Chapter 101: Wang Ling

Another day passed, bringing them to September 26th. Early that morning, the brothers Aeolus and Aioria suddenly approached Link, expressing their desire to venture out and gain some real-world experience. Link was taken aback, and after a long pause, he asked, “Could you explain your reasons?”

The two brothers exchanged a glance before Aeolus spoke, “Archbishop, we wish to transcend our limits. We are Saints, and it is our duty to protect the Church, but remaining within its walls stifles our growth. You once said that the mission of the Saints is to safeguard the Earth. Now, as rift monsters ravage the land, we want to fulfill that mission ourselves.”

Link nodded thoughtfully, then spoke gravely, “You two are still young. Protecting the land is indeed a Saint’s duty, but is it wise to rush out so soon? Would it not be better to continue training here, to learn more before setting off?”

Aeolus quickly replied, “There’s no rush, Archbishop. We have already mastered the Five Senses and our cosmos has reached the peak of Bronze Saint level. To advance further, we must, like Saga, break through our limits amidst life and death. Saga has now grasped the Sixth Sense, and his Cloth has evolved. His strength far surpasses ours. We don’t want to become burdens to the Saints, so please, grant us this chance.”

“Please grant us this chance,” Aioria added at the right moment, and both knelt on one knee in earnest supplication.

Link felt a headache coming on. It was good that his subordinates were ambitious and eager to improve, but Aeolus and Aioria were barely over a dozen years old—twelve and fourteen respectively. Sending them out so young was risky; if they were deceived, they might end up merely counting money for others. He did not want to dispatch them as cannon fodder. Yet, spurred on by Saga’s overwhelming power, they were determined to fight no matter what. To refuse outright might crush their spirits, and while youth was resilient to failure and setbacks, shattering their motivation would be tragic. No matter how strong they were, they were still children, psychologically less equipped than adults.

Saga’s recent rapid growth was something of a marvel. Since awakening the Sixth Sense, his cultivation had soared. Though only midway through the Sixth Sense, his strength had already reached mid-fifth rank. It was likely that he would reach sixth rank effortlessly at the peak of the Sixth Sense—of course, this referred to his power while wearing the Cloth, which was part of a Saint’s very being and symbol, inseparable from their strength.

Watching the brothers, Link pondered how to make them withdraw their request without damaging their enthusiasm. Just then, a knock came from outside, followed by the voice of Lingfeng: “Archbishop, are you available? Count Bas has an urgent letter.”

Link’s eyes brightened. This was the perfect opportunity to change the subject. “A letter from Count Bas? Bring it to me at once. We must not delay.”

With that, Lingfeng pushed open the door. Seeing Aeolus and Aioria kneeling, she was momentarily startled but quickly composed herself and handed the letter to Link. Upon reading it, his brow furrowed deeply, then relaxed into a playful expression. He set the letter down and addressed the brothers: “You want to train? Perfect timing. Count Bas has sent a mission.”

Aeolus and Aioria exchanged surprised glances. Lingfeng asked, “Archbishop, what does the letter say?”

“Read it yourself,” Link said, passing it to her.

Lingfeng scanned the letter, then her face showed astonishment. “The King has decreed that all major religions within the Star Kingdom must dispatch combatants to serve under the provincial lords, assisting in cleansing the rift calamities within their territories. Those who refuse will be treated as traitors. Archbishop, this…”

Link interrupted, shaking his head. “The Kingdom foresees the rise of various religious sects amid the chaos. This is an attempt to restrain them and alleviate the Kingdom’s current lack of strength. However, most religious groups will likely send token forces just to fulfill the order, hoping to leverage their power to clear the rifts. But without dealing with the root cause, how can the rift calamity be solved? This measure only delays the outbreak of religious wars.”

Lingfeng probed cautiously, “Archbishop, are you suggesting…”

“I’m saying we must participate. Didn’t you read the letter? Count Bas’s hints are unmistakable. Other religions will just go through the motions, but our Church can seize this chance to make a real impact. With our current strength, there’s no need to hide our power. Count Bas’s joint operation will help us establish prestige and momentum. When future unrest breaks out, our effort to expand followers will be far more effective,” Link said solemnly, narrowing his eyes. “Given the situation, the rift calamity likely won’t end within a year or two. That’s enough time to drain the Kingdom’s forces. The great powers certainly won’t let such an opportunity slip by. Eventually, not only the religious factions but local powers may join the fray, even raising banners of rebellion to overthrow the Star Dynasty.”

The brothers’ faces showed shock. Young and inexperienced, they had not imagined such turmoil. Lingfeng, however, had long expected this, though she could not help but show a look of sorrow and compassion. “Archbishop, is there no way to prevent this upheaval?”

Link sighed. “No. This is the result of human arrogance. The Supreme Father will not intervene in human conflicts. Even if our Church enters this power struggle, we can only rely on our own strength. The Father will at most offer some assistance, but no longer bestow divine grace or miracles as before to shield us.” Rising to his feet, he continued, “At this point, to save more lives and prevent the situation from worsening, we must join this game of power and provide those under our protection with peace of mind. Lingfeng, please gather everyone. We need a meeting to discuss aiding Count Bas.”

“Understood. I’ll go right away,” Lingfeng replied. Despite her youthful appearance, she had lived decades and possessed a maturity beyond her years. She quickly set aside any unrealistic hopes.

Soon, the senior leaders of the Father’s Church assembled. Link handed out Count Losa’s letter for them to read, then explained the support mission. None objected, but the question remained: how many to send, and who would lead?

Link had already made up his mind. The two Saints who requested the mission must go. Saga must also go. He and his sister Yuna had officially become Count Losa’s godchildren; his godfather’s call for aid could not be ignored. Moreover, Saga’s presence would benefit Aeolus and Aioria with advice on breaking through the Sixth Sense.

The Silver Hand Knights also needed to send personnel. To do so, some knights stationed in other towns had to be recalled. The leadership role was assigned to Uther, the head of the knights, whose prestige and talent were unquestioned. The group found these arrangements reasonable and raised no objections.

However, the unexpected arose when Link announced he would also travel to Bast City. This sparked strong opposition. In such turbulent times, Link should remain at headquarters, not risk his life.

Facing their collective protest, Link smiled and clarified he was not going to fight but to meet an informant to purchase intelligence. This puzzled everyone further. The Father’s Church had ample intelligence sources and acquaintances; why travel so far? Even if a purchase was necessary, someone else could go. Why must Link personally visit Bast City?

Link offered no further explanation, only stating that this informant was special, and it was better for him to go personally. He assured them he would return promptly after acquiring the intelligence. With Bailing accompanying him, the journey back from Bast City would take only half a day. Also, he could travel with most of the group, reducing any risk. The others need not worry.

Convinced, the leaders ceased their objections and began preparations. By the following morning, everything was ready. With Link leading a force of twenty-nine, they set off for Bast City.

This time, they moved much faster. Pressed by urgency, everyone rode mounts, and Link rode Bailing. They took main roads, encountering several rift monsters along the way. These creatures were no threat; they were easily dispatched, much to the surprise of local cleansing squads. The reputation of the Father’s Church Silver Hand Knights began to spread along their route.

After four days, they arrived at Bast City. Many religious troops had already gathered. Link observed that these so-called volunteer forces were numerous but mostly rank-and-file soldiers, confirming they were merely fulfilling orders. It made sense; unlike the Father’s Church protected by the Bast family, other sects had no such backing. Who knew if their elite troops might be used as cannon fodder? If so, sending ordinary soldiers made more sense.

Link paid a visit to the Bast father and son, handing over the Father’s Church forces, then disguised himself and headed to the Red Dragon Trading Company to seek out Fland Reinhardt Hughes.

Link’s real purpose in Bast City was to find Fland—the illusory Saint whose true name was Nyarlathotep. After receiving advice from Xingye, he had been contemplating whether to buy intelligence from Fland. With the situation growing more chaotic, he could no longer resist seeking out this seemingly all-knowing informant.

Fortunately, Fland was idly passing time at the Red Dragon branch that day. Upon revealing his identity, the usually indifferent Fland, who often ignored even noble patrons, suddenly perked up and personally escorted Link into his office, leaving the company staff dumbfounded. They speculated wildly about Link’s identity, some believing him to be a noble’s heir or even a prince, as Fland’s warm reception was entirely uncharacteristic.

But setting aside their gossip, let us return to Link. Upon entering the office, he wasted no time: “Mr. Fland, I would like to purchase some intelligence.”

Fland smiled slyly, narrowing his eyes. “Of course. But my intelligence is expensive.”

“I know. Ten thousand Sola per piece,” Link said, producing twenty high-grade magic stones. “This should cover it, yes?”