Religious Threats

A short while later, Butler Philip led two clergymen into the reception room.

Paul had met Father Anderson before, but he had no impression of Dean Leonard from his memories. He was an old man with a Mediterranean hairstyle who gave off a rather stuffy air.

Paul asked with a smile, "What brings you two here?"

"Count, you dared to stand against the pirates and emerged victorious in battle, protecting the Lord's lambs. We came to express our gratitude."

"Haha, it was my duty. Is that all?"

The two clergymen exchanged a glance, seemingly hesitant. In the end, the older Dean Leonard spoke first. "Count, we came to investigate something. Could you have your butler step outside for a moment?"

"All right. What matter requires two clergymen to investigate?" He waved his hand and had Philip leave the reception room.

"We have learned that you used some things resembling witchcraft during your battle with the pirates. Could you explain them to us?"

"Witchcraft? What witchcraft? I've never heard of it." Paul was left with a head full of question marks.

"Count, we mean the kind of thing that can cause explosions or fire projectiles capable of killing or injuring people."

"Oh, you mean the firearms our army has recently equipped."

"Could you let us take a look at those things?"

He refused outright. "No. This is a military secret. How could I casually let other people look it over?"

Seeing his refusal, Leonard's expression gradually turned stern. "Count, monitoring signs of witchcraft within the diocese under our jurisdiction is the natural duty of clergymen. I advise you to cooperate with us. If they are merely ordinary weapons, we will naturally clear your name. But if you refuse to cooperate, things will become troublesome once this reaches the Religious Tribunal of the Northern Diocese. That would benefit no one. You surely know what those people are like. If they come down to investigate, innocent people may very well be implicated."

"Are you threatening a feudal lord? How outrageous." Paul was deeply indignant. They're actually trying this on me.

Father Anderson said with a worried look, "Please forgive us. Although we are servants of God, we are also subjects under your rule. If not for our duty, we would not want matters to become so unpleasant. There have been precedents of feudal lords being tempted by evil witches and bringing disaster upon their entire territories. When that happens, not only will you suffer, but innocent commoners will be implicated as well."

He was extremely worried that the young count would stubbornly resist them out of youthful temper. If that attracted people from the Religious Tribunal, things would become troublesome.

Paul gritted his teeth resentfully, repeatedly wrestling with the decision.

After the two sides remained deadlocked for a while, he finally compromised. The "Religious Tribunal" they had mentioned was no pushover. The tribunal in the Auldo Kingdom's Northern Diocese would still be manageable. For the sake of his own prestige, His Majesty the King was unlikely to let them investigate his nobles recklessly. But if the matter was passed up through the ranks all the way to the Holy See Headquarters, it would be hard to say what might happen.

"All right. Since that's the case, I'll show it to you to prove my innocence. But I'd like to ask: if it's proven that my new weapon has nothing to do with black witchcraft, are you two willing to keep its exact details secret for me? This is a military secret, after all—a powerful weapon we use to deal with pirates."

"We swear in the name of God that we will never reveal it to anyone."

"Not even His Holiness the Pope?"

Father Anderson fell silent at that, while Dean Leonard said after a brief hesitation, "Yes, not even His Holiness the Pope. Moreover, if anyone asks about this in the future, we can testify on your behalf, Count."

After hearing his teacher's promise, Father Anderson also nodded.

Paul then summoned Philip and had him fetch the Matchlock Pistol he kept in his study for self-defense, along with two bottles of gunpowder.

After Philip brought them over, Paul invited the two clergymen to follow him to the small garden outside the reception room. He planned to give them a demonstration and had the butler inform the officers still holding a meeting in the hall that they need not panic when they heard the gunshot.

He slowly loaded the ammunition, held the pistol in both hands, and aimed at a tree. Under the two clergymen's watchful eyes, he pulled the trigger.

With a loud bang, the targeted tree shook violently, and the birds perched on it flew frantically into the sky.

Dean Leonard and Father Anderson clearly saw the bullet hole in the tree trunk. They both sucked in a sharp breath. This thing, no bigger than a hand crossbow, actually possessed such tremendous power.

Anderson looked at his teacher. The old dean nodded. "Indeed. I didn't sense any unusual fluctuations."

Anderson asked, "Could you let us examine this 'firearm' more closely?"

"All right, here you go. This thing is called a firearm. Another kind that can explode and injure people is called a Hand Grenade. Both work because of this highly combustible powder." Paul shook the other bottle of gunpowder. "Hand Grenades are too dangerous, so I won't demonstrate one for you."

Anderson accepted the pistol with both hands, then took out a grayish-white stone and held it against the weapon for a while.

"The Magic Detection Stone showed no abnormal reaction. Count, please forgive our offense." The two clergymen confirmed that the firearm had nothing to do with witchcraft.

Anderson did not immediately return the firearm to Paul. Instead, he turned it over repeatedly, clicking his tongue in wonder as he examined the novel object. Its structure was very simple. Combined with the count's actions just now, it was easy to deduce how it worked. The key lay in that magical powder capable of burning so fiercely. However, since the count had said it was a military secret, Anderson did not dare pry any further.

This single-handed pistol had been specially made for Paul. The woodworker had put tremendous effort into carving exquisite patterns into the grip, and overall, it possessed considerable artistic value.

Leonard coughed. "Anderson, return it to the lord."

"Oh, sorry. Was this invented by you, my lord? It's truly ingenious." Anderson's face reddened as he praised the weapon and returned the pistol to the count.

"Hehe, that's right, I invented it. But we agreed just now—don't reveal the details of this weapon to anyone else." The other man's praise dispelled some of Paul's displeasure.

"Of course. Since everything is clear now, we won't continue disturbing you, Count." The two clergymen rose to take their leave.

But the lord suddenly said, "Wait. Don't be in such a hurry to leave."

Leonard and Anderson detected something ominous in his tone. "Is there anything else you require of us, Count?"

"How did you two learn that I had invented this new weapon? And how did you know that I had used it in battle against the pirates?"

"This... this..." Father Anderson began stammering.

Paul's tone gradually turned cold. "Should I submit a little report to the Northern Diocese? For example, some people openly wear the banner of God's servants while secretly engaging in espionage."

"We've been wronged, Count. It was your soldiers in the confessional..."

Dean Leonard immediately shouted, "Anderson!!!"

Father Anderson instantly covered his mouth and fell silent.

Dean Leonard said awkwardly, "I'm very sorry, Count. Safeguarding the information of those who confess is our duty. Please don't continue asking about this."

"All right, we'll let this matter go. As if." Paul agreed aloud, but inwardly, he had absolutely no intention of letting it go.

"Then we'll take our leave."

The two clergymen hurried away.

Thanks to Fallen Leaves in the Wind z and Hu Tu Gui for the recommendation tickets!