Myths Reawakened

It was the year 1940. Franc’s intelligence agency contacted Wayne with increasing frequency, always asking what the leadership of Windsor was planning. Had they decided to make money, or had they decided to go after Prussia?

The Chosen Land was only this big. If Prussia were allowed to reign supreme, Windsor would be subject to Prussia’s oppression in her future business endeavors, receiving only thirty percent of the profit even if she knelt and begged. Then she would surely make up her mind to fight Prussia.

The fact that Franc asked the question every time could only mean that her internal politics were turbulent, with a greater faction advocating for surrender.

The reason they sought an answer from Wayne was simple: Franc’s intelligence agency might not be the cream of the crop, but they weren’t blind or deaf. They had long found out about the change in leadership in Windsor.

The Lando family had succeeded in toppling the regime and seizing power from the royal family, leaving Queen Sophelia as their puppet. If Windsor didn’t have the next queen to take over the crown, Auston would pass Sophelia to Wayne after he retired behind the scenes.

Our super agent is going to become the boss of Windsor!

Cannon Fodder→Spy→Elite Agent→Super Agent.

All of Franc’s intelligence agency was lost in the celebratory atmosphere, misled by rumors into believing that Auston trusted Wayne as his own son and cultivated him as an heir, rather than excluding the son-in-law. Then they bought the rumor that Wayne was the long-lost son of the Lando family. Had Auston gone on a trip to Palis and ended up having Wayne under the influence of the country’s romantic atmosphere?

The possibility was great. Auston was a conspiracist who had staged a coup to claim the throne. He wouldn’t have treated Wayne so well if they weren’t related. Then the intelligence agency compared the two men’s photos and considered it a foregone conclusion that Wayne was a Windsorian Francan, inheriting the excellent Francan genes.

When Solar received the orders from the intelligence agency, she went from coercing Wayne to flattering him with deference. People should remember their roots. Wayne shouldn’t forget about where he came from just because he had become the Prince. Franc was his home. Now that the country was in crisis, he should take his stand.

Unfortunately, Solar hadn’t managed to meet Wayne in person, and the words were relayed to him through Mona, in between the Śār’s snarls.

Wayne had been so focused on the insults that he hadn’t heard Mona well and thus hadn’t paid the matter any attention. Windsorian Francan? Ridiculous. He was a Londan noble through and through, with no white-flag gene. The outsiders should stop trying to claim a relationship with him!

“Wayne, have you heard what Vice Minister Yvette said?”

“Oh! Oh?” Wayne looked away from the book. “Which part? That the meeting is starting?”

With a scowl, Auston said stiffly, “That Prussia is supported by the local faith and has a close relationship with the Church of Nature. In case the church joins in suddenly, we need you to look into it.”

Why don’t you just ask your wife at home? Wayne thought, blinking at Auston.

Hearing his unspoken words clearly, Auston continued, “You have connections to the Church of Nature. Find out what the church is planning through them. We need to know if they truly support Prussia, or if they’re merely paying lip service.”

“I understand.” Wayne nodded, looking back at the book.

Their conversation made Winston wonder exactly who was the one in charge of the Lando family. Why did it feel like Auston had trouble controlling Wayne?

He sneaked a glance at Wayne. Was the son the real leader of this nation?

Sensing the gaze, Wayne gave Winston a slight smile, silently making an empty promise to reward him as long as he did his job well. Then he lowered his head and pondered the probability of the Church of Nature banding together with Prussia.

The odds were quite high. The headquarters of the Church of Nature were located in Ostarrichi. It was Prussia’s back garden and the auspicious site where the art student had found his true calling. That connection alone made it possible that the church might stand with Prussia.

Wayne stroked his chin. Ludwig, the current Pope of Nature, was ready to resign and head to the Divine Realm, having done everything he wanted to achieve in this world. With a bright future ahead of him, he wouldn’t concern himself with the world war.

If he won, he wouldn’t benefit much; if he lost, all the respect he had garnered and the achievements he had made would become obsolete. Ludwig was a smart man. He knew what choice he should make.

In other words, even if the Church of Nature chose to support Prussia, it wouldn’t have been Ludwig’s call. Wayne immediately thought of Senna. His lips twitched. Could it be... the woman’s doing?

Ludwig was about to resign. Senna, with the support of the Nature Knight’s successor, would be the one who enjoyed the greatest influence and foundation among the Oracle High Reverends. Aside from her reputation being tarnished by the belief that she had slept her way to power, her standing was solid.

To clear her name, she had to achieve more after taking office, such as expanding the influence of the Church of Nature by riding on the tide of war. With Prussia’s rise in power, siding with Prussia would be the best choice.

“Crazy woman, it’s not you, is it...?”

Wayne had to pay the headquarters of the Church of Nature a visit. In the chaotic international political climate, people around the world suffered. If the Church of Nature dragged the other churches into the conflict, waging a war of faiths on top of the world war, the consequences would be dire.

Wayne made up his mind.

He had met a bottleneck lately and needed a breakthrough. Perhaps he would pick up another gift from nature on this trip. Moreover, he hadn’t been able to do anything about Pope Ludwig, but this time, he could and would kill the man for revenge.

Heading to the Divine Realm for a leisurely retirement? Not in this life!

***

“You’re going to the headquarters of the Church of Nature?”

In his study at the Lando estate, Auston looked at Wayne in surprise. “I only brought it up during the meeting, yet you took it seriously?”

“It is everyone’s duty to help maintain the peace of the world.”

“If you want world peace, you should stay at home and not go anywhere,” Auston snorted.

“Nah, that would attract demons to Londan.”

“...”

It was such a solid argument that Auston couldn’t deny it.

Wayne explained his speculation: the Church of Nature wouldn’t have supported Prussia for no reason. The church’s leadership had to be planning on expanding its influence, and most likely, Senna had been the one to make the decision.

The woman was unhinged. Who knew what she would do if left unchecked?

Wayne still remembered that Silvia had described Senna as a war hawk, and his experience in the inner world proved that true. When there were no other people to keep her in check, Senna was definitely bold enough to start a war of faiths.

In the end, Wayne concluded that he was the only one who could keep her in check.

“You’re being so serious all of a sudden. That’s unnerving.”

“I’ve seen too many tragedies in the inner world. I don’t want the surface world to turn out the same way.”

“...”

ε=(′д`*)))x2

Life was hard. The father and son sighed.

Auston approved Wayne’s long-distance work trip. Londan would be fine with him holding down the fort. He asked Wayne who he was taking with him.

“I’m heading to the headquarters of the Church of Nature to purge corruption, not to sightsee. I won’t take anyone with me.”

After some consideration, Wayne decided to bring only the vengeful spirits, leaving Mona/Hesione in Londan in case demons suddenly popped out of the bushes. One or more powerful demons were hiding in Londan, and the Gate of Hell could open in the city. The Darkness Knight alone couldn’t stop them; the Śār had to stay.

He slapped his own forehead. The other possible site for the Gate of Hell was Palis. Franc and Windsor truly were old friends with a century-old friendship. While they might not share their auspicious moments, they would drag the other down when there were crises.

Speaking of Palis, Wayne thought of the Headless Knight. He wondered how the unlucky guy was doing and how much of him remained. What was the scope of the demons’ plan for Franc? How far had the Church of Heavenly Father’s raid against the demons progressed?

He decided to contact the church and ask about their operation. If he could reach Legendary rank during this trip and had time to spare, he would consider joining the raid of the underground catacombs.

The sooner he dealt with the issue of the Headless Knight, the better. In this turbulent time, he must not allow more things to go wrong.

***

“What? You’re heading to the headquarters of the Church of Nature?” In the living room of Filomina’s manor, Darienne spoke from behind a pile of chips. She flipped the table and pointed at herself. “What should I do if you’re gone?”

“Is that what you’re supposed to say?” Wayne pointed at her card buddies. “It should be their line.”

“I speak for them. It makes no difference.”

“You’re different!”

“Am I that terrible in your eyes?”

Darienne made a face. Although she didn’t plan on following the tradition of the Church of Moonlight and giving herself away, it shouldn’t be Wayne’s excuse for being uninterested in her. What? Did he think that the Moonlight Knight wouldn’t feel the blow to her ego?

Of course, she wasn’t going to voice that thought. She said thoughtfully, “Alright. I’m heading out in the next two days anyway. I’m taking over Leo in the Frozen Land. It’s time for him to take a break and execute the Goddess of Sun’s oracle.”

One of the Goddess of Sun’s oracles was to collect negative information in the inner world.

It was a long-term mission, so aside from the still-growing Darkness Knight and the absent Death Knight, the three other knights all had to carry out the mission periodically.

The goddesses had plans for the negative information, perhaps having found the right way to utilize it.

Darienne glanced at Vera. Though William was a she now, both had set their eyes on Wayne, and they were more or less the same. When she met Leo in the Frozen Land, Darienne would tell Leo to stop by Londan and see if Vera could take over as backup.

It would be ideal if Vera could be the next Sun Knight. Then Leo would give up and stop threatening to steal Wayne from Darienne.

She smiled, feeling confident about her plan.

“Oh, Darienne. Please ask Mr. Moula to avoid using Elemental Mantra as much as possible for the next few days. I need it for something important,” Wayne asked her to send a message.

“You already have White Night Creed!” Darienne scoffed. She didn’t care about her successor’s messy private life since she couldn’t do anything about it, but she would not allow White Night Creed to be cheated on.

“You misjudged me, Darienne. I’m only practicing with Elemental Mantra for White Night Creed’s benefit.” Wayne sighed. Another person misunderstood him.

“How? One is a bow, and the other a sword. They aren’t even the same weapon!”

***

It was his secretary’s turn today. Wayne’s schedule was so packed that he had to take a few days to complete his obligatory tribute every time he headed out.

As usual, Mona took eighty percent of his output, with Hesione taking over every now and then. The Śār either pretended to be Mona or cursed Wayne out after losing her composure.

Later that night, Wayne settled down with Hesione in his arms. “Hesione, I’m going away for some time. You should stay in Londan in case demons attack without warning.”

“I’m Mona, Boss!”

“Nah, Mona wouldn’t have denied it. She knew my kink.”

“...”

Hesione clenched her teeth, seething, but then Wayne handed the Oath Sword to her.

“This sword is more powerful when you and Mona wield it. No matter how much you dislike me, I approve of your no-mercy attitude toward demons,” Wayne said seriously. “I’m going to contact the Church of Heavenly Father during this trip and ask about Palis. I want to know if the reincarnated angels have awakened and if they are going to circle the demons.”

Hesione calmed down. She approved of Wayne’s stance against demons, which was the only thing she found satisfactory about him.

After some consideration, she lowered the Oath Sword and took several deep breaths before pressing her lips to his.

Later, Hesione pulled away impassively and said in a steely tone, “Don’t take this the wrong way. To prevent other reincarnated angels from noticing anything amiss, I’ve etched the stigma on you. You may assume the role of Hesione, one of the four Śārim. This will be your proof.”

(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)

“Damn it, what is that look for?!”