“Since you put it that way, I suppose I can’t refuse to help.”
Gerard let out a soft laugh, leaning forward slightly as his fingers tapped lightly on the table.
“Previously, Her Majesty was furious and ordered me to eliminate those heretics. Admittedly, I failed in my duty. But what you’re asking now is more than just a simple favor.”
He tapped the table gently, his meaning clear without further explanation.
This matter required compensation.
Simon was silent for a moment before speaking.
“Let’s be direct. What do you want in exchange?”
This matter needed to be pursued further.
But since it involved an evil god, ordinary people absolutely could not intervene.
Only members of the Church of Light could investigate thoroughly and safely.
“To be honest, what I want most is the Holy Knight Armed Privilege, but considering Her Majesty’s temperament, that’s likely impossible.”
“You know as well as I do, anything related to evil gods is extremely complicated and carries great risk.”
“Even if our Church of Light intervenes, we can’t guarantee everyone’s safety.”
After a lengthy pause, Gerard finally voiced his true demand.
“Therefore, I want to take charge of the Mandatory Education Reform, which the Empire has already half implemented. I will follow Her Majesty’s general direction but make adjustments in the details.”
“Your previous investments and efforts can be linked with ours, and from now on, the expenses will be covered by our Imperial Cathedral. Once the reform is complete, I’ll report to Her Majesty immediately.”
Simon hesitated.
“…You must understand, since the Former King Era, this has never been settled. Even now, Her Majesty hasn’t resolved it completely.”
The world of education was deep and complex—not something that could be explained in a few words.
“Besides, what you’re asking for is essentially the lifeblood of the Empire! It’s too much.”
No nation would easily relinquish Imperial Authority over Education; otherwise, the future of the next generation would become unpredictable.
Alexia’s high-pressure policies already risked backlash.
If those with ill intentions manipulated naive, passionate youth, it could threaten her rule.
Gerard understood the difficulty, but he had to persist.
“I can promise you, and Her Majesty, that the Church of Light will never interfere with the Empire’s foundation. We’ll uphold the principle of third-party noninterference.”
“I sincerely wish to bring this endlessly delayed Mandatory Education Reform to an end. It’s been postponed too long—it’s time to finish it.”
“To us, the Church of Light, whether the Empire’s ruler is Alexia or you, Simon, is irrelevant. What we care about is the people’s safety and stability.”
“The Church of Light has always supported educational outreach and continues to do so. But our impact is limited. The Empire is too vast, and our Cathedral can only manage so much.”
“The endless delay of the Empire’s Mandatory Education Reform means most people can’t benefit from education.”
“They can deflect and bargain for their own interests, but those yearning for knowledge can’t afford to wait.”
Perhaps someone could change their fate by learning a few more words.
Perhaps education would broaden someone’s horizons, allowing them greater achievements in the future.
“Because it benefits the people, the Church of Light will act. No matter how many in the Empire’s upper ranks it offends—even Her Majesty herself—we will see it through.”
“If they later wish to question why, to pursue so-called responsibility, then I won’t hesitate to ask them why something so simple had to become so complicated.”
Gerard’s voice grew more resolute, his expression more serious than ever.
“The Church of Light does not deliberately seek enmity with any nation, organization, or individual. But neither do we fear war.”
“The Imperial Cathedral will follow Her Majesty’s will and proceed along the path she indicates, but we won’t blindly accept all her pressures.”
The Church of Light was one of the few organizations with the right to wage war.
Its scale was actually greater than the Empire’s.
But because its Cathedrals were spread worldwide and often had tense relations, the Church of Light appeared no different from other organizations.
Each Cathedral of the Church of Light developed unique characteristics according to local culture.
They were not unchanging.
It was precisely this cultural diversity that led to differences in strength and policy among the Cathedrals, even resulting in hostile factions within the Church of Light itself.
But the Church of Light had one trait other organizations lacked—a unified faith in the God of Light.
Once the God of Light issued a God’s Oracle, the entire Church would set aside old grudges and unite beneath the Lord’s radiance.
Simon shook his head slightly, a complex look in his eyes as he gazed at Gerard.
“This is something I must consult Her Majesty about and hear her opinion.”
Gerard’s candor and sincerity caught Simon off guard.
Even in the game’s storyline, he rarely saw this Imperial Archbishop display such firm resolve.
In Simon’s memory, Gerard always kept his emotions concealed, never acting so directly.
Outwardly friendly, he could deliver a covert blow behind the scenes.
He hadn’t expected the Church of Light to act this way.
After all, even if the Mandatory Education Reform was completed, the real beneficiary should be the Empire, not the Church.
If they truly shouldered this responsibility, even if it could be swiftly accomplished, the burden would be far greater than mere words suggested.
Just as Gerard had said—the Empire was too large.
Otherwise, the matter would have been settled long ago instead of dragging on endlessly.
Focusing on people was the foundation of the Church of Light’s widespread faith, and Gerard clearly embodied that principle.
Gerard nodded in understanding.
“As expected. Just convey my intentions to Her Majesty. I’m confident, given her character, she’ll be willing to let me take charge.”
“Also, someone reported finding a headless female corpse near the East City Gate, but it was quickly removed. From the appearance and clothing, it wasn’t a guard.”
Simon’s eyes sharpened at the words.
“Thank you for informing me.”
Gerard waved dismissively.
“Allowing Her Majesty to suffer the horror of an evil god’s corruption was indeed our Church of Light’s oversight. At the same time, I hope Lady Pandas can rest in peace.”
With that, he rose and retrieved a specially made firework from the side.
“Simon, if you truly find the other half of Lady Pandas’s body, ignite this at once. A squad of Holy Knights is on standby—they’ll arrive immediately to examine the remains and ensure they’re free from evil god corruption.”
“But let me remind you—the Church of Light will not interfere in disputes between Her Majesty and others. The conflict between you and Pandas is yours to resolve. We will only fulfill our own duty.”
“That is enough.”
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