"Great King! At most three days, and the Holy Legion's grand army will arrive!"

The scorching desert, a desolate environment, the Lizardman Kingdom.

The massive Lizardman seated on the throne gazed at the scout before it, its cold, vertical pupils flickering with a trace of light. It waved for the scout to withdraw, then turned to the other Lizardmen present: "Are the preparations I ordered ready?"

An elderly Lizardman stepped forward: "They are ready, Great King. 'Abinu's Mirror' is fully charged. When the Holy Legion's grand army presses in, we can project all the images to the entire world, letting the people see the vile acts of the Holy Legion."

"Hmm, very well. Since Saintess Charlette wants to do this, then let her pay the price."

However, at this moment, the elderly Lizardman knelt before the so-called "Great King": "Are you, are you really not going to leave!? Now is the best time for you to escape! The Demon King has resurrected, reclaimed its left hand, and has turned the Hero into its subordinate. It will surely return to its throne! We will perish! We are but burdens to the Demon King, but you..."

"Years ago, in order to survive, to someday support the Demon King again, we massacred the entire Lizardman race, then transformed ourselves into their likeness, surviving with their identity. Fortunately, the Lizardman position was remote, with little contact with humans, and no one discovered our abnormality. We've survived until now."

The so-called "Great King" looked at its subordinates: "I won't say something foolish like atoning for the lives of the dead Lizardmen with our own... The strong killing the weak needs no reason. Our existence is for the Demon King. The King of Lizardmen must die here—die without fighting back. We will use our blood to break Saintess and Wise King's arrogance! To build steps for the Demon King's return to the throne! We are not the Demon King's army! We are Lizardmen! We are Lizardmen surviving on the border! Everything we do! Is for the continuation of the Lizardman race! Remember it well!"

...

The Holy Legion arrived at the Lizardman's border, making contact with the Lizardman troops, which seemed less than well-equipped.

"We suspect your Lizardman Kingdom is harboring spies of the Demon Race. Our army will enter your territory immediately. Step aside quickly!"

The Lizardman commander showed an extremely unpleasant expression. It instinctively tightened its grip on the spear in its hand, yet it met the cold gaze of the Holy Legion generals and managed to pull out a difficult smile, seemingly utilizing all its wisdom: "Honored gentlemen, please wait a moment. You have traveled a long way, unavoidably weary from the journey. I will arrange for you to be well received."

Everyone could see the Lizardman was trying to stall for time to inform its superiors, but no one cared.

After all, how could the Lizardman Kingdom have the power to resist them?

Besides—what difference would informing make?

The Lizardman King dared not resist, right?

Charlette suddenly frowned.

Bai Lushi stared at Charlette: "Lady Saintess, what is wrong with you?"

"I always feel uneasy—as if something is about to happen."

Charlette had felt something amiss a moment ago.

Bai Lushi hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Speaking of this, isn't it possible that the Demon King is retrieving her other body parts, not the right hand you hold, but others, like legs, organs, etc. … After all, our army's tracks can't be concealed—this is a great opportunity for the Demon King."

"Your concern is justified, but I have already made arrangements. Though we've drawn much power, it may also be setting a trap for the Demon King, to see if it will fall into it."

At this, Charlette showed a somewhat aloof smile: "Bishop Lushi need not worry."

"Lady Saintess's farsightedness is truly admirable." Bai Lushi complimented, though he didn't know what the Saintess had planned, since she said so, she must indeed have a thought, "Do you feel the presence of the Demon King's army generals within this kingdom's borders?"

Charlette shook her head: "No. But it doesn't matter. The four generals of the Demon King's army can easily hide their presence, but whatever they plan, it should depend on the Lizardman Kingdom, either using the Lizardman army or this remote geographical environment to make some unspeakable preparations. Whatever it is, by exerting substantial control over the Lizardman Kingdom, we can uncover the issues."

Reflecting on the earlier slight unease in movement, Charlette frowned: "Relay my orders! Advance directly! What welcome reception? We are here to crusade against the Demon King, to save humanity! Not to eat, drink, and be merry! Advance directly to the Royal Palace's position!"

Although I've made arrangements, it's still the Demon King, and should there be means unknown to me—or perhaps those few individuals...

No, even those few should understand what 'big picture' means.

Standing with the current Demon King is foolish and would only lead to a sorrowful situation—they must surely understand this clearly themselves.

So there should be no need to worry too much.

Charlette's mind couldn't help but flash to the smiling face of the new Demon King, recalling the extremely simple communication she had with him through a sculpture before. She always felt she should further deepen her understanding of the Demon King. However, for now, the army had already moved into the desert, and she couldn't turn back immediately.

The matters concerning the Lizardman Kingdom must be resolved at once.

With an extremely forceful stance, the Holy Legion entered this barren kingdom and arrived at the kingdom's royal palace in less than half a day.

The royal palace of the Lizardman Kingdom was excessively impoverished by human standards, making many soldiers of the Holy Legion bewildered upon seeing this king's abode—they weren't even sure if they had come to the right place. Compared to the grand and towering palaces of humans, the Lizardman Kingdom looked more like a single-storey house.

However, since Lizardmen mainly hide underground, having a single-storey house in this vast wilderness seemed quite reasonable, though everyone's expectations were dashed.

Conquering the Lizardman Kingdom was almost a predetermined event, but this royal palace looked so impoverished that even if the soldiers hoped to profit from it, it seemed... not exactly easy. There was no splendor on the outside; can you expect treasures inside? This is the Lizardman's royal palace!

Lizardmen, about human size, came out of that single-storey house.

The leader appeared tall and mighty, clearly a powerful warrior. It respectfully came before Charlette, half-kneeling in salute: "Great Saintess Charlette, welcome to my kingdom. I am Ocino, King of the Lizardmen! I hereby pledge to spare no effort in assisting you to find the Demon Race's spy hidden in my kingdom!"

"Assist me in finding the Demon Race's spy hidden in this kingdom?" Charlette sneered, "King Ocino, are you trying to fool me as if I were a child?

This kingdom houses the Demon Race, and anyone might be unaware except you! If you want to play a drama with me here... I don't have the time! I'll give you five minutes, King Ocino.

If I can't get information about the Demon Race within five minutes, then you are harboring remnants of the Demon Race, and the Holy Legion will flatten your Lizardman kingdom in an instant!"

"Lady Saintess! We're wronged!" King Ocino's face changed drastically, and he prostrated himself on the ground, head touching earth, "I beg you to show your mercy! Our Lizardman Kingdom truly knows nothing! If, as you say, remnants of the Demon Race lurk here, it must be someone at the Four Heavenly Kings level of the Demon King's Army! We are merely small Lizardmen! How could we detect that, Lady Saintess!"

He frantically made the White Church's prayer gesture: "Lady Saintess! We Lizardmen are also part of the alliance! We have also fought against the Demon Race! I beg you, based on our shared battles in the past... don't be like this!"

King of the Lizardmen, Ocino's heartfelt cries make one believe that he indeed might not know. But in reality, whether he knows or not doesn't hold much meaning. After all, from the start, Charlette never expected that upon her army's arrival, the King of the Lizardmen would voluntarily hand over the Demon Race. This race might have its own grievances—even they might not have the power—but what does that matter?

Blame the Demon Race; it's the Demon Race that hid in this kingdom, putting it in crisis. She brought the legion over to conquer the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's Army. And the Lizardmen? Whether they live or die... what can that influence? In this world, there are Lizardman tribes as numerous as grains of sand on the ground.

Charlette showed compassion: "King Ocino, I trust in your faith in the Church and your loyalty to numerous sapient races. I am willing to believe in your innocence."

Her face seemed to radiate a holy light, as if divine mercy shone upon the ground, bringing redemption to the kneeling King Ocino.

"However, King Ocino, conquering the Demon Race is of utmost importance. If the Demon Race is hiding in your kingdom and ultimately the Demon King fully resurrects, plunging the world back into darkness, what then?"

"I..."

King Ocino heard Charlette's words, his expression fluctuated, and finally, as if understanding something, a sorrowful emotion flowed through his reptilian pupils. Suddenly, he turned around, looking at the many Lizardmen behind him.

"I see..." He looked at Saintess Charlette, "Lady Charlette, I beg you, mercy."

Having said that, he suddenly lunged, grabbing the sword of the person beside him.

The general protecting Charlette was about to act, but was stopped by Charlette.

The King of the Lizardmen drew his sword and committed seppuku.

As the rather large figure for a lizard fell, Charlette gently waved her hand: "Proceed."

Blood-colored the Lizardman Kingdom red.

Charlette looked up at the sky.

The sky was clear as a mirror.

The ground flowed with fresh blood.

"It hasn't come out..."

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