Fir City, the capital of Aduolin Province.
Led by a nun, Aoda entered the cathedral located in the provincial capital.
Unlike the impoverished and remote White Wax Town, the cathedral in this provincial capital incorporated more wood during its construction.
Although stone buildings are theoretically more durable than wooden buildings, for the Tree Worship Church, it's obvious that no one would choose stone over wood if they could use wood.
Aoda noticed that almost all the wooden structures around him were made of cedar, which was quite fitting for the city's name.
Lost in thought, he was led by the nun to a double door.
The center of the gate features a relief of the World Tree, surrounded by entwined roots and vines. The raised carvings stand out even more at waist level, forming a handle that blends seamlessly with the gate.
The nun gently knocked on the door, and a deep, resonant voice came from inside:
Who is it?
"Your Excellency Archbishop, Messenger has arrived from White Wax Town."
"Oh? Let him in."
"Yes."
The nun, who was completely wrapped in black and white cloth, gave a slight bow, then turned and left.
Aoda placed his hand on the door in front of him, feeling his heart racing.
Based on the deductions of the Son of God and Captain Duolin, the one inside is undoubtedly a Fallen One.
As an archbishop who can control a province, the other party's strength is naturally above his own, and to put it even more recklessly, he might even be stronger than the current Son of God.
Now, I'm actually going to have to face this guy head-on...
Sorry to have kept you waiting.
Aoda opened the door with the standard etiquette of the Holy City Guard and stood respectfully to one side rather than in the center.
"Raise your head."
"That's what the voice said."
Aoda raised his head and met the eyes of a man with half-white hair and beard in front of him.
The archbishop in front of them looked to be around forty or fifty years old. Although his hair was no longer the color of his youth, it was still as thick as that of the guards who were under thirty.
His hair was all combed back, giving him a meticulous appearance and revealing a forehead with only a few wrinkles. The archbishop had thick lips, and the mustache surrounding his mouth was carefully groomed with clear boundaries. His shoulders were much broader than those of the little old man Yiden, almost twice the size.
In front of him, countless documents almost filled the entire table.
Aoda stared at the middle-aged man whose shoulders were even broader than his own, unsure of what to say.
"Your heart is beating fast, are you nervous?"
The archbishop put down his dip pen and suddenly asked a question.
Aoda felt as if he were being watched from all sides, and the mental pressure was almost unbearable.
He swallowed hard and said:
"It's just... it's an honor to meet you. To be honest, even in the Holy City, I never had the opportunity to be so close to an archbishop."
"Yes, I can tell."
The archbishop picked up his dip pen and continued writing and drawing in front of him:
"You're here to deliver a letter, right?"
"Yes."
The archbishop continued writing with his right hand, while his left hand stretched straight forward. Aoda dared not delay and took out the report and private letter written by Duolin from his coat pocket, placing them in the archbishop's hands.
After writing a line, the archbishop immediately opened the report in front of him, his eyes darting back and forth over it while occasionally glancing at Aoda was sweating with nervousness.
He quickly put down the report in his hand and revealed a smile that was almost imperceptible:
"It seems you and Yiden are working together very well."
Aoda nodded and said:
"Yes, Father Yiden has been a great help to us; his experience is a valuable asset."
"Um."
The archbishop sized up the young guard before him, who seemed to have experienced no major events:
"The letter says you're the new tax officer?"
"Yes."
Aoda's body was taut.
Why wasn't last month's tax payment sent along with it?
The archbishop's tone remained flat, but the question he asked was enough to send chills down one's spine.
Fortunately, Aoda had done his homework before setting off, including some questions the archbishop might ask, and the matter of taxes happened to be among them.
In fact, the White Wax Town Parish may never have any taxes again, and even if it does, they will not be handed over to the archbishop in front of him.
But Aoda obviously couldn't say that. He thought for a moment about the answer the others had come up with, and said somewhat awkwardly:
"Your Excellency, I believe you are already aware of the cause of death of the previous bishop and tax collector."
The archbishop nodded:
"I know he died from dragonfire, but I've never heard of that Black Dragon. The Holy City will re-verify its authenticity with the records later."
When Aoda saw the other party nod, he couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.
"The tax collector who was unfortunately burned to death was carrying the taxes that had just been collected. After I took office, I considered collecting them again, but the health of those believers no longer allowed me to collect taxes again in the short term. His Duolin Bishop Dorin also asked me to express my apologies to you in person."
"Young people are naturally soft-hearted, it's normal."
The archbishop looked up at Aoda:
So, what are your thoughts?
What does this mean?
Aoda felt sweat starting to bead on his forehead. The archbishop in front of him seemed to be testing him. What should he do?
He suddenly remembered the word that the Son of God had suggested—a calm mind.
If what you said were true, how would this tax official react?
He pursed his lips and said seriously:
"Your Excellency, I don't entirely agree with Bishop Duolin's idea, after all, tax revenue is the top priority, but the bishop is determined to do so, and I really... have no way to change it."
"Hmm, excellent tax officer mindset. I'm glad to know you've broken free from the framework of a guard."
The archbishop put down his pen, looked up, and said in a tone that advised a junior:
"Only by clearly defining your own role can you do your job well, right?"
"You mean it."
"How is your captain, um, Duolin, getting along with Yiden?"
Finally, the question arrived. Aoda cleared his throat and answered:
"His Excellency the Bishop and Father Yiden disagree on many things, but they are always able to communicate effectively, and their disputes had become increasingly rare before I arrived."
Hearing Aoda's reply, the archbishop nodded slightly and opened the private letter from Duolin. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Why weren't the original priests from White Wax Town sent to deliver the message?"