Due to battling wits with the Demon, Losa exhausted his energy and fell into a deep sleep.

Until, a hurried sound of hooves echoed in the manor.

Jeanne, holding her iron helmet in one hand, dust-laden, pushed the door open with long strides and entered. Her hair tips and cheeks were covered with quite a bit of dust.

Furinjiara, half-awake, opened her eyes and murmured: "Who is it, disturbing someone's sweet dreams in the middle of the night?"

A cold hand slipped into her quilt, soon disappointed: "Ah, I forgot, you don't have any warmth at all."

"Jeanne, you idiot, why don't you reach out for the big silly guy..."

Immediately she noticed Prajna leaning lightly against the wall, her pair of dark eyes shining brightly in the night — she hadn't slept at all and reacted at the first moment Jeanne came into the courtyard.

"Jeanne, how come you're here?"

Losa struggled to sit up.

Jeanne straightened her back, dressed in armor, stood upright, surveyed Losa up and down, and smiled: "Because I sensed you trying to use the Holy Spear yesterday, is there danger?"

Losa rubbed his brow, regaining his senses: "Just because of that, you traveled overnight?"

Jeanne hummed: "I must thank you, sir, for giving me 'Grape,' it got quite worn out on the road."

She placed the helmet on the nearby table and gestured with her hand: "Can you come over and help me with the armor?"

She said, first removing the chain armor neck guard from around her neck.

Next was taking off the arm guards, shin guards, upper and lower body armor, lining... Without someone else's help, it would be very hard to single-handedly put on and take off a full-body plate armor.

Losa waved his hand: "Let Furin help you, although we didn't end up fighting, I feel my energy consumption is even more exaggerated than if we had."

"Seems I missed it."

Jeanne sighed: "Sir, although Miss Prajna is by your side, your safety is still quite concerning."

Prajna narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing.

Losa's eyelids drooped, his voice lowering: "Settle yourself in, we can talk about this tomorrow, I really can't keep my eyes open."

"Mmm, sleep well."

Jeanne said a few words. Seeing Losa had returned to bed and continued sleeping soundly, she gestured to Furin: "Miss Furin, come and help quickly."

Furinjiara rolled her eyes: "No, you perverted crazy woman."

Jeanne: "Hmm?"

She teasingly, somewhat cheekily, said: "Miss Furin, you wouldn't want me to complain to the master about you being a naughty girl when he wakes up, right?"

Furinjiara hesitated, her expression stiff as she approached: "I don't want to assist you, it's just the master's order."

Prajna withdrew her gaze and continued to rest with her eyes closed.

…

The next day, in the morning.

After a night of deep sleep, feeling somewhat recovered, Losa rode early to the Royal Palace to meet Baldwin IV.

Exchanging smiles with the sword-bearing servants counted as a greeting, Losa went straight into the King's study.

At this moment, Baldwin IV was buried in a very thick book on the desk, and upon hearing the commotion, queried without lifting his head: "Has the matter been resolved?"

Only Losa could walk in so swaggeringly.

Perhaps Baron Godfrey could too, but he was more formal.

"Pretty much."

Losa nodded, found a spot to sit down in the room.

Baldwin IV lifted his eyes with a gentle expression yet hid worry: "I won't ask about the process of resolution, but you didn't even request Demon-Blocking Gold allocation. Isn't dealing with such a vicious Demon too careless?"

Losa chuckled: "Demon-Blocking Gold, the Royal Knight Order's armory has it, I can use it anytime if needed, but truly there's no necessity, I have much better Holy Objects that suppress dark creatures."

Compared to the Holy Spear, Demon-Blocking Gold is far inferior, and when it comes to dealing with dark creatures, Demon-Blocking Gold is less effective than the specially made mithril of Demon Hunters.

"Oh, Your Majesty, I must mention a matter, I have recaptured Eira Port."

Baldwin IV said with some surprise: "Was it accomplished by Lady Jeanne stationed at Alandler? How is the battle report?"

Losa simply reported briefly.

Baldwin IV couldn't help but praise: "Now recalling Lady Jeanne's heroic posture in the tournament, I still find the memory fresh. If I hadn't witnessed it with my own eyes, I would truly find it hard to believe such a beautiful victory was led by a Female Knight."

Losa nodded and said, "Jeanne's talent on the battlefield is far superior to mine."

"Truly enviable indeed."

Baldwin IV's eyes were full of laughter: "Losa, having so many witches allegiance to you is your fortune, but remember not to become complacent."

"I assume you've also noticed, demons, wizards, and those with extraordinary power—their presence in the world is growing stronger.

Perhaps a new era is about to dawn.

Saladin, the Sassanid King, and the Empress of the Eastern Empire are all trying to form their own wizard or priest advisory groups. Don't think that just because you have wizards on your side, you can underestimate others."

Losa nodded heavily: "Your Majesty, I will remember your teachings."

Although he is generally cautious in his actions, he often subconsciously overlooks the possibility that his secular enemies may also possess powerful casters.

This possibility, though small, could be devastating to his still-thin resources if it occurs.

Changing the subject with a smile, Baldwin IV asked, "But Losa, where is your brother? I thought you would introduce him to me."

Losa was slightly startled; honestly, he had been so busy dealing with the demon hunters these past few days that he hadn't paid much attention to Otto's situation.

Baldwin IV said, "Did you think he wouldn't stay long in the Holy Land and thus didn't think of this matter? No matter, I don't need his assistance; Werner is my good friend, and you are my right-hand subject. As his eldest son, your brother, I should at least meet."

"Alright, I'll bring him over this afternoon."

"Hmm."

Baldwin IV nodded with a smile and pulled open a drawer.

From it, he took a brass box with gold trim: "Care for a game with me?"

Losa chuckled: "Your Majesty, didn't you scold me in a letter not long ago for letting your knights grow lazy and gamble with cards instead of practicing on the dueling field?"

Baldwin IV slightly furrowed his brow: "It seems our Count Losa has been quite imposing in the Holy Land lately, daring to jest with me."

He extended a finger and tapped Losa's forehead: "You say to wipe out an entire family, and you wipe out an entire family, all under the pretense of a public trial. You're indeed a bit like your father."

Losa replied with an awkward smile: "No, no, I wouldn't dare compare myself to my father, such a ruthless man."

Baldwin IV chuckled softly: "You, you have restraint, knowing whom you can move against and whom you cannot. I have great confidence in you."

"Losa, honestly, if my health truly recovers, I'd rather duel with you in the combat arena.

Chess is not your strong suit, so let's play your own game's specialty."

Losa nodded and said, "In that case, Your Majesty, I'll use the Ayyubid deck."

"Alright, let's see if I can recreate Mongisa's victory, or if you'll recreate Saladin's Spring Valley triumph."

In the end.

Baldwin IV tossed the cards in his hand with a look of resignation: "How is it that grand strategies lose to petty schemes?"

Losa smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Gwent is essentially just a tool for entertainment. Not everything needs to have a profound justification or teach philosophy. Bringing enjoyment is its greatest reason."

Baldwin IV laughed in silence.

"Indeed."

"But if the Church hears such words, they certainly won't be pleased."

Baldwin IV didn't keep Losa for lunch; his illness was merely being managed, not cured, and his physical condition was still far worse than the average person.

As he left the Royal Palace, he happened to meet Archbishop William.

This archbishop had spent the previous night praying over the box containing the True Cross Fragment.

At this time, his eyes were bloodshot.

Upon seeing Losa, he immediately approached and asked, "Count Losa, what of the werewolf and the vampire's bodies?"

He had heard the commotion last night, clearly saw it from the tower, and confirmed that Losa was not deceiving him.

Losa regretfully said, "Truly unfortunate, during the fight, I couldn't control my strength, and they turned to ash."

Pausing slightly, he continued, "You know, in order to protect the Holy Sepulchre, I went through a bloody battle, almost losing my life, making it impossible to control my strength properly."

Archbishop William was silent for a moment, visibly disappointed, but still forced himself to commend, "Count Losa, you are a devout and brave knight; your good deeds will surely be rewarded."

Losa knew this meant Urding and Bishop Alandler's positions were likely secure.

"Praise the Heavenly Father."

The two exchanged glances and crossed themselves, full of devotion, each with their own calculations.

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