Chapter 108

Which is the best intelligence agency in the world? If you ask people, you will get different answers.

The Levona Intelligence Agency?

The Siberia Veterans' Association?

The mysterious Mage Guild?

Perhaps some people would name the thieves' guild, and those who like to show off would say that the really good ones are not famous.

Or maybe a fight will break out as they each insist they are right.

But all those answers are wrong.

The correct answer is the Western Church.

The intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Western Church are so outstanding that no one can match them.

Whether it's in the middle of a clan war in the northernmost part of Stridesund, or in the newly pioneered wastelands of Gardariki.

This is because wherever a church is built, the clergy of the Western Church are active.

Even now that the authority of the church has declined, the church is an existence that kings or nobles cannot easily touch.

Also, the vertically hierarchical organizational structure that goes from Pope─Bishop─Priest─Believer does not easily allow for external intrusion.

This is why the Western Church is the best intelligence agency. Of course, most clergy would not perceive their work as such, but it is not them but the higher-ups who decide its use.

The information collected by the clergy in this way goes through several stages and is finally delivered to the central headquarters of the Holy See of Ratio.

Considering the time it takes to compile the information, it is only natural that the speed at which instructions are sent down in the reverse order is much faster.

Therefore, the letter the Pope sent to Ceras was delivered to the Fasa diocese at super speed in just a few days.

***

Although Bishop Malone retired due to a personal illness, the Fasa diocese did not decline with him.

Rather, as the city became wealthy due to the activities of the Black Company, the Fasa diocese has now reached its highest peak of prosperity.

As the donations from the people increased, the pockets of the church people grew heavier, and in turn, the faces of the church people were full of smiles every day.

The priests who were stationed in Fasa with Bishop Malone had forgotten that they once complained about being stationed in a rural town and were now at the point of praying to be appointed as the Bishop of Fasa.

That's why the gazes of the existing priests towards Ceras were not very kind.

Monks who came from outside, and at that, people from the central headquarters.

No matter how you look at it, it seemed they would be competing for the bishop's seat, so it was only natural to feel uncomfortable.

So the priest's tone as he handed the Pope's letter to Ceras was also blunt.

"Here, take it. And it's going too far to use the church organization to exchange a single private letter. No matter how much you are under the same church's wing, you shouldn't make us use the assets of another diocese, should you?"

The priest rebuked Ceras without mercy.

Of course, this was possible because he did not know Ceras' identity.

If the priest had known Ceras' identity, he would have immediately knelt down and begged for his life.

Inquisitors not only investigate demons but also inspect corruption within the church.

Do you think the pockets of the Fasa diocese priests got fat for no reason?

Of course, it was because they embezzled the money coming into the church through this and that corruption.

Ceras, who already knew this fact, just smiled. The Fasa priest left with a displeased face, and Eric approached from the side.

"What did he say?"

"Well, just giving me the stink eye as usual. I'll have to pick a day and deal with him soon."

"Not that, the letter."

"I'm about to open it now. Move your face away. You're casting a shadow."

"Hey. Understood."

Bishop Rosanka, conscious of the political enemies within the Western Church, handled the matter secretly.

So the letter delivered to Ceras was written as if asking about her daily well-being, but it was actually written in code.

Of course, the Fasa priests, who were hell-bent on money, would not be able to decipher it no matter how hard they looked, but Ceras, who was well-versed in doctrine and the Bible, could decipher it in real time.

As Ceras read the letter, she frowned.

"Hmm."

"Why?"

"A new mission has come down."

"What? No. What kind of joke is that? What kind of hardships have we been through until now? This is why desk jockeys—"

Just before Eric could express his dissatisfaction with the higher-ups' perception gap, Ceras stopped him.

"That's enough. It's His Holiness' command."

"Mmph."

Eric quickly shut his mouth and watched Ceras' expression.

It is possible to have complaints about the instructions of Bishop Rosanka or the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

It's not like they don't know each other. Even if they get red-faced in front of each other, they are in a relationship where they can make up later.

But it is impossible for the criticism to go up to the Pope's level. The Pope is the representative of God who has set the laws of the world.

And since Eric was a holy knight who had vowed to obey God, criticizing the Pope was tantamount to an act of treason.

"Speak. What. Is someone going to eat you?"

"Ugh."

"Sigh. And I have to call this a subordinate."

Ceras didn't mind the mistake Eric had made.

There is a rumor circulating among the public that the decisions made by the Pope are infallible, but in fact, the Pope is just a person.

Is the Pope some kind of goblin? How could he really be infallible?

The number of illegitimate children created by past popes and high-ranking clergy would exceed an entire legion.

It's just that people who work in the field like Ceras make the Pope's decisions seem infallible.

Rather, Ceras felt a pain as if she had been kicked in the spiritual shin by the Pope's scolding written in the letter.

"His Holiness is not pleased with the report."

Eric made an awkward expression.

"Then what. Are we done in Fasa now? Should I tell the kids to get ready to leave?"

"No. We are staying here."

"What? You said the mission was suspended."

"I said a new order came down, not that the mission was suspended."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

Ceras sighed and showed him the order that came as an appendix on the back of the letter.

It was an authentic copy with the Pope's seal.

Eric's eyes widened, and he looked back and forth between Ceras and the order.

"Uh, Sir Ceras is being appointed as the Bishop of Fasa?"

"Yes. It says that all the attendants will belong to the Fasa diocese. It says to receive the handover from the acting bishop."

Eric had a complicated expression. If an ordinary priest is appointed as a bishop, that is a promotion.

But making a close aide inquisitor a bishop, doesn't that mean their usefulness has decreased?

Thinking like that, Eric's expression suddenly became relieved. In any case, it was true that he would be freed from a dangerous mission.

"Well, that's good. How many dangerous situations have we been in chasing monsters until now? Now we can stretch our legs and rest a bit. Fasa is not as good as Ratio, but isn't it a good place to live?"

"What are you talking about? Why do you keep talking about other things?"

"Huh?"

"Read the order to the end. There was no mention of the existing mission being suspended."

Eric quickly read the order, but it was just as Ceras had said. There was talk of carrying out a new mission, but no mention of stopping what they were doing.

Eric felt a sense of foreboding. In this case, they would have to act according to their own judgment on the ground.

'This is not good.'

As expected, his ominous premonition was correct.

Eric witnessed Ceras' eyes igniting with a strange flame.

"The higher-ups have also realized the danger of the red-eyed monster active in Fasa. That's why they appointed me as the Bishop of Fasa to chase the monster."

"So you're saying."

"Yes. We will continue to chase the monster."

"Ah."

Eric's shoulders slumped in disappointment. Next to him, Ceras burned with enthusiasm.

"It's a good thing. If we had to leave without dealing with it, it would have kept coming to mind later, right?"

"Yes. You're right."

"Right. Let's definitely catch it this time."

If Pope Astro had known, he would have been furious, asking why she kept getting sidetracked.

But Ceras was very far from Ratio, so she did not know the Pope's intentions. She was only full of motivation to catch the monster.

The double life of the cold beauty cleric Ceras! A bishop by day, a holy knight who hides her identity and hunts monsters by night!

─ Just as it was about to begin.

Eric remembered something he had missed.

"Ah, but what about the dispatched apprentices? Are they included in this order? Or should we send them back?"

"Hmm, now that you mention it."

Five inquisitor apprentices are too many to run the Fasa diocese.

But five inquisitor apprentices are essential for hunting a monster.

As soon as Ceras and Eric's eyes met, they understood each other's inner thoughts.

The higher-ups didn't say anything about the dispatched apprentices.

Then they would have to act according to their own judgment on the ground.

'And honestly, it's unfair for just us to work overtime.'

'That's right. Isn't there a saying about joint responsibility?'

I can't possibly die alone.

If we're going to die, we should all die together.

In the past, they would not have had such thoughts even for a moment, but the work policy of the Black Company was enough to exhaust the minds and bodies of the inquisitors.

That day, five monks from the Holy See were added to the Black Company.

***

"Did you hear the news?"

"What happened now?"

"They say the Holy See has appointed a new Bishop of Fasa."

"Really?"

The occasional visit from Mayor Emilio, who was making a fuss, made me briefly recall the former bishop.

Actually, it was so long ago that I could barely remember. Was his name Malone, or Melon?

He dared to try to extort money from the mercenary company, only to be blown away by the Signori family in one go.

After that, the bishop's seat of Fasa had been vacant.

The seat had been empty for quite some time, so it was about time someone came.

"Aren't you surprised?"

"I'm more scared of the documents piled up in front of me right now. Besides, Mr. Mayor, why are you here instead of working?"

"Haha. My work is all done."

"Haha. Shall I share some of my work with you?"

"I'll pass."

When I glared at him, Mayor Emilio stealthily averted his gaze. It seems he still has some conscience left.

Last time, when he secretly tried to poach Randolfo because the city's administration was difficult, I really thought his conscience was dead.

"Anyway, so?"

"Unlike the former bishop, this time it is said that the Pope personally appointed him, which is unusual."

"Oh. It seems His Holiness is very interested in Fasa."

"It seems so. Our side has also come to the opinion that the new bishop will be a high-ranking official of the Holy See. So how about we go to greet him together? It's customary for local dignitaries to greet a newly appointed bishop."

"That's a good idea."

The former bishop was a puppet of the Signori family, so it was okay to treat him like a rolling stone, but if the new bishop is a close aide of the Pope, the story is different.

You might get away with it elsewhere, but in Apennia, if you go against the Pope's eyes, you won't be able to do business in the future.

If things go wrong, you might get beaten up many-on-one like last time, so it's best to be as friendly as possible.

It would be even better if people who could speak well of us to the new bishop went with us.

"Theo. Summon the mercenary company's officers. And the priests who came from the Holy See as well."

"Understood."

Theo quickly went downstairs and came back with a bewildered face.

"They say none of the priests came to work today."

"Really? Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure."

"Can't be helped. Let's just go with the people who have gathered."

I led the summoned officers and attendants to the Fasa Cathedral. On the way, other citizens joined in, and the procession became large-scale.

When Emilio knocked on the church door, a priest with a face full of bruises from being beaten up by someone came out.

Although I wasn't unaware of what the church priests usually do, everyone was surprised since he was a neighborhood acquaintance.

"No, Father? What on earth happened?"

"Ugh, it's not something Mr. Mayor needs to worry about. You've come to see the new bishop, right? Please come inside."

He was beaten so badly that the priest couldn't even make eye contact with others.

Since there's no one in Fasa who would dare to hit a priest, it must have been an internal affair.

It would be different if he had been beaten up by some thugs elsewhere, but I can't intervene in the internal affairs of the church.

"It seems the newly appointed bishop is establishing discipline strictly."

"Indeed. That priest is not someone who would get beaten up somewhere."

We entered while exchanging such small talk, being guided inside. And there, I came face to face with an unexpected person.

"Father Ceras?"

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ceras Shrewsbury, the newly appointed bishop of the Fasa diocese."

What are you doing here?

Is this a hidden camera show right now?

As I stared with surprised eyes, Ceras, dressed in a bishop's robe instead of her usual priest's habit, smiled awkwardly.

***

After finishing the audience with the citizens who had followed Emilio, Ceras and I had a private meeting for a while.

In fact, due to the compatibility with the inquisitor, it was still uncomfortable to be near Ceras.

But since the matter was what it was, for now, I suppressed my feelings and focused on racking my brain.

I already knew that Ceras was a close aide of the Pope.

But Ceras changing her job from an inquisitor to a bishop was an unexpected event.

Why would an inquisitor who was in charge of secret affairs come out to a public position?

Could it be that Selvi was caught transforming into a monster and being active?

No, if that were the case, wouldn't she have already piled up bonfire wood in the yard?

No. Ceras originally came to Fasa hiding her identity. Then did the Pope dispatch her from the beginning to monitor me?

No matter how I thought about it, it was a problem without an answer. I kept my mouth shut, and Ceras spoke first.

"You seem very surprised."

"Yes. It was quite unexpected."

"Actually, so am I. I didn't expect to be suddenly appointed as a bishop."

Just then, I realized an important fact.

Right now, the mercenary company was running with the help of the priests from the Holy See.

If Ceras leaves to become the Bishop of Fasa here, wouldn't the mercenary company lose a key talent?

I trembled with shock.

"Then are you quitting your job at the mercenary company?"

"I don't think so. Depending on the situation, I might get more involved in the mercenary company's work."

"What do you mean by that?"

Is the Holy See going to take over the mercenary company?

My thought was similarly correct.

Ceras cleared her throat and then made a bombshell declaration with a serious face.

"His Holiness wishes to hire the Black Company."