Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

Clovis asked, raising an eyebrow, almost without hesitation, "What do you need me to do?"

Seeing his eager expression, even Ryuka was somewhat surprised. It seemed that the rift between the brothers was greater than he had imagined.

However, before fully understanding Elias and Adela's detailed plans, Ryūka didn't know how to counter them. Forming an alliance with Clovis would only provide additional protection, since in terms of status and power, only another prince could rival a prince.

After hearing Ryuka's idea, Clovis frowned in displeasure: "You mean you want to wait for more information before you know what to do? Ryuka, you weren't this indecisive when you were facing me..."

Faced with Clovis's sarcasm, Ryusha shrugged: "This is different. This time, the Vatican is also involved, so there are more things to consider."

This made Clovis feel a little better; otherwise, it seemed that in Ryuga's words, his threat was less than that of his brother, Elias. But Ryuga's words also made him feel a sense of challenge:

"The Vatican...that is indeed a rather sensitive issue..."

But to his surprise, after sensing his concerns, Ryuka laughed happily: "Things are different now..."

"What's different?" Clovis felt a hint of annoyance at Ryusha's smile. "Don't underestimate the Papacy. You should know that we, Otus, have dominated the world for three hundred years, yet we've never unified. Why is that? Even though we occupy more than half the world's territory, those surrounding small countries have always maintained their independence with the Papacy's covert help. Even the empire itself isn't as united and stable as it used to be. For a thousand years, dynasties have risen and fallen, but only their holy city has remained standing..."

If Ryūka underestimates his opponent so much, even when it comes to dealing with Ilias, Clovis is reluctant to get involved.

He added as a final remark: "Don't think that just because you've bribed Randall in the capital, you can keep everything under control with the Papacy. Even I know how much he's been taking from you lately, not to mention Elias in the capital. My dear brother won't overlook these things. If he joins forces with the Papacy, then the forces they've sent this time will definitely exceed Randall's control. After all, I've heard that your Sochi Bishop, Sinatil, is Carmela's protégé, and she's the strongest contender for the next Pope!"

“Of course I will not forget that, Your Highness Clovis…”

Seeing Clovis's serious expression yet still earnestly admonishing her, Ryuka couldn't help but suppress a laugh, and then asked Clovis a question that made him think deeply.

"But Your Highness, have you considered that I, a mere newly appointed governor and a child who is not yet an adult, could possibly win over the Archbishop of the Ottus Diocese with just some gold and silver treasures and rare and exquisite magical artifacts?"

This question did indeed seem a bit unreasonable to Clovis. Someone who had reached Randall's position wouldn't help Ryūsha against his colleagues in the Holy See for mere worldly gains. Even if Hinatil and her group were Randall's adversaries, this reason seemed far-fetched. But Clovis still didn't understand what Ryūsha was implying, and simply said stubbornly, "Of course I know that. Money alone probably isn't enough; my sister has likely helped you with a lot of things..."

Tipalotura did indeed play a role. But what Ruka said next made Clovis realize something...

“Don’t forget, Your Highness. I haven’t hidden anything from the capital about what I did in Sochi Province… Prince Hypnos can attest to that…”

That's obviously nonsense. After all, things like helping Chloe build the temple, Kania's witch identity, and her own secrets and ambitions are things Ryukatsu can't reveal. But everyone in Sochi knows about the siege of Sochi Cathedral, even the blind man. So Prince Hypnos must also know...

After Ryusha's reminder, Clovis said with slight surprise:

"You mean... Father Emperor..."

Indeed, Prince Hypnos knew, which meant that his father, Emperor Ottus, must have known as well. Yet, the emperor made no comment…

The silence implies tacit consent...

Could it be Randall?

"Your Highness, do you think that Archbishop Randall, a clergyman who is not from the Holy City, was able to sit in the position of Archbishop of Otus because of his outstanding personal abilities or his devout faith?"

Ryūka's words left the forty-year-old prince speechless. He quickly fell silent in thought, and finally gave a bitter smile:

"I always thought I could never become a monarch like my father, but even if I were to sit on the throne, I wouldn't be too far off... After all, his ideas seemed too naive to me. But, heh heh..."

Clovis laughed. While he was pondering whether to unite with or oppose the feudal lords, his father, the Emperor, had already laid out his plans regarding the Papacy. Judging from Liuxia's words, it was likely this very Emperor who had placed Randall in his current position; while the Papacy was infiltrating the Empire, the Empire was also interfering with and influencing the Papacy…

Therefore, it's not surprising that Ryūsha was able to so easily win over Randall and get him to help with the Sochi Vatican affairs.

It seems that his father, the emperor, not only wants to make changes to the secular aristocratic system, but also wants to alter the relationship with the Papacy.

Thinking of this, Clovis, who had always considered competing with other royal heirs, especially Elias, as his life's purpose, suddenly felt somewhat frustrated and heavy-hearted. He leaned back in his chair, finally looking quietly at Ryūka, and asked:

"Then how did you know all this? Was it intelligence? Did Tipalotura tell you? Or..."

His tone gradually darkened, tinged with a hint of resentful doubt:

"You're that smart? You can see through things that even Elias couldn't?"

Clovis looked at the sixteen-year-old boy before him, who might soon be seventeen. He couldn't believe that someone could possess such abilities at such a young age. Personal strength could be explained by talent in cultivation, but this insight into power struggles... Clovis felt nothing but terror!

His father might still have use for Ryūka, which is why he didn't harm him. But Ryūka was so young; if Clovis hadn't been childless, Ryūka would already be his son's age. To possess such ambition and strength at such a young age, Clovis suddenly felt that Ryūka posed a greater threat to the empire than his shrewd and calculating younger brother!

Ryūka could clearly sense Clovis's wary and guarded state. Not only the third prince, but even the seemingly amiable Prince Hypnos looked at him with a hint of scrutiny and suspicion. There was no way around it; Ryūka knew he had displayed far too much beyond his years, but he had no choice…

Life is like rowing against the current; you either brave the wind and waves or drift with the tide. He could accumulate strength and unleash it later, but Kania couldn't wait that long. Not only Kania, but Hetia and Hefren followed him precisely because of his displayed brilliance and strength. The existence of the Leader's Certificate is based on commanding obedience and faith. If Ryūka wants to become stronger, he must become a dazzling presence before the world, even if it carries extremely high risks…

Besides, he didn't want to wait until he was old to finally show his talent. Liu Xia pouted. With his youthful spirit, he longed for glory, legend, challenge, and the impossible rather than a steady, methodical approach to victory.

As for how to convince Clovis, Ryūka felt a little troubled. He was indeed quick-witted and meticulous. But he also knew that this was inseparable from the mental strength boost given to him by the Leader's Certificate, which allowed him to maintain high efficiency and composure in complex thinking and deduction. Otherwise, it would be like continuously solving difficult problems; there would always be times when his mind would become muddled and his thinking speed would slow down.

More importantly, the historical stories he heard in the past world since he could remember, the dramatic power struggles and meticulously crafted dramas, the familiar stories of separatism, alliances, schemes and betrayals in another world... gave him the ability to associate and deduce the current situation. Coupled with the excellent intelligence around him, this allowed Ryuka to reveal all of this.

But you can't tell Clovie any of this!

After a moment of silence, Ryūka slowly spoke to Clovis:

"Earl Duke gave me a lot of advice..."

“Earl Duke? Ronald Duke?” Clovis raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t seem particularly surprised. “That old fox is still alive. Where did you hide them?”

"That's all I can tell you, Your Highness. After all, the Earl was my mentor..."

"A talent scout?"

"Uh... I meant tutor, you misheard me..."

Ryuga felt no remorse whatsoever for betraying his teammate. Taking over Sochi was indeed a great opportunity and a chance for advancement, but it was also a troublesome mess. While using Earl Duke as a scapegoat carried some risk, Ryuga couldn't think of a better solution.

After all, anyone with common sense would know exactly what he was planning to do against the Duke family. Now that the die is cast, revealing his weaknesses and vulnerabilities might actually protect him.

After all, anyone with common sense would know exactly what he was planning to do against the Duke family. Now that the die is cast, revealing his weaknesses and vulnerabilities might actually protect him.

"Is that so... Liu Xiaqing, you really are a big liar~ You told the whole world a huge lie, but no one will expose you..."

Clovis crossed his legs, arms folded across his chest, and looked at the young man before him. Ryūka's admission that Count Duke was still alive was undoubtedly a handle against him, as it could potentially ruin Ryūka's chances of becoming the Governor of Sochi.

Of course, legal principles are just legal principles, and claims are just claims. In all disputes, each opposing side has its own legal basis. If Clovis wants to use this to control Ryukyu, he'll have to find the living members of the Duke family first…

Seeing Clovis's body gradually shift from defensive to comfortable, Ryuga understood that he had accepted his explanation, temporarily... and in order to further gain the prince's cooperation in the future against Elias, Adela, and the Papacy, he needed to win Clovis over further.

"Then Your Highness, you are willing to help me. With this opportunity, you can not only restore your prestige among the northern nobles who have been won over by Prince Elias, but also reap considerable benefits... By striking a blow against the merchant alliance that tries to please both sides, you can also take control of their trade in the North, especially their smuggling trade with the barbarians. You can talk to Lord Weston about this, which will also improve your current financial situation."

Ryūka's words truly resonated with Clovis. After all, no one acts without self-interest, and his brother Elias's defeated expression wasn't enough to make him go through fire and water for Ryūka... You Mei, I have something to say, but Lin Zai, what about you...?

What Liuxia said next piqued his interest even more.

"Isn't it even more important to make His Majesty the Emperor understand which of his sons will follow his wishes and help him fight against the Papacy's interference in the Empire, rather than secretly colluding with the Papacy...?"

Chapter 41 One side ends, the other begins

Ryusha is right. What the Papacy and the nobles think is not important to Clovis now; what matters is his father's opinion.

Especially since he had just experienced a defeat.

……

Just as Ryusha and Clovis had predicted, Ilias's expression turned so grave when he realized this.

Even if his underhanded actions were discovered, it wouldn't be a big deal, since no one could shake the fourth prince's image as a good person in the capital. But things would change when his always unpopular older brother, Clovis, suddenly had an epiphany. The two brothers both saw each other as their biggest rivals. Unlike Clovis, who had the backing of the Payne family and enjoyed vast territories and noble support, Elias always valued 'personnel' and his image as a 'good son' in front of the emperor more.

Now, looking at Clovis's ambiguous smile in the crystal ball, Elias wanted nothing more than to grab him, punch him a few times, and spit on him.

But that was just a fantasy. He could only grit his teeth and force a smile, feigning brotherly affection as he tentatively smiled at Clovis.

“Brother Clovis, what happened to you in Sochi was truly unfortunate, but thankfully you seem to be alright. As for why the Vatican did this, I believe there must be a reason. Don't worry, I will investigate thoroughly for you… Where is Lord Ryukya? He is the governor of Sochi, and such a thing happened on his territory, so he must also bear some responsibility, right? I really must question this young man properly on behalf of Tipalotura! But why haven't I seen him?”

Elias spoke casually, but his threat revealed a weakness, which pleased Clovis even more. He didn't care about Elias's feigned ignorance and counter-accusation, because Clovis knew that as long as he took the initiative, his brother would yield to appease him.

"Lord Liu Xia~ He's still considering how much ransom to demand from the Harvey family. It's unfortunate that Joe Harvey is also involved in these matters, not only that, but also in the heinous act of joining forces with the Chamber of Commerce to try to undermine the development of the Sochi Province. You know, Father Emperor values ​​the economic prosperity under the provincial system very much. But I believe that Joe Harvey's actions are definitely arbitrary and have nothing to do with you, right, Elias?"

Elias's pupils contracted: "Father values... Brother Clovis highly, where did you get that idea?"

He had been at the heart of Otus all along, so it was impossible for him not to know about the developments in the Sochi province over the past three months. But after all, the time was short and Sochi was very far away, so it wasn't a big topic of conversation in the capital. People gradually lost interest in the news that Liu Xia had become the governor of Sochi three months ago, and at most, there were only a few rumors circulating, such as a small group of noble ladies forming some kind of small fan club.

As for political matters, there has been no discussion about Sochi recently, and there is no sign of any developments.

"Well, perhaps you should ask Uncle Hypnos. He came to Sochi Province half a month ago to assess and verify Liu Xiaqing's achievements."

Clovis's unwavering confidence convinced Elias that his father had been secretly monitoring Sochi all along, without his knowledge. This simple statement immediately deterred Elias from further negotiation. He maintained a calm facade while inwardly considering what leverage he could use to silence Clovis.

Elias thought he knew his father inside and out and could play the role of a qualified successor in front of him, but he did not expect that the emperor still had a hidden side. It seems that the old fox is still the most cunning... Losing to Clovis and Ryusha was something Elias's pride could not accept, but if he lost to his own father, the great emperor of Ottus, Elias would take it as a lesson learned.

"This is truly shocking. A young man like Liu Xiaqing shouldn't have to suffer like this, and of course, there's the misfortune that befell you, my dear brother. Is there anything I can do to help? Please don't hesitate to ask... As for the Harvey family and the Vatican, Brother Clovis, I wonder if you could do me the honor of entrusting this matter to me? I will definitely hold them accountable on your behalf."

Clovis was delighted to hear Elias's quick surrender. He didn't think this incident would change his father's opinion of the two men, given the lack of concrete evidence. However, he believed Prince Hypnos would reveal some of the truth to the emperor, so now was the time to claim his tangible benefits.

“Oh, my dear brother, Joe Harvey is ‘your man,’ so of course as his older brother, I know I should give you face. Liu Xiaqing thinks so too…”

Clovis, in a seemingly reasonable tone, suddenly changed the subject.

"However, there are indeed some small favors you could do for us in the capital..."

"A small favor?" Seeing Clovis's eagerness to ask for an exorbitant amount, Elias could only grit his teeth and nod.

"You said, as long as it's within my power..." (The rest of the text appears to be a series of unrelated phrases and sentences, possibly from different sources.)

“First, there’s the Vatican. I know you have a good relationship with them. This matter is so sensitive that bringing it to the forefront wouldn’t be good for either Otus or the Vatican, so Archbishop Carmela’s people here probably can’t stay. But I believe you can turn it into a ‘small accident’ in the Holy City, right?”

Clovis's condition was clearly a substitute for Lushatti's. An ordinary clergyman in a local cathedral might not care so much, but the whereabouts of ten Inquisition Knights and a bishop were no small matter. Not to mention that Sinatil was Carmela's disciple; to let this go unpunished would be too humiliating. But Elias understood that if Carmela held onto this matter, he would be in trouble in Otus. Therefore, Elias had to appease the emotions there, no matter what…

"Can……"

Elias uttered those two words with considerable difficulty, revealing that for him, getting the Papacy to drop the matter was no easy feat. However, what he would have to pay for this was not Clovis's concern, so he cheerfully presented his second condition.

"In addition, my father happens to want me to promote the provincial system in the North, which will inevitably require some nobles to pay the price. But I don't know where to start. Fortunately, some nobles have wavered in their loyalty to me after my last failure. Can you help me find them?"

Find them? Elias sneered inwardly. Clovis was referring to those Northern nobles who had turned to him after his defeat. Only a small portion were in Sochi province, but many in Clovis's stronghold harbored similar ambitions, merely maintaining goodwill towards both sides.

While Clovis's suggestion that Elias betray the nobles who wanted to pledge allegiance to him brought Elias a sense of relief, it was more plausible that he could openly justify himself if these people unfortunately became victims of the emperor's new policies. But if Clovis was demanding that he openly betray them, who would dare to pledge allegiance to him, the fourth prince, in the future?

"Understood, Brother Clovis. I will select a suitable region and compile a list for you."

“That would be wonderful. It would be best if we had their detailed evidence. I don’t want to hurt my own people…” Clovis smiled with satisfaction.

Are there any other requirements?

Elias's face was grim; the price he would have to pay this time was far too high. But as a ruler, even such a defeat required him to force himself to accept it calmly. As the fourth prince of Otus, he had to maintain that composure.

"There shouldn't be any more... Oh, by the way, regarding the royal representative that Sochi Academy is sending, please put in a good word for Minister Liu Xia." Clovis shrugged.

“No problem.” One condition after another made Elias's face turn ashen. He even laughed in exasperation, coldly asking Clovis:

"Nothing else? Didn't you say that the development of the Sochi province was also encountering problems? Does Liu Xiaqing have nothing else she needs my help with?"

“My brother need not worry about that.” Upon hearing this, Clovis gave a meaningful look. “I believe that Lord Ryu is working hard on this, and he is absolutely capable of doing it.”

After all, Ryūka, who had triumphed in this battle, couldn't possibly be unable to handle a young lady from a merchant guild...

When Ryuga entered the dungeon of Sochi Castle, it was already the next day. Cleaning up the mess at Sochi Cathedral and temporarily calming the market and public sentiment had taken a toll on him, and now that he had some free time, Ryuga finally had time to deal with Adela.

The situation with the Vatican is relatively easy to handle, since Lindsay already has a well-established and operational church system. All that's needed is to announce that the Sochi College is completed and the temporary church will be merged with the Sochi Cathedral.

The avenue that runs through half of Sochi College and leads to Sochi Cathedral will also be opened to the public. Although this will create a gap in the Sochi College campus, it will allow the Papacy to maintain firm control over its influence in the Sochi province, and the ancient buildings of Sochi Cathedral can be gradually incorporated into Sochi College later.

However, the situation in the market is not optimistic. Although Liuxia has sent troops to maintain order and prohibit all debt collection activities, this is not a long-term solution.

Haifulian and the others scoffed, saying, "Those nobles deserved to be greedy." They advocated that Ryukyu use violence to force them to relinquish these debts, since might makes right.

Kira and Esther, however, argued that doing so might provoke the nobles, and Sochi couldn't afford any more trouble. Some nobles had foolishly invested vast sums of money, and asking them to give it all up would be tantamount to bankrupting them. Once they were driven to desperation, who knew what they might do? Esther, who had once been so poor she stole silver cutlery at a banquet, understood this all too well. More importantly, they couldn't overestimate human nature. If the nobles' greed was a crime, those who had taken risks and incurred debt couldn't be entirely blameless either; they didn't want Ryusha to bear such a heavy burden of infamy for them.

Not to mention, verifying the authenticity of these massive debt disputes is also a troublesome matter. Because the timing and scope of Adela and her team's operation are uncertain, it's difficult to determine which are malicious loans involved in this conspiracy and which are legitimate market transactions. Furthermore, it's highly likely that some borrowers are lying for profit, deliberately shirking their legitimate debts.

Ultimately, at the suggestion of Kania and Hetia, and through the allure of physics, Ryūsha forced the nobles and moneylenders to grit their teeth in front of the army, announcing that they would waive interest and only recover the principal, while also giving them some breathing room.

But this is only temporary. To solve this problem, one is to sell the overproduced goods in Sochi in a reasonable way so that these workshops can recoup their costs, and the other is to find out from Adela where she has hidden the money she has squeezed out.

With a cold expression, Ryuka walked into the dungeon. The renovated place was no longer as dark and damp as before, but more like a modern prison. Not only were the facilities complete, but the guards were also well-equipped, with layers upon layers of reliable personnel from Ryuka's subordinates, and the privacy was also excellent.

Hayden's cell was also here, but Ryuga wasn't here to see him today. Walking straight past the more respectable public cells, Ryuga prepared to head deeper into the underground area, which didn't exist in the open.

Just as they were passing by the cell next to Hayden's, Yurina, who was temporarily imprisoned there, suddenly called out to Ryusha through the cell door.

"Is...is this the Governor..."

Although Julian and Yurina surrendered during the battle, and Ryuka promised them they could stay away from these conflicts afterward, he still intended to keep them here for now. Even if they were released later, they would remain under his control, given that they knew far too much.

Julian was imprisoned with his former master, Hayden, so a single bed was squeezed into Hayden's cramped room. Hayden was still incredibly happy, as he now had someone to keep him company. He even refused the idea of ​​moving them to a larger room; Hayden explained that it would be too crowded for two people, while Julian wanted to be closer to his sister's solitary cell. Julian's room was across the corridor. Both rooms, though small, were decent, even better than most inns thanks to the use of new building materials and magical lighting. Their food was also quite good, and with permission, they could obtain books and other things for entertainment. The guards were also allowed to speak with Julian and her brother across the cell and corridor for a period each day.

After hearing Yurina call her name, Ryuka gestured with her eyes for the guards in the corridor to leave, and then opened the narrow viewing window on the cell door.

The moment Yurina saw Ryūka's eyes, she hastily stepped back from the doorway, revealing the neatly arranged room inside. The bed was perfectly made, the blankets untouched. In fact, they hadn't been moved. Yurina hadn't rested since being imprisoned here, remaining seated in a daze, after all, she had betrayed Adela herself. Although Adela wasn't exactly a good master, in Yurina's mind, what she had done was unforgivable…

"You didn't eat, is it because you didn't like the food?"

Ryūka glanced at the tray the guard had brought in; it, too, looked untouched. Yūrina, on the other hand, had dark circles under her eyes, and her red, swollen eyes, clearly from crying many times, made her look rather pitiful.

"No, no..." Yurina was at a loss for words when Ruka said this. To her, it sounded like an interrogation, questioning whether she was still attached to Adela and unrepentant. This made Yurina extremely nervous, but she still mustered her courage and asked, "Governor, are you going to see Miss Adela?"