Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Tail Chase (1)
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Having wrapped up all their sparring sessions by late morning, the two had lunch before leaving the mansion.
They first stopped by the real estate agent to notify him that they wouldn't be renewing the house lease.
Next, they headed to a clothing store in the shopping district.
"Welcome!"
"We're here to look at some clothes. The best you've got."
"I'll serve you with the utmost care! This way, please!"
"Not men's clothes. Women's."
"Pardon?"
Of course, Galen wasn't looking for women's clothes for himself—it was for Lilia.
Priests didn't wear robes all the time. They needed undergarments, simple inner layers under their robes, and casual clothes for brief occasions.
Still, they rarely dressed up formally, so the shopkeeper was a bit flustered.
"How about this one?"
"Wouldn't the one from earlier suit you better?"
"Y-you think so?"
"But the wearer should feel comfortable above all. Go with what you like."
The clothes Lilia was trying on weren't everyday wear or ball gowns.
The merchant didn't mind as long as he got paid, so his confusion didn't grow.
"Thank you!"
As Lilia emerged after bowing deeply at a perfect right angle to the grateful shopkeeper, her outfit now closely matched Galen's.
The attire of wealthy travelers.
Here, "wealthy" meant the clothes exuded luxury in fabric and finish.
Even identical comfortable, practical designs felt worlds apart due to material and craftsmanship differences—for both wearer and observer.
Adding light armor made it look like a Silver-rank warrior's gear at minimum; draping a robe turned it into a skilled mage's ensemble.
Lilia chose the latter.
Not to impersonate a mage.
"What do you think?"
Lilia asked, pulling the robe's hood low over her face.
"You look suspicious."
"What?!"
"Just kidding. You look fine."
Traveler robes came with hoods as standard, and hooded figures were commonplace.
For rain, sun protection, avoiding stares, hiding shame—endless reasons.
No one drew attention just for wearing one.
"Can you see alright?"
"It's a bit uncomfortable, but I'll manage. It's not like my eyes are fully covered."
Lilia's reason was to conceal her identity as much as possible.
To those scattering demonic bombs, the Church was naturally the epitome of terror.
Setting aside their fanatical zeal at the mere whiff of "demon," holy power itself countered demonic forces.
Thus, if the Church moved in openly, the culprits would hole up tight. Daimus advised investigating incognito, hiding their status fully.
No blessings, use the swords from Acanksha instead of holy auras.
Shed the robes to avoid outing themselves as priests, hoods pulled low to hide their eyes.
High priests with precise holy power control could dim the sacred glow in their eyes deliberately, but even Archbishop Daimus couldn't hide it perfectly.
Still, it could be subdued enough that close scrutiny from the front was needed to notice—hoods made disguise viable.
"The clothes feel a bit awkward, though."
"Uncomfortable?"
"Body's fine, but my mind isn't... Feels like I'm up to no good?"
"His Excellency suggested it first. What's the harm? Skipping robes doesn't make you any less a priestess, Lilia."
"We'll pretend otherwise for now. Hope we catch the culprit soon."
"We'll do our best."
Riding a carriage, their next stop was the Mejaia branch of the Kallia Merchant Company.
In major cities, branches were guaranteed; even decent-sized towns had outposts. The undisputed world's largest conglomerate.
With stellar credit and accessibility, for deals over hundreds or thousands of gold—too bulky in coins—Kallia bills were standard.
All the bills Galen had earned from commissions were Kallia's.
Fitting for Mejaia, the Northeast Archdiocese's biggest city, the branch building was grandiose.
"Welcome, Sir Galen. Welcome, Bishop Lilia!"
"I'd like to see the branch manager. Possible?"
"The Church contacted us ahead. Right this way!"
Even if Daimus had tipped them to treat them well—and they would, given his rank—this level of deference exceeded expectations.
From the entrance, bowing deeply upon recognition—there was more to it.
"Welcome, please come in."
Branch Manager Shane greeted them warmly. Galen and Lilia returned slight bows.
"Hello!"
"How have you been?"
"Blessed or cursed, same as always. And you two?"
"Eating well, enjoying life."
"Please wait a moment. I'll bring tea."
"No need to do it yourself."
"It's protocol for Black Card holders. Skipping it would get me in trouble."
About a month ago.
The promised relic shares from the Steelwall Family arrived via Kallia.
Details were secret, so only Shane knew the sender's amount and recipients: Galen and Lilia.
The sum: around 21,400 gold in coins.
With the relic treasures valued at about 70,000 total, a third checked out.
Upon receipt, Galen got Shane's pitch: the Black Card.
Black Card.
Like Earth's black card—deposit 10,000 gold with Kallia, get issued one. They stored funds like a bank, paid modest annual interest.
Interest as cash or deducted from services.
Galen would've deposited sooner if he'd known, but even noble houses rarely held 10,000 liquid gold—it was insider info.
Excluding relic shares, Galen had over 20,000 saved, yielding four Black Cards with change.
Three under his name, one for Lilia.
She protested it wasn't necessary, but he insisted she deserved it, practically forcing her.
Thus, both Black Card VIPs—Galen with three, no wonder Shane was obsequious.
Especially tied to Daimus.
"Here you are."
Steaming tea arrived, VIP-grade with exquisite aroma.
As Galen sipped halfway, relaxing the mood, he spoke.
"His Excellency said to get intel here."
"Yes. Our info, so direct from us is most accurate."
In this era of crumbled empires and city-states.
How did a global megacorp thrive?
Thanks to the Church's worldwide network protection.
Not direct aid, just ensuring fair trade.
Simply deterring secular houses from robbing them at swordpoint.
That sufficed for savvy merchants to flourish.
In return, Kallia donated generously and shared intel, aiding the Church overtly and covertly.
This case involved demonic bombs, so the Church gathered info discreetly via merchants.
Subordinates weren't told "demonic bombs"—just tracking the boss's movements, no issue.
"Must've been tough to track."
"Hence months taken. Good we had leads."
"Random find, but origin traceable."
"Yes. Cross-checked pre-acquisition movements, viable patterns emerged."
Shane excused himself briefly, fetching a map of the entire Northeast Archdiocese.
"No need for investigative minutiae—straight to conclusions. Know the black market?"
"Black market?"
Lilia tilted her head.
"Shady goods place?"
"Half-right. Precisely, events for stolen goods trades. Term covers venues and organizers."
"Stolen goods, right?"
"Yes. Illicit origins mean suspicious wares."
"Boss got demonic bomb there?"
"No, not that."
Shane waved off Galen's question.
"Black markets persist because they respawn despite crackdowns. No thieves, no fences."
"Can't eradicate, so tolerate."
"Yes. But demonic bomb rumors? Church sweeps regardless. Thieves value necks—block sales frantically."
"Then why mention?"
"Summary: probing bomb acquisition pinpointed prime suspect. Black market exec."
"Aha."
"Then arrest him."
Lilia asked. Shane gave a wry smile.
"Know he's exec, not personal details. Can't track."
"Wouldn't show face publicly. Can we?"
"I have one idea..."
Shane hesitated, gauging. Galen urged.
"Speak freely. You told His Excellency. He wouldn't send us blind."
"Well... Black market's misnomer—more elite auction. Ditch small fries elsewhere; rare valuables to select bidders."
"Hm, auction."
"Huge sums—hundreds, thousands gold. Exec runs it. Even if not culprit, knows whereabouts. Target then..."
"Chance to glean something. Slim odds, but."
"Yes. No auctions, no trace of them."
"Fine. Start there, win or lose. Location?"
"Sites vary, but this time here."
Shane pointed on the map.
Western zone in Northeast Archdiocese.
"Maduros. Top-ten city here."
"..."
Galen and Lilia stared silently, eyes flicking up in unison.
Bit north of Shane's finger: "Oklane."
Familiar name. Earth golem visions flickered.
"...Which house rules Maduros?"
"Steelwall Family territory."
"..."
So, cause mayhem in the city ruled by the family who tremblingly handed over 21,400 gold in blood-sweat tears?
"...We'll manage somehow."
"...Hope so."
Galen and Lilia sighed in tandem.