The melodic hymns resound through the church, intermingled with the chaotic scene in the port town, appearing particularly bizarre.

Adrien, who was immersed in the hymns, seemed to be purged of his soul, recollecting the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.

Birth and death are not truly significant, all are the Lord's domain, and these sacrificed townspeople are nothing more than returning to the Lord's embrace prematurely.

After the hymn concluded, Anthruk surveyed everyone and whispered.

"[Ella] will always be with you!"

Perhaps it was the Archbishop's words that had an effect, or perhaps the radiance of [Ella] had already permeated this remote, small town. Outside the church, the chaotic scene was quickly dissipating.

As Anthuk approached the window, he could feel the heat emanating from the recently extinguished nearby fire. The smell of smoke and burning embers still hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the chaos that had just taken place.

The northwest side of the port town was a chaotic scene, with people running in all directions. The streets were cluttered with debris, including broken wooden beams, shattered glass, and upturned carts. The once bustling marketplace was now a war zone, with soldiers shouting orders and civilians frantically seeking cover.

Despite the chaos, the townspeople were being evacuated in an orderly fashion, with lines of people streaming out of the danger zone. Some carried their belongings in makeshift bundles, while others led their frightened children by the hand. The air was filled with the sound of footsteps, the clanging of metal, and the muffled sobs of those who had lost everything.

Archbishop Anthruk could not directly see the figures of the two wizard apprentices among the chaotic scene, but based on the trajectory of the crows flying in the sky, he quickly deduced that the two had been cornered and were being driven away from the densely populated area.

'The end of their route seemed to be the docks in the town?'

"Who is currently in command at the front?" Anthruk asked in surprise.

"It should be Priest Danny and Albert," Adrien replied.

The Archbishop considered the performance of these two priest in their daily lives and did not recall that they had such exceptional command abilities. Could it be the decision of a guard captain in the port town?

As Anthruk considered this, he couldn't help but have a love towards talented people and directed the doorkeeper to inquire about it.

A few minutes later, a guard entered the room, casting a strange gaze at Adrien and responding in an equally peculiar manner.

"I bring word from His Excellency the Archbishop: according to those tasked with the evacuation, the current situation is...

"The current situation is that orders are being issued by Priest Adrien!"

Upon hearing this, all present turned their attention towards Adrien, who was equally bewildered. He had remained in the church and had not left.

Anthruk's expression immediately became sour. In his over ten years as Archbishop of Nordland, he had encountered skilled magic users proficient in shaping magic before and was well aware of the turmoil they could wreak.

As he was scrutinized by the skeptical crowd, Adrien appeared flustered and retreated a step. However, he quickly composed himself and extended his hand to cast a first-ring divinity magic [Light Shield]!

The glowing shield of divine magic solidified in the void, causing all present to immediately dispel their doubts.

But then a chill ran up their spines.

If it really was Adrien here, then who was the one currently in charge of command at the front lines?

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...

The much-anticipated leader of the priests was currently seated in a temporary stronghold in the north of the port town, sipping on a cup of tea as he listened to reports from his "underlings."

"Priest Adrien, as per your orders, the temporarily formed militia has already begun evacuating the townspeople and it won't be long before we clear a spacious area. The fire in the granary has also been controlled, and the methods you imparted has proven highly effective..."

Priest Danny spoke rapidly, summarizing the current situation in the port town and looking at Lynn with a look of admiration.

Those damned devil worshippers were setting fires and running amok through the crowded alleyways, even burning the granary, causing anxiety and exhaustion.

It is essential to note that Archbishop Anthruk had only sent two hundred soldiers to assist them. These soldiers, who were already severely understaffed, were responsible for not only capturing two witches, but also for evacuating the townspeople and fighting fires.

After several requests to transfer elite guards were denied by Anthruk, Danny was forced to continually divert manpower originally intended for firefighting and rescuing townspeople to hunt down the followers of the devil, in an effort to prevent their escape.

However, the chaotic situation changed dramatically upon the arrival of the enigmatic "Adrien."

He was calm and confident as he told them about the evacuation plan, he reassured and encouraged people to take deep breaths, pacifying a group of fleeing townspeople and forcibly conscripted able-bodied men from their ranks. He then dispersed a small group of regular soldiers and formed a temporary militia force, instantly multiplying the available manpower.

While these untrained militia might crumble in battle, they were still able to manage firefighting and rescue efforts to a certain extent.

First, he assigned some members of the militia to go door-to-door and alert residents to evacuate immediately. Making sure to prioritize vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and those with disabilities.

Second, he set up a designated meeting place outside of the town where evacuees can gather and be accounted for.

Third, he ordered and explained the militia about how to employ the three ways of putting out the fire: the bucket brigade, isolation, and sand extinguishing method.

The bucket brigade involves forming a line of people to pass buckets of water or sand from a source to the fire, and can be an effective way to extinguish small fires or contain larger ones until more resources are available.

The isolation method involves physically separating the source of the fire from the rest of the building or area, which can help to prevent the fire from spreading. This can be achieved by closing doors and windows, or by using fire-resistant barriers or blankets.

The sand extinguishing method involves using sand to smother the flames and deprive the fire of oxygen. This can be an effective way to extinguish small fires. To use this method, simply scatter a layer of sand over the fire until the flames are completely extinguished.

All three methods mentioned by the other party were highly effective....

Thinking of this, Priest Danny felt a sense of shame. Previously, he had somewhat complained that Archbishop Anthruk had not provided him with enough manpower to effectively handle the complex situation.

"Now, he no longer holds this belief, for 'Adrien' has effortlessly quelled the chaos with the same resources at his disposal.

It is only fitting that 'Adrien' be hailed as the right-hand man of the Archbishop.

Seated on a chair, Lynn listened with a smile to the priest's words, offering praise. "Well done, Priest Danny. Following this evening, I will commend your efforts to Archbishop Annthruk."

"Thank you, Priest Adrein. I have merely done what little I am capable of. All credit belongs to you." Priest Danny replied, his excitement palpable.

Lynn waved off the topic, instead inquiring, "Very well, let us not dwell on that. Have the orders I gave you been disseminated?"

Danny nodded. "As per Priest Adrien's' plan, their current task is to pressure the two witches to the open area at the port terminal, where the church has set up an ambush of thousands of archers. When the time comes, a simultaneous shooting can transform the foes into hedgehogs, minimizing casualties to the greatest extent possible."

Though he had previously harbored doubts, Danny now held no reservations regarding the plan put forth by the cunning "Adrien."

"Your mission has been accomplished to perfection, Danny," Lynn remarked, standing from his seat and patting the young priest's shoulder. "It is time for you to meet with Priest Albert."

With a nod, Danny prepared to depart, his mind racing with thoughts of his friend but before he can fully contemplate his next move, a glint of silver catches his eye.

The realization of what is happening comes a split second too late, and a searing pain shoots through his neck. Gasping, Danny clasps a hand to the wound, feeling the warm stickiness of his own blood.

His vision begins to cloud over as he collapses to the ground, the room spinning around him. The last thing he sees before everything goes black is the cold face of Priest Adrien, hovering above him as his eyelids closed.

Sighing, Lynn looked upon the fallen body with resignation. He had been tasked with eliminating the two pawns sent by Archbishop Anthruk, and while the task was now complete, he knew that the Archbishop was no fool. It would not be long before the man discovered that "Adrien" was not who he appeared to be.

Yet, this was exactly what Lynn had intended. For while ordinary priests might not be able to unravel the complex situation at play, Anthruk himself would have no choice but to enter the fray. And with the help of the two witches, the battlefield would shift back to the docks...