Legacy of Hatred

For once, there was a meaningful reaction not limited to veiled looks and annoyed snorts.

Flickers unfolded among the representatives, with even the silent, cloaked branching expert from the Assassins Guild paying slightly more attention to Priest Fred.

There clearly was something there, be it fear that Liam’s claim could ruin the just-sealed agreement or political issues between the Guilds and the Church. Still, Liam didn’t care about any of that, his gaze remaining fixed on Priest Fred, whose reaction had everyone beat.

Priest Fred’s smile vanished, his face growing cold and emotionless as he matched Liam’s feral stare, and he wasn’t alone. The two rooting experts from the Church sitting some distance away had also voiced loud gasps, seemingly avoiding snapping only out of respect for the representatives.

’He knows,’ Liam realized at that reaction. ’Priest Elmer should have known, too. Maybe Priest Eustace was even aware of the hidden laboratory.’

Liam’s senses had made him quite decent at reading people, so he could draw such conclusions, especially when it was obvious how taken aback Priest Fred was. He had hit a sore spot, shining some light on that mysterious topic.

There was also a second-order effect. Since the Archbishop himself had rejected the Church, Priest Fred wouldn’t be able to claim ownership of the inheritance anymore. It basically wasn’t theft.

"Master Black Qi, you should mind your words," Priest Fred scolded. "How could a young cultivator like you even understand His Excellency’s wishes? Do you truly believe you know better than us who have managed the inheritance for centuries?"

Liam was about to reply when Grace’s weight on him increased ever-so-slightly. As always, her mask was perfect, even when it came to her gestures, making sure that only he would notice.

"There’s much value in information," Grace announced, throwing one wary look at Priest Fred before focusing on Whispering Wind. "My beloved and I are willing to share it, but it must be a trade. Doesn’t the Messengers Guild agree?"

Whispering Wind was put on the spot. Normally, she would have agreed instantly. Trading information was her whole Guild’s deal after all. However, knowledge was also dangerous. Requesting it in front of Priest Fred might also get her to the Church’s bad side.

"Information is indeed a valuable trade," Whispering Wind announced, slightly hesitant, choosing the best words she could find. "But Lady Grace, what Master Black Qi claimed is definitely fortuitous, as well as impossible to prove."

"That’s a lie," Liam promptly stated, surprising even Grace. "Brother Lancelot spread the news himself. I was there when it happened."

Grace had to work overtime to suppress her glee, and the same went for keeping her hands to herself. That was a great answer, better than what she would have otherwise said.

Of course, what Lancelot had shared with the world only focused on the fact that he had claimed the inheritance and killed Dominic, taking all the blame for himself in order to provide cover for Liam.

Nevertheless, with Lancelot being so public about his actions, interrogating him would have taken but a moment. Sure, he had been in a hurry to return to the Secret Jade Sect, but years had passed since then. The Messengers Guild could have easily requested an audience afterward.

So, it wasn’t that the news was impossible to confirm. The Messengers Guild had already learned about it and was keeping it hidden out of respect for the Church, or it had stopped looking for the truth. Either way, it had no right to call Liam a liar.

Another stalemate seemed to have descended because no one dared to speak. None of the Guilds wanted to take a side there, and Liam and Grace had already made their point. Still, Priest Fred eventually broke the silence.

"Information should indeed be purchased," Priest Fred said, his face still cold. "The Church is willing to exchange what credit it believes it has for one question. Is anyone opposed?"

Naturally, no objections resounded. Liam didn’t mind that in the first place, and Grace’s silence told him that she was of the same mind.

"Master Black Qi," Priest Fred eventually continued. "Am I correct to believe that your team met Archbishop Ignatius’ spirit?"

For the first time in Liam’s life, he told a proper lie without needing to think or force his expression to stay still. He wouldn’t make such mistakes when it came to protecting people he cared about.

"Only I met the Archbishop’s spirit," Liam responded. He could guess the risk of revealing that interaction, so he wanted to keep Lancelot out of it.

"Very well," Priest Fred exclaimed, his calm smile returning as he stood up. "I thank the Guilds, Master Black Qi, and Lady Grace for their time. The Church of the Man will step out now."

The sudden development seemed to surprise all the representatives, but there was no stopping Priest Fred. No one even tried. In mere minutes, he was out of the Barracks with the two rooting experts in tow.

A carriage had been waiting for the trio outside, setting off as soon as they climbed it. In half a day, the ride returned to the city Liam and Grace had never managed to enter.

Everything seemed normal. The Priest even engaged in his usual round of polite greetings with the mortals along the way as he returned to the city’s Church. It was a simple, small building, mostly attended by mortals.

The Priest kept smiling as he went to the Church’s second and last floor. The place mainly had living quarters, but there was an office only he could enter, featuring an altar-shaped container on its large desk.

The container was sealed, but its lid opened on its own when exposed to the golden light Priest Fred radiated from his palm. He retrieved a black jade from it and sat comfortably behind the desk, his smile disappearing as he brought the item to his mouth.

There was some hesitation, but the Priest eventually sighed, pouring his Qi into the jade, activating its functions, but still taking a few seconds to sort out his thoughts. Eventually, he spoke clear, cold words.

"Alert the King," Priest Fred said. "There must be a purge. Teleport the hybrids."

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