Chapter 169: An Invitation from the Church
Familiar surroundings, familiar architecture—for Duane, arriving at Lakefront Castle was like coming home.
Then again, this place had once been his home. It had merely changed owners.
"Welcome, Lord Baron!"
As the Bishop here and a guest of honor to the King, Clement appeared both enthusiastic and approachable, even coming outside the castle to greet him.
"It is my honor to attend this banquet held by the Holy Radiance Court." Duane gave a slight bow. "I must also thank you for your help yesterday."
"Saving the dying and healing the wounded is the duty of any member of the Church Court. Besides, you were injured in an assassination attempt. The Holy Radiance Court has always been an enemy to the forces of evil!"
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Duane entered the castle at Clement’s invitation.
The castle’s overall structure was untouched, but its decorations had undergone considerable changes.
The furniture, carpets, and other furnishings were predominantly red and white, and numerous portraits hung on the walls.
Duane felt like a tourist as Priest Lucien introduced the figures in the portraits, giving him some understanding of who they were.
The one who shocked Duane the most was His Holiness the Pope of the Holy Radiance Court, Aiserian. He was said to be over one hundred and sixty years old and had long since reached the rank of Level 9 Grand Mage, one of the supreme experts on the Sunset Continent.
There was also Chief Judge Urban, a formidable figure at the Scorching Sun Level.
It was said that in a battle against the Night Council, he had slain their controlled Level 9 Golden Giant Dragon with a single sword strike, its blood flowing like a river!
This was either an exaggeration, or Urban’s power had already surpassed the Scorching Sun Level.
After all, most Demon Beasts were equivalent to an Extraordinary in the later stages of the same realm. Just killing one was difficult enough, let alone slaying a golden giant dragon with a single strike.
Through the tour and the explanations, Duane learned about the Holy Radiance Court’s past. They had a considerable number of Level 8-9 Extraordinaries, and their Level 6-7 members could even form a hundred-man battalion.
However, with an evil force like the Night Council on the Sunset Continent, many had been sacrificed in the conflict between the two sides.
Duane also inquired about the Night Council.
Apparently, the members of this organization would do anything in pursuit of wealth, Strength, pleasure, power, and so on.
They were unrestrained by worldly morals, acting entirely like Low Level Demon Beasts driven by desire.
Duane was skeptical. After all, the Holy Radiance Court and the Night Council were mortal enemies, so it wasn’t impossible that they were just slandering their foe.
After the tour, it was soon time for the banquet.
Besides Clement and Priest Lucien, Knight Commander Manny also attended the banquet.
Apparently, there were two other Knight Commanders and several Priests, but they were away on missions.
The banquet was not as luxurious as Elwin’s, nor as sumptuous as the one at Sea Cliff Castle, but it had a unique flavor of its own.
According to Clement, the ingredients were brought from the Sunset Continent. After presenting a portion to His Majesty, little remained, and they would only use it to entertain esteemed guests like Duane.
It had to be said, as expected of a special envoy Bishop assigned far from home, Clement really knew how to talk.
Aside from enjoying the food, the banquet had no other entertainment, so it didn’t last very long.
After it ended, Duane did not leave. He knew he had been specially invited for a reason, and it was definitely not just for a simple meal.
Sure enough, after a bit of small talk, Clement invited him for a walk by the lake.
Duane gladly accepted.
When Duane had lived in the castle, a part of Clear Water Lake was his private area.
Clement had kept this private area after taking over and even installed some Magic Lamps. The lakeside at night had a tranquility reminiscent of a park from before his transmigration.
"Baron, though this assassination attempt put you in danger, it also let the world know that you possess a cultivation talent no weaker than your father’s!"
The Grand Mage’s eyes showed his admiration.
He didn’t have many people on his missionary team in the Pruck Kingdom. If he could attract someone with potential to join, it would be for the best—someone just like Manny.
"You flatter me, Bishop!"
An idea sparked in Duane’s mind. "Actually, more than a Warrior, I’d rather become a Mage like you."
"While Mages possess many abilities that Warriors cannot master, as a Warrior’s strength grows, so does his Spirit. A top-tier Warrior can also use Magic."
Duane had experienced this firsthand. For him, becoming an Earth Tier Warrior had also made him a Level 1 Mage. He figured it was probably the same for others.
But this still suggested that Warriors had no talent for Magic.
This was the main reason why many Earth Tier Warriors didn’t learn Magic, even if their Spiritual Power met the requirements for a Level 1 Mage.
After all... mastering a Meditation Skill, Refining Magic Power, and learning Magic all required a huge investment of energy, with no guarantee of success.
Rather than do all that, they were better off investing that time in their Warrior training to improve their physical conditioning.
Of course, this was the path for ordinary people. Some geniuses could train in both, but even they had a primary focus.
"I wonder just how powerful His Holiness the Pope is. What kind of incredible abilities does he have?" Duane asked.
At the mention of the Pope, a reverent light shone in Clement’s eyes, as if his very faith had been invoked.
"His Holiness the Pope is the most supreme Mage, wielding great powers beyond the comprehension of ordinary people!"
Duane said, "Can one spell destroy a city?"
Even as he asked, he felt it was unlikely. After all, a single spell from a Level 6-7 Mage couldn’t even destroy a town.
A Grand Mage, while powerful, shouldn’t be powerful enough to destroy a city.
Unless Aiserian had surpassed the level of a Level 9 Grand Mage.
"Destruction is easy, but regeneration is harder!"
Clement’s face was full of adoration. "His Holiness the Pope has mastered regenerative magic! Even a person who has died can be resurrected by His Holiness with Praise of Life, as long as it has not been more than an hour!"
Duane was stunned.
’Bringing the dead back to life?’
’Can Mages really be this powerful?’
"Did this actually happen?" he asked, finding it hard to believe.
Clement looked a little displeased. "Baron, please do not question the great power of His Holiness! During a battle with the Night Council, a child under the age of three was caught in the crossfire and died. I watched with my own eyes as His Holiness resurrected her with Magic!"
Seeing that the other man’s expression was not one of exaggeration, Duane was partially convinced.
"My apologies. I’m not questioning the Pope, it’s just that such an ability is too shocking!"
Clement nodded slightly. "It is quite normal that we mortals cannot comprehend it."
With that, he looked at Duane seriously.
"Baron, what do you think about joining the Holy Radiance Court? We need talented people like you!"
Duane was taken aback, a sense of alarm rising in his heart.
’So, the real reason they invited me to this banquet was to recruit me into the Church Court.’
’But, having a landed noble serve the Church Court—wouldn’t that weaken the King’s authority? Does Clement have that much nerve? Or could it be that this matter already has His Majesty Eric’s tacit approval?’
Duane decided to test the waters.
"My apologies. I have pledged my loyalty to the current King, His Majesty Eric. I’m afraid I cannot accept the Bishop’s invitation."
Clement laughed. "That is not a conflict, Baron. Because my church members and I are also loyal to His Majesty the King."
’The meaning behind his words is clear: King Eric has tacitly approved this matter.’
’In other words, Clement’s Church Court is part of the royal authority—to some extent, it could be understood as another department established by His Majesty the King.’
Duane gazed at the lake water, lost in thought.
’I am the Lord of Black Forest Island, holding the highest authority within my own Territory.’
’Do I need to join the Holy Radiance Court and work for them?’
Duane wanted to refuse, but considering that King Eric might have authorized this, he needed to find a reason to decline.