Chapter 105
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I Will Purchase Divine Power with Money
Chapter 105
"Ah! These are gifts the Southern nobles sent to express their gratitude!"
Wait, I already received payment, and now they're sending gifts too...?
"If the High Priestess hadn't left so suddenly, there would certainly have been more. We wanted to give you so much more...."
Seeing Lady Flu's regretful expression, I couldn't help but ask.
"Is there something from the Flu Family in here as well...?"
"Of course. It's not much, so please accept it."
Of course it is. If I'd known they'd send gifts like this, I should have charged less for the treatment.
I never expected this....
"Don't worry, High Priestess. Nobles have plenty of money. Please accept it without concern."
As I gazed uncomfortably at the overflowing cart, Monica whispered softly to me.
She must think I'm troubled by it, but that's a misunderstanding, Monica. I don't refuse free money.
It's just that accepting it feels like taking a bribe.
"Fine, keep it safe. Let's use this opportunity to fill our Temple of the Sun God's coffers a bit."
But the past is the past, and the present is the present.
I'm not a civil servant where accepting bribes would be a problem, so why should I refuse? I decided to set aside my conscience cleanly and accept it.
Our Temple of the Sun God is simply too poor to turn it down....
"Well then, since we've finished organizing, I'll take my leave now. Thank you so much for everything."
"We were delighted to serve the High Priestess. Please do visit us again sometime. You'll always be welcome."
Lady Flu bowed respectfully.
The knights standing behind her also bowed in unison. Most of them were those our priests had treated.
"Then I'll see you all next time."
I smiled and exchanged farewells with everyone before boarding the carriage.
It was time to return to the Western Region.
* * *
"The High Priestess of the Sun God has departed, I hear."
In Duke Kali's Office.
Duke Kali spoke after receiving the High Priestess's letter, which Lady Flu Marquis had brought personally.
"What? Already? Without a word?"
Crown Prince Felix, who had been sitting on the sofa enjoying the duchy's desserts, widened his eyes at those words.
"Yes. Lady Flu said she was also shocked by such a sudden decision. It seems the High Priestess of the Sun God has quite an impatient temperament."
"Are all the children of the gods like that? The High Priestess and Saint of the Sea God were the same way."
Crown Prince Felix clicked his tongue, wondering why they all lived in such a hurry.
"But there's no letter for me?"
"No, there isn't."
"I'm the one who sent the High Priestess a letter and money this morning, so why does only the Duke get a letter?"
At Felix's complaint, Cali shrugged.
"It seems the High Priestess has little interest in Your Highness. However, she did ask me to convey her regards."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Yes. Just one line."
Felix let out a sigh at the cold reply.
Just one line? I'm the Crown Prince, and this is how I'm treated?
"What else is written in the letter?"
As Duke Kali continued reading the letter, Felix asked in a slightly sullen tone.
"The main topic concerns potions. Would you like to see it directly?"
When Cali offered the letter, Felix waved his hand dismissively.
"I can't very well peek at someone else's letter now that I'm Crown Prince. Just tell me what it says."
Seeing his obvious pout, Cali suppressed a laugh within herself.
Truly, what a remarkably human Crown Prince.
"She says the vice-master of the Lumen Merchant Guild will remain in the Southern Region for the time being and oversee the distribution of Sun God potions. If any problems arise, she asks that you contact them."
"So she commands the real power of the merchant guild like they're her own limbs. Am I overestimating?"
"For a mere cooperative relationship, the two of them seemed far too intimate. That vice-master is particularly known for being selective about people."
Those who know understand that it's as difficult to catch Jun Ludmin's eye as it is to catch Lute Sheary's.
The saying that gaining the favor of just one of them would guarantee a prosperous life isn't mere gossip.
"To captivate both Duke Sheary and the vice-master? Is the Sun God's High Priestess truly that remarkable?"
Her temperament is certainly bold, but I haven't yet discerned anything particularly special about her.
Duke Kali, who had been staring intently at the High Priestess's letter, answered belatedly to Felix's murmur.
"...She may possess qualities that set her apart."
"Really? Even you acknowledge it?"
"No. Not to that extent yet. However, it does seem necessary to observe whether she's genuine or not."
If genuine, she's remarkable. If not, she's the greatest con artist of the age.
Cali folded the letter back into its envelope and tossed it across the desk.
"Or perhaps she's simply uncovered some weakness of Duke Sheary's?"
Felix, watching Cali's movements, let out a hollow laugh as if bewildered.
"A weakness of Lute Sheary? Does such a thing even exist?"
"Though people say he's inhuman, he's still human after all. It's possible, isn't it?"
"And does the Duke have such a thing?"
"Do you think I would?"
At such an utterly confident statement, Felix shook his head in disbelief.
These dukes are nothing but corpses without their confidence.
Sometimes they're even more self-assured than the royal family.
"A temple that was falling into ruin has now grasped such an incredible connection with Sheary. I'm quite curious about what comes next. Didn't she resolve most of the Southern Region's problems in just a few days before departing?"
"That's true enough. Though the real problem—the monsters—still remain."
Felix rose from his seat and moved to the window.
His beautiful blue-green eyes, gazing out at the desert, darkened slightly.
"Fortunately, the Imperial Investigation Team returned safely, but they obtained nothing."
The investigation team, composed of Imperial researchers and the Kali Duchy Knight Order.
Despite considerable effort, they had gleaned no information whatsoever.
Coming all the way to the Southern Region for the investigation, one could hardly help but sigh.
"Actually, the High Priestess of the Sun God has accomplished far more than I have. She resolved the potion crisis and even mobilized the Eternal Death God Temple, which typically refuses Imperial orders."
Watching Ordel Kiris's eagerness for money, my earlier disappointment seemed utterly misplaced—her competence was truly remarkable.
With such ability, I couldn't fault her for coveting gold.
"We haven't resolved the monster problem entirely, but with relief supplies and reinforcements arriving, we should be able to hold out."
"Understood."
"Should the situation spiral beyond our control...."
Crown Prince Felix gripped the window frame firmly.
"Then the Imperial army will march directly into the Desert."
Not merely the Imperial forces alone.
The Empire's finest—soldiers from all Four Ducal Houses combined—would sweep across the Desert.
It risked creating international complications, but....
I had no intention whatsoever of standing idle while the people of the Southern Region continued to suffer for such trivial reasons.
"I express my gratitude for Your Highness's decisive action."
Duke Kali bowed deeply to Felix.
* * *
A deep, lightless cavern shrouded in absolute darkness.
Ssssshhhhh.
A grotesque creature resembling a centipede darted swiftly across the cavern.
Far larger than any centipede and radiating an ominous aura, the black monstrosity defied description beyond the word "grotesque."
"...How strange."
Yet even this creature, capable of swallowing a human whole, froze rigid the moment a dark voice echoed from deeper within the cavern.
Like a pitiful rabbit before a ravenous predator.
"I could have sworn I sent the finest warriors I could move...."
At the center of the deepest cavern.
Someone sat upon a stone throne, carved as if mimicking an imperial seat.
The deep hood of their robe revealed only smooth, thin lips and a hand resting upon the armrest—nothing more of their skin was visible.
"Yet you return empty-handed?"
Tedium saturated the languid voice.
It was the sort of voice one might expect to recite poetry in idle leisure, yet the figure prostrate before it remained motionless, trembling with fear.
"...."
"No, I misspoke. You didn't return at all."
Tap, tap, tap.
Slender fingers began drumming against the armrest.
"What mistake did I make? Or perhaps, what did I overlook?"
"...Upon investigation, the Slums reeked of an offensive fire stench. It appears those wretches were involved."
Tap.
The fingers drumming against the armrest ceased abruptly.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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