The Bishop’s Suspicions

Bishop Carlos gazed impassively at the documents on his desk—a tax decree that had arrived from the estate only a short while ago.

Had it arrived just after the Paladins began their ‘protection’?

‘Reyn Rheinhebo, has he already caught on?’

Yet, it was merely a tax decree. Even if the levies were terrifyingly high, it remained, at its core, nothing more than a decree.

Bishop Carlos lightly tapped the table, his gaze fixed on the enforcer before him. “Did Steward Ark bring anyone else with him?”

The enforcer replied, “Reporting to Your Grace, Steward Ark arrived with only two servants.”

Bishop Carlos’s eyes flickered. The Blackwing Knights had not appeared. Could this signify that Reyn Rheinhebo did not truly command the Rheinhebo family’s full strength?

However, the Voice of the Deceased had lost its humanity precisely because of him. It was inconceivable that he hadn’t foreseen the Voice of the Deceased’s existence would damage his relationship with the Blackwing Knights, pushing them into opposition.

‘Could it be that, in Reyn Rheinhebo’s plans, even the Blackwing Knights are meant to be eliminated?’

Bishop Carlos was filled with bewilderment. A knight order numbering a thousand was a significant force, even within the Holy Church. Reyn Rheinhebo had no discernible reason to remove a power that posed no threat to him.

Knights who betrayed their lord would never be accepted by others throughout their lives. Yet, Reyn Rheinhebo continued to allow the Voice of the Deceased to kill, undoubtedly forcing the Blackwing Knights onto a path of rebellion.

He picked up the tax decree and moved to the candelabra, using the flame to ignite the entire document. He watched in silence as it burned to ashes in his palm.

Reyn Rheinhebo’s reaction had come faster than they anticipated. Little time remained for that Paladin squad.

“Your Grace! Something terrible has happened!”

An enforcer rushed in from outside, his face a mask of profound distress.

“The Paladins… they’re all dead!”

When this dreadful news reached Bishop Carlos’s ears, he nearly lost his footing.

His body trembled for a long moment. Gritting his teeth, he let out a low growl of shock and fury. “The cause of death?”

“All the blood from their bodies was drained dry.”

Bishop Carlos’s pupils contracted sharply. This was precisely the method of a Blood Demon!

Yet, that heretic had been on the verge of death. North and the others had resorted to such drastic measures precisely to sustain his life. How could they have ended up killing themselves instead?

Bishop Carlos swayed, making his way to the table. He braced his hands on the surface to keep himself upright, his brows deeply furrowed as he stared silently at the cluttered tabletop.

That Paladin squad wouldn’t have been foolish enough to allow the Blood Demon to fully recover. Clearly, another power had intervened, suppressing the Paladin squad and using the Blood Demon’s hand to kill them.

Bishop Carlos gradually calmed his agitated breathing. He abruptly turned his head, staring intently at the enforcer who had brought the news. “What about the Blood Demon? Have you discovered his whereabouts?”

The enforcer’s expression was unusually strange. “That heretic has been re-escorted back to the prison.”

Bishop Carlos’s expression shifted dramatically. The power that had ambushed the Paladins hadn’t taken the Blood Demon; instead, they had left him behind?

No! It was more than that! A Blood Demon would never docilely remain. This implied that the presence of that power instilled fear even in an A-rank heretic.

Among the known S-rank heretics, the one whose approximate location best fit the criteria was none other than the Gluttony Witch!

But why would she leave the Blood Demon behind?

Bishop Carlos’s brows furrowed, and his expression suddenly changed profoundly.

This was merely a branch church, possessing no power capable of confronting an A-rank heretic. This meant that the Blood Demon could kill all of them at any moment!

Currently, that Blood Demon was confined within the church’s prison. Yet, in truth, it was they who were truly imprisoned.

Bishop Carlos’s face became exceedingly grim. As a bishop, when had he ever been reduced to a state where he was at the mercy of others?

What unnerved him most was the chilling thought that the Gluttony Witch likely had a far more complex objective than simply annihilating the entire branch church. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Blood Demon to remain so quietly in his cell.

He abruptly turned his head, looking towards the candelabra. Fresh ashes still clung to the edge of the plate.

Reyn Rheinhebo, that fellow was clearly colluding with the Gluttony Witch. So, did his shadow also loom over this incident?

It was not surprising that Bishop Carlos harbored such suspicions, simply because the timeline was too coincidental. Shortly after he received the tax decree, a Paladin squad was annihilated.

This was Reyn Rheinhebo’s threat, a blatant provocation against the Holy Church!

No wonder he hadn’t dispatched the Blackwing Knights. How could a knight order numbering only a thousand compare to an S-rank heretic?

He had initially believed that the illegitimate son was, at most, merely in league with heretics. But now, it seemed this was far beyond mere collusion.

‘Is the Gluttony Witch obeying his commands?’

‘Then, what about the Coven of Witches?’

When Bishop Carlos realized what he was thinking, his hands and feet instantly turned ice cold.

After standing in grim silence for a long while, he slowly spoke. “The one who applied for Reyn Rheinhebo’s protection was Enforcer Louise Christian, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Have her come to see me.”

Several minutes later, Louise entered the room. Although she concealed it well, the experienced Bishop Carlos still noticed a slight anomaly.

He did not expose her, his voice as gentle as ever. “Enforcer Louise Christian, are you very familiar with Count Reyn Rheinhebo? I mean in terms of personal relationship.”

Louise subconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes, her voice low. “Your Grace, Count Reyn Rheinhebo and I do not share a deep personal relationship. He merely wished to apply for the Holy Church’s protection and once visited my home.”

Bishop Carlos watched Louise with a calm gaze. He had known this matter for a long time and hadn’t paid much attention to it then, as it was a common occurrence.

He slowly began, “Today, Count Reyn Rheinhebo’s steward came to the branch church. He delivered a tax decree, demanding that the branch church pay 94% of its monthly income.”

Louise Christian’s pupils constricted sharply. “Has he gone mad?”

Bishop Carlos silently quirked a corner of his mouth, his gaze somewhat playful as he looked at the young enforcer. “Since you helped him apply for the Holy Church’s protection, you should pay him a visit. The Holy Church has never paid taxes, it was so in the past, and it will be so in the future. Find out exactly what he intends to do, then report back to me.”