Watching the two men, who seemed to be getting along with surprising warmth, Count Billore clicked his tongue inwardly.

"What on earth is going on here? Why did Baron Fenris make such a request of me…?"

Whatever had transpired, rumors had spread so quickly that even the royal family had caught wind of it. A proposal had already been raised to verify Porisco’s qualifications as a "saint."

However, that proposal was swiftly denied by none other than Marquis Branford.

"There’s no way that greedy man is a saint. I hear it was Fenris Trading Company that distributed food in Porisco’s name. Find out what kind of scheme Ghislain is running."

With just those words, the issue was dismissed. Everything Billore had said so far had simply been an act, per Ghislain’s request.

Given the substantial food donations they had received during a time of need, refusing was hardly an option.

Billore shook his head slightly, then spoke.

"Well, I’ll be taking my leave. The royal family will send someone for formal discussions soon."

Porisco, jolted back to his senses, nodded with a sanctimonious smile.

"Very well. I shall await their arrival."

He even emitted a faint glow of holy energy, enveloping himself. It was rare for him to use his holy power, and it clearly took some effort, but it wrapped around him like a soft light. To an outsider, he might genuinely look like a saintly old man.

As soon as Billore departed, Porisco scanned the surroundings to make sure no one else was around. He then whispered urgently to Ghislain.

"If you can maintain public sentiment as it is now, I’ll grant you anything you wish. The Archbishop will try to quash the rumors, as it’s not yet formally recognized. We’ll need to distribute more food and act swiftly."

"As soon as I secure my position and gain strength, I’ll deal with him somehow. Until then, keep working for me."

Porisco, prioritizing his immediate survival, spoke without reservation. Even his tone had shifted; he now regarded Ghislain purely as a transactional partner.

Seeing Porisco’s sudden change in attitude, Ghislain grinned.

"Of course, I'll make sure the investment is worthwhile. But first, you’ll need to fulfill something I requested. I’ve already given you one favor."

"Heh… indeed. Fair is fair, right? You said you needed a priest for Fenris?"

"Yes. I’ll establish a modest temple, so please send Priest Piote."

"Oh, between us, that’s hardly an issue. Rather than Piote, I’ll send you a more seasoned, skilled priest."

Porisco decided to be generous. Sending one decent priest was trivial, especially given that keeping Ghislain satisfied was essential if he wanted him to keep his mouth shut.

In response to Porisco’s magnanimous gesture, Ghislain shook his head with a laugh.

"No, I believe Priest Piote is the best fit. But I do have another request."

"Another request?"

"As you said, there should be a token of our alliance, something that signifies our mutual trust."

"A token? Haven’t I already agreed to send you the priest you wanted?"

"Please gift me a relic. And provide a certificate, personally signed by you, confirming it was gifted to me. I’ll go and select a suitable item myself."

"This… this madman…"

What was a relic? It was a sacred item, often tied to saints of history and steeped in holiness. The relic repository strictly forbade outsiders. Only someone like the king or Marquis Branford might be granted a viewing, but most nobles could only dream of such access.

Asking not only to view the relics but to select one as a gift? It was preposterous.

Sure, Porisco could authorize a viewing as a bishop, but if he were caught giving away a relic, excommunication would be the least of his worries. Not only would the Juana Church condemn him, but other religious orders would also shun him. His social standing would crumble, and his very life would be at risk.

"This bastard is making sure I’m thoroughly leashed. He’s a vile and ruthless one."

Ghislain, as a noble supported by the pro-royalist faction, would face little consequence even if it became known that he possessed a relic. He could simply claim it was a gift. In that case, the blame would fall squarely on the one who gave it to him.

Sensing Ghislain’s ploy, Porisco feigned discomfort.

"Relics… even the Archbishop cannot touch them carelessly. I, too, am limited in that regard…."

"In that case, let’s forget about it. I’ll head to the Archbishop."

"Y-you bastard!"

Nothing he said was getting through. Ghislain threatened his life if he didn’t cooperate, yet another threat awaited him if he refused to deliver on Ghislain’s demands.

In all his life, Porisco had never encountered anyone like this. Ghislain felt more like a demon king than a man.

If the Red Tower Master, Hubert, had seen Porisco’s expression, he would’ve burst out laughing, saying, "You too?"

Sweating profusely, Porisco bit his lip.

"If I smuggle out a relic, I’ll get caught eventually. Are you really asking me to court death?"

"There are many relics, are there not? Just a small, inconspicuous one to symbolize our bond."

"Ugh…"

Porisco couldn’t argue with Ghislain’s logic.

The relic repository was vast, with numerous items collected over the centuries. Many of them were old and held little practical value, just taking up space. Without cross-referencing records, some of the items’ existence wouldn’t even be known.

"Fine, but you’ll take something genuinely insignificant."

"No need to worry."

Smirking, Ghislain followed the visibly annoyed Porisco.

The repository was tucked away in the temple’s most secure area. The temple guards, upon seeing Porisco approach, bowed more deeply than usual.

Rumors about Porisco being a saint had already begun to spread, so the guards could no longer treat him with the usual indifference or disdain.

"Ha, look at those eyes. They should’ve been like this all along."

Seeing the respect in the guards’ eyes improved Porisco’s mood. The more his influence grew, the more the Archbishop’s would wane.

As Porisco and Ghislain entered the repository, a temple guard cautiously stepped forward to block their way.

"Bishop, outsiders are forbidden from entering the repository. Any who wish to enter must obtain permission from the Archbishop…."

"Hmph! Do you dare stand in my way?"

Porisco’s harsh rebuke made the guards flinch and step back.

"Do you not realize this man is with me on a ‘divine mission’? Is the Archbishop higher than Lady Juana? Do you wish to incur divine punishment and burn in hellfire?"

With both "goddess" and "revelation" invoked, the guards had no grounds to refuse. The mention of "divine punishment" sealed the matter.

"Understood. Please, take your time."

"Hmph. Let’s proceed, Baron Fenris."

Walking with an arrogant swagger, Porisco’s expression left Ghislain quietly marveling.

"This guy… he’s more shameless than I expected."

Even Ghislain, who had orchestrated this entire situation, felt a pang of secondhand embarrassment at Porisco’s behavior. A man like this, should he seize power, would be nothing less than a tyrant.

The relic repository, despite its exclusivity, resembled an ordinary treasure vault. Church-related treasures were arranged by rank within.

Of course, not every relic of the Juana Church was stored here. The church maintained branches across various kingdoms, and only those specific to the Kingdom of Luthania were kept in this repository.

Glancing around, Ghislain nodded to himself.

"Impressive. As expected of a kingdom with such deep history. Now, to find what I’m looking for."

Once inside, Porisco shut the doors tightly and spoke urgently.

"Pick something quickly. But no Grade 1 relics; those will be missed right away. Take something classified as Grade 3."

"Very well. Give me a moment."

Ghislain busied himself, scanning the items, before finally stopping at a modest glass display case in the center of the room. Pointing to a robe, he asked, "What’s this?"

"That’s a robe worn by Saint Marteus three hundred years ago. It’s classified as a Grade 1 relic… no, no, absolutely not! It’s too conspicuous, right there in the center!"

"Oh, alright."

Ghislain chuckled, then strode to a corner of the room.

The glass display case along the entire wall held a variety of items. Despite their holy designation, most relics weren’t imbued with special powers. Instead, they were often regarded as relics due to their religious or historical significance.

In reality, relics with formidable abilities granted by "divine power" were rare worldwide.

Yet here, hidden in the back, was one such true relic.

"Found it."

Ghislain spotted a small ring tucked into the corner of a display. It was simple, adorned with a single white gemstone.

Though unassuming, this relic possessed remarkable power.

"The Blessing of Lady Juana."

While Ghislain had asked for Porisco’s signed certificate to secure leverage, this ring had been his true target.

"As I suspected, they stored it carelessly."

The ring remained inert when infused with holy power or mana, leading it to be dismissed as an insignificant piece.

But its true power lay in absorbing a priest’s

 holy energy in dangerous situations to form a powerful protective shield.

In other words, as long as holy power was available, it provided automatic defense without conscious effort.

In his previous life, the ring’s abilities had been discovered by accident when a fleeing priest, burdened with relics, activated it during an attack. The event became notorious as the priest became a human shield amid monstrous creatures.

People exploited the priest as bait, though he ultimately met an unceremonious end due to his limited holy power.

"This should suit Piote well."

Unlike others, whom Ghislain could elevate by teaching mana techniques, Piote’s progress relied solely on himself due to the mysterious nature of holy power, which defied external comprehension.

"In that case, I’ll simply equip him with better gear."

Originally, Ghislain hadn’t planned to acquire this ring so soon. He intended to take advantage of the chaos during a future civil war to seize relics like this, especially lower-grade items with undiscovered potential.

But seeing Piote’s holy power advancing rapidly, he decided it was better to secure it now.

Not only would it ensure Piote’s safety, but it could serve other purposes as well.

"When the calamities come, I’ll put him at the front. He’ll be a fortress."

A strong defensive totem like Piote was too valuable to leave solely in a support role.

The ring’s defense far exceeded any ordinary holy barrier, strong enough to withstand even a dragon’s footstep if enough holy power was channeled.

It was as close to immortal protection as one could get.

If Ghislain equipped Piote with the ring and positioned him amid enemy lines, it would serve as a massive taunt. The thought was exhilarating.

"Hm, I might as well teach him some combat skills when I have time. He’d make the perfect vanguard, dealing damage and healing. Who needs a paladin when you have a priest like this?"

Ghislain, envisioning this future, gave no thought to how Piote might react.

As Ghislain continued to inspect the relics in the corner, Porisco approached him and asked, "Have you chosen? The ones here are all Grade 3, so they’re appropriate."

"That ring is small and inconspicuous. Perfect. What is it?"

"Where? Oh, I didn’t even know we had that. Let me check…."

Flipping through the catalog of relics, Porisco clicked his tongue.

"It’s a relic left behind by a nun ages ago. No one even knows it’s here. You chose well."

Porisco inwardly sighed with relief.

"At least it won’t cause any issues. I have no idea why something like that’s classified as a relic… must be because it’s so old."

No one cared about such a ring. Even he hadn’t known it existed. Unless someone thoroughly checked the catalog, its absence would go unnoticed.

And the relic repository hadn’t been audited since the temple was built.

Even if it was inspected, he could simply claim it had been lost long ago.

So long as this young baron kept his mouth shut, there’d be no problem.

Seeing Porisco’s nod of approval, Ghislain smiled in satisfaction.

"It’s better for a rare item like this to find its true owner than to gather dust in a corner."

Even if its removal were discovered later, Ghislain didn’t care. Since no one knew the ring’s true value, he could easily return a replica.

"Very well. I’ll take that one. I appreciate it."

The two men carefully opened the glass case and slipped the ring into Ghislain’s possession.