“By order of the Regent, the Cardinal will soon arrive in Migendorf, to improve the city’s appearance, all refugees are to be cleared out immediately! You have half a day to leave, or we will not be merciful!”

After violently suppressing several refugees, a noble dressed in dark red silk rode forward and announced the Regent’s decree, instantly causing an uproar.

“Monsters are everywhere outside, where are we supposed to go?”

“Our village was flooded, our fields are gone, we have nowhere to go!”

“Please, show mercy!”

No matter how many knelt and begged, the noble showed no pity, instead signaling a knight beside him, who immediately grabbed a starving man who had resisted earlier, unfastened his belt, took out a spiked mace and smashed it into his head.

Once, twice, three times, each blow sending flesh and blood flying, until the cries for help faded into a horrifying silence.

For the three youths, it was their first time witnessing such suppression up close, aside from Rong’an, the others were filled with anger, while she held Lisea down and whispered.

“That’s enough, young master, this isn’t our business.”

“But this is too much!”

‘Too much?’

When Xidis fought alongside the Hero’s party, she had seen far worse, the old Emperor even burned food supplies and dismantled city walls to lure demons into massacring human cities.

This was nothing.

She even thought driving these refugees away helped improve the environment.

Xidis watched with amusement, Rong’an remained indifferent, Lisea hesitated, while Ovina had already rushed out, holding up her Inquisitor badge and shouting.

“Stop! This violates doctrine! By authority of the Church Inquisitor, cease immediately!”

“Hm? An Inquisitor… stand down!”

The noble recognized both her badge and attire, and knowing the Church’s influence, chose to yield.

“Praise the Nine Holy Spirits, honored to meet you, Inquisitor, but I am merely executing orders from the Regent and the Bishop, these people must be expelled.”

“Doctrine forbids harming the defenseless, stop this at once!”

“That is not for you to decide, you should investigate your superiors instead, this is also for the dignity of Saint Liyat and Left Cardinal.”

He added with a smile.

“The Emperor personally arranged this to mend relations, do not ruin it.”

“You…”

Ovina was speechless but refused to back down.

‘Ah, this foolish girl…’

Even Xidis was exasperated.

“Lisea, don’t be like her, being impulsive isn’t good.”

“But teacher…”

“Never do something beyond your ability!”

She remembered how Lott and Alicia once helped the weak and dreamed of reforming the Empire, only to meet tragic ends.

She would never let Lisea follow that path.

As she lectured him, the situation shifted, the noble whispered something to Ovina, then suddenly withdrew with his knights.

Ovina comforted the refugees briefly before returning to the carriage, dejected.

“What happened?”

“They’ve only delayed the eviction… but the condition is troublesome.”

“I want to help—”

Before he could finish, Xidis punched him lightly and covered his mouth.

“Miss Shuling, we commoners can’t help much with this.”

“Thank you… I’ll handle it myself.”

She muttered repeatedly, clenching her fists until her gloves creaked.

Yet she said nothing more as they entered the city and parted ways.

Xidis shrugged and smiled at Lisea.

“See? This is how the Empire drives people mad, and how the Church treats the weak, no matter how she struggles, she can’t save them, and there will only be more refugees.”

She stepped forward, her dress swaying in the evening light.

“So why not just live your own life?”

“…But teacher, is there really no way to save them?”

“Maybe there is, but not for you, even a Hero can defeat a Demon King but not poverty, so why worry?”

She clapped her hands lightly.

“Come on, the adventurer leader invited us to dinner, let’s enjoy tonight!”

“...Okay.”

But after seeing everything, Lisea couldn’t let it go.

If nothing changed, one day even people he knew might starve or freeze.

What could he do?

As a commoner, his power was too small.

They needed food, jobs, shelter…

Sigh.

Now he finally understood Ovina’s words.

If only the Church hadn’t come south.

If only the taxes could be reduced.