Finance Chief Grace was highly efficient.
During the hearing, she invited the Elves residing in the city and gifted them some Potion Perfume. As expected, it was met with immense popularity. When the Potion Perfume made its first appearance at the auction, almost everyone of importance was there.
This did not just include the Elves.
Even the Human nobles were clamoring for it.
This put Aililan in a bit of a difficult position. If the raw materials of the Potion Perfume were analyzed and people discovered the Succubus Saliva inside, it might cause some unnecessary trouble.
But after a moment’s thought, she exhaled and spoke. “Well, let’s just focus on the money for now. Besides, the Goddess Lady sisters aren’t exactly pedantic types.”
Lizberu, the Goddess Lady of the Virtue of Temperance, had personally stated that the Heresy Tribunal was an organization created to serve the Saintess. If anyone stood in the Saintess’s way, they simply needed to be cleared out.
Aililan felt she was quite the handful.
But then again, her sisters were no pushovers either.
Regarding the plan to harvest wealth from the Elves through luxury goods, Aililan had decided on several categories, such as gemstones, jewelry, and extravagant clothing.
However, Atester did not produce these items. Aililan did not want to buy finished products from other places; she intended to establish various workshops within Atis.
If she wanted it to become the World City of Desire, this was a necessary step.
“We need to build commercial districts,” Aililan said.
“And even increase the population… No, there’s no rush for the population yet. Whether it’s Humans, Elves, or even Demons, I haven’t fully utilized the people already here. Rashly migrating a large number of people would only plant the seeds of disaster.”
“There are still so many things to do. I have to promote this to the other regions under the Church’s jurisdiction. That means I have to wait until I go back to report on my duties to discuss it with my sisters.”
“If necessary, I might even have to pull in some of the countries influenced by the Church.”
***
A few days later.
Betiliana found Aililan again. The people she had arranged had already infiltrated the Fortune-teller’s residence and brought back some news.
Betiliana said in a low voice, “Saintess, the Grandmaster seems to be searching for the power of an Outer God.”
A member of the Church secretly contacting an Outer God.
This was a very serious matter.
Aililan frowned and asked, “Which Outer God?”
“It seems to be the Goddess of the Scales,” Betiliana responded.
Aililan stood up abruptly, her gaze sharp. “What? The Goddess of the Scales… Fina Nisi actually… Damn it, she still hasn’t given up?”
Betiliana’s expression turned solemn, and she said firmly, “Lady Saintess, do you need me to lead men to arrest her?”
Aililan sat back down and waved her hand. “How could you arrest her? Even if your entire Investigation Office went together, you wouldn’t be enough to take her on with one hand. Besides, what evidence do you have that Fina Nisi is plotting something? If she says she discovered the power of an Outer God and was investigating in secret to prevent danger, she wouldn’t just escape punishment—she might even be rewarded.”
Betiliana was stunned.
She felt a bit awkward.
She could see that there seemed to be some friction between Aililan and Fina Nisi.
As a chief of a security office, she was well-versed in the hidden power struggles among the upper echelons.
For Aililan, the reason was simple: if she couldn’t take down Fina Nisi in one blow, and if Fina Nisi ended up joining an enemy faction, it would be an immeasurable loss for the Church.
Aililan thought for a while and then whispered, “Find a way to tell that Fortune-teller to guide Fina Nisi toward the territory of the Elves. I will do my best to protect his family.”
Betiliana took the order and left.
She felt that her subordinates might not be reliable enough for this.
In the middle of the night, she slipped in quietly to meet the Fortune-teller in person.
After Betiliana explained her intent, the Fortune-teller looked pained. “How will you save my family? And if you can save them, why can’t you save me too?”
Betiliana sighed. “I will lead men to seize your estate and assets. After the storm passes, I will let your family move to another city and hand the assets over to them.”
“As for why I can’t save you…”
Conflict was written all over Betiliana’s face. After a long moment, she gritted her teeth and spoke a prophecy that was half-true. “How should I know how you managed to offend such a powerful person? She is the Grandmaster of the Chastity Knights, one of the 100 most powerful people in the Church. As for why I am helping you, it’s best if you don’t ask. Knowing won’t do you any good.”
A look of realization appeared on the Fortune-teller’s face.
He simply assumed that Fina Nisi’s political enemies were helping him.
“Fine, I agree.”
The next day, the Investigation Office made a massive move.
They seized the Fortune-teller’s residence in one fell swoop and announced several crimes he had committed. Most of these people served the nobles, and very few of them were clean.
Most of the Fortune-teller’s family members were thrown into prison, but he himself had disappeared. In the end, they labeled him a fugitive, and the commotion gradually subsided.
Inside a dilapidated warehouse.
The Fortune-teller was burning his life force.
The crystal ball in front of him was a deep blood-red. His turbid eyes showed cracks, and some images were surfacing upon the glass.
Theresa, with her long white hair and angelic appearance, was listening to a recording of shared knowledge. Her image flashed across the blood-colored crystal.
Fina Nisi’s eyes lit up, and she said in surprise, “That’s her. The little angel with the long white hair. Tell me quickly, where is she now?”
*Cough!*
The Fortune-teller coughed up a pool of blood.
“I can tell you her location, but you must keep your promise.”
“Isn’t it just about saving your family? It’s no big deal. I promise you.”
*Buzz—*
The Fortune-teller’s final bit of life force was poured into the blood-colored crystal. The crystal could no longer withstand the pressure and shattered, but more images appeared in his eyes.
With his last moments of life, he divined Theresa’s location and the future of his own family.
He saw that if he fulfilled his promise to Fina Nisi, there was an estate—the Saintess’s estate—that would be consumed by a raging fire. The silver-haired girl would perish in the flames, and his family would be caught in the fire as well.
Then he saw that if he fulfilled Betiliana’s request, his family would be traveling far away, living in relative wealth and peace.
“She is…”
“With the Elves,” the Fortune-teller said, his voice sounding like a leaking bellows.
Fina Nisi narrowed her eyes. “The Elves?”
The Fortune-teller used his last breath to say, “My family… I beg you. Please, you must save them.”
Fina Nisi remained silent.
After turning to leave the abandoned warehouse, she threw her promise to the wind. Save the Fortune-teller’s family? ‘Was I really that bored?’ she thought.
She was just feeling a bit conflicted.
On one hand, there was the Goddess Lady she desired but could not have.
On the other hand, there was the white-haired shut-in she wanted to devour in one bite.
But her dilemma didn’t last long. An appointment letter from the Church Council was delivered to her hand.
**[Mandate: Grandmaster Fina Nisi is appointed as the full representative of Saintess Aililan to visit the Elves, to facilitate the friendly relations between the two races and discuss the feasibility of trade.]**
Fina Nisi’s mouth curled into a grin.
It was like being offered a pillow just as she felt sleepy.
She had heard that there were many beauties among the Elves. It seemed she simply had to go.
She accepted the order with pleasure.
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