Mushoku Impact

After being escorted from the palace and shown to the front gate, Paul was unsurprised to find an expensive-looking carriage and an aged Butler waiting for them. The highly-polished emblem on his lapels denoted him as a servant of House Latreia, so Paul didn't immediately tell him to fuck off when the man approached and offered a courteous bow in the manner of the Asura Kingdom.
With his head bowed, the well-dressed, equally well-groomed Butler said, "My name is Benson DeBois, Chief Steward in service of House Latreia. If Sir Paul is willing, my master, Lord Ralkan Latreia, has invited you and your companions to spend the evening at the Latreia Estate."
Though he had a middling interest in House Latreia, Paul didn't hesitate to answer, "Perhaps some other time. It's been nearly two weeks since I met with my escort. It would be exceptionally negligent on my part to accept your Lord's invitation when I've yet to confirm the status and safety of my own people."
Seemingly anticipating Paul's response, Benson raised his head, stating, "My Lord has also authorized me to see you and your companions safely to your destination. You'll have a much easier time passing checkpoints in a carriage bearing the sigil of House Latreia, so please allow me the honor of escorting you."
Adopting an amused smile, Paul gestured with his right hand, prompting Ganyu to transform into her Qilin form as he said, "I am perfectly capable of getting around on my own. Now, return to your Lord and tell him that if he truly wishes to meet with me, he'll seek me out directly."
Though Paul's words could be regarded as an extreme faux pas, so could Ralkan's decision to send a servant instead of meeting Paul in person. It was equivalent to 'summoning' him and was something Nobles did when they wanted to elevate themselves or reinforce the image they were in a superior position.
Seeing Paul turn away and mount Ganyu, a glimmer of disdain appeared in Benson's eyes. House Latreia were staunch supporters of the Order of the Temple, so Paul choosing to depart on the back of a 'Demon Beast' rather than accepting to board the carriage they had prepared was a particularly egregious insult.
Having noticed Benson's chagrin, Paul waited until Yae and Ei were on Ganyu's back before looking down at the elderly Butler and saying, "This is the one, and only time I will warn you. I truly don't give a damn what you think, but the next time you gaze at me or one of my companions with such eyes, be prepared to lose them."
Punctuating his words, Paul released just a fraction of the bloodlust he had refined during his brutal training with Atofe and Murata. Combined with his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, he could cause just about any creature with self-preservation instincts to fear for their life.
Unable to withstand Paul's aura, Benson immediately collapsed to his knees, supporting himself with his hands as sweat dripped from his body like a waterfall. This wasn't the first time he had met someone of the King Rank, but Paul's aura was far beyond anything he had experienced. If he weren't aware of the latter's origins, Benson would have thought he was in the presence of Demon God Laplace...
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"Big brother~!"
After departing the White Palace and causing a commotion by flying over numerous checkpoints, Paul eventually found himself outside an Auction House in Milishion's Commercial District. More specifically, he was about to enter the high-class Inn attached to it when a sprinting Klee, followed closely by Jean, emerged from the interior.
Catching the surprisingly swift Elfette out of the air, Paul couldn't help smiling as Klee buried her face into his chest and squeezed him as hard as she could. She was initially happy to see him, but when Paul held her in his embrace, her tiny body began trembling like an abandoned kitten left out in the cold.
Without raising her face from Paul's chest, Klee sobbingly muttered, "Klee really missed you...please don't leave Klee alone anymore..."
Though her backpack got in the way, Paul held Klee firmly as he replied, "I can't promise I'll always be around, Klee, but I can promise I'll always return. Now, how about you dry those tears and give me a smile? I won't feel like I've truly returned until I see your happy face."
Removing her face from Paul's chest, Klee responded with a meek "Okay" before using her sleeve to wipe her eyes. When she eventually lowered it, Paul could see tiny bags under them. The little Elfette had evidently been losing sleep over his absence, but she eventually managed a radiant smile &nbsp;and said, "Welcome back, Big Brother~!"
As an imaginary, heart-shaped arrow pierced his chest, Paul couldn't help exhaling. He wasn't sure he would ever get used to hearing someone call him 'Big Brother,' but it felt pleasant. The only downside was that, once he summoned Alice, she would invariably expect him to call her 'Mommy'...
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After a somewhat chaotic bath and staying with Klee until she fell asleep, Paul entrusted her to Ganyu, Diona, and Sayu before slipping out to meet with everyone who had stayed behind during his visit to the White Palace.
Unsurprisingly, shortly after Paul, Ei, Yae, and Ganyu had departed for the White Palace, Rudigan's men had attempted to 'insist' that Dimsaul direct the convoy to a private warehouse in the Residential District, an area that was strictly populated by individuals and families affiliated with the Order of the Temple.
Fortunately, while Ningguang's primary focus was developing the Strife Zone into the burgeoning nation of Teyvat, she didn't neglect to spread her influence through other countries. Alongside Barbara, she had also sent Rosaria, Childe, Thoma, and eventually Lyney and Varuna to secure a foothold in the Holy Kingdom. The latter, in particular, was regarded by an increasing number of people as the second coming of Saint Milis, so Paul wasn't strictly relying on his own power and status when he elected to cut loose in the White Palace.
Though it had been less than two years since her arrival, Varuna had risen to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Order of Instruction after distinguishing herself as the most powerful Holy Knight in the entire country. More notably, despite initially being refused the opportunity to learn Healing Magic above the Intermediate Rank, she was able to restore missing limbs and even bring fallen Knights back from the brink of death. Such 'miracles' were typically reserved for Archbishops or large groups of people utilizing Emperor-Ranked Healing Magic, so it wasn't difficult to comprehend why Varuna was regarded as the second coming of Milis.a
In acknowledgment of Varuna's capabilities, the Pope had appointed her the Honorary status of a Bishop, similar to Rudigan's father, Ralkan. From the perspective of the people, this made her one of the youngest Bishops in Milishion's history, a status she used to establish House Fontaine, one of the fastest-rising Noble Houses in the country.
Though many opposed Varuna's meteoric rise, particularly those affiliated with the Order of the Temple, her character and capabilities made her too popular to suppress. Several had tried, but Varuna's natural charisma and uncompromising sense of justice had garnered her tremendous support from the public, leading to a sequence of investigations that ruined some of the most prominent families in the city.
Taking advantage of the power vacuum produced in the wake of these families' fall, Ningguang used the name and status of House Fontaine to establish multiple businesses in Milishion. Her initial goals were to create a safety net for Barbara and facilitate the transport of people and goods from the Great Forest, but she had underestimated just how 'curious' the people of Milishion were about the outside world. With Varuna's fame and rising status as one of the leaders of the Demon Race Acceptance faction, it wasn't long before the businesses belonging to House Fontaine became the chief purveyor of 'exotic goods' within the city of Milishion.
When Rudigan's men attempted to force him to direct the convoy into an obvious trap, Dimsaul didn't hesitate to produce documents denoting their affiliation with House Fontaine. He also had a permit showing they were authorized to stage at a warehouse in the Commercial District and, most importantly, an invoice denoting that the goods they were importing and had been charged tariffs for belonged to the 'Fontaine Auction House.' In other words, the Order of the Temple had no grounds to 'insist' the convoy stage anywhere except the location they had previously arranged, not without exposing their scheme...
After hearing Dimsaul's report, Paul thanked the man for his hard work before telling him to get some rest. Then, as it was already 1:43 AM, he decided to forego sleep in favor of making small talk with the girls and asking for their views. Only Lynette and Shinobu had actively ventured outside the Commercial District, but they still had eleven days to get a feel for the city and its people.
As was often the case, Jean was among the first to speak, revealing, "I had a chance to meet with Barbara a few days ago. She has become a ward of House Fontaine and has been attending the Holy Milis Academy for Girls. It was a bit presumptuous of me, but I promised you would meet with her on her next day off."
Smiling broadly, Paul remarked, "That isn't being presumptuous; it's forward thinking. If not for the Order of the Temple's scheme, I would have arranged to meet her the day we arrived in the city. Hell, I'm half-tempted to go visit her right now..."
Returning a smile of her own, Jean replied, "I would advise against it. Per tradition, everyone attending the Holy Milis Academy for Girls must reside in a basic, female-only convent. If you were to visit, it would cause quite a scandal..."
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "Does it matter? Given how much time has passed, I expected Barbara to tag along when we set out for the Asura Kingdom. Don't tell me she's bought into their propaganda and developed a fondness for the teachings of Milis...?"
Shaking her head, Jean revealed, "The problem is the 'mission' assigned to her by Ningguang. She managed to befriend the daughters of House Latreia, but the accomplishments of Lady Varuna have inspired her target, Zenith Latreia, to decide against running away from home."
"Ah..."
Though he knew Barbara had been sent to watch over and keep Zenith safe, Paul couldn't help frowning in response to Jean's words. His stay in the Demon Continent had drastically affected his perspective of the world of Mushoku Tensei and his sense of responsibility as the Champion of the IoF. As much as he appreciated the 'character' of Zenith, he no longer felt it was appropriate to assign people to watch over her...
Deciding against making rash decisions, Paul stared into the flames of the nearby hearth with a pensive look as he said, "I'll speak with Barbara and hear what she has to say. When is her next day off?"
Lowering her head slightly, Jean courteously replied, "At the end of our previous meeting, we agreed to meet at the Fontaine Estate this Sunday, specifically around 11 AM. There is a good chance that Lady Varuna will also be present."
Smiling wryly, Paul issued a faint "Right..." before taking a sip from the glass of whiskey he had been nursing. Varuna had visited him a few times during his secret stay at Kishirika Castle, but he still had a few...difficulties when it came to interacting with her. Ever since he challenged her views and forced her to acquiesce, she had become one of the more 'devoted' women in his entourage. The 'choker' she wore bearing his initials was the best proof of that fact...
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(A/N: Certain types of devotion can be scary...)

With time to kill until Barbara's day off, Paul decided to spend time with the girls, taking advantage of the fact they were located near the center of the Commercial District.
As the name implied, the Commercial District was where most merchants had set up shop within Milishion. This included blacksmiths and tailors, so Paul set out with Jean, Eula, Klee, Xiangling, and Ganyu to have their non-Vision-based equipment repaired and to purchase local ingredients.
"Big brother, over there~! Klee wants to go there next...!"
With the spirited Elfette leaning against the back of his head and pointing in the direction she wanted him to go, Paul, with Klee riding his shoulders, made his way over to what could best be described as an old-fashioned toy store. There were objects such as wooden rocking horses and hand-whittled animals on display, the former of which was powered by a Magic Stone that allowed it to sway back and forward of its own accord.
Seeing how expensive even a simple wooden top was, Paul couldn't help frowning. The shop clearly catered to the nobility. However, considering most peasants, serfs, and slaves didn't really have time to play around, it wasn't too surprising.
"Do you want me to buy you a toy?" asked Paul. "The ones you make are much higher quality than anything on display here."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Klee giggled before saying, "Silly, Big brother. Klee isn't a little kid anymore. Klee wants to buy presents for all the children working at the Auction House. Big brother always says it's important to play as hard as you work, so Klee wants to reward them for working super hard~!"
Piggybacking off of Klee's words, Jean explained, "Several of the Beast Race children we picked up have chosen to apprentice with the Teyvat Trading Company. They wish to repay the favor of having their lives spared, so they're currently learning basic arithmetic alongside speaking, reading, and writing the Human and Demon God languages."
"Ah..."
Recalling how much the average Beast Person struggled with reading and writing their native language, a wry smile marred Paul's face. Members of the Beast Race weren't exactly stupid, but they were less reliant on verbal and written communication than other races. Their communities were also socialistic and extremely hierarchal in nature, so they didn't rely on things like currency to denote the value of goods. Everyone was given a purpose based on their capabilities and often dedicated their entire lives to the job assigned to them by their respective Chieftain. Thus, with few exceptions, most members of the Beast Race simply had no need for things like math, reading, and writing. They just did as they were told.
Believing it would be good for the children to have something to distract them during their off time, Paul, Klee, Ganyu, and Xiangling made their way into the store while Jean and Eula remained outside as a deterrent. The duo was serving as Paul's escort, so their attire was nearly identical to the Knightly Maid attire worn by Noelle. The latter had become the de facto uniform the girls wore while on duty, so Paul gave off the impression of a 'proper' Noble to anyone that happened to be observing his group's foray through the Commercial District.
Reinforcing this sentiment, the clerk within the toy store enthusiastically greeted Paul's group with a stooped posture the moment they stepped inside. It was a little unorthodox for a Noble to walk around in public with someone riding their shoulders, but the aura surrounding Paul's group and the quality of their clothes and equipment made it apparent they were, at the very least, exceptionally wealthy.
Before responding to the somewhat fat, incredibly nervous-looking man, Paul removed Klee from his shoulders, allowing her to look around with Xiangling while he conversed with the owner. He had little interest in most of the items on display, but those powered by Magic Crystals and Stones were worthy of attention.
Making the portly store owner tense, Paul asked, "Are you responsible for creating these trinkets? I noticed several of them are enchanted. Are you a Mage?"
Instead of answering Paul's question, the store owner took out a cloth to wipe his brow, asking, "Are...I mean, is the esteemed gentleman affiliated with the Order of the Temple?"
Understanding the man's concerns, Paul adopted a relaxed smile, shaking his head as he answered, "Be at ease. My companions and I hail from the Kingdom of Asura. I was just curious as I never expected to encounter a Magic Craftsman conducting business within the Holy City. You must have quite the backing to avoid persecution from the Templars."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, the store owner adopted a broad, yellow-toothed grin as he happily revealed, "It's all thanks to Her Grace, the Venerable Lady Fontaine. She will not hesitate to punish those who persecute and oppress others, so businesses like mine have managed to gain a foothold beneath the banner of the Demon Acceptance Faction. Members of the Demon Expulsion Faction occasionally come around to cause trouble, but they aren't nearly as brazen as they used to be."
Recalling how Varuna had threatened to kill him if he failed her test, Paul didn't need a detailed explanation to understand what happened to those who wielded justice and faith as weapons to oppress others. The moment Varuna learned of their tyranny, she would have slain them without mercy.
"I see," said Paul. "It appears Milishion is on the verge of a much-needed change. I hope your store continues to thrive in the far future."
Adopting an even bigger grin, the store owner mused, "The esteemed gentleman's business would go a long way toward ensuring that. I can confidently state you won't find a broader selection of magical trinkets and baubles in all of Milishion, so you would be remiss to leave without purchasing anything."
Directing his gaze to Klee, the store owner's eyes glistened a bit as he mused, "They say you can't put a price on a child's happiness. I'm sure the esteemed gentleman wouldn't want to make his younger sister sad by departing empty-handed~."
Exhaling a faintly amused snort, Paul remarked, "You're not wrong," before pulling out a billfold filled with Yen-like banknotes. The pale green variant, known as a General Note, was valued at around a single Asura Silver Coin, while the pale pink denomination, known as a Holy Royal Note, was worth around half an Asuran Gold Coin. Paul's billfold was stuffed with the latter, so the store owner's eyes became as round as saucers as the smile on his face strained the muscles of his cheeks.
Interrupting and simultaneously stoking the man's greedy thoughts, Paul stated, "I need seventy-three toys suited to Beast Race children. I expect a reasonable price and a matching quality. If you attempt to scam me with inferior goods...well, let's just say things won't end well."
Though Paul didn't exude his aura, the narrowing of his eyes was enough to send shivers through the store owner's plump body, prompting the man to raise his hands and exclaim, "I wouldn't dare!" in a fearful tone.
Adopting an approving smile, Paul remarked, "Good," before handing over the billfold and adding, "Make sure the items are of similar quality. I don't want the children fighting over them. Once you are done, take them over to the Fontaine Auction House. Ask for a man named Dimsaul and tell him Paul Greyrat sent you. He'll take care of the rest."
Hearing Paul's name and the intended destination of his goods, a cold sweat broke out across the store owner's body. Paul's 'assault' on the White Palace was currently the talk of the town in Milishion. Even before that, he was world-famous as the youngest Water King in history, so the store owner couldn't help swallowing as he nervously inquired, "Are you truly Paul Greyrat...the King's Greatsword?"
Narrowing his eyes ever so slightly, Paul placed his hand on the man's shoulder and replied, "Don't disappoint me..." before retracing his hand and rejoining the girls. Klee had wanted to pick out toys for each of the Beast children, but Paul managed to convince her to leave it to the store owner before placing her on his shoulders and departing a few minutes later. Shortly after that, the store owner closed up shop before plopping to the ground, staring at Paul's billfold as if it were a pinless grenade...
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Though Paul had carried her around for most of the day, Klee fell asleep on the return trip to the Fontaine Auction House. It had been a long time since she explored such a populous city, so she was completely tuckered out, nestled within Paul's embrace with a contented smile as she clung to his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
Unfortunately, Paul wasn't able to carry Klee all the way to her room as it wasn't just Dimsaul, Lilia, Ghislaine, and the girls from the IoF awaiting him outside the Fontaine Auction House. A very familiar carriage was also present, attended by a group of Knights wearing the distinctive, dark blue armor of the Order of the Temple.
After entrusting Klee to Jean, Paul approached the group's representative, none other than Ralkan Latreia, the presiding head of House Latreia. With him was a fairly handsome man in his late twenties to early thirties, the former possessing the distinct, golden-blonde hair of House Latreia while the latter had chestnut hair closer to Paul's original color; before it gained streaks of white.
Earning disproving looks from the two men, Paul dismissed with the usual formalities, maintaining a completely casual demeanor as he said, "Well, if it isn't the Lord of House Latreia, Earl Ralkan. And I suppose this is your would-be successor, the second son of House Caras, Sir Carlyte Caras~?"
Suppressing his very obvious disdain, Ralkan placed his hand over his chest and gave a proper Noble bow as he said, "It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the Asuran King's Greatsword, Sir Paul Greyrat."
Emulating his father-in-law's behavior, Carlyte also gave a proper bow and said, "And I am Carlyte 'Latreia...'" in a manner that emphasized his last name. Ralkan had adopted him into House Latreia as its future Lord, so referring to him by his original surname was an egregious insult.
Getting directly to the point, Paul asked, "So, what brings the two of you here? I would have thought the two of you would be pretty busy after the fiasco in the White Palace."
Raising his head, Ralkan stared directly into Paul's eyes as he replied, "I came here to apologize on behalf of my son. His foolishness allowed him to be taken advantage of, casting suspicion and bringing shame to all of House Latreia. Know that his punishment was not light..."
To emphasize his point, Ralkan gestured to his Chief Steward, Benson DeBois. In response, the elderly man stepped forward, presenting a box containing a severed left hand and multiple teeth. Rudigan's actions had nearly brought ruin to House Latreia, so Ralkan had unhesitantly turned him over to the Order of the Temple's Department of Inquisition. Their internal investigation concluded that Rudigan had no direct connection with the 'saboteurs' that had infiltrated the White Palace. However, as his ineptitude and folly had threatened the unity between the Holy and Asura Kingdoms, he would be spending the remainder of his short life in a prison cell.
Unmoved by the severed hand, Paul responded with a curt "Neat" before meeting Ralkan's gaze and asking, "Is that all? If so, I have other matters to attend. As for your apology, it is appreciated but unnecessary. I harbor no ill will toward House Latreia, and Archbishop Asheron has already mediated the matter on behalf of the Holy Kingdom. That being said, see you around."
Finished with what he had to say, Paul turned around and attempted to walk away, raising his hand as he did so. His behavior caused Carlyte's expression to darken, but the chestnut-haired man ultimately remained silent with a glance from Ralkan. The latter would have preferred to forge friendly relations with Paul, but avoiding an antagonistic relationship was far more integral to the survival of House Latreia...
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(A/N: Ralkan may be opportunistic, but he isn't dumb...)

Shortly after Paul left Sioux and her troops, Yae moved closer to him in her matured kitsune form, asking, "Are you certain you want to leave them in that state? There's a chance that Ophelia woman wasn't responsible for the deaths of her men."
Understanding what Yae was alluding to, Paul gradually slowed before stopping entirely. After a moment of consideration, however, he shook his head and asserted, "The Order of the Church has always been neutral in the conflict between the other Orders. They are also the most influential and populous faction, so I can't imagine the other two antagonizing them by wiping out another Order's platoon in the middle of the White Palace..."
Though she agreed with Paul's view of the situation, Yae felt compelled to remark, "That's assuming the Order of the Church isn't the one pulling the strings. After all, regardless of where they align politically or ideologically, all three factions are ultimately helmed by the same person..."
Without needing to consider his response, Paul shook his head a second time, asserting, "Though our presence has undoubtedly changed things, I recall the Pope being a fairly kind man who, at the very least, cares about his family. Others will exploit that fact in the not-too-distance future, so I'm fairly certain this incident was perpetrated by the Order of the Temple and their 'supporters.'"
Nodding in affirmation, Yae adopted a somewhat uncanny smile as she mused, "If you're this confident, then it must be so."
As he was the one who had asked Yae to act as one of his Advisors, Paul returned a smile of his own before turning to continue leading the way. A few minutes later, he, Ei, Yae, and Ganyu emerged from the front entrance of the White Palace to find a literal army awaiting them.
Undaunted by sight, Yae mused, "I was wondering where all the security went..."
Equally untroubled, Paul slowly passed his gaze over the encirclement, guessing there were between 3000-5000 people present. However, as most were hard-stuck at Intermediate or even Beginner-Rank in terms of Swordsmanship and Magic, he felt very little pressure. Similar to Ophelia and Sioux, only the Company Commanders, Vice-Commanders, Captains, and Platoon Leaders presented any real threat.
Spotting a familiar face among the group wearing black armor, Paul raised his hand and called out, "Well, if it isn't Captain Rudigan of House Latreia! I take it the distinguished gentleman next to you is your father?"
Not expecting Paul to call out to him, Rudigan tensed as the man Paul had correctly identified as his father looked back, asking, "What is this about?" in an authoritative tone.
As there were even factions within factions, a cold sweat broke out across Rudigan's body in response to his father's questioning. Fortunately, before he could be forced to respond, the Legion Commander representing all of the forces present stepped forward to address Paul, bellowing, "My name is Arcturus Maxim Laskaris, Legion Commander and Grand Marshal of the Milishion Royal Guard! If you drop your weapons and surrender without further incident, I can guarantee you the opportunity to state your case before the Archbishop's Tribunal! Continue this senseless endeavor, and the might of Milishion shall rain upon you like the wrath of God!"
Accompanying his words, Arcturus exuded a powerful aura that caused those closest to him to have to take a step back. His aged face, lengthy white beard, and receding hair made it clear he was well past his prime, but there was a reason he was given the responsibility of defending the White Palace. He might be 63 years old, but he was a bonafide Sword King who had achieved Advanced Rank in Healing, Detoxification, Barrier, and Divine Strike Magic.
With his doubled-edged sword already shrouded in holy light, Arcturus made it clear to everyone present that he wasn't fooling around. Even Paul felt the elderly Knight was fairly intimidating, but that didn't stop him from stepping forward, manifesting his somewhat demonic-looking Black Sword as he loudly declared, "My name is Paul Greyrat, Special Envoy to His Majesty, King Ansalem Anemoi Asura. I am neither an enemy of the Holy Kingdom of Milis nor the Milis Religion. I simply wished to leave the palace but was denied that right on shallow grounds. I have thus far not killed a single person, but if this many people attack in concert, I cannot guarantee there won't be casualties..."
Hearing Paul's words, a mixture of confusion, anger, and general disbelief washed over the assembly of Knights, Paladins, Holy Warriors, and Battle Priests. As far as they knew, not even the Sword God was pretentious enough to speak arrogantly against an entire legion. He might be able to break through, but there was no way he could defeat 3000 fully-armored Knights and more than 1200 support troops.
As discontent murmurs began permeating the legion's ranks, Arcturus raised his hand in a silencing gesture, prompting each of the Battalion Commanders to do the same. Once silence had returned to the palace square, a glimmer of doubt flashed across his eyes as he asked, "Are you truly Paul Greyrat, the Asura King's Greatsword? If so, you should carry a Token and a Royal Decree..."
Nodding in affirmation, Paul reached into his breast pocket, producing a palm-sized golden plaque bearing the symbol of the Asura Kingdom. It originally belonged to Reida, denoting her status as the King's personal bodyguard, but very few people would be able to tell the difference. Even if they could, the plaque was genuine, so it would be difficult for them to accuse him of stealing it.
Though more than fifty meters separated him from Paul, Arcturus could tell at a glance the plaque was legitimate. As Grand Marshal, he had seen similar plaques on several occasions. More importantly, Paul's demeanor and the aura exuding from his body weren't things that could be faked. He was clearly at the level of a King, so Arcturus gradually lowered his sword and asked, "May I come closer? If you truly are who you claim to be, I will be the first to apologize for this misunderstanding."
Hearing Arcturus's words, a fresh wave of murmurs pervaded the legion of Knights. Most of them were aware that Envoys of the Asura Kingdom had Diplomatic Immunity, but they couldn't believe Paul was on the cusp of being allowed to walk free. The Asura Kingdom may be the richest and most powerful Kingdom in the world, but its 'influence' couldn't match the reach of the Holy Kingdom of Milis. They had roots as deep as the Asuran Royal Family, so they couldn't let some random youth trample their pride, could they?
Unfortunately, while many within the Holy Knight Orders felt dissatisfied, the masses had little power in a world where a select few could destroy entire cities or slice off the tops of mountains. The higher-ranking Knights present were actually more concerned with the fact they were unaware of Paul's entry into the city than they were about his rampaging through the castle. After all, he was the Special Envoy of the Asuran King, the richest and most powerful man in the world. Currying favor with him could afford them many advantages, both present and future.
Demonstrating this fact, Arcturus wasn't the only person to approach when Paul sheathed his sword and allowed them to do so. Each of the Battalion Commanders and their Lieutenants also stepped forward and, after confirming Paul's credentials, readily joined Arcturus in apologizing. They didn't bow too steeply, but the act of lowering their heads was more than enough to convey the legion had assembled for nothing...
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Less than two hours after the stand-off in the palace square, Paul found himself standing, not kneeling, in front of the King Regent.
As could be expected from a puppet of the Holy Church, the King Regent, Julius Vidius Notaras, was an exceptionally fat man who resembled a ball more than a man. If not for his well-known affiliation with the Order of the Temple, Paul would have assumed he was a half-orc or member of the Pig Demon Tribe. His head practically transitioned seamlessly into his neck and body, and his nose was flat and slightly upturned, complete with a perpetually ruddy expression that made it appear as though he regularly walked into walls or was constantly drunk.
While a team of servant girls fanned him from both sides, Regent Julius stared at Paul with a gaze that barely concealed his envy and contempt, the former directed at the trio of Ei, Yae, and Ganyu while the latter was directed squarely at Paul for refusing to denigrate himself in the presence of a 'King.'
Contrasting the hateful glimmer in his eyes, a smile made absolutely no improvement to Julius's face as he said, "Our men have apprised us of the circumstances surrounding your...detainment. Those responsible were excommunicates seeking to sow discord between the Holy Kingdom of Milis and the Asura Kingdom by disguising themselves as members of the Order of the Temple. A more thorough investigation is being conducted, but as the perpetrators have either committed suicide or fled the palace, it will be difficult to discover if anyone else was involved..."
Though he was tempted to point out that the Ord of the Church was in possession of the God-Ranked Healing Spell, Resurrection, Paul simply nodded in response to the Regent's very obvious cover story, remarking, "They must have been exceedingly capable if they were able to trespass the White Palace through its front gate and persuade its staff to provide food and drink for multiple foreign dignitaries without being detected for the better part of two weeks. It's a wonder your men were able to deduce this much when our captors were clearly the most skilled saboteurs in the entire world..."
Demonstrating how little he was cut out for politics, Julius's entire head became as red as a cherry tomato as he balled his hands into fists and glared hatefully at Paul with a forced smile. The latter could practically see images of himself being tortured in the depths of Julius's gaze, but the piggish Regent could only dream as the inordinately tall man behind him, one of the Church's three Archbishops, replied, "Thank you for your understanding. As an apology, please accept this..." in a dull monotone.
Following the Archbishop's words, a woman wearing the Milis Religion's version of Nun attire stepped forward with an ornate, casket-sized chest in hand. Opening it revealed three rows of platinum coins. The highest denomination of currency in the Milis Kingdom was a pink-hued note that vaguely resembled Japanese Yen, but the platinum coins were special as they could be used to purchase 'anything' within the borders of Milis, the obvious exceptions being land and military vessels.
Though there were only thirty coins, Paul couldn't help whistling as even accomplished Paladins would be lucky to receive a single platinum piece for decades of service. Thirty was a truly ludicrous amount, but it kind of had to be, considering how 'brazenly' Paul had acted. Confidence was a powerful tool, so Paul's words to Sioux, combined with his performance in the palace square, had the Church convinced that King Ansalem would seek even greater reparations if they didn't express their 'sincerity' here and now.
Indicating the matter had been 'settled,' Paul accepted the chest with a smile. He didn't care enough to press the issue any further, and he would rather not antagonize the world's most powerful religion. Religious zealots were fucking psychos, so openly offending them was the same as asking a few 'true believers' to visit his estate in the dead of night with poisonous gas or magical explosives.
Passing the casket to Ganyu, Paul returned his gaze to the Archbishop, completely ignoring the Regent as he said, "The Asura Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom of Milis have been allies for the past four hundred years. I pray our descendants can say the same in the year 800."
Nodding his head, albeit only slightly, the Archbishop replied, "A noble sentiment. I shall convey your prayer to His Holiness, that he might pass it to the Holy Spirit Herself..."
Returning a nod of his own, Paul turned around without bothering to bid the now crimson-faced Regent farewell. The Crown Prince was nearing his fourteenth birthday, so even if the Regent wasn't removed to further conceal this incident, the piggish man's days were numbered. Given the Church's track record, Paul imagined it wouldn't even take a week before rumors of the Regent's declining health began circulating through town...
...
..
.
(A/N: I can practically hear King Ansalem and Reida laughing...)

Chapter 208: Convene