Chapter 126: Next—Why Not Go Straight to the Duke of Ous’ Doorstep?

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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The revelation hit Via like a bolt of lightning, leaving her wide-eyed in disbelief.

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A traitor to the Holy See?

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The scoundrel who—though indirectly—brought about the death of the Dawnstar Pope? The outcast whose very name was whispered with revulsion, the shame of the entire Holy See?

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No matter who she faced, Via could always maintain the serene composure befitting a Pope. Nothing in this world could stir so much as a ripple in her mind.

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No one, that is, except for him.

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That detestable shadow, seldom spoken of within the Holy See, his name uttered only as a curse—his very existence was a stain upon their order. If he ever appeared before her...

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Even if it meant exposing her identity to Lin Wei, she would not—could not—hesitate. She would strike, determined to wash away this disgrace once and for all.

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"You mean to say the secretary is connected to him?" she asked, her voice taut with suppressed emotion.

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"That's right—but don’t get me wrong," Lin Wei hurried to explain, acutely aware that, if mishandled, Via might storm back to the Holy See determined to eradicate the traitor herself. "I’m not saying Miss Rennie is in league with him. I just mean—did she ever have any contact with him before his betrayal?"

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The question cooled Via’s turbulent thoughts, if only slightly. She forced herself to recall the past, tracing her memories. After a moment, realization flickered in her eyes and she looked up.

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"I remember now—the secretary and her attendants, during their ordination ceremony... He was the one who presided over it."

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“Hold on—are you saying that wretch had already planned to turn Miss Secretary into his pawn back when he administered her baptism?” Veya’s voice trembled with disbelief.

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Lin Wei, however, merely nodded, his expression calm and unwavering. “That’s right. Treachery like that doesn’t arise from mere impulse. If the traitor intended to betray us, he would have begun laying the groundwork far in advance. What better time than the very moment he led the baptism?"

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The knowledge that the traitor himself had overseen such a sacred rite made all the pieces fall neatly into place.

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Lin Wei nodded with careful thoughtfulness, though in truth, he had never so much as glimpsed the actual baptismal ceremony.

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But such a ceremony would have offered the traitor all the opportunity he needed.

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“Here’s how I see it,” he continued, turning to Via with a grave sincerity.

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“The traitor must have contacted the Cult of the Evil God before Miss Secretary’s baptism. Under cover of the ritual—using the ceremony as a perfect pretext—he borrowed the cult’s power to plant a ‘seed’ within her body, a control mechanism that could be activated at any time.”

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He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in Via’s eyes.

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“But he didn’t stop there. He veiled the seed in a layer of pure, undetectable holy energy—a masterful disguise that would elude even the most experienced priest.”

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Lin Wei described the scene so vividly it was as if he’d witnessed it himself; his tone was chillingly certain, sharp and precise.

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“There are many Evil God cults active today, but only a handful possess the power and reach to attract a traitor’s allegiance. Among them, the most dangerous are the Mother Goddesses, occupying the very pinnacle of that dark hierarchy. And recently, the Church of Dreamlust’s agents attacked the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy...”

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He left the thought hanging, the implication obvious.

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“If the traitor enlisted the Dream-Mother’s power, everything becomes clear.”

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As the former Demon Lord, Lin Wei had pored over ancient demonkind tomes, memorizing the names and domains of every evil god—a skill he never thought would prove useful until this moment.

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He’d never had cause to regard Miss Secretary closely before, but once suspicion hovered over her as the source of the leak, the puzzle rearranged itself in his mind—each piece sliding perfectly into place.

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“It must’ve been during the baptism that she fell under the Dream-Mother’s influence—hypnotized, a seed implanted deep within her. All it takes is the right trigger, and that hidden seed will activate…”

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His fists tightened, a cold anger settling in his chest.

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“Whenever that happens, she’s compelled—without the faintest awareness—to run to Duke Ous and spill whatever secrets she’s learned. She has no memory of acting as his pawn.”

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“If the supply route map passes through the secretary and ends up in Vice Commander Guga’s hands, then barring any unforeseen twists, Duchess Ous will have the intelligence by tonight.”

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Lin Wei’s voice remained calm, but his certainty was indomitable—painting a chillingly clear picture of what was to come.

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Veya’s expression froze, her posture stiffening with dawning horror. If this truly was their method, then of course it would have escaped her detection.

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After all, an Evil God’s Seed amounted to nothing more than a sliver of dormant power.

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Dormant, it was nearly impossible to sense—especially when shrouded beneath a layer of holy energy.

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Unless one already harbored suspicion and searched specifically for it, who would ever think to examine the secretary’s body for hidden enchantments like these?

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Isn’t it always the ones closest to you who remain unsuspected?

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It’s just like Lin Wei! Even if someone flat-out told me he was a Demon Lord, what are the odds I’d ever search his body with my own hands?

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“I must return to the Holy See at once—Her Holiness needs to be warned to keep close watch on the secretary.”

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That supply route map had cost Veya no small amount of sweat and toil; now, realizing what was truly at stake, she leapt to her feet, determined to intervene before any further secrets slipped away.

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But Lin Wei pressed her gently back onto the bed, his tone light—almost teasing.

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“No need to rush. The Dream-Mother’s power is essentially a form of hypnosis.”

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“But here’s the thing—it only takes effect while the victim is asleep. As long as the secretary isn’t napping this very minute, there’s nothing to fear.”

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As he held his wife in place, Lin Wei’s thoughts drifted momentarily to Duchess Ous. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and his voice dropped to a velvety chill.

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“Besides… I have no intention of simply asking Her Holiness to ‘keep watch’ over the secretary. Don’t you see? This is the perfect opportunity.”

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“What opportunity?” Veya’s brows knit together. Lin Wei’s mind leapt so quickly she sometimes struggled to follow.

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“To finally give your useless Pope a chance to wield some genuine authority!”

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Couldn’t she see it? Veya’s probably lost her edge thanks to that farcical Pope.

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Lin Wei shot his wife a faint frown, then laid the details plainly before her.

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“The Grand Commander Alfroen isn’t at the Holy See; he’s off at the front. The Grand Commander of Sacred Light is on the battlefield as well.”

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“And Meilin, Grand Commander of the Judgement Knights, is off tracing the logistics near the city-state of Brook.”

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“In other words, there’s no one at the Holy See right now with the standing to restrain the Pope. Isn’t this the perfect chance to raise hell for Duke Ous, stage a public confrontation, and humiliate him before all? That’s how you seize authority!”

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Veya still wasn’t sure what scheme he was proposing. But the prospect of elevating the Pope’s status—while giving Duke Ous a public slap in the face—set her heart pounding.

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She fell silent, studying him, anticipation burning in her eyes.

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“So… how exactly do we do it?”

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“First, remember: the Dream-Mother’s powers only work when the victim sleeps.”

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“If I’m right, the secretary will try to sneak into Duke Ous’s estate to deliver the intel herself. All we need to do is catch her in the act, then show up at his doorstep and demand her immediate return.”

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Seeing his wife grow eager, Lin Wei straightened, laying out the entirety of his plan.

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“When the time comes, have the Pope dispatch the Retribution Knights and send Miss Rennie to me. I want to see her walk into that manor—front and center—with the knights at her back, confronting Duke Ous face-to-face.”

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“He was always fond of holding grudges and arguing circles around everyone back at the Holy See, wasn’t he? Well, let’s beat him at his own game this time.”

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Just picturing the scene—turning the tables on Ous at his very doorstep—brought a wicked grin to Lin Wei’s lips. At last, he’d have a chance to make that upstart swallow a bitter pill.

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“The capital will be crawling with witnesses. Unless Duke Ous wants an open war with the Holy See, he’ll have to let me settle accounts with him right there.”

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“And if he’s truly lost his mind and dares to strike—then let the Pope herself deal with him.”

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“The Pope can’t arbitrarily act against mortals, but… provoking the Holy See to its face? Surely that crosses the line from ‘ordinary circumstances,’ doesn’t it?”