Part Three: Light and Dark

  Chapter 94: I Quit

  At the headquarters of the Paladin Order, a man shoved aside those blocking his path and questioning him, charging straight toward the office of the Order's commander.

  Bang! The sturdy, thick wooden door was kicked open by the man. Several swordsmen nearby had already begun drawing their swords, but inside, Commander Rodhart, who had been reviewing documents, seemed unperturbed by this extreme rudeness. He even nodded amiably: "You're back."

  The swordsmen relaxed slightly, finally recognizing the man as a Divine Officer of the Church. But this Divine Officer lunged forward, delivering a heavy slap across the face of the amiable Commander Rodhart. The blow sent him flying, crashing to the ground, documents scattering everywhere.

  Clang! All the swordsmen drew their swords.

  Rodhart climbed to his feet. Half his face was swollen, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet he remained composed. He waved a hand at his tense, sword-wielding subordinates and commanded: "Everyone out. Close the door. Don't enter without my order."

  The swordsmen froze at the doorway. Before they could react, the Divine Officer kicked their commander, who had just risen, in the face again. The esteemed Commander of the Paladin Order showed no intention of resisting. He simply stood up again, wiped the freely flowing blood from his nose, and issued another command to his subordinates, still radiating authority: "Didn't you hear my order? Out. Close the door. Don't enter without my order, and don't let anyone else know what happened here."

  The commander's order was absolute. The swordsmen could only withdraw. As they closed the door, they saw their commander take another punch to the head and stomach.

  "Have you hit me enough?" Rodhart stood up and asked calmly. His face was swollen, his head bleeding, blood flowing freely from his nose and mouth, but his gentle, amiable demeanor seemed untouched.

  Ethan grabbed him by the collar, hoisted him up, and slammed him against the wall. Glaring coldly, he demanded: "I just came from the square. Is this the solution you spoke of?"

  "Yes, this is it. It had to be this way," Rodhart replied, his voice and expression equally calm. "All the officials in Aery know they framed us, and know I escorted them back. They couldn't be released; they had to be executed. And only by pinning the murder of the Imperial Envoy on them, and executing them through a trial in the capital, can we completely clear our names. Saving them would mean sacrificing ourselves. Our future and Bishop Ronis's plans would be ruined. You know how important that is. Weighing the priorities, this was the only way. Bishop Ronis said the same."

  "Bishop Ronis knew about this?" Ethan asked.

  Rodhart nodded: "The day before yesterday, after I returned, I asked the Bishop..."

  After Clovis and Ethan left the convoy, Rodhart immediately ordered the troops to advance at full speed, reaching the capital in just three days.

  Along the way, he was the highest-ranking officer. If he'd wished, he could have met and talked with his villagers at any time. But Rodhart didn't dare. He already knew how this matter must be resolved. Bishop Ronis had dropped hints before he left for Aery, hints perfectly suited to resolve the current situation.

  To resolve this, it had to be done this way. But he was still a twenty-year-old youth, burdened by guilt towards those villagers. Time for him to choose was short. He had to decide quickly.

  He stationed the troops outside the city, not entering immediately. He went alone into the city to seek an audience with Bishop Ronis at the Magic Academy.

  Bishop Ronis had just received the report from Aery. He was pleased, excited. Though the writer of the report didn't understand the strange phenomena described, Ronis could infer the course of events from those descriptions. Even he hadn't anticipated that the heretic incident in Aery was the work of the Necromancer Guild, nor that they had found a way to breach the Sunwell's barrier—a puzzle that had stumped countless mages for millennia. Least of all had he expected Ethan to perfectly resolve this incredibly dangerous situation.

  The destruction of the Whispering Woods was also perfectly timed. The obstinate elves within were the hardest to communicate with. Without their obstruction, the Tulalion Forest would be more receptive to their alliance treaty. Ethan protecting the Leaves of the World Tree and a surviving elf—this performance should be enough to eliminate all the elves' concerns and hostility.

  What remained was the work within the Empire. Bishop Ronis disliked politics. Standing in his unique position, he had little interest in power, viewing it as something that merely bewitched mortals. But the reality was that even the most transcendent or great figure, to accomplish anything in this world, had to deal with mortals and solve mortal problems using mortal methods. To form an alliance of other races and nations against the Necromancer Guild, politics was an unavoidable consideration.

  Currently, the Erney family had collapsed within the Empire's political landscape. Other military figures were merely soldiers without great ambition or cunning. The dominant figure was Duke Mrak.

  The Duke possessed immense ambition and superior methods; his rise to this position was inevitable. With his overwhelming power, he wouldn't allow other forces to rise. He would surely interfere with Bishop Ronis's plan to form an alliance. But Bishop Ronis wasn't worried. Like a hermit master, he didn't act lightly, but when he did, his actions were always astonishing and effective. After consulting with his friend Inham, he had already taken a small measure days ago, simply waiting to see its astonishing results.

  But at that moment, Rodhart arrived with a strange expression, filling Ronis with a sense of foreboding.

  Sure enough, the matter Rodhart reported was indeed serious. He hadn't expected Ethan to keep this from him, leaving him completely unprepared. In the current situation, if Duke Mrak got hold of this leverage, all their efforts would instantly come to nothing.

  "Your Grace, what should I do now?" Rodhart asked, his voice pleading for guidance amidst despair.

  Bishop Ronis, however, looked into his eyes and said: "What do you think should be done?"

  "I... I don't know," Rodhart lowered his head.

  "You do know," Bishop Ronis's candle-flame eyes discerned the meaning behind every one of Rodhart's movements. "The pain on your face tells me you do know. You just dare not make the choice."

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  "Yes, I dare not choose, nor can I choose," Rodhart looked lost and pained. "I owe them so much. I shouldn't again..."

  "Dare not? Should?" The Bishop keenly caught these two words, instantly understanding Rodhart's thoughts. "There is no 'should' or 'should not' in this world. Only what you want to do, and whether you have the ability to do it." He sighed deeply. "Justice and light come at a price; they require sacrifice. Kindness and compassion are most precious, but sometimes, from a long-term perspective, they must be abandoned. Because more lives and happiness await your salvation elsewhere..." He paused. "I will not interfere in this matter. You choose. Do it in your own way. Whatever choice you make, I will not blame you." Even as he said this, the Bishop added one final sentence. "Because I know you are a rational person, someone who accomplishes great things and understands priorities."

  "Understands priorities..." Ethan murmured, nodding. His expression was strange. He didn't know what expression to wear.

  "Yes. Weighing the pros and cons. We had no other choice," Rodhart said. His nose was still bleeding, his mouth split, his eye bruised, his flaxen hair disheveled, but his demeanor wasn't the least bit disheveled. "This is also for your future. Bishop Ronis said there are many important tasks awaiting you ahead. This sacrifice was unavoidable."

  "My future?" Ethan sneered. He threw Rodhart to the ground. "Go on with your great deeds. I quit long ago."

  At the Magic Academy. Bishop Ronis and three Great Divine Officers were receiving Bishop Adela, who had arrived via the teleportation array.

  Like Bishop Ronis, Bishop Adela was one of the Church's Cardinals. But unlike Ronis, who commanded the Empire alone, Adela served directly beside the Pope. From a certain perspective, he was the Pope's trusted confidant.

  Bishop Adela was a young man in his thirties. His demeanor was elegant and poised, his features exceptionally handsome, possessing a dignity that seemed between masculine and feminine. For someone his age to achieve such a position was almost unimaginable. It suggested he possessed unknown qualities, but extraordinary ability was undoubtedly essential.

  "I have been busy with affairs in the East for many years and haven't returned to pay my respects to His Holiness the Pope. Please convey my apologies to His Holiness on my behalf," Bishop Ronis sat in his chair, his eyes half-closed, the two points of green fire within flickering listlessly.

  Bishop Adela smiled, his smile almost shy: "Not at all. His Holiness the Pope has always praised your outstanding achievements here in the Empire. Under your leadership, the Magic Academy's status in the Empire is so high, it has become one of the Church's most important subordinate institutions. You labor so hard for the Church; it's understandable that you're overwhelmed."

  "Then, what exactly brings Bishop Adela to the Magic Academy?" Bishop Ronis still seemed distracted, as if he paid little mind to the Pope's envoy before him.

  "I am here to deliver a verbal message from His Holiness the Pope."

  Bishop Ronis said lazily: "What message? Sending a Cardinal to deliver a verbal message—it must be important, I suppose."

  Bishop Adela continued to smile: "Regarding your proposal to the Church to unite the forces of various nations to eradicate the Necromancer Guild..."

  "That's strange," Bishop Ronis snorted coldly. "I don't believe I've sent any proposal to the Church yet." He turned and glanced at Great Divine Officer Cuthbert beside him.

  The Great Divine Officer's face darkened slightly; sweat began to bead on his forehead.

  "You have raised this proposal with His Holiness the Pope several times in the past. And recently, this sentiment against the Necromancer Guild has been rising in the Eastern Continent—led by you, isn't it?"

  "As believers in God, isn't it our duty to eliminate those filthy, evil things?"

  "Indeed. But His Holiness the Pope says there are still many nations on the continent that haven't embraced the Lord's bosom, and so many heretics. Diya Valley is but a drop in the ocean, not a significant threat. Moreover, the terrain there is treacherous. If we forcefully attack, countless of God's children will surely sacrifice their lives. Therefore, His Holiness's intention is to first focus our energies on..."

  "Is that truly His Holiness's intention?" Bishop Ronis coldly interrupted Bishop Adela.

  The faces of the three Great Divine Officers nearby darkened. Given Bishop Ronis's exalted status and immense prestige within the Church, such words seemed inappropriate.

  "It is truly His Holiness's intention," Bishop Adela's expression, however, didn't change in the slightest. He still wore that amiable smile.

  Bishop Ronis waved a hand lazily. "Enough. No need to say more. I haven't even formally proposed this to His Holiness yet. No need for you to be anxious on his behalf."

  Bishop Adela nodded politely. "We know that for your devout faith, not the slightest bit of evil or darkness can be tolerated. But we also hope you will consider the bigger picture in all things. We are very clear about your private grudge against Diya Valley, and we sympathize. Therefore, we hope..."

  The two points of green fire in Bishop Ronis's eyes, which had been listless, suddenly flared brightly, almost casting a green glow onto Bishop Adela's face.

  Bishop Adela tactfully fell silent, but the smile on his face remained undiminished.

  After a moment, the two green flames in Bishop Ronis's eyes dimmed again. He waved a hand listlessly, signaling the end of the conversation. "Enough. Nothing more to say. I understand His Holiness's intention. I am tired. Leave now."

  After the three Great Divine Officers escorted Bishop Adela out, Bishop Adela specifically requested that Great Divine Officer Cuthbert show him around the Magic Academy.

  "You have done well," Adela Bishop said softly once they were alone. "Promptly reporting the situation here to the Church demonstrates your loyalty sufficiently."

  "Yes, yes. My loyalty to His Holiness the Pope and the Cardinals is comparable only to my piety towards God," Before the younger Bishop Adela, the Great Divine Officer completely lost his usual sternness and authority. He became increasingly certain that reporting the situation here to the Church, driven by a momentary impulse and dissatisfaction, had been the absolutely correct choice. "I always felt Bishop Ronis's actions were somewhat inappropriate. Promoting inexplicable newcomers out of nowhere. Oh, right." He remembered something important and lowered his voice. "After Bishop Ronis's proposal to the Church years ago to eradicate Diya Valley was rejected, he returned very angry. He muttered something about you Cardinals receiving benefits from Norbolin..."

  "Norbolin?" Hearing the name, Bishop Adela's expression changed slightly, but he immediately resumed his gentle smile. "Mr. Norbolin is a pious and charitable man. He makes large donations to the Church annually. It must be Bishop Ronis's particular prejudice against merchants."

  Seeing his opinion seemingly valued by the Cardinal, Cuthbert grew more enthusiastic. He continued in a low voice: "That newcomer he promoted last time was also implicated with Necromancers... but the Bishop insisted it wasn't him. Anyone could tell it was pure favoritism. To show such bias on such a critical issue of right and wrong..."

  "Don't say that. Bishop Ronis has devoted so much heart and soul to the Church over the years. His piety towards God is unquestionable. He must have his own considerations," Bishop Adela smiled and shook his head, causing the Great Divine Officer to panic for a moment, but his next sigh immediately filled him with delight. "But then again, Bishop Ronis is perhaps getting a bit old..."

  To hear such a great figure echo his own sentiment, Cuthbert was filled with emotion and nodded repeatedly. This was a noble figure who served directly beside the Pope!

  "While Bishop Ronis is truly exceptional, you've seen how he sometimes displays the stubbornness peculiar to the elderly. It puts the Church in a difficult position," Bishop Adela sighed. "Sometimes I think, perhaps it would be better if someone his age retired..."

  "I think Bishop Ronis is in excellent health. He won't voluntarily retire within ten years," Cuthbert couldn't help but sigh too. For someone who had reached the position of Cardinal, "retirement" was merely an ornamental word hanging in the air, never to be used. Most hoped to hold that position until death.

  Bishop Adela sighed again, giving Cuthbert a meaningful look. "If he were to retire, and someone like you, Great Divine Officer, who understands the bigger picture and always considers the Church's interests, were to succeed him, our burdens would be much lighter."

  Great Divine Officer Cuthbert was first stunned, then flustered, then both terrified and flattered. He didn't know what to say or what expression to wear. His ugly face flushed crimson.

  After seeing Bishop Adela off, Cuthbert's emotions remained unsettled. In a life dominated by ascetic practice, he had never felt such agitation, such a strange mood. A jumble of inexplicable feelings surged within him. He wanted to jump up, punch and kick, or shout aloud. But he couldn't. He was a clergyman who should be serious, strict, and steady. And a Great Divine Officer at that. But this impulse in his heart...

  Sigh. He thought, if only he had a confidant now...

  But speaking of friends, the Great Divine Officer suddenly thought of someone. He had known this person for a long time, but only recently, due to certain opportunities, had they suddenly become familiar and close. This distinguished individual was now successful in his career and had begun to show concern for the Church and the Magic Academy.

  Though their acquaintance was short, during these few days of contact, he discovered that despite his high position, this man was so understanding, so approachable. The few small gifts he had given him spoke volumes. And talking with him was pure enjoyment, like bathing in a spring breeze, like drinking holy water.

  Unable to contain himself, the Great Divine Officer walked out of the Magic Academy gates and headed towards the Duke's mansion.

  Blue light flashed. Bishop Adela stepped out of the teleportation array. Before him lay a picturesque scene. Tall, broad-leaved plane trees, their edges tinged yellow by autumn, added a touch of vicissitude, yet the ground was covered in vibrant green grass. Nearby was a large pool formed by a converging stream, where several rare birds unique to the area drifted. The stone carvings and seats by the pool were artworks worthy of any museum. The setting sun's warmth and light filtered through the gaps in the mountains.

  This place was truly magnificent—at least a thousand times more beautiful than the rigid, sterile, pale architecture of the Church.

  A companion reading under a plane tree against the sunset saw him, closed his book, and walked over. "How did it go? Smoothly?"

  "Perfectly in line with the intentions of our great director and screenwriter. If Master Valthor proposes electing an acting guild master this time, I will absolutely vote for him. To express my admiration for his keen insight into people and his directing skills."

  "Of course, he is an artist," his companion smiled. "You followed him in this artistic endeavor too. Any thoughts?"

  "Thoughts? Just that I hope he keeps his word and gives me the authentic 'Thirteenth Sunflower' painting."

  To have such a humorous, witty, elegant, and noble companion here... infinitely better than those repulsive, tedious idiot old men in the Church.

  He truly loved this place. Adela smiled happily.