Chapter 73: Offending the Pope Every Day! Sooner or Later, It’ll Be a Death Sentence!
Chapter 73: Offending the Pope Every Day! Sooner or Later, It’ll Be a Death Sentence!
“Will Her Holiness the Pope be all right?”
It was early morning in the familiar office.
Sunlight poured through the windows, scattering into dazzling colors that danced across the floor. Miss Rennie, the scribe, gazed ahead, a trace of worry clouding her delicate features.
The seat that should, as always, have been occupied by the Pope—bathed in sunlight, diligently at work—was conspicuously empty. Only the vacant desk and chairs remained, shrouded in an unusual, chilly silence.
“Her Holiness will be fine, won’t she?”
Of course, Rennie knew all too well what had transpired yesterday in the Holy See.
Those greedy imperial nobles had come to hold the Church accountable for the loss of their supply shipments.
Faced with their outrageous demands and blatant disrespect, Her Holiness had stood alone against them. Even the Retribution Knights present had somehow managed to restrain themselves from intervening.
This… this was a scene that should never have happened—especially with Grand Commander Alfron, a figure of such seniority within the Church, simply standing by. He had repeatedly proposed that the Church and the Empire jointly escort future supplies, rather than leaving the responsibility solely to the Church. Yet the Pope had refused each time, always citing “concerns about potential accidents.”
But when faced with such obvious bullying from the imperial nobles, how could anyone just sit there and accept it?
If not for her own status as a mere scribe, forced to stand outside and watch, Rennie would have barged in herself and argued with them on the Pope’s behalf.
Where had Her Holiness gone? Could she really have been so humiliated that, in a fit of anger, she’d… she’d gone to meet the goddess Alicia herself?
Rennie quickly shook her head, banishing that terrifying thought.
No, no! The Pope isn’t that fragile! After all, before leaving yesterday, she’d even taken the time to ask after that lucky adventurer’s accommodations.
If she were truly planning to meet the goddess Alicia, how could she have cared about such trivial things? She must have gone out on some errand—probably working somewhere else again.
Yes, that had to be it!
The Pope could never possibly be in any danger!
Click.
Almost the instant that comforting thought crossed Rennie’s mind, a sacred and awe-inspiring presence swept gently into the room, heralded by the soft sound of the door.
“Your Holiness, you’re back!”
Miss Rennie, who had been fretting only a moment before, turned and caught sight of the Pope. All her worries melted away in an instant, replaced by a radiant smile.
There she was—the figure Rennie knew so well—clad in the stately robes of the papacy, the very image of holiness and composure, striding toward the desk.
Her bearing radiated calm authority—solemn, dignified. Those brilliant golden eyes—impossible to meet directly—were dazzling from any angle, a sight that never failed to inspire awe.
“What’s the matter, Rennie?”
And was it just her imagination, or did Her Holiness’s presence seem even more commanding than usual, as though it had grown stronger overnight?
“Oh, it’s nothing! I was just wondering why you hadn’t returned yet, that’s all. I thought perhaps something urgent had come up and you had to leave.”
Catching herself, the scribe answered quickly. Of course nothing could happen to Her Holiness! Even if the Demon Lord himself showed up, she’d make him beg for mercy before she was done!
Honestly, I was just overthinking things!
“By the way, Your Holiness, have you had breakfast yet? Would you like me to prepare something for you? Or perhaps make you some tea, or organize your documents… Please, just let me know if there’s anything at all I can do.”
“Breakfast…”
For a split second, the serene radiance that cloaked the Pope seemed to flicker ever so slightly.
Of course, Rennie didn’t think much of it—under the bright daylight, it was easy for the eyes to play tricks.
Besides, nothing noteworthy had been mentioned just now, so what could possibly have caught Her Holiness’s attention?
“Just tea will do.”
As expected, the Pope’s answer was calm and matter-of-fact.
“Of course, I’ll prepare it right away!”
Rennie wasted no time, brewing a pot of black tea and setting it before Her Holiness. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she reached for a box beside her.
“By the way, these are samples sent over by the Imperial Capital’s Academy of Magic. Please have a look and see if they meet your standards. I’ll fetch the rest of your paperwork in the meantime.”
With that, Miss Rennie turned briskly and slipped into full work mode, heading off to gather more documents.
“Very well.”
Seated at her desk, the Pope gave a slight nod, her golden gaze falling on the samples before her. Yet as the moments ticked by, her brows drew together—not because of the samples themselves (their quality was clearly above average), but because of something else… someone else. Lin Wei!
“He never misses a chance to take advantage of me! Sure, I said he deserved a reward, but to go so far as to drag me off and keep me from working—one of these days, I’ll have him arrested and sentenced to death!”
She snatched up her tea and took a quick sip, but immediately her dignified expression twisted into a look of pure distaste, like a little girl forced to eat bitter greens.
Ugh… There’s no way I’m letting him get away with that again—especially not in the mornings.
Granted, his plan yesterday was genuinely brilliant—clever enough to turn the tables when all hope seemed lost—but that’s no excuse. He’s not getting another opportunity like that, no matter what!
She clenched her fists, steeling herself to finish the tea before Rennie returned, grimacing as the odd aftertaste lingered in her mouth. Her cheeks flushed red as she muttered under her breath,
“Damn you, Lin Wei! Ugh!”
◇
“Good morning, Mr. Lin Wei! You look quite lively today… though, if I’m not mistaken, there’s still a hint of exhaustion in your eyes?”
Early morning.
The Imperial Capital’s Academy of Magic was, as always, a hive of activity.
As Lin Wei arrived right on schedule, he was greeted by Nerinette, who looked every inch the exhausted office worker—her face drawn, her movements sluggish as she waved a hand and stifled a yawn.
But after taking a closer look at him, she found herself at a loss for words. He seemed alert and refreshed on the surface, yet there was a lingering weariness in his eyes, as if he’d been thoroughly run ragged. Maybe he hadn’t slept well, worried about the workload ahead?
No matter. She just happened to have a tonic on hand that was guaranteed to restore any man’s vigor—one sip, and he’d be bursting with energy!
“Probably just stayed up too late working on some, ah, special techniques,” Lin Wei said, waving away her concern and smoothly changing the subject.
“So, can we get started today? The deadline for those frontline supplies is tight, and if I finish early, I can even lend a hand with your other projects.”
The plan he’d devised with Veya yesterday depended entirely on these potions being completed on schedule.
After all, the imperial nobles—if they wanted to see the Pope fall from grace—would never let an opportunity like this slip by. It was the perfect chance, practically handed to them, to cause trouble for the Holy See.
Whether by sabotaging potion production or seizing the supplies, as long as this batch didn’t make it to the front lines on time, all the blame would fall squarely on that “foolish” Pope’s shoulders.
The Pope’s position within the Holy See now hinged entirely on the successful manufacture of these amplification potions. The outcome of this one task could decide everything.
Which meant, no matter what, the production had to go off without a hitch.
“But that brings up the real question—what tricks will the nobles try to disrupt the schedule?”
If he were in their shoes, he thought, trying to repeat the same raid on the supplies so soon after the last one would be risky. It’d make more sense to interfere earlier in the process, sabotaging production before the potions were even finished. The result would be the same.
“I’ll have to put myself in their shoes and figure out what they’re planning…”
“That’s wonderful news, Mr. Lin Wei! Thank you so much!!”
Nerinette, oblivious to Lin Wei’s internal calculations, practically sparkled with excitement at his words.
No outsider could imagine how overwhelming the workload had been lately! Not only did she have to oversee the production of high-grade potions, she also had to coordinate her assistants to complete the regular batches—she’d been stretched to the limit for weeks.
And now, the new guy wasn’t just working hard; he was even offering to help lighten her load afterward?
Ugh! As a woman already pushing thirty, I could cry from how touched I am!
Wait, could it be he’s actually interested in someone like me?
“I’ve already prepared all the materials. There are two hundred and twenty sets—enough for two hundred bottles of potion,” Nerinette whispered conspiratorially, leaning in close.
She felt she had to do something to repay such kindness, no matter what.
“These ingredients are all for top-grade amplification potions, so we can’t afford to set aside too much extra for wastage.”
“But if you run short, Lin Wei, just let me know. Once these are used up, I’ll file a request for more. Don’t worry about the numbers—I’ll cover it.”
Director Nerinette, are you trying to drag me onto your pirate ship or what?!
Lin Wei clenched his fists in silent struggle, staring at the pile of precious ingredients. Dammit, this is really tempting…
After all, these materials were worth a fortune. If he could get his hands on them, he might rake in a huge profit. But if someone started investigating the source of his sudden wealth, that could spell disaster.
No, stay calm. Resist the temptation. Stick to your principles, Mr. Lin Wei! Don’t walk the path of corruption!
“Everyone, stop what you’re doing right now!”
Just as Lin Wei resolved to turn down the offer, a sharp voice rang out.
A harsh, abrasive shout suddenly echoed from the hallway, and moments later, several soldiers marched in, one after another.
Their full suits of imperial armor gleamed beneath the lights, each set marked with the refined insignia of the Seven Stars—a level of craftsmanship far beyond what ordinary soldiers could hope for. The oppressive aura they carried was almost suffocating.
“Hm?”
Lin Wei was stunned, caught entirely off guard by the scene.
“I am Viscount Montoya, in charge of court protocol.”
A tall, imposing nobleman swaggered through the throng, his arrogance filling the room. With a look of utter disdain, he covered his mouth as if to block out the stench, waving his hand dismissively at the untidy workshop.
Yet his gaze swept coolly over everyone present before he barked out, impatient and sharp:
“I hear the Academy of Magic seized a rather fine batch of potion ingredients from the court’s stores yesterday. Is that true?”
“Who’s in charge here? Step forward—now!”
Ah… So the attempt at sabotage had arrived. Just as expected.
But this—
They weren’t even trying to hide it. Their intentions were written all over their faces, and their approach was as blunt as a hammer.
It was as if they thought the Holy See was staffed entirely by fools—mocking them, daring them to respond.
These nobles… Their methods really were shameless.
They didn’t even bother to treat the Pope as a person.