Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

Clovis gritted his teeth, maintaining a smile on his face, still trying to make a last-ditch effort, but Prince Hypnos beside him stroked his beard and said with a smile:

"I don't think so, especially with Julio's personality. If he knew that Ryuu was this kind of person, he would definitely be furious. Well, he's young, so I can understand..."

"Uncle Hypnos!"

Clovis looked at Prince Hypnos, whose public statement had practically sealed the deal. His gaze toward his nephew seemed filled with dissuasion and admonition.

Enough. This matter ends here. This boy isn't someone who can be won over with such tricks. Hypnos's eyes conveyed this message to Clovis...

He openly acknowledged his relationship with Melanie Snowfield, and then actively pressured Giulio Snowfield to abandon his plan to force a marriage through his granddaughter's closeness to Ryūsha. Meanwhile...

Is he a loyal subject in another sense...? Ryūka's words would indeed seem incomprehensible to most nobles, but to older, powerful figures like Hypnos, the boy's straightforward desire for a beautiful woman was reassuring compared to the pursuit of money, power, and fame... If this strange tale were told to His Majesty, he would probably laugh out loud...

“That’s exactly it, Your Highness Clovis.”

Under Hypnos's watchful gaze, Melanie wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes and walked to Ryūka's side. The usually icy Melanie affectionately draped an arm over Ryūka's shoulder, her face flushed from her recent laughter and a carefree smile playing on her lips. Her beauty bloomed like a flower atop a snow-capped mountain peak, and she spoke with a sense of liberation before everyone:

"That's what the kid told me. Hmm~ He probably thinks Miss Haifulian wouldn't accept this kind of thinking, which is why he's keeping his distance from her. But I don't mind at all. If I like someone, I like them. So please, Your Highness, tell my grandfather that he doesn't need to worry about my affairs."

Melanie gently ruffled Ryusha's hair with a tender gaze, making Kania's meticulously styled hair look adorably messy. A smug and delighted smile played on her lips, making her appear breathtakingly beautiful to the assembled nobles. This top student of the Imperial Military Academy's Magic Department; a genius girl who won the title of Grand Mage at the age of twenty; a goddess admired by countless young men even with her icy demeanor; had now openly accepted a younger man's 'harem declaration'!

If this news reaches Imperial Capital Academy, countless young masters will be heartbroken...

As Haiflian listened to Melanie's words, she realized that this ice-cold woman was clearly considering her own reputation and creating the illusion that she didn't know Ryuu's true nature.

She glanced at Ryuka, her gaze meeting the boy's, then quickly looked away, scratching her cheek with her finger as she said, "Ahem... well, actually, I don't really mind..."

"Huh?! Miss Alvarez too?! If that general finds out..."

A sudden gasp erupted from the crowd, and countless wine glasses shattered on the ground. While Hafulen's talent wasn't as great as Melanie's, her noble birth, her father being one of the Ten Heavenly Ranks, and her more approachable personality naturally made her incredibly popular among the younger generation of nobles. In stark contrast to the melting ice queen, the usually straightforward and forthright Hafulen now appeared shy and candid, a sight that defied all expectations.

A person who has no shame is invincible.

Looking at Ryūka surrounded by beauties and stared at by everyone, Clovis felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He hadn't been able to overwhelmingly defeat Ryūka on the battlefield, and he couldn't even manage to annoy him in the public eye. Clovis could only smile bitterly; he began to regret his childish act of revenge. He knew that as long as his father didn't dislike this boy, the other nobles' attempts to ostracize Ryūka would be futile…

The reason, of course, lies in his terrifying ability to govern his territory and the level of development of his army. Handing over the Sochi province to him would likely allow Ryukyu to become a powerful ruler within just a few years. If, because of his offense today, Ryukyu were to firmly side with Tipalotura, he would likely be in for a rough time.

He likes beautiful women… perhaps gathering some beauties to send to him would ease the tension? Clovis pondered this, while Prince Hypnos clapped his hands:

"Ahem! You can talk about these things between young people later. Now? Shouldn't we get down to business?"

Ryūka bowed deeply to Hypnos: "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Your Highness."

"Haha, it's so interesting. It even made my fatigue from the journey much less."

Hypnos smiled broadly, then chatted with Ryukyu as they walked toward the castle hall.

After stepping across the red carpet, the two parted ways temporarily. When they met again, Hypnos was already prepared on the stage according to the imperial ceremony. He held a red-gold scepter engraved with the sacred tree of Ottus and read out the emperor's commendation for Ryukyu's achievements.

The castle gates slowly opened, and Ryūka entered through the main entrance following protocol. The nobles on either side, whether former enemies or friends, applauded the young man. Ryūka, dressed in a crimson-gold military uniform, strode forward with his head held high. He knelt on one knee before the crimson-gold scepter, a symbol of the Ottus Emperor's authority, bowed slightly, and raised his hands to receive the scepter—a token of the governor—from Hypnos.

"Based on your outstanding achievements in suppressing rebellions and governing the territory, as well as your unwavering loyalty to the Empire, I, as His Majesty's envoy, hereby formally appoint you as the Governor-General of the Sochi Province and grant you a hereditary viscount title and territory. Lord Liuxia, you may rise."

Ryūka slowly rose to his feet. When he picked up the crimson gold scepter, even Prince Hypnos bowed slightly, showing respect for the power bestowed upon him by the emperor.

Ryuka couldn't help but recall what Hypnos had said to her privately during their brief time together.

"Implementing the provincial system has been His Majesty's long-held ambition, but the core areas of the empire are dominated by powerful nobles who cannot be touched, and suitable opportunities rarely arise in the border regions. This reward is not only for your achievements, but also a testament to His Majesty's trust and high regard for you. His Majesty was very pleased with what you said earlier. Unlike the previous noble system, the governor's power derives from His Majesty. I hope you, Lord Liuxia, will remember this. You are a clever young man. Regardless of which prince you have served in the past, do not disappoint His Majesty's expectations..."

In other words, it's all about how he performs... Ryūka clenched his scepter tightly. He saw the nobles below bowing to him, but most of them weren't truly respecting him; rather, they were afraid of the status bestowed upon them by the emperor. Even Prince Clovis, following the ceremony personally requested by the emperor, bowed his head to Ryūka at the moment of investiture.

At that moment, Ryuka suddenly understood why Emperor Otus, as her father, was so indifferent to the infighting among his children, and even supported her for one of the reasons why he wanted to suppress his most powerful son, Clovis.

The emperor wanted to implement a completely new system and complete the monumental task of reforming the empire during his lifetime.

Faced with this ideal, he would not care even if his own flesh and blood killed each other for power.

Perhaps this is what he believes is the way to change the gradually declining state of Ottos.

By building professional legions to gradually replace reliance on the military power of local lords, and by replacing the control of the entire country's territory by noble lords with the official title of 'governor,' people's awe of lords was transferred to awe of imperial power...

However, this step cannot be taken too big, so even for himself, the governor and the viscount were conferred titles at the same time.

Ryuka smiled. Regardless, he had undeniably gained power. He would, for the time being, help His Majesty pave the way for unifying imperial power.

Only when it's on my way...

With that thought in mind, Ryuka raised her crimson-gold scepter high towards the crowd below.

"Long live the Otus Empire! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Long live the Empire! Long live His Majesty!"

……

After that came the investiture of the others, including Hetia and the others. Ryuga saw many familiar faces among them. For example, the giant bear Weston, the talkative Joe Harvey, and even Hudson, who was with Clovis, were among them.

The Sochi province he governed was a vast and complex landscape. The emperor granted him considerable power, yet he couldn't fully trust him. What the emperor wanted was a meritorious official who could accept his provincial system, as a demonstration to the entire empire. The challenge lay in suppressing the various noble factions within the province through his own abilities, while simultaneously preventing himself from becoming a force that the emperor distrusted.

Furthermore, Prince Hypnos indicated that the Empire would soon dispatch a series of officials to 'assist' him in managing provincial affairs. He also ordered the construction of a branch of the Imperial Military Academy in Sochi, with teachers from the Imperial Capital Academy to take up the post once completed. And so on and so forth…

It seems that the emperor had considered the matter of decentralization quite 'thoroughly'.

However, Ryūka didn't care. No matter how good the emperor's plan was, the phenomenon of regional officials breaking away from the central government's jurisdiction was not uncommon in the history he knew. In other words...

This isn't a difficult task, is it?

Moreover, Liuxia was eager for the emperor to send more outstanding talents over. As long as they recognized him as the 'Governor-General,' he could draw more strength and knowledge from them!

Amidst the compliments of the nobles, the young man slightly raised the corners of his mouth, as if he were receiving them with the utmost politeness and enthusiasm.

Soon after, Liu Xia encountered something that would allow him to establish his authority in public and would also please the emperor in the capital...

"Your Excellency."

A girl dressed as a maid walked through the crowd, approached Ryūka, and curtsied, lifting her skirt. Her graceful and sturdy figure and clean, efficient movements made her resemble a soldier. Although her face was veiled, the mere sight of her eyes revealed her to be a rare beauty. This caused the nobles present to marvel, and some, deliberately flattering, even praised Ryūka for not only managing his army well but also for the exceptional competence of his servants.

"It seems I should consider sending some of my maids to the Governor's residence for proper training. I would appreciate your assistance in instructing them."

Ryuka smiled politely at the nobleman's undisguised gift-giving, realizing that her previous "harem declaration" had made many people feel that she had found a way to please them.

"Then I must do my utmost for you~ Gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment."

Ryuka nodded politely to the people around her, then followed the maid and left the crowd.

"What happened?"

Ryuka activated a silencing barrier and whispered to the maid in front of her, "This is Zona. Although she has applied thick foundation to cover her brown skin and covered most of her face with a headscarf and veil, Ryuka can recognize her at a glance."

"Master, they are from the Holy See..."

Zona reported quickly but methodically:

Upon arriving at the church, the newly appointed bishop immediately destroyed a secret passage that had existed within for many years and rushed towards this location. Moreover…

“One of her bodyguards was monitoring her on her way to the castle, then lost contact and has most likely been captured. I’ve urgently recalled the others…”

Is that so? Liu Xia frowned and said calmly, "Don't rush, tell me slowly, tell me everything that happened and the information about that shadow guard."

“Yes, Master.” Zona bit her lip. The shadow guard was one of the girls who wanted Ryusha to appease the dark elf bloodline, and that's why she had approached carelessly in order to earn a reward for her master. The shadow guards only confirmed what happened inside the church after Hinatil left, and they relayed the old bishop's death and the scene through an informant within the Vatican who had been operating for years, including the discovery of the secret passage…

It was thanks to that young shadow guard who, upon realizing she had been discovered, immediately changed her route and lured Hinatil away that her colleagues were given time to deliver the information to Zona.

“I see, thank you all. You and the others should hide for now, as should Kania and Kira. The Vatican has a very keen sense for heretical bloodlines. As for the others, I'll figure something out... Don't worry, I won't abandon that Shadow Guard.”

Ryūka's confident smile warmed Zōna's heart. Just yesterday, she had been shyly chatting with that girl about their secrets, looking forward to serving their master together tonight. Who could have imagined such a turn of events today?

As mixed-race heretics, they naturally feared the power of the Papacy. In the past, everything in Sochi was under Count Duke's control, and the old bishop was easy to manage. But this new bishop, named Hinatil, seemed to be no simple character; not only was she powerful, but she was also rumored to have come from the Inquisition…

"Stop crying, take this opportunity to wash up and think about how to serve me tonight."

Ryuu winked and grinned mischievously, comforting Zona while wiping away the tears from the assassin girl's eyes, all the while plotting in her mind.

The new bishop had heard Hypnos mention it briefly, suggesting the newcomer was up to no good. She was already on her way to the castle before capturing the shadow guard girl, so her purpose was likely one of a few things…

Using the pretext of a visit to establish authority, and incidentally to make a fuss about the secret passage in the church. Although he could pin these things on the now-vanished Count Duke, he feared that what the other side wanted was to use this as an excuse to strengthen the Papacy's power in the Sochi province.

Even Prince Hypnos could foresee these points, fearing the Papacy might use the presence of heretical mixed-race individuals among the imperial nobility as grounds for their actions. He also specifically reminded Ryukyu that between imperial and divine authority, imperial authority could only be supreme…

"I was just worried about how to prove my loyalty, and someone delivered themselves right to my doorstep. I don't care if you're a bishop or the Inquisition, I just don't believe that any stupid woman would dare to openly oppose me at the investiture ceremony of the new governor of the empire!"

Ryuu smiled coldly, began to warm up her magic power, and sealed off all abilities related to heresy. She pretended to be nonchalant and reintegrated into the social interactions of the nobles, but her eyes were always on the direction of the castle gate.

Chapter 5 Vatican, Empire, and Youth

"Reporting to the Governor, the new bishop of the Sochi Church is visiting..."

When the soldier rushed in to report, before Ryūka could even respond, an uninvited figure appeared at the gate entrance.

Bathed in holy light, a graceful figure strode confidently into the castle hall. The aura and authority emanating from Hinatil commanded the respect of all the nobles present; the crisp sound of her heels seemed to pound not on the stone slabs, but on their very hearts. Yet, no one dared to look at this female bishop with disrespect, even though her face and the figure beneath her white robes were undeniably alluring.

There's only one reason: the Inquisition. That's no laughing matter. The clergy from there are practically mad dogs. Contrary to the Holy See's outward image of holiness and compassion, just hearing the name is enough to send chills down your spine, even in the darkest of nights.

They disregard the laws of the empire and various nations, operating only in the shadows, arbitrarily executing those they deem 'evil'. It's not just those of heretical or cult blood; even if you're a pure human, if you don't believe in the goddess, or accidentally utter something disrespectful, you could disappear from your warm home. When you open your eyes again, you'll find yourself surrounded by the blood-stained Iron Maiden, the bed of nails, and various horrific instruments of torture… This is what the Inquisition does.

Of course, most of these are just frightening legends, since you'll never find any evidence to support them. However, the fact that the Vatican's dark dagger has been brought into the open, to a regional bishop, is unprecedented, perhaps indicating some changes within the Vatican…

So even though Hinatil was incredibly radiant, everyone present tried their best to avoid eye contact with the bishop, not to mention that she was holding a chain made of holy magic energy, which was leading a girl who was bound in layers.

"This person doesn't seem friendly..." Just as everyone was speculating about what kind of drama would unfold, a soft laugh rang out, and Liu Xia's words sent chills down everyone's spines.

"What's going on? The bishop has come uninvited. But speaking of which, is this the style of clergy robes?"

The boy stared unabashedly at the female bishop in the center of the hall. Unlike the loose and elegant robes commonly worn by clergy, Hinatil's white robe was tightly wrapped around her waist by three white leather belts with gold trim, revealing her slender waistline and making her already generous and impressive breasts appear even firmer.

Below the waist, the robe splits into four sections, seemingly for ease of movement, but through the gaps, one can see Hinatil's white, high-heeled leather boots. These boots taut over the flesh of her beautiful legs, adorned with leather belts and metal accessories. The towering heels further accentuate Hinatil's tall and slender figure, giving her an imposing and domineering aura…

The only traditional thing she wore was the bishop's crown in her jet-black hair.

Ryūka's light laugh and rhetorical question seemed to say, "She's just like some kind of shameless woman." The nobleman, whose question he posed, instantly changed color; his lips began to turn purple, and he stammered to Ryūka:

"This... Your Excellency... I... I don't understand what you mean..."

Everyone stared at the slightly tipsy young man, wondering if the joy of his investiture and the wine had clouded his judgment. But Ryuka pushed through the crowd and went straight to Hinatil. He ignored Hinatil's icy gaze, which seemed to look at him like he was already dead, and deliberately gave her a thorough once-over before turning to the assembled nobles and saying:

"I mean, this style is really beautiful~ I never expected the Vatican to send such a charming woman to be the bishop of Sochi Province, this is truly delightful~"

Ryūka's arrogant demeanor made it seem as if he were treating Sinatiel like an object, judging her before the nobles. While everyone was horrified, only Prince Hypnos and Clovis realized that Ryūka was doing it on purpose. They looked at the girl captured by Sinatiel, then at Ryūka, their expressions unchanged, but both revealing eyes that were ready to watch a good show.

Perhaps only when facing the Papacy do the people of Otus stand united, even Clovis is no exception.

"So you're the new governor of Sochi? What a disappointment. I thought you'd be someone with brains, but you're so rude. It seems Otus's judgment in appointing people isn't very good either; is it that as long as someone has military achievements, that's enough?" (The rest of the text appears to be nonsensical and unrelated to the previous sentences.)

Hinatil coldly looked down at Ryusha, lazily tilting her head to the side. Her tone was devoid of anger, filled instead with boredom and weariness. Her questioning of Ryusha implicated the entire Otus, making no attempt to conceal her stance.

Hinatil coldly looked down at Ryusha, lazily tilting her head to the side. Her tone was devoid of anger, filled instead with boredom and weariness. Her questioning of Ryusha implicated the entire Otus, making no attempt to conceal her stance.

This inevitably made the two princes and the crown princes hope that Ryukyu would retaliate.

"Rude? Sister Bishop, I was merely praising your beauty. Perhaps even the goddess herself is no more than this..."

Just as Ryuka was bowing dramatically, Hinatil was completely enraged by the boy's words!

How dare they defile the goddess with such filthy and vulgar words! They are using the sacred symbols of the Vatican as the standard for judging women!

In an instant, the accusations she had prepared vanished from Hinatil's mind and became second only to defending her faith. Nothing mattered compared to what was important, and without warning, she unleashed a palm strike, imbued with immense holy energy, aimed at the face of the bowed young man before her! She showed no concern whatsoever that he was the newly appointed governor of the Otus Empire.

Snapped! ! !

A crisp sound echoed throughout the castle hall. Hinatil's hand stopped beside Ryusha's face. This was not Hinatil stopping short; rather, her hand... was firmly grasped by the boy just before it struck. The surging holy energy was like hitting an iron plate, instantly neutralized by the equally unfathomable battle energy in the boy's palm, leaving only that loud bang.

"Your Excellency, isn't this a bit... inappropriate?"

The boy slowly rose, meeting Hinatil's cold gaze with a playful look. Their hands clasped together, seemingly like lovers flirting, yet their strength clashed and churned within. As if to provoke Hinatil, the boy even squeezed the bishop's beautiful hand hard with his fingers.

"Huh?"

Hinatil sneered, her body stiffening as she withdrew her hand, wiped it disdainfully on her clothes, and then gripped her scepter again. Throughout the entire process, the bishop's scepter remained firmly planted on the ground... but after Hinatil grasped it again, an inexplicable aura emanated from the scepter, as if some kind of rule was forcing Ryukyu to submit.

Sacred, supreme, inviolable, and beyond question... Such thoughts flooded into Ryusha's mind like a tide. In his eyes, Hinatil seemed to have truly become an embodiment of something sacred, and he unconsciously wanted to submit to and acknowledge her.

Even the nobles in the distance felt as if they were carrying a thousand-pound weight. They were astonished by the methods of the Holy See, even if it wasn't the power of some kind of holy relic. The pressure felt by the boy in front of Hinatil was clearly stronger than theirs, and even his forehead was covered in a layer of sweat.

Seeing Ryūka's tense expression as he struggled on, Sinatiel was somewhat surprised but didn't take it to heart. She smiled and asked Ryūka, "I understand, Your Excellency is quite confident in your strength. However, I would like to ask, how do you explain the rampant spread of the heretical faith called Chloeur under your rule?"

"That's just some self-comforting psychological comfort among the common people. What? Does Your Excellency really believe that such a heretical deity exists, protecting those poor people?"

Ryūsha was not at all outdone in terms of momentum, and instead retorted sarcastically: "If the poor and slaves could live a good life, perhaps this phenomenon would not exist. If the Church had truly redeemed these poor people as you claim, why would they need to satisfy their spiritual needs with some vague and ethereal faith while suffering from hunger and cold?"

Ryūka's words gave Clovis a sense of satisfaction. He not only attributed the heretical beliefs among the people to the hypocrisy and inaction of the Vatican, but also implied that whether it was the Vatican or heresy, this kind of deity worship was illusory.

No one knew better than Clovis how unbearable it was to be verbally oppressed by Ryūsha. He watched as Sinatiel's face grew even colder, almost bursting into laughter. At this moment, he seemed less bothered by his father's decision to appoint this young man as governor.

"Is that so? Then I will follow Your Excellency's advice and take good care of these poor people. Is that alright?"

"That won't be necessary. Improving the lives of the people is my responsibility as the governor of the empire."