Chapter 119: Chapter 96: I Really Am Allen

"Which Gray?" Baron was still a bit dazed.

Andre took a step forward, his expression complicated. "The Barbarian Bear Knight of the Amel Glorious Knight Order. He succumbed to his injuries not long ago."

"The preliminary cause of death is determined to be ruptured blood vessels caused by a chaotic surge of Spiritual Power, which was triggered by severe internal injuries."

’He’s dead...’

Baron narrowed his eyes. "So now his death is being blamed on me?"

Andre said, "It doesn’t matter even if the Glorious Knight Order thinks so. Gray crippled two Lone Wolf Demon Hunters not long ago, and besides, he’s already been expelled from the Glorious Knight Order."

"The real trouble is his father, the leader of the Barbarian Bear Knight Order. When the news of Gray’s death reaches Amel, given his rumored overprotective nature, he might just..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but Baron understood what he meant.

It was the classic case of ’beat the son, and the father shows up.’

’Maybe I should team up with Ferdinand,’ Baron thought wryly. ’We could call ourselves the Father’s Grief Alliance.’

Yalilan glanced at the sky outside the library. "We’re running out of time. Come with us."

"Where are we going?" Baron asked.

Yalilan stepped onto the windowsill. "You’ll know if you follow."

With that, she leaped from the window to the roof of the adjacent two-story building, then turned to look back at Baron in the library. "I’ll explain the details on the way."

Baron frowned instinctively, but after weighing his options, he followed her, stepping on the sill and leaping up.

Andre didn’t jump, as one of his feet was bandaged. So, as soon as Baron was on the roof, Yalilan led him away in a specific direction.

On the moonless night, the streets of Fude City were all deserted. Only the streetlights cast a hazy glow on the ground, creating small circles of light like dying embers.

The shadows of the two figures on the rooftops passed through these embers, like ghosts from another world.

On the way, Yalilan said, "There might be something else behind Gray’s death. And even if they classify it as a death resulting from the Hunting Competition..."

"According to the contracts and agreements signed upon registration, as long as it’s an accidental death or injury caused by combat between two contestants during the competition, the Fude City Government will bear all consequences."

"Even if the leader of the Barbarian Bear Knight Order wants to cause trouble for you, according to the contract and based on the Demon Hunter and Knight Law, he can’t make a move against you."

Baron nodded. A guarantee like that was reassuring for an unlucky bastard like him.

But Yalilan continued, "The Iron Thorn Gang is taking this opportunity to make an issue out of Gray’s death."

Baron was confused. "But aren’t the consequences of accidents during the competition backed by the Law? How can the Iron Thorn Gang make an issue of it?"

"That’s the problem," Yalilan sighed softly. "According to the competition rules, the contract is only valid if both parties are contestants. So, how are you going to prove you are Allen?"

"So..."

The best escape routes out of Fude City automatically appeared in Baron’s mind. He thought Yalilan was about to lead him on a run for it under the cover of night.

But Yalilan changed the subject. "According to the contract, a contestant can indeed designate a Law Enforcer of Black Iron Tier or lower to compete in their place."

Baron immediately understood. "Then we can find the True Allen and have him admit he designated me to go up..."

Yalilan shook her head. "The key point is that right after the fifth day of the Hunting Competition ended, the City Government needed to confirm your identity, but they discovered that ’Allen’ and the Allen Family, who had been gambling around the martial arts arena, had all disappeared."

"The True Allen, that is," she added.

"Disappeared?"

Baron had a bad feeling. ’This... has all the hallmarks of being set up to take the fall!’

"Therefore, you, the one holding Allen’s contestant pass, have become the prime suspect. Members of the Iron Thorn Gang, disguised as citizens, have already reported it to the guard. Soon, they will use this as a pretext to request assistance in arresting you."

"So where exactly are we going now?" Baron asked.

’If we’re escaping, I doubt Yalilan has more experience than me,’ he thought.

"The Fude City Government," Yalilan said, and before Baron could ask why, she explained, "The mayor’s secretary was once my colleague. He is personally willing to persuade the City Lord to issue a certificate for you, one that proves your real name is [Allen]."

"With this false certificate, whether it’s the contract or the suspicion, everything can be resolved."

Baron’s lips moved, about to say something, but Yalilan said, "No need to thank me. Like I said, this is the thanks you deserve for what you did in Mundra."

"As compensation and in exchange, the City Lord needs you to fight on behalf of Fude City’s Demon Hunters for the remaining two days of the Hunting Competition."

With that, Yalilan stopped. "We’re here. Follow me."

She leaped down from the building, and Baron followed close behind.

After showing the necessary identification to the guards outside the government building, they were allowed to pass.

...

At this very moment, outside the Blood Church, Tate, the Vice Gang Leader of the Iron Thorn Gang, and the Fude City Guard Commander had surrounded the area with a large group of armored cavalry.

Zod and Maguire stood blocking the path of the aggressive guards.

The Guard Commander on horseback glanced left and right, snorted, and said coolly, "The Fude City Guard Post is conducting an investigation. Obstruction is a crime."

Zod said coldly, "I’ve already told you, L is not in the church."

Tate snorted. "That’s just your side of the story. We’ll only know the truth after we search."

The Guard Commander nodded. With a wave of his hand, spear-wielding guards emerged from behind him, stepping forward and pressing on.

Maguire subconsciously reached for his blade but was stopped by Zod’s hand on his.

Maguire froze and looked at Zod. The latter shook his head. Maguire gritted his teeth and released his hand from the hilt of his blade.

Following their orders, the guards marched imposingly past the two men and took up positions on both sides of the church.

Several guards stepped out from the ranks, changed into the dark red robes of a "Non-believer," and only then entered the church.

In Prole, the Church is backed by divine authority. To avoid being seen as disrespectful by God or the collective Church during an investigation...

...The Guard Post often recruits a number of "Non-believers" specifically to deal with any subsequent Judgement from the Church.

This was also to prevent future squabbles.

A moment later, the Nuns came out of the church, their faces filled with panic.

After another moment, the guards who were disguised as Priests came out of the church.

The Guard Commander looked at them. Both guards shook their heads, indicating they had not found any sign of "L" inside.

Tate frowned. According to his lookout’s intelligence, aside from leaving midway through with a supervisor, L and the others should have been in the Blood Church the entire time.

’Could someone have tipped them off?’

The Guard Commander said coldly, "It seems Mr. Tate’s judgment may have been flawed."

Tate’s expression shifted. Just then, someone approached his horse and whispered in his ear.

Tate immediately looked at the Guard Commander and said, "Please, follow me!"