Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Regular inspections of their territory are the duties of a lord.
Earl Paul Grayman of Alden was fulfilling his obligation.
In fact, with the increasing perfection of the political system, Paul no longer needed to rely on this ancient duty to maintain his rule. It was merely a small excuse he used to momentarily escape the paperwork that weighed him down.
He rode a white horse, with twelve attendants on grey horses following him, leisurely traveling along the country roads.
After years of development, even the rural dirt roads had been partially paved, no longer as bumpy and uneven as before. As Paul rode along, he felt a sense of accomplishment.
Looking ahead at the rising smoke from chimneys, Paul asked, "Is that Taldor Village up ahead?"
"Yes, my lord. Taldor Village is just ahead. The village chief must have already prepared to welcome you," answered his attendant, Agram.
Taldor Village was their destination for the day.
Paul stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I remember there is a Father Hershey in this village who lives contentedly in poverty. Let's pay him a visit as well."
Some information flashed through his mind, which he had asked Cecil to investigate and report back to him some time ago.
The priests who preside over country churches are a large group, making up around sixty to seventy percent of the clergy in the Northwest Bay. Their monthly income usually doesn't even reach a single silver coin.
The Church of the Lord of Light doesn't prohibit its lower clergy from marrying, but with such a modest income, supporting a family and maintaining a relatively high social status can be quite a struggle.
Today, as prices continue to rise with the economic growth in the Northwest Bay, the problem has become even more pronounced.
Although the Church's assets are solid, the wealth it accumulates from economic growth is distributed mainly among the upper echelons of the Church. These upper officials, unlike Paul, do not respond swiftly to changing circumstances by raising the pay of their subordinates.
For thousands of years, this has been the norm, and the economic boom in the Northwest Bay in recent years is extremely rare, even unprecedented.
Furthermore, the Church's teachings don't align with material pursuits—at least, that's what they publicly claim.
Perhaps this is an opportunity to address a long-held desire of his.
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"Wow—!"
Accompanied by brilliant flames, a chorus of children's gasps and cheers rang out again.
"Thank the Lord of Light."
Father Hershey felt a deep sense of satisfaction, genuinely praising the deity he served and casting a grateful glance at the group of outsiders standing at a distance.
There were four men and one woman in the group, and one of the young men was performing a fire magic trick for the children.
A few days ago, two of the men had come seeking lodging—one older, one younger—and claimed to be part of a traveling magician troupe. They asked if they could stay for a few days until their companions, who had fallen behind due to unforeseen circumstances, could catch up.
Hershey agreed to their request and didn't charge them any fees, asking instead that they perform a few magic tricks for the children of the church as payment.
Father Hershey's church, when the adults in the village were working the fields, also functioned as a daycare for the children.
However, entertainment options were scarce in the countryside. Bards and circuses usually performed in larger cities, so the arrival of this magician troupe was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise.
Over the past few days, the church, usually a quiet and solemn place, had become quite lively, with even people from nearby villages coming to watch the magic shows.
Now, the troupe had been joined by their remaining companions—two men and one woman.
Father Hershey felt some regret; this meant that the magicians would likely be leaving soon, perhaps the very next day.
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"Odanel, we didn't come here to entertain children."
Looking at Nathan, who was energetically performing the "fire magic" for the children, Marianna spoke in a quiet but cold tone to the person next to her.
Marianna, along with Nathan and Edward, had received word that Odanel had found a lead on Bennett, but needed their help, so they immediately set out to meet at the designated location.
"Oh, oh, calm down, Lady Crimson Flame," Odanel chuckled. "We should wait patiently for our prey, like hunters, to fall into our trap. Believe me, our quarry will arrive today."
"Hmph, what a waste of time! By the way..." Marianna asked curiously, "Who exactly is the 'prey' you're talking about?"
When they first met, Odanel had briefly explained the purpose of their gathering. He and Derson needed to "extract" something from a person's mind, but performing magic in an uncontrolled environment could lead to complications. Therefore, they needed strong companions to assist and ensure a safe escape.
Odanel smiled and replied, "A very challenging target."
"A challenging target?"
"The local lord."
Before Odanel finished speaking, Marianna's body stiffened.
"You... what did you say?"
The Crimson Flame Sorceress stared at Odanel in disbelief, her voice trembling. "The lord? Is it Earl Paul... Grayman?"
Odanel was a little shocked as well. It was the first time he had seen such an expression on the face of the Crimson Flame Sorceress.
Had she become afraid? Impossible.
He nodded. "You've heard of his name? Yes, it is indeed the lord."
"You're crazy!" To his surprise, Marianna's next words were full of sharp criticism. "How dare you target the local ruler?"
"What? Are you afraid?"
Odanel was surprised. Marianna's reaction was completely unlike her usual demeanor.
"Do you want to get us killed?" Marianna said coldly. "Let me remind you, the lord is certainly surrounded by a large number of guards. And we're in an unfamiliar place. There's no reason to risk our lives just to find Bennett."
"Risk our lives? Not at all," Odanel shook his head. "From the information I've gathered, this Earl Grayman isn't one for showing off. He doesn't bring too many people when he inspects his lands. At least not enough to make it impossible for five powerful spellcasters to handle."
Marianna was adamant. "If something happens to Earl Paul... Grayman, the entire Northwest Bay will hunt us down. I won't agree to such a risky plan. Leave here—now, immediately!"
Odanel frowned and shrugged. "If you won't participate, then it will be just Derson and I. I've already spent days preparing here in this church, using up valuable materials. It would be a waste if we cancel now."
"You!" Marianna seemed both shocked and angry, but couldn't find the words to argue.
The two of them remained in a tense stalemate.
"Alright."
After a long pause, Marianna finally seemed to give in. "Since you're so determined, we'll cooperate."
Her tone returned to its usual calmness.
Odanel noticed a strange look in her eyes.
Well, as long as she agreed to cooperate, that was all that mattered.
(End of the Chapter)
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