Chapter 138: A Crude Trap and Talent

  The room wasn't large, nor did it have complex decorations or furnishings. Such things were unnecessary here. Cardinal Eschol sat at his desk, reviewing accumulated scrolls—reports on war preparations against Oufu from various dioceses in Erathia. Beside him stood another Cardinal, Adela. The young Templar was recounting to them what the Temple Knight had told him.

  "My name is Sandro...?" Cardinal Adela murmured, frowning his delicate, feminine-looking brows. Suddenly, he smiled at the Templar. "What does that mean?"

  "It's unlikely to be that revered former guildmaster," the young Templar said politely to the two cardinals. "From many perspectives, this person should be the one our predecessors have been seeking."

  Eschol hadn't even looked up, expressionlessly flipping through the scrolls in his hand. Absentmindedly, he said, "Sandro could kill Talise with no more effort than squashing a chick. Besides, he's long past the age of toying with young girls, and he'd have no reason to come to Erathia causing trouble. Anyone can see this is the lad we've been after. Adela means, why would this fellow give that name?"

  "Why?" The Templar pondered. He looked handsome when thinking—his originally masculine yet handsome face slightly furrowed, his ocean-blue eyes subtly deepening. This expression alone could captivate most women. He gave a wry smile. "I don't quite understand. Could it be that Knight Talise asked, and he answered casually?"

  "You're still too green, heh heh." Cardinal Adela gently tapped the Templar's forehead. His fingers were snow-white and slender, without a single unseemly wrinkle—few women possessed such hands. "If you thought more like your father, you'd understand. Even a person's most casual actions and words have reasons behind them."

  "What kind of reasons?" The Templar asked humbly.

  "The person's character, mindset, the circumstances at the time—all these factors influence their 'casualness.' In the truest sense, those offhand remarks and casual actions are what truly reveal a person's heart. Far more real than lengthy speeches or others' commentaries." Adela smiled, carefully guiding the junior. "You should understand this person's character better than we do. Think about it: what mindset does this answer reveal about him, given his personality?"

  "Sandro should be his teacher... their relationship must be good... to casually give that name then... for fun..." The Templar's brows furrowed tighter, his eyes slowly closing as he concentrated. After a moment of contemplation, his eyes suddenly snapped open, flashing with realization. "There's no 'casual' mindset at all. He's not one who speaks carelessly. Besides, he's the most wanted fugitive on the continent, constantly vigilant and guarded, let alone disguised among a band of money-grubbing, reckless thieves. Every action is calculated and considered. That means he said it intentionally."

  "Exactly. Drawing broader inferences from one point—worthy of Inham's son." Adela smiled and lightly clapped. Eschol, who had been watching the documents, also glanced up at the Templar and gave a slight nod.

  The Templar smiled wryly. "Then what was the purpose of his words? Could it be... framing someone?"

  "I just praised you for being clever." Adela wagged a finger. "Who do you think those words were meant for? That simple-minded girl, Talise?"

  The Templar thought briefly and immediately understood, smiling. "He was saying it for you seniors to hear. His words were..."

  "Merely gilding the lily. There was already enough to indicate his identity, yet he deliberately added this—his intention is glaringly obvious." Eschol finished reading the scrolls in his hand, sighed, and clearly articulated all the implications of the sentence. "The sole purpose of those words was to declare his identity to us."

  "Seen this way, even Talise was intentionally released to deliver the message." Adela nodded too. "That person who rescued her might be the lad's accomplice. Did Talise mention him? Bring him in for thorough questioning."

  The Templar replied, "She didn't say much about him. Even when I asked, she brushed it off vaguely. Probably not someone noteworthy—just a temporary helper the fellow found."

  "Such trivial matters needn't concern us. More importantly, the lad specifically told us he's going to Tulalion. Why? To set a trap against us?"

  The Templar considered this. "This is somewhat complex. I heard he infiltrated a band of thieves heading to Tulalion to capture elves..."

  "Thieves capturing elves? Ha ha..." Adela laughed loudly. "Has Tulalion Forest's barrier become so easily bypassed by thieves? That barrier was forged over a century ago by the last great elven archmages with their full power. Though not comparable to the Whispering Woods or our Diya Valley's barriers born of natural essence, it's still a masterpiece of magic. Even we would need considerable effort to breach it."

  "But I heard this thief band did breach the elven barrier and captured several elves, selling them for considerable gold. This time, they've gathered all their forces to attack Tulalion, which is why the fellow joined them. I suspect these thieves may possess something we don't know of..."

  "Not in their hands, but behind them." Eschol completed the Templar's inference. "If that's true, it only means someone backs this thief band..." He frowned thoughtfully, then snorted coldly. "Since that fellow is mixed up with them, the backer must be Sedros. He's always been quite accomplished in magical application, has dealings with Tulalion, and is familiar with the elven barrier. With Oufu's situation so tense now, he's distracted enough to conspire with this lad on such mischief—it's clear that this scheme is anything but simple."

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  "Using the lad as bait to lure us to Tulalion—either to deal with us or to use us." The Cardinal of Erathia frowned, showing disdain, as if sipping unpleasant tea. "A crude trap."

  "Sedros's methods are always watertight, yet this time there's such a glaring flaw—admittedly the lad's own arrogance accounts for most of it." Adela concluded. What seemed like a seamless, coincidental event was peeled layer by layer through their reasoning, revealing its true nature. Admiration showed on the Templar's face.

  "Given our limited understanding, this is as far as our inference can go." Adela sighed, as if troubled. "I must admit, though crude, this trap still has some lethality. We do want to capture that lad badly, and as noble guild members, our pride won't let us retreat because of such a crude ploy..."

  The Templar said, "Knight-Commander Lancelot has assigned me to accompany Talise and two other Temple Knights to Tulalion to eradicate this thief band. I'll scout ahead and assess the situation."

  "Three Temple Knights? Lancelot seems quite concerned about restoring his disciple's honor. But such a force might suffice against others, yet could be strained when facing a trap set against noble guild members." Adela's expression chilled as he snorted. "Perhaps that Oufu bastard waits there too. No, if anything happened to you, I'd have trouble explaining to your father. Then, as the lad wishes, I'm the most idle in the guild—I'll go along to see."

  The Templar paused. "But... this is clearly a trap..."

  "A trap. But let's see if it can hold us. I'll naturally bring a bodyguard." Adela smiled at Eschol. "Care to join the excitement?"

  Eschol waved the scrolls in his hand and sighed, "I'm busy. You go. Just bring that lad back. Do you want me to send Lancelot as your bodyguard?"

  "Of course. I need to guard against that fellow. With Lancelot as my bodyguard, unless..." Adela thought, then smiled—a smile gentler and more beautiful than a woman's. "There is no 'unless.'"

  In the Pope's Hall, Pope Magnus listened to Cardinal Eschol's report. Cardinal Adela stood silently beside the Pope.

  His Holiness Magnus had white hair, two long, snow-white eyebrows, and a face framed by a neat, silver-white beard. His features weren't overly aged—kindly yet vital—draped in white papal robes. Outwardly, he seemed less imposing than Eschol standing below him. But this man, perhaps the most powerful on the continent, no longer needed external displays of authority.

  "Though Knight Talise's failed mission in Erathia cannot be blamed on her, the consequences are quite severe. Queen Katherine has long resisted the Church, using rampant domestic thieves as an excuse to ignore Your Majesty's orders. This incident will undoubtedly be exploited. Moreover, the Church's prestige and the Lord's radiance have dimmed with this failure, greatly affecting the confidence of the faithful about to battle Oufu. Therefore, I ask Your Majesty to send Knight-Commander Lancelot to Erathia to sweep those petty bandits clean."

  "Send Lancelot against a band of thieves? Isn't that overkill?" The Pope gave a puzzled, wry smile, as if hearing of using a legendary divine weapon to crush cockroaches.

  "Your Majesty, this isn't merely about exterminating thieves—it's about establishing authority. We must eliminate these scoundrels with overwhelming force to let all nations preparing to battle that evil orc nest feel the Lord's majesty and boost their confidence. There can be no mishaps this time. Furthermore, it's said the thief band includes many evil heretics, likely backed by greater foes. Only Knight-Commander Lancelot personally leading Temple Knights to suppress them can ensure absolute success."

  "Hmm..." The Pope hesitated.

  "Your Majesty. Please do send Lord Lancelot," Cardinal Adela suddenly interjected. "And I wish to accompany Lord Lancelot to Erathia this time."

  "What for?" The Pope frowned, glancing at him.

  "Other cardinals toil day and night spreading the Lord's glory across the lands. I cannot indulge in comfort in Celeste either—it would be good to gain experience. Assisting the knights against these heretics is a fine opportunity. With Lord Lancelot present, nothing will go amiss."

  The Pope considered. As he frowned, his slightly downturned eyebrows knit together in the middle. Finally, he sighed and nodded to Eschol, "Very well. Do as you suggest."

  Cardinal Eschol withdrew. The Pope said to Adela, "You may go too. Bring Lancelot to me on your way out."

  "Yes." Adela bowed and withdrew.

  "I haven't interfered with your antics with Diya Valley's lot, but I must remind you not to overdo it." Just as Adela was about to exit the Pope's Hall, His Majesty Magnus suddenly spoke. His tone was casual, almost affectionate, like a father gently guiding a child.

  Adela paused slightly, turned, and bowed. "Yes."

  Soon after, Temple Knight-Commander Lancelot entered the Pope's Hall alone.

  If there was one living legend known to all in this world, it was Lancelot. If there was a true Paladin in this world, that title could only, and would only, belong to him.

  From age fifteen, when he first took up his spear and sword, his life became the stuff of bards' lifelong songs. He spent his life fighting for the light, punishing evil and upholding justice—intangible yet weightier than mountains. Before twenty-five, he roamed the Western Continent, exterminating countless bandit bands and evil forces. After joining the Church as a Temple Knight at twenty-five, he fought innumerable battles against heretics and Nighon's monsters of all scales. Ten years ago, in the greatest battle between the Church and Nighon, he led ten other Temple Knights and Templars deep into Nighon's underworld. With dozens of men, they slew countless monsters in the vast dark realm. Though only he and two other Temple Knights survived the dark domain, Nighon was severely weakened. The Harpy clan was nearly eradicated root and branch, having undertaken no major actions in the past decade.

  He was forty-five now—tall, powerfully built, with long brown hair. Countless scars couldn't hide his originally handsome features. Every movement revealed a warrior's rhythm. Innumerable battles had left him with countless scars, refining him into a work of art.

  "I heard Knight Talise encountered difficulties with her mission in Erathia?" The Pope asked.

  "Yes," the Knight-Commander replied. "She has reported the specifics to me. Though she made errors, the thief band included several astonishingly powerful heretics. I've already dispatched three Temple Knights and the recently joined Templar. They should suffice to eliminate these heretics."

  The Pope seemed to recall something. "That new Templar... Javi, is it?"

  "Yes. Recommended by Cardinal Adela."

  "What do you think of him?" The Pope asked an odd question.

  Lancelot considered, then uttered two words: "Excellent." His voice was soft, yet conveyed the stability of mountains and the depth of oceans.

  "How excellent?" The Pope pressed.

  "At his age... I was, at best, no better than him." Lancelot paused, then added, "No, perhaps not even as good. According to Bishop Aldric, who oversees Templar magical training, his talent in magic... is unparalleled in Celeste."

  "Oh?" The Pope's face filled with surprise, then he nodded, smiling. "Truly, you've found me a rare talent."

  "Indeed a rare talent. Not only astonishing in martial and magical talent, but most precious is his character and bearing—lacking the impulsiveness of youth, flawless in intellect and judgment. To test him, I assigned several difficult tasks, and each time he surprised me. Given time, he will surely become a pillar of the Temple Knights."

  The Pope nodded, then asked impassively, "He has no shortcomings? Do geniuses truly fall from the heavens?"

  "I haven't discovered any yet." Sensing something amiss in the Pope's tone, Lancelot added, "I've investigated his background. While I couldn't locate the hermit who trained him in martial arts since childhood, recluses of great skill do dwell in the wilds. In all other aspects, there are indeed no issues."

  "Naturally, there would be no issues." The Pope sighed, saying something the Knight-Commander didn't quite grasp. Then he instructed, "Tell me everything Talise reported to you. Leave nothing out. Let me see what this is truly about."

  Lancelot recounted to the Pope everything the female knight had reported, omitting no detail. The Pope listened carefully. But when they reached the part where the man gave his name, the Pope suddenly exclaimed in astonishment, "What? Sandro?"

  "Your Majesty knows this person?" Lancelot asked, equally surprised.

  The Pope didn't answer, only pondered. His expression shifted from initial surprise to gradual understanding, finally breaking into laughter.

  Lancelot looked puzzled, unable to understand why a heretic who clearly used evil magic could make His Majesty the Pope so pleased.

  "I want you to go to Tulalion Forest personally to handle this matter. Cardinal Adela will accompany you." The Pope smiled, as if recalling something pleasant.

  "Yes." Lancelot bowed in response. He didn't ask the reason for this arrangement; he knew the Pope must have his reasons.

  "This time, your most important task is to bring me the one who calls himself Sandro." The Pope slowed his voice, emphasizing each word. "Remember, bring him before me completely intact."