Bishop Augustus's gaze landed on Lei Luo like a physical weight, as if trying to see through him, inside and out.
He put down his water cup, and the bottom of the cup made a soft clink as it touched the table, sounding particularly clear in the silent hall.
"What the Baron said sounds reasonable."
Augustus's voice was still calm, but it carried a hint of imperceptible coldness.
"But matters of faith are the foundation of a territory, the sustenance of the soul. How can they be delayed for a mere bit of money? Spiritual poverty is far more terrifying than material scarcity. Without the restraint of faith, people's hearts easily scatter, and evil thoughts easily arise. Baron, you are young and promising, you should know this principle."
The old man leaned forward slightly, and the pressure followed: "Does the Baron believe that as long as the people are well-fed and clothed, they no longer need the guidance and solace of divine grace?"
This question was asked with great weight; a slight misstep could lead to being accused of blasphemy.
Lei Luo sneered inwardly; this old fox was indeed pressing him step by step.
He showed no expression on his face.
"Bishop, you misunderstand. I absolutely have no such intention. The glory of the Bright God Lord is like the sun and moon, illuminating all things, and we mortals are constantly bathed in it. How dare we show the slightest disrespect?"
He changed the subject, his tone sincere.
"Although the Blackstone Territory currently has no temple, the people constantly restrain their words and actions with the Bright Scripture, striving for goodness and abiding by the law. Within the territory, doors are not locked at night, and lost items are not picked up on the road. Is this not a manifestation of the power of faith?"
"Eloquent sophistry."
Bishop Augustus finally withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and leaned back in his chair.
"The Baron's eloquence truly impresses this old man. However, verbal piety ultimately needs to be proven by actual deeds. A temple is not merely a place of prayer; it is a symbol of our Lord's glory, a lighthouse for educating all people, and a strong fortress against the erosion of evil."
He paused, his eyes sharp.
"Baron, you repeatedly claim your territory is pure and your people devout. But as far as I know, this land is not entirely peaceful."
Lei Luo's heart stirred, knowing that the crucial probing had arrived. He had to respond carefully, otherwise, baseless accusations would be thrown at him.
He feigned confusion, slightly furrowing his brow.
"Oh? Does the Bishop mean... there's something amiss within the Blackstone Territory?"
He performed perfectly, showing both concern and a hint of bewilderment at being questioned.
Bishop Augustus's gaze swept over Lei Luo, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his words.
"Baron, perhaps you are too busy with daily affairs to notice certain hidden impurities."
"Our Lord's light illuminates the earth, but shadows always follow. In places without the protection of a temple, without clergy praying day and night, evil is more likely to breed and spread."
He paused, giving Lei Luo time to process.
"I hear that near the Baron's territory, there are some discordant voices. Some fallen souls have abandoned the light of our Lord and turned to worship certain... impure existences."
Lei Luo's thoughts raced.
Was this old fox trying to scare him, or did he truly know something?
He thought for a moment, and soon, a plan to deflect the trouble came to mind.
He feigned contemplation for a moment, a hint of solemnity appearing on his face, which then turned into sudden realization and indignation.
"Does the Bishop mean..."
Lei Luo lowered his voice, leaning forward slightly, as if sharing a secret and important piece of information.
"Are you referring to those scoundrels entrenched in the Poplar Territory?"
He paused at just the right moment, observing Augustus's reaction.
"I only recently heard some rumors, but I was troubled by the lack of concrete evidence and didn't want to act rashly, lest I alert the evil-doers and make them wary."
Lei Luo's tone was filled with hatred for "evil" and a hint of "self-reproach" for not being able to deal with it sooner.
"The Viscount of Poplar Territory has been acting increasingly strangely in recent years. It is said... it is said that he has abandoned the light and secretly joined some 'Hydra Cult,' engaging in evil sacrifices within his territory, bewitching his people, and poisoning living beings!"
Lei Luo's voice was filled with "righteous indignation."
"Such scoundrels are a huge blemish under the glory of the Bright God Lord! If the Blackstone Territory were not newly established and its strength meager, I would wish to personally lead knights to flatten that defiled place and burn all those blasphemers to death under holy flames!"
He spoke these words with righteous indignation, coupled with an expression of heartfelt anguish, looking even more agitated than the most fervent zealot.
Bolin, standing beside him, watched dumbfounded.
Bishop Augustus listened quietly, a hint of imperceptible shrewdness flashing in his gray-blue eyes.
The atmosphere in the hall became even more subtle due to Lei Luo's "passionate speech."
After a moment, Bishop Augustus slowly spoke.
"Hydra Cult?"
His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"This cult, based on the Hydra, is a degenerate sect that pursues forbidden power, habitually uses live sacrifices and black magic, and its methods are extremely cruel."
His gaze returned to Lei Luo.
"Since the Baron is aware of this, why did he not report it to the Holy See sooner? Allowing such evil to spread on our Lord's land is a dereliction of duty."
Lei Luo inwardly thought, "Here it comes," but on his face was an expression of "dismay" and "grievance."
"Bishop, please allow me to explain!"
He bowed slightly.
"I only recently received some vague information and have not yet fully verified it. The Viscount of Poplar Territory is, after all, a local noble, and his title is higher than mine. Without conclusive evidence, if I were to accuse him rashly, it might cause unnecessary disputes, and I might even be bitten back, accused of coveting his territory."
He sighed, appearing very "helpless."
"Moreover, Bishop, as you know, the Blackstone Territory has just undergone development, its military strength is not yet abundant, and there are many complex affairs within the territory, making it truly difficult to spare manpower. I had originally intended to continue investigating in secret, and once the evidence was conclusive, to immediately report it to the Holy See and request divine punishment."
"I never expected that the glory of the Bright God Lord truly illuminates all, sending the Bishop here to relieve the people's suffering and purify this sinful defilement for us."
These words not only explained why he hadn't reported it but also hinted that he had been "actively working," and cleverly attributed the credit to the Bishop, indicating that the Bishop's arrival was "very timely."
Bishop Augustus stared at Lei Luo, his sharp gaze seeming to pierce his soul.
Lei Luo met his gaze calmly, his eyes "clear" and "firm," appearing "open and honest, with a clear conscience."
Finally, Bishop Augustus's expression seemed to soften slightly, and the oppressive aura also receded a bit.
"Hmph, the Viscount of Poplar Territory..."
He snorted coldly, his tone carrying obvious disgust.
"If it is truly as you say, that he has abandoned the light and embraced evil gods, then he is bringing about his own destruction."
He stood up, his tall figure casting a shadow in the hall.
"This matter is of great importance and cannot be tolerated. Since I am already aware, there is no reason to sit idly by."
Bishop Augustus's gaze turned towards the outside of the hall, as if he could already see the land shrouded in "evil."
"The matter of the Blackstone Territory's temple will be postponed for now."
He made his decision.
"This old man will personally go to the Poplar Territory to investigate. If the situation is true, I will let those blasphemers know that no defilement is allowed under our Lord's glory!"
He turned his head and looked at Lei Luo one last time.
"Baron, I hope what you said is true. Otherwise, you cannot bear the cost of deceiving the Holy See."
A great weight in Lei Luo's heart finally lifted, at least for now, but his face still maintained an expression of "respect" and "sincerity."
"Bishop, with your keen insight, you will surely discern the truth and cleanse the evil. I am willing to fully cooperate with the Bishop's actions, and if there is any need, the Blackstone Territory, from top to bottom, will not dare to disobey!"
"Very good."
Bishop Augustus nodded, said no more, and turned to walk out of the hall.
"Order! We depart immediately for the Poplar Territory!"
Outside the door, the solemn Holy See knights moved at his command, quickly beginning to assemble.
Lei Luo straightened up, watching Bishop Augustus's receding figure, a subtle curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
He had finally managed to temporarily send this plague god away.
As for the Viscount of Poplar Territory...
Heh heh, may he seek his own blessings then.
"May your friend die, not me!"