Volume 1 Chapter 534

Chapter 534: You Must Be That Great Person!

Guomu Town does not boast inns as prestigious as those in Magic Forest.

Even the finest accommodation in town costs merely a silver coin per night.

Yet, Lolth chose to stay here.

Primarily because of the stable, ensuring her horse wouldn’t wander off.

However, there was a slight issue…

This inn—or rather, all inns in Guomu Town—offered only one type of room.

A double room.

Lolth initially intended to book two rooms, recalling the awkwardness of her last shared room experience with Yi.

But Dorothy firmly declined, insisting, "How could I let the teacher bear the extra expense?"

Seeing her disciple’s strong opposition, Lolth had no choice but to concede.

"She’s probably afraid of being alone at night…"

Lolth empathized with Dorothy’s situation and understood her feelings.

A young girl suffering from amnesia, with a fragile spirit, could only rely on and trust her teacher.

Although staying in an adjacent room would still ensure Dorothy’s safety, the emotional comfort for her would be entirely different!

Lolth decided it was best to consider her disciple’s emotional well-being.

Thus, the two naturally ended up sharing the same room.

However, as Lolth sat on the bed, meditating with her eyes closed, she noticed Dorothy occasionally glancing at her from the corner of the room, offering a faint smile, which made Lolth feel somewhat uneasy…

It seemed as though Dorothy had another motive for wanting to share the room.

"I must be overthinking; what ulterior motives could Dorothy possibly have…"

Lolth shook her head, feeling a twinge of guilt for doubting her disciple.

While meditating here, Lolth wasn’t merely resting.

She was subtly adjusting her "aura."

This was her first venture into the main territory of The Church of Light, and Lolth wasn’t entirely confident she could deceive them.

Although her disguise had fooled most, and her act was convincing, it was, after all, the Church of Light.

Her Holy Light powers weren’t derived from faith nor obtained through official church rites. If the Church of Light had any unique methods to verify identities or advanced investigative techniques, it could easily expose her.

Lolth wasn’t afraid of trouble in such matters, knowing that being discovered would bring real complications.

Especially after being outmaneuvered by the Ailuo race in the Ruins of Sand, Lolth was even more cautious.

In the ruins, there was still room for negotiation if her identity was uncovered by the mercenaries, but being identified as a succubus in the Church of Light’s domain…

Lolth imagined she would be thoroughly roasted, both inside and out.

Therefore, Lolth needed to transform her soul and magic to truly resemble a devout follower and priest of the Church of Light.

First and foremost, she had to conceal her racial traits impeccably.

Secondly, the aura of the abyss must not be exposed at all.

After that, the use of other magical powers must also be concealed—although it is not as severe as being discovered as a succubus, practicing powers beyond the Holy Light is indeed a crime that the Church cannot tolerate for its members.

The Church of Light is exceedingly strict with its internal Superoperators.

Of course, today’s encounter made Lolth realize that if you are a noble of the Holy Empire, the demands might be somewhat more lenient.

However, this might also be the reason those individuals do not possess very profound abilities.

The Church of Light has no intention of regulating their actions, which clearly indicates they do not consider them as part of their own.

Naturally, they would not grant them very powerful abilities and skills.

Of course, Lolth does not yet know what attitude the upcoming bishop will have and what kind of character he will be.

But from her brief encounter with the Lady of Light, Lolth feels that… based on the Holy Maiden’s views and actions toward the Church, even those clergy who are considered "one of their own" might not be so optimistic.

"I hope that the one who comes is a person with a decent character."

Lolth sighed and said.

Even though she spoke harshly to those two oblivious nobles, for Lolth, if that bishop really felt slighted and wanted to confront her…

Even though she could withstand attacks from a first-level legendary or epic expert, it would be easy for her to slip up.

Moreover, there was also Dorothy… She could only hope that this little girl had absorbed the Holy Light power from the Rod of Eden, so she would not be affected by even the legendary level Holy Light fluctuations.

Time slowly passed, and as dusk turned into night, the sun completely disappeared below the horizon, and the evening glow outside changed from orange-red to dark blue, as if the sun was slowly extinguishing.

Lolth finally opened her eyes.

"Dorothy, we have a visitor."

She said softly, and the little girl in the corner, who had been resting her chin on her hand and watching Lolth close her eyes, immediately stood up.

"Yes, teacher."

The little girl ran quickly and arrived at the door of the inn room, gently opening the door.

She opened the wooden door halfway and saw two huge, fat figures standing behind her.

"Oh… it’s the two people who were knocked away by the teacher during the day."

Dorothy showed a curious expression.

Behind the two figures appeared a middle-aged man wearing a white crown and a simple white robe, with "Holy Lightannulus" printed on his chest and head.

His face was square and looked very honest as he stepped slowly out from behind the two nobles.

The waves of Holy Light around him were gentle, upright, and steady; even close to Dorothy, the little girl felt no threat at all.

"Teacher… so you are the disciple of the one who made a move during the day, right?"

Dorothy looked at the middle-aged man and guessed that he was indeed a significant person, even though his aura was very calm and gentle, she still couldn’t help but take a step back.

But then, she thought of Teacher Lolth being in the room, so she stopped and nodded.

"Yes, the teacher is in the room."

Dorothy whispered softly and stepped to the side.

"Are you here to find the teacher, sir?"

The bishop nodded gently, and Dorothy hesitated for a moment before turning to lead him into the room.

The two nobles remained at the door, choosing not to follow.

Despite the inn being relatively upscale, the room was modest in size; it was merely a couple of steps from the door to the bed.

Soon, the bishop’s gaze fell upon Lolth, who was seated cross-legged on the bed, a plain pastor’s staff resting before her.

Lolth opened her eyes and regarded the unfamiliar bishop.

She was momentarily at a loss on how to handle the situation.

Clad in the robes of an envoy priest and possessing only Elite Level power, she knew she ought to show some respect.

Yet, she had lost her temper during the earlier altercation, and if the nobles relayed her words truthfully, her current deference would starkly contrast with her previous demeanor.

Thus, Lolth pondered whether to present herself as an equal or to adopt a more haughty stance.

After all, the higher one’s position, the more challenging it becomes to feign—not that Lolth was unaware of the expected conduct of high-ranking members of The Church of Light, but primarily because…

The higher the rank, the fewer the individuals.

Her ordinary priest attire immediately ruled out the Paladins and the troubled cultivators.

Throughout history, the number of Cardinals could be counted on one hand, with three steadfast Privy Bishops, one Pope, and one Holy Maiden…

Who could this attire possibly suit!

The age and gender were a perfect match; it had to be the Lady of Light, but…

She had ensnared Lolth herself!

Lolth’s mind raced as she feigned a mysterious gaze upon the bishop.

Three seconds elapsed, and Lolth still hadn’t devised a suitable plan.

However, directly across from her…

The bishop abruptly knelt before Lolth.

"Lord Director, I confess everything. I returned of my own accord, intending to choose between the Empire’s Sixth Prince and Eighth Prince to support, to secure my position."

"But I truly did not tarnish the Lord’s glory in South Sotua… Those two fools sought me out on their own."

"I absolutely, absolutely harbor no desire to covet the position of pope."

"Over the years, I have not levied extra taxes in South Sotua, nor have I neglected the dissemination of our teachings…"

"Lord Director… please grant me clemency this once."

He spoke to Lolth with a heavy heart and sincerity.

Sitting on the bed, Lolth wore a bewildered expression, still unprepared with her words.

"Huh—?"

What is a director…?

Lolth swiftly reviewed the entire hierarchy of The Church of Light in her mind; it was something that could instill such fear in a bishop…

No, no other conditions were necessary; the title ‘Lord Director’ was as singular and significant in The Church of Light as the title ‘Pope’.

The leader of the "Heretic Tribunal," specifically tasked with hunting heretics and purging traitors, commanding the "Judicial Priests," who were considered The Church of Light’s special forces, and wielding the authority to "judge" the knightly order, even enjoying the Pope’s authority in special circumstances to issue commands to the struggling cultivators.

Only those with unwavering faith, formidable strength, and an iron will can ascend to that position.

History has witnessed instances where the director of the Heretic Tribunal personally executed bishops of the Privy Council and cardinals.

Purifying from within and expelling outsiders, such is the nature of the Heretic Tribunal.

Mysterious, powerful, and ruthless.

This is the initial impression the outside world holds of this organization.

Theoretically, if The Church of Light were to engage in full-scale war with the Abyssal Demon, it would fall upon the Heretic Tribunal to eliminate figures like the "demon race Chief Consultant," who appears to be both a chief of staff and the head of the "Interrogation Department," an intelligence agency.

Thus, when Lolth heard this title, she could not help but express her astonishment.

And as Lolth’s question lingered, the bishop’s face turned even paler, his body trembling, rendering him speechless.

It’s understandable to consider the Heretic Tribunal as a fusion of the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei, with the bishop being akin to a local high-ranking official, roughly of the third or fourth rank.

The Church of Light and the Holy Empire are both navigating through turbulent times of power transition.

This scenario is akin to a governor preparing to return to the capital for a report while also scheming to form a faction for personal gain; before even reaching Hebei, he learns from his subordinate at the Luoyang station that the director of the Eastern Bureau intends to meet him, awaiting in the inn ahead.

Oh, and by the way, this director is also the foremost expert within the court.

Someone with a less robust psyche might have considered ending their life right then and there.

The fact that this bishop could still muster the strength to finish his words is a testament to his mental fortitude.

However, Lolth’s question was undoubtedly the final blow to his crumbling defenses.

The bishop nervously removed his white crown and set it beside him, slowly bowing down.

"Lord Director… I… I… I truly have nothing more to confess…"

"My faith is profoundly sincere; I have never brought disgrace upon the Lord… All my actions are aimed at spreading the Lord’s glory further."

Observing the bishop’s trembling form, the two nobles outside the door were so terrified that they could barely hold onto the doorframe.

Their corpulent bodies seemed on the verge of melting, nearly collapsing to the ground.

As nobles of the Holy Empire, they were well aware of the Heretic Tribunal’s reputation.

They even contemplated ordering their subordinates to attack the director of the Heretic Tribunal…

The two of them were so frightened that they almost felt like laughing.

Forget about a mere viscount; even the chancellor, a prince, or the king of the Holy Lieto Empire himself would likely be too intimidated to allow their subordinates to approach upon seeing the Director of the Heretic Tribunal!

Numerous princes and high officials have met their end at the Heretic Tribunal, burned alive. Although there is no emperor now, everyone understands… that if necessary, one could be appointed.

Witnessing the trio’s petrified state, Dorothy stood behind her teacher, her expression growing even more fervent.

She had initially thought a "big shot" had arrived, but to her surprise, her teacher did nothing and yet managed to terrify them so!

Indeed… the teacher is extraordinary!

Moreover, the Heretic Tribunal is not only immensely powerful but also appears to be a cold and merciless organization.

Inevitably, Dorothy recalled the teacher’s gentleness during their journey and the teacher’s bashfulness in the tent.

Dorothy bit her lower lip, feeling her heartbeat intensify.

However, Lolth remained oblivious to Dorothy’s ardent gaze behind her; she was merely in the process of finally adjusting her mindset.

Pretending to be the Director of the Heretic Tribunal indeed seems to be a highly risky endeavor…

However, Lolth recalled that this director’s true identity is known only to the Pope and the Holy Maiden.

The Pope is currently in a half-dead state, not yet buried, and the Holy Maiden resides in Hillenbrand Town…

In other words, the only person who could expose her is the Director of the Heretic Tribunal himself!

After carefully assessing the risks and rewards…

Pretending to be the Director of the Heretic Tribunal appears to be a sure win.

So Lolth adjusted her expression, turning cold and indifferent.

"Get up, I am not here for you."

"You are not qualified enough."

As Lolth spoke, her words carried a hint of disdain and contempt, yet the bishop seemed to feel as if he had been pardoned, lifting his head again and slumping down on the ground.

"Huff, huff… Ha, yes, Lord Director, I was too arrogant…"

As he said this, a strange flush appeared on his face.

It was the look of someone who finally let out a breath after being overly frightened, his face turning red again.

Lolth looked at him and rested her chin on her hand again, then showed a curious expression.

"But, I am very curious… how did you see through my identity?"

Lolth asked, and her question made the bishop, who had just relaxed, go pale again.

"Um… um…"

"Just say it," Lolth continued, "Do I really seem so petty?"

"Ah, yes, you do not," the bishop got up from the ground, standing like a schoolboy explaining why he was late, stammering, "Well… I mainly sensed the presence of your ‘Judgment Staff’ and ‘Mercy Whip’…"

Lolth was stunned.

"You can see through this disguise?"

Lolth raised the Rod of Eden in her hand and asked curiously.

Although this thing is definitely not a "Judgment Staff," right now it is just an ordinary cane…

"Lord Director, it’s not what I feel," he said as he took out a pendant that looked like an annulus from around his neck, "I once received grace from His Holiness the Pope for my missionary efforts, granting me a ‘Sacred Tool’… From the Sacred Tool, I sensed the aura of the cane submitting to you… A Quasi Divine Artifact, which is higher than the Sacred Tool, is quite rare."

"And the ‘long whip’ you have hidden in your sleeve is also a Sacred Tool," he explained respectfully, "To hold both a cane-style Quasi Divine Artifact and a long whip-style Sacred Tool, I can only guess it’s you…"

Lolth felt her mouth twitch at his words.

Not recalling the whip back into the space after using it last time was indeed a mistake… But thankfully, when she added a disguise aura just now, she included the whip too.

However, it was somewhat amusing to Lolth that the Sacred Tool of the Succubus clan was seen as the Sacred Tool of the Heretic Tribunal.

She wanted to laugh, but couldn’t.

Listening to the other person’s serious and logical analysis, Lolth sighed.

"Is this really enough…?"

Lolth continued to ask.

"You are absolutely right, Lord Director," the bishop nodded, "When I first heard about your way of doing things, I guessed you might be from the Heretic Tribunal because recently… recently there have been rumors that you and your judges have been very active."

He spoke cautiously.

"Ah, in times like these, it is only right for us to be active," although it was the first time Lolth had heard about the Heretic Tribunal being active, she still confidently pretended to understand and continued, "But don’t worry, we won’t interfere too much… You can understand that since it’s me here—do I really need to make such a big deal waiting here? Carpenter."

Lolth squinted her eyes and then gently tapped her staff.

"However, coming out has indeed shown me some strange sights—the locals seem quite unhappy with members of our church and the Holy Empire… What is going on, Carpenter?"

"You are right," the bishop responded to Lolth calling his name, nodding repeatedly, sweat pouring down his face, "I did not recognize the people… I will teach those two at the door a lesson for daring to be disrespectful to you…"

"It’s not just a matter of disrespect; the Code of Virtue, Chapter 4, Love, Article 5," Lolth skillfully recalled from her memory, "’You must treat the people of God as brothers and sisters, whether they have received God’s grace or not.’"

Lolth said softly, stroking her staff.

"Be kind, Carpenter, be kind."

"Since they know you and can use the power given by the Lord, you should teach them, right?"

Lolth said this, and Carpenter kept nodding his head.

"I understand, I understand, I understand! I will teach them well!"

As Carpenter said this, he looked at the two chubby noblemen at the door.

The two guys immediately tumbled into the room.

"Lord Director… we understand the wrong we have done, and we want to change our foolish past!"

"Please forgive us!"

They said, trembling with fear.

Lolth watched them for a long time, then waved her hand.

"Read the holy texts more, and do not let the church and the Lord’s light be covered in dust again."

"As for what is already damaged, I will not pursue it further, but you must make up for it yourselves."

"Also, it is not me who forgives you… it is the Lord who forgives you."

Lolth mumbled to herself, and the two chubby ones on the ground nodded vigorously.

"We understand, we all understand!"

"Then let’s go, I have things to discuss with Bishop Carpenter—remember, do not reveal my identity after we go outside."

This time, they escaped with their lives; even though Lolth did nothing to them, it was enough to change them.

This is more effective than really capturing them and torturing them in the Heretic Tribunal!

Lolth watched their plump figures disappearing and turned to Carpenter.

The bishop stood straight in place, even straighter than the new recruits of the Sanctuary Knights.

"Carpenter, tell me the real reason you recognized me?"

Carpenter’s previous reasoning was indeed quite sufficient.

But Lolth still did not believe him.

Because this guy was too sure of himself.

Rumors, Quasi Divine Artifacts… these could prove one’s identity, but they were not enough to make Carpenter bow down and beg for mercy right away.

Carpenter smiled wryly when he heard this.

"I see you cannot be deceived, indeed…"

"Actually, I felt your presence…"

"Even though Lord Director, you have suppressed your strength rank, the ‘purity’ of the Holy Light has not changed."

"This Holy Light, which makes me feel a sense of worship, must come from someone who has practiced the Supreme Divine Spell," Carpenter said after hesitating for a moment, "I know this is not something an ordinary bishop should know, but I have indeed met His Holiness the Pope and attended Archbishop Hall’s lecture… so I can tell the difference."

"The annulus pendant also tells me this is not my illusion."

"So… before I entered, I knew that even if you are not the Lord Director, you must be one of those few!"