Chapter 52: Reevaluating Miss Saori

"Douglas, you did well—stand up."
Since Douglas admitted his fault, Feng Zhe let the matter go and turned his gaze to Kigas.
Chief of Staff Kigas, seeing Douglas surrender so readily and casting a glance at the nearby soldiers, scrambled and crawled to Feng Zhe's feet.
"Your Excellency, the acting Pope, I have waited so long for this day! Everything I have done was for you!"
Kigas wept and sniveled, completely disregarding his dignity, resembling a servant reunited with his master after years apart.
Disgusted, Feng Zhe kicked him aside. "How ridiculous. Is this what you call acting in my interests?"
Kigas, sobbing bitterly, knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Lord Alex, please look at this document before you decide to kill me!"
Hmm?
Saori, who had not looked at the document earlier, picked it up from the ground upon hearing Kigas’s words. When she opened it, her expression turned strange.
Feng Zhe, puzzled, took it from her—and felt dizzy at a glance.
"What? The person collaborating with the Gula Consortium is... me?"
Though it said 'collaboration,' the terms were no different from outright plundering.
For a moment, Feng Zhe was bewildered by Kigas’s bizarre logic.
Saori’s face darkened as she spoke, "Feng Zhe, care to explain?"
Feng Zhe lashed out and kicked Kigas. "You explain! Why is my name on this document?"
Kigas, still crying, replied, "After Lord Alex disappeared and the new Pope was enthroned, the Sanctuary descended into chaos. All these years I have endured, waiting for your return. Now that this day has finally arrived, everything I’ve done was for you!"
Kigas turned the blame, making Feng Zhe’s expression even darker.
"Wait..."
"There’s something wrong with this document!"
A sneer appeared on Feng Zhe’s lips as he glared viciously at Kigas. "You almost fooled me!"
Time Reversal!
Suddenly, sacred flames burst forth in Feng Zhe’s hand, and as they ignited, time shifted back to the moment Miss Saori entered the military camp, when Kigas brought out the very first document...
Time stopped at that instant!
Saori, at that moment, hadn’t even looked at the document—she simply tore it up.
Feng Zhe appeared in that slice of time, snatching the document for himself.
Upon opening it, it was clear: the person who signed with Saori was Kigas!

After confirming the name, Feng Zhe was about to leave, but noticed the corners of Saori’s lips lift ever so slightly.
"She’s unaffected by time?"
Feng Zhe said nothing and promptly reset the timeline...
When Kigas began wailing again, a heavy boot smashed into his face.
Blood sprayed everywhere as Kigas was sent flying, only to collapse unconscious.
"Miss Saori, allow me to explain—"
Feng Zhe began, but Saori cut him off with a gentle voice, "I will not doubt my own people for the sake of outsiders..."
Her expression and bearing were flawless—a perfect lady, an upper-class demeanor that proved fatal to her subordinates.
Usually, after such a display, the followers would pledge unwavering loyalty, signing even the harshest contracts.
Feng Zhe merely smiled, "Very well. But how should we deal with Kigas?"
Saori did not hesitate, addressing Feng Zhe, "Within the Sanctuary, what is the punishment for deceit and slaughter?"
Deceit referred to deceiving the divine; slaughter meant the killing of civilians. Each was a capital offense, especially in the strict Sanctuary...
Feng Zhe replied coldly, "The Bronze Bull punishment!"
This infamous penalty involved crafting a hollow bronze bull, placing the criminal inside, and roasting them alive until they were cooked through!
It was barbaric—those inside suffered terribly, their screams echoing within the bronze, resembling a bull’s bellow. Some twisted souls even found pleasure listening to the sound.
Yet to see a wealthy heiress employ such a method, Feng Zhe was not pleased.
Seeing his expressionless face, Saori realized she still needed him, so she softened, "That punishment is too cruel. Still, his crimes are unforgivable. May his death cleanse this evil!"
At that moment, the five weaklings, having received word, rushed over.
Saori stepped into her limousine and left the abandoned military camp, while later, the villain of the Unicorn constellation shattered Kigas’s skull with a kick...
He paid no heed to Feng Zhe, departing as if nothing were amiss.
Douglas, the Hercules, mourned in his heart and said to Feng Zhe, "Lord Alex, Miss Saori is truly ruthless!"
Feng Zhe said nothing, but his estimation of Saori soared.
Brilliant and cunning, skilled at feigning weakness and innocence, yet in truth strong-willed and decisive, she never hesitated against her foes. No wonder she triumphed in this Holy War, playing all the Saints like pawns in her hand.
Dealing with such a deity—one wrong step could mean eternal damnation.
...
Garden Villa

As another of Miss Saori’s estates, this place was blanketed in flowers, its beauty unmatched. Saori always came here when her mood was troubled.
Since Kido Mitsumasa’s villa was destroyed, this had become yet another base for Saori.
Now, the lady was seated at the head, with Feng Zhe beside her, the very man who had rescued her not long ago.
Kneeling before them were four: Aries Algety, Silver Fly Dio, Big Dog Sirius, and her personal guard, Hercules Douglas.
"Today, you return to the righteous path. In the name of the goddess, I forgive your sins..."
Saori held her victory scepter, her gentle cosmos radiating divine light, moving the four to tears as they vowed eternal loyalty to the goddess.
Saori was pleased. Meanwhile, Hyoga, Shun, and Seiya had reclaimed the four pieces of the Sagittarius Cloth.
At this moment, aside from the one piece in Ikki’s possession, all parts of the Sagittarius Gold Cloth had been recovered.
Elsewhere, good news kept coming—Shiryu returned from the Jamir Plateau with the repaired Cloth.
And then, as expected, Ikki’s letter of challenge arrived.
Seeing Ikki’s arrogance, Saori’s face turned displeased.
Feng Zhe stepped forward and announced, "I hereby order Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, and Shun to accompany me to the meeting. The rest will remain at the villa to protect Miss Saori."
"Yes!"
Thus Feng Zhe led the four to the appointed place, leaving Saori to murmur softly, "Let nothing untoward happen..."
...
Elsewhere, in the Sanctuary, Pope Avid shattered a wine glass in fury, frightening Vice Chief of Staff Burton into immobility.
"Burton, from now on, you are Chief of Staff. Your sole task is to recover the Sagittarius Gold Cloth!"
What Avid truly cared about was never Saori, but that fabled Gold Cloth.
"Yes! I will devote myself entirely!"
"Good. You may deploy any Saint in the Sanctuary at your discretion—bring me that Cloth at all costs!"
"Yes!"
Burton trembled as he left the Pope’s palace, but soon straightened his back.
"Haha! From now on, I am second only to the Pope himself!"
Burton’s laughter echoed far and wide...