Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

Esther looked into Ryukyu's eyes, keeping him in suspense.

"Is it a bribe, or...?" Merlin, think about it... is Merlin here or not...?

“Coercion.” Esther said as if it were something amusing. “She vaguely implied that a powerful figure was going to make a move against you. Although she didn’t say it explicitly, I know she was referring to the Fourth Prince, Elias. I think you should know why their two factions would come together at this juncture…”

Ryuka closed her eyes slightly: "It's because of the Holy See, isn't it?"

The fourth prince, Elias, is a shrewd and calculating individual who rarely reveals his true intentions, preferring to maintain a facade of goodwill. However, his relationship with the Inquisition faction within the Papacy is unusual, as its leader, Cardinal Carmela, is none other than Sinatiel's teacher.

I might be able to alter the Sochi Cathedral's external communications, but that's ultimately just a delaying tactic and can't conceal the fact that the newly built Sochi Academy has already surrounded the cathedral. As long as there's a local informant, the message will eventually get out, but enough time has passed. It seems Elias deliberated for a while after receiving this intelligence, or perhaps the delay of three months was due to communication with the Holy City of the Papacy.

“That’s right.” Esther nodded. “Although I don’t understand what grudge you have against the Vatican, based on your close relationship with Archbishop Randall of the capital, I know that you won’t easily start a dispute that you can’t win.”

Prince Elias, too, according to my information, intended to remain behind the scenes while others pressured your policies, and then step in to mediate. The ultimate goal was to get you to spare the Carmela faction and relax restrictions on other nobles, including his vassals, allowing them to also benefit from Sochi's development…”

"That's a clever plan. But it's probably more than that; he's not the kind of guy who would easily gain hostility."

Ryusha smiled coldly. Sochi was developing rapidly, but only within his and his allies' directly controlled territories. There were many arrogant and envious people, which meant there would be many troubles. If an internal strife broke out in the territory, it would cause headaches for him in terms of both security and market fluctuations. At this time, Ilias was stepping in to play the good guy because of the favor he had done for him before, which was indeed very much in line with his style.

“That’s right.” Esther nodded. “According to what I’ve heard from other nobles, the bargaining chip he’s offering you is to help you with the selection of the imperial appointees for the Sochi administration and academy.”

Ryuu nodded thoughtfully. Just as he had predicted, the emperor would not allow Sochi to become his independent kingdom, so he would definitely select personnel from the capital to be parachuted into Sochi. Ordinary bureaucrats and nobles could not control him, so the first thing that would be considered was the soon-to-be-built Sochi Academy. After all, it was a branch of the 'Otus Empire Military Academy', and it would be unreasonable if it did not have a representative from the royal family.

They were generally not direct relatives of the emperor, but rather powerful but extremely loyal collateral relatives who held no real power and were arrogant and disdainful of outsiders. Such people were extremely difficult to deal with among the Ottoman nobility…

If a royal representative were to be sent, whether an old fox or a young nobleman, it would make Ryukyu uncomfortable. After all, he is the most important person in the world, and if Sochi had an extra royal representative whom he had to bow to every day, it would be truly annoying.

If Elias could manipulate the selection of his men and choose someone easy to deal with, he might actually give it more thought. Moreover, he could even interfere with the various forces the emperor subsequently sent, something Tipalotura, who wasn't particularly adept at social interaction, couldn't do.

Liu Xia couldn't help but laugh. This guy was trying to poach his father's employees to do him a favor!

But thinking about it, it's understandable. After all, his interference affected Emperor Otus's future control over Sochi, while his personal gains were immediate. It seems Elias is a man quite confident in his abilities, skilled in long-term strategies…

If Elias had understood that his heretical status was firmly in Sinatiel's grasp, he would have known he would never let Sochi Cathedral go. Unfortunately, it seems he only believed he was on Randall's side in the power struggle within the Papacy; it seems his smokescreen worked quite well.

Seeing Ryūka's thoughtful smile, Esther understood that he had figured out the key point and continued:

"Originally, he wanted to bring together various noble forces and the merchant guild to put pressure on you steadily, but Adela clearly had her own plans. She probably wanted to use this situation to deliver a harsh blow to you, after all, you exposed their dirty deeds last time. This became a stain on her reputation within the merchant guild, so she and Hayden were making different plans... First, she came to me, using her connections with both the Fourth Prince and the Third Prince to put pressure on me, but I also had people find out that she was just using their influence to intimidate me, and the two princes had no intention of taking any real action against you. Of course, you have your own intelligence agency, so you can verify what I said."

As Ryuga watched Esther recount the whole story, clearly outlining the intentions of all parties involved, he couldn't help but feel a greater appreciation and affection for this girl who was the same age as him.

A stunningly beautiful girl is already captivating enough, let alone a clever and witty one, and even more so when she's on your side.

Ryuka couldn't help but smile affectionately at Esther and say, "Miss Miller, shouldn't I thank you properly?"

"You should thank me properly, because I promised Adela I'd join their side!"

Esther's sly smile startled Ryuka for a moment, then she asked in confusion:

"Join them, you mean, become a double agent?"

Esther's eyes gleamed with excitement: "Isn't this exciting? This is far more powerful than magic! That's why I found out about their plan. Believe me, it wasn't easy!"

Esther crossed her legs, grasped her black-stockinged feet with both hands, wiggled her bottom forward on the sofa, and said mysteriously to Ryusha:

"The next time your people deliver supplies to Sochi Cathedral, they'll try to find a way to contact the people inside. As for how, you'll have to figure that out yourself. Isn't this enough help?"

"That's great!" Ryuka gave Esther a thumbs up.

Esther's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter: "That's good~ Shouldn't you thank me properly? I don't do things without a reason~"

Chapter 13 Temple Ritual

Click! A bright red stamp was affixed to a certificate. Melanie smiled and handed the document to Ryūsha, asking in an ambiguous tone:

"Estelle Miller, I heard she's a pretty young lady. No wonder you haven't been very interested in that area lately, turns out you have a new target~"

Ryuu rolled her eyes at her, annoyed, and took the document. It was a student ID from Sochi Academy. Although official enrollment hadn't started yet, Esther's small condition for helping her was that she could be admitted without taking the entrance exam and study magical technology and magic. This was a very simple matter for Ryuu, but one of Esther's additional requirements was that she also need to be eligible to live in the special dormitory built within the academy.

Within the sizable circular academy, these special dormitories boast secluded environments, advanced and comfortable facilities, and are built in the style of duplex mansions, a stark contrast to ordinary student dormitories. Naturally, this was prepared by Liu Xia for their own people. (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

For example, Melanie and Anyaberg, who hold important positions within the academy, naturally have rooms reserved for them by Ryuka, to the point that the girls jokingly call them Ryuka's 'brothel'...

Esther somehow learned of this news, and unaware of the inside story, she strongly demanded a spot. According to her, her time studying in the capital was incredibly difficult; due to her lack of magic and her family's decline, her student life was unpleasant, so she was determined to make up for it now!

In the academy, which was still unoccupied, only a few people, including Melanie, had arrived early to familiarize themselves with the grounds and their work. In the magic department's office, Melanie kicked off her icy high heels across the desk, lightly rubbing her blue stockings against Ryūka's leg, her expression unchanged as she joked with Ryūka:

"She has quite a few demands. How much did she have to offer to get our young governor to personally pull strings for her?"

The opening of Sochi Academy was met with jubilation from both nobles and commoners. Although, as a branch campus of the Imperial Military Academy, it largely followed the rules of the main campus in the capital. For example, entrance exams were free and open to the public, management was semi-closed, and even nobles were not allowed to bring servants—all practices of equality. However, there were also 'traditions' such as nobles being able to enroll by paying exorbitant tuition fees, commoners who couldn't afford tuition signing contracts with the Empire, and different treatment in dormitory conditions…

These regulations benefited the rule of the Autus royal family, but were not good for Ryukyu, since apart from the academy's properties, everything else had to comply with the capital's requirements. However, as the local tyrant, Ryukyu naturally had considerable room for maneuver…

Esther's requirements were the freedom to travel between the academy and the Miller family's territory, to get to know the governor and academy insiders, a private single dormitory room, and since she was now financially secure, she wanted to enjoy the academy atmosphere whenever she wanted. Of course, she didn't have high expectations for academic credits; even missing classes and failing to graduate wouldn't bother her. After all, she was already the de facto head of the Miller family, and this request was simply to make up for her own regrets.

"The benefit is that you'll be willing to risk your life for me in the upcoming power struggle, which is pretty worthwhile, isn't it? Besides, you know perfectly well why I've been abstaining from sex lately, yet you still won't behave yourself..."

Faced with Melanie's teasing, Ryuka seemed quite frank. Although he might have gone all out in the office in the past, now, because of Bell's matter, Ryuka could only suppress his desires, grabbing Melanie's stockinged feet, tickling the soles of her feet a few times, and then angrily shaking them off.

Melanie laughed heartily. In the past, it was always Ryuka who bullied them, but now she could bully the abstinent Ryuka. Watching the once arrogant boy get aroused by her teasing, a sense of exhilarating revenge welled up inside her.

She couldn't resist leaning over the table, letting the scent of her perfume waft into the boy's nose, and said mischievously to Ryuka, "Looks like I'll have to seize the opportunity to get my revenge on you before you get rid of that witch~"

Ryūka didn't tell Kania about the cruel witch, but she did tell Hetia, Megan, and Melanie. Hetia already knew about her abilities and had assured her of her loyalty. Megan was the second person to bring the sculpture to life, and even without a slave contract, this beautiful knight was utterly loyal to Ryūka.

And Melanie, judging from the signs, is almost there too. Moreover, as a great mage, Ryūka needs her help to search through ancient magical texts for heretical information from a thousand years ago, and also to help him build the Temple of Chloeur. After all, magic and heresy share a common origin in ancient times, and no one is more suitable for these tasks than her.

Although Kania's identity wasn't explicitly stated, Melanie had already guessed it. She also understood why Ryūka was keeping it a secret from Kania; compared to the careless Hetia and Megan, Kania was more reliable in this regard.

But the provocative behavior made Ryusha a little angry. He snorted and threatened Melanie, "If you keep doing this, I'll have Hetia punish you for me."

"No thanks, I'm not interested in that kind of 'special' atmosphere, especially that violent red-haired woman."

Melanie had no choice but to give up, even though Ryūka himself was practicing abstinence and avoided even thinking about it, he could still give an order for Hetia to 'punish' him. But for Melanie, that was far too humiliating. She obediently sat back down, letting out a sigh. It seemed she was no match for the rascal before her…

"The temple is finished, and I've already selected the personnel for you. They're mostly slaves or mixed-race heretics. Now all that's missing is you, the 'divine messenger,' to be in place. Go and find a solution as soon as possible."

Melanie said somewhat dejectedly, turning her head away and waving her hand. Her face, propped up by her arm, instantly regained its coldness. She was always like this, able to switch between openness and aloofness in a second, as if she didn't care at all that it had been a long time since she had been intimate with Ryuka.

However, seeing her resentful expression, Ryuka couldn't resist leaning over and gently kissing her cheek. This made Melanie's eyes widen instantly; she turned around, blushing and somewhat annoyed.

Ryuu chuckled mischievously. Melanie was just like that; she seemed bold and unrestrained when she was being promiscuous, but it was all a mask for her inner vulnerability and introversion. A gentle kiss, devoid of desire, or any other innocent and youthful gesture could instantly pierce through her cold and mature facade.

Before she could conjure sharp ice spikes, Ryukatsu had already slipped away from her office...

"What an annoying kid, like a succubus. I really don't know who the real heretic who controls desire is..."

Melanie cursed, her words contradicting her true feelings. Compared to the legendary cruel witch, Ryuka was more like a mischievous little devil. To be honest, Melanie wasn't that thirsty; she simply enjoyed flirting with Ryuka. Even when she had just seduced him with her feet, she hadn't really wanted him, but Ryuka's sneaky kiss had stirred something within her. Touching her cheek where Ryuka had just kissed her, Melanie sighed softly, conjuring a small Ryuka doll out of ice crystals, and then poked at the lifelike, mischievous face with her finger...

In the southwest of Sochi Territory, where it borders the Raven Ridge of the Harvey family, the young man led his men into the deep mountains under the cover of night.

The narrow cave was difficult to pass through, but after a while, it opened up into a vast, open space, like a paradise. Torches burned eternally throughout the cave. In the center of the cave was a simple temple, where a group of men, women, and children were devoutly worshipping. When they saw the boy, who was wearing a black robe and a hood that covered his face, enter, a glimmer of light appeared in their dull eyes, and they murmured "Divine Messenger" as they began to worship.

This is the Chloeur Temple, built by Melanie and her people for Ryukyu. As a heretical deity protecting slaves, prostitutes, and vagrants, Chloeur is losing popularity in Sochi. After all, Sochi is thriving now, and even though Ryukyu cannot completely eliminate inequality and poverty, more people are placing their hopes on the Governor's development policies rather than on vague and unrealistic beliefs…

Therefore, the only option for building a temple for Kuroel was to choose a location near the territory of another person. However, this did not mean that the people in front of them did not include Sochi residents; they came from various surrounding areas, including Sochi locals and Kuroel believers who had come from Raven Ridge and other places.

Looking at these pitiful people, who resembled starving ghosts and whose eyes held no light, Liu Xia felt a pang of unease. Even the slightly younger-looking women, their bodies wrapped in hemp robes, were covered in whip marks or scars from unspeakable diseases…

Nothing can save these people except for a vague faith. After all, the most famous legend about Chloe is that she guides the souls of slave prostitutes to their next life. So most of those present today are either terminally ill or hopeless, beyond the reach of any policy, even the clergy of the Holy See.

Building an ideal world is never a simple task; even Ryukatsu's original world required centuries or even millennia of development. Not to mention the individual efforts of a young boy in another world. Ryukatsu could only strive to make things look better for those around him, but he was far from achieving perfection.

So even though it might mean competing with her for the power of faith, Ryuka still decided to help Chloe build a temple, not only to obtain information from her, but also for these groups she was powerless to help.

In this dark and eerie atmosphere, a gulping sound came from behind Liuxia.

"Master... Master... isn't Chloe something scary...?"

Nemi, a maid who was always at her beck and call, also followed behind Ryusha in a long robe. She couldn't help but tug at the brim of her hood. Although dark elves were also heretics, and as a shadow guard she had seen most things in the world, she was still somewhat frightened by the scene before her.

Dark elves also have their own gods, but that name was long ago erased by the Church. The mixed-blood ancestors of families like Nemi, Zona, and the Duke, aside from inheriting some useful dark elf secret arts, had their culture and beliefs long since been lost. Therefore, this was the first time Nemi had witnessed such a large-scale heretical religious event. Although she scoffed at the Church's teachings, seeing these zombie-like believers hoarsely murmuring prayers made her teeth chatter uncontrollably.

Not only her, but this temple was bordered by Ravenhill, the stronghold of the Harvey family, on one side, and Megan's territory, the Citadel, on the other. As a location that desperately needed secrecy, Megan had come with Ryūsha today, hoping to gain some understanding of the place and better safeguard its secrets. Even the female knight, once incredibly tyrannical towards men and a veteran of countless battles, felt immensely oppressed by the scene of a thousand people praying before her.

These pitiful people, who seem to be powerless and easily blown away, are more terrifying than the heavily armed enemy soldiers on the battlefield.

"Are you scared? I only feel sorrow..."

Ryūka's lips drooped, and his face was grave as he walked toward the central temple. Along the way, the believers parted in reverence, bowing down after Ryūka passed and kissing the stone slabs he walked on, expressing their respect for the messenger of the god Chūer.

This strange behavior made Megan and Nemi feel uneasy, but Ryusha walked forward relentlessly, out of place in this eerie scene and among the crowd. He let his withered hands caress his robes, and a spotted jade arm knelt before him. He stepped onto the stairs and stopped in front of the huge statue in front of the temple.

It was a statue of a monstrous god with ram's horns, a body covered in hair, and a hideous face, passed down through generations of slaves, an image completely different from the voice of Chloe that Ryusatsu had heard.

Beneath the statue is a huge brazier; once the 'sacred fire' here is lit, the temple can establish a connection with the deity it worships. And the medium needed to light the 'sacred fire'...

A petite girl in a black robe stepped forward, carrying a heavy copper basin filled with foul-smelling blood. This was the filthy blood offered by the believers below, the blood of the weak and diseased believers gathered in this basin. The smell made Nemi gag, and Megan, with her even more acute sense of smell, desperately used her battle aura to resist it.

Only Ryūka remained unfazed. He looked at the girl holding the heavy copper basin. Her slender arms did not tremble at all. The face under the long robe and hood surprised him, yet it made perfect sense.

"Sasha."

The girl whose name was called by Ryuga smiled slightly. This girl, whom Ryuga had helped at the cemetery and who had later been sent to Linhu Town to live with other freed slaves, looked at Ryuga with reverence and bowed her head slightly in respect.

“My Lord, you are not lying to me.”

The governor of Sochi province was Chloe's messenger, a secret she had never told anyone. She always remembered the kindness of Ruka in helping her bury her mother and guiding her spirit. For this girl, barely a teenager who had been a slave since she could remember, Ruka's worldly status was far less profound than her role as Chloe's messenger.

Seeing how much healthier she looked over the past year, Ryusha smiled, a rare occurrence for her. She hadn't expected Melanie to choose Sasha for her; it seemed her words about the temple's staff being highly reliable weren't unfounded.

He took the copper basin from Sasha's hands and used the power of the messenger of Chloe. In an instant, he felt countless sighs coming from the cave. Ryusha could even see the tragic lives of each believer below through this basin of blood. This was probably the power of Chloe to distinguish believers.

Magic ignited flames, and the copper basin and filthy blood were thrown into the brazier in front of the statue. Green holy fire ignited, and amidst a cloud of smoke and Ryusha's chanting, the statue's eyes gradually brightened.

Amidst the weeping prayers of believers, the heretical deity, dormant for nearly a thousand years, re-established its connection with the mortal world with the help of a young boy…

"Come on, do your job, and then tell me about what happened a thousand years ago..."

As Ryūka watched the statue of Chloe light up, amidst the prayers of the worshippers, she walked around the statue and pushed open the temple doors…

Chapter 14 Chloe's Memories

Outside the temple, the worshippers prostrated themselves in prayer. As the sacred fire was lit, those who had offered their blood felt a profound connection in their hearts. The legend that had been passed down for centuries had finally become a reality. Although this could not change their current situation, at least Kuroel had eased their fear of death and promised to guide their souls, giving these marginalized individuals, who were not even allowed to worship at the Church, some psychological comfort.

Inside the temple, there is also a statue of Chloe, but unlike the outside, the interior of the temple will be the place where the future clergy will work and live, so there are also tables, chairs and a ritual platform.

But at this moment, only Ryūka was there. The moment he entered, his connection to his own territory was severed. It seemed that, in terms of the laws, this place had become Chūer's domain. In a daze, the light and shadow of the curtain shifted, and when Ryūka opened his eyes again, he had reappeared in another space.

It was still the same dilapidated hall, but now there was some spiritual light dancing around, slowly gathering behind the curtain.

"Thank you, now I can fulfill my duties again."

Kuroel's voice, which sounded like a little imp, rang out, but with a touch more peace and majesty. Her voice echoed in the empty temple, carrying a faint sense of pressure.

“With the temple providing us with strength, we can reorganize the religious order, so that we can not only guide the souls of believers after they die, but also send people to provide them with healing and comfort during their lifetime, so that they will not suffer throughout their lives.”

Liu Xia curled her lips and asked curiously, "Couldn't it be something like leading them to overthrow the slave owners? Wouldn't that be more straightforward?"

After a moment of silence, Chloe said softly to Ryuka, "Gods cannot interfere too much in the mortal world. They can only act within the scope of their authority, otherwise they will suffer severe consequences. This is the law of the world."

“It sounds like God isn’t so free.” Ryusha shrugged. “What about the Vatican? They certainly do a lot of things recklessly.”

"So their goddess must have suffered many unknown consequences, and perhaps she has lost contact with her believers."

"I wish that were true," Ryūka thought to himself. Then, he said seriously to Chloe:

"I have done what I promised you, and now I have many questions to ask you."

It concerns matters concerning gods, witches, and the proof of leadership.

"I understand. Come closer to me. My current power is not enough for me to speak freely. My name and deeds contain the presence of power, and I cannot easily provoke other gods. But I can do it in another way..."

The curtains above the main hall slowly parted, revealing a petite girl seated atop the altar amidst swirling spiritual light. Though her body was somewhat translucent, radiating an unreal glow, Ryuka finally understood what she meant by her appearance being rather cute in human eyes…

Like a petite bride in a gray-black wedding dress... Ryuka couldn't help but think that.

Kurowell wore a black, transparent veil, and her short black hair reached her neck, looking fluffy and soft. Two pairs of huge ram horns were coiled on either side of her. Her dignified face did not match her delicate voice; instead, it carried a hint of mystery and tranquility.

Her black and gold eyes had strangely patterned pupils that were so deep they seemed to suck in one's soul. Her luminous, fair skin was unreal, like that of a toy doll, and above her slender neck was a tightly fitted collar that clung to her skin. This outfit, which to Ryuuka seemed to be a fusion of East and West—whether a robe or a formal dress—was dignified and conservative, completely unlike the style of Chloe, this heretical deity.

The greyish-black robe, adorned with stars and floral patterns, clung tightly to the girl's body. The wide sleeves rested neatly above her knees, while the long hem concealed Chloe's legs, even making Ryuka wonder if there was something beneath the robe.

This was completely different from what Ryūka had imagined. Under his scrutiny, Chloe tilted her head slightly and smiled like a doll, asking:

"What? You think we'll be more furry, or more like the sculptures outside?"

Ryuka couldn't help but grin: "Maybe it'll be more lively... or a bit more sultry? After all, your voice sounds like a little devil, ah, a little devil is..."

"I understand what you mean, but I'm sorry, I'm sorry to have misled you."

"I wouldn't say I'm sorry; it's more like a pleasant surprise." Looking at Chloe, who seemed like an obedient girl, with a mischievous smile, Ryuka suddenly lost the desire to tease her. To a deity, her jokes were like a child's nonsense in front of an adult. The fact that she not only wasn't angry but also accepted it with a smile left Ryuka with a strange sense of defeat.

Ryūka took a few steps forward, getting closer to Chloe. Their eyes met. At that moment, Chloe raised an arm, revealing a small hand wearing a middle finger glove from her wide sleeve, and said to Ryūka: