A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 52 Betrayal

Goodness, what a truly good person! Jiang Shuzhou was utterly incredulous after hearing Dr. Weasley's confession.

This person is a complete pushover, saving everyone, except this time he saved some people he shouldn't have.

"Sir, what should we do with these people?"

Hayes's voice brought Jiang Shuzhou back to his senses; it was simply too shocking.

A doctor spends all his savings to save a group of criminals—isn't this straight out of Schindler's List? It's unbelievable that such a person actually exists in this kind of superhuman world where the strong rule; even in the real world, very few people would do such a thing.

The Mage Alliance is not bad.

It's amazing that you can even train people like this. No wonder you're called the beacon of civilization. At first, Jiang Shuzhou thought you were just bragging, but I didn't expect you to really be the beacon.

Coming to his senses, Jiang Shuzhou was preparing to send everyone to the refugee camp when suddenly he seemed to remember something.

"Do you know what god these people worship?" Jiang Shuzhou asked Wesley.

"They seem to believe in protection..."

"bump!"

Before Weasley could finish answering, a gunshot rang out. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw a believer lying in a pool of blood.

"Sir, he was dishonest and tried to run away, so I..."

"No need for further words. If this happens again, just shoot them dead without reporting to me."

Jiang Shuzhou had no objection to this. These believers were capable of anything. If you let your guard down, they would rush over and bite you, even if it was just to bite you.

This person is so rare, I can't let him die. Once he dies, he'll be gone forever. I'm counting on him to raise the moral standards of the Mage Alliance.

Looking at Dr. Weasley, who was pale but showed no fear, Jiang Shuzhou thought to himself.

I've got it, I should...

As long as one doesn't give up, there's always a way out. Jiang Shuzhou quickly came up with a solution: he would arrange a suitable place for this kind doctor.

People who are too kind are easily taken advantage of, just like these believers.

In any case, Jiang Shuzhou didn't believe these believers had any sense of gratitude, otherwise they wouldn't have come to harm a kind doctor. Moreover, they probably thought that their rescue was entirely due to divine protection, and as for Dr. Weasley? Just a tool.

"By the way, say it again, what god do they worship?"

"It is the guardian deity, my lord."

Before Weasley could even speak, Hayes blurted out what he was about to say.

Very well, now the followers of the God of Protection have no way to prove their innocence.

Despite the special circumstances in Velisco, even believers in the gods would be taken in. After a period of re-education, believers who had turned their backs on the gods and chosen to embrace freedom could still get a chance to start anew. This was a pilot project of the Mage Alliance.

However, there are two exceptions: those who repent and regain their faith, and those born within the Mage Alliance who believe in gods. Like the latter, the former made their choices and must bear the consequences. As for being sent back? Do you think the Mage Alliance is a charity? People who don't appreciate kindness should just die.

After that, there were some unspoken rules: followers of the God of Protection and the Goddess of the Magic Network should be killed if possible, leaving no survivors.

These two gods were the ones who caused the most harm to mages; one was responsible for the collapse of the tower, and the other enslaved mages for many years.

They are also in a miserable state now. The God of Protection was once a powerful deity, but now he has fallen to the level of a mid-level deity.

The Goddess of Magic Network is already dead, but unfortunately her power has not been extinguished, and she keeps fighting for resurrection. However, the mages will never let her win the resurrection battle, so she should obediently stay with the prisoner for the rest of her life.

The mages relentlessly attacked the followers of the God of Protection, showing no leniency upon discovery and dealing with them on the spot. It was precisely because of this resolute attitude that the God of Protection eventually fell from his throne of great divine power.

The gods have been high above for so long that they have forgotten that their eternity is nothing but an illusion, and that the life and death of believers also affect them.

The weakening of the Protector God's power was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake. The gods, who had been secretly watching the drama unfold and even occasionally taking advantage of the situation, were suddenly jolted awake. From then on, the heretics stopped shouting, the wars of faith ceased, and the Pantheon stopped hurling insults at each other. The Alliance of Saints was quickly established.

Therefore, the true founding father of the Alliance of Saints is the Mage!

All Saints Alliance! I am your father!

Getting back to the point, the believers' situation is already beyond question.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Shuzhou addressed the believers.

"I was supposed to send you to a refugee camp, and Dr. Weasley would be sentenced to death. But I have a kind heart. If you are willing to exchange three lives, I will do everything I can to spare your savior from punishment."

"Now, who would be willing to die for Dr. Weasley?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion arose among the believers. The commotion quickly subsided, and no one stepped forward except for a little girl who tried to do so, but she was pulled back by the woman behind her.

"Why, why don't we go save our big brother?!"

"He is a faithless person."

"But he saved us, and now he's in danger. Shouldn't we step forward to help him?"

"He is a faithless person!"

"But, Sister Lanxi, he..."

"I told you, he's a faithless person!"

"Without faith, he deserved to die! Saving us is his blessing! Besides, Father was even planning to share the glory of our God with him! Yet he refused!"

"But...is faith really everything?"

"Shut up! Go if you want!"

With that, the woman threw the little girl in front of Dr. Weasley.

Listening to the conversation between the little girl and the woman, Jiang Shuzhou was filled with many thoughts.

Human thought cannot be bound, not even by gods.

However, there are still things that need to be done.

"See? She's the only one willing to give her life for you. How pathetic."

"But it's good to have someone to accompany you on your journey to the underworld."

Looking at the trembling little girl in front of him, Dr. Weasley hugged her and then pleaded in a trembling voice.

"Sir, please don't hurt her! She's just a child!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuzhou almost lost his composure. For a moment, he really wanted to draw his sword and chop, and he almost had a PTSD attack.

Jiang Shuzhou casually summoned a few soldiers, whispered a few words to them, and the soldiers quickly nodded to indicate that they understood. Then Jiang Shuzhou waved his hand.

"Take them both away!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers immediately approached Weasley. Ignoring Weasley's resistance, they dragged Weasley and the girl away together.

Jiang Shuzhou nodded, quite satisfied with the soldier's behavior.

"Hold them back; believers of the God of Protection are not qualified to be converted."

Upon hearing this, the believers erupted in anger. They cursed Jiang Shuzhou for his cruelty and ruthlessness, and some even grabbed various objects to use as weapons in preparation for a riot.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuzhou pursed his lips and said.

"That's how believers are; they're born to die. It's a blessing for you to kill me, yet you refuse to accept it!"

He then waved his hand, and immediately more than a dozen soldiers wielding sticks rushed forward and joined the believers in a fight.

Under the powerful suppression of the soldiers who could strike six times a second and then trigger a deadly rhythm to continue, all resistance was futile, and the riot was quickly quelled.

The believers were brought out and stood before Jiang Shuzhou.

Jiang Shuzhou gave Hayes a look, and Hayes understood.

"Why are you making these people stand there?"

As Hayes spoke, the soldiers finally realized what was happening and immediately tightened their grip, preparing to make the men kneel down.

"Don't even think about it! The followers of Heim will never kneel before an evil sorcerer!"

Seeing that the people others were holding had all knelt down, while the believer he was holding not only refused to kneel but also started shouting, the soldier hardened his heart and kicked the believer, breaking his leg.

"Click."

"thump."

Finally kneeling down, ignoring the wails and screams of the believers beneath him, the soldier showed a relieved expression.

Looking at the believer with the broken bones, Jiang Shuzhou sighed and then gripped the hilt of his knife tightly.

Don't be afraid, I'll free you right now!