At the headquarters of the Knights Templar, a figure pushed past those who blocked his way and questioned him, storming straight into the office of the Knight Commander.
With a thud, the sturdy wooden door was kicked open. Surrounding swordsmen had already drawn their weapons, but Rodhart, who was reviewing documents inside, seemed unperturbed by this extremely rude intrusion. He greeted the intruder with a friendly nod, saying, "You're back."
The swordsmen let out a sigh of relief; someone had finally recognized the intruder as a church official. However, the priest charged forward and delivered a heavy slap to the friendly Rodhart's face. The blow sent him crashing to the ground, papers scattering everywhere.
With a clink, all the swordsmen drew their swords.
Rodhart got back to his feet. Half of his face was already swollen, blood trickling from his mouth, yet he remained calm, waving his hand at his agitated subordinates. "Everyone out! Close the door. No one is allowed in without my command."
The swordsmen stood frozen at the door, still processing what had just happened when the priest delivered another kick to their standing commander's face. The Commander showed no intention of fighting back; he merely got up again, wiped away the blood streaming from his nose, and continued to issue orders with authority, "Didn't you hear my command? Get out! Close the door! No one is to know what happens here."
The Commander's orders were absolute. The swordsmen had no choice but to exit, and as they closed the door, they caught a glimpse of their commander receiving another punch to his head and stomach.
"Have you had enough?" Rodhart asked, standing up and speaking coolly. His face was swollen, and blood was still flowing from his mouth and nose, but his gentle demeanor seemed completely unaffected.
Asa grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground and pinning him against the wall, glaring at him coldly. "I just came from the square. Is this what you meant by a solution?"
"Yes, exactly that. There was no other way," Rodhart replied, his face and voice equally calm. "All the officials in Airi know they framed us, and they know I sent them back, so they can't be spared; they must be killed. Only by placing the blame for the murder of the commissioner on them and executing them through a trial in the capital can we completely clear our names. Saving them means dooming ourselves, and our future and the plan of Bishop Ronis would be ruined. You know how important that is. In weighing the pros and cons, this is the only course of action, and the Bishop said the same."
"Bishop Ronis knows about this?" Asa asked.
Rodhart nodded. "Just the day before yesterday, after I returned, I asked the Bishop…"
After Claudius had left the group with Asa, Rodhart immediately commanded the troops to march at full speed, making it back to the capital in just three days.
All the way, he was the highest officer of the troops and could have met and talked with those locals at any time he wished. But Rodhart did not do so; he didn't dare because he already knew how this matter needed to be resolved. Bishop Ronis had given him some hints before he left for Airi, precisely to deal with the current situation.
If this matter were to be resolved, it had to be done this way. But he was still a twenty-year-old young man and still felt a sense of guilt toward those locals. He didn't have much time to choose; he had to make a decision quickly.
He arranged for the troops to stay outside the city temporarily and entered the city alone to seek an audience with Bishop Ronis at the Magic Academy.
At that time, Bishop Ronis had just received a report from Airi. He was delighted and excited. Although the report writer did not know what the strange phenomena were, he could infer the development of events from the descriptions. He hadn't even anticipated that the heretic incident there was instigated by the Necromancer Guild, nor that they had found a way to break the long-standing barrier of the Sun Well that had baffled countless wizards for centuries. Most unexpectedly, it was Asa who had perfectly resolved this extremely dangerous situation.
The destruction of the Whispering Woods was also just right. The ancient elves there were the most difficult to communicate with, and with their obstruction removed, the Turaleone Forest would more readily accept their alliance treaty. Asa protected the leaves of the World Tree and one surviving elf, a performance that should be sufficient to eliminate all the elves' reservations and hostility.
What remained was the internal affairs of the empire. Bishop Ronis was not particularly fond of politics; being in such a special position, he had little interest in power, believing it merely entangled one in worldly matters. However, the fact was that no matter how noble or great one might be, if one wanted to accomplish anything in this world, one had to deal with the mundane and resolve problems in mundane ways. Establishing an alliance with other races and nations to confront the Necromancer Guild could not overlook politics.
Now, with the Ernie family having collapsed in the imperial political arena, other military figures were merely unambitious and ineffectual soldiers, while the prominent figure was Duke Murak.
The Duke harbored grand ambitions and possessed exceptional means; reaching this stage was inevitable. Under his dominance, he would not allow other forces to rise, and he would certainly interfere with Bishop Ronis's plans for forming an alliance. However, the Bishop was not worried about this at all; he was like a reclusive master—if he didn't act, that was one thing, but when he did, it would be astonishing and effective. After discussing with his friend, Ham, just a few days prior, he had already taken a small measure, waiting to see its remarkable results.
But at that moment, Rodhart came to see him with a strange expression, triggering a foreboding feeling.
Sure enough, what Rodhart reported was indeed very serious. He hadn't anticipated that Asa would keep such matters from him, leaving him completely unprepared. Now, in this situation, if Duke Murak found any evidence against them, it would mean that all their efforts would go to waste.
"Bishop, what should I do now?" Rodhart asked, his voice tinged with desperation, seeking guidance.
Bishop Ronis looked into his eyes and said, "What do you think you should do?"
"I... I don't know," Rodhart replied, lowering his head.
"You know," the Bishop said, his candle-like eyes able to discern the hidden meanings behind Rodhart's every movement. "The look of anguish on your face tells me you actually know; you just don't dare to make a choice."
"Yes, I don't dare to choose, nor can I choose," Rodhart admitted, appearing lost and in pain. "I owe them so much; I shouldn't…"
"Dare? Should?" The Bishop quickly caught onto those two words, understanding Rodhart's thoughts immediately. "There has never been a matter in this world that's about 'should' or 'shouldn't'; it's only about whether you want to do it and whether you have the ability to do it." He sighed deeply. "Justice and light come at a cost, requiring sacrifice. Kindness and compassion are undoubtedly the most precious things, but sometimes, with a long-term perspective, you must also make sacrifices, for the lives and happiness of more people are waiting for you to save them at another end… I won't interfere in this matter. You choose; do it your own way. No matter what choice you make, I won't blame you." Yet, even as he said this, the Bishop added, "Because I know you are a rational person, someone who knows how to prioritize."
"Know how to prioritize…" Asa muttered, nodding. His expression was strange, as he didn't know what kind of expression to wear.
"Yes. Weigh the pros and cons. We can only do this now." Rodhart, blood still flowing from his nose, a split lip, and bruised eyes, looked disheveled, yet his demeanor showed no signs of being flustered. "This is also for your future. Bishop Ronis said that many important matters await you to tackle; this sacrifice is unavoidable."
"Future?" Asa sneered, throwing Rodhart to the ground. "Go on and take care of your big plans. I've long since lost interest in this."
At the Magic Academy, Bishop Ronis and three high priests were welcoming Bishop Adela, who had arrived through the teleportation magic array.
Bishop Adela, like Bishop Ronis, is one of the cardinal red bishops of the church, but unlike Ronis, who sits alone in the empire, Adela serves beside the Pope. From a certain perspective, he is a close confidant of His Holiness.
Bishop Adela is a young man in his thirties. He has an elegant and graceful demeanor and a very handsome appearance, exhibiting a poise that straddles the line between male and female. It is almost unimaginable that someone of his age could achieve such a position, which suggests he likely possesses some hidden attributes in addition to his extraordinary abilities.
"I have been busy with matters in the East and haven't had the chance to visit His Holiness for many years. Please help me apologize to the Pope, Bishop Adela," Bishop Ronis said while sitting in his chair, his eyes half-open, with two points of green flame flickering within, showing that he lacked energy.
Bishop Adela smiled, his smile appearing almost shy: "Not at all. His Holiness has always praised you for your outstanding achievements in the empire. Under your leadership, the magic academy has attained such a high status in the empire, becoming one of the church's most important subordinate institutions. It's entirely reasonable that you've been unable to find time for the church."
"Then what brings you to the magic academy, Bishop Adela?" Bishop Ronis still seemed disinterested, as if he didn't care much for the Pope's envoy sitting before him.
"I'm here to convey a message from His Holiness," Adela replied.
Bishop Ronis lazily said, "What message? I presume it must be something important to send a red bishop to convey it."
Bishop Adela continued to smile as he said, "It concerns your proposal to the church to unite various nations to eradicate the necromancers' guild…"
"That's strange," Bishop Ronis coldly snorted. "It seems I haven't sent any messages to the church yet." He turned to glance at High Priest Kusbert, who was sitting beside him.
The high priest's face looked grim, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
"You've mentioned this proposal to His Holiness several times in the past. Moreover, the recent surge of sentiment against the necromancers' guild on the Eastern Continent is likely led by you, isn't it?"
"As believers of the divine, isn't it our duty to eliminate those filthy evils?"
"Indeed. However, His Holiness stated that there are still many countries on the continent that have yet to be embraced in the arms of God, as well as many heathens. The Dehya Valley is merely a drop in the ocean and poses no real threat. Furthermore, the situation there is perilous; if we forcefully engage in an expedition, countless children of God will surely perish. Therefore, His Holiness believes we should focus our efforts on…"
"Is this really the will of His Holiness?" Bishop Ronis coldly interrupted Adela's words.
The three high priests beside them all looked quite uneasy. Although Bishop Ronis held a prestigious position in the church, such words seemed inappropriate to say.
"It is indeed the will of His Holiness." Bishop Adela's expression did not change at all; he maintained his amiable smile.
Bishop Ronis lazily waved his hand. "Alright, no need to say more. I haven't even formally presented this suggestion to His Holiness yet, so there's no need for you to worry."
Bishop Adela politely nodded. "We understand that, given your devout faith, you cannot tolerate even a trace of evil and darkness. However, we hope you can consider the bigger picture. We are very aware of the personal grievances between you and the Dehya Valley, and we are quite understanding, so we hope…"
The two flickering green flames in Bishop Ronis's eyes suddenly flared up, almost casting a green light on Bishop Adela's face.
Bishop Adela tactfully fell silent, but the smile on his face did not wane.
After a while, the green flames in Ronis's eyes dimmed again, and he weakly waved his hand, declaring the conversation over. "Alright. There's nothing more to say. I have understood His Holiness's intention. I'm tired; you may leave now."
After the three high priests accompanied Bishop Adela out, he specifically requested High Priest Kusbert to lead him to inspect the situation at the magic academy.
"You did very well," Bishop Adela said softly when there were no others around. "Timely reporting the situation here to the church sufficiently demonstrates your loyalty to the church."
"Yes, yes. My loyalty to His Holiness and the bishops can absolutely be compared to my devotion to God." In front of the younger Bishop Adela, the high priest had completely shed his usual rigidity and authority. He increasingly felt that reporting the situation here to the church due to a moment of impulse and dissatisfaction was indeed the right choice. "I just feel that Bishop Ronis's actions are somewhat inappropriate. He's promoting some inexplicable newcomers for no reason. Oh, right." He recalled something important and whispered, "A few years ago, after Bishop Ronis's proposal to eliminate the Dehya Valley was rejected by the church, he returned very angry, muttering something about how you few bishops benefitted from Nopolinot…"
"Nopolinot?" Upon hearing this name, Bishop Adela's expression slightly changed but quickly returned to his gentle smile. "Mr. Nopolinot is a devout and charitable person. His annual donations to the church are substantial. It seems Bishop Ronis may have some particular prejudice against merchants."
Seeing that his opinion seemed to be valued by the bishop, Kusbert became more spirited. He continued quietly, "The last newcomer he promoted was also involved with a necromancer… but the bishop insisted it wasn't him. Anyone could tell that was pure favoritism. To be so partial on such a major issue…"
"Let's not say that. Bishop Ronis has devoted so much effort to the church over the years. His devotion to God is beyond question; he surely has his own considerations." Bishop Adela shook his head with a smile, causing the high priest to feel alarmed for a moment, but the next remark immediately brought him joy. "However, it is understandable; Bishop Ronis is probably getting a bit old…"
The fact that this distinguished person shared his sentiment surprised Kusbert, and he nodded repeatedly. After all, he was a noble figure who directly served His Holiness.
"Although Bishop Ronis is indeed extraordinary, you've also seen that sometimes he can exhibit the stubbornness unique to the elderly, which puts the church in a difficult position." Bishop Adela sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if it might be better for someone his age to retire…"
"I think Bishop Ronis is in good health and won't voluntarily retire in the next ten years," Kusbert couldn't help but sigh as well. For someone who had already attained the position of a cardinal, 'retirement' was just a decorative term that would never be used, and the vast majority hoped to hold onto that position until death.
Bishop Adela sighed again, glancing meaningfully at Kusbert. "If after he retires, someone like you, who can recognize the overall situation and always thinks for the church, takes over the position, we will have an easier time."
High Priest Kusbert was first stunned, then at a loss, followed by both fear and surprise. He didn't know what to say or how to express himself; his ugly face flushed bright red.
After sending off Bishop Adela, Kusbert still couldn't calm his feelings. In his life, where the majority of his time was spent in ascetic practice, he had never experienced such excitement or strange emotions. A lot of inexplicable feelings surged within him, making him want to jump up, punch, and kick, and shout out loud. But he couldn't; he was a serious, strict, and composed clergyman, and a high priest at that. Yet this inner impulse…
Sigh. He thought, if only he had a close friend at this moment…
Speaking of friends, the high priest suddenly thought of someone. Although he had known this person for a long time, it was only a few days ago that they had suddenly become familiar and close due to certain opportunities. This gentleman was currently thriving in his career and had begun to show concern for the church and the magic academy.
Although their acquaintance had been brief, during these past few days, he found this gentleman, despite his high position, to be so understanding and kind. One could tell just from the few small gifts he had given. Talking with him was truly enjoyable, like a breath of spring air or drinking holy water.
Unable to contain himself, the high priest walked out of the magic academy's gates toward the duke's mansion.
A flash of azure light appeared as Bishop Adela emerged from the teleportation magic circle. Before him was a picturesque scene. The tall broad-leaved sycamores had their tips dyed yellow by autumn, adding a touch of rustic charm, but the grass below was still vibrant and flourishing. Next to it was a large pool fed by a converging stream, where several rare birds unique to the area were swimming. The stone sculptures and benches by the pool were all artworks that would be qualified to enter any museum. The sunlight of the setting sun streamed through the gaps in the mountains, bringing warmth and light.
This place was truly beautiful, at least a thousand times more so than the church's dull and lifeless pale buildings.
A companion, who had been reading under the sycamore tree while facing the sunset, noticed him, closed the book, and walked over, asking, "How did it go? Was it smooth?"
"It completely aligns with the wishes of our great director and playwright. If Mr. Shante requests to be nominated as the acting president this time, I will definitely vote for him to express my admiration for his keen ability to read people and his directing skills."
"Of course! He is an artist, after all," his companion laughed. "You've accompanied him in his artistic endeavors this time; what are your thoughts?"
"My thoughts? I just hope he keeps his promise and gives me the original of that 'Thirteenth Sunflower.'"
Here, there is such a humorous, witty, elegant, and noble companion, a thousand times better than those odious, dull old fools in the church.
He truly loved it here. Adela smiled happily.