Making Use

Yes, face. Holy Avenger was important, but what mattered most now was the face of the entire Church of Tyr. In order to make the other good-aligned churches give up competing with the Church of Tyr, they had long ago leaked to members of those churches that Solam had already made a deal with them. This was also to prevent the other good-aligned churches from offering a higher price. If that happened, Solam would benefit, while the Church of Tyr would be the one losing out.

In any case, many high-ranking figures throughout the church system now knew that Holy Avenger had gone to the Church of Tyr. If Solam suddenly got angry and changed his mind at this critical juncture, then the Church of Tyr would truly be making fools of itself—like grinding flour naked, going round and round in shame. The roast duck already in their mouths would flap away and fly off. If that was not humiliating, what was?

So, for the sake of the Church of Tyr's reputation, no matter how viciously Solam gouged them, they had to grit their teeth and endure it! When making one's way in the world, what mattered most? Face! Face was greater than heaven!

"Please, name your demands! We guarantee there will be no discount!" The bishop of the Church of Tyr felt his heart bleed as he said this. He was not a knight like Weslan, whose only duty was to fight, nor was he some junior priest who merely had to pray, do good deeds, and preach. He was a bishop, responsible for the food, clothing, shelter, and every other need of all church members in the Amn diocese.

This might have been a fantasy world, but no matter how fantastical it was, food, clothing, shelter, and bodily