Chapter 130: Duke Ous, Show Yourself!

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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How many times had that cursed name echoed in his ears over the last few days?

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Duke Ous’s eyes all but burned as he read through the missive. Its meaning could not have been clearer.

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Every incident at the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy was recorded within, the ugly truth laid bare.

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Not only had the Church's supplies been inspected and verified beyond doubt—he, a duke of the realm, had been forced to issue a public apology, his dignity trampled beneath the heel of some brazen adventurer named Lin Wei.

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“First he kills Fred—turns the corpse to dust and dumps it at the manor—and now he dares to insult the nobility in the open streets…”

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“Does this wretch truly wish to force me into a fight to the death?”

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As a duke of the Empire, it was both his duty and entitlement to uphold the honor of the nobility.

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Yes, he and Wilma had made a wager, and he understood the technicalities involved. But for a mere commoner to press a noble’s head to the ground and wring out an apology...

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No matter the angle, he now had a flawless pretext—one firmly rooted in honor and righteous indignation.

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And with Lin Wei’s previous affronts still fresh in his memory, wouldn’t it be natural, even expected, to seize the opportunity and send men to trouble him?

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Once Lin Wei fell into his hands, he would make an example of him—a spectacle to all who might dare humiliate a noble.

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Yet even as his wrath flared, Duke Ous forced himself to rein it in.

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He could not afford recklessness now.

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“That bastard’s always found protection beneath the Griffin Duke’s wings, and now he’s wrapped himself in the Church’s influence…”

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“Even with the perfect justification, to act against him openly would invite only greater complications.”

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Duke Ous had never truly blamed Lin Wei for Fred’s demise. In his estimation, such a deed must have been the work of some hidden Church enforcer—not the act of an ordinary adventurer.

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Otherwise, even a legend like Fred—the Shadow Assassin—would surely not have fallen so helplessly.

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This only confirmed one thing: Lin Wei, who had fulfilled a commission for the Holy See, was now deeply entangled with them.

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“To think, the Griffin Duke’s daughter has already become the new Saintess of the Holy See,” Duke Ous sneered under his breath.

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“And now the man she’s brought in is proving just as troublesome. No doubt Saintess Yalis’s favor is to blame for that, too.”

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He let out a slow, measured breath, steadying himself. “Now, with our plan to strike at the heart of the Holy See at its most crucial stage, I can allow no distractions… Consider it a gesture of respect to the Griffin Duke, nothing more.”

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Having recovered his composure, the Duke abandoned any intent to use the incident as grounds for further action.

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After a moment’s reflection, he suppressed his irritation and issued his orders.

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“Inform Miss Wilma that I’ll deal with that matter when time permits.”

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“The Holy See has apparently finished gathering their supplies; they should be ready for shipment to the front at any moment.”

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He paused, his gaze sharpening. “Our informant should arrive tonight with another update. That is why, even with all the outrageous demands of the Cult of the Evil God, I’ve maintained this uneasy partnership for years.”

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Memories stirred—of the one who had once held high office, only to betray her faith and become High Priestess of that blasphemous cult.

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It turned out her plotting began back when she still served as Grand Commander.

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Had she not already departed the imperial capital for the distant western reaches, to the Kingdom of Valan, he would never have believed that even the Holy See’s most loyal servants could have fallen to the corruption of a false god years ago.

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“Her abilities are troublesome—her hypnosis cannot be maintained for long, so the intelligence she brings is fragmented. She only appears when there’s something truly crucial to report…”

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Duke Ous let a rare, sardonic smile touch his lips.

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“But that map she provided let me orchestrate the perfect ambush. Without it, I never would have had such an ideal opening.”

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He still wondered what excuse Pope Selena could possibly offer this time should their supplies be stolen yet again.

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When the Grand Inquisition arrived and stripped her of her title…

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The Holy See—cut off, even briefly, from the blessing of Goddess Alicia—would suffer its lowest ebb in living memory.

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And in that turmoil… what grander chance to strike? To shatter the Holy See would be to plunge the Empire itself into chaos.

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Then, in the hour of crisis, the opportunity to ‘save’ the Empire would fall into his own hands.

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This time, you won’t be able to escape.

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A glimmer of anticipation danced in Duke Ous’s eyes.

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◇

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"The Secretary is the traitor?!"

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Just a few hundred meters from Duke Ous’s manor, a secluded vantage point gave a clear view of the estate’s every movement.

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Even after all their careful preparations, Yalis—flushed with emotion, her voice almost trembling—couldn’t help blurting out her astonishment.

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Lin Wei, ever vigilant beside her, clapped a hand swiftly over her mouth. Her outburst was so dramatic he nearly laughed aloud.

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“Didn’t you swear to keep your cool no matter who the mole turned out to be?”

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“Honestly, Lady Yalis, with a reaction like that, if you weren’t in on the plan we’d have been discovered by now!”

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Every contingency for the ambush had been accounted for.

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As a precaution, Vice Commander Guga hadn’t gathered the Retribution Knights directly on the estate grounds.

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Instead, their true orders were to remain at the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy, keeping up the pretense of guarding the supplies. When the time to strike came, they would send the signal.

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At that moment, every mobile unit of the Knights in the imperial capital would be mobilized for an all-out sweep.

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For this interlude, it was merely an opportunity for Yalis to experience the ways of adventurers firsthand. As expected, her temperament proved far less composed than the situation required.

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“S-sorry…”

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Red-faced, Yalis retreated into herself, overcome with guilt.

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Once she learned there was a traitor in their midst, her curiosity about the culprit’s identity had only grown by the day.

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And yet—when the truth finally surfaced, even after bracing herself, the reality struck like a bolt of lightning.

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“How could it possibly be the Secretary?!”

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She trusted Lin Wei—he was always so reliable—but this was an answer she could never have anticipated. No matter her faith in him, she struggled to accept it.

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“The Secretary is the Pope’s most trusted confidante,” Yalis burst out. “All through my time at the Holy See, it was Miss Rennie who saw to my daily needs!”

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“There’s simply no way she would betray the Church!”

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Deep down, she wanted to protest—was Lin Wei mistaken? But seeing all his careful arrangements, she knew he must have ironclad evidence.

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“Don’t worry,” Lin Wei said gently. “Our Secretary hasn’t betrayed the Holy See.”

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“She’s been contaminated by the power of the Evil God. She isn’t even aware of it herself.”

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“Our purpose here tonight isn’t merely to purge the traitor and end the troubles that have plagued the Holy See. More importantly, we must uncover how the Secretary became tainted by the Evil God’s power… And at the heart of it all is Duke Ous.”

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There was no longer any need for secrets between him and the Saintess; she was owed the full truth.

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Lin Wei explained everything calmly, watching as Yalis listened in tense silence. Then understanding flickered in her gaze.

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“You mean to say, Duke Ous has been collaborating with the Cult of the Evil God?” she asked softly.

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So this was why he had said, “Tonight’s mission is tied to the Evil God’s cult, but we may not encounter them directly.”

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“Exactly. We have some evidence—nothing yet conclusive. Not enough to level a direct accusation.”

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He paused to make sure she followed. “But if the Secretary, under the influence of the Evil God’s power, is seen entering the Duke’s manor, then we’ll have cause. We can make a real case.”

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So long as the incident stirred up enough commotion, drew enough public attention…

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Even with the nobles controlling the newspapers, they wouldn’t be able to smother the wildfire of rumors sweeping the city.

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Lin Wei could already see that scene unfolding in his mind—the uproar was inevitable.

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At last… he would settle yesterday’s debt.

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To have trouble dumped on his doorstep, forcing him to remain passive? Even if he were not the Demon Lord, he would never tolerate such an insult.

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Sending Fred’s body back to the manor had been no more than an appetizer.

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Did Duke Ous truly believe something so minor could win the Demon Lord’s forgiveness?

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Not even in his wildest dreams.

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“They’re here.”

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Lost in thought, Lin Wei abruptly sensed subtle movement from afar. He leaned in, his voice a near whisper.

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Yalis followed his gaze at once. Out in the gloom, a solitary figure approached the manor’s side gate.

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The newcomer was utterly disguised—a mask fully obscuring their face, and a heavy cloak enveloping their body.

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Yet their steps were slow and unsteady, awkward in a way that suggested invisible puppeteer’s strings.

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“So it truly is the Secretary,” Lin Wei murmured, certainty coloring his tone.

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“Huh? How can you be so sure, Mister Lin Wei?”

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Yalis stared in surprise—such a thorough disguise would fool anyone, even those closest to the Secretary.

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Lin Wei replied with utter confidence, “Because I left a magical mark on her, of course.”

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Once he’d begun harboring suspicions that afternoon, he’d come ready with countermeasures.

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He’d even considered that she might use secret passages or tricks to block the mark’s signal—but in the end, she walked through the main entrance herself, making things simple.

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“You can sense her from way out here?” Yalis could hardly conceal her amazement.

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“Naturally. Now get ready, Lady Saint.”

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Lin Wei didn’t spare her stunned look a second glance. His senses sharpened, and a sudden tide of magic flared outward as he tracked the Secretary’s every movement. His aura cut through barrier after barrier, shadowing her deep into the manor.

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He kept the magical mark always in his mind’s eye, following its faint pulse as the Secretary entered the central hall and began ascending the grand stair.

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Behind him, a pure and blinding radiance surged forth—the absolute essence of holy light gathering to him.

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“It’s your time to act, Lady Saint,” he intoned.

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An instant later, Lin Wei shot skyward, his form dissolving into a surge of shimmering brilliance.

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That torrent of holy light condensed before him in a heartbeat, coalescing into a colossal golden blade—an artifact of divine retribution.

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Its radiance reached heavenward, flooding the entire estate in supernatural brightness, painting Lin Wei in the image of a vengeful divinity descending to invoke righteous punishment.

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Without hesitation, he hefted the holy blade and brought it crashing down upon the gates of the manor.

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“Duke Ous!”

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His voice reverberated across the estate.

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“Show yourself—now!”