Chapter 203 (2): Good Eye for People

Wayne took the briefcase and said with a frown, “If I say yes, who am I going to contact from now on? I can’t possibly carry the radio with me. I’ll need a liaison. Is it going to be you... or Lily?”

“Lily will not be returning to Windsor. She’s a celebrity now, so she’ll be in charge of propaganda,” Solar said. “If you want to see her, you can head to Palis.”

Forget that. It’s too dangerous. I’ve cuckolded a certain skeleton, and he’s quite the influential figure there.

After Solar left, Wayne put on white gloves and took the briefcase to his office for inspection. As soon as he walked through the door, he noticed that his jacket had been moved. He huffed, pretending not to realize it. He would consider that Mona’s reward.

While reading the documents in the briefcase, he took the black tea Mona handed him, shaking his head and smiling every now and then.

Mona peered over him, leaning so close to him that her chest pressed against his shoulders. With a quick browse of the document, she said in surprise, “Where did you get the insider information on undisclosed business collaborations? It must have cost a fortune.”

“It’s free.”

Wayne patted her on the chest and told her to make a copy of all the important documents. Then he returned to his residence with the briefcase.

Once he was home, he headed straight to the basement and found his way through the sewers to his mansion at the Lando Estate. Auston wasn’t home, and neither was Megan. Wayne contacted him, waiting for him until afternoon tea time.

Auston had a dark look on his face. The movie

King Kong

was still in the cinema, so he would be seeing this damn face everywhere for quite a while.

“The intelligence agency in Franc contacted me. This is their greeting gift.” Wayne summarized the earlier meeting and pushed the briefcase toward Auston.

Auston spent half an hour going through all the documents, his expression brightening slightly. “I like Francan people’s romantic tendency, as well as their ignorance and generosity.”

“I understand,” Wayne snorted. “Even a Francan has their good points, right?”

Wayne had thought that a major capitalist like Auston wouldn’t hold such prejudices, but he had underestimated the century-old friendship between the two nations.

“That’s right.” Auston shut the briefcase and studied Wayne, looking satisfied. “Good work. My investment in you finally bore fruit.”

“True, you even invested your daughter in me.”

“...” Auston’s face darkened again. He changed the subject. “Since you’re here, I have something important to tell you, too.”

“Is the Ministry of Magic at it again?” Wayne asked in surprise. This peaceful time had only lasted for a few days. Couldn’t they just focus on studying magic like he did?

“The Church of Nature’s vicennial Holy Maiden selection is on the horizon. Your master, Silvia, can recommend two candidates as the District High Reverend,” Auston said at a deliberate pace.

Holy Maiden! Nice!

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Wayne’s eyes lit up. He had been waiting and waiting. Finally, there was going to be a new Holy Maiden. He asked curiously, “Who is Master going to recommend? Veronica? But wouldn’t that be inappropriate since she may become a mother by the end of the year?”

“...”

“Alright, I’ll shut up. Continue.”

Auston scowled. “Given Veronica’s dragon blood and talent in magic, she’s fully qualified to become the Holy Maiden. Before you showed up, Silvia might have wanted to recommend her.”

Wayne nodded in understanding. A Holy Maiden had to remain a pure maiden even in her old age. Now that he and Veronica had developed feelings for each other, Master wouldn’t separate them like a malicious stepmother.

“It’s different now. Compared to Veronica, you’re more—” Auston paused, keeping his emotions under control. “You’re a little better than Veronica in some aspects, so Silvia may entrust you with her unfinished dream.”

“Me?!” Wayne snorted. “I’m a man. How am I going to be a Holy Maiden?”

“The Church of Nature has had only Holy Maidens, but there’s no rule requiring it. You can be the Anointed One.”

“Um...” Wayne was shocked. For the longest time, he had been having this little fantasy he could not tell others about: he would like to ride on Master’s coattails and help her kill the Darkness Knight, and once Master became the Pope, he would get to come and go freely in the Holy Maiden’s bedroom as the Pope’s top disciple, teaching her Life Magic overnight.

“After becoming the Anointed One, you’ll not only have to stay at the Church of Nature’s headquarters long-term, but also move between the different districts to spread the Goddess of Nature’s grace and oracles to the followers...”

Auston obviously disapproved of that prospect. “Find a way to turn Silvia down. Don’t say yes to her.”

I don’t need you to remind me!

Wait, why didn’t you tell her yourself?

Wayne’s smart little brain quickly figured out Auston’s intention. The old man didn’t want to get on his wife’s bad side, so he made Wayne do it instead. It was such a calculated move that he might as well be a human computer.

Wayne never doubted his own talent, and neither did Auston. The two of them never brought up the possibility that Wayne could fail, as if he would become the Anointed One as long as he entered the competition.

“You’re the heir of the Lando family. You must stay in Londan, period.”

Of course!

Wayne agreed inwardly. He was interested in Holy Maidens, but not in becoming a male counterpart himself, not even when it came for free. However, he said, “I don’t want to turn Master down. Failing to become the Holy Maiden has always been her regret. Since she’s treated me so kindly, I have to repay her however I can.”

Auston huffed out a laugh. “The Holy Maiden has to remain pure, and so does the Anointed One. Are you sure you can go celibate?”

The pointed question left Wayne speechless. He frowned and said, “Master has been trying to get me and Veronica together. If the Anointed One has to remain pure, it doesn’t make sense for her to recommend me, does it?”

Could it be that no man was ever pure, and not only could the Anointed One do the do, but he was actually burdened with the heavy responsibility of procreation?

Wayne stared at Auston inquisitively, waiting for a response.

“You are the family heir, so you must stay in Londan. It’s as simple as that.”

“Then you tell Master. Why are you saying that to me?”

“You say it!”

“You do it.”

They both fell silent.

Childish

, Auston thought.

Coward

, Wayne cursed in his head.

They left without coming to an agreement.

***

Meanwhile, Londan Head Office of the Church of Nature.

Staring at the two recommendation forms on her desk, Silvia hesitated to fill them out. Wayne was the best candidate in her mind, and as long as he entered the competition, he would become the church’s Anointed One for certain. She never doubted it.

The one problem was that the Anointed One had to remain pure, at least while they held the position.

“It won’t be long, from fifteen to twenty years. With magic to maintain youthfulness, it won’t be that serious an issue.”

Silvia agonized over the decision. Becoming the Anointed One would do Wayne good without any harm. Not only would he learn the most advanced faith magic, but he would also be allowed to hear the goddess’s oracle directly. If the goddess ever descended through him, leaving something before departure, it would benefit him for life.

As his master, Silvia wanted Wayne to become the Anointed One. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that many couldn’t get, no matter how much they begged. Love could be put aside first!

As Veronica’s mother, however, she knew that her girl would be heartbroken to be apart from Wayne for fifteen to twenty years. Love was difficult to control!

“Then how about putting forth both their names?”

“Even if something happens, there’s no way to prove sexual experience with a boy...”

Silvia’s eyes lit up. Before she wrote the names down, though, she realized how sacriligious a thought it was to the goddess. If the goddess suddenly descended, and Wayne happened to be... Yeah, it would be unacceptable to show such an inappropriate scene to Her.

The phone rang. Her assistant called from outside the office, saying that Priestess Flora requested a meeting.

“What does she want from me?”

Silvia hung up and looked at the recommendation forms on the table, her lips curling up. “You’ve been the Holy Maiden, but you won’t be satisfied. Do you really see the church as your own home, where you get to demand everything?”

After a moment, Flora walked in. Glancing at the empty forms, she bowed slightly in greeting to the High Reverend. They called each other sisters, being extra polite due to their strained relationship. Real sisters would’ve been rough with each other like real brothers.

After exchanging pleasantries, Flora explained the purpose of her visit. “The Windsor district can recommend two candidates, High Reverend. I hope that you’ll give one to me.”

“You’re late, Flora,” Silvia said regretfully. “I just got a call. The headquarters has claimed our quotas.”

“High Reverend, headquarters has its own quotas. They won’t make such demands on the district offices. It’s one of the church’s unchanging rules.”

“Really? Maybe it’s changed this year.”

“...”

You’ll regret this, hag!