It must be because of saving the royal patient. The leader of the Inquisition Knights, the Hongyi Grand Archbishop, has taken a step up to the heavens, with power exposed to the world, so the wicked deeds that usually went unpunished are now brazenly carried out.
“Sir Knight, this is not a business transaction. Handing over so much coin will cripple the daily operations of our merchant guild,” the Town Chief said anxiously.
“I don’t care about you! The market’s share cannot be less! This is for a great cause! Is this the faith of you followers of the Goddess of Fortune? Treacherous heresy! I can immediately pass judgment and arrest you for heresy!” the Mushroom-headed Knight Captain rebuked angrily.
Cold sweat streamed down the Town Chief’s face, but he dared not argue further.
“Why do you think you’re able to do business at all? All thanks to the gaze of the goddess! All the money you make belongs to the Church! The fact that we haven’t confiscated everything is already mercy enough!” the Mushroom-headed Knight Captain shouted.
“But this property belongs to the Earl’s Lady. We need the Earl’s Lady’s approval,” the Town Chief argued back, still dutiful.
“Heh, I knew you’d bring up the Earl’s Lady to pressure me, but unfortunately, she can’t even protect herself now—she can’t save you,” the Mushroom-headed Knight Captain sneered.
“What happened to the Earl’s Lady?” Upon hearing this, Samimi, who had been silent, finally showed a trace of emotion.
“Heh, Saintess Makima and her followers were caught participating in a great heretical event in Longzhong. Including your mother, the Earl’s Lady, many of the heretical party members have already been detained by us. If you don’t want anything to happen to her, you’d best obediently follow our orders,” the Mushroom-headed Knight Captain grinned wickedly.
So that’s how it is. No wonder this group of roadside church knights dared to come threaten me—they’ve taken my own family hostage.
However, Saintess Makima probably went to prison of her own volition. If she didn’t want to be locked up, no one could hold her.
As for my mother, the Earl’s Lady, being with Saintess Makima, she’s likely just swept up by circumstance. No one dares do anything to them for real, especially not these roadside church knights—they have no power to determine the fates of the Saintess or the Earl’s Lady.
These Inquisition Knights are just using this news to deal with me. They think I don’t know these church secrets. Still, they have a bit of a brain—at least enough to make a qualified, slippery opponent.
“Fine, we’ll do as you say. We’ll pay on schedule,” Samimi pretended to be frightened, looking extremely conflicted and helpless as she agreed.
But this time, she truly was a little angry.
This matter originally had nothing to do with her. Saintess Makima was locked up saving others—Samimi never wanted to meddle. But you all actually dared to touch my own mother?
Under such circumstances, Samimi could hardly hold back and almost flipped the table right there.
Yet, she managed to restrain herself, choosing to endure this round—for the sake of the idea that flashed through her mind when she left the house.
She was planning a bigger move. Let these small fries be arrogant for now; fighting them at this moment wouldn’t relieve her anger, but eventually, she’d make them pay it all back a hundredfold.
“Count yourselves lucky. Starting this month, hand over eighty percent of your profits to us. To show your sincerity, offer the profits of the past half month as tribute to us,” the Mushroom-headed Knight Captain smiled sinisterly, his goal of extortion achieved, and he prepared to leave the meeting room.
But then he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and stared lecherously at Samimi. He clapped his hands and tossed out a black letter, speaking with deliberate pause: “One last thing. If you don’t want anything to happen to your family, come alone tonight to the address in this letter. Only you, ha ha ha.”
With that, the Mushroom-headed Knight Captain led his subordinates out of the meeting room with a wild laugh.
Only Samimi and the Town Chief were left, sitting in silence for a while.
Samimi walked over and picked up the letter, opening it to find an address for a rented residence in the Royal City.
“This won’t do! You can’t go, Miss Nun! This is a despicable trap!” The Town Chief was like an anxious father, hopping in worry.
“Town Chief, I know what I’m doing. I need to go out for a bit—protect everyone in town for me,” Samimi said with a faint, confident smile.
“No, I can’t accept this! I won’t let you go!” The Town Chief was so angry his old face turned red.
“I understand how you feel. Thank you for your concern. The thing you’re worried about won’t happen,” Samimi’s face changed—despite the mask and silk eye-covering, one could feel her seething anger.
“I see. I’ll guard the town well, and I’ll calm everyone’s hearts,” the Town Chief nodded, determined. “Whatever you want to do, just do it! The Sweet Melon Street is your strongest support.”
Samimi felt power surging through her, with no more worries at her back.
“I’m going out to take care of business. But remember—if we lose money, we can earn it again. But without dignity, we’re finished.”
After saying these words, the Town Chief still had to go organize the handover of eighty percent of the profits for the past half month, and for now, had to bow his head.
“How much impact will this have on us?” Samimi asked.
“Don’t worry too much. From the beginning, we agreed—I handle the money, you handle the people. Our division of labor is clear,” the Town Chief waved his hand, reassuring her as he walked off.
Samimi watched the Town Chief’s tired figure and was momentarily speechless.
Before, she was always the one giving others chicken soup and comforting words. Now, someone was cheering her on for once.
At this moment, her heart was firmer than ever. For the sake of the people of Sweet Melon Town, she must drag every responsible church dog out and strike them down.
A favor must be repaid, and a grudge must be avenged.
An eye for an eye!
Samimi was no longer lost. She returned to the Sweet Melon Chapel and told everyone about the situation.
Everyone was vehemently opposed and tried hard to stop her, unwilling to let her go alone.
The Papal Left Hand had more or less guessed Samimi’s plan.
He and the Adjudication Knights all knew that the Inquisition Knights alone could do nothing to the Demon Nun.
Samimi must go to the Royal City herself to clarify the situation. If she stayed in Sweet Melon Town, nothing would ever improve.
But Commander Mayshan Yaolin, the Papal Left Hand, and the Adjudication Knights could not step forward to investigate. Finding a place to hide was already using up all their strength.
Sweet Melon Town was within the sphere of influence of the Royal City’s church. Ironically, this made it easier for the church’s secret search teams to overlook them—unable to find a trace, allowing them to hide temporarily.
But this kind of hiding in the shadow of the lamp wouldn’t last long. Sooner or later, the search would come for them too.
She had to take the initiative, to clarify everything herself first.
“Pig Demon Nun, your resilience is not beneath ours. Don’t take unnecessary risks with this investigation,” the Papal Left Hand said. “What is the situation inside the Royal City’s church? None of us know. Now that all the nuns have been detained, if you, as the Saintess’s person, enter, you’ll be immediately—”