Chapter 168: Spineless

The High Priest was still fuming as Roderic escorted him through the streets.

’’DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU’VE JUST DONE?!’’ he shouted, his face red with anger. ’’I’LL HAVE THE PALADINS COME FOR YOU!’’

Roderic merely chuckled.

’’Paladins?’’ he repeated. ’’Are you calling them here to turn yourself in? How admirable, Your Eminence.’’

’’YOU!!!’’ The old man nearly exploded with anger.

However, upon seeing Roderic’s completely relaxed expression, he swallowed his words.

Clearly, being angry wasn’t going to help him one bit.

’This shameless bastard,’ he thought, clenching his jaw. ’Just what kind of upbringing produces someone like this?!’

The two continued walking down the street.

As the High Priest stopped struggling, Roderic let go of his shoulder with a smile.

Finally free and calm, the High Priest glanced around nervously.

It was only then that he noticed something strange.

The blond boy from before was nowhere to be seen!

’’That child...’’ he muttered. ’’Does he belong to you?’’

Roderic raised an eyebrow.

’’I don’t know what you’re talking about,’’ he replied. ’’Never seen his face before.’’

The High Priest stared at him with a deadpan expression.

His eyes slowly began twitching.

’Does this little brat think I’m an idiot?!’

He knew damn well the two had been working together.

Everything lined up way too conveniently for that!

However, he also understood arguing about it wouldn’t accomplish anything.

Taking a deep breath, the High Priest forced himself to calm down.

’’Fine,’’ he muttered. ’’Let’s forget about that for now.’’

Roderic smiled widely.

’’A wise decision, Your Eminence.’’

The old man’s face twisted instantly.

’’Shut up!’’ he shouted before hurling several insults his way.

Roderic only chuckled in response.

Eventually, the two reached a quieter street, far away from the curious gazes of the merchants.

The High Priest stopped walking.

’’Now then,’’ he said. ’’What exactly do you intend to do with me?’’

Roderic turned back to the priest, a wide smile flashing across his face.

’’It’s quite simple, actually.’’

He raised a single finger.

’’Heal my knight, and nobody will ever hear about what happened today.’’

The old man stared at him incredulously.

Then he let out a loud scoff.

’’Right,’’ he said, crossing his arms. ’’And what happens when a knight who was supposed to be crippled suddenly appears back on the battlefield?’’

He glanced around the small side street.

’’Do you seriously believe your enemies won’t notice? Or that the Holy Kingdom won’t hear about it?’’

Roderic immediately shook his head.

’’You don’t have to worry about that,’’ he replied casually. ’’The war is practically over now.’’

A small frown appeared on the High Priests face.

As far as he was aware, Whitemane had only defended a single siege.

That was nowhere near reaching the end of a war.

’’Regardless,’’ he said, stroking his beard. ’’The war hasn’t officially ended. I still can’t interfere.’’

Roderic let out a deep sigh as a somber expression appeared on his face.

’’Then I’m afraid the only alternative I can offer you is death.’’

The old man froze on the spot.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then the High Priest slowly looked up at him.

’’You...’’ he muttered uneasily. ’’Do you truly have no fear?’’

Roderic tilted his head faintly.

’’I have many fears,’’ he replied. ’’Only idiots are fearless, after all.’’

’’Then how can you threaten a High Priest of the Holy Kingdom so casually?!’’ the old man burst out.

A smile flashed across Roderic’s face.

’’If there are no consequences, there is nothing to fear.’’

The High Priest stared at him in disbelief.

As much as he wanted to call him insane... he couldn’t.

Roderic’s message had come across loud and clear.

’This brat...’ he thought, swallowing hard. ’Is he really confident he can kill me without the Holy Kingdom finding out?’

The High Priest slowly glanced up.

’’And... what guarantee do I have you won’t kill me after I heal your knight?’’ he asked hesitantly.

Roderic’s expression didn’t change one bit.

’’My word, of course.’’

’’Your word?!’’

The old man nearly cursed aloud.

After everything that had happened, Roderic’s word was probably the last thing he trusted.

However, as he thought about the situation more carefully, his expression gradually softened.

If the Deres family had truly been defeated, then healing a single knight wouldn’t change the outcome of the war.

’Technically it would still be breaking the rules,’ he thought, stroking his beard. ’But no one will suffer because of it.’

Even if it were discovered, the consequences would be far less severe.

Besides, he wasn’t particularly interested in getting himself killed over a rule.

Letting out a deep sigh, the priest nodded slowly.

’’I’ll heal your knight.’’

Roderic’s eyes lit up instantly.

The old man wasn’t done speaking yet, though.

’’But I’d better not hear about him in the war,’’ he continued. ’’And I don’t want to hear another word about that ridiculous accusation!’’

A wide smile appeared on Roderic’s face.

’’Wonderful! I knew you were a reasonable man,’’ he said, rubbing his hands together.

The High Priest’s mouth twitched.

His life was on the line! What other choice did he have?!

’’Little bastard...’’ he cursed quietly.

Roderic merely chuckled.

However, as they resumed walking, another thought suddenly occurred to him.

’Now that I think about it... he had more traits I could make use of.’

He glanced at the elderly man beside him.

Someone capable of reattaching severed limbs and healing injuries beyond the abilities of ordinary doctors was incredibly valuable.

’’Say, Your Eminence,’’ he started. ’’Have you ever considered settling down somewhere?’’

The old man frowned slightly.

’’What now?’’

Roderic raised his arm and gestured around the city.

’’Well, I’ve been thinking,’’ he said. ’’Our territory could really use a proper church.’’

The High Priest’s steps slowed as they stepped back out on the main street.

His gaze flickered around at the busy city.

’’It’d give our civilians more peace in troubling times,’’ Roderic continued. ’’Naturally, we’d provide the necessary funding and a big salary for Your Eminence...’’

’’Funding and a big salary, you say?’’ the High Priest interrupted, his expression changing instantly.

Roderic nodded with a smile.

’’Of course!’’ he replied enthusiastically. ’’We couldn’t possibly be stingy on faith now.’’

For a brief moment, gold coins practically flashed through the old man’s eyes.

He immediately began stroking his beard thoughtfully.

As a High Priest, he had access to considerable resources.

However, establishing and overseeing his own church, especially in a foreign country, was an entirely different matter.

Spreading faith had become significantly more difficult in Victoria due to dissatisfied lords and a chaotic political climate.

If he managed to build a church here... he might even earn a promotion!

’’Well...’’ he began, clearing his throat. ’’If you’re genuinely interested in supporting the faith, I suppose I wouldn’t mind settling down somewhere temporarily.’’

Roderic’s smile widened instantly.

’’Perfect! I’ll discuss the details with my father later.’’

The High Priest nodded enthusiastically.

’’Of course, of course. I look forward to it.’’

However, as they resumed walking, his expression suddenly stiffened.

’Wait a moment...’ he thought. ’Wasn’t this little bastard threatening to kill me just a few minutes ago?!’

Yet somehow, he was now discussing settling down in his territory!

The old man’s mouth twitched.

’Just how the hell did things turn out like this?!’