CA – Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Tang Qiu didn't take Reese's words to heart. After watching her leave, she turned and exited the Holy See through a back door. Walking along the bustling street, she pulled her hood down to hide from the many curious and probing gazes.
After passing through the crowded streets, she turned into a secluded alley and emerged onto a quieter road. There weren't many people here, so Tang Qiu slowed her pace. After a winding search, she stopped in front of a dilapidated grocery store.
Perhaps the shop had been affected when the royal palace was attacked by monsters, as its battered door had been replaced with a new one. However, it was still covered in cobwebs, and the word "Mark" on the sign above was so faded it was hard to make out.
Tang Qiu cautiously scanned her surroundings before pushing the door open. Darkness enveloped her. A Light Ball suddenly leaped onto her shoulder, illuminating the messy shelves on both sides and the narrow path ahead, wide enough for only one person.
The kerosene lamps on the walls lit up one by one. A strange rustling sound came from the end of the dark passage. Tang Qiu frowned slightly and decided not to venture further. Instead, she stopped and sat down on a chair next to the counter. Tapping her fingers on the table, she called out, "Aren't you going to welcome a guest?"
Silence was her only reply. Tang Qiu waited patiently for a moment until footsteps emerged from the darkness. The beautiful proprietress leaned lazily against the counter, her slender eyes exuding endless charm. When she saw Tang Qiu's face, she raised a hand to cover her red lips and chuckled. "So, it's you."
Not many priests visited their grocery store, so the proprietress had a vivid memory of Tang Qiu.
She casually glanced behind Tang Qiu and, noticing she was alone, her eyes flickered. The smile that had just appeared on her face vanished. Covering her mouth with her hand, she yawned and adopted a dismissive attitude. "What is it?"
Tang Qiu didn't miss the change in her demeanor. She raised an eyebrow, her gaze darkening slightly. Clasping her hands on the counter, she leaned forward with a smile and said, "I want to send a letter. What's the fee?"
Without even looking up, the proprietress said languidly, "One hundred bottles of Holy Water of Light."
This price was more than three times what Erin had paid for a priest's nameplate. Was sending a letter harder than acquiring a nameplate? Tang Qiu's expression remained unchanged as she asked with a smile, "Aren't you going to ask where I'm sending it?"
The proprietress shrugged, unconcerned. "It's the same price no matter where it's going."
Tang Qiu took the skeleton mouse from her Space Gem and placed it on the counter. The proprietress glanced down, surprised that a priest would produce a Black Witch's summoned creature. Just then, a gentle, clear voice sounded in her ear, "You should remember Erin Anderson."
"The letter is for her."
The proprietress paused and met the priest's gaze. Those sky-blue eyes held a hint of inquiry and amusement. It was clear that the other party had keenly noticed the fleeting change in her expression the moment she heard Erin's name.
What an observant priest.
"Oh, Erin Anderson?" The proprietress resumed her lazy posture and smiled at Tang Qiu. "A regular customer."
"What about her?"
"She was captured in the Shas Principality," Tang Qiu said flatly, pushing Erin's distress letter across the counter. Erin had written in the letter that she should try seeking help from Mark's Grocery Store.
The proprietress glanced at the contents of the parchment and mused, "To deliver a message, out of consideration for a regular, I'll only charge you thirty bottles of Holy Water of Light."
Tang Qiu looked at her for a moment, then smiled and nodded graciously. "I'm sure Erin will be very happy to know she saved seventy bottles of Holy Water of Light."
The proprietress's smile faded slightly. "My rule here is payment first," she reminded her.
Tang Qiu feigned surprise, then thought for a moment and sighed. "Then I can only apologize to Erin." She stood up as if to leave, but the proprietress called out in a low voice, stopping her. Glaring, she said through gritted teeth, "...I'll make an exception."
Tang Qiu sat back down. Without waiting for the proprietress to prompt her, she took out a pen and paper. After a moment of thought, the quill pen traced elegant arcs in the air. Soon, black ink covered half the parchment.
She folded the finished letter, then took out a new sheet. This time, she began writing with little hesitation. After finishing, she folded it and handed it to the proprietress. "This is for Erin."
The skeleton mouse knew the way, but since it was a monster, Tang Qiu couldn't give it orders. That was why Erin had told her to seek help from Mark's Grocery Store.
The proprietress took the parchment and tucked it inside the skeleton mouse's body.
Tang Qiu then handed the first letter she had folded to the proprietress. Meeting her questioning gaze, she smiled and said, "This one goes to the Gru Empire." She silently mouthed a place name.
The proprietress watched her lips move, a flash of surprise on her face, but in the end, she asked nothing and simply took the parchment.
By the time Tang Qiu left Mark's Grocery Store, the sky was growing dark. The street where the shop was located was very close to Lucille's manor. Tang Qiu took a few steps in that direction, initially thinking of staying the night there—after all, Lucille's manor was far more comfortable than the Holy See. But a sense of hesitation made her reconsider. In the end, she abandoned the idea and turned back toward the Holy See.
In some ways, she could already be said to be very dependent on Lucille. There was no need to deepen that dependence.
Tang Qiu gave up too soon to notice a bare tree behind a tavern not far away. A tall, red-haired woman with deep-set features stepped out from behind it. Her long red hair appeared somewhat dark against the night, just like her crimson eyes. She stared fixedly at Tang Qiu's retreating back, her expression obscured by shadows.
"Your prey has run off." Lola appeared from nowhere, leaning against a wall and following Lucille's gaze with a teasing smile.
Lucille gave her a cold look.
Lola shrugged and revealed her reason for seeking Lucille out. "I found something else at Rose Manor. Want to go take a look?"
The blonde priest wouldn't be coming to her manor tonight. Lucille lowered her gaze and said flatly, "Alright."
Escorting the Light Believers to the Central Church was the only mission requiring travel from the Holy See recently. Although Tang Qiu had countless reasons to refuse Erin, after careful consideration, she decided to give it a try.
Coincidentally, the Shas Principality was very close to the Gru Empire. Even if she couldn't rescue Erin, she could use this opportunity to gather information about the werewolves.
The beast sealed within her was a ticking time bomb. Uncontrollable transformations meant she was in constant danger. In fact, once her position in the Holy See had stabilized, Tang Qiu had already begun to think about how to handle the transformation issue.
Even without Erin's situation, she would have considered how to secure this mission after learning about it.
Being confined to the Holy See meant only danger awaited her.
Inside the Holy See's meeting room, Tang Qiu repeated Reese's message verbatim. After she finished, the room fell into silence. She subtly glanced up and, as expected, Monica's expression had immediately darkened.
She had anticipated Monica's reaction, so she stood calmly to the side, remaining quiet instead of trying to persuade Monica as Reese had suggested.
Monica usually appeared calm and self-possessed, but she was explosive whenever Reese was involved. Tang Qiu had seen Monica lose her temper because of Reese more than once. If she were to say a single good word for Reese now, she was certain that half the favor she had earned with Monica would be wiped out.
Reese's suggestion that she persuade Monica was ill-intentioned from the start. Tang Qiu had known it the moment she said it.
Monica's expression shifted several times before she finally failed to suppress her anger. She threw the quill in her hand onto the table and shouted toward the door, "Jonas!"
It was quiet outside. Just as Monica frowned and was about to call again, the door was pushed open. Jonas walked in, followed by Reese's attendant, Priest Mario. Jonas approached Monica and said in a low voice, "Archbishop Reese wishes to use the meeting room."
Monica's icy gaze swept over the ever-bowing Mario. She snorted, her tone still laced with unconcealed anger. "Let her come."
It would save her the trouble of finding her.
The Holy See only used the meeting room when a decision couldn't be reached. Due to Bishop Ralph's hands-off approach, the room had been collecting dust for a long time.
This time, Reese had properly dressed in her Cardinal's robes. The pure white vestments were embroidered with exquisite patterns in red and gold thread. The collar and sleeves were trimmed with gold, and the red sash at her waist was both flamboyant and noble. A scarlet cape trailed on the floor, proclaiming the lofty status of a Red-robed Archbishop.
Seeing Reese in her Cardinal robes, Monica's expression grew even darker.
Bishop Ralph and the other priests of the Holy See followed Reese into the meeting room, each finding their own seat.
Reese walked straight to the head of the table and sat down, with Mario standing behind her, head bowed. She clasped her hands on the table and, after seeing everyone seated, a faint smile touched her lips. She offered a simple greeting, then cast a light glance at Bishop Ralph, who was seated just below her.
Taking the hint, Bishop Ralph stood up and cleared his throat. He announced to the others, "Archbishop Reese is preparing to escort the believers back to the Central Church. Recently, Black Witches have been causing frequent trouble on the Statu Continent. For the safety of the believers, I have decided to dispatch two priests to lead several dozen clerics and Holy Knights to escort Archbishop Reese back to the Central Church."
As his words fell, all the seated priests looked at each other in astonishment, their expressions bewildered.
Tang Qiu was also observing the others' reactions, her gaze primarily on Monica. To her surprise, although Monica's face was grim, she didn't immediately jump up to refute Bishop Ralph.
She withdrew her gaze and glanced at Reese. Reese was resting her chin on one hand, watching the others with great interest. Noticing Tang Qiu's gaze, she met her eyes and smiled faintly.
Bishop Ralph waited patiently for the others to digest the news, then bowed to Reese at the head of the table. "I have decided to select the candidates based on the ranking of their Power of Light," he said respectfully. "I wonder if Archbishop Reese has any other suggestions."
If the selection was based on the ranking of the priests' Power of Light, the first choice would undoubtedly be Monica, with her outstanding talent and long years of practice.
The second choice would be Tang Qiu. Although she had not yet mastered intermediate light magic and hadn't been practicing for long, her innate talent was so exceptional that after the Baptism of Light, the Power of Light within her had become even richer and purer.
It was even purer than Monica's; she only fell short in strength because she hadn't been practicing as long.
The Power of Light was the key indicator of a cleric's strength.
Before Reese could speak, an impatient Monica coldly refused, "Exclude me from the selection."
Bishop Ralph looked questioningly at Reese, who smiled and shook her head at him. The bishop turned back to Monica and said, "That is against the rules, Priest Monica."
He was now fully asserting his authority as a bishop.
Monica glared at him, her face filled with anger. Bishop Ralph was a nonentity when Reese wasn't around, but at times like this, he was incredibly frustrating.
His fawning over Reese was disgusting to even look at.
"I will not go," Monica said, her face cold.
Reese said nothing, merely looking quietly at Bishop Ralph. The bishop wiped away a bead of cold sweat, a chill running down his spine from her stare. He coughed, put on a stern face, and said to Monica in a heavier tone, "Are you showing me contempt?"
She is, everyone present, including Tang Qiu, silently answered Bishop Ralph's question. However, if she admitted to defying a bishop's authority, only arrest by the Inquisition would await her.
Sometimes, the chasm between ranks is insurmountable.
Monica took a deep breath to suppress her anger and said flatly, "I wouldn't dare."
Bishop Ralph also breathed a small sigh of relief. "Then you will be the escort."
Monica glared coldly at Reese and said through gritted teeth, "Fine."
Reese watched her with a smile. Just as Bishop Ralph's gaze fell on Tang Qiu and he was about to announce the second candidate, Reese suddenly raised her hand, cutting him off.
"I'll decide the next candidate." Reese's teasing gaze fell upon Tang Qiu. She raised her right hand, her fingertip pointing distantly at her... and then at the priest beside her. Her tone was nonchalant. "Priest Lucy, are you willing?"
Tang Qiu's eyes narrowed slightly. She met Reese's gaze for a moment, then a pleasant curve formed on her lips as she calmly averted her eyes.
The priest who had been chosen froze for a second, subconsciously glancing at the blonde priest beside her before nodding hesitantly. "It would be my honor, Archbishop Reese."
Reese lowered her hand and nodded in satisfaction. "Very well. It's settled then."
After she rose and left, a silence fell over the meeting room. It wasn't until Monica stood up with a cold face and departed that the others followed suit.
Tang Qiu walked at the very back, her eyes fixed on Priest Lucy's figure ahead, a thoughtful expression on her face.
She had long guessed that Reese wouldn't be kind enough to go along with her wishes, so she wasn't too surprised.
She lowered her gaze, lost in thought. Just then, a priest came over to speak with her. Tang Qiu had no choice but to put her thoughts aside and walk back to her quarters, chatting and laughing with him.
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