Who made him a paladin?

Chapter 18: Perfect for Testing Your Skills

"Are you going to take me away?"

Xia Nan repeated the other person's words, clearly not expecting this outcome.

But compared to that, there's something even stranger about him.

After testing with the [Oath of the End], it was found that none of the dozen or so paladins in front of him had any intention of killing him.

On the contrary, above Linus's head, a red skull symbolizing murderous intent was faintly visible.

Xia Nan originally thought that this guy just looked down on his status, but he didn't expect that he really wanted to kill him.

However, Xia Nan also realized that the configuration of the team in front of him was somewhat strange.

"Linus, this isn't right," Xia Nan said calmly. "Why don't we see the Grey-Robed Messenger in your party?"

The so-called Grey Robe Messenger is a special position under the Papacy's "Grey Robe Hall".

They are specifically responsible for the integrity review, malfeasance investigation, initial screening of heretical suspects, and accusations of abuse of power within the Vatican, from archbishops to rank-and-file paladins.

For any summons involving serving paladins to be compliant, the presence of Grey Robe Hall personnel is required.

"This matter involves the Royal Family, it's urgent and significant, and we can't wait for the Grey Robe Hall's approval," Linus said, his voice still calm.

"Hmm..." Xia Nan nodded, pointing calmly to the so-called "arrest warrant" in Linus's hand.

"So what's the meaning of that piece of paper you're holding?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Nan noticed that Linus's expression was starting to look a little unnatural, and he subconsciously glanced at the corner of the room.

"Because the matter is of great importance," Linus said, his eyes regaining their composure, "we skipped the Grey Robe Hall and issued an arrest warrant for you directly."

Xia Nan shook his head with a cold laugh.

Recalling the meticulous assassination attempt on the princess, coupled with the conspiracy theories he had recently speculated about, Xia Nan felt as if he had unknowingly stepped into a chessboard laid out by some powerful figure.

Interestingly, amidst this tense atmosphere, Karl looked at Xia Nan with a surprised expression.

He had initially thought Xia Nan was just a low-level adventurer with some special skills.

Unexpectedly, he turned out to be a paladin.

In this world, paladins often represent supreme authority, and most of them have long been inflated by power, looking down on ordinary people as if they were roadside weeds.

But Xia Nan is different.

Since they met, Xia Nan has never used her status to pressure Karl. On the contrary, she helped him find his lost items and humbled herself to listen to him boast and drink.

This was the first time in Karl's more than 80 years of life that he had been treated as a real "person" by a great man.

With this in mind, Karl put on a simple and honest smile, walked between Shana and Linus, and spread his hands, seemingly wanting to act as a peacemaker.

"Gentlemen, I wonder if there's some misunderstanding here?" Karl asked sincerely.

"I vouch for Mr. Shanan with the honor of a dwarf; he is the most upright young man I have ever met."

"I believe he would never attempt to assassinate Her Majesty the Princess."

"Dwarf, this is none of your business. If you try to obstruct official business, I'll make you pay."

Linus's tone was rather unfriendly.

In his view, no one could stop him from taking Xia Nan away today.

Karl, however, interpreted it differently.

He nodded thoughtfully, then took out his money pouch from his waist, pulled out three gold coins, and handed them to Linus.

According to Karl's experience, whenever a paladin comes knocking, gold coins can usually resolve the situation.

Unfortunately, Carl didn't know that Linus's visit today wasn't for any legitimate business.

boom--!

The sound came so suddenly that even Xia Nan didn't have time to react.

Carl's short, stout body was kicked away by Linus, crashing into the wooden display stand, causing the entire row of swords to clatter down.

The three gold coins then fell to the floor and spun around.

"Mr. Carl!"

Xia Nan strode over, squatted down, and pushed the weapon off Karl's body.

At this moment, the dwarf boss was clutching his chest, his face ashen, his body covered in crisscrossing bloodstains from weapons, yet he was still waving his hand to signal Xia Nan not to act rashly.

Once Xia Nan confirmed that Karl was alright, he straightened up, slowly turned around, and focused his gaze on Linus.

If Linus made a mistake today, it wasn't threatening Xia Nan, but hitting Karl.

In Xia Nan's view, Karl was not an ordinary friend.

When they first met, he offered the sword at the lowest price. When Xia Nan was starving, he gave her a delicious roasted lamb leg. Later, he didn't press her for payment for the repair materials.

Today, he even considered using his own gold coins to help Xia Nan resolve the trouble.

For Xia Nan, who had just transmigrated and was penniless, these promises carried more weight than any vow.

In the upper left corner of Xia Nan's field of vision, numbers quietly appeared.

[Rage: 5/100]

Xia Nan took out the ashes, and with a slight thought, the purple light on the sword swirled, and after appearing in layers of expanding double images, it returned to its original size.

Ding--

The tip of the greatsword crashed to the ground, instantly startling everyone in the shop.

Several paladins instinctively took a few steps back, and some even moved their hands to their sword hilts, assuming a fighting stance.

On the other hand, Linus, this hothead, hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation and raised his voice to continue:

"Xia Nan, do you intend to use force against the Holy See?!"

"No."

Xia Nan smiled calmly and used the strength of one hand to point the greatsword at Linus.

"I have only one request: apologize to Mr. Carl."

"Those who obstruct official business shall be punished according to the law; this is an ironclad rule of the Vatican, and no apology is required."

Linus crossed his arms, raised his chin, and spoke with a hint of disdain and a light laugh.

"If you insist on protecting him, you will be guilty as well." Xia Nan shook his head.

He doesn't care what power the other party uses to suppress him, as long as they dare to hurt the people or things he cares about most.

You'll either get beaten up or have to pay compensation.

This is a clash of brutes, it's a battle of who's tougher.

"In that case," Xia Nan said, "I'll have to seek justice for Mr. Carl myself."

Carl hurriedly reached out his hand from behind, "Mr. Xia Nan..."

A burst of white light erupted from the sword, without any charging or use of the Crimson Soul.

"Supreme Saint Slash!"

The holy light, like a silver needle sent forth by a biting wind, slashed toward Linus's breastplate with a whooshing sound.

boom--!

Linus was sent flying out of the shop, his body traversing half a street before crashing solidly into the wooden exterior wall of the tailor shop across the street.

The wall panels shattered, debris flew everywhere, and the window frame hung crookedly to one side, with fabric inside sliding down and half-burying him in it.

The pedestrians on the street were stunned for two seconds, and then scattered like birds and beasts.

The paladins in the shop stared at each other, but none of them dared to make a move.

They knew the power of this Holy Slash.

That's something an intern couldn't possibly do; it's more like the fighting power of an elite paladin.

In a daze, Linus struggled to sit up from the cloth, and after vomiting a mouthful of blood, he quickly looked down at the gaping hole in his breastplate.

This is a heavy armor that he spent 158 ​​gold coins to make.

The blacksmith once said that this could defend against the claw attacks of an elite-level berserk giant bear.

It cracked open so big with just one blow.

This demonstrates the damage of Xia Nan's Holy Slash.

Just as Linus was trying to steady his breathing, he vaguely saw—

Xia Nan dragged his greatsword along the ground, sparks flying as he walked step by step from the equipment shop onto the street.

His eyes no longer held their usual frivolity, but instead possessed a chilling murderous intent.

[Rage: 15/100]

"I'm asking you to apologize to Mr. Carl."