Chapter 89 : Gambler
Chapter 89: Gambler
Although Corleon was a little curious about the Lord’s family matters, someone came to visit.
It was Terry.
"Good morning, Priest. Oh, right, I should be calling you Bishop now." Terry took the initiative to greet him.
"Good morning." Corleon responded with a slight nod."Are you here to take Agamemnon back?"
Terry laughed. "No, he’s doing very well here. I also believe this place is safe, and I’m quite satisfied with his growth."
"Then, what brings you here? It’s not exactly safe outside right now." Corleon looked at Terry.
"It’s daytime. Those stupid dogs wouldn’t dare show up now." Terry laughed aloud, clearly indifferent to the Werewolves.
"They’ve already slaughtered two villages."
"Just two villages in a state of chaos." Terry replied.
"Bishop should have already received the news about the village rebellions, right?
"Such things, as long as one lives long enough, are bound to happen eventually."
"Even without the Werewolf attacks, those villages would have rebelled sooner or later."
"Then the Lord would clear out the rebels, leave behind the obedient civilians as seeds, and either dispatch a family there or support the rise of a new one. That way, the village could enjoy stability for a few generations again."
"These are just very ordinary matters."
As a family related by blood to the previous Lord, Terry naturally had the confidence to say such things.
"So the Lord had the knights wipe out those four families for this reason?"Corleon asked.
"Oh, no. It’s just that the Hayes Family was truly foolish. The manor they built looked like a fortress, and they stubbornly clung to the external nails they had planted."
"That’s why the knights paid them a visit."
"As for the remaining three families, it was simply that after visiting those three, they discovered all four families were of the same ilk and had violated the Lord’s laws in various ways."
"So they were all wiped out in passing."
"In fact, they had managed the villages quite well."
As for what aspect was managed well, Corleon made no comment.
"Then, Miss Terry, what brings you to the church today?"Corleon asked.
"Just came to see the new church, offer some worship to the Lord, and inform the Bishop of a few things." Terry spoke as she stood beneath the Sacred Cross, closing her eyes with hands clasped in prayer.
"Traces of the Church of the Sanctuary were found in the two rebellious villages."
"Although none of us care about the rebellions, these traces, and the church doctrines spread by those who helped build the churches and were accepted by the villages, do cause us some dissent."
The ‘us’ here naturally referred to the families of the same class as Terry.
"So, what you mean is, you’ll use this rebellion as a reason to denounce the church?" Corleon asked.
"No, no, if it were just a denunciation, we would’ve done that long ago."Terry turned to face Corleon.
"A denunciation is merely that—a denunciation. When faced with real crisis, we will erase all threats completely."
"Just like Alton, the Priest should know about him."
"On the third day after the Lord announced the lifting of control over Oak Wood, he died, and no one even knows where his body was dumped."
"So, are you here to threaten me?" Corleon laughed.
"No, no, I’m just an old woman. And our Adams Family is merely a small family that lost its fiefdom and has no knights." Terry hurriedly replied.
"How could I possibly threaten you?"
"I just hope we could cooperate."
She revealed her intention.
"Cooperate?"
"Yes. That little heifer from the Daniels Family has already picked her side, but I do not agree with her methods."Terry said.
"She has ties of friendship with the church, and her beloved younger brother is studying in the church, yet even in such a situation, she chose to stand against the church."
"I believe that once the Adams Family loses its value, she will devour me without hesitation."
"So, compared to her, I find the church, which even now is willing to send people to eliminate the Werewolves, far more trustworthy."
Terry spread her arms and slightly bowed to Corleon.
"I am willing to become the eyes of the church. I am willing to offer the wealth of my family to the church. My family is willing to become faithful believers of the church."
"..—"
Corleon gave no response, only looking at Terry who remained bowed.
After a moment, Corleon finally spoke.
"Then, what is it that you wish to obtain?"
"I hope the Adams Family can receive the church’s protection." Terry bowed her head as she spoke.
"Just protection?"Corleon asked.
"Yes, just protection."
"That’s not fair enough."
"I believe it is very fair."
"If that’s what you believe, then the church can form an alliance with you."Corleon said.
"But what you need to understand is that Yara would betray an alliance for the sake of profit, and the church would abandon its cooperation with your family should it fall into depravity—perhaps even punish you and your family."
"Yes, I understand, and I wholeheartedly agree with the Holy Scriptures of the Lord." Terry stood upright, placing her hands before her.
"Agamemnon is outstanding. After my death, he will become the head of the Adams Family."
"He is a devout believer. He will manage the family well."
"You are still in good health." Corleon looked at Terry, whose expression had relaxed.
"The hidden daggers in the shadows don’t care whether I’m healthy or not."Terry smiled naturally.
She sat down on another bench.
"You purchased a map from here, so you should know that there are no longer any villages in the northern part of the territory—that area is a Vacuum Zone." Terry said.
"I’ve already submitted an application to Administrator Piero. The Adams Family will move out of York Town to the north to establish a new village and fill in the blank there."
"Although he’s still hesitating now, he will agree. He can’t bear the blame for the complete razing of all northern villages."
Corleon felt some admiration for Terry’s courage.
"You’re betting that the Werewolves won’t attack the York Territory again, and that their target is the Marquis Territory to the north." Corleon said.
If Nyx could get such information, so could Terry and her kind.
"Yes, I am gambling. But I have no choice but to gamble."Terry sighed.
"In the entire territory, the authority handed down by the Lord is like a loaf of bread. The more people who share the bread, the less each person gets."
"So, if one wants to eat more, one must reduce the number of people eating the bread."
"And this time, in those two rebellious villages, the traces of the church are their excuse."
"Yes, just one excuse is enough for them to reject the church and thereby implicate my family."
"And with Agamemnon studying in the church, the Adams Family cannot sever ties with the church."
"Moreover, my son is dead—killed because of the former Lord. Even though they all praise my son, when it comes time to act against the Adams Family, they won’t show mercy."
"Of course, I could do what Yara did, and completely sever ties with the church."
"But her family has more than one heir besides Ando."
"His older brother, Weilin, has already become one of the Lord’s Guards, and followed the Lord into battle. When he returns, he may become a knight. He is the primary heir."
"Of course, he is technically the head of the family already—he only stepped down temporarily to follow the Lord."
"Even if Weilin dies on the battlefield, he has already left descendants within the family, and Yara herself is still of childbearing age."
"I am already quite old, and the blood in my veins is not that of the Adams Family. So I have no choice."
Terry’s voice was weary and sorrowful.
It was unclear whether it was due to the mention of her son or the predicament of her family.