Chapter 5: Belief

Frenster left gracefully, leaving Komer in deep thought. Although they had reached a tentative agreement, it still required coordination between Frenster and Vazhinki. Frenster currently held the upper hand—would he be willing to yield to Vazhinki? And would Vazhinki be willing to work with Frenster for now?
Komer wasn’t sure, but he believed that if Frenster and Vazhinki were not just fervent religious propagandists but wise politicians, they would understand that the Light Church could no longer afford internal divisions. The departure of the Salvation Society had taken away a significant portion of the Light Church’s elite.
Although the high-level leadership didn’t seem greatly weakened, Komer, Frenster, and Vazhinki knew that the loss of core members could be fatal to a faith-based sect. They were loyal executors of religious doctrines and played a crucial role in determining a sect’s rise or fall.
Welch had spent decades in hiding, not idly—his strategy of staying low-key allowed him to grow silently amid the power struggles among Frenster, Vazhinki, and Noyora. Otherwise, even if he had survived, he would never have amassed such considerable influence so quickly.
Now, the development of the Salvation Society threatened his own position. Those who aimed for great things must not be constrained by trivialities. Only by being ruthless, cunning, and stealthy could they achieve their goals to the fullest extent. Komer didn’t want to openly suppress the Salvation Society for now—after all, their earlier cooperation had been beneficial for both sides. Introducing competitors and balancing power at the right time was the best approach.
Frenster understood Komer’s intentions, but he had no choice but to fall into the trap. Without his support, the Light Church might truly disappear from Nicosia. And Nicosia’s rejection of the Light Church would have a profound impact on its presence in Bithynia and the countries of the Northern Alliance—something the Light Church could never accept.
Yet Frenster’s ambitions were truly vast; he had his eyes set on the Southern Mid-Sea. Heh, as the saying goes, “The tree wishes to be still, but the wind keeps blowing.” The people of the Southern Mid-Sea were accustomed to indulging in the legacy left by their ancestors. Those absurd polytheistic beliefs were outdated and abandoned—proof of which was the gradual rise of the Dark faction.

And now it seems the Church of Light has picked up on something again. Good, let them fight. It’s like the fat on a neighbor’s land—no matter how much they struggle over it, it won’t harm us. In fact, we might even get a chance to interfere and possibly score a share.
But that guy, Xuro, must be furious. His investments in Nicosia haven’t yielded enough returns, and now someone is stepping on his territory. That must be uncomfortable. It’s good for him to suffer some setbacks; it’ll make him realize this world isn’t as simple and smooth as he thinks, which is beneficial for him to understand his future status and role.
“Vyrana, come out. Don’t you find it uncomfortable staying in there?”
“Huh? You know I’m in there?” A clear, songlike voice came from inside the room.
“Hmph. Do you think you can hide from anyone?”
“You mean even Frenster knows?”
“Hmph. He probably knows whether you’re armed or not, and whether you have malicious intentions. Do you think the second-in-command of the Church of Light is just a title? With your sneaky way of entering through windows, do you really think you can hide? It’s ridiculous. Many people can’t even meet his gaze or breathe loudly in his presence.”
“Then it seems you’re not afraid of him at all—speaking confidently, even a bit aggressively. Aren’t you afraid he’ll wipe you out in an instant?” Dressed in form-fitting, agile swordswoman attire, Vyrana stood at the door with an uncertain expression.
“I’m afraid, of course I am. That’s why I set up these traps,” Komer rolled his eyes. “Rebri and Mihajic are meditating next door—this won’t fool Frenster either. If he wanted to kill me instantly, he’s not yet at that level. It would take Caesar joining forces with him.”
“You admit you’re not as good as him?” Vyrana seemed interested in this question.
“Mm. I’m not as strong in magic as him, but when it comes to tactics and schemes, I’m not necessarily inferior. You know, fighting isn’t just about having strong magic.” Komer said proudly. “To kill me instantly, someone by my side would have to think I’m asleep.”
“Are you implying only women can do that? Or are you referring to me?” Vyrana said irritably. Now that their marriage was settled, the little skylark spoke more freely.
“Mm, a bit too sensitive, but it’s true. I rarely sleep; I mostly recover through meditation. This kind of opportunity doesn’t come easily,” Komer replied with a half-smile.
“Hmph. Don’t be too arrogant.”

“My greatest strength is self-awareness. The Light Church is full of talented people; there are several who are stronger than me. But as for those who could kill me, I doubt I can find even two. Being stronger than me doesn’t mean they can kill me—escaping is much easier than facing off in a duel.” Komer, rarely patient, joked, “You don’t think I’m so fragile that anyone can take me down, right? Or that I’ve gotten this far purely by luck?”
“Hmph, calling it luck would be unfair to you. But I’ve long heard about your use of schemes and intrigues,” Vyrana said without hiding her opinion of her fiancé.
“Hehe, you’re the first person to speak to me so bluntly. I don’t deny that I had to use tactics and schemes to get where I am. This world isn’t determined by force alone—wisdom is also a form of power, and in many cases, it’s more useful than martial skills or magic. Is bloody violence really more admirable than a subtle blade wielded with kindness? Not necessarily.”
“But at least it seems honest.” Vyrana understood the reasoning well, but she was unwilling to admit that this guy always had such convincing arguments on every topic.
“Hehe, if honesty could lead to success, I’d prefer it too. Unfortunately, in the world we live in, deception is the norm. Honesty often means failure. I don’t like failure, so I keep my distance from it.” Komer shrugged.
Vyrana fell silent. She had to admit she couldn’t outwit her fiancé in terms of eloquence. Everyone around her had told her that her fiancé was extremely cunning. It seemed that those who tried to scheme against him were always countered by him. In some ways, this was indeed a praiseworthy trait, but from a certain perspective, it was unsettling.
Can someone whose heart is always shrouded in schemes and darkness truly be trusted? Is he worthy of a lifetime of commitment? For the long-term stability of Besarabia, she could sacrifice her own happiness, but didn’t she also hope for a solution that satisfied both sides?
“Vyrana, what are you thinking?” Komer noticed the change in her mood.
“Nothing much, just some reflections,” Vyrana said apologetically, brushing aside a strand of hair from her forehead before smiling. “If you put it that way, is our engagement also a subtle blade wielded with kindness?”

Komer was momentarily stunned. He glanced up and down at this seemingly innocent and pure little skylark. Her question carried some significance—his deal with Bithysaria wasn’t anything shameful. Helping each other and relying on one another sounded reasonable, and it could also be seen as a way to protect oneself under great external pressure. Of course, it was even better if allies could prove their bond through political rituals. His engagement to Vyrana was the perfect choice for that purpose. The girl surely understood this, so why did she insist on exposing it?

“What do you think?” Komer asked, tilting his head with a smile. “If you believe so, who will this hidden blade harm? You or me, or Bithysaria?”

Vyrana was speechless.

“Vyrana, don’t be so pessimistic and gloomy about everything. Of course, there’s no need to show mercy to enemies, but I’ve always been generous and righteous toward friends and allies. Being my friend, you’ll never regret it.”

Vyrana also felt she had gone too far. Revealing the deeper truth at this moment was indeed too abrupt, but since the other party hadn’t lied or concealed anything, it made her feel a bit better. Of course, Komer’s next two sentences also lifted her spirits significantly.

“Am I your friend?”

“Hmm, it seems an engaged partner is a step closer than a friend, right?” Komer said with a bright smile.

“Oh, that’s more acceptable.” Vyrana’s smiling face was like a sweet apple, full of vitality, which also improved Komer’s mood greatly. “Komer, are you really planning to cooperate with the Church of Light?”

“Why not?”

“But that Frunster said you believe in the dark path—is that true? If so, how will you handle it…”

“Heh, faith shouldn’t be mixed up with secular power, nor should there be any connection between them. That’s exactly the idea I aim to establish among everyone, at least in Nicomedia. If anyone dares to challenge this, I won’t hesitate.” Komer smiled. “This has been confused by many in the past, especially by the Church of Light.”