Chapter 104: The Art Of The Deal (1)
Threaten with a smile instead of a sword.
–William Shakespeare, <Timon Of Athens>
-Kwaaaa!!!
The perfected Lily Essence, which was completed by cutting out human emotions and nature, began to take root inside and outside the corpse, absorbing the surrounding energy.
The power controlled by the incantation began to take on a distinct form, like a living plant, using the opposing nature of Demonic Qi as nourishment.
Amidst the repeated lyrics, the illusion of a blooming lily appeared.
The martial artists watched in awe and fear as the eerie sight covered the corpse.
-Hwaak!
The palace was filled with sacred hymns.
With the “Amen” of the quartet punctuating the song, the illusion of the lily flower turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared. The interior became quiet.
The baron’s corpse, lying as if nothing had happened, emitted no trace of energy.
“That is…”
An Exorcism performed in a simplified manner by Little Heavenly Demon, unrelated to the Zion Clan.
Those who witnessed it could not hide their astonishment.
And where the astonishment subsided.
“To erase residual Demonic Qi with just one Indulgence Talisman.”
“Wasn’t the Exorcism ritual supposed to require dozens of Lily Swordmasters and holy relics?”
Doubts began to sprout.
“If this was possible from the beginning….”
“What about the amount of donations the Apostolic See has collected thus far?”
And.
“In summary, with just one talisman.”
For the past few hundred years, those who mastered Demonic arts have wreaked havoc across European countries.
“It means they’ve overcharged dozens of times.”
The anger towards the Zion Clan, which has swept up money with grand deception, was as expected.
“Those swindlers!!”
“Send a telegram to the homeland immediately to report! We must send a letter of protest to the Apostolic See!”
“Inform the merchant guild leader. Retrieve the promissory note paid for the exorcism and cease all dealings with the Zion Clan immediately.”
The fervor reminiscent of the Reformation era began to sweep through the ballroom.
Although it might be far from the cause and justification Martin Luther advocated long ago, the sword’s tip was still aimed at the Roman Apostolic See.
Demons and witches who cause bloodshed while alive and pollute the land when dead.
Now that it has been revealed that there is no need to pay egregious costs to erase their traces, there is no reason to tolerate the Vatican’s arrogant attitude.
“…Now you have done it.”
The chaos and anger spreading like wildfire.
The Lily Sword Master, witnessing this, opened his mouth while looking at the culprit of this situation.
“I admit I underestimated you. I just wanted to test how much you knew, but I didn’t expect this to happen.”
“Is it because you’re a clergyman that you’re bad at gambling? You shouldn’t have bet if you weren’t sure.”
Holmes retorted, but the deacon continued without wavering.
“Anyway, since you’ve shown all your cards, I believe you’re prepared.”
The killing intent in his calm voice was unimaginably dry for his apparent age.
It was different from the impulse and passion of the old priest Sherlock Holmes faced earlier.
An emotion resembling a low, secretive wind that spreads the flames rising in the autumn fields far and wide.
What was revealed on the priest’s face was not the attitude of an accuser but of a judge delivering a verdict.
It was a truth that could never be known just by appearance, a precious clue that helped deduce the priest’s position in the Vatican, and London’s only consulting detective did not miss it.
Though he continued to hide behind Father Howard Brown, this person had considerable ability and status.
The moment the news reaches the main sect, the Zion Clan will surely begin retaliation.
Despite that certainty, Little Heavenly Demon did not stop provoking.
“Preparedness, huh. It seems your sect needs it more than I do.”
Holmes, who had been covering his nose and mouth with a handkerchief to endure the cloying lily scent, lowered his hand and looked straight into the priest’s eyes.
“You say I’ve shown all my cards? What do you mean by that?”
“After you’ve already blabbed everything, what more can you do-”
“In the name of the Queen of the British Empire, I command.”
Before the priest could finish speaking, a clear voice flew in.
At the end of the turned Lily Sword Master’s gaze was the figure of Queen Victoria, the Sword Queen.
“Loyal subject of Britain, Sherlock Holmes, quickly detail the usage of the Indulgence Talisman and report your weight!”
Only then did the priest realize.
What the opponent’s last card, which he had missed, was.
“I shall bestow gold equal to your body weight to commend your patriotic loyalty.”
“…Hmm.”
“No! Let’s make it double!”
An unkillable woman,
Versus,
A sect running out of business capital.
The worst auction in history was about to begin, with the secret Sherlock Holmes held in between.
The gazes of Her Majesty Queen Victoria and the unidentified Zion Clan warrior, who hadn’t even revealed his name, clashed in the air.
A martial artist of the Unrestrained Realm is one who takes on a human form, but beneath the skin lies a separate creature.
They are transcendents who break the shackles of the heavenly punishment they were born with and ultimately surpass the innate limits of the human species.
No matter how much they hide their momentum, their gaze always carries intent.
But the deacon of the Vatican was staring straight at the Sword Queen with an indifferent face.
I assure you, that’s something absolutely impossible for an average John or Richard.
Even for me, looking into the eyes of my master or Her Majesty for more than five seconds at a time is mentally exhausting and difficult to endure.
‘In the end, did they reveal their tail?’
In my mind, methods to derive the most favorable outcome from this situation were dancing.
I gained a lot from a single revelation.
Not only did I gain some certainty about the deacon’s identity, but I also acquired means to exclude potential threats from the Zion Clan’s main base in the future.
‘It’s not just a Divine Comedy, but it’s as if the Fount Of Blessing has descended.’
Thanks to the Inquisitor’s rampage, I was able to reveal the secret of the Indulgence Talisman on the most effective stage without any regret.
The corpse of a demon exuding thick residual Demonic Qi and a high-ranking master of the Zion Clan pointing a sword at the Sword Queen.
The pretext is more than sufficient.
I have both the cause and justification, so no one can touch me no matter what I do.
‘Was this all as expected?’
The fact that I achieved the most important first milestone reassured me.
Her Majesty the Queen took the bait at the expected timing.
I believed that Her Majesty, who prioritizes the interests of Britain above all, would surely act that way.
I revealed the card prepared for friction with the Zion Clan earlier than expected, but it was a card that would surely benefit me whenever I played it.
The recent situation was a rare opportunity where Heaven, Earth, and Man all aligned, so there was no reason to hesitate.
‘The fact that even those deeply trained cannot hide their agitation is a positive sign, is it not?’
As I looked around subtly, I saw familiar faces of those whose names and photos appear occasionally in newspaper articles looking at me.
Besides them, there were also those with solid energy, presumed to be influential figures of various major clans and families.
That’s right.
There are plenty of people here who have a grudge against the Zion Clan.
Many of them would willingly pay millions of pence to uncover the secrets of the Apostolic See.
Of course, they won’t easily trust me.
Because a secret as a product has no weight and leaves no trace of sale.
Even if they pay me once and buy the secret of the Indulgence Talisman, they might lose sleep worrying that I might have passed the secret to others and eventually try to add my invaluable head, incomparable to the Zion Clan’s secrets, to their collection like an Oscar Wilde play.
Come to think of it, has Salome not even premiered in this world yet?
Anyway, what’s important now is that whoever wants the secret, the shady character who has been pretending to be a mere disciple of the Zion Clan is enough to make me anxious.
“To dare to buy the Zion Clan’s secret techniques with worldly money, without permission of the Apostolic See?”
Watching him release a Lion’s Roar at the Sword Queen, who is far superior in both age and martial seniority, made me almost laugh.
“That is unacceptable! I absolutely cannot allow it!”
“Do I need the Pope’s permission to commend my people’s loyalty? It was you Lily Swordmasters who kissed the old fisherman’s ring, not I.”
“What?!”
Despite Her Majesty’s insulting words, the Inquisitor could not argue further.
He too would know well.
That if he argued now, it would only provoke the Sword Queen further.
“And the fact that all this started from the Zion Clan’s deception has been witnessed by the Chivalrous Ladies And Gentlemen gathered from the Five Oceans and Seven Continents.”
“Ugh…!”
“If anyone believes there is falsehood in my words, come forward. I shall cut them down myself.”
As soon as Her Majesty finished speaking, the first floor of the Old West Wing fell into silence.
No one dared to step forward and act as a defender of the Zion Clan.
This was not merely because they feared Her Majesty.
The martial artists gathered for the ball, whether for political, financial, emotional reasons, or following the martial code, were siding with Her Majesty.
No matter how much the sect boasts of its influence over Italy and Southern Europe and its achievements in killing the most demons and witches.
Now that it has been revealed that they have deceived trading partners and gained illicit profits for hundreds of years, their existence is reflected in everyone’s eyes no differently than a Public Enemy of the martial world.
“If such absurdity is allowed, what does the martial code exist for? Do the Easterners not care if their clan’s secret techniques are sold for a pittance?”
In the end, unable to contain his anger, the Inquisitor took off his glasses and crushed them with one hand.
-Crack!
The Etiquette Enforcement Special Palace Maid Corps, seeing the shattered glass scattered everywhere, shot killing intent from all sides, but as Her Majesty raised her right hand, the sharp energy disappeared instantly.
“I acknowledge.”
“…?”
“It means that, as you said, gold equivalent to twice a person’s weight is indeed a pittance. Compared to the money the Vatican has earned by deceiving all of Europe so far, it would indeed seem like a speck.”
“That’s not what’s important right now!”
Looking at the shouting warrior, Her Majesty Victoria spoke in a leisurely tone.
“Yes. It’s certainly not good for important secret techniques or Kung-fu to circulate outside the sect. I fully sympathize with the Zion Clan’s position.”
A statement that no one gathered here, except me, could see through its true intent.