Under Archbishop Paul's command, fully armed clergymen flooded into the room, handcuffing the half-dead Archbishop Terry and forcibly dragging him away.
Ansu looked toward Celia with a questioning gaze, and she gave him a reassuring look.
"His internal organs are severely damaged; he's beyond saving."
She whispered, "No divine arts of the holy light will work unless the Goddess herself descends."
Ansu let out a sigh of relief. That was good.
After all, Celia had been quite precise with her strikes; every Shadow Bolt had been aimed at his vitals. It would be a miracle if he could be saved from that...
On the other side, Freya felt a sense of relief as she watched the clergymen take Archbishop Terry away.
"It should be over now..."
Freya silently looked at Ansu, who was standing far away from her, not even daring to meet her eyes.
How strange...
Though employees were usually afraid of their bosses, Ansu seemed a bit too nervous...
Could it be that this boss actually eats people?
Freya furrowed her delicate brows, feeling more and more indignant on Lord Ansu's behalf the more she thought about it.
How could a dignified Chosen One be exploited by a boss like this? Was she even worthy?
Even the good-natured Freya couldn't help but feel angry. She stepped forward with an unfriendly gaze, wanting to stand up for Lord Ansu.
As Ansu saw Freya walking closer and closer to him, his heart leaped into his throat...
Don't come over here!!
"She really cares about you..." Celia had clearly noticed Freya's expression as well, and she spoke tonelessly, "It seems your relationship is even better than I thought."
Initially, according to Ansu's explanation, their relationship was merely one of mutual utility born of threats. However, looking at it today... that was clearly not the case.
The moment the Holy Maiden pushed open the door, that look of intense worry and anxiety was written all over her face. This was definitely not a simple relationship of being used!
Celia was becoming increasingly suspicious...
"We just attended a few classes together. Once this matter is settled..." Ansu lowered his voice, desperately trying to dispel Celia's doubts, "We probably won't have any chance to meet again. You can rest assured..."
"Oh?" Celia gave a cold laugh. "I certainly hope so."
"An—!" Just as Freya was about to speak.
Archbishop Paul walked back in with a sigh.
His aged face was full of exhaustion. "Mr. Ansu, Freya told me about your situation earlier. I am truly grateful for your help in rooting out a traitor like Terry."
"You're welcome. After all, I am a member of the Benalu Royal Academy as well." Ansu offered a smile, thinking that Archbishop Paul's timing was truly divine.
"If you and Freya hadn't been investigating in secret, a tragedy might have already occurred. And at the Benalu Royal Academy of all places..." Paul was indeed still shaken by the thought.
"It is hard to imagine what the consequences would have been. For Terry to commit such a grave error just for the sake of earning merit... I truly don't know what to say..."
"Then you are probably overreacting a bit." Celia glanced at Archbishop Paul and said bluntly, "It's not surprising to find any kind of fool within the Church. If it wasn't him today, it would likely be someone else tomorrow."
"How can you disparage the Church of Holy Light like that!" Freya glared at her. What was wrong with Ansu's boss? How could this woman be so unpleasant?
Ansu quickly pulled back the sneering Celia, wondering if this vile witch had eaten gunpowder today. Why was her temper so short?
"This young lady's words are not entirely without merit." Paul didn't get angry at the blunt remark; he only gave a helpless laugh.
"In today's world, there aren't many who truly believe in the gods anymore. Many children of the nobility join the Church just to seek a good job. It is hard to say how much cohesion the Church of Holy Light actually has left..."
Archbishop Paul let out a sigh and then looked at Ansu with gratitude once more. "Regardless, I must especially thank you, Mr. Ansu. The holy light will remember your brave and virtuous deed. I must return to handle Terry's matters today, so I won't linger. Once I have some free time, I will specifically invite you to the Holy Dome Cathedral for a visit. I hope you won't refuse."
"The Church will definitely reward Ansu properly!" Freya caught the meaning in Archbishop Paul's words and smiled, winking at Ansu.
"Um... is it a cash reward?" Ansu asked.
"Money?" Archbishop Paul was stunned, not expecting this young hero to be so direct.
He shook his head and laughed. "Of course there is. And since Mr. Ansu has performed such a great service, money is likely the most insignificant part of the reward. Rest assured, the Church of Holy Light will not be so stingy."
After Archbishop Paul left, Celia glanced at Ansu and said gloomily, "Do you like money that much? Didn't I give you plenty?"
"Who would ever complain about having too much money!" Ansu said righteously. "I'm just a worldly man, so please, feel free to bury me in more money!"
Celia burst into a laugh and poked Ansu's head in annoyance. "Fine. Since you like money so much, I happen to have a task you'll definitely like."
"What task?" Ansu wondered if it was the demon army's treasure she had been investigating.
"You'll find out in a while." Celia gave a mysterious smile.
Freya watched their somewhat intimate interaction in silence, her expression growing more confused.
Ansu and this mysterious female boss actually seemed to have a pretty good relationship...
Shortly after Archbishop Paul left the room, Ansu suddenly heard the sound of an argument and discussion from downstairs. Paul seemed to be speaking with someone.
Then, the sound of footsteps slowly approached from the stairs, and an uninvited guest entered the room.
"Are you two the ones who assisted Paul in capturing the traitor Terry?"
Ansu sized up the person before him. He was older than Terry but younger than Paul, dressed in simple white clerical attire. His eyes were exceptionally sharp as they scanned both him and Celia.
It was actually Archbishop Leonard.
He hadn't asked Freya to notify him; he hadn't expected the man to find this place as well.
"Ah! This is Archbishop Leonard!" Freya hurried to introduce him to Ansu. "Archbishop Leonard is also staying in Benalu City for the time being. He is the head of the Church of Holy Light's demon hunter organization and an archbishop."
"Hello, Archbishop Leonard." Ansu knew the jurisdictions of these three archbishops. Paul was in charge of the local diocese, Terry was in charge of the Inquisition of Heresy, and Leonard controlled another of the Church's powerful branches: the Holy Light Purification Department, which was the demon hunter organization.
"Hello." Archbishop Leonard nodded politely at first, but then he frowned, scanning the inn room. "I smell a hint of magic. Although it's faint... there are definitely traces of a battle involving a magic caster here..."
Ansu and Celia exchanged a look. Celia raised an eyebrow, surprised that this man could detect the magic power she had intentionally hidden.
"Furthermore, I saw the puncture wounds on Terry just now. There are indeed traces of mana erosion." Leonard's gaze shifted back and forth between Ansu and Celia.
"So, the ones who defeated Terry just now weren't Archbishop Paul, but you two, correct?"
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