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"... Therefore, I propose that we strip him of the minor noble title he earned in the war zone, if he has already applied for it, in addition to taking away his recently acquired properties and imprisoning him for the crimes he committed."
"I can't say anything about the strange name of the clinic, but I can contribute my bit to this conversation regarding the accusations of illicit enrichment..." says Cael with a mischievous smile, as he twists and untwists one of his hair extensions around one of his fingers.
"...Dorian and I can witness that the Golden Archer received a large sum of money as a reward for his services to the kingdom during the war. I'm sure you don't think that in our kingdom we wouldn't take care of the welfare of our promising young talents, do you?"
"That man you call a promising young talent has used the prize he received from the kingdom to set up a healing clinic that represents unfair competition for the temple. The prices for their healing services are ridiculously low. No normal healer could compete with that," says the bishop, looking annoyed at the head of the kingdom's intelligence service.
"I'm sure the Solus Temple is just as happy as the rest of us that this promising young member of our kingdom has found a way to invest the prize money we gave him so that many more people can access healing services at an affordable price..." says Cael, continuing to fiddle with his extensions.
"... Services that will undoubtedly significantly improve their daily quality of life. People's health is not a business. A bishop with your experience and track record agrees with me on that, right? I think deep down we're not so different."
"How da..." the old man begins, looking at Cael with a mixture of irritation, contempt, and hatred, but suddenly he seems to remember where he is and regains his composure.
"... ahem, yes, you are right. But you cannot deny that the Golden Archer seems to have a strange obsession with harming our temple..."
Then the bishop stops looking at Cael and lets his gaze wander over everyone present in the room.
"... I am sure that many of you here are aware of the strange and grotesque murders that have targeted certain members of the clergy, as well as the horrific massacre that occurred some time ago in one of the oldest temples in the capital. What would you say if I told you that the temple suspects that the Golden Archer is responsible for these criminal acts?..."
After saying these words, the bishop looks at Cael with a defiant smile, as if inviting him to try to protect Emir from these accusations.
"... Ordinary people don't know that those of us with religious classes don't leave remnants behind when we die, so the average citizen could not have conceived of such crimes. Nor would they have the means to carry them out. The Golden Archer, on the other hand, is no average citizen, and today he has demonstrated through his actions that he takes perverse pleasure in causing his fellow men to suffer."
After the bishop's words, the mysterious shadow observing the conversation shifts uncomfortably once again.
'Shit... My intention was to help him, not make things even more complicated for him.'
"You have no proof that the boy is responsible for these crimes. But I admit that it is a matter we have been investigating..." says Cael with a frown, and for the first time, his tone of voice shows some irritation.
"... Unfortunately, the killer is very skilled and has never left any traces for us to follow."
"I'm glad to hear that you are investigating the matter. However, these unusual deaths have led to unpleasant rumors circulating, saying that 'what is happening to the temple is some kind of divine punishment. For that reason, if this kingdom cannot stop the murders, my order may ask the Sacred Kingdom to send a few of its inquisitors to assist the Castemira kingdom in the investigation..." says the bishop, smiling with an expression of superiority.
"...they might also find the incriminating evidence we need to apprehend the Golden Archer. We could..."
But Bishop Mateo stops talking when he sees the king raise his hand to order him to be quiet.
However, the king says nothing and remains thoughtful for a few seconds.
While the king thinks about how to respond to the bishop, the two men sitting to his right whisper to each other.
"I'd like to see some of those things. I've always been curious to know if everything they say about them is true," says the man sitting directly to the king's right.
"It's true, Dorian, believe me. It is better for such things to remain far from our kingdom," says his interlocutor.
"Not everything can be true, Cael. I mean, there's a limi-"
But Dorian does not finish his sentence when he sees the irritated look the king is giving him.
"That will not be necessary, Bishop Mateo..." says the king, speaking for the first time in the audience, when he finally decides how to respond to the bishop's proposal.
"...our kingdom is perfectly capable of taking care of the safety of its inhabitants."
"Of course, Your Majesty. I hope my earlier words did not suggest otherwise," says Matthew, bowing in reverence.
"Do not worry... your words were not misinterpreted at all. But, in any case, I remind you that any unauthorized intrusion by an inquisitor into our kingdom may be interpreted as a hostile act on the part of the Sacred Kingdom..." says the king in a harsh voice.
"... Now I ask you to leave this room. I will reflect with my advisers and friends on what you told us today about the Golden Archer. I trust that the temple will abide by our decision on the matter."
"Of course, Your Majesty. We are at your service," says the old bishop and hastily leaves the room.
'It's incredible how easy it is for me now to remain in this state of invisibility... At first, I could only maintain it for a few minutes before I had to reactivate it.'
"Fine. Now that the bishop has left, would someone please explain to me why I knew nothing about this 'Golden Archer' until now?" asks the king, glaring furiously at the two men seated to his right.
"... I'm the king of this fucking place, damn it. You're supposed to tell me about these things. Especially when it's something that could cause problems with the stupid temple."
"The temple people are exaggerating, Alfonso. The boy isn't someone to make such a fuss about. I didn't tell you about him because I didn't want to bother you with nonsense," says Dorian irritably.
"Isn't someone who received the award given to the greatest hero of the war against Drial Cenit someone to make such a fuss about? You were in charge of delivering the royal note. Didn't it occur to you that you had to inform me that it was received by an unstable individual? Do you really think that's 'nonsense'?..." says the king, punching the table and looking at Dorian as if he wanted to kill him with his gaze.
"...What were you thinking when you gave that kind of award to someone like that in the first place? Because of YOUR mistake, now I can't question the Golden Archer's actions without calling my own word into question."
"Your Majesty..." says Cael, drawing the king's furious gaze toward him.
"... If you'll allow me to give my opinion, Emir... ahem, I mean, the Golden Archer is not an unstable individual. I apologize for not informing Your Majesty of his existence, but in my defense, I thought that my colleague here would have already informed you, given the close friendship you share..."
After these words, Dorian Aranis glares at Cael for a few moments but then shrugs and returns to the bored expression he has worn for most of the meeting.
"... The Golden Archer is young and inexperienced, true, but he is someone with immense potential. It's possible that when I first met him, I might have had the same opinion as Dorian, but since I first saw him, I have watched him perform feat after feat, which quickly changed my first impression of the boy. If it weren't for him, the war against Drial Cenit would have lasted several more months, or even years."
"That's nonsense. I could have ended the war in a few more days, even without the intervention of that arrogant bastard," says Dorian, snorting in exasperation.
"Really? Do you really think Samael Entrial would have retreated from the battlefield if it weren't for the Golden Archer destroying his precious sword? I have my doubts about that. If my memory serves me correctly, you were on equal footing with Samael while both of you had your swords at your disposal," Cael says sarcastically.
"That..." Dorian begins to say uncertainly but is interrupted by someone else's comment.
"Golden Archer... That's a curious nickname for a swordsman," says Anwar Cangani humorously.