The Price of Treachery and the Rot of Faith

“Taxing the Holy Church?”

Inside the room, John wore a ghost-stricken expression. While nobles possessed numerous methods for increasing revenue, none had ever dared to tax the Holy Church.

‘Was Reyn Rheinhebo insane?’

Indeed, nobles wielded absolute control over their territories; even the Emperor could not interfere. The Holy Church wouldn’t openly clash with the nobility over such a minor issue, yet how could one survive in a world rampant with heresy without the Church’s protection?

Furthermore, public sentiment would plunge into chaos. With millennia of history, the Holy Church’s presence was deeply ingrained in people’s hearts. For the common folk, the Holy Church was their spiritual pillar.

And now, this very pillar was poised to abandon their land, all due to a noble’s foolish decision. Reyn Rheinhebo was simply courting death!

John’s eyes suddenly flickered, and he thoughtfully lowered his head.

Betrayal was a grave taboo for a knight, but it was an entirely different matter if one could secure the Holy Church’s endorsement. All acts sanctioned by the Holy Light were righteous.

Reyn Rheinhebo’s foolish offense against the Holy Church, however, presented John with a golden opportunity.

He fixed his gaze on the man before him and stated gravely, “Beck, go to the Church immediately. Arrange a meeting with Bishop Carlos on my behalf.”

“Are you betraying the family head?”

John frowned. “That is not for you to question!”

Beck quietly observed John, then suddenly grinned. “Commander, you’re ill.”

John’s pupils constricted sharply. Without hesitation, he snatched the longsword from the wall and severed Beck’s head.

He stared intently at the severed neck; not a single drop of blood flowed. Then, Beck’s head, which had rolled three times across the floor, suddenly turned to face the grim-faced John. “It’s alright, Mother will cure you.”

John silently retreated towards the window. This manor had been infiltrated by some entity, and he had only just realized it.

Seizing a moment when Beck was distracted, he spun around, crashed through the window, and swiftly vanished into the night.

He had no idea the extent of the enemy’s infiltration. Everyone in the manor was untrustworthy; he had to seek refuge with the Holy Church!

He ran desperately out of the manor, sprinting along a forest path, when a figure suddenly entered his view.

John’s eyes lit up instantly upon seeing the law enforcement officer’s uniform. He shouted, “I am John Bruce, Commander of the Blackwing Knights! I have urgent information regarding heretics to report!”

Bang!

Only a gunshot answered him.

Louise Christian gripped the revolver in her hand. The bullets were specially crafted by the Holy Church, possessing immense lethality against heretics.

She watched the pure black mass of flesh collapse to the ground. Still uneasy, she fired several more shots. Only after the entity had thoroughly lost all signs of life did she turn her solemn gaze towards the manor ahead.

A creation of the Lust Witch had escaped from that manor, even claiming to be the Commander of the Blackwing Knights. What exactly was happening?

Uneasy, she continued towards the manor. Upon recognizing her, the guards at the gate immediately summoned Steward Ark.

“Good evening, esteemed Law Enforcement Officer.”

Steward Ark approached Louise with a hint of apprehension. Just this morning, he had sent the tax decree to the Holy Church. It was clear that the Church sending someone at a time like this wasn’t for casual conversation.

Louise gazed steadily at Steward Ark, her right hand occasionally brushing the revolver in her waist pouch, and said in a low voice, “I need to meet with Count Reyn Rheinhebo.”

“The family head is already expecting you.”

Louise’s eyes subtly changed. ‘Reyn Rheinhebo had actually anticipated her arrival?’

‘Could it be that the witch’s creation that appeared earlier was also his doing?’

She uneasily followed Steward Ark into the brightly lit study. The documents on the desk had been cleared away, leaving only two cups of coffee and a plate of biscuits.

Reyn quietly watched Louise enter the study and said softly, “Good evening, Law Enforcement Officer Louise Christian.”

Steward Ark, ever astute, closed the door, leaving Louise and Reyn alone.

Louise met Reyn’s distinctly black and white eyes and spoke directly. “Count Reyn Rheinhebo, why exactly are you taxing the Holy Church? Are you no longer seeking the Church’s protection?”

Reyn was silent for a moment before slowly replying, “I am very short on money. Extremely short.”

Louise was momentarily speechless, looking at Reyn with incomprehension. “That’s your reason for taxing the Holy Church? Do you realize that because of your reckless actions, Bishop Carlos has already started to suspect me? If he discovers my dealings with you, I will be executed!”

Reyn looked stunned. Executed? Just because he sent a box of desserts? That old man who had threatened him multiple times was actually such a person?

‘Hmm… this must mean the Holy Church’s laws regarding bribery are quite strict. But they are just laws; people are the ones who enforce them.’

Reyn’s brow gradually furrowed. The Holy Church’s branch within the Rheinhebo territory had clearly fallen into corruption. If even Bishop Carlos, the highest administrator of the branch, was like this, it was hard to imagine the state of the others.

He picked up his cup and took a small sip of coffee, saying gently, “No need to be nervous. Since you’re still unharmed, doesn’t that prove there’s still room for discussion?”

Louise frowned. “The Holy Church cannot be taxed! If you intend to use this to bargain with Bishop Carlos, that’s simply a pipe dream! This matter offers you no benefit whatsoever. If you lack money, then simply tax the common people!”

Reyn suddenly looked up. When he saw Louise’s utterly self-righteous expression, he was left speechless for a long time.

‘Had the Holy Church’s branch in the Rheinhebo territory truly rotted to this extent?’

He set down his cup, met Louise’s gaze, and stated gravely, “Law Enforcement Officer Louise Christian, before you became an officer, you were also a commoner.”

“But I am not now.”

“Are you trying to deny your past self as a commoner?”

“Count Reyn Rheinhebo, to become a Holy Church enforcer, I am still burdened by decades of student debt. Do you expect me to sympathize with those ignorant people who never strive, only waiting for others’ help?”

“How can you assume they haven’t strived?”

“Because I’ve seen too many people like that. Count Reyn Rheinhebo, you have a privileged background. You simply don’t know how those ignorant people truly live. Do you know about Utopia? That heresy exists in everyone’s dreams, creating a so-called beautiful new world that makes people completely sink into their dreamscapes. Heh, do you know how many people in the Empire have been devoured by the beautiful dreams created by Utopia? You tell me, should I sympathize with such individuals?”