paladin. With a very displeased tone, he said, "Why did you have to do it up to this point? Obviously, he is not much of a threat anymore."

Paladin just casually glanced at him and stood up. Leisurely, he answered, "After he dies, bring me his family and children. Just say I'll send them away and get them a place to settle down."

"Will you be so kind?" Kaleqi immediately said that in a mocking tone.

In return, Paladin was grinning sardonically. "What do you think?"

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