Chapter 164 – What Does Her Holiness Want to Discuss With Lin Wei? At Least Let Me In On It! ​

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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The rest of the cleanup had nothing to do with him.

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With Vice Commander Guga on the scene, tying up the loose ends was as effortless as breathing.

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As for how the Imperial nobles would respond—well, that was anyone’s guess.

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“But all things considered, this chapter is finally closed.”

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Lin Wei made his way back from the Imperial Capital to the Holy See at breakneck speed.

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As always, the city shimmered beneath a veil of radiant light, casting a dreamlike spell over everything.

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Clergy moved about everywhere, already beginning their dawn prayers as the first rays of sunlight crested the horizon.

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Standing before this sacred place, founded by the Goddess Alicia herself, Lin Wei gazed ahead, a strange swell of emotion rising in his chest.

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This place, once intimidating and even a little terrifying, had gradually become familiar over time.

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Aside from the overwhelming sacred energy in the air—and that absurdly enormous statue of the Goddess Alicia—there really wasn’t much that set it apart from anywhere else.

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“If you’d told me back when I was still the Demon Lord that one day I’d be working for the Pope, I’d have laughed myself to death.”

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“It all started with a casual remark from the Dawnstar Pope—or maybe, from the moment I met Veya, everything was already set in stone.”

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Lin Wei couldn’t help but recall the first time he’d met Veya.

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Having a wife like her—a hopeless case who could barely handle being Pope and always needed someone pushing her from behind—well, he supposed it was inevitable. Even if none of the chaos in the Imperial Capital had happened, sooner or later he would have discovered who she really was.

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And when that day came, what other choice would he have but to get dragged into the Holy See’s affairs?

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“I mean, who told me to go and marry the Pope—my supposed mortal enemy?”

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Lin Wei let out a long, exasperated sigh, rubbing his eyes.

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It just goes to show—never tempt fate with a flag you’re not prepared to eat.

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He’d joked about this sort of thing so many times, and now that it had actually come true, he could barely wrap his head around it.

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Looking back, who knows what was going through Veya’s mind when she proposed a contract marriage?

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Still, if she ever forgot about it, maybe he could threaten her with a renewal when the time came.

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And when that day arrived, well—don’t blame him for being ruthless. He’d make her beg, cackling all the while, before agreeing to another term.

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Heh. That’ll teach her.

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“Eh? Good morning, Secretary.”

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“How did the task I gave you turn out?”

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He’d just stepped inside the Holy See, following the well-worn path toward the Pope’s study, when he nearly collided with the secretary herself, lost in thought as she walked.

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Still half-absorbed in his musings, Lin Wei raised a hand in greeting, recalling their previous conversation.

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“Adventurer Lin Wei!”

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Rennie, startled from her reverie by his familiar voice, looked up in surprise.

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When she realized it truly was Lin Wei, confusion melted from her eyes, replaced by a spark of relief.

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As the Secretary, she already knew everything that had happened at the Tribunal.

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That adventurer Lin Wei, after completing his own assignment, had gone straight to deal with Duke Ous.

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Such a bold declaration of war against the Imperial nobles—she had to admit, it was satisfying to see, even if she’d never dare to do it herself.

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But he was back already?

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“I’ve just had the newspapers printed and sent out—they’ll be distributed as quickly as possible,” Rennie reported crisply. “What about your end? Did you find Duke Ous? Any word from the Empire? Don’t tell me they actually let him escape into the Palace for protection!”

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He’d bullied the Holy See, committed countless atrocities, and recently even massacred innocent villagers on the borderlands!

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Such evil couldn’t go unpunished—if you were going to act, it was best to end it on the spot, or the consequences would be unthinkable.

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But… it had barely been two hours, and Lin Wei was already back at the Holy See?

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Even with Lin Wei’s calm, unruffled expression, she couldn’t help but feel reassured.

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Still, this was too important to gloss over. She straightened up, her tone all business.

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…What’s with that tone? Lin Wei thought, amused.

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Wasn’t she supposed to speak to him in that cold, mechanical, by-the-book voice of hers?

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Then again, she was Veya’s secretary through and through—cold on the outside, but the moment she got flustered, her true colors showed. Just like her boss.

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“Of course it’s done. Duke Ous is nothing but dust on the streets of the Imperial Capital now. Vice Commander Guga is there handling the aftermath.”

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Not that he’d say all that out loud, but Lin Wei couldn’t resist the silent jab.

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Miss Rennie, who’d been tense a moment ago, finally exhaled in relief.

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“Dust on the streets—good. That’s good.”

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But was Lin Wei really that strong? In her memory, Duke Ous was still an Imperial noble with a Legacy.

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And yet, even someone like that had been killed by Lin Wei?

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Then again, if he weren’t that capable, he’d never have dared to bait assassins with his own life.

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Maybe she really had underestimated him.

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Lost in her thoughts, Rennie found herself standing outside the Pope’s study with Lin Wei before she knew it.

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“Hey… wait a second.”

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She stopped Lin Wei just as he was about to stride straight in.

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“What’s the matter?”

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“Her Holiness hates being disturbed when she’s working. If you just barge in, Lady Selena will definitely scold you.”

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She explained this in a rush.

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Even someone who’d done as much for the Holy See as Lin Wei still needed to observe some decorum.

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“Uh… is that so?”

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In a place like this, getting chewed out by the Pope probably meant she was just too energetic for her own good.

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Lin Wei scratched his face, half-protesting as he looked at Rennie.

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“I’d think I’d be the exception, don’t you?”

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“No exceptions. Just wait here—I’ll announce you.”

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With that, Miss Rennie tiptoed into the study.

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Inside, the illustrious Pope Selena was hard at work, her pen flashing across documents.

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Her ornate papal robes lent her an air of transcendent majesty.

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Her cool, poised features seemed to glow in the dawn’s light.

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No matter the hour, Her Holiness always looked the very picture of sacred solemnity.

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“The damage report from the Tribunal is ready.”

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Faced with such an awe-inspiring scene, Secretary Rennie set down her documents and, as always, reported in a soft voice.

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“Repairs will cost around nine thousand gold coins. Here’s the detailed list and the necessary ingredients.”

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“Mm. Allocate the funds as needed.”

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After a quick glance and a signature, Selena handed the documents back to Secretary Rennie.

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The Pope continued working as if nothing had happened, utterly unruffled by the news.

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That was Her Holiness for you—no matter how important the issue, she always handled it with composure, never letting it disrupt her flow.

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“Also, reliable sources confirm that Duke Ous was killed in the Imperial Capital by Adventurer Lin Wei. Vice Commander Guga is handling the aftermath. I’ll gather intelligence on the Empire’s response and report back.”

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“I understand.”

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Secretary Rennie relayed the information she’d just received.

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Although perhaps it was her imagination, it seemed like, for just a split second, Her Holiness’s usual calm faltered when Lin Wei’s name was mentioned.

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But no, surely that was just her mind playing tricks on her. The Pope would never let an adventurer disrupt her work.

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“Additionally, Adventurer Lin Wei wishes to report the details in person. He’s waiting outside for your summons. Shall I call him in now?”

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“Outside…?”

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This time, there was no mistaking it—Her Holiness’s reaction was different.

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She looked up at the door, her gaze meeting Lin Wei’s, who was waiting outside with a helpless expression.

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She quickly lowered her eyes, forcing herself to appear calm, but her composure was clearly unraveling.

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After several seconds of silently collecting herself, she finally managed to answer, her voice barely betraying her excitement.

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“Summon him.”

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“Yes, ma’am—eh?”

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Just as Secretary Rennie was about to deliver the message, Lin Wei strode right in.

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Before she could even scold him for his rudeness, the Pope issued another command.

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“Secretary, leave us for a while.”

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“Eh?!”

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This time, Rennie was completely stunned.

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What was going on? Why was she—someone Her Holiness trusted—being sent out?

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Had she fallen out of favor?

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Or did the Pope and Lin Wei have some secret plan to discuss?

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Let me in on it! I swear I won’t interrupt!

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“I have matters to discuss with Adventurer Lin Wei. In the meantime, go investigate the fallout from Duke Ous’s death and the Empire’s reaction.”

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Barely managing to keep her explanation together, Pope Selena nodded, her gaze never leaving Lin Wei.

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“This is a very important mission.”

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“Mm. I’m counting on you.”