"A... Lord Arthas, what are you doing?"
As the icy threat descended, the fat High Septon felt an endless chill wash over him, and he couldn't help but tighten his robes.
"This guy... could he be the Incarnation of the god of cold?"
He rubbed his arms constantly, but he couldn't dispel even a hint of the chill; fear filled his heart in an instant.
His body shook uncontrollably, and the crystal crown that didn't quite fit his massive head was shaken off, falling to the ground with a "clack."
"Lord Arthas, please put down your sword at once. This is truly disrespectful to the Seven Gods."
The fat High Septon quickly bent down to pick up his crown. Looking up at Arthas's movements, he didn't dare speak out to stop him, only able to plead tremblingly.
Turning a deaf ear to the words, Arthas stood for a long time holding frostmourne, yet he still didn't feel even a hint of divine punishment.
"As expected, they're just a bunch of people playing god."
Shaking his head in disappointment, he slowly lowered his sword. The chill carrying the scent of death vanished instantly, and he seemed to return to being that gentle, sunny youth.
"Of course, High Septon Your Excellency."
The warm sunlight shone on Arthas's face, outlining a perfect silhouette.
"I am a faithful believer in the Seven Gods!"
Finally regaining control of his body, the fat High Septon tremblingly put on the crystal crown that symbolized supreme divine power.
What should have been a solemn and majestic scene looked incredibly ridiculous on him.
Moving his fat body, he took a few quick steps to Arthas's side, a fawning smile on his face.
"Since Lord Arthas is also a faithful believer in the Seven Gods, please call your knights out quickly."
"There's really nothing to see inside the Sept. If everyone wants to hear the gospel of the Seven Gods, I can personally explain it to them."
Looking at the pig-like fat man before him, a hint of imperceptible disdain flashed in Arthas's eyes, but the smile on his face remained gentle.
"I had a dream last night."
Arthas calmly turned his body away, not wanting to see the man's hideous fat face, and spoke to himself.
"the Seven Gods told me in my dream that the Sept is no longer pure, but has instead become a place that harbors filth."
"I couldn't sleep all night, feeling that this dream must be a guidance from the Seven Gods."
"Please explain this to me, High Septon Your Excellency."
The fat High Septon, whose hands were already dirty, was anxious. Hearing this, cold sweat immediately poured down his massive head.
"The Great Sept was built by Baelor 'the Blessed'."
He kept wiping the sweat from his head, racking his brains for a way to excuse himself.
"It is the center of faith in the Seven Gods; there is no place purer than this, Lord Arthas."
"I think you must have been too tired lately and simply had a meaningless dream."
The fat High Septon prayed in his heart to quickly trick this troublesome fellow away, but when he looked up, he met Arthas's shocked gaze.
He looked at the fat High Septon in disbelief, took a few steps back, and a look of profound disappointment appeared on his face.
"As the supreme leader of the Faith, you actually think the guidance the Seven Gods gave me is meaningless!"
Raising frostmourne again, Arthas's tone became firm.
"I see that your body must have been possessed by an evil heretical Soul, High Septon Your Excellency."
"Let me exorcise the evil for you!"
With that, he raised the longsword glowing with a faint blue light, making a move to strike down.
"Commander Arthas!"
At the moment of the fat High Septon's utter despair, a voice from behind, like heavenly music, interrupted Arthas's movement.
Finally saved, he quickly turned around, hoping to get a good look at his savior.
What he saw was Lancel's tall figure leading the way, followed by two Lannister knights, each carrying a bound Septa, walking slowly toward them!
Lancel ignored the fat High Septon and walked straight to Arthas with the two men, kneeling on one knee.
"We found two persecuted Septas in the basement."
"According to their testimony, the High Septon has for years used the name of the Seven Gods to force them into becoming slaves for his carnal desires."
"And he even told them it was the will of the Seven Gods."
Lancel's solemn report made Arthas nod with satisfaction; this guy had finally wised up for once.
"High Septon Your Excellency, I hope to receive a perfect explanation for this matter!"
He pointed at the two disheveled Septas who had been set down and questioned him furiously.
"This... I can explain!"
Seeing that the matter was exposed, the fat High Septon still frantically tried to make excuses, attempting to muddle through.
"This truly is the will of the Seven Gods, Lord Arthas!"
His eyes darting, he quickly waved his robes and clasped his hands in front of him, putting on a look of compassion for all living things.
"the Seven Gods granted us strong bodies, but at the same time, they drowned humanity in endless carnal desires."
"As the High Septon, my task is to liberate these Souls sinking in carnal desires."
"To this end, I do not hesitate to use my own body as a medium..."
"Hahaha~"
The weak and pathetic explanation made Lancel, still on one knee, burst into laughter.
"High Septon Your Excellency, you certainly have a silver tongue!"
Lancel stood up, drew the sword at his waist, and slowly approached the fat High Septon, the endless fire of rage in his eyes nearly consuming him!
Regarding the faith of the Seven Gods, Lancel was perhaps the most devout believer in the entire Westerlands. He would never allow such a filthy person to use the name of the Seven Gods to openly commit such misdeeds in such a holy place!
"You sharp-tongued, filthy fellow,"
"You are not worthy at all to be the High Septon of the Seven Gods!"
With a roar, under the fat High Septon's disbelieving eyes, the sharp sword struck down fiercely.
A dull thud followed as the body hit the ground. Blood flowed slowly down the steps, as if to wash this filthy place clean.
"Lancel, you were too impulsive."
He reached out and patted Lancel's shoulder. Lancel's chest was still heaving, clearly still immersed in rage.
Arthas spoke words of blame, but his eyes were full of smiles, happy for this cousin who had finally shown some backbone.
The only thing that disappointed him was that even though the fat High Septon's body was nearly cold, no miracle had occurred.
"I'm sorry, Commander Arthas!"
After a long while, Lancel came to his senses and quickly dropped his sword, kneeling on the ground to apologize to Arthas.
A look of extreme panic appeared in his eyes, not knowing why he had suddenly done such an impulsive thing.
"This was the High Septon!"
"It's all right, Cousin Lancel."
Looking at the panicked blonde youth, Arthas reached out his right hand to grip his arm and slowly helped him up.
"Though it was indeed a bit impulsive, you did the right thing!"
Lancel, who was still immersed in self-reproach, looked at him with confusion in his pale green eyes upon hearing Arthas's certain words.
"There, look."
Arthas smiled meaningfully and pointed his finger toward the swarming commoners of King's Landing at the bottom of the steps.
Lancel looked in the direction he pointed and saw that as they looked at the High Septon's corpse, not a single person felt regret or shed a tear for him.
On the contrary, every face showed heartfelt excitement. They held their hands high, cheering wildly as if celebrating a grand festival!
"You have done a good deed for the commoners of King's Landing."
Reaching out to pat Lancel's shoulder firmly again, Arthas sighed from the bottom of his heart.
He truly didn't know how much evil this guy had done in his daily life for everyone to be celebrating his death.
Arthas had only seen such a grand occasion when he returned to Lordaeron as a hero.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Lancel stared blankly at his hands. For the first time in his life, he finally felt that he could do something meaningful.
"Arthas..."
Watching Arthas's back as he walked into the Sept, he knelt on one knee again and said loudly:
"I, Lancel Lannister."
"Under the witness of the Seven Gods, I swear eternal loyalty to you!"
"Rise, Lancel."
Under his tearful gaze, the youth's gentle and approachable voice came from afar.
"We still have work to do."
..."Lord Arthas, we are very grateful for your righteous action in eliminating a great cancer from the Faith."
In the center of the Sept, beneath the giant statues of the Father and the Mother, an Archbishop thanked Arthas sincerely.
He had also been displeased with the fat High Septon's filthy behavior for a long time.
He had only endured it because the other's status was higher than his own.
He didn't expect the Seven Gods to actually manifest today, sending a dream to this newly appointed commander of the city watch, who then ended the damned fat man with one clean sword stroke.
The Archbishop felt a surge of triumph, the joy in his eyes impossible to hide; he was even impatient to put on the crystal crown and prepare for succession.
"It's nothing, Archbishop Your Excellency, it's what I should do."
How could Arthas not see through the man's little scheme? He didn't expose it, but simply waved to those behind him.
"Davon, bring him in!"
With the sound of footsteps, the tall Davon Lannister walked in carrying a grey-haired old Cultivator.
With a "thud," Davon casually tossed the person on his shoulder to the ground, not caring about the man's feelings at all, and left without a word.
Leaving only the old Cultivator on the ground groaning in pain.
"Cardinal Archbishop Your Excellency, I am well aware that the Faith cannot be without a leader for even a single day."
Under the Cardinal Archbishop's surprised gaze, Arthas instantly shattered his beautiful fantasy of ascending to the position of High Septon.
Gracefully raising frostmourne, the cold-gleaming Scourge blade actually seemed to have a hint of holiness under the gaze of the Father and the Mother.
It was as if if the Archbishop dared to voice any different opinion, frostmourne would transform into a sword of judgment in the next second, sending him to join the fat High Septon.
With an indisputable tone of command, Arthas spoke slowly.
"Please allow me to introduce to you the new High Septon I have painstakingly found for the Faith."
"—The High Sparrow."
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