Vlad glanced at the soldiers and couldn’t help but shake his head before speaking in a bored voice, "Under what charges?"
The soldiers froze as they heard those words. It was a perfectly legitimate question but not something that a young couple should be able to ask when they should, in fact, be terrified. The confusion in the duo only grew, making ire arise in their hearts.
"Hmph, you are talking back to us? Do you want to be labeled as Tainted Bloods!?" one of the soldiers who had a bulky frame shouted with rage, pure coldness, and brutality arising in his eyes.
"Now, now, there is no need to be so cruel," the smaller soldier said with a smile before turning toward Freya. "If you treat us well, we might forget all about it."
Freya’s eyes grew immensely cold, and she had to fight back the impulse to flash forward and crush the duo’s heads with her bare hands.
Vlad simply gazed at the soldiers while shaking his head. "Your vision of life is so twisted that you feel you have the right to harm and bully everybody around you. It doesn’t matter if you ruin the lives of others, as you believe that is your prerogative."
Vlad noticed how the soldiers were confused by his words but no longer bothered with them. Instead, he glanced at the end of the alley. People were walking by, and many glanced at them, but upon seeing the soldiers, they simply walked away, not wanting to get into trouble.
"Ah, a corrupt military force that sees fit to play with others and a civilian population that looks away while injustices are being perpetrated. I guess it’s fitting for a religious oligarchy." Coldness began to arise in Vlad’s eyes.
The soldiers’ confusion only grew stronger, and even if they were bullies, they were not stupid. Their instincts began to warn them that they should leave. However, just as they stepped back, the small yellow cat on Vlad’s shoulder focused on them, and his eyes glowed with a dark flame.
Thanks to their Level 4 cultivation, the duo was used to bullying people, but that was nothing in the face of a Champion Depravita. The bloodline’s skills soon paralyzed the duo, compelling them to walk forward.
Vlad walked deeper into the alleys behind the houses, away from people’s sight, accompanied by Freya, Jormungandr, and the two soldiers who could no longer control their bodies. He only stopped once they were in a private place.
Jormungandr did not hesitate before using his Mind Flicker spell, forcing the soldiers to answer their questions honestly.
"What is your purpose in Ortun Town?" Vlad wanted to have a clear idea of the Azarin Empire’s intentions and goals within its own borders.
"We must spread the Great Truth. We are the superior race, and everybody else is tainting the world. If they accept the Church of Glory, the Golden Sky will protect them," the burly soldier spoke as he glanced at Vlad. The fear in his heart had vanished, as his mind no longer worked according to his will.
"Goddess Lucia is our savior. Faith is the way, and everybody must accept her. They must pray four times a day, every day. Anyone who slacks off can be imprisoned and thrown in jail, where we can do whatever we want with them," the thin soldier’s expression was one of utter delight and lust, making it clear what happened to the detained.
Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he heard the duo’s tales, and disgust appeared as he continued, "Is there any punishment you would endure if your actions were discovered?"
"If we are found out, we just need to pray for Goddess Lucia’s pardon. All the sins of the Azarin Empire’s soldiers are forgiven after paying a small fee to the Church of Glory." The thin man spoke with a wide smile. It was clear that he truly enjoyed the system. He could do whatever he wanted, and if discovered, he just needed to pray for forgiveness and pay some money, and that was it.
Of course, those who suffered at his hands would be enraged, but if they rebelled, it would be the same as saying they do not accept the Church of Glory’s decrees. It was similar to the way old kings ruled; they could govern as they saw fit, and no one could question them because they were "Chosen by God."
"Faith cannot be left unchecked unless I want Terra to become a new Heaven." Vlad’s eyes were cold, and determination grew in his heart as he was set on taking down the Goddess.
Thanks to Asmael, Vlad was very much aware of the type of lifestyle in Heaven. It was a paradise for those at the top of the social ladder, but for the rest, it was a system of receiving abuse and perpetrating it on those of lower status. As for those at the very bottom, for them, Heaven was no different than Hell.
Vlad continued questioning the duo, learning as much as possible before glancing at Jormungandr. The small yellow cat nodded and began to use his bloodline skills on the duo, affecting their short-term memory.
Memory was a very sensitive field, and while Jormungandr might block the recollection of the last few hours, the duo might remember in a few weeks. Vlad could not simply cut their heads off, as that could alert the Azarin Empire that something was wrong, but that did not mean he was out of options.
With a wave of his hand, a small plant appeared in Vlad’s hand, and he shoved it down the mouths of the duo. It was dark root, which caused severe digestive problems in Champions and could be lethal in Mortals.
"The plant will take effect tomorrow, causing severe digestive issues that will deplete their vitality without a trace," Vlad spoke in a calm voice before glancing at Jormungandr and Freya, who looked at him with confusion. "They will shit themselves to death."