Chapter 29: Saintess, you set out with a merciful purpose; in the end, you will return to the path of mercy

Aililan’s reasoning.

Was absolutely unshakable.

Because her Virtue Divine Power had not been weakened by such a small lie; on the contrary, it had become even stronger and more steadfast, all because her intentions remained good from the start.

Aililan stepped closer to the knight before her, staring directly into the other’s eyes as she asked, “Squad Leader Milisanel, now please tell me, what is true Great Love?”

“If my reputation alone is to be tarnished, yet I can relieve the suffering of the poor, I am willing to let the most vicious rumors in the world be heaped upon me.”

“But!”

“I am even more convinced.”

“That setting out with a merciful purpose, in the end, one will return to the journey of mercy.”

Aililan opened her mouth.

Just as she was about to continue imparting her own Righteousness to her knight—

She realized that Milisanel’s gaze seemed a little dazed, mixed with worship, and an indescribable fanaticism?

Did she try to instill too much at once, and this loyal knight’s mind just can’t keep up?

The Saintess thus put away her ‘Righteousness,’ simply turning slowly and stepping away lightly, leaving Milisanel with a figure as if to be etched deep into her mind.

‘Huff~’

‘Huff, huff~’

Milisanel panted heavily.

“This is it!”

“This is the Saintess’s Great Love?”

“I understand, I completely understand now… No, the words of the Saintess are profound and unfathomable, there must be deeper meaning within.”

“What I have grasped is but a ten-thousandth of the Saintess’s noble realm, nothing more.”

The reason the Saintess is the Saintess, and greatness is great, is because Aililan’s compassion makes no distinction between high or low, rich or poor. The reputation she treasures so much, before the Saintess’s Great Love, is as insignificant as a weed in the dust.

That phrase: Set out with a merciful purpose, and in the end, return to the journey of mercy.

Brought her boundless benefit.

On the other hand, Aililan felt she was becoming more and more like some charlatan.

And, to match her plan to sell that Earring, Aililan ordered Head Maid Yarandale to mobilize all the servants to search for it. After all, a show has to be played out fully!

Until night fell.

The newly appointed Head Maid Yarandale finally came to report in a panic, “Saintess, we have searched every corner of the manor, but still have not found your Earring.”

Aililan took a sip of her black tea and gently replied, “There’s no need to worry. You can go search the places I frequent again, that will be enough.”

Yarandale was almost in tears, her voice trembling, “Saintess, I have failed your trust, to have let you lose such an important item.”

She had already heard the story.

That Earring was a precious gift personally blessed by the Seven Virtues Saints and given to their youngest sister, worn by Aililan for a long time.

Its value.

Could only be understood by those under the influence of the church.

If Aililan were to preside over one of the Seven Thrones in the future, it might even become a Sacred Relic.

Aililan personally helped her Head Maid up and said with a gentle smile, “No matter how beautiful, how lovely, or how symbolic the Earring is, it’s nothing more than a dead object. Head Maid, in my eyes, you are a living person—far more precious to me than a lifeless thing.”

Yarandale trembled all over.

At this moment, she was already completely moved.

Aililan quietly scratched her head; as for the Earring, she still decided to keep it secret.

With the movement in Aililan’s manor, it was no surprise that news spread outside.

Many people began inquiring about the Earring.

Whether it was to return it to Aililan for a favor, or to secretly keep it as a treasure, to them it was certainly more attractive than ordinary valuables.

And as expected.

After their persistent search.

They finally found news of the Earring at a Black Market Auction in Atester City.

The most dangerous of all was Squad Leader Milisanel. Rather than spend a fortune at auction, many people preferred risk-free profit.

Some asked around for her whereabouts.

Some simply went after her directly.

Fortunately, as the Captain of the Chastity Knights, Milisanel was a Master-level powerhouse. After dealing with several Assassin attacks, the others finally backed off.

Entrusting this matter to Milisanel was the right choice. If it had been Arkernard handling it, he’d probably have been killed for the treasure by now.

The Black Market Auction proceeded as scheduled.

Aililan thought, with the gimmick of the Seven Virtues Saints, at the very least she’d fetch over a thousand Gold Coins, right?

But in reality, she still underestimated the influence of the Saintesses on this land.

【Six thousand Gold Coins.】

【Seven thousand.】

【……】

【Ten thousand.】

【Twelve thousand five hundred Gold Coins!】

Finally, with the gavel’s strike, the auctioneer announced a mysterious buyer had secured the Earring for twelve thousand five hundred Gold Coins.

Aililan was shocked by their wealth.

Even at full strength, with five hundred members, the Chastity Knights’ annual budget in good times was only thirteen to fifteen thousand Gold Coins, or thirty to fifty thousand during wartime.

Now, someone had paid out the equivalent of the knights’ yearly military expenses in one shot—how could Aililan not be amazed?

But she also knew this sort of thing could only be done once, not again.

Once, people find it novel. Twice, three times, and it becomes cheap.

Of course, if Aililan wished, she could easily turn this into a means of amassing wealth. As long as the Earring held value, it could become a token for those seeking her help.

She shook her head.

Aililan secretly cursed herself—her ideological resolve still wasn’t enough!

But soon, her thoughts turned lively again. That was twelve thousand Gold Coins!

Aililan felt she could now fulfill the promise she’d once made in the tavern to those mercenaries.

What had she said at the time? Test their mettle first, and now those who remained could be given a real business to handle, hehe.

“I don’t care who you are.”

“I’ll just throw money at you.”

“I don’t believe that, when the amount thrown exceeds the value of the Sewing Workshop, you’ll be able to keep throwing.”

Aililan sneered.

Because her objective differed from those behind the scenes. Those people naturally sought profit, while Aililan’s purpose was to create ‘employment’ opportunities.

So she couldn’t simply hand out money to the people of the Slums. If twelve thousand Gold Coins were split among the tens of thousands there, they’d spend it all in a matter of days.

But if this sum was used to get the Snake Gang’s Sewing Workshop running smoothly, it would create at least three to five hundred jobs.

With money in their hands, new positions would emerge to serve them.

This stagnant, lifeless pool that was the Slums would finally be stirred—at least the first step.

Therefore.

Revive the Sewing Workshop = Create thousands of jobs = Revitalize a part of the Slums’ economy.

This is how the account

Ought to be settled.