Ambition

Lord Audis came over and sat down, while Lola took a seat below the divine platform.

I pointed at the person kneeling on the floor.

"Lift your head."

This person hadn't dared to utter a single word from the start, remaining prostrate on the ground.

Hearing my voice, he couldn't help but shudder, yet he dared not disobey any longer and slowly raised his head.

"Who is this?"

Audis looked at the young man with a face full of confusion.

"I have seen this man before. A few days ago, when Your Highness was inspecting Dragon City, he was extorting others on the road. Your Highness ordered him to be sent to prison."

As Lola spoke, she pushed up the frames of her glasses.

"I simply do not understand why a man personally ordered into prison by Your Highness would be out and offending Her Highness Lina just a few days later."

Hearing this, Audis's brow also tightened, his aged eyes filled with doubt. After a long silence, he turned his head.

"Your Highness, I fear someone has been pulling strings behind the scenes. I hope Your Highness can give this old servant some time; I will investigate immediately."

"Mhm. Once you find something, do not make it public yet. Keep this man... directly here in the Temple for now. Do not send him back to prison."

Since he managed to get out the first time, he would inevitably get out a second time.

However, if I sent him back again, I feared the next time he came out, it would be in a coffin.

Whoever was behind this certainly wouldn't want me to know about it.

"Hilda!"

"Present!"

Hilda's figure flickered and appeared at the entrance of the great hall.

"I'm leaving this man to you. Keep a close watch on him. Aside from myself, Lola, and Lord Audis, no one else is permitted to see him. Provide him with good food and drink; let him be comfortable before he dies."

I cast a faint glance at the man.

"Later, question him thoroughly on exactly how he managed to get out."

"Yes!"

Hilda responded, and immediately after, a heavy set of footsteps echoed from outside the door.

A massive dark shadow loomed over the entrance of the Temple.

A muffled, booming voice drifted in.

"Sake the tauren... requests an audience with Your Highness..."

Looking at the somewhat restless figure at the door, I couldn't help but smile.

"Come in."

"Yes..."

As he spoke, Sake walked in.

This was the first time I had seen Sake since the rebellion ended.

Ever since Lola had fallen into a coma from the assassination attempt, this fellow hadn't slept for several days and had barely eaten.

I suspected he feared there was something wrong with the food and that he wouldn't be able to continue protecting Lola.

His massive two point five meter tall frame shuffled in with his head bowed, hesitating with every step, his face filled with embarrassment and guilt.

Though he was dawdling, the hall was only so large, and he eventually reached the center, standing below the divine platform.

His bovine face was full of grievance and remorse. He looked up at Lola but didn't even dare to meet her eyes.

The atmosphere in the room remained silent for a long moment until Sake suddenly lunged forward, kneeling heavily on the ground.

The floor tiles trembled from the impact.

Boom!!

"Your Highness! I am guilty! Please punish me!!"

"What is your crime?"

I asked despite already knowing the answer. I hadn't expected this tauren who loved cutting off 'junk' to have such a childlike side.

To think he still remembered that incident; I recalled saying I didn't mind back then.

However, this proved that this bull truly took his oaths seriously.

Unexpectedly... he was a bit naively cute.

"I... I failed to protect Bishop Lola. I broke my word. I was wrong. These past few days, I've just been sitting at home thinking about it. I didn't even want to go make little calves anymore. I... I..."

Pfft.

Before I could even react, Lola beside me couldn't help but laugh.

Old man Audis also looked at Sake with a lecherous grin, chuckling to himself.

He didn't even want to make little calves anymore?

It seemed breaking his word had really taken a toll on him.

"Get up. Didn't I say I don't blame you?"

"But, I... I broke my word! Wrong is wrong!"

The old bull still refused to get up. It was only then that Lola wiped away her smile and looked at Sake.

"Sake, it wasn't your fault. Stand up."

"Bishop Lola, you... you forgive me?"

The old bull looked at Lola in surprise, his two large eyeballs nearly popping out of his bovine face.

"Yes."

Lola nodded with a smile.

Only then did the old bull dare to turn back to face me.

"Your Highness! Bishop Lola has forgiven me!!"

"You big dummy, Lola never held it against you in the first place."

"Hehe! This old bull has never broken his word, except for this one time, just this once!!"

Saying that, Sake stood up from the ground and looked up at me.

"Your Highness, give the order! This old bull will personally find the people from the Garnet family. Anyone who dares to make me break my word must pay the price!!"

Uh... that price... wouldn't happen to be their 'junk,' would it?

"Sake, I didn't call you here for that. By the way... how is your health recovering?"

I was genuinely concerned. After all, Sake was a fierce general under my command; if such a warrior truly ruined his health, it would be a great loss for me.

"This old bull is strong as an ox! I could go back and father a calf tonight without any problem!!"

The old bull thapped his chest, producing a dull thud, his face full of pride.

"That is good. As for the calf business, put that aside for now. Since you are well, return to your duties. I can't just keep idle people around, can I?"

"Of course! I will definitely report for duty! Please rest easy, Your Highness, one night is nothing to this old bull! My longest..."

"Ahem!!"

Hearing this, old man Audis couldn't take it anymore and quickly coughed twice.

The old bull immediately looked over with a face full of disdain.

"Old man, you should nourish your body more. With a frame like yours, how can you father any children?"

"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

This time, Audis was truly coughing. He was so choked up by the old bull's words that even I felt pity for him.

"Cough! There is no need for Mr. Sake to worry about that. This old man has over a dozen children."

"Only that many? This old bull's goal is fifty!"

Sake continued to stare at Audis with disdain, leaving Audis completely speechless.

He turned back to look at me with a look of grievance.

"Your Highness, let us speak of official business first. I truly cannot communicate with this brute."

I spent the whole time holding back my laughter, watching this old fellow Audis nearly keel over from a few sentences by the old bull.

Nara beside me was also giggling behind her hand, and Lola was on the verge of breaking, her lips trembling.

"What are you saying? This old bull is concerned for you! How can you say that?"

Sake grumbled to me with a dissatisfied expression:

"Your Highness, this old man doesn't know what's good for him and can't tell right from wrong. You shouldn't use someone like him. I was clearly worried about him, so why am I being called a brute?"

"Sake, this topic... is a bit private. If you are truly concerned, do not discuss such things when others are present. Lord Audis is getting on in years; he cannot handle such shocks."

I gave the old bull a look. While Sake was good in many ways, he was sometimes too direct in his words and actions.

"Oh... this old bull understands."

With that, the old bull gave Lord Audis a wink, his massive bovine eyes blinking repeatedly.

"Tell you what, I'll give you a secret recipe later. I spent two gold coins to buy it from the Alchemists' Association. I guarantee it works!"

This guy was talking too much nonsense.

"Sake, I called you here for two reasons. First, I want you to return to your post. Second... there is something I want to ask you."

I bypassed the topic, and Sake didn't press further.

"If Your Highness has a question, just ask. I will tell you everything I know."

"You used to work in the prison, right?"

"Correct."

"Then I want to ask, who has the power to get someone out of there?"

Hearing this, Sake's expression became solemn. He lowered his head in thought for a moment before looking up.

He didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question.

"Why does Your Highness ask this?"

"Why? Is it difficult to say?"

"Not at all. Since Your Highness wishes to know, I will tell you everything."

He raised his hand to count and then held up four fingers.

"I know of three people who should have that ability: the Warden, the Vice-Warden, and the Judicial Executioner."

"The Warden and Vice-Warden manage the prison directly. The Judicial Executioner usually oversees those on death row; they all fall under his jurisdiction."

Three people. That would be easy to investigate.

"Do you know who is currently serving in those three positions?"

"I do. The Warden is John, the Vice-Warden is Jack, and the Judicial Executioner is Hardy."

I turned to look at Lola. She nodded slightly but said nothing.

"And do you know... what their personalities are like?"

Sake pondered for a moment and nodded.

"I do. Warden John is fairly upright, though he occasionally turns a blind eye. Vice-Warden Jack is a bit of a slippery fellow; I heard his family belongs to some merchant guild and he bought his position. Finally, there's the Judicial Executioner, Hardy. That guy is a buddy of mine. Your Highness, it couldn't be that he's done something wrong, could it?"

The old bull asked with concern. I shook my head and glanced at Lord Audis, who nodded slightly without speaking.

"Alright, that will be all for now. Sake, I will be heading out again in a few days. This time, it will be the same as last time. You understand."

Sake was startled for a moment, and his expression instantly became solemn.

With a thud, he dropped to one knee!

"Please rest assured, Your Highness! This time, I will not break my word!!"

"Good. Then I shall trust you. Go."

"Yes!!"

Sake's aura shifted in an instant.

That figure, now filled with a burgeoning killing intent, walked out of the Temple and vanished around the corner.

Only Nara, Lola, Audis, and I remained in the hall.

"Your Highness."

Watching the old bull's retreating back, Audis slowly turned his head, looking at me with a grim gaze.

"It seems Vice-Warden Jack is the most suspicious. Should we start from there?"

I shook my head. Anyone who dared to defy my orders right under my nose must have a powerful force backing them.

"Lord Audis, I want you to investigate the social circles of these three men. Lola, you investigate their behaviors and personalities, then report back to me. It seems this Brilliant City... still needs a bit of a cleaning."

Looking at the bright, piercing light outside the hall, my voice echoed hollowly through the room.

"Lord Audis, Lola, both of you must be careful. Do not alert the enemy; try your best not to let them notice anything. Lord Audis, you may investigate more openly, but Lola, your investigation must be conducted in the shadows. It must not be detected."

"This old servant obeys the Divine Oracle."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The two exchanged a glance, bowed their heads in agreement, and then withdrew.

Watching them leave, though I still felt some concern, the most important matter remained the demons.

The decay and corruption of the Kingdom of the Moon was not something that could be changed overnight; it had to be addressed step by step, organized gradually.

It was like a tangled mess of yarn; one had to pull out each thread one by one and snip them off.

Though this process might take a long time and accidents might occur.

As long as I lived, this process of untangling would continue. Sooner or later, this mess would become a set of brand new harp strings, playing the song of brilliance once more.

And I... would be the one playing that harp!

However, since the strings were not yet untangled, I had to first prepare the body of the harp.

At the very least, I couldn't let the woodworms eat it away.

Returning to the back hall, I found the Saintess of War sitting there crossly. Her booted feet were propped up on another chair, her arms were crossed, and her red lips were pouted.

One look was enough to tell she was still fuming.

This Saintess of War, though highly intelligent, had a personality like a child.

"Alright, still angry? Why haven't you eaten any of the desserts?"

With that, I walked to the table. Compared to my fixed-amount, almost feed-like meals, Lina's treatment was clearly much better. Since her arrival, the table had been covered in various sweets, and the Snow Mountain Black Tea had long been prepared and left to cool.

"Hmph!"

Lina turned her head away, then spun back to face me in a huff.

"Was that person held accountable? I've never been scammed like that before!"

Is that so?

It seemed the public security in the Kingdom of the Highlands was much better than here in my Kingdom of the Moon.

"Yes, there are some underlying issues, but rest assured, that man will receive the punishment he deserves."

"Eh? There are other issues?"

"Whenever Grandpa Scott sees any bad person, he deals with them immediately."

I smiled and shook my head slightly, sitting down across from her.

"This is the Kingdom of the Moon, not the Kingdom of War. Perhaps the security is better in your country, but the current Kingdom of the Moon is like a battered ship. It looks as if it might sink at any moment; I can only patch the leaks and repair it one hole at a time."

I picked up the teapot and poured myself a cup, watching the clear, red tea flow from the spout, creating ripples in the cup.

"This is a ship so old and fragile that it can hardly be touched. It can only drift with the current; if forced to a sudden stop, the entire vessel will collapse."

"Is the Kingdom of the Moon... really in such a bad state? I knew it. That Susanna wasn't fit to be the ruler. She was too weak; whenever something happened, she could never make up her mind."

As she spoke, Lina picked up her teacup and took a large gulp.

The Susanna she mentioned was actually the previous Saintess of the Moon.

Based on various details I had gathered, I could roughly infer that this Saintess of the Moon had indeed been a weak and easily bullied individual.

At that, Lina suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed intently on me.

"But you are different. I believe the Kingdom of the Moon will only get better and better."