They are all characters I control.

“We’re here to pick them up.” Earl Orlando stepped down from the carriage and handed over the list. “Bishop Simon has already given us advance notice.”

The knight took the list, glanced at it, and then looked up at the people in the carriage.

Lia remained seated in the carriage, but through the half-open window, she saw the knight hesitate for a moment, his gaze shifting between the list and the carriage, before stepping aside to make way.

"You can go in, but the rules can't be broken." The knight's tone softened slightly. "Please provide a list of names and positions from the receiving list. We'll only let you in after verifying that everything is correct."

“It’s ready.” Count Orlando took out another rolled-up piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. “Seven people, their names, positions, and dates of imprisonment are all on it. You just need to verify the names.”

The knight took the paper, unfolded it, glanced at it, then looked at Leah and Earl Orlando, before turning back and shouting into the courtyard, "Release them, according to the list. Also, inform the bishop that someone has come to pick up Bishop Simon's men."

The last sentence was clearly not meant for the knight, but for the informant hiding in the shadows.

Bishop Augustine was obviously monitoring everyone who came into contact with these captured 'heretics' or 'aborters', but Lydia and the others had previously made a deal with Rosemary.

Naturally, the church knight understood this as well.

Lia sat in the carriage, her gaze fixed on the half-closed iron gate in the detention center courtyard, where she heard the sounds of chains opening and closing and sporadic footsteps.

It didn't take long, about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, before the iron gate was pushed open from the inside.

Several figures emerged one after another.

The leader was a middle-aged man wearing an old dark gray robe. He was somewhat thin, with a pale complexion, but his back was very straight.

He paused for a moment when he saw the carriage, then walked over quickly, as if he wanted to say something, but his voice was hoarse when he spoke.

“Earl Orlando, Miss Leah…” The gray-robed man’s voice was visibly weary. “Did the bishop send you?”

He was Bishop Simon's nephew, and used to be quite arrogant and domineering.

At this moment, even though he had only been in prison for a short time, his personality had clearly changed drastically.

“Yes.” Earl Orlando nodded. “Let’s get in the car first; this isn’t the place to talk for too long.”

The released men didn't ask any questions and quietly boarded another carriage that had been prepared in advance.

Lia looked at the iron gate that had closed again, and then glanced at the two knights who had returned to their original positions at the entrance of the detention center.

There were clearly quite a few people inside, including her sister Elena. However, compared to the current situation, Elena's situation was insignificant.

Chapter 147 Long Away from the Native World

Leah and Earl Orlando brought out Bishop Simon's relatives and subordinates.

This fulfills the agreement made by Bishop Simon. From now on, Bishop Simon will have to completely obey Lia's words. In fact, Bishop Simon has no choice but to rely on Lia.

After the emergence of a second bishop, Augustine, in the Imperial Diocese, if Bishop Simon does not climb up to Isabelle, who is behind Lia, his fate will be similar to that of the prisoners in the prison behind him.

Given Bishop Simon's past actions, it's not impossible that he could be imprisoned, interrogated, and labeled a 'traitor'.

If Isabelle, as the acting saint, had seriously investigated why Bishop Simon would have introduced a "new tax" similar to her "holy city's" new system, that alone would have been enough to put Bishop Simon on the cross.

The arrival of Bishop Augustine only hastened the process of Bishop Simon kneeling.

Earl Orlando and Leah also gained the card of Bishop Simon, which at least gives them the right to choose when facing the Nolan family and Rosemary, represented by Bishop Augustine.

Neither Leah nor Earl Orlando wanted their future to be controlled and manipulated by the Nolan family.

Just as Leah and Earl Orlando's carriage was about to head to Bishop Simon's church, and the carriage had just turned out of the detention center, a staggering figure rushed out from across the street.

Her hair was a little messy, her shawl was askew, and her whole face was filled with anxiety.

"Lia! Lia—stop right there!"

Marquise Mara's voice pierced the morning breeze, carrying a sharpness that was almost out of control.

She rushed to the front of the carriage, spread her arms, and blocked its way.

The driver instinctively pulled on the reins, and the two horses reared up, neighing in dissatisfaction.

The carriage jolted violently, and Liya reached out and braced herself against the edge of the seat to steady herself.

She didn't get out of the car, but simply lifted the curtain.

All that could be seen was Marquise Mara standing in the middle of the street, her chest heaving violently.

Her eyes were red, but when she saw Lia, they didn't plead; instead, they held an almost instinctive reproach: "Where's Elena? Where did you take her? Why haven't you released her yet!"

Lia looked at her without saying a word.

She has little patience left with her stepmother.

Of course, the main reason is that Leah no longer relies on the Rost family for her livelihood.

Countess Orlando did not get out of the carriage, but her voice came from inside: "Madame, are you asking about the whereabouts of a detainee? You should ask the people at the detention center, not stop our car."

"I'm not talking to you!" Marquise Mara waved her hand forcefully, as if trying to shatter Earl Orlando's voice into thin air.

Although she had previously been quite fond of Earl Orlando, that was when she was still the wife of the Marquis of Rost.

This lady's status has now been reduced to that of a stray dog, and the Rost family was almost wiped out.

Now, Marquise Marla has only one path: to marry her daughter Elena to Prince Alvin, or she will have no chance of redemption.

Marquise Mara stared intently at Lia. "Elena is your sister. Even if she did wrong things in the past, she's still your father's child. Aren't you afraid of retribution for locking her up inside?"

Several passersby had stopped and were peering in this direction from a distance, but no one approached. The patrolling knight glanced at the street corner but didn't go any closer. This kind of scene was commonplace in the capital—family members stopping carriages in the street was not the first time, nor would it be the last.

Looking at Marquise Mara's reddened eyes, Leah paused for a moment before speaking: "I didn't lock her up. She offended Rosemary, not me."

“Then go and talk to Rosemary!” Marquise Mara’s voice was urgent, almost cracking. “Everyone knows you have a good relationship with that acting saint! You only need to say one word, and she will release them—”

“She won’t let her go.” Lia’s voice was not loud, but very steady. “Besides, I don’t intend to plead for Elena. I have memories too, and I haven’t forgotten what happened before.”

Marquise Mara's lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but it got stuck in her throat.

She never imagined that Leah had become so tough.

Although I had heard some things about how Lia had changed so much, such as daring to threaten His Majesty Darion and making Bishop Simon submit.

Marquise Mara hadn't believed it before, but now she does.

Marquise de Marie did not want to give up so easily, and she was about to say something more.

Just then, a carriage turned out from the side alley and stopped a few steps away.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a young face, tinged with hesitation and guilt—Prince Alvin.

He wasn't wearing a prince's suit, nor was he riding the white horse; he was just wearing a dark, ordinary coat and looked like he had rushed over.

He did not get out of the car, but said to the Marquise Mara, who was standing in the middle of the road, "Marquise, you shouldn't be blocking Miss Lia's way like this."

Marquise Mara turned sharply to Prince Alvin, her voice filled with surprise rather than anger: "What—what are you saying? Didn't you come here to plead for Elena?"

“I am not.” Prince Alvin’s voice was low, but surprisingly clear. “Elena was imprisoned because of her own choice. She shouldn’t have gone to cause trouble for Rosemary, nor should she have bothered Miss Leah after knowing that she had nothing to do with the Rost family. I’m willing to say a few words for her, but I don’t want to stand in Miss Leah’s way.”

Marquise Mara's lips trembled, as if she couldn't believe her ears: "You...you've changed."

This was a blow to the Marquise Marla.

They thought they had already convinced Prince Alvin and that Elena would be released soon.

Unexpectedly, Prince Alvin has gone back on his word? Now he's saying that Elena made the choice herself?

“I’m just starting to figure some things out.” Prince Alvin didn’t avoid her gaze. “I can accompany you to the detention center to ask about the situation, and I can help you deliver letters, but I will not put pressure on Miss Lia on Elena’s behalf. This is not something she should have to bear.”

Marquise Mara stood there, stunned.

She looked at Prince Alvin, then glanced back at Leah in the carriage, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Earl Orlando's voice came from inside the carriage, unhurried: "Now that the road is open, let's go."

The coachman pulled on the reins, and the two horses started moving again, bypassing the spot where Marquise Mara had stood, and continued along the street.

The wheels rolled over the stone pavement with a dull thud, as if leaving behind a conversation.

Chapter 148 Imperial Crisis

Prince Alvin's carriage did not turn around.

It followed behind Lia and the others' carriage, about twenty paces away, neither too close nor too far.

The coachman looked back several times, but Prince Alvin neither ordered the carriage to stop or turn, nor did he urge the driver on.

The carriage simply followed quietly, as if in a silent confirmation.

Earl Orlando peeked through the gap in the carriage curtain, sat back down, and said in an unreadable tone, "It seems this prince has truly matured and wants to learn from you."

However, the person Prince Alvin wanted to learn from wasn't Leah herself, but Claire.

After reprimanding Prince Alvin earlier, he understood what a prince should do. The fact that Prince Alvin is still following along now clearly shows that he has made up his mind.

From now on, it's time to focus on learning from Lia.

Lia didn't turn around. "It's just that I have nothing to teach him right now, the 'Guiding God' isn't here."

"What does it matter?" Earl Orlando waved his hand with a smile. "Our goal isn't really to turn Prince Alvin into some kind of smart person; we're just responsible for guiding him."

"Therefore, there's no need to preach any grand principles to him; we should first help him face reality."

“I think your ‘God of Guidance’ thinks the same way, otherwise he would have come out by now.”

"Let's keep this guy following us for now. We do need him to do something for us later, and who knows what unexpected gains we might get."

Lia nodded, even though she didn't quite understand these things.

When the 'Guiding God' is absent, Earl Orlando is always the most reliable.

The carriage turned two corners and stopped at the side entrance of the church.

Bishop Simon was already waiting there.

He was dressed in a dark gray casual suit, without his episcopal cap or scepter, and looked more simple than usual, but also more anxious.

Seeing Liya get out of the car, he quickly walked up to her, his gaze sweeping over her back to make sure no one was following before he spoke: "You've picked her up? Did she run into any trouble?"

Leah stepped aside to let the released people enter through the side door of the church one by one. "We encountered them, but we resolved the situation."

Bishop Simon's gaze fell on the figures walking through the door, and his expression relaxed noticeably, as if he had finally confirmed that something hadn't gone wrong.

“Those people have all been released. There are no problems with the list, and the detention center hasn’t given us any extra trouble.” After Lia finished speaking, she paused and glanced behind her. The carriage that had been following them had finally stopped.

Prince Alvin got out of the car and stood below the steps of the side entrance of the church, not walking over directly, as if waiting for permission.

Bishop Simon followed her gaze and saw Prince Alvin. He paused for a moment, then subconsciously frowned. "Why is he here?"

Lia didn't explain further. "He just helped me out."

Bishop Simon was clearly skeptical that a prince could be of any help, but he did not press the matter.

He stepped aside to make way for everyone to enter the house.

The door closed behind him, and the only sounds in the corridor were the footsteps of a few people and the faint chanting of sutras in the distance.

Upon entering the side hall, Bishop Simon gestured for everyone to sit down. His gaze swept over Prince Alvin, then turned to Leah, as if waiting for an explanation.

After all, Prince Alvin is definitely a member of the royal family, and the royal family and Bishop Simon have long since fallen out.

At this time, Bishop Simon was not giving Prince Alvin a friendly look.

What if Prince Alvin overheard their conversation? That wouldn't be a good thing, would it? That was the simple thought of Bishop Simon at that moment.

Orlando leaned back in his chair, his tone flat: "He knows what he's doing, and he knows what he should and shouldn't listen to."

Bishop Simon remained silent for a moment, then looked at Leah, who had not spoken, and naturally understood that Leah must have the same idea.

Since that was the case, Bishop Simon did not pursue the matter further.

He turned to his nephew, a middle-aged man with a pale complexion, wearing clean old clothes he had just changed out of from prison: "Tell me, who have Augustine's men arrested during this period?"

The middle-aged man's voice was still a little hoarse, but his reasoning was clear: "The first batch arrested were the church's deacons and scribes, all of whom were close to the bishop. The second batch were three noble families from the southern district, all charged with 'having contact with heretics.' The third batch... were members of the merchant guild."

"The Chamber of Commerce?" Earl Orlando's brow twitched slightly.

"The leaders of the three chambers of commerce have all been taken away. The charges are the same: 'suspected funding of heretics.' But there is no further news yet, and we don't know where they are being held."

Bishop Simon's expression darkened: "The people from the Chamber of Commerce have always been neutral and will not take sides. Augustine is not moving against them to investigate, but to make room for them."

Prince Alvin sat in the corner, silent until now. Only then did he speak: "Who is this space given to?"

Bishop Simon glanced at him, as if to determine whether he truly wanted to know the answer.

Then he said, “Augustine’s own people. His confidants, his spies, the little guys he’s planted everywhere. Whether it’s the merchants’ guild, the middle-level church officials, or even the minor stewards on the noble estates, they are all being replaced. Once he has replaced all these people with his own, he will have every bone in the Imperial parish in his hands.”