The Trap

Regularly inspecting his territory was a lord's duty.

Earl Paul Greiman of Arda was fulfilling his obligation.

In fact, as the administrative system grew more and more complete, Paul no longer needed to use this ancient duty to maintain his rule. It was merely a small excuse to convince himself to temporarily escape the burden of paperwork.

He rode a white horse, with twelve attendants on gray horses following behind, leisurely making his way along the country road.

After several years of construction, even these rural dirt roads had been hardened to some extent. They were no longer nothing more than bumpy paths trodden out by people's feet. Riding along it, Paul was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Looking at the wisps of cooking smoke ahead, Paul called out, "That's Totol Village up ahead, right?"

"Yes, my lord. Totol Village is just ahead. Its village chief has surely prepared to welcome you."

The guard beside him, Aigram, answered.

Totol Village was precisely the destination of their journey that day.

Paul stroked his chin. "I remember there's a Helson Priest in this village who's content with a life of poverty. Let's go pay him a visit while we're there."

Some information surfaced in his mind. It was from an investigation he had asked Cecil to conduct some time ago and report back to him.

The priests who presided over rural churches formed a very large group. They made up roughly sixty to seventy percent of the clergy in the Northwest Bay, and their monthly income was generally less than one silver coin.

The Church of the Lord of Light did not prohibit lower-ranking priests from marrying. Supporting a whole family on that level of income while maintaining their relatively high social status was a considerable strain.

And in today's Northwest