Even the standing Paladins had been disbanded to cut expenses.
If you wanted to engage in a frontal battle, you'd have to call on the law enforcers, the city guard, or that small crusader force raised by the Kylelaw Enforcers.
But there was no doubt that all of those forces were now firmly in the hands of the Kyle family.
Once that precedent was set, it would forever place the Guild beneath the Kyle family in terms of military power—and the Holy Cultivator Guild's headquarters would never tolerate that. The Guild's authority must be equal to or exceed the local regime's; it must never be inferior. If it were, the headquarters would hold the branch's bishop accountable, even replacing or disbanding him.
"Eliminate them," Bishop Midaldas said decisively, turning his back.
At his words, Kidopriest drew in a deep breath. "They've always been our army. If we're to eliminate them, we'll only have to bow down to the Kyle family."
