Aililan kept smiling.
No one could tell what she was really thinking inside.
Bishop Wilma had a sudden realization; this Saintess didn’t seem as innocent as she appeared. At least, her mind was certainly not lacking.
Even taking ten thousand steps back since when has any Saintess of the Chanting Church ever been simple?
If they were all naïve and foolish, facing the Transmission Church Nation and those scheming power-players in the Empire who claim faith in the Chanting Church, the Church would have long since been doomed.
Thinking of this, Wilma steeled herself and said, “Saintess Aililan, do you need me to make arrangements?” She swore, she truly had no ulterior motives and only wished to serve Her Holiness with all her heart.
“No need.”
Aililan waved her hand.
Yet before leaving, she whispered a few words to Renata: “Go arrange the Brothers and Sisters and have them stand by for orders at any time.”
If she had a gun in hand and didn’t use it, wouldn’t that be foolish?
The whole group left the mansion and headed straight for the Military Police. Fina Nisi and Pella, as senior members of the Chastity Knights, couldn’t be excluded from any action, so they were brought along as well.
Pella: [What’s got into the Saintess again?]
Fina Nisi: [Shut up, wretched woman. Don’t make me embarrass myself in front of Aililan again because of you.]
Renata: [Brothers and Sisters, all of you move! The chance to serve Her Holiness has come!]
Even Bishop Wilma found an opportunity to have someone investigate some information.
When she saw the reports from below, Wilma nearly passed out in exasperation.
[Idiots!]
[Where’s their brain? Have all the Military Police had their brains kicked by donkeys?]
[Don’t they know that Saintess Aililan has been running to the Slums lately? And those fools actually chose this time to raid the gangs in the Slums? If that’s not picking a fight, then what is?]
Wilma’s first thought was: Aililan has gone deep into the lower classes, perhaps learned quite a lot of information. After all, what’s faster than facing the lowest directly?
Maybe she was furious about how chaotic the Slums were—why hadn’t the Military Police managed it?
But after years as Bishop, her political instincts told her this matter wasn’t as simple as it appeared.
“If Saintess Aililan was dissatisfied with the Military Police, she could have intervened at any time. Why choose this moment to take action?”
“The Military Police are out to raid the gangs.”
“Wait a minute…”
Bishop Wilma seemed to have grasped something!
Why were the Military Police raiding Slum gangs? For years, the various powers and interests in the city had remained relatively stable.
Wilma looked again at the information she had gathered. Supposedly, a new gang had suddenly appeared, sweeping through the Slums and disrupting the balance of interests there.
‘Hiss—’
Wilma couldn’t help but press her forehead.
That Saintess clearly looked harmless, yet how could everything, once linked together, feel so deep and unfathomable?
A suddenly-appearing gang. The high-and-mighty Saintess running a gang?
The Military Police raided the Saintess’s gang?
“Crap!”
Wilma cursed under her breath.
She dared not think further.
Since the waters ran so deep, she’d better stay out of it after all, it wasn’t her business.
Before long, the group arrived at the Military Police station.
Deputy Leader Willis, sweating profusely, was responsible for receiving them, all the while inwardly complaining, why hadn’t the higher-ups notified them about this visit?
Aililan saw the Military Police gathering their men and feigned ignorance, asking, “What are they up to?”
Willis straightened his chest and said, “In reply to Saintess, they will be led by Captain Betiliana, the highest commander of the Military Police, to launch a special operation to strike at the criminal underworld.”
Aililan asked again, “Who are the participants… um, I mean, who are the key personnel?”
Willis’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Could the Saintess be so pleased to see everyone fulfilling their duties that she wanted to reward them?
He hurriedly reported a string of names, regretting that he hadn’t joined the operation himself—if he had, he’d have put his name first.
If he could be recognized by the Saintess, then promoted to Commander-in-Chief, marry a wealthy beauty, and ascend to the peak of life!
Aililan nodded at Milisanel and said meaningfully, “Looks like those are pillars of the Order of Law Enforcement! I very much appreciate their professional spirit. Go and find all their Archives from past years, as well as the cases they’ve handled. I want to take a good look and reward them properly by promoting their positions.”
As soon as Aililan finished speaking—
‘Thump~’
Willis’s legs buckled.
He staggered, almost falling to the ground.
Wait, you want to check everyone’s archives and background? How could you… then again, if you want to promote them, reviewing their files and achievements is perfectly reasonable, isn’t it? Aililan’s approach couldn’t be any more proper.
But… but… oh no! The achievements presented to superiors are never the same as the real achievements, right?
Willis panicked: “Saintess Aililan!”
Aililan sharply turned her gaze on him, looking puzzled: “Hm?”
Willis: “I, I…”
Aililan smiled faintly, as if suddenly enlightened, and said, “I know you’re very happy, Mr. Willis, but don’t be too happy just yet. Milisanel—yes, you—sort out Mr. Willis’s records as well. I love talent most of all, and I appreciate capable people. When the time comes, I’ll be sure to reward Mr. Willis handsomely.”
She then winked at the fallen Willis, her face full of suspicion: “Eh, Mr. Willis, are you so happy you’re sitting on the ground? Quick—someone, help Mr. Willis up! He’s to be my backbone, my confidant! I’ll entrust him with great responsibilities.”
Seeing Milisanel approach,
Willis grew anxious.
“Saintess Aililan, you mustn’t.”
‘Shing~’
The knights guarding Aililan gripped the hilts of their swords, drawing them slightly, looking at Willis with clear hostility.
As if, if he dared move,
If he said even one more word,
The knights’ swords would strike without hesitation.
With Milisanel in the lead and the Twelve Knights as support, several dozen carefully-selected members filed into the Military Police’s Archives, their menacing presence making the bullies of the Military Police too scared to offer any resistance.
On the other side, the Military Police, who had just gathered and were preparing to raid the Slum gangs,
Upon hearing someone would check their records and backgrounds, immediately panicked—raid? Raid what? Don’t you know your own house is being burgled?
Those originally about to go on the raid
Instantly converged in protest.
[No checking!]
[Who told you to check?]
[The Military Police have operated this way for years—there’s never been such a rule.]
[I refuse to accept this…]
Renata had a violent temper.
Refuse? She strode over and slapped one of them to the ground, saying coldly, “Refuse? Hold it in!”
This action
Nearly caused the Military Police to riot.
They were just one trigger, one call to arms away from attacking Aililan’s guards.
Aililan seemed to have lost her mind? Yet in truth, she hadn’t. In her view, since the Military Police had already rotted, there was no point wasting effort to fix it; better to tear it down and start anew.
Going deeper, she was here to govern Atester City. In any world, local powers and interests are bound to be tangled and complex.
Right now was the perfect chance to take over an institution that was both ‘administrative’ and a ‘violent apparatus.’
Why not seize the opportunity?
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