Chapter 173 (1): Hairstyle of Death

That night, in Wayne’s residence, Vera ran barefoot around the corridor in pajamas, disturbing Valkyrie. The female knight dragged her to the backyard for extra training, while Wayne received one-on-one tutoring from Kristen in the study.

After the class, Vera was still training with her sword. Wayne frowned silently. There should be enough time for Kristen to put on a pencil skirt and model for him to give him inspiration. What excuse should he use this time?

“Wayne, I need a few days off. I can’t tutor you for the next few days,” Kristen said apologetically.

“Really? Now?” Wayne was disgruntled. The topics covered in the next few days were crucial for the coming test. What was the student going to do when the teacher suddenly left?

“It’s complicated...” Kristen apologized. “Remember the investment you made? The headquarters of the church sent a High Reverend. The matter is important to the District Priestess. She assigned me many missions.”

The District Priestess of the Church of Moonlight was a female mage. Wayne had seen her before in the Great Cemetery in the Western District. She was around fifty, her appearance graceful but slightly aged. From what he had learned from Kristen, her name was Dorrin, a Gold-rank mage and Kristen’s adoptive mother.

Kristen wasn’t her only child, though. Dorrin had adopted many more children.

When Wayne tried to press for more information, Kristen kept her mouth shut, unwilling to talk about her extended family. Since she stayed in school most of the time and rarely mentioned her mother, her relationship with her family was likely strained. A big family wasn’t necessarily a happy one.

And he was right. Compared to staying with the extended family she was part of, Kristen much preferred staying at Wayne’s place, where she didn’t have to worry about anything.

“That so...” Wayne stroked his chin and raised an eyebrow. “How’s the High Reverend? Is it a he or a she? Do they exploit their status and bully locals like you?”

“No, she’s an elegant and well-mannered lady,” Kristen explained, emphasizing the word ‘lady’ so that Wayne wouldn’t misunderstand.

“What kind of a person is she?”

“She’s said to be mild-tempered, friendly, and tolerant,” Kristen said.

“I want the truth.”

“She’s said to be opinionated and strict,” Kristen murmured.

“The truth!”

“She’s said to be ruthless. While she seems gentle and mild, she’s actually... Just don’t make her angry,” Kristen reluctantly admitted. That was all she could say. As a member of the Church of Moonlight, she didn’t want to talk behind the High Reverend’s back.

Wayne sighed in resignation. That was right. An older lady who didn’t hesitate to kill her enemies at the price of her life couldn’t have been the easygoing type. Otherwise, the headquarters of the Church of Moonlight wouldn’t have sent her to expand its influence in Londan.

“How troublesome...”

“It is troublesome since we’re just getting to the key lesson.” Kristen hesitated. Teeth clenched, she said, “While Vera’s practicing swordsmanship in the garden, let’s head to your bedroom. I’ll put on the shortest skirt for you.”

“That won’t be necessary!” Wayne said seriously. “You misunderstood, Kristen. I’m not looking forward to you wearing stockings, a short skirt, high heels, and a low-cut cardigan. It’s just that as a fashion designer, I need to draw inspiration from my model.”

Kristen glanced sideways at him. “So? Do you want a look or not?”

“Since you’re offering, I will.”

Just admit you want to see it.

Kristen huffed. Veronica and Vera might still be in the dark, but she knew about Wayne’s ulterior motives when he used fashion design as an excuse. He was a pervert through and through.

She wasn’t so easy to fool!

***

Londan Airport, November sixth.

The honor guards lined up in red uniforms, their backs straight and their gazes determined as they waited for the flight from Palis arranged exclusively for the Church of Moonlight. With a faint smile, Yvette stood in the front, accompanied by Wayne in a white uniform. He had such a serious expression on his face that it looked like he was a fearless fighter about to step onto the battlefield for his country.

He didn’t encounter the mustachioed man today. Perhaps he hadn’t escaped prison yet and was still busy picking up soap.

“Relax, Wayne,” Yvette said teasingly. “You’re not facing a foreign leader.”

She knew that Wayne had saved Filomina, but she heard nothing about the complicated details. That was why she still had high hopes for him, believing that he would be able to placate Filomina for a while as her savior. In the meantime, the Ministry of Magic would identify the traitor, and the credibility crisis they faced would be resolved.

Although there would still be a stain on their track record, at least the Ministry of Magic would be able to salvage their reputation and reconcile with the Church of Moonlight, gaining more initiative.

Wayne nodded. Sensing a withering gaze from a short distance, he arched an eyebrow and winked at the source.

It was Kristen.

In addition to the Ministry of Magic, members of the Church of Moonlight’s Londan branch were also part of the welcoming party, led by Priestess Dorrin. Around ten good-looking members were handpicked to represent the church.

Kristen was one of them. She couldn’t believe it when she saw Wayne and his shamelessly nonchalant mug. He didn’t tell her that he would be at the airport to welcome their guest, and judging by his spot among the group, he wasn’t a mere prop like her.

And yet he pretended that he had the moral high ground and fooled her into wearing the skirt... It was so short!

Kristen gnashed her teeth together. Since her adoptive mother was right beside her, she could only show her grievances by glaring at Wayne.

“Don’t let your eyes wander, Kristen,” Dorrin said, reminding her daughter to watch her behavior. It was unbecoming of her to leer at a man in public; the High Reverend would certainly use that against Dorrin if she saw.

A newly appointed official always tried to exert dominance first.

Kristen lowered her head pitifully and apologized. She remembered how Veronica called Wayne scum and couldn’t agree more. The next time she gave him assignments, she would have him copy the textbooks!

Twenty minutes later, a medium-sized passenger plane landed on the runway, gliding and stopping about ten meters from the honor guards. The group set up the gangway. The Church of Moonlight’s representatives officially arrived in Londan.

It was a group of fifteen led by Filomina, whose stunning face was half covered by a veil. She walked down the gangway with her head held high. Once she reached the ground, she turned to the honor guards sent by Windsor.

She recognized Yvette Collins—Vice Minister of Magic, a legendary mage, and a member of one of the Tulip Families. Windsor had shown the Church of Moonlight due respect with the arrangement. When Silvia was appointed the District High Reverend, she didn’t enjoy the same treatment.

Soon, though, her expression stiffened. She saw a familiar face beside Yvette, one belonging to her savior, Jack.

Why was he here? Was Windsor so close to the Church of Heavenly Father that they could bring him here to put in the good words? No, the uniform...

Various thoughts flashed through Filomina’s mind, followed by numerous possible schemes. She tamped down her shock and slowly shifted her gaze away.

Ah, so there was never a Jack. She had done him a favor for nothing!

The deception put Filomina in a foul mood. The Ministry of Magic got the wares in the end, and she even thanked the thief.

What, does an honest person deserve to be exploited?!

The mature, beautiful lady hid her feelings under an amicable expression, turning around to converse with the smiling Dorrin. The conversation meandered for ten minutes, keeping Yvette waiting.

Yvette’s smile never cracked. She showed the High Reverend as much respect as possible as a legendary mage.

If not for her home country, she wouldn’t have willingly lowered her pride!