The human traitor is Ibisos.
Ibisos is the human traitor.
As public opinion fermented, Ibisos’s reputation plummeted overnight. Everyone knew that if Ibisos hadn’t pushed the Saintess so hard, she would never have broken down like this and issued such an inconceivable Ordinance of Preferential Treatment for Beastfolk.
So, The problem is not with the Saintess.
The root of the issue lies with those ministers, with Ibisos at the very forefront.
Aililan, secluded deep within her manor, saw the news delivered from all directions and merely let out a scornful chuckle. “Heh.”
Aililan’s guidance and instigation played a critical role in all of this.
For instance, she only asked people to throw some rotten eggs and wilted vegetable leaves, but she hadn’t expected that they would go so far as to dump a whole bucket of manure at the gates of Ibisos’s home.
This… Aililan’s assessment was: at least show some semblance of civility.
Of course.
Aililan wasn’t just idling about either.
Her seclusion within the manor was not out of indifference.
Rather, with every leisurely step she took, she was already resolving numerous hidden troubles behind the scenes.
That day.
A special guest arrived at the Saintess’s manor.
Mercenary Tanya, having first come to the Saintess’s manor with a confused look, became even more bewildered upon seeing Aililan.
Aililan approached gracefully.
She took a seat on the cushion in the receiving room.
She signaled for Tanya not to be nervous, then waved to the maids, asking them to bring over afternoon tea and pastries.
Aililan raised her teacup and took a gentle sip before teasing, “Oh my, isn’t this the famous mercenary, Miss Tanya?”
Tanya: ……
“Damn!”
“You’re not the Snake Gang’s intermediary?”
“Damn, you’re actually Aililan the Saintess?”
“Damn……”
Aililan smiled faintly and softly said, “Relax, Miss Tanya, you don’t need to worry. Just… well, think of me as still your intermediary.”
Tanya shuddered all over and said, “No, Saintess, you—”
Aililan corrected, “Just call me Aililan.”
Facing a mercenary like Tanya,
Aililan was still willing to make connections.
Because Tanya was a truly straightforward mercenary—one who didn’t expect to live past thirty, willing to do any job for money, making her perfect as a black glove.
After a short time apart, Tanya’s symptoms of demonization seemed to have worsened, but Tanya herself clearly didn’t care.
After a brief pause for thought, Aililan got to the point.
“So, how’s the investigation I asked you to do?”
Tanya’s eyes lit up, her excitement obvious.
“You know, if you hadn’t asked me to look into it, I’d never have known just how filthy those big shots really are.”
“Diplomat Ibisos keeps at least ten beastkin women in his mansion, and has long been in collusion with beastfolk. Many of the beastfolk residence permits in Atist City were personally signed by him. Rumor has it his motto is, ‘As long as the price is high enough, forget beastfolk—even if southern demons come to Atist, they’ll be honored guests.’”
“Finance Minister Obion is heavily involved in beastfolk trade, including, but not limited to, trafficking human girls and sending craftsmen to the beastfolk. If your side breaks off relations with the beastfolk, at least seventy percent of his business will be affected.”
“Cleric Malina has taken treasures from the beastfolk, and single-handedly pushed the ‘Faith Tolerance’ bill, which allows beastfolk living in the city to worship their tribal totems at home.”
“Priest Julian…”
“Magistrate Mishawa…”
Aililan frowned.
It wasn’t just the parliament that was a problem—turns out the church was filthy too!
Aililan carefully stored away all this evidence, then had Head Maid Yalandaier bring over a small chest of gold coins. She opened it—five hundred coins in all.
Aililan smiled and said, “That concludes this job.”
Tanya laughed heartily. “It’s always a pleasure working for you, hehe.”
“Well then, dear Miss Tanya, I have some other small business ventures here—are you interested?”
“What kind of business?”
“The Snake Gang has set their sights on a few other gangs. Those people have been spreading… hmm, some unfavorable rumors about me in the streets. I want you to keep an eye on them, and, if necessary, take them out. Ten gold coins for each gang.”
“Deal.”
“……”
After Tanya left,
Head Maid Yalandaier seemed a little concerned.
“That person appears to be showing signs of demonization. In our doctrine, that’s heresy.”
“Relax, Yalandaier. You have to understand—no matter if it’s a black cat or a white cat, as long as it serves the Light, it’s a good cat. Got it?”
“Yes, Saintess, your teaching is wise.”
“All right, go get ready. We ought to go have a look at the parliament.”
The Saintess, long unseen,
finally stepped out of her manor.
The news released to the outside was that she was heading to parliament to make a decision on the Preferential Treatment Ordinance. If it passed, it would be implemented for real.
The eyes of the townspeople all followed the Saintess’s carriage as it moved through the city.
Some trailed behind at a distance.
But even more people chose to follow directly.
They didn’t want the ordinance to pass, but they also felt too ashamed to beg the Saintess for anything—after all, wasn’t it some among the people who’d caused all this trouble in the first place?
The carriage moved slowly.
All the way to the front gates of parliament.
When Aililan stepped down from the carriage, the crowd that had followed her all suddenly dropped to their knees.
[Saintess, please!]
[Saintess, don’t pass the Preferential Treatment Bill!]
[Saintess, we were really wrong. You were only acting for our own good. It’s just that some bad people among the populace couldn’t see the beastfolk oppressing us, and only saw you suppressing the beastfolk.]
[What will it take for you to forgive us?]
[…]
Aililan gave them a glance.
Then, without looking back, she strode straight into parliament.
This was also her way of admonishing the people—not to wait until after losing something to cherish it, and to solidify Aililan’s image in their hearts.
Trusting the Saintess brings fortune.
Doubting the Saintess brings harm.
In the crowd, there were two radiant figures. The industrious Saintess Yegelinnai exclaimed, “Chastity is even more capable than we imagined!”
Lizeberu nodded in approval. “Chastity is doing wonderfully. We’ve always preferred to rule by faith and iron-handed pressure, to steer the will of the people—but this time, Chastity has taught us a lesson. She truly is capable.”
Yegelinnai asked, “Temperance, do you think Chastity will win?”
Lizeberu answered with certainty, “She will win.”
They gazed at that figure,
Eyes filled with indulgent affection.
Aililan walked into the stern parliament hall—not this time to listen, but to interrogate.
The parliament was in an uproar, but quieted somewhat at the sight of Aililan’s arrival.
Speaker Rollans had disappeared for a long time, and nobody knew how long that Speaker had been kneeling in the church.
Aililan walked straight to the bronze bell, and after shaking it—‘ding-a-ling—’
“Ladies and gentlemen.”
“The farce should end.”
Aililan seated herself in the Speaker’s chair and called out in a loud voice, “Make your decisions now! Regarding the Preferential Treatment Ordinance for beastfolk, who is in favor, and who is opposed?”
[I oppose.]
Someone jumped out.