They are all characters I control.

"Moreover, your new taxes are too outrageous. They do not improve any of the loopholes and shortcomings of the past, but instead exacerbate the problem of embezzlement."

Bishop Simon was ashen-faced, his lips trembling, unable to utter another word.

How do you explain this? Are you saying you never actually came up with any new tax? Or that the Rothschild family was the one who came up with the new tax, not you?

He simply took credit for it and presented it as his own.

Wouldn't it be even more embarrassing to say that?

"What? Now you're not saying anything? The Acting Saintess is questioning you, how dare a mere minor bishop ignore the Acting Saintess?" Ophelia, the Acting Saintess of Discipline, attacked again.

Regardless of their usual relationship, this Discipline Agent and Isabelle, the Prayer Agent, were united against the Archbishops at this moment.

As the archbishops' lackey, Bishop Simon was naturally going to be suppressed as well.

Ophelia would never miss an opportunity, no matter how small.

“I…I actually…these new taxes are not…” Just as Bishop Simon was about to utter the name of the Rost family, unable to withstand the pressure, he began to speak.

The intercessor of prayer suddenly interrupted him, and Isabelle's benevolence and kindness were evident in the new regulations she announced.

"Since it wasn't your idea, I won't blame you. Where did this new tax come from?"

"Thank you, Lady Isabelle!"

Bishop Simon was incredulous, but his first reaction was to kneel down and express his gratitude.

Since the prayer agent saint said so, then naturally she will let him off the hook, or at least she won't openly cause him trouble.

Ophelia was somewhat dissatisfied with this.

"Tsk, are you just going to let him go like that? In my style, I would at least bring him to the 'Holy City' for my Inquisition to interrogate him properly, otherwise he wouldn't even know who stole your documents."

“My followers are all loyal; there are no thieves or traitors among them.”

Isabelle's calm voice was completely different from Ophelia's haughty voice.

"Ha, you've become the good guy all along. You're such a kind and gentle prayer agent," Ophelia said sarcastically.

Isabelle didn't respond; doing so would only provoke Ophelia to say more.

They were in the "Holy Council" now, and were even communicating with Bishop Simon, who was far away in the Empire, using magic. The composed Isabelle didn't want so many people to witness the little quarrel between the two acting saintesses.

However, Isabelle's gaze remained fixed on Bishop Simon, lost in thought.

"Since the Acting Lady of Prayer has decided not to pursue the matter, then Bishop Simon, you must learn from this lesson next time. Whatever you want to offer to the 'Holy Council' next time, you must conduct a thorough review, understand?"

Seeing that the matter had not escalated, Archbishop Grove of the South once again stepped in to smooth things over.

To be honest, we really can't do without him.

This one sentence ended Bishop Simon's speech, immediately easing the atmosphere around him.

“I understand. Thank you Archbishop Grove and all the archbishops, and I once again express my sincere apologies to the three acting saintesses.”

Bishop Simon bowed reverently in apology, kneeling on the ground.

The archbishops and acting saints of the 'Holy Council' looked at Bishop Simon before them and nodded in response.

Before Bishop Simon could react, and without looking at the people in the banquet hall, the projection of Archbishop Grove, along with the projections of the other three archbishops, and the three clusters of brilliant holy light representing the Acting Saintess, quickly dimmed and dissipated in the light screen.

"Om..."

The magical light curtain emitted a low hum, then transformed into countless points of light, completely annihilating in the air.

Everything seemed as if nothing had happened.

Everyone truly felt the imposing presence of the archbishops and acting saintesses of the 'Holy Council' just now, and there is no doubt that the strength of the Goddess Church relies on these individuals.

The archbishops possessed vast territories and large knightly orders, while the saintesses played a role through their influence, prestige, and personal status.

No matter how high their status, if it weren't for Bishop Simon's connections, the nobles present might never have had the chance to meet these members of the 'Holy Council' in their entire lives.

But now, the very same Bishop Simon who had amazed everyone was standing there, looking utterly dejected.

Originally, it was said that he would be promoted to the position of archbishop directly by taking advantage of this new tax, but who knew that he would not only be an archbishop, but he himself was almost sent to the inquisition for heresy.

His face was ashen, his eyes vacant, as if he had aged twenty years in an instant.

His earlier triumph and radiant smile have now turned into utter collapse and despair after being publicly executed in front of the empire's top elites.

The others around him looked at Bishop Simon and didn't know how to comfort him.

Everyone could see that the Holy Council wasn't very supportive of Bishop Simon's promotion. But even if Bishop Simon didn't become an archbishop, he would still be the highest-ranking bishop in all the churches of the empire.

Regardless of whether Bishop Simon becomes archbishop, his position in the new empire remains unshakable.

"Karl, why don't you go and comfort your bishop? Judging from his appearance, he must be very sad."

Count Orlando glanced teasingly at Knight Commander Karl beside her, but Knight Commander Karl was in no mood for banter.

“I know.” Knight Commander Karl sighed and stood up from his seat.

Watching Knight Commander Karl finally leave, Count Orlando grabbed Lia's hand beside him.

Her eyes lit up, and she asked with great curiosity, "How did you do that? Of course, I'm asking about the other 'Lia'! Bishop Simon really can't become an archbishop!"

Why is there still accountability in Chapter 92?

At this moment, Earl Orlando was more shocked than Bishop Simon's embarrassment at how 'Lia' knew the outcome.

Even before this, another 'Lia' had concluded that Bishop Simon was unlikely to be promoted.

To everyone else, it seemed like Bishop Simon's promotion was a sure thing, but only the evil 'Lia' asserted that Bishop Simon had no chance of being promoted.

"You said before that you have connections in higher places. Do you really have someone in the 'Holy Council'? Who is it?"

"Was it Saint Ophelia, the Acting Discipline Master? Wasn't she the one who attacked Bishop Simon the most fiercely just now?"

"But since you need a potion to transform and hide, are you really from the Inquisition? No, you seem more like a man to me, and quite lecherous at that."

Earl Orlando stared intently into Leah's eyes with his amber-colored almond-shaped eyes, his voice low.

Lia felt a little embarrassed. Of course, she knew that Earl Orlando wasn't talking to her, but to the 'Guiding God' within her.

Caught in the middle, all she wanted at that moment was to switch partners.

[Lia: God of Guidance, would you like to take control of my body? The Earl wishes to speak with you.]

Claire: No, how could I possibly answer such a question? Your aunt is too clever; I don't want to reveal my identity so soon.

[Lia: Okay, actually I'm also a little curious about your identity, God of Guidance. You're definitely not a being I just imagined, are you?]

[Claire: Heh heh heh, who knows, you might become my enemy once you find out who I am.]

[Lia: How could that be! I could never be an enemy of the God of Guidance!]

Claire: Okay, okay.

Looking at the somewhat perfunctory 'God of Guidance', Lia gradually calmed her slightly excited breathing.

I don't understand at all why the 'God of Guidance' would say things like they would become enemies in the future.

If it weren't for the 'Guiding God', I wouldn't know any magic now, and I wouldn't be able to find my mother's sister.

Regardless of the identity of the 'God of Guidance', he has always helped me and worked hard for me.

Clenching her little fists, Leah was still a little annoyed by Claire's words, but she still conveyed Claire's meaning to Earl Orlando.

He said he wouldn't tell you, because that would make it easier for you to guess his identity.

"Hmph, even if this guy wants to hide, he won't be able to for long." Count Orlando was already used to the mysterious demeanor of this 'Guiding God'.

She looked up at Bishop Simon, who was slumped in a chair not far away, surrounded by a group of sycophantic nobles and Karl and his church knights.

"However, the Rost family is about to be in big trouble. I'm very curious to see what your 'Guiding God' will do, Lia."

At first, Leah didn't understand what Earl Orlando meant. After a moment of thought, she remembered that it seemed that the new taxes proposed by Bishop Simon were "her" suggestions.

Or rather, it was actually written by the 'God of Guidance'.

In order to obtain detailed information about the 'new tax,' her father, stepmother, and stepsister tortured her and tied her up with the maid Anna.

Now, Bishop Simon is holding a new tax from the 'Guiding God,' which bears an eight-tenths resemblance to the new system of the intercessory saint of prayer.

Then, without a doubt, Bishop Simon will shift all the blame onto the Rost family, or rather, onto Leah herself.

After figuring all this out, Lia couldn't help but feel nervous.

Claire: Don't you hate me now? You idiot.

[Lia: I'm not stupid!]

[Claire: You still care about this at a time like this? Aren't you worried about getting locked up?]

[Lia: Don't worry.]

[Lia: Because the Countess also said that she's very curious about what you, the God of Guidance, will do next.]

[Lia: So the Countess believes that the God of Guidance would never harm me. She trusts the God of Guidance, and I trust the God of Guidance just the same.]

Claire was starting to look at Leah with new respect; this seemingly naive girl wasn't as silly as she'd thought.

At that moment, another burst of magical energy emanated from in front of Bishop Simon.

But this time, it was far less grand and massive than when the Holy Council was connected before, and the magical fluctuations were significantly smaller.

On the podium, the air above Bishop Simon, who had just been helped to his feet by Captain Karl and was barely able to stand, distorted once again.

A small magical light screen, no bigger than a washbasin and emitting a soft, platinum-gold glow, suddenly unfolded.

Bishop Simon was startled, thinking it was Archbishop Grove of the South sending a private message to comfort or reprimand him, and quickly straightened his disheveled bishop's robe.

He forced a fawning smile—more like a grimace—on his chubby face and bowed deeply to the light screen: "Lord Grove, you..."

"Bishop Simon." A woman's voice came from the magical light screen.

This caused Bishop Simon's fawning smile to freeze instantly. When he looked up, he realized that the person appearing in the magical light screen was the Prayer Agent, Isabelle.

She seemed to be in a simple yet sacred prayer room, dressed only in plain white clothes, rather than the magnificent robes that had been shrouded in holy light.

But the majesty contained within that calmness remained undiminished.

Bishop Simon's smile froze instantly, replaced by deeper terror and bewilderment. "Lady Isabelle!? What... what is this...?"

“Bishop Simon, there is no need to panic.” Isabelle’s voice came through the light screen, calm and unreadable. “I only have one question for you.”

Bishop Simon was about to respond, but Isabelle didn't like such polite words.

“Your draft ‘new tax law’ has many similarities to my ‘new system in the Holy City’.”

"My question is, who came up with those new taxes? Was it yourself? Or someone else?"

"Don't try to fool me with lies, understand?"

As the acting saintess, Isabelle was not without dignity; she simply lacked presence in front of Claire, who was of equal or even higher status.

But if it were in front of Bishop Simon and the nobles present at this moment...

At this moment, Isabelle, bathed in holy light, was akin to a goddess.

“I…I didn’t, it wasn’t my idea! This new tax was given to me by the Rost family! It was him!” Bishop Simon trembled, almost shouting.

As he spoke, he pointed sharply in a certain direction of the banquet hall, as if grasping at a straw.

That direction is where the Marquis of Rost is located.

The nobles standing around Marquis Rost immediately spread out, leaving Marquis Rost alone.

The color drained from the Marquis of Rost's face in an instant, and his mind went completely blank.

Chapter 93 The two women meet for the first time.

Lord Rost never expected that Bishop Simon would betray him so decisively at this time.

As for that new tax, it was Bishop Simon who took the notebook and claimed it was his idea.

As a result, problems arose with the new tax, and after being interrogated by the acting saint, the bishop surprisingly confessed to it so readily.

He's a bishop, after all; he shouldn't have done something so disgraceful.

But at this moment, Bishop Simon didn't care about prestige or face; all he wanted was to absolve himself of responsibility.

It's worth noting that the first person to contact him after the 'Holy Council' was the Acting Saint of Prayer, not the Southern Archbishop who had previously been so supportive. This speaks volumes.