Warhammer Divine Throne

"This is tetanus!" Laine immediately realized the symptoms of that Wandering Knight. The Beastman's spearheads and weapons are always smeared with dung and dirt, and there's a high chance of wound infection if cut by them! Therefore, disinfecting wounds is crucial, not everyone is like Laine with Spiritual Armor, immune to all diseases.

"Yes! It's definitely tetanus!" Aik was very anxious, his face was flustered.

In the medieval time of Laine's world, tetanus was almost an incurable disease, once contracted, there was no other result than waiting for death, everyone feared it profoundly, which is partly why humans are so afraid of the Beastmen.

In this world of swords and magic, tetanus isn't exactly incurable, but finding a cure isn't easy either, in the Church, the Fifth-Ring Divine Skill "Detoxification" can cure tetanus, and so can the Sixth Ring Divine Skill "Life Regeneration", but the price is clearly unaffordable for a Wandering Knight, even small lords who can easily produce several hundred gold coins are scarce, maybe a High-Level Mage or a Great Noble could afford it.

So it's either potions or magic, Laine does know, the Jialan Council knows how to concoct a high-level Magic Potion called "healing potion", this potion instantly restores the drinker to full health. Additionally, the potion neutralizes all poisons and damages within the body and can also reduce magical damage. Unlike other potions, healing potion has no duration, its effects persist until the next injury.

"So, do you want to turn to Lady Dietlinde for a healing potion? But she already said she wouldn't see anyone today." Laine's expression was not exactly enthusiastic, he didn't believe Aik could come up with the money. The price of a healing potion was staggering, he remembered Dietlinde offering him a friendship price: eighty gold coins per bottle.

For context, a common tenant farmer of the Nord Kingdom earns about eight to ten gold dinars annually before tax, this gives a rough idea of the value of eighty gold coins.

Seeing that things hadn't turned around, Aik clenched his fists, knowing that some things were unavoidable.

"Please, for the sake of the time we fought side by side, help me introduce her! Mr. Laine!" Aik suddenly pleaded loudly to Laine in front of everyone, then bowed deeply.

"??????" The scene fell silent, the innkeeper paused his actions, the guests stopped their knives and forks, even the staff stopped washing dishes.

Everyone's eyes in the tavern hall were on Laine.

The Paladins all looked at Laine, they wanted to know what this White Wolf Knight, renowned throughout the Kingdom, would do?

Other guests also turned to Laine, following this shout, they too knew who this young Kingdom Knight was.

Even the innkeeper and others awaited Laine's reaction.

This guy! Laine suddenly realized what Aik was doing.

This lad is forcing me!?

The reputation of a knight is very important, especially for a young knight like Laine, prestige is intangible yet truly represents a person's influence; its level affects all aspects of one's social status.

For a knight, prestige and strength are very important hard metrics, prestige especially over strength.

Take Laine as an example, as a Kingdom Knight for eight years, with outstanding military achievements, first killed "Sharp Fang" Gor, and then the Doomsday Bull Tauros, he enjoys great fame within the Nord Kingdom, and even in the Empire and Brittania, many have heard his name. In this scenario, if there were a court invitation for him to become a lord, or the King of Nord decreed to grant him land, most nobles would have no objection because they've long considered him one of their own.

But what if the prestige is lacking?

Then even if the King of Nord wants to forcibly enfeoff someone as a lord, or even knighthood, he'll face opposition from all levels of nobility throughout the country, especially those lower nobles and the ranked Knight Corps knights, not only would the enfeoffment fail, but the King's prestige would be completely ruined.

So Aik is staging a rebellion.

Having fought side by side is a unique camaraderie among knights, usually citing this, by tacit agreement, Laine should offer assistance since he himself has been a beneficiary of this rule.

Laine's expression slightly changed, for no knight wants to joke about their reputation, especially when he has significant future goals, he needs to cherish his feathers even more.

"Alright, for the sake of our past camaraderie, I will take you to see Lady Dietlinde." Laine finally nodded, Aik breathed a sigh of relief, and Alfred across from Laine also showed a contented smile.

"Afu, join us!" Laine motioned for his childhood companion to follow.

"Alright~" Alfred leapt up from his seat, following Laine upstairs, with Aik hurrying behind him.

Going up the stairs, Alfred, fully armored, with a shield on his back, made creaking noises stepping on the stairs, making one worry if he'd break the wooden stairs, seeing this Laine quipped: "Afu, do you have to stay in that Iron Hide every single day?"

"Uh, mostly, I'm used to it." Alfred chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head: "It was a bit uncomfortable a few years back, but after a long time, occasionally taking it off feels utterly empty."

"…" Laine rolled his eyes, the Justice Church is powerful and financially strong, thus all church paladins are generally equipped with chest armor and chain armor, those like Alfred who advance as paladins all get a full plate armor set, paladins generally don't take off their plate armor when out, over time, people on the Continent gave them a nickname - Iron Hide.

Laine found it quite apt.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Laine, it wasn't my intention, but Goodson's injury is really serious, I had no choice but to resort to this." Aik knew his actions displeased Laine, so he hurriedly apologized.

Laine suddenly halted his steps upstairs, then turned around: "Mr. Aik, could you please be honest with me, okay?"

Aik felt a chill, his somewhat handsome face strained a smile: "What honesty, I don't understand."

"Enough, stop pretending, tell me, when we were ambushed by Beastmen that night, the moment they appeared, Goodson was already fully armored and to confront the enemy, you surely knew the inside story, right?"

"…" Aik remained silent.

"Since you don't want to be honest with me, then I don't need to introduce you to Lady Dietlinde, do I?" Laine stood still.

"You're breaking your word, Mr. Laine..." Aik swallowed, speaking with difficulty.

"Hmph, now you say I'm breaking my word?" Laine's expression was icy cold, the three stood at the staircase corner, the oil lamp on the wall flickering with dim light.

He chose this spot well, from the hall, their figures disappeared around the corner, but with Laine blocking the stairway, there's no way Aik could bypass him to seek the two female Jialan members.

If negotiations fail, he could take Aik down now, nobody would know what happened, or if Aik dared force through, heh, assaulting a Kingdom Knight is a grave offense, warranting immediate lethal response, completely lawful.

So it's fine for you to force me, but I can't force you?

Alfred immediately caught Laine's undertone, the Paladin realized that being fully armored surely relates to the Beastmen's appearance, so he also gripped his sword handle, showing allegiance to Laine.

A long silence followed.

Aik's face alternated between red and white, knowing that this Paladin in full plate armor isn't easy to deal with, let alone Laine, and a fight would ruin everything, Goodson surely wouldn't be saved.

The Wandering Knight endured immense suffering, his gaze seemed to implore Laine not to pursue the matter further.

But Laine's expression remained cold as frost, gazing faintly at the Wandering Knight.

Without revealing what happened then, Goodson might as well face death.

If one wants to use force here, the two of us can easily subdue you first.

Finally, Aik spoke, his expression a mix of shame and disgrace.

"That night, Goodson and a few others called me to discuss something."

"Discussing…regarding the ownership of the Sea Heart Stone…"