Chapter 17: Name Your PriceAnything at All
Chapter 17: Name Your Price—Anything at All
“Hm?”
There was nothing playful about his tone.
Those fearless eyes met hers directly, unwavering in the face of the holy pressure emanating from the Grand Commander of the Judgement Knight.
“He’s telling the truth,” Yalis quickly interjected, finally recovering from her shock.
“I was ambushed by goblins in the labyrinth. If I hadn’t run into Mr. Lin Wei at just the right moment, I’d probably still be lying there.”
Sister Maylin’s temper is getting worse by the day. She always jumps to accuse Mr. Lin Wei without bothering to get the facts straight.
Even if she’s angry on my behalf, this is just too much!
“Ambushed by goblins?” Meilin echoed, her tone skeptical. Yet her eyes betrayed neither disbelief nor fear.
She fixed her gaze on Lin Wei, as if trying to pierce through him. But his composure never faltered—he stood before her as if it were only natural, as if a clear conscience could stand unflinching beneath the scrutiny of the Holy Light. Maylin’s murderous glare finally eased, if only slightly.
As if struck by a thought, she turned and strode to the bedside table, picking up a small vial. She uncorked it and took a cautious sniff.
A faint medicinal scent tickled her nose—subtle, but enough for any trained hand to discern the potion’s ingredients and effects.
There was no doubt: this was an antidote.
She didn’t know the exact recipe, but even a layman could sense the quality lingering in the liquid. This wasn’t just any antidote—it was a high-grade one.
With things as they were, the truth was clear enough.
She lowered her holy spear and turned to Lin Wei, who still stood where he had been.
Meilin let out a slow breath; the coldness in her eyes faded entirely, replaced by a grave solemnity that brooked no distraction.
“I apologize. I was too agitated just now.”
Even with her socks off, Yalis hardly looked like someone who’d been violated.
Having regained her composure, Maylin’s face now brimmed with regret.
“I just received a report from the Empire—Yalis had fallen unconscious and was taken to an inn by a suspicious man.”
“I… I was so worried about Yalis. I’m truly sorry for the trouble I just caused you.”
“Is an apology really enough?” Lin Wei retorted, his voice edged with sarcasm. “No wonder everyone says the current Pope is useless, and her subordinates are just as bad. If Miss Yalis hadn’t stopped you in time, I’d probably be facing an execution right now, wouldn’t I?”
He wasn’t one to just laugh off an offense and let it slide.
Sure, for the sake of appearances and the peace of his daily life, he couldn’t exactly reveal his true identity as the Demon Lord and give her a beating on the spot. But being falsely accused was another matter entirely—who wouldn’t be angry?
There he’d been, just sitting in the inn, enjoying a pleasant conversation with a beautiful girl.
And out of nowhere, someone had kicked down the door and shoved a holy spear in his face.
If this whole mess wasn’t properly explained, tonight’s “Evil God Incursion in Lotai” headline would be all but guaranteed!
“Uh…”
To be honest, since becoming a Grand Commander of the Judgement Knight, Meilin had never been spoken to so directly.
But instead of anger, she felt a strange sense of respect for him.
After all, if his heart were not truly upright, if he did not believe in the Light, how could he have the courage to speak to a Grand Commander of the Judgement Knight like this?
Especially since he shared her opinion of the current Pope being useless—it only made Meilin respect his intellect all the more.
This was… an adventurer so exceptional that words failed to do him justice.
A devout follower of the Goddess Alicia, someone who truly embraced the Light with unwavering faith.
Had there been even a sliver of darkness in his heart, he wouldn’t have been able to utter a word in her presence, let alone meet her gaze.
“Mr. Lin Wei, I—”
Yalis tried to speak, wanting to offer some kind of reward. But before she could finish, Meilin cut her off.
“I understand.”
Her eyes were resolute, shining with the same sanctity she’d felt years ago when she first swore her oath before the statue of the Goddess Alicia.
Before her stood an adventurer who not only shared her convictions, but possessed a heart as pure as her own.
Meilin nodded solemnly, her tone earnest.
“As a Judgement Knight, it was my duty to investigate. But in the process, I nearly slandered someone as upright as you. That was my failing.”
“A man of your caliber shouldn’t have to endure such suspicion. And as a Judgement Knight, I should never abuse my power to oppress the innocent. I will reflect deeply on my actions before the statue of the Goddess Alicia.”
“And as both an apology and a token of gratitude for saving Yalis—”
She straightened, placing her clenched fist over her heart, and declared with utmost solemnity:
“I, Judgement Knight Meilin, hereby grant you a promise.”
“As long as it does not harm innocent people or go against the Light of the Goddess Alicia, I will fulfill any request you make—no matter what it is, unconditionally.”
Wait… all I did was save the Saintess. Who knew I’d end up with a reward like this?
Lin Wei almost blurted out, “I want a job in the Imperial Capital!”
But as soon as his excitement cooled, he quickly abandoned the idea.
After all, the woman before him was none other than a Grand Commander of the Judgement Knight of the Holy Church—a true powerhouse at the very top of the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
To have her owe you a favor? Even if you offered a duke’s daughter as collateral, no one in their right mind would trade that away!
Would it really be wise to waste such a precious promise on something as mundane as a job in the capital?
Opportunities for work would always arise, given a bit of luck. And if things got tough, he was resourceful enough to carve out his own path. But a Grand Commander of the Judgement Knight’s promise—there would only ever be one.
No, better to save it for when it truly mattered.
With a Saintess candidate and a Grand Commander of the Judgement Knight as allies, as long as he didn’t expose his true identity as the Demon Lord on the spot, there was no way the Holy Church would ever suspect him.
Lin Wei’s mind raced with possibilities.
And it seemed this Judgement Knight had a close relationship with Yalis—perhaps as her sister or guardian. That only made things better.
If he could win Yalis’s friendship and help her ascend to the position of Pope, and with the Grand Commander of the Judgement Knight by her side… With their support, it wouldn’t be long before he and Veya could finally live the happy life of their dreams.
Heh heh heh… Lady Veya, the Holy Church will soon be ours!
“All this just for saving Yalis? Isn’t this reward a bit too generous?”
Lin Wei put on a conflicted expression, glancing at Meilin as if deep in thought.
Her response was exactly as he’d expected. Meilin shook her head firmly and replied, “This is the reward a truly upright adventurer deserves. It’s just a promise—please, don’t think too much of it.”
“That’s right, Mr. Lin Wei. Besides, my life is probably a bit more valuable than you realize,” Yalis chimed in, placing a hand on her hip and giving him a sly, teasing wink as she pinched her fingers together.
Her delicate, beautiful face was almost unbearably charming, and her bare, fair feet on the floor only added to her gentle allure.
“So, why not just accept it?”
Yalis felt a twinge of guilt for deceiving him like this.
“Well… alright then.”
Lin Wei did feel a pang of guilt, as if the Holy Light itself were judging his conscience.
But for the sake of his future, even if he had to stand beneath the Holy Light, he’d see this through.
“If I ever run into trouble, I’ll be counting on you, Grand Commander Meilin.”
“Please—leave everything to me!”
Meilin nodded, her heroic figure radiating a sacred dignity in that moment.