************************************** A priest was kneeling in front of golden statue of Aurelius, although his faith has wavered, he still came to pray everyday as he still had to destroy the church.  Sard stood up and entered his study, today a deacon will arrive to investigate the Linus’s missing case. He should have arrived yesterday but something big happened in capital, so it got delayed as it was said that boy was seen in Aerius mansion. And even the deacon got beaten up, to which sard was very grateful to Linus.  Even though it proved the Nereidian dukes, as innocent and even if they did it, there was no way anyone can punish them as they come under water church, however it has worsen the diplomatic relations of light church with Nereidia and water church. In turn put Samuel in tough spot Now however sard became the problem, he had sweared by faith about Nereidian dukes'' involvement, but they are denying, and the evidence are supporting them. However, what sard said was also true or otherwise he might have already died or become a cripple,  The main worry of the church''s is they still don’t know about, the organization which has repeatedly targeted both light and water church, and from when this was established, and they have shown power of Tier 2 deacons, and a top deacon Rosalyn has also joined them. Even the old king’s right hand man has joined them, they still don’t know if the old king was with them, if he was then the influence, they must have built over time would definitely not low. They also had to worry about the deacons of Psion, as even in entire congregation they don’t have more than 100 deacons, on the surface. Although only 40 are officials in church’s congregation, the others are just peak tier 2 without any official position in congregation.  Sard was the head of this branch along with Alan, they both belonged to Deacon Samuel''s faction, however sard was a peak tier 2 deacon unlike Alan who just became a mid-tier 2 bishop. With Sard’s contribution he should have long become a official deacon, but the pope was afraid of his potential. Though sard didn’t care about it before.  —————— Sard was sitting in the meeting room, in front of him Deacon Silas, the famous subordinate of  although he wasn’t very strong, he had a sharp brain, that’s the reason pope value him so much.  Silas could be said as pope’s left-hand man. “Sard, you have really caused a huge headache to church” “I only speak truth, my lord.” “Tch, still playing with words. Everyone knows how dangerous you are, yet that idiot Samuel had to offend you” “As I said before, I am not targeting anyone, nor I care about your meaningless struggles for influence and power.” “So, what did that boy said, and why did you visit him” “As I have said before, he just said Nereidian dukes wanted something only his father can provide, as to why I visited him, that’s because his father killed my disciple.” Sard flashed blood lust as he mentioned his disciple’s death.  “I see, then how do you prove your words?” “I don’t, you can either believe me or don’t, I don’t care.” Sard’s eyes had long turned into snake slit from repeated questioning, however good his will power was, but he really wanted to kill this deacon “I will take my leave now, Deacon Silas, you have nothing to do, but I have some work, and will be busy for some time, so if it is not something urgent, don’t disturb me” said sard as he stood up and went out without looking back, only sard can do this because of his prestige in church,  Sard entered the hallway after humiliating Silas, completely calm unlike, he can consider being an actor in play, sard chuckled at himself Sard however did not lied he was really busy as he had to go and meet duke Renault Wilhelm, as today was birthday of his daughter, Aisha she will turn 18 today,  Sard entered the carriage as he contacted Linus, “should I divulge the information about Psion, to Duke Renault?” “you can, if you think you can pull it of, do it, you can ask noel if you need more manpower. Though that will require merit points. Just mention commerce of Emberlyn, he is a secret shareholder, and he is very ambitious, will help in your negotiation” Sard sighed as he heard Renault’s secret and looked at his current merits [100]. He couldn’t even get a junior rank to help him.  Sard looked outside as he saw a vast mansion appear in his view, made completely of red bricks, the road leading to mansion was narrowed from the traffic of people moving into the mansion gate,  Sard entered form main gate, while the weaker noble families entered from side gate, deacon were still the strongest forces, just topped by pope of various churches or some hidden Tier 3, which the world hasn’t welcomed in some decades, to breakthrough to tier 3 pope as it requires faith power, which is getting harder from the appearance of churches, though not everyone knows where they come from, not even sard even after he became bishop. This might be the biggest secret of churches.  ———— Sard entered the hall as he entered the room, almost filled with cigar smoke, the three men were smoking while playing cards,  This guys really like to smoke, I can’t even breathe, do they want to die from suffocating thought sard as he used [wind spell] and swept all the smoke from room, and throwed it outside the window in sky. “Why do you have to do this sard.” Said Renault as he sighed. “Well, I like to breathe that’s why. And you should stop too, it’s not long before you die of old age.” “I will live more than your old bones——” “Sure, sure, come sit sard let’s have a game.” Said marquis Edel Manley.  “Only four came?” said sard as he took the cards. “Well that’s what happens when you are socially paralyzed” said Count Decker as he glanced at Renault Renault snorted but didn’t denied, and said “call” “bet” “fold” “fold” “call” “Stop bluffing sard.” Said Renault  “Well, let’s see.” Sard showed straight flush, as Renault sighed and throw four of a kind. ——— ** study room of Wilhelm ** “So what do you want to talk about sard, you don’t look well today. You never drink so much, is it due to church’s matter” Renault asked with concern as he served a drink for himself. Now that they were alone. “Well, I just discovered about my disciple’s death,” “What happened, tell me in detail. And is the source trustworthy.” Said as his eyes narrowed.  “I was born with a strange sense of intuition, it was to the point whatever my gut feeling is telling me became the truth, this was why I could navigate in these deep waters of church, and that’s why I joined Psion.” Said sard while looking down.    “You what ??” said Renault exaggerating,  “Yes, I joined Psion, and they have an angel in their faction. So I hope you can also join me, this was the reason I came to meet you. As for what happened. I was betrayed by my sworn brother valentine, most likely for , and he contacted Samuel to kill Wade (disciple, name), and I am the last survivor of calamity in Hinasila County, which I think Samuel knows and most probably has something to do with pope’s faction. Or congre——” “Stop, stop. Sard, are you going mad, what in the hell are you saying you are defiling your fait——” roared Renault as he suddenly stood up and stared at now going crazy sard. “It is already broken, my source power now come directly from an angel from that faction, I will soon be tier 3.” Said sard with a huge grin. “Then I will destroy the light church and any accomplice related to wade’s death.” Renault took a deep breath to calm himself as he asked, “how did you know it was valentine and how can you be so sure.”  “I just told you about my intuition. What that person said was correct. Or what you think an angel faction targeted me for some reason, well I have nothing to lose either way,” “Sard you, ugh” Renault just sat there his hand clenched as he continued to drink alcohol.  “Are you sure there is an angel, and how much do you trust them?” “Yes, there is an angel, I saw it with my own eyes, as for trust, well I just joined them 3 days before, but they seem more trustworthy than church or any organization for now.” chuckled sard at the absurdity with which he want to pull Renault in his faction.  “So why are you telling me all this, you have always been distrustful toward almost anyone, then why the sudden trust” asked Renault with raised eyebrow “Well, it’s because there are not left many I can trust. And now I am powerful enough to survive. And a little selfishness. Although I only wish best for you, but I want you to help me. I want to destroy people’s faith in Aurelius and pope. For that I have to do some propaganda. And who will be better than you. A member of Commerce of Emberlyn. The biggest information group in the continent.” “Well. Why do you think I will help you, or you want to threaten me with my information.” “Stop playing Renault, you never belonged to any church, you don’t like pope. So why not work together to bring him down, and your faith in Aurelius is superficial like most nobles. So, what do you have to say, and don’t play with words, you know you will definitely lose.” “Hahaha, sard you really know me brother, however what you are saying is still a gamble. But since you have placed bet, I shall too. But not because of your persuasions though. I have some contact with Commerce of Emberlyn, they posted a mission recently, to gather information about Psion. And a organization with 3- no 4 deacon is definitely not normal, and an angel if you are telling the truth.” "Well, you will know it in due time, but let me tell you we want you to represent us in commerce, so we can’t have you unmonitored, you understand right?”  “Yes, that’s why I was hesitating, but since I want to rise, I will have to take the chance, either I will rise or die with the tide.” “Here just place it on your hand, you can explore its function later yourself, and don’t worry it is not some poison, just a mean of communication, I had it oto, you can contact anyone who has this, you can create 10 yourself, and give them to others.” “Sure.” Said Renault as he followed sard’s instruction without any hesitation “I hope for a wonderful partnership.” Said sard as he clinked the wine cup with Renault’s “Haha, for a happy cooperation” Renault grinned widely as he raised the glass ***********Did you know this story is from Royal Road? 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