Chapter 919. Sera (19)

- Father Basel is still a bit feisty. So what happened next?

'What do you mean?'

I could still remember how Father Yohan’s face turned pale, so I was sure he was feeling ashamed. However, all I could tell Lee Ji-Hye was that he and the Templars were in the worst-case scenario. He had basically lost his opportunity to execute his plan while leading the Templars. Moreover, those bastards...

‘They already know.’

I had no idea what was going on. I also had no idea why the monsters were after me, but I was sure they knew that today’s incident had happened because of the Mole Saint’s Cozy Sanctuary.

Of course, the reality was that I made all of this happen, but they had no idea that I had Benigoa’s blood flowing in me. All they could do was make their own interpretations.

I wasn’t sure whether the monsters were attracted to me because I had consumed Benigoa’s blood or it was a side-effect born from the fact that the dungeon was still untouched, even though it had been quite a while since it went online.

Regardless, mutated monsters exiting the dungeon didn’t really happen often, but it didn't mean that there was no precedence.

They probably thought about taking care of the anomaly that wasn't part of their plan before focusing on the faction war within the Vatican.

- You should’ve been there, Ji-Hye.

- It’s a shame I wasn’t there. I’m sure it was really fun. Anyway... so you almost got everything you wanted.

- Something like that.

- You convinced the Vatican to let the Blue Guild stay, exposing the faction war that’s taking place within the Vatican, and you even managed to give power to Grandpa Basel.

- ...

- Then, are we going to proceed with the plan?

- Not yet. I need to carefully select the people who are going to stand on my side. Father Yohan’s side is wary of me, but he doesn’t have the luxury to keep that up. I’m sure he’s busy trying to get rid of the remaining evidence.

Ah!

I think the public is on my side. The recent event was a pretty big incident, after all.

- Well, it's an unprecedented incident... the Saint of Light was attacked during a prayer service, after all. People are already talking about it. But will it really be okay, oppa?

- If I join you, the Commander will have to handle the situation up there alone... Of course, he’s pretty capable, but he’s been pretty awkward with Kim Hyun-Sung recently, so things don't really look good. Moreover, all he does all day is talk badly about you.

- It’s not like he’s doing anything important. I’m sure he’s capable enough to handle minor tasks on his own. I’m tied up down here, so we have to prioritize this task. I want you to rush over here...

- It doesn’t really matter to me since I haven’t been to a party in a while. I always enjoyed talking to people, too. This actually feels like a vacation.

- I’m glad you like it.

- I think it’s more like you want to go. I know you really enjoy talking behind people’s backs. You looked genuinely happy during the democratic revolution, after all.

- I’m not that type of person.

- Yeah, right...

Ah!

I’ll call you back later. I need to go.

I looked at Lee Ji-Hye using my Telescope and saw her having the time of her life.

‘She’s a strange one as well.’

'Well, talking behind people’s backs is pretty fun.'

- Let’s go, Yeon-Soo.

- Okay.

- You scheduled everything, right?

- Yes, but the scheduled parties have been canceled. Instead, they’re holding tea parties and small gatherings...

- They’re just calling it that way. Do you really think that those people would do nothing when something really juicy had happened? I’m sure they had no choice but to cancel the parties because of the public's reaction, but they need to gossip more than ever.

- Investigate how many parties—I mean, gatherings are going to be held within this week.

- I just need to focus on the donors, right?

- Of course. If we want to put pressure, we need to do it properly, don’t you agree? This isn’t really my forte... but I think it’s going to be fun.

'I think she’s more than capable of doing this, but this really isn’t my forte as well.'

- But unni... aren’t you busy as well? Why...

- What? You think I’m wasting my energy on trivial things?

- No, that’s not what I meant. Letting you do this when you’re so busy... is a bit...

- Oppa needs proof. A proof that he had obtained information from the Black Swan Guild.

'She’s right.'

- Muddying the waters isn’t an easy task, you know?

- ...

- That’s especially true for this incident because this is

really

risky. If we’re careful and convince the people to donate a large amount of money to the Vatican...

- Will we profit from that?

- The Vatican will have no choice but to be careful since not everyone there is innocent. It takes a lot of gold to pay the Heretic Inquisitors, priests, and the Holy Knights.

- There’s also the Vatican's charity foundations. Do you know how much it costs to maintain the dignity of priests who are bishops or higher? Do you know how much that costs annually? They’re only engaging in religious activities because they’re getting paid well.

- ...

- They’re indirectly letting the factions know that they’re making the wrong choice, and they need to stand with the correct side if they want to continue living a prosperous life.

- Benigoa isn’t the only one they’re serving. Some of them are also serving the precious god of gold, so imagine how fun this is going to be.

Ji-Hye noona definitely enjoyed being a part of the sidelines.

To be exact, she enjoyed hot topics and promoting conflict.

I had no idea how her personality became so twisted, but it was true that it was amusing to see one's target showing an interesting reaction to one's provocation. Obviously, I didn’t give her that work to have fun.

‘It’s actually important work.’

Ha Yeon-Soo was confused about why Lee Ji-Hye was getting involved in such trivial matters...

‘But it’s like she said...’

I wouldn’t give this task to anyone except for Lee Ji-Hye.

- Oh my, it’s been a while.

- Have you been well, Miss Lee Ji-Hye?

- I contacted you recently,

hehe

.

- You did.

- Did your wife like the gift that I sent her?

-

Haha

. I actually wanted to thank you for that.

Ah!

You’re here. Have a seat here, Senator Delarus.

- It’s really been a while, Whitneys.

- I must really be invisible to you, Senator Delarus.

- Of course not.

Haha

. You’ve become even more beautiful, Miss Lee Ji-Hye.

- You won’t get anything even if you compliment me.

- Looks like I failed.

Lee Ji-Hye was definitely a pro, and her way of talking was top-notch.

One had to be pretty skillful to make the other person comfortable and to create

that

kind of atmosphere. Lee Ji-Hye was so skilled that she could easily control a person’s emotions. She was also skilled at leading the conversation, creating the right mood, and changing the subject naturally...

- Looks like Mr. Varus won't be able to make it today.

- It’ll probably be hard for him. He’s been looking forward to the prayer service... We just have to pray that he recovers.

This situation was the same as my situation in the Vatican, but this was actually easier. She just needed to read their expressions and slowly make them talk about things that they were interested in.

- Our Black Swan Guild actually managed to obtain a certain piece of information. Actually, I’m not sure whether it’s related to the recent incident or not, but... I heard that the Vatican is embroiled in a faction war.

- What?

- I believe that’s the reason why Father Lee Ki-Young was in danger...

I would call this a success. It was enough to stimulate their imagination, and it was also enough information to let them know that the faction war was getting worse.

We could make it worse by saying that it was an assassination attempt on the honorary cardinal, but going that far was a bit...

- What? Then... did Father Yohan really...

- No. It's an unconfirmed piece of information. It's basically a rumor, so don’t believe it, Whitneys.

It was amusing seeing them react that way exactly three hours later...

- We still need to confirm that piece of information... and we still haven’t gotten any information on that monster capable of wielding holy power.

- They really tried to assassinate Father Lee Ki-Young... Is that what you’re saying here?

-

Shh!

You’re too loud.

-

Ah...

I’m sorry.

- It’s not

that

big of a deal, and it’s too early to overinterpret like that. No one knows who’s behind it yet... But one thing we’re sure of is that there are people within the Vatican who aren’t fond of Father Lee Ki-Young and Father Basel.

- But it’s a fact that Father Lee Ki-Young’s safety was threatened because of the faction war...

- That seems to be the case...

-

Huh

... Father Yohan... I didn’t think he was

that

kind of person.

- But we don’t know for sure whether Father Yohan is actually the culprit or not, Whitneys.

- I suddenly feel like the world has changed, Miss Lee Ji-Hye. If only the religious people... were all like Father Lee Ki-Young...

- But Miss Lee Ji-Hye... Will Father Lee Ki-Young really be safe at the Vatican?

- Well, they allowed the members of the Blue Guild to stay at the Vatican with him. I’m sure Father Basel was worried about him as well.

- It’s understandable. Come to think of it... before he was revived...

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

- Yes, Senator.

- The Vatican had claimed ownership of his corpse... Does that have anything to do with the recent incident?

'That's a long time ago... you're actually thinking that far back?'

- I don’t know anything about that, so I can’t confirm it.

- If Father Yohan is after Father Lee Ki-Young’s body...

'What are you saying?'

- Then don’t you think... the recent incident fits the situation, Miss Lee Ji-Hye?

- That can’t be.

‘What are you guys talking about? You guys are overinterpreting it. You shouldn’t make someone look that bad.’

I was sure the people there knew better than anyone that their comments were ridiculous. They were probably just exaggerating things, as they really enjoyed gossiping.

Some of their comments were completely absurd, but Lee Ji-Hye of the Black Swan Guild easily transformed those ridiculous comments into something convincing.

I was definitely going to give her fifty points for letting people know that I was in a dangerous situation due to the ongoing faction war within the Vatican, and I'd give her another one hundred points if she told them that Father Yohan was at the center of it.

‘It’s even better if she turns Father Yohan into a total piece of shit.’

Four days was enough for rumors to spread.

It was easy to send someone to their grave in the blink of an eye.

I was sure that Benigoa Net would soon become a nightmare for him.

Actually, I didn't really think that he had any

real

power...

“The result will still be the same,” I said.

It was time to reap what I had sown, but I also had to take care of the issue I had been putting aside these days.

“Miss Hye-Jin? Miss Hye-Jin!” I called out.

“...”

“Hye-JIn! Hey!” I yelled.

“What’s wrong, sir?” Jo Hye-Jin asked.

“Did Ha-Yan get disciplined by any chance?” I asked.