Chapter 46

Around that time, Malone was growing anxious.

“Why is it having no effect when I’ve spread the rumors so much?”

Malone had diligently gone around slandering Leon.

However, there were fewer people responding than he had thought.

The reason was simple.

Those who could have been helpful to Malone were aware of the relationship between Leon and the Signori Family, so they laid low, and those who didn't know the relationship were just small fry and thus useless.

Malone alone was unaware of this fact.

And Malone was not a man who knew how to give up.

“In that case, there’s only one method left.”

It was to report Leon to the Pontifical Curia.

The Pontiff would not simply ignore a bishop's accusation, and if the Pontiff moved, even the Signori Family would have no choice but to cut ties with a 'mercenary commander involved with a demon.'

Malone, becoming a patriot concerned for the well-being of the church and the state, began to write a letter to the Pontiff.

“Damn it, you started all this, Leon. It was a simple matter that could have been solved if you’d just pretended to be defeated and slipped me some gold coins, but you had to go and make things bigger……”

It was a matter that, had Leon known, he would have asked why Malone was trying so hard for just that, but Malone’s thoughts were different.

Malone, whose self-justification and hatred for Leon had reached their peak, could easily cross the line.

It wasn't that Malone was unaware he was crossing a line.

But his anger towards Leon was far greater.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door of Malone, who was composing the letter while fanning the flames of his grudge.

Thinking it was a church servant interrupting him, Malone angrily flung the door open.

However, contrary to his expectation, the one standing there was not a servant.

It was the firstborn of the Signori Family, Emilio Signori.

At the unexpected visitor's arrival, Malone was flustered and stammered.

“M-Mr. Emilio? No, how did you get here. What brings you?”

“You speak as if I’ve come to a place I shouldn’t. I’m hurt.”

“That's not what I meant. I was just surprised that such a distinguished person has visited this humble place.”

“You don't need to be so self-deprecating. I am but one of the citizens, but there is only one Bishop of Fasa, is there not? Then, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

Emilio entered the room with a faint smile, without seeking permission.

It was a rude act, but Malone swallowed his boiling anger.

Ordinarily, there would be no reason for Malone to feel inferior.

But his opponent was from ‘that’ Signori Family and was even a government official.

There was nothing to be gained by getting on his bad side.

Malone forced a smile and sat opposite Emilio.

And a few minutes later, Malone’s face turned deathly pale.

***

“Bishop Malone is resigning?”

“Yes. It seems his health has been poor lately. He announced his intention to quit to the government today. He has also sent a letter of resignation to the Pontifical Curia.”

I stared at Emilio, who was sitting opposite me, with a dumbfounded expression.

Emilio had a face that said he wasn't telling a single lie.

“I heard he was very healthy until just a short while ago.”

“Isn't it often the case that illness can strike suddenly one day.”

Unlike his slender younger brother, Emilio was a man with a strong jaw.

But his personality, contrary to his appearance, had a sly side to it.

It was certain, seeing how his expression didn't change one bit even while spouting such shameless words.

It wasn't for nothing that he was the only one in the Signori Family to enter public service.

Perhaps because of that, Emilio brought back results that exceeded expectations.

I thought it would be a success if Bishop Malone just shut his mouth, but to think he would end his career entirely.

The money I gave him wasn't wasted.

“Well now. That’s unfortunate for Bishop Malone. What will he be doing now?”

“I'm not interested enough to know that far. Perhaps he'll retire and take up farming?”

“I hear he is still young, so to retire already, I’m envious.”

“Haha, you tell a funny joke.”

Listening to Emilio’s laughter, I briefly thought about this incident.

Bishop Malone was a man who had obtained his clerical position with the backing of the Signori Family.

But as soon as trouble arose with me, the Signori Family immediately cut him off.

No matter how much of a state councilor Emilio was, there was no way he could handle something like this on his own.

The position of bishop is not that flimsy.

The influence of someone behind the scenes must have been involved.

I felt the boundless support sent by Matriarch Costanza.

And also the power held by the Signori Family, which could easily replace a bishop.

“First, please convey my gratitude to Matriarch Costanza. So, who will perform the duties of the Bishop of Fasa?”

“It seems it will be vacant for the time being. It will probably take a few months until a successor is decided. Are you perhaps interested?”

“Of course not.”

There are good points to holding a clerical position, but there are also bad points.

Especially in the case of the Western Church, there is the problem of having to receive orders and interference from superiors.

That is not something I want.

“Well, I thought as much. We too would not want to lose someone like you, Lord Gryph, to the Pontifical Curia.”

“You flatter me.”

“I’m serious. You have no idea how much the tax revenue has increased lately. Thanks to that, we’re proceeding with work the government had been putting off. But it seems that where there are good things, there are also bad things.”

Indeed.

Emilio had surely remained without leaving immediately to say these words.

It was probably an important matter.

“What is it?”

“While investigating the matter of Bishop Malone, I found out that something unusual is happening within Fasa.”

“Something unusual?”

I recalled all sorts of disasters and events that could happen in Apennia.

Among them existed all possibilities, from all sorts of trivial things to great calamities.

If it's something I can't handle, I'll have to flee Fasa, but surely not?

But to my relief, my worries were unfounded, and upon hearing Emilio’s following words, I felt my tension drain away.

“It seems a thieves' guild is active. Some of the scoundrels that Bishop Malone used to employ have confessed.”

“Ah, I see.”

“You’re not surprised?”

“It's not that surprising, is it?”

In , the 'Thieves' Guild Emerges!' was an event that usually occurred when the security of a territory was poor.

But the opposite case was also possible, which was when there were a lot of funds compared to the territory's development or size.

It wasn't strange.

Just as rats flock to where there is food, thieves flock to where there is treasure.

Perhaps because a lot of funds had rapidly poured into Fasa in a short period, the thieves had also begun to run rampant.

So, Emilio’s reaction was actually much stranger.

Although the thieves' guild was a hotbed of corruption, crime, tax evasion, and smuggling.

“In the first place, shouldn't the Fasa government's guard be able to handle something like a thieves' guild? Is there a problem?”

“……”

Emilio wore an embarrassed expression.

Don't tell me you guys can't even handle that properly?

“The current person in charge of the city’s security is, I believe, from the Corsini Family.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

The Corsini Family was a noble family of Fasa, possessing knights and private soldiers.

With my current threadbare power, they are difficult to oppose.

There's no good reason for a conflict either.

“The mercenary company was founded to solve external problems. So it would be a bit difficult for the mercenary company to step in on internal matters as well.”

“No, wait a moment.”

It was just as I was trying to send Emilio away with kind words.

Randolfo burst through the office door.

Randolfo's face was so pale that he couldn't even recognize his own older brother.

“Lord Gryph, it's an emergency!”

“What is it, all of a sudden?”

“The ship Sir Eleonor was on has returned in a hurry, and they say an epidemic has broken out on board!”

“What?!”

At the word 'epidemic,' everyone's complexion changed drastically.

If things went wrong, a disease could spread throughout the entire city, and countless people could die.

That wasn't the only problem.

Following Randolfo, Captain Leandro appeared with an urgent expression.

“It’s a disaster, Lord Gryph! One of the fleet detachments that went out to sea has gone adrift.”

“?”

***

Fundamentally, the sea is an unknown world.

It is a dangerous place where one does not know what kind of disaster might appear.

Before that vast domain, man is endlessly small and powerless.

Therefore, Leon was also aware of the dangers of going out to sea and had prepared as much as possible.

But what was happening now was clearly beyond Leon's expectations.

“It’s food poisoning.”

“Pardon?”

“It's just as I said. It's an illness caused by eating spoiled food.”

“I know that, but.”

On the outskirts of Fasa, there was an island for quarantining sailors who had contracted infectious diseases.

The local doctor who visited the island examined the patients and then simply revealed the name of the disease.

But Leon couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

“Is it really food poisoning?”

“It’s not a common occurrence, but it can certainly happen. Even more so at sea.”

“This fleet hasn't even been out for long……. No, I understand. Please treat them for now.”

After the doctor withdrew, Leon looked at Eleonor.

Eleonor didn't know what to do, wearing an embarrassed expression.

“I thought a serious disease was spreading and rushed back, but it seems I returned for nothing. I couldn't even carry out my mission properly……”

“I have no intention of blaming you, so don’t worry. It’s a relief that it’s not a serious epidemic. Anyway, what did they say was the cause?”

“Upon checking, it turned out all these patients had one thing in common. They had secretly broken into the ship's galley at night and stolen and eaten the stored food.”

“Stealing food is a matter for disciplinary action, but it’s strange that the meat loaded on the ship was spoiled. It should have been fresh since it was butchered not long ago.”

“Well, it's obvious. The merchants supplying the mercenary company must have pulled some tricks. Disguising rotten food as perfectly fine.”

Eleonor knew the customs and practices of this world far better than Leon.

So Eleonor quickly grasped the cause of the problem.

No matter how prestigious the Phoenix Knights were, there was no shortage of swindlers who came to them.

Rather, the more famous you were, the more swindlers approached.

Leon made a face of realization.

“Don't tell me, then the fleet detachment that went adrift too?”

“Yes, they said it was mass food poisoning there as well. Unfortunately, everyone got sick from drinking spoiled water, so no one was able to steer the ship.”

“How could this be.”

“The thieves' guild is definitely involved.”

“Haaah.”

The first thing Leon felt was dizziness.

The next thing he felt was anger.

He couldn't stand the fact that just as the mercenary company was getting on the right track, he had almost lost his entire fortune due to someone's trickery.

That anger was expressed with an iron fist.

As a purple light flashed in Leon’s eyes, Eleonor sensed something was amiss and straightened her posture.

It was a strange thing.

Leon only appeared frail on the outside.

But his voice contained a hidden power.

Like a monarch wearing a crown on his head.

“Sir Eleonor.”

“Yes, speak.”

“I will give you command authority. Investigate the cause of this problem.”

“Are you serious?”

A look of pleasure flashed across Emilio's face.

Leon nodded solemnly.

“I will take full responsibility. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. Arrest anyone or anything that stands in your way. Also, request cooperation from the city guard for troop deployment.”

It meant that if the guard did not cooperate, they would be utterly destroyed.

There was no one who could not understand that hidden meaning.

Corsini Family or not, nothing entered the eyes of the enraged Leon.

Leon was already filled with enough fighting spirit to contend with anyone.

It might be a different story with someone like Duke Isak.

But the Corsini Family was nothing.

A short while later, in accordance with Leon’s command, the combat troops that had been on standby in the barracks began to pour out.

The unleashed dogs of war scattered in all directions, and revealing the ferocity cultivated in real combat without reservation, they began to wreak havoc throughout the city.

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