Chapter 65: These Nobles—Hanging Every Last One Wouldn’t Be Too Much!
Chapter 65: These Nobles—Hanging Every Last One Wouldn’t Be Too Much!
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Lin Wei stood rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded.
He’d suspected that this woman’s circumstances weren’t exactly comfortable. Her travel-worn appearance alone suggested she was struggling to make ends meet—perhaps barely scraping by. But sleeping on rooftops at night and squatting under bridges by day? That was a level of desperation he hadn’t imagined.
“Aren’t you… Aren’t you an alchemist?” Lin Wei stared at the woman—who, by some miracle, was still alive—in disbelief.
“Sure, the Catkin aren’t exactly renowned for their alchemy, but when you interviewed at the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy, your technique was… well, at least passable. In a city this size, you should be able to land some kind of alchemist job and get by.”
“So what’s going on? Wait—don’t tell me you fed me fake intel?”
At this point, it seemed like the only explanation that made any sense.
“I didn’t give you fake info, okay~ Sure, maybe I embellished a little, but I can still brew high-quality potions—barely,” Afuduo protested, bristling like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on.
“It’s just—the forged letter of recommendation only got me into the capital. My official identity is still ‘adventurer from the Northern Countries.’ Under these circumstances, there’s no way I can take jobs from the Imperial Adventurers’ Guild.” “Even trying to find ordinary work, people look down on me. Who knew the capital would be this xenophobic?”
Ever since The Holy Church’s household registration system came into effect, residents of the capital had become almost mythical—the so-called “Heavenly Dragons.” Even people from other imperial cities could barely find decent jobs here, let alone an adventurer from the Northern Countries.
In the city’s social hierarchy, she was at the very bottom. Maybe… just a hair above a slave. At least she was technically still a person.
“I get it, I get it.” Lin Wei sighed, genuine sympathy in his voice.
Be a pet-servant, or a living meat shield—those were her choices. One day, there would be a reckoning. These bastard nobles—he’d see every last one of them hanged!
“I only had money for food today because I sold some of your old healing potions cheap on the black market,” Afuduo admitted. “I was planning to finally have a decent meal, then look for another job and try to get by… Wait, why are you asking me all this anyway?”
She paused, confusion flickering in her eyes.
If she hadn’t disguised herself so thoroughly with her concealment skills, her furry ears would have undoubtedly twitched and drooped by now.
“Oh, the Magic Academy’s using me as a general assistant, and now the head of the alchemy department has taken a liking to me,” Lin Wei replied. “I get a housing stipend—enough to rent a place, and it’s reimbursed. So I wanted to ask if you know any good areas to live.”
But as soon as he finished, he saw her expression freeze.
The Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy really does provide room and board!
Not only had he taken her job, but now he’d even stolen her place. Why must a cat’s life be so tragic? My luck really is the worst!
“But honestly, I didn’t expect you to survive on those healing potions I made,” Lin Wei said. “So that’s where they went after the written exam—you snuck off with them, didn’t you?”
He couldn’t help but chuckle, but he wasn’t about to demand repayment.
“Well, since things are like this… I happen to be free this afternoon. You can show me around and help me find a place to rent.”
“As thanks—and to make things easier going forward—I’ll help sort out your living situation too. How’s that sound?”
Rent was nothing to him now, not with his generous new benefits. Back when he was the Demon Lord, he’d always been magnanimous with his subordinates. Even as an ordinary human, some habits just wouldn’t die.
“You—you want to live together with me?”
But the moment she heard that, Afuduo took a quick step back, arms wrapped around herself, her face flushing bright red.
So even if I’m not a slave, I still have to help this man… deal with his pent-up needs?
Ugh… I’m only nineteen. Can I even still call myself a maiden?
But with a background like mine, is this really the day my innocence comes to an end?
“I… I’m only nineteen, you know. Maybe you should wait a little longer? I’ll be more… appealing if you let me grow up a bit first,” Afuduo stammered, her face crimson, her imagination running wild with images of living together, donning a maid outfit, and playing all sorts of embarrassing games.
Isn’t this what human nobles are like? Even if they act respectful on the surface, they’re always thinking filthy things about demi-human girls deep down, right?
“I meant I’d pay your rent, you little freeloader! You’ve got some nerve—angling for free meals and housing, and now you’re after even more?”
Lin Wei grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and hauled her straight out the door.
Helping with her rent was just a way to ensure she could survive in the capital—and be available to pass on information when needed.
He had no intention of getting tangled up in some ridiculous catgirl-maid scenario, only for Veya to show up and turn his home into the stage for a full-blown romantic bloodbath.
Granted, if Afuduo ever dropped her disguise and showed off her Catkin features in a maid outfit, she’d be… pretty damn cute.
Actually… once we find a place, I’ll have her bare her belly and apologize first. After all, both times we’ve met, this woman’s managed to cause me no end of trouble.
Lin Wei couldn’t help but think about that as they left.
◇
The Holy Church City.
Brilliant colors tumbled from the horizon, falling like shooting stars and bathing the entire city in their glow.
But at this hour, in the Supreme Sanctuary—a place almost never touched by outsiders—
More than a dozen figures had gathered, all eyes fixed on the dais above.
A solemn, awe-inspiring atmosphere rippled through the hall.
Even shrouded in divine power that concealed their true form, the chill and composure radiating from the figure at the center made defiance unthinkable.
“Your Holiness, I have a question.”
Amid the crowd,
A man in his forties, brazen and arrogant, stood up without a trace of restraint, eyes locked on the figure above.
His voice echoed through the grand hall, piercing the silent solemnity like a blade.
“Ever since the Empire’s elite soldiers and the Holy Knights marched to the front lines, leaving all logistics and supply coordination in the hands of The Holy Church…”
“Counting this most recent incident—just how many times have our supply convoys been robbed on the road?”
It sounded like a question, but the words were nothing short of a public accusation.
The arrogance of the nobility was written plain on his face. Not even the newly appointed Pope of The Holy Church seemed to warrant any fear or respect.
“Our soldiers at the front are pressing the attack, on the verge of taking the Northern Fortress. The armies of the Northern Countries are fighting tooth and nail, yet the promised supplies have still not arrived.”
“Yes, the Northern Countries are unstable right now—every so often, a shipment might be snatched by demon raiders, and the Empire can understand that. But when the same problem happens again and again, and The Holy Church stubbornly insists on managing all logistics alone…”
“Is this truly a matter of security in the Northern Countries? Or is it that our new Pope, Selena, simply lacks experience—too young, too green... perhaps her leadership is the real problem!”
The nobles below broke into laughter at his words.
Yet, despite this blatant provocation, the clergy present showed not the slightest reaction. On the contrary—they wore the expressions of spectators waiting for a good show.
“If Pope Selena cannot guarantee the safe delivery of supplies to the front, I see no reason we shouldn’t reconsider the division of responsibilities.”
He stared down the dais, his arrogance nearly tangible.
“Leaving all logistics solely to The Holy Church is simply too much.”
“Why not do this? I propose Pope Selena cede half the supply authority to the Empire’s military.”
“That way, The Holy Church’s burden is eased, and our army can help shoulder half the transport. Even if something goes wrong, at least some supplies will reach the front, and the soldiers’ needs will be better secured… What do you say, Your Holiness?”