“Sard it might still not be too late, just go and have a spar with valentine, your disciple possessed the source bead all his life, there must be some breath still present on valentine, only if he is an idiot, though” mocked Linus, while trying his best to not laugh. As sard’s expression are getting more and more amusing.
Hearing Linus''s mockery sard’s face showed his anger, sard reined on his anger and tried to say calmly “Why do you want me to turn against valentine, and how do you know about valentine being involved in my disciple’s death, you are bedridden and had no achievement till your 18 years of worthless life, it’s only recently you have recovered and you are saying you are aware of a tier 2 divine bishop’s affair, do you think I am a child or are you just desperately clinging to any hope, to get out of here”
Linus smiled mysteriously and stepped back to the stone bed and lie down “I have nothing more to say, you can leave now sard, I have no reason to lie and I don’t want to show you any evidence do whatever you want”
Sard was bewildered when he heard Linus''s words. He has thought of Linus''s motive in telling him this things was to release him from the prison or to drive a wedge between the two bishops. But now Linus was asking him to leave, what is this boy planning, or am I just being paranoid. ‘I have lost my edge, if it was me from before ... Sigh’ sighed sard as he turned to leave but was stopped by Linus''s next words.
“To tell you the truth I don’t need your help in leaving from here, the church is going to exile me in the ancient ruin, right?”
In truth Linus indeed wanted to make sard into his spy, in his previous life he despised using this underhanded method. He only believed in his strength, that doesn’t mean he was a simpleton, anyone who has lived for 80 years will gain some wisdom, and if he really wanted to leave from here not even angels can stop him, which fortunately are not present.
Sard raised his eyebrow in disbelief, he was surprised as to how Linus knew about this info when he hasn’t yet declared the order of higher ups
“Hmm, surprised as to how I know? well you keep wondering, now leave” Linus closed his eyes as if he will not listen to anymore from sard
Sard decided to leave and think about the nonsense this boy spouted, and just as he reached the iron door, he heard Linus say “work for me sard, you have both ambition and potential”
Sard walked back to the iron bar and chuckled “where did you get the idea that I will betray the church, and more so for you, you want me to betray the church for you, don’t make me laugh kid, what can you even offer me.” sard was naturally not an idiot, he has spent 50 years of his life midst politics of all sorts, but he was acting weird in front of this kid,
This boy’s earlier words has stung him where it hurts the most, and he couldn’t grow out of that seed of doubt, he had his own suspicion on valentine, as valentine’s motives there is nothing to think more about, what can be a better reason than greed for more power, however that was not the only reason he decided to stop and listen to this boy’s rambling, his intuition as a divine mage is heavily ringing saying to listen to him, and the last time it happened he escaped a calamity. Although if this boy talked a little better he would have helped him, as he has nothing to do against him, but he also had his pride which this boy tried to target time and time again.
“I can provide the evidence of valentine’s involvement for your loyalty, sard” proposed Linus, seeing him fall in deep thought, Linus knew he had still underestimated his disciple’s worth in sard’s eyesStolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Sard’s eyes narrowed hearing this “my disciple is already dead, why do you think I will accept to work for you for a evidence”
“oh you will after all, your deacon who you serve now was the main perpetrator, and maybe the reason behind the calamity in Hinasila county.”
Sard’s mind had gone blank, than came a torrent of primal rage, he had never wanted to kill someone so much In his entire life, his body trembling, and hands clenched, sard looked at linus, who still looked calmly at sard’s rage filled eyes.
Sard stared at Linus to determine if he is telling the truth, than he took a deep breathe, calmed himself a little and decided to trust his intuition. As a tier 2 divine bishop his intuition was naturally very powerful which further increased due to him being from divine mage path. This might be one of the most idiotic decision he is going to make, but the devil’s singing lullaby are more enchanting than he thought, he had enough guessing about the perpetrator, now either this boy shows him the main culprit or he dies by his very hands, he was divine mage but that doesn’t mean a devil can surpass him. And more so the one who is known as the devil of light
“okay, I agree I will serve you, if you can prove the involvement of deacon”
Sard knew if a deacon has moved against him than there is no more reason to serve the church, as most deacon are constantly observed by the pope and since pope didn’t interfere it only meant one thing, the pope has given his approval.
Linus couldn’t believe he has persuaded sard so soon, looks like his disciple was more important to him than I thought, or that’s what Linus thought, also what was that boy’s name... Forget it
Linus unhurriedly bit down on his finger and tried to summon the communication bug from the “inception“ he wouldn’t have to use blood as a medium if he wasn’t bounded by this essence restricting chain which is restricting the flow of spiritual energy.
Linus used a little more blood and converted the bug into more human form. The bug has a green skin with black dots present on his entire body except the face which was more of a purplish hue with two large antennas arising from the cranum with two wings closed on the back. It radiated with a thin ethereal layer which was the characteristic of a rank 4 master. Linus ordered it to revert into the small bug form and kept in his palm, he just called it ”nanobot” or “nano AI” like link like to call it, he said he gained this vocabulary a long time ago, long enough that he forgot, but liked it enough to remember.
Seeing Linus summon a bug with iron essence on wasn’t something sard expected to see. As this thing can even restrict a tier 1 priest, and yet this boy is a cripple. Sard’s eye got big and he thought to himself, wasn’t this boy a crippple, than how can he use essence.
Linus ordered the bug to follow bishop’s order and handed it to bishop. Than walked toward sard and said to him “go and interrogate simone he was the person who killed your disciple, plant this bug on him after this bug subdues him ask whatever you want he will answer truthfully.”
Sard just nodded and left from the dark prison chamber.
Sard walked out from the basement of radiance church which was located in siona, the capital of duke wilhelm''s fiefdom. This church was one of the oldest branches ranking just after the headquarter of church— radiance sanctuary of luminara.
He walked to the praying room, and kneels in front of the statue of Light god “Aurelius’ the statue was made of gold the purest metal according to the divine tome. The statue was placed in the center. Standing and looking down with gentle smile on the orb present on his hand, this orb symbolized the world.
Sard with his mind all over the place prayed to the divine lord of light and stayed in same position for an unknown amount of time. Then he stood up and entered his personal study room and asked one of caretaker to summon priest Simone. Simone was valentines subordinate, so he was well acquainted with Simone. He even treated him as his own subordinate, but now he had to plant a unknown bug to him, given from a boy he know he shouldn’t, just based on his intuition. it''s a necessary sacrifice, sard consoled himself.
After waiting some time priest Simone appeared on the door and knocked on the door
Sard immediately burned the sleeping charm and castes holy protection on himself and invited Simone inside.