The atmosphere turned tense as the fake priest tried to intimidate me with a dagger.
People began to gather around, sensing a confrontation.
The fake priest, Johan, maintained his composure, but his actions were suspicious.
He was using the crowd's faith to his advantage.
I realized that Johan was not a real priest, but rather an imposter.
The situation was complex, with Johan manipulating the crowd.
I decided to wait and observe, hoping to find an opportunity to expose his scam.
Meanwhile, I pondered the significance of the Basilisk's breath and the potential benefits of creating an elixir.
The elixir could significantly enhance my abilities, but it required genuine holy water.
The search for authentic holy water continued, with Johan's scam being a major obstacle.
I needed to find a way to overcome this challenge and uncover the truth about Johan's intentions.
As I returned to my lodging, I reflected on the events.
It seemed that Johan's scam was not just a simple trick but part of a larger scheme.
The crowd's reaction suggested that they were not just innocent bystanders.
I decided to report Johan to the local military, hoping they would take action.
However, the local military might be involved, making it a delicate situation.
I wrote a message to Liu, asking him to gather information.
I then went to the local military base, where I met a commander.
The commander seemed uninterested in my report, which was frustrating.
I realized that the local military might be complicit in Johan's scam.
The commander's reaction was suspicious, and I wondered if he was involved with Johan.
I decided to gather more evidence before making a move.
As I left, I noticed that Jinju, the white horse, was acting strangely.
I realized that Jinju might be a useful ally in this situation.
The horse's presence seemed to command respect from the local soldiers.
I decided to use Jinju to my advantage.
I arrived at the local military base and was greeted by soldiers.
They were more respectful due to Jinju's presence.
I asked to meet the commander, but he was unavailable.
I was told that the commander only meets by appointment.
I realized that the commander's rules were strict, possibly to avoid unwanted visitors.
The situation was complex, and I needed to find a way to navigate it.
I decided to wait and see if I could gather more information.
Fernando Bahl, the head of the Bahl family, was reading a message from the Emperor.
It mentioned the regulation of slave traders and the significant contributions of various families.
Bahl's family had rescued 3,720 people, and Arahan's family had rescued 2,580 people.
The Emperor's message highlighted the importance of this issue.
Fernando's eyes sparkled with a small sense of satisfaction.
Torres noticed his father's expression and asked about the message.
Fernando mentioned that the Emperor had given a significant reward to the Bahl family.
Torres was intrigued by the news.
The Emperor's message also emphasized the need for noble families to follow the example of those who helped the empire.
Fernando's expression changed slightly as he read the last part of the message.
It seemed to be about recognizing the contributions of those who helped the empire, including Zed Arahan.
The Emperor's message encouraged noble families to emulate such examples.
Torres was surprised by his father's reaction.
Fernando's eyes were fixed on the last part of the message.
It seemed to be about Zed Arahan's actions being praised by the Emperor.
Torres was curious about why his father was so interested in Zed.
A soldier entered and mentioned a boy named Liu who wanted to meet Fernando.
Torres was surprised that Liu was asking to meet his father.
He decided to meet Liu himself, as he was the only friend Zed had.
Torres went to meet Liu, curious about what he wanted to discuss.
Fernando remained, seemingly deep in thought about the message.