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𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 (3)
“Yes, I was insulted. . .”
“We can’t just let such an insult go.”
The words were true, but it all depended on time and place. If knights drew their swords every time they were insulted, they would have been long gone.
‘𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?’
Bishop looked at Johan with a bewildered look.
“What were you guys doing instead of stopping this?”
“How could we have intervened?”
The servants and slaves that the bishop brought with him complained as if they were wronged. There were only dozens of them, and Johan and his warriors had suddenly started the fight without a word. How could they have stopped it?
“Bishop, please come to your senses.”
“What do you mean, come to my senses! This Biagione has been in his mind from the start.”
“Now that we’ve caught those who insulted us, shouldn’t you give the order on what to do with them?”
Upon hearing Johan’s words, the bishop thought, ‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦?’ However, Johan’s face was far from such meanness or trickery.
A serious and sincere face!
Moreover, the rumors and information he had heard earlier were holding the bishop back. He hadn’t thought such a knight would be up to tricks.
Johan was right. The situation had already occurred, and he had to step in to handle it. Although it was a bit annoying to say that the knight who caused it should handle it. . .
“To think that such an insult would just be overlooked is a misunderstanding. Knight of the Orlon family, I, Biagione, have no regrets about leaving the bishop’s position.”
“. . .?”
The knights held captive looked at the bishop with a look as if to say, ‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 *𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?’
There was no one who utilized the position of bishop as well as Bishop Biagione. He extorted huge donations from the nobles through sermons and evangelism, and also from the merchants through threats and persuasion. . .
This is just what’s officially known; unofficially, there must be more. Accepting bribes, offering suspicious confessions, manipulating trials. . .
He must have made tens of times more than the gold spent to become a bishop.
But what does he mean he has no regrets?
“Your Excellency, what are you. . .”
“Shh. Be quiet.”
One of the warriors silenced a knight. Even though they were ridiculed as barbarians, they were useful at times like this. Nobles had their customs, but barbarians from the east didn’t care about such things and were ready to take lives.
“I, Biagione, fear nothing else if I stand righteous before God. . . Tell your master! I won’t forgive any more insults!”
The bishop shouted with a dignified voice. It was evident that he wouldn’t endure any more threats or insults and would confront them with force.
Of course, the knights who knew the bishop’s situation were astounded by his response.
Are you really insane?
“Your Excellency! What are you doing. . .”
“Ah. I told you to be quiet.”
“Show some respect! You barbarians!”
“Be grateful I’m not killing you. Oh. This guy. He’s got a nice ring.”
“I’ll pay the ransom separately, don’t touch it!”
“What? Relax before I cut off your finger.”
As the knights were dragged away, the bishop sighed deeply. He started to get a headache.
He bluffed in front of the knights for appearances, but in reality, he was burning inside. He wanted to shout to the knights, ‘𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰, 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥!’
Now was not the time for the bishop to be doing this. He needed to be more cautious.
The church was accusing him of corruption, and other families within the republic were seizing the opportunity to attack. . .
He wanted a loyal and steadfast mercenary to protect him until this task was finished, not a crazed, wild mercenary.
‘𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭. . .’
As Biagione tried to convince himself, he hesitated. About a hundred of them were moving separately.
“W-Where are they going?”
“I heard there’s a manor of that knight nearby. They say they’re going to collect protection money for the insult they received.”
“That’s not good! Looting is not allowed!”
“It’s not looting, it’s just collecting what’s rightfully ours.”
“Stop them immediately! It’s an order!”
“Oh dear. I’m sorry. These rough men don’t listen to my orders in such matters. . .”
Johan lied smoothly without batting an eye. Achladda and Euclyia squinted their eyes and moved forward swiftly. The bishop was frustrated.
‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘐 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘴. . .!’
However, that did not happen. They returned quickly in less than half a day. There was no smoke rising in the distance, no screams, no people running away.
“Did you gather everything?”
“Yes!”
“Good. Bishop, we can move now. Shall we head to the diocese?”
“. . .???”
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The bishop made a decision with a worried expression. In the current situation, entering Beneto was too risky. He thought it was better to wait and see.
Instead, the bishop stayed in a town a day’s walk from Beneto. It was a fairly large town with a temple and priests, and more importantly, it was a place where the bishop’s family had considerable influence.
“About the mercenaries. . .”
“I know. I won’t let them inside, so don’t worry.”
The village chief was relieved at Johan’s words. The presence of hundreds of warriors near the town was naturally frightening. What if they barged in. . .
However, contrary to fears, the warriors led by Johan were well-disciplined. Despite their diverse origins and backgrounds, they were all charmed by Johan.
“Do you eat something special?”
Johan put a pot on the fire and added cheese, butter, pork fat, and sprinkled some sugar and spices. Achladda and Euclyia watched curiously.
“Suetlg-nim agreed too, but cooking is a kind of magic. Would you like to try it?”
“No, thank you, Sir Knight. I respect you, but I’ll choose my own food.”
Achladda was disgusted, but Euclyia willingly took a bowl and began eating faster, seeming to enjoy it.
“Have the scouts been sent out?”
“Yes, Sir Knight. We’ll find out first, whatever happens. And don’t worry. If we want, we can easily escape.”
Johan was vigilant, preparing for any potential attacks.
Of course, he thought the likelihood of an attack was low.
Considering the bishop’s status and his family’s influence, it was risky to mobilize hundreds of soldiers for an attack. It was difficult to justify, and failure would bring severe repercussions.
The republic might engage in battles in its own way. The bishop might be accused.
But even if the bishop was accused, it was not a problem for Johan. He was just there to look after his own interests.
“If only there were more foolish ones. . .”
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