Chapter 45

Although Leon had brought vitality and prosperity to the stagnant atmosphere of Fasa with his mercenary business, not everyone liked Leon Gryph.

A prime example was Bishop Malone of Fasa.

Malone was a priest belonging to the Western Church, but he was a very secular figure for a clergyman.

Having entered the clergy semi-forcibly because he couldn't inherit the family title, it was only natural that he had a lot of material greed.

Therefore, the complaint held by Bishop Malone of Fasa was also simple.

“I’m not getting a single thing out of this, damn it! That damn Leon Gryph!”

***

Fasa was a small city-state, but within it existed numerous groups.

There was the Corsini Family, representing the native feudal nobility, and the newly emerging merchant class of the Signori Family, and below them, various craftsmen's guilds and the citizen class with minimum voting rights, and so on.

And they all had one thing in common.

That was the fact that when Leon Gryph, who had suddenly fallen from the sky, announced the mercenary business, saying ‘Ah, this will work! It will definitely work!’, they had benefited in some way.

Even now, that influence was being maintained.

With the success of the mercenary business, the Fasa government's tax revenue was continuously increasing, and the unemployment rate had hit rock bottom.

In fact, these days, there was a fuss everywhere due to a shortage of people.

But among them, there was one place that was an exception and had not benefited from the business.

That was the Diocese of Fasa.

The church had nothing to gain from the mercenary business.

No, donations had increased thanks to the revitalized economy.

But it wasn't enough to satisfy Malone.

Everyone else had hit the jackpot, but he alone had not improved, so he couldn't help but be angry.

The saying, 'Your stomach hurts when your cousin buys land,' doesn't exist for nothing.

In fact, it wasn't that Malone had done nothing.

(Though Leon might not remember) Malone had once visited Leon and discreetly suggested hiring priests for the spiritual well-being of the mercenary company.

But what he got back was a cold response.

“You want me to hire a priest who can't even tie a ship's rope? If I had that kind of space, I'd fill it with more supplies. That's enough, you may leave now. I won't see you out.”

After saying just one word and being treated like a peddler, Malone barely managed to stop himself from saying, ‘Aren't you the same, unable to tie a rope?’

It wasn't because he was trying to hide his ulterior motive of asking for donations, but because he was afraid of the Signori Family, Leon’s backers. (If you're not this shameless, you can't become a bishop.)

Originally, the position of Bishop of Fasa was appointed directly by the Pontiff, not the Fasa government.

And since the bishop was an honorable and influential position, countless people wanted to become one.

The reason Malone, who had no connection to the clergy, was able to break through that fierce competition and sit in the bishop's seat was all thanks to the Signori Family's influence.

Knowing their power, Malone tried his best not to get on the Signori Family's bad side.

“Damn it, but it’s infuriating. I won't be satisfied until I teach him a lesson somehow.”

But he couldn't just hire swordsmen to intimidate Leon.

It was because of the Snow Elf bodyguard that Leon had with him.

According to rumors, that Snow Elf was a warrior of such great skill that he could take down dozens of pirates by himself.

Of course, being a rumor, it was likely exaggerated, but if even half of the rumor was true, there was probably no one in Fasa who could face that Snow Elf.

In the end, when it became impossible to get rid of Leon physically, Malone pulled out his last resort.

“In this situation, I have no choice but to form public opinion and put pressure on Leon.”

Malone was thick-skinned, but by no means a fool.

He at least had the intelligence to be appointed as a bishop by the Pontifical Curia.

With that brilliant intellect, it was very easy to find a pretext for a problem.

“Speaking of which, I heard that a strange, bitter-tasting foreign drink called Kahu or Kapi has been trending recently. And unlike before, the number of smelly kobolds has noticeably increased.”

Malone had complaints not only about Leon but also about the kobolds.

It wasn't that he hated pirates like other people in Fasa, but because they weren't profitable.

If those former pirates decided to live in Fasa, shouldn't they at least make an effort to convert?

Instead of making regular donations to the church, they were still believing in some desert demigods, which was truly an absurd situation.

“A foreigner, a different race, and an unknown drink. To allow such things to run rampant. I don't know what everyone is thinking.”

Thinking about it, the beginning of all this was Leon Gryph.

Changes began to occur when Leon Gryph appeared in Fasa.

As the bishop of the church protecting the spirituality of Fasa, Malone could not tolerate such contamination.

Saint Rainerius, were he alive, would have gladly agreed.

After much thought, Malone quickly came up with a logic that would not offend the Signori Family but would still deal a blow to Leon.

That was to accuse Leon of being a demon in league with heretics.

The logic was classic, but it worked well precisely because it was classic.

Although the authority of the church had declined significantly compared to the past, its influence was still strong.

If rumors of being involved with a demon spread, not only would Leon's reputation be severely damaged, but the Signori Family would also not be able to step forward recklessly.

Malone smiled a triumphant smile.

***

Leon held his forehead.

A slight headache was coming on.

He wasn't shocked that an annoying fly had attached itself to him.

It was because of the fact that such a thing was happening, and he had been completely unaware of it.

‘The news is too slow…….’

It was a natural thing.

Arms bend inwards, after all.

No matter how shameful a figure the Bishop of Fasa was, he was still a native of Fasa.

On the other hand, Leon was a foreigner in Fasa, and it hadn't been long since he arrived.

It was inevitable that he would lack relationships with people.

Moreover, since the content of Bishop Malone's slander was so absurd, there was no one who would go out of their way to spread the bad news.

Good heavens, this isn't the old days, who looks for demons anymore?

As a result, Leon had learned of Bishop Malone's slander belatedly.

Rather than falling into the 'sorrow of a stranger not accepted by the community,' Leon chose to take the next step.

“Who did you say? Bishop Malone? I don't know him at all. Was there such a person in Fasa?”

Captain Leandro, who brought the news, was flustered.

“You have met him before. He visited the mercenary company a few times in the past. He was probably asking for donations.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I remember. There was someone who glared at me with particular intensity whenever we met, so that was him. So, do people really believe the rumor that I'm involved with a demon?”

“Not at all. Who would believe such a thing these days?”

Captain Leandro laughed heartily, but in fact, Leon felt a little guilty.

He himself knew that the trait he possessed and its activation ability were not ordinary.

In the first place, the name of the trait itself was related.

In a way, one could say that Bishop Malone had the insight to see through people.

Lost in thought for a moment, Leon discovered something he had missed.

“By the way, Captain Leandro, where did you find that out?”

Captain Leandro flinched.

It sounded like a reprimand: ‘Everyone is busy working, so are you the only one slacking off?’

So, Captain Leandro desperately tried to change the subject.

“At the banquet held by the Corsini Family the other day, Bishop Malone was talking loudly for all to see. Speaking of which, why didn't you come, Lord Gryph?”

“The Corsini Family held a banquet? I wasn't invited……”

“You were probably busy and forgot. Look. Here's the invitation.”

Captain Leandro found the invitation on a desk piled high with documents.

Leon looked at it for a moment with sad eyes.

It wasn't that Leon was unpopular in Fasa.

In fact, most of the influential families were desperate to invite Leon to the banquets they hosted.

It was just that Leon was so busy with work that he rarely accepted invitations.

He was already busy enough trying to make the sea route to Halifa safe.

The coffee business had succeeded, but that was a story limited to Fasa.

And Fasa was a very small country compared to the world.

Therefore, the mercenary company's finances were practically in the red.

‘In the end, I brought this on myself.’

He was too busy with work to attend social gatherings, so he couldn't build relationships, and as a result, he was completely unaware that he was being attacked by Bishop Malone.

What was particularly shocking was that he hadn't noticed even when the warning signals were blaringly obvious.

‘I need an information network.’

Leon felt the desperate need for an intelligence organization, if only for his own safety.

Even now, wasn't he being attacked without knowing anything?

To deal with such matters, an intelligence organization was necessary.

Who knows when the people of Fasa might turn Leon into Saint Leonius.

Of course, it was impossible for now.

He was already suffering from an excessive workload, and if he suggested expanding to an intelligence organization here, the mercenary officers would probably stage a rebellion.

Eleonor, whose dark circles under her eyes had recently reached her mouth, was in the middle of trying to entrust administrative work to Rhom, the Troll Knight.

Rhom, unable to bear the boredom and having run away, being dragged back by Eleonor by the ear was a bonus.

That was how short-staffed the mercenary company was.

“Hmm. Bishop Malone.”

Leon leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling.

A bishop is a rather high-ranking position.

Especially in this world where religion holds strong power, he was not an easy opponent to touch.

But even so, should he have to take this beating one-sidedly?

No.

Someone else might, but that wasn't Leon's taste.

However, Leon couldn't step forward himself.

As just proven, he was a foreigner here.

If Leon stepped forward himself, he could probably subdue someone like Malone, but there would inevitably be gossip among the people of Fasa.

Just as the business was getting on track, having his reputation damaged was not what Leon wanted.

He needed to maintain as positive an image as possible.

Leon was keenly reminded of why celebrities donated so much.

“In that case, well, there's only one way.”

“Do you have a good idea? You're not thinking of assassinating the bishop, are you?”

Leon looked at Captain Leandro with a pathetic expression.

Captain Leandro's ears turned red.

“What kind of novels have you been reading lately to say something like that?”

“Some war stories……”

“Even so, do you really think I would use such a method? We are civilized people. Just because the opponent acts barbarically doesn't mean I have to act barbarically too.”

Captain Leandro originally belonged to the Shipowners' Union.

And once you reach the position of captain, you become accustomed to political rhetoric whether you like it or not.

Because you have to read the room between the shipowners and investors.

So, Captain Leandro understood the implication in Leon's statement that he would treat Bishop Malone as a barbarian.

“Where I came from, there was a saying, ‘an offer he can't refuse.’ I’m thinking of making such an offer to Bishop Malone.”

Theo looked at him as if to ask when there was ever such a saying, but Leon ignored him.

Only Captain Leandro, who had no idea about such a saying, was impressed.

“I see. Then who are you thinking of sending?”

“There should be someone among the Signori Family who works as a state councilor. Was it Mr. Randolfo’s older brother?”

“Are you talking about Mr. Emilio Signori?”

“That’s probably him. I’ll have to make an appointment with him.”

Leon pulled out his cheat key.

If he couldn't step forward himself, he could just send someone else who could solve the problem.

Moreover, if Emilio Signori stepped forward to resolve the relationship, there would be less gossip.

After all, Emilio Signori was just a government official serving the people.

It wouldn't be a flaw for an official to step forward to solve a citizen's problem.

“He should be able to mediate sufficiently between me and Bishop Malone.”

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.