Chapter 99: Church On The Paper (1)
Indulgences cannot absolve sins.
Only the Original Heavenly Father can forgive sins.
So, my fist will never forgive you either.
**–**Martin Luther
“…Hey. Young friend.”
The next moment, unexpected words came out of the mouth of a debutante who looked much younger than me.
Even without drawing on internal energy, the presence was enough to momentarily freeze the Queen’s Guard, who were surely accustomed to Her Majesty’s Qi Frequency.
“I don’t know how much you know, but you shouldn’t carelessly mention another clan’s livelihood. You never know when you might get stabbed.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
I thought he was at most first-class, but it seems I was mistaken. I firmly fixed the hypothesis about the opponent’s level, which I had tried to erase earlier, in a corner of my mind.
Of course, that didn’t mean I had any intention of stopping what I had set my mind on.
“So, how many do you have left? The Indulgences.”
“…Didn’t you hear what I just said?”
“Two or so will suffice, I’ll buy them at half the market price.”
“You’re talking nonsense. I don’t have any. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give them to you. Not even for triple the price, you’re too insolent.”
I whispered a Direct Message1 to the deacon who refused to sell.
[If you refuse, I’ll reveal how to use the Indulgences right here in front of everyone.]
“…?!”
[And I’m not talking about the miraculous power that the Zion Clan claims can forgive all sins just by purchasing it.]
“How do you know that….”
“I have no obligation to answer.”
What I’m talking about is the true function hidden in the Indulgences.
It refers to the power of Exorcism, which neutralizes the residual Demonic Qi leaking from corpses and contaminating the space, turning it into a wisp of smoke that disappears.
“I have no sins to be forgiven before God, so I’d like to use the Indulgence Talisman differently. Considering that, even half price seems excessive.”
I don’t know.
What process the indulgences go through at the Zion Clan’s headquarters, the Apostolic See in Rome.
But I do know.
That they are making absurd profits by exploiting the leftover Talismans they sell.
“How about selling it to me at twenty percent of the retail price? [I’ll take care of erasing the Demonic Qi myself] Think about it.”
There was never any need to pay those con artists a lot of money to perform the rituals.
Erasing the residual Demonic Qi was a problem that could be solved with just a couple of Talismans.
“If you don’t sell, I might spread some rumors. That’s not a pretty picture, is it?”
A warrior’s reputation is an asset that attracts opportunities.
And this incident is a chance to gain important assets needed for Whitehall and the Sword Queen’s future support in the Moriarty subjugation.
As a gentleman, I can’t pass up such a golden chance.
“…You little thug. I’ve remembered your face.”
I crumpled a few bills into the deacon’s hand and received two Indulgence Talismans.
“You’re welcome.”
I plan to perfectly clean up the mess caused by the Zion Clan and leave a deep impression on the Murim masters gathered here.
“I’ve heard that the younger generation these days has no fear…”
Even after handing over the Indulgences, the deacon was growling at me as if he wanted to kill me.
At this point, it would have been better to follow his fellow disciples and leave the Forbidden Palace, so why does he keep staying and suffering?
“Did they all fall into a Bad Trip together? Or did the clan brew the wrong potion?”
The saying that pride is a flower blooming in the devil’s garden is indeed true.
Well, I’m just happy to have bought a bomb that can blow up the Zion Clan at a low cost without much effort.
“If you wanted to die peacefully, you should have chosen a sensible method. But if you want to remain in a living hell for a long time, I won’t stop you.”
The priest used the word hell, but it likely refers to this world rather than a place deep beneath the ground.
“Is that a threat?”
It seems he wants to scare me somehow.
“What threat? I’m sure there are plenty of people waiting. Even if I don’t step in, someone will surely take your head eventually. Whether it’s my other fellow brothers and sisters of the Zion Clan or someone I don’t know.”
“……”
I was momentarily speechless.
The words from the deacon’s mouth far exceeded my expectations.
“How could…”
I must reflect on the fact that I inadvertently underestimated my opponent.
Yes. The man in front of me, despite his young age, moved alongside Father Brown.
In other words, even if he appears to be just a deacon and British, he is a master recognized for his skills and standing in the main temple of the Zion Clan.
“What? Why did you suddenly go silent? Are you finally realizing what you’ve done? If you understand, reconsider. Turning the Great Zion Clan into your enemy isn’t a personal choice you want to make-”
“How did you instantly see through me as a chivalrous man burdened with grudges from countless criminals? Truly impressive…!”
The man, despite his nonchalant demeanor, possessed sharp insight.
“…What?”
“That sharp analysis, is it the power of the Upper Elixir Field? Truly fascinating. It would be wonderful if there were research materials on the Kung-Fu of practitioners utilizing the Upper Elixir Field. Someday, if I have the chance, I’d love to explore the Vatican’s secret archives.”
“What lunacy…”
Judging by his efforts to deny it, there might really be a special eye technique among the warriors of the Apostolic See that sees through to a person’s merits and faults.
It was known that practitioners of clans used the Upper Elixir Field.
But to think that the Upper Elixir Field could bestow such profound insight into someone’s character to someone as dull as me who lacks observational skills.
At this point, I was becoming increasingly curious about what the ultimate techniques of clans like the Zion Clan and the Kunlun Clan might be.
“Cease with the nonsense. What I’m saying is, whatever you do, remember that the consequences will come back to you, so be cautious in everything.”
“You were giving advice earlier, and now it’s a warning? I’m a humble man, so I will gladly accept it.”
No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like nothing but a threat.
In Murim, such types of threats usually accompany actual force.
‘If things go south, they might send an Exorcist…or rather, an Inquisitor.’
I’ve often encountered situations where the associates of the criminals I’ve captured have targeted my life.
However, the assassins they hired were generally of a low caliber, not even worth a punch.
But what if the sinister elders of the Zion Clan, in a fit of madness, selected the finest among their True Disciples and sent them across the sea to London?
The most concerning potential threat would undoubtedly be the Lily Swordsmanship.
Even if they aren’t as formidable as the old man I saw earlier, if dozens of Zion Clan’s top masters attempted a surprise attack while I slept, even I might struggle to survive.
I’m fairly confident in my Lightness Skill, so I might be able to preserve my own neck, but I’m not the only one living at 221b Baker St.
Whether it be fighting or fleeing from assassins who could come at any time, ensuring the survival of Watson, who still has a bad leg, and Mrs. Hudson, who doesn’t enjoy fighting, wouldn’t be easy.
However, I won’t let such a situation unfold.
I’m not foolish enough to pick a fight with a massive clan tracking Demonic practitioners across Europe without any plan.
My goal is to leave a lasting impression on the martial experts gathered here by taking unilateral revenge on the Zion Clan. Not to expose their vile secrets and live a short, intense life only to die.
If I can’t survive long enough to judge criminals and archfiends, it wouldn’t be the life of a chivalrous gentleman that I desire.
“I’ve heard many times to be wary of the Zion Clan warriors, but I never knew it was due to the sinister nature of the Lily Swordsmen.”
“If you’re going to disrupt someone else’s business, you should be prepared for the consequences, don’t you think? If you understand, then don’t use that Talisman and keep it safely at home. Remember, this is heartfelt advice.”
The deacon tapped my right hand lightly, which was holding the Indulgence, a few times.
A smiling face. There was no sense of malice, but it was already well-known that a Lily Swordsman did not need intense emotions to kill someone.
Italy’s Murim is sometimes referred to as Casa Dei Vindice2, indicating that they are more sensitive to grudges than warriors from other countries. Among them, the Zion Clan’s vendetta is notorious for being ruthless.
If a Zion Clan disciple loses their life at the hands of a Demonic arts practitioner, they would send a True Disciple to annihilate the enemy’s entire family, so anyone with common sense would avoid provoking the Zion Clan without a justified reason.
“The Vatican has many good friends.”
“Friends, huh…”
It was a meaningful statement.
It clearly had a meaning different from how I would define it.
And, who exactly are these friends?
‘They don’t want to dirty their own hands.’
Even when the opponent presented a legitimate cause, making it difficult for them to act directly, the Zion Clan never stopped their vendetta.
Their usual method was to send dark-path groups like the Impure Earth Union, the Brave House, or the Holy Crown Party, who maintain secretive relations with the Vatican, to cause a bloodbath.
In the Italian dark path, except for a few masters, individual achievements are lower than those of the Lily Swordsmen.
However, considering their relentless pursuit once they target someone, there aren’t many groups in the European Murim that can compare.
So, when threatened like this, the typical reaction of a Murim person would be to panic and beg for their life.
But there are still about three misconceptions the opponent is under.
First. This is not Italy, where the influence of the Apostolic See is strong, but England.
Both I and the young deacon of the Zion Clan are English.
“With all these threats, I might slip and say something out of fear.”
Second. I am the one holding the hilt, not the Zion Clan.
The opponent still seems to refuse to acknowledge this.
And finally.
“What will you do if I accidentally blurt out the Talisman’s function?”
“…What?”
I am not quite like the ordinary Murim gentlemen the world talks about.
“Sorry to bring this up suddenly, but seeing the Vatican flustered by the reckless actions of a twenty-eight-year-old late bloomer sounds tempting.”
Once I turn someone or a group into an enemy, I do my best to ensure they meet an unfortunate end.
“Right now, I mean.”
That’s exactly who I am.
- TL/N: Direct Message = sound transmission ️
- TL/N: Home of Avengers ️