Chapter 004: Divine Grace Like the Sea, Power Like a Prison

Everyone was stunned by Ordas’s words. This act of offering medicine on the spot not only showed the Belinger family’s intention to forge a friendly relationship but also gave the Green family a tremendous honor. It was an opportunity that was hard to come by even with great effort!

A few more astute individuals began to suspect that Ordas’s actions were surely related to what had happened in the study earlier. Now, everyone looked at Du Fan, eager to see his reaction to such a great opportunity.

Du Fan still sat by the table, his expression unreadable. He slowly finished the fruit wine in his cup before smiling faintly and saying, “What are you talking about, Young Master Ordas? If I’m interested in this Milak potion, no matter what the cost, it should be me who bears it. Why should you, Young Master Ordas, go through the trouble? Besides, if I’m not mistaken, it’s not that easy for the Belinger family to take down Rhode Island, right? Well, since Young Master Ordas has offered it, I can’t refuse out of courtesy. I’ll take the Milak potion, but let’s also count the task of bringing peace to Rhode Island as part of our family’s responsibilities. However, half a year is far too short. I hope Princess Nina can grant me a little more time.”

With that, Du Fan bowed slightly in Princess Nina’s direction.

Princess Nina was still in a daze. What kind of mind did this Du Fan have? To refuse such a huge benefit? Seeing Du Fan bow to her, she could only nod instinctively.

Noticing this, Du Fan said nothing more, merely smiling slightly before turning to Ordas and adding, “Also, anyway, I owe Young Master Ordas a favor today, and I’ll remember it. If I get the chance in the future, I’ll definitely repay it properly. As for now, I can’t stay any longer. As you all know, I’m a priest who must pray at the sanctuary every day. I really can’t stay longer, so I’ll have to leave now. Please forgive any rudeness. May the light of the God of Light bless you all.”

With that, Du Fan stood up, made a prayer gesture, and strode toward the door. Old Mark stood up, bowed to Princess Nina from afar, and quickly followed him, leaving everyone in the hall staring at each other in confusion. What was Young Master Du Fan’s intention with all this?

Princess Nina glanced at Du Fan’s retreating figure, then at the box beside her containing the Milak potion, and sighed. “It seems I’ll have to deliver this personally to the Green family’s residence tomorrow… Father, it seems your plan to use this opportunity to test the strength of various families won’t work. This young Master Du Fan simply won’t give you a chance…”
…
“Young master… I don’t understand…” As they walked slowly through the palace, Old Mark suddenly asked in a low voice.
Du Fan sighed. “What’s there to not understand? Aldas’s intentions are quite clear. He clearly saw that I would never let go of what his sister did, so he’s willing to offer me such a huge benefit. You know, even the Belinger family was determined to get their hands on the Milak potion.”
“But… no matter how I look at it, I still think accepting their terms wouldn’t be bad for us, right?”
“There’s indeed nothing wrong with it. But if we accept it, I won’t be able to let you go around spreading the news tonight.” Du Fan spread his hands. “But for me… spreading this news is far more important than getting the Milak potion.”
Old Mark frowned, a bit puzzled, but after glancing at Du Fan’s expression, he stopped asking further. Having been a servant for decades, he naturally knew what to ask and what not to ask.
Du Fan glanced at him and smiled. “Grandpa Mark, don’t frown. Once someone delivers the Milak potion to the residence tomorrow, bring it to me. With that, I can figure out what to learn. Once I have the ability to protect myself, I won’t need to trouble you, Grandpa Mark, to protect me everywhere I go.”
Old Mark was slightly stunned. “Third young master… I’m willing to protect you for a lifetime…”
Du Fan was both amused and exasperated. The words sounded so awkward, but he knew the old man meant well, so he didn’t say much more. He just sighed to himself: Grandpa Mark, how could you know that I now hold a secret that could bring great disaster to the family at any moment? Every move must be handled with extreme caution. Although I also want to get the Milak potion without paying any price, compared to protecting this secret, any price is worth it. Only by ruining Emily’s reputation can today’s actions remain hidden; otherwise, I’ll be uneasy even while sleeping!
…

It was a vast space hidden deep beneath the cathedral, within a structure resembling an amphitheater. In the very center, a sacred fire burned endlessly on the ground. Around the sacred fire, a few chairs were scattered across the buildings, with a sacred altar at the highest point for prayer. On top of the altar stood Arch-Cardinal Anthony, clad in a flowing robe. In his left hand was a pure white magic staff, which he gently stroked with his right hand. According to the hierarchical structure of the Holy Church, clergy could be divided into seven ranks: priests, white-robed priests, cardinal priests, bishops, archcardinals, arch-archcardinals, and the Pope. Arch-Cardinal Anthony naturally stood at the pinnacle of power. By his status, even the emperor of the Gavin Empire would have to bow his noble head like a well-behaved child in front of him. After all, across the entire Roland continent, no one other than the Great Pope could earn even a fraction of his respect. Yet now, this elder at the peak of power frowned slightly. His wrinkled face was shadowed, and his thin body breathed heavily beneath his robe. After a long while, he sighed and said, “How long ago was this?” Standing below him was one of the four leaders of the Temple Knights, also the most famous knight of the Temple Knights in the Gavin Empire. Knight Joshua, standing at 1.8 meters tall, had a heroic appearance, his golden hair shining brightly everywhere due to his mastery of light magic. This ninth-level grand knight was said to be on the verge of reaching the sacred rank, making him the strongest military force of the Holy Church in the Gavin Empire. Yet, this grand knight, who should always remain calm and composed, now had sweat beading on his forehead. One hand rested on the long sword at his waist, while the other was pressed against his chest. In a low and hoarse voice, he said, “Respected Lord Anthony, I cannot determine the exact time it happened, but it must have been today, as the Temple Knights go to the forbidden area once a day to make deliveries… But when I led my team there today, I saw that scene—every knight guarding it had perished, and even that ‘abomination’ had disappeared. I am guilty and deserve divine punishment!”

“At this point, what good is blaming you?” Anthony sighed. “Joshua, tell me… based on your judgment, who could possibly be the one who stole that ‘abomination’? They managed to leave even our most devout knights at the service of the God of Light helpless, without even giving us time to send a warning.”
Joshua still kept his head lowered, but his tone became calmer. “Lord Anthony, if I’m not mistaken, it must have been someone of the Saint class. Among those present were five Level 8 knights, thirteen Level 7 knights, and thirty-two Level 6 knights. With such strength, not even I would dare face them alone. Yet all indications suggest that there were no more than two enemies there. Only someone of the Saint class could pull off such a feat.”
“And…”, Joshua continued, his expression turning somewhat strange. “There’s another thing… I’m not sure if I should mention it.”
“Go ahead.”
“Yes…” Joshua showed a hint of anger. “When we arrived, we found that not only were all our brothers dead, but their equipment, weapons, and even all their valuables had been stripped away. It seemed as though that person killed them just for those things.”
“Oh… so that’s what happened?” Anthony was momentarily stunned, lost in thought. After a long while, he sighed softly. “Forget it, Joshua. Go arrange proper burials for those who sacrificed themselves. Their families also need proper compensation. Leave the rest to me.”
“Yes!” Joshua nodded respectfully, stood up, and strode away.
Watching him leave, Archbishop Anthony finally sighed and sat down on a chair in a somewhat dejected manner. After a long while, he said, “What do you think, Warden?”
“I’m not sure about the other matters, but I do know that if outsiders find out about this, it could cause serious trouble. So for now, the best we can do is keep the news under wraps and secretly investigate which Saint-class figures have arrived in the capital recently. There’s nothing else we can do.” A gloomy voice came from the shadows of the altar, carrying a chilling tone.
But Anthony acted as if he knew nothing, nodding slightly and murmuring, “Very well, then let’s do as you say. May the God of Light bless you.”

The figure in the shadows seemed to chuckle softly and murmured, “Divine grace as vast as the sea, divine power like a prison…”
“Divine grace as vast as the sea, divine power like a prison…” Anthony smiled bitterly and muttered, “Divine Power Prison… Divine Power Prison… How many years have passed? Why do we have to use this power again?”