CA – Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Inviting her to spend a wonderful night together—no matter how one heard it, the phrase was full of ambiguity.
However, after the banquet ended and Tang Qiu returned to her room to open the ribboned box, she realized Lucille’s words had no ambiguity at all.
Spending a wonderful night together was exactly the kind of “spending together” her mind had drifted to.
With a peculiar expression, she hooked a strap with her finger and lifted a scant piece of fabric lying at the bottom of the box. Its vibrant color and suggestive silhouette made it obvious this was not something for everyday wear.
Inviting a priest? And a woman at that… Tang Qiu grew thoughtful. Could this be the custom on the Statu Continent?
A sound came from the door. Tang Qiu placed the fabric back inside and quickly shut the lid just as a maid entered.
The maid’s eyes immediately fell on the gift box on the table. The pink ribbon was unmistakably Lady Anna’s style.
The maid: “…”
Ignoring the maid’s surprised gaze, Tang Qiu asked nonchalantly, “Is there something I can help you with?”
The maid snapped back to her senses and nodded. “Marquis Davis wishes to see you.”
“Now?”
“His Majesty the King has summoned you.”
Tang Qiu glanced at the dark world outside her window, a flicker of apprehension in her heart, but she agreed naturally. “Very well.”
When she followed the maid outside and saw that the other priests had also been summoned, she relaxed a little. She and the other two priests were placed in the same carriage. The swaying of the vehicle made Tang Qiu feel a bit sleepy.
Of the two priests, the one with long hair was named Jane, and the one with short hair was Yelena. They had met during their training and later joined the mercenary squad together.
Yelena was still upset about the evening’s banquet and was complaining to Jane in a low voice about Lady Anna’s promiscuous behavior. Jane glanced at Tang Qiu, who was staring pensively out the window, before softly trying to soothe Yelena’s temper.
Yelena said, “She’s a noble of this country, yet she lowers herself to seduce an unknown swordsman.”
“She has none of the upbringing of a noble.”
“Alright, Yelena, it’s over.”
Yelena still sounded aggrieved. “Didn’t you see? William’s eyes never left Lady Anna.”
Jane glanced nervously at Tang Qiu, then said Yelena’s name and gave her a slight shake of the head, signaling her to stop talking.
Taking the hint, Yelena remembered they weren’t alone and sullenly closed her mouth.
Tang Qiu, gazing out the window, had no interest in what the two were discussing. Priests were forbidden from marrying; it was a strict rule of the Holy See. But who knew if they had lovers in private.
Judging by Lady Anna’s blatant hints, perhaps it wasn’t much of a secret on the Statu Continent.
The carriage stopped at the palace gates. Marquis Davis had changed out of his magnificent formal attire into a black suit that made him look serious and composed. On the way to see the king, he offered a few reassuring words to Tang Qiu and the others, explaining that the king had summoned them so late because he was deeply concerned for the safety of his subjects.
His words painted the image of a wise and valiant king in Tang Qiu’s mind.
That image shattered the moment she saw the king in person.
It wasn’t that Tang Qiu was judging a book by its cover, but sometimes a certain build could look imposing on one person, while on Charles II, she could only see clumsiness and obesity.
Priests only needed to bow to the king, a privilege granted to members of the Holy See across the continent.
Charles II’s late-night summons was no whim. He had become restless after hearing that Lucille and Lady Anna had attended the banquet. Seeing Davis lead the group in, he said with a face full of irritation, “Damn it, why haven’t you driven them out yet?”
Tang Qiu and the others looked at Davis, utterly baffled by Charles II’s sudden outburst.
Davis turned with a calm expression and explained to them, “His Majesty is referring to the Black Witches in the city. He is truly worried about his subjects.”
The Marquis turned back to Charles II, pressing a hand to the corner of his moist eye with a look of sincerity. “I am moved by Your Majesty’s benevolence toward your people.”
The flattery did nothing to calm Charles II. He remained agitated, but after his captain of the guard whispered a few words to him, he managed to rein in his emotions. He finally deigned to lift his eyelids and look at Tang Qiu and the others, his gaze fixed mainly on the priests. “Great priests, have you sensed the aura of darkness in Edry?”
He spoke quickly, his voice growing agitated again by the end. “This country has been shrouded in darkness! My subjects have been ensnared by a monster! She is a monster! This is my country! Mine!”
“Drive them out for me, drive them out…”
Marquis Davis cleared his throat and gave the captain of the guard a look. The captain leaned in and whispered something that once again soothed Charles II’s temper.
A knight entered from outside carrying a tray with six glass bottles on it.
Davis picked up a bottle, uncorked it, and swirled it gently. The pale golden liquid inside sloshed with his movement.
A crack appeared on Jane and Yelena’s calm faces. Their gazes on the glass bottles grew fervent. Tang Qiu sniffed the faint scent in the air and knew what was inside.
Holy Water of Light, an aid for priests to practice light magic.
The Holy See’s high status on the Statu Continent was directly related to the Holy Water of Light. It could heal wounds and dispel dark magic. For werewolves and elves, it could enhance their reproductive capabilities. Aside from the vampires and Black Witches, every race had a need for it.
However, over a thousand years ago, the Holy See had suddenly imposed strict controls on the Holy Water of Light, making the amount circulating on the continent incredibly scarce. Even successfully appointed priests only received a pitiful few bottles each month.
Thus, the Holy Water of Light had become the rarest and most valuable commodity on the continent.
Tang Qiu, who had a large amount of Holy Water of Light in her Space Gem, timely put on the same surprised and interested expression as Yelena and Jane.
Davis observed their reactions, quite satisfied with their fervent expressions. He placed the bottle back on the tray, clapped his hands, and said with restraint, “This is a token of gratitude from His Majesty. As long as you can drive the Black Witches out of Edry, these are yours.”
“I believe a mere Black Witch is no match for three priests.” Davis paused, then turned to the swordsmen. “And, of course, these three promising young swordsmen.”
Yelena was the first to respond. “Of course. In the face of the light, all darkness will have nowhere to hide.”
Davis nodded in satisfaction and then looked at Tang Qiu. Tang Qiu maintained her gentle smile. “The first rule of the priest’s code tells us to cherish the children of the light. Therefore, Edry should not have to endure these disasters.”
The others also voiced their opinions, all of them in agreement.
Having received the answer he wanted, Marquis Davis waved his hand, and the knight stepped forward to distribute the holy water. Meeting the group’s questioning gazes, he smiled and said, “His Majesty trusts that you will succeed.”
Charles II seemed displeased that he was handing over the holy water so soon, but he couldn’t take back something already given, as it would be a blow to his authority. So he could only repeat, “You must drive that monster out, drive her out.”
His indignant tone echoed in Tang Qiu’s ears long after she left the palace, playing on a loop.
With the Holy Water of Light as their reward, Yelena and the others were motivated. They shed their detached attitudes and began to seriously consider how to find the Black Witch hiding in Edry and drive her out.
Yelena took out a low-level light magic book and began flipping through it earnestly. “I remember there’s a light spell that can be used against Black Witches.”
Jane leaned over to look with her. “Really?”
Having already mastered the Light Spell on her way to Edry, Tang Qiu quietly watched the two of them flipping through the book without saying a word.
“Ah, I found it.”
“But it’s very difficult. It would take at least ten days to learn, and we don’t have enough holy water.”
Yelena, deflated, flipped the book back. “Then how are we supposed to find her? With the Illumination Spell?” That was a light spell both she and Jane knew.
Hearing the words “Illumination Spell,” an idea struck Tang Qiu. She asked, “Is that spell not powerful?” She thought it was quite powerful; its range was even wider than the Light Spell.
Yelena looked up at her and softly chanted the incantation for the Illumination Spell. A gentle white light suddenly appeared, enveloping the carriage. It was warm and made their carriage look like a moving lightbulb in the dark night.
“See? Is this useful?”
When she used the Illumination Spell, its range could cover a width of at least ten meters. Looking at the light that only enveloped the carriage, Tang Qiu silently labeled herself as “decently powerful in magic.” “What if you try it with a staff?”
Yelena looked at her in surprise. Even Jane looked up, astonished. Tang Qiu, unfazed, tried to figure out what was wrong with her question.
Yelena said dejectedly, “Where would we get the money to buy a staff?” During their three years of training, they could only rely on themselves to find holy water to improve their magical abilities. Only priests with profound magic could serve in the three most powerful empires on the continent and receive better treatment.
Tang Qiu silently labeled herself “rich.”
Jane looked at Tang Qiu curiously and asked, “Do you have a staff?”
“No.” Tang Qiu thought for a moment and said with a smile, “But I’ve seen one. It looked very powerful.”
From the beginning, Yelena and Jane had felt that the aura of light around Tang Qiu was particularly strong. Yelena hesitated for a moment before asking tentatively, “Do you know the Light Spell?”
Tang Qiu shook her head. “No.” She softly chanted an incantation, and a Light Ball popped out and jumped onto her shoulder. “I know this one.”
Disappointment flashed in Yelena and Jane’s eyes. Although the Light Ball spell appeared later in the magic book, it was actually a very useless spell.
Even if Tang Qiu’s Light Ball was brighter and rounder, it was still useless.
The two poor priests and one very wealthy priest, having already accepted their payment, fell into a simultaneous silence. The Light Ball on Tang Qiu’s shoulder bounced actively for a moment before vanishing with a pop.
When Tang Qiu and the others left the palace, Davis did not return to the marquis’s residence with them but stayed behind. Charles II’s emotions weren’t much better controlled even in front of his confidant. “When will I see results? I can’t bear it any longer.”
“She’s a monster! Have the Gosse Empire send a priest over! The Holy See must know that Edry is controlled by a monster!”
Davis mentally scoffed that the church in the Gosse Empire had been burned to the ground, but he placatingly said, “Your Majesty, please don’t be anxious. The status of a priest is noble. I have already sent people to find a way.”
“So we’re relying on those few priests?” Charles II was tired of shouting. He glared at Davis with drooping eyelids, looking as if he would jump up and start cursing again if Davis nodded.
Fortunately, Davis knew Charles II very well. He shook his head slightly, a confident smile on his face. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Those people are just a front.” He clapped his hands, and the knight guarding the door brought in a team of people.
The man in the lead wore a swordsman’s uniform. He had a sturdy build and a resolute gaze. He knelt on one knee, placed his left hand over the right side of his chest, and bowed his head slightly. “Your Majesty.”
This team of five were all swordsmen, and their demeanor was completely different from the three in Yelena’s mercenary squad.
“David.” Davis proudly introduced the swordsman. “Captain of the Sengo Mercenary Squad, a high-level swordsman.”
Swordsmanship flourished on the Statu Continent, with swordsmen divided into four tiers: apprentice, swordsman, sword master, and sword saint. Each tier had three levels, and a sword saint at their peak could even rival the Pope.
It was just that a sword saint hadn’t appeared on the Statu Continent for a very long time.
A high-level swordsman was already several levels higher than Charles II’s captain of the guard. In terms of the Statu Continent’s power conversion, a high-level swordsman was only slightly below a priest of the Holy See, but in terms of combat prowess, the swordsman definitely had the advantage.
Davis hadn’t been able to invite a priest, but he had found someone with even greater fighting strength.
Charles II struggled to open his small eyes and was finally satisfied, saying “good” several times in a row.
Davis had a knight bring in the Holy Water of Light. The tray was filled with more than a dozen bottles, double what Tang Qiu’s group had received. David glanced at it and said cautiously, “I need to know who the target of the expulsion is.”
Charles II rushed to answer, his voice high-pitched. “It’s that Lucille! Drive her out of Edry for me! She’s a monster!”
Before accepting Davis’s mission, David had already investigated Edry. He certainly knew who Marshal Lucille was. David thought for a moment and nodded. “I can do it, but the reward must be doubled again.”
Although his investigation showed that Lucille was a high-level swordsman like himself, the apprehension Charles II and Davis showed towards her suggested she had secrets he didn’t know about.
Charles II waved his hand magnanimously. “As long as you succeed, doubling it again is fine.”
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