Chapter 165: Before the Gaze of the Goddess Alicia? Her Holiness Finds Herself Thrilled!

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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The Secretary, her lips pressed tight in reluctant obedience, withdrew to fulfill her duties.

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Silence promptly settled over the study, broken only by the faint scrape of Lin Wei’s chair as he shifted his weight.

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Five long seconds passed.

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Finally, the great Pope Selena set aside her work.

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With a graceful motion, she raised her hand, conjuring a ward that sealed the room from any idle intruders.

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And in that instant, the dignified mask she wore shattered—the floodgates of her restraint burst wide open.

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She nearly flew to Lin Wei’s side, anticipation lighting her features with a vivid, unguarded joy.

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“Are you alright, Lin Wei? You’re not hurt, are you? If you feel even a little unwell, I’ll heal you with Holy Light right away!”

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“Did you really kill Duke Ous in the street?”

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“How did you do it? I wake up, and all the trouble just… vanishes!”

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Her voice bubbled with excitement—so bright and lively, it was worlds apart from the serene poise she wore as Pope.

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Even the chill, aloof tone she sometimes adopted at home, after a long and weary day, was nowhere to be found.

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But truly, could anyone blame her? Lin Wei’s surprises always left her breathless.

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Duke Ous—a thorn in the side of both the Holy See and the Pope herself—had plagued them for years.

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For two long years, he had fanned chaos, manipulated public sentiment, and branded her the “Useless Pope.” It was maddening, yet with no evidence, her hands had been tied.

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With the Holy See not yet purged of internal corruption, she couldn’t even have him handled from the shadows.

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And now, in less than a week—beginning with the stolen supplies—Lin Wei had swept Duke Ous entirely from the board.

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He hadn’t just eliminated their greatest nemesis; he’d vented her years of suppressed fury.

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It was more than she’d ever dared hope for.

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“Of course I took care of him. Why else would I come back now?”

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She was still growing accustomed to this softer, more open side of herself.

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But Lin Wei understood his wife’s excitement perfectly. With a fond smile, he reached up and pinched her cheek.

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“Not only did I execute him in public, I burned his body to ashes—not even a scrap left for the Imperial nobles who came running.”

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“That’s payment in full for what he did to you within the Holy See. As for the Empire—after a warning like this, they might try something minor, but they won’t dare act so brazenly again.”

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“From now on, I’ll help you rebuild your reputation. If all goes well, the Holy See will be thriving within a few months. At the very least, the public will stop calling you ‘Useless Pope.’”

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Executing Duke Ous in the open was a thunderous warning to the Empire.

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But expecting the Imperial nobles to fall in line so easily? Unless the Goddess Alicia herself descended to slap them all senseless, that was wishful thinking.

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Still, the Holy See’s downward spiral had been decisively halted. Even if some nobles still harbored ambitions, none would dare challenge the Holy See openly now.

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And that was enough for now.

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“The Holy See and the Empire have always kept to their own spheres.”

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“As long as they don’t confront us directly, the Holy See can, in time, reclaim its glory.”

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“Is it… really that simple?”

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Lin Wei’s calm assurance made it sound as if he were stating the obvious.

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Veya blinked. Since ascending to the papacy, she had often felt lost, unsure how to steer the Holy See.

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Balancing the Empire’s demands, rooting out corruption—it was enough to make her want to cast aside the keys and walk away. Yet for the Dawnstar Pope’s legacy, and the divine decree of the Goddess Alicia, she had gritted her teeth and endured, alone.

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And now, at last, hope had dawned.

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With Lin Wei at her side, even the impossible seemed trivial.

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Had her husband always been this formidable?

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If she’d known, she would have found an excuse to bring him into the Holy See the day they married!

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“But there’s something else you need to know.”

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Lin Wei couldn’t hide a touch of pride as he watched his wife’s stunned expression.

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He caught her hand and gently drew her into his lap, his fingers idly tracing the elegant curve of her waist.

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The way her papal robes hugged her figure was almost criminal; his hand fit perfectly around her slender waist. Even after all this time, he couldn’t help but marvel—how could his wife be this beautiful?

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Who else in this world could possibly deserve such a Pope?

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Oh, right. The mighty Demon Lord himself.

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“Wh-what is it?”

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She’d always sworn the Holy See was off-limits—her final boundary.

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But as Lin Wei’s hands slipped beneath her robe, tracing her waist and stomach, following the graceful arc of her side, her resolve melted.

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She tried to maintain a Pope’s dignity, but the way she bit her lip only gave a sultry edge to the holy radiance that clung to her.

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“I got some intel from Duke Ous. I can’t confirm it yet, but it’s likely—hey, I’m being serious here, could you at least try to act dignified? You are the Pope, after all.”

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“Is this how you treat your hero?”

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Lin Wei couldn’t help but cough, seeing her begin to lose herself—her eyes unfocused, breath uneven.

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“F-fine, I’m listening.”

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If he hadn’t just done her such a favor, she’d have throttled him by now!

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She raised her hand in protest, only for Lin Wei to catch it and hold her fast.

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She frowned, unable to break free, and found herself gazing up at him from close quarters—completely at his mercy, her papal dignity in tatters.

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He had to admit, at times like this, she hardly resembled a Pope at all.

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“In short, Duke Ous was colluding with the Cult of the Evil God, but he was just a pawn—he only joined for his own benefit. There’s a much bigger fish lurking within the Empire, but I couldn’t uncover who, or what their plot is.”

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“The only clue is the Evil God curse inside Ous’s body. The Cult has at least one demon nearly at the level of an Evil God—at the very least, they can wield complete Authority. That’s something we need to be wary of.”

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A demon nearing godhood, wielding a full Authority, was no trivial threat.

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Plainly put, such a being was a demigod.

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Even Transcendents who had broken their limits with a Legacy would have no choice but to flee from such a monster.

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To eradicate one would require all three great knights acting in unison, along with an entire host of Peak-Tier Champions.

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But with the Empire’s tangled politics, mounting such a grand purge was nearly impossible.

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“A-a demon of that caliber?”

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“It’s fine. As long as we can pinpoint their location, the Holy See will find a way to deal with them.”

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Veya drew a steadying breath, biting her lip.

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She pulled her hand free, only to turn and grab Lin Wei’s instead, her eyes filled with urgency.

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“But this ‘bigger fish’—do you think it’s someone in the High Council?”

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“Do you have any suspects? I’ll put people on it, dig into the Empire as much as I can…”

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“Lin Wei, you scoundrel, did you have to pick this moment to talk about something so serious?!”

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Her hands were caught again in an instant, and she couldn’t even finish her sentence.

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She clung to him, face buried in his shoulder, biting down in protest.

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She heard his words, but with all his teasing, she couldn’t think straight.

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With both hands trapped, all she could do was bite him, venting her frustration.

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“What do you mean, ‘pick this moment’?”

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“I could say you’re the one tempting me, flaunting those papal robes!”

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Lin Wei’s shameless retort actually drew a laugh from her, even through her annoyance.

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But at this point, resistance was futile. She simply closed her eyes and pressed herself to him, silent and yielding.

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It wasn’t the first time he’d taken advantage of her in the study, after all.

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And after what he’d just done for the Holy See, she supposed she could indulge him, just this once.

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“Fine, whatever… In that case, we’ll discuss business later.”

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“By the way, after all I’ve done, have you decided what reward you’ll grant your loyal subordinate?”

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“If it’s not good enough, I refuse to accept it. And don’t even think about using our marriage as an excuse!”

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Lin Wei’s tone was mock-serious, but his gaze kept drifting to the towering Statue of the Goddess Alicia in the square below.

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Come to think of it, there was another statue just like it in the Holy See’s main prayer hall—the most sacred, solemn place in the entire Church.

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“Don’t even think about anything weird!”

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But before he could voice his thoughts, Veya cut him off, having already guessed where his mind was headed.

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“I’ve already prepared your reward.”

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“As soon as things settle down, I’ll officially invite you to join the Holy See as my personal chamberlain!”

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“It’s a special position I created just for you, equal in rank to a Vice Commander—ow, why’d you hit me on the head? With that hand, too!?”

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She pouted, rubbing her head, cheeks puffed in indignation.

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“Why are you so picky… But that’s not the point. I hit you because that name is ridiculous!”

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“You’re the Pope! Couldn’t you come up with something that actually sounds like it belongs in the Holy See?”

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“Take the Office of the Holy Oracle, for example—‘Herald’ sounds elegant, but you just call it the propaganda department and the head the ‘Herald’ like it’s some Imperial office. What kind of naming sense is that!?”

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Especially ‘chamberlain’—that’s just the Imperial Court’s chief steward, isn’t it?

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I, Lin Wei, would sooner starve than become the Empire’s lackey!

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It’s an affront to my dignity!

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“I… The Secretary and I aren’t really good at this. Usually, the relevant department comes up with the names.”

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“If you don’t like it, make up your own, I—mmph!”

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He pressed a finger to her lips, making Veya’s eyes widen.

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Before she could react, Lin Wei’s expression shifted—warmth giving way to a predatory glint.

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“Oh? You can’t even be bothered to think of a proper title for your hero?”

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“For someone who’s done so much for the Holy See, this treatment from the Pope is truly unacceptable!”

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“See the square out there, with the Statue of the Goddess Alicia?”

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The Pope’s study commanded the finest view in the entire Holy See, set at its very heart.

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From here, one could gaze out over the whole square—and the goddess’s statue herself.

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“Get to the window. Look out at the goddess, and repent for your behavior, you useless Pope!”

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“Who are you calling useless—hey, hey, the window’s open! Have you lost your mind?!”

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But Lin Wei ignored her protests.

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He pressed her against the windowsill, facing the bustling square.

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With a deft flick of his fingers, he cast a subtle spell—Mana shimmering to form a barrier across the window.

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It was a clever enchantment: from within, one could see out, but from the square below, the window remained opaque and impenetrable.

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No one could see, or even guess, what was happening inside.

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“You—”

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She knew exactly what he intended the moment he bent her forward.

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Facing the distant statue of the Goddess Alicia, Veya curled in on herself, trying to resist.

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But as she studied the spell’s structure, realization dawned with a start—it only blocked vision.

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“You didn’t block the sound?”

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“Nope. So you’d best behave yourself while you’re ‘repenting,’ Your Holiness.”

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Her papal robes, elegant and immaculate, traced every exquisite curve of her body.

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From behind, the way the fabric clung and flowed was almost indecent.

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“Don’t make any strange noises!”

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“Don’t—Lin Wei, please block the sound too—mmph!”

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She let out a muffled moan, hastily clamping a hand over her mouth.

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The sacred statue of the Goddess Alicia filled her gaze, all at once.

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It felt as though she were committing some unspeakable blasphemy, shame and excitement warring within her chest.

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A strange, electric thrill ran through her.

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Damn you, Lin Wei!

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Always picking the worst possible moments to torment me.

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Just wait—once I’ve restored order to the Holy See, I’ll throw you out on the spot!

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I’ll make you beg me to stay, and then I’ll never look back.

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She swore it to herself, but deep down, she knew it was a hopeless vow.

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◇

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Imperial Capital, Royal Palace.

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The marble floors, polished by centuries of footsteps, exuded a sense of timeless history.

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From this vantage, one could behold the full grandeur of the palace—luxurious, imposing, heavy with imperial authority.

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Looking down from the highest balcony, it felt as though one might grasp the world itself.

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“Lord Meyer.”

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“Duke Ous is dead.”

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“…I know.”

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At the highest corridor, a young man in a black-and-red uniform stood, gazing out over the city.

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His expression was utterly blank—so devoid of emotion it was unnerving.

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He stood tall in the wind, exuding an aristocratic grace that looked down upon all beneath him.

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He gazed into the distance, unmoved even by the news of Duke Ous’s death.

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“Your Grace, how should we respond?”

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Montodon, kneeling, spoke through gritted teeth, his voice tight with fury.

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The affront to Imperial dignity, the sheer audacity of the act, made him want to challenge the culprit to a duel on the spot.

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Even now, his blood boiled at the thought.

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“Do nothing.”

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The reply made Montodon look up in shock.

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Lord Meyer didn’t turn. He simply kept his gaze on the distant city.

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“Peace between the Empire and the Holy See is not a bad thing.”

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“Duke Ous was merely a pawn, a tool to test the Holy See.”

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“If he’d succeeded, all the better. If not, so be it. He caused them enough trouble—more than enough. It’s only a pity he wasn’t killed by Meilin…”

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Turning at last, he fixed Montodon with a gaze that seemed to pierce straight through him—golden eyes, cold and heavy with pressure, nothing like the sacred light of the Holy See.

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Montodon bowed his head, unable to endure that gaze.

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“Lin Wei, is it?”

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“Is he a Peak-Tier Champion from the Northern Countries? Or a powerful cleric the Holy See’s been hiding away?”

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“Interesting. But ultimately, irrelevant.”

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A cool wind brushed his face, oddly refreshing.

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He turned back to the horizon, but it was as if he saw into the earth’s very depths—a place untouched for thousands of years.

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But now, both the Cult of the Evil God and his own faction were making their move. The endgame was at hand.

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“We’re nearly at the final stage.”

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“Even a little rat won’t change a thing.”

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“Now… deliver the orders.”

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Montodon clenched his fists, trembling.

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Even without meeting Lord Meyer’s eyes, the pressure was suffocating.

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“Prepare to assassinate Commander Alfron.”

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“And then… we finish what we started.”