Chapter 43: A Deceptive Victory

"You seem to have a point..." Levin stroked his chin. "Alright! I've made my decision!"

Vladimir was tense to the extreme, dreading that Levin's next words might be, "I'll kill you to silence you!"

"Then there's only one choice—I will pledge my loyalty to the Church!" Levin stepped forward, untying Vladimir's bonds, and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

?

A small question mark slowly appeared over Vladimir's head.

Just like that?

Did I really manage to turn 'Swift Shield' against his own?

But before any sense of accomplishment could surface, what emerged first was a profound sense of unreality.

Just a second ago, 'Swift Shield' and I were mortal enemies. He had tied me up, and though we had made a certain deal, my life was still firmly in his hands. I didn't dare ask for any sensitive information about his organization, fearing I'd never live to take it back. Instead, I only inquired about matters that piqued my curiosity, all so I could die with some clarity.

And now, suddenly, my instinct to recruit had miraculously worked!

One must know, the Guardsmen of Weimar City are staunchly loyal, men of faith and duty. It's no easy feat to turn one of them into a mole. If 'Swift Shield' has truly defected, this would be a tremendous achievement for our Church!

Vladimir, still pondering this, placed a hand on Levin's shoulder and asked, "Hmm… 'Swift Shield,' are you unhappy with your post in the Guards? With your strength, you should be more than a mere acting deputy. Are you being suppressed by your superiors? Or is the Morella family keeping you under wraps?"

Levin immediately fabricated an answer: "Don't even mention it! That cursed Morella family has ruined me. Just to protect their precious young lady, they've kept me, someone on the verge of a mid-tier promotion, stuck as an acting deputy in the East Fourth Division! For what? Are warriors' lives worth less than mages'? I've had enough!"

Vladimir inwardly rejoiced, finally understanding Levin's reason for concealing his strength. The Morella family has truly mishandled this! They had a rare talent on their hands, someone with the potential for legend, and yet they squandered it on a mere bodyguard role for their daughter? As expected, these ancient aristocratic families are all rotten to the core!

This has certainly worked out in our favor.

Vladimir coughed twice, "Don't worry. With your abilities, once you undergo the transformation ritual and become a werewolf, you'll be at least a top-tier mid-level extraordinary being. If you can surpass that, you might even stand against high-tier opponents! By then, you'll be on par with the Council of Sages in Weimar City. Our Church values talent, and we'll cultivate you well! By the way... do you have any family?"

Levin shook his head, "No, I'm an orphan."

No wonder.

Vladimir's heart clicked into place. An orphan, hardened by the trials of life, who had witnessed the dark side of Weimar City and lacked any real sense of belonging. To then be suffocated by the Morella family's control...

The relief of surviving such a dire situation stirred all sorts of thoughts in Vladimir's mind. He was even somewhat moved, considering Levin's youth and strength. It must not have been easy for him, born an orphan and already halfway to mid-tier at such a young age.

"Brother, once you're in the Church, we are all your family. You have a home now," Vladimir said, tearfully patting Levin's shoulder.

Please, spare me.

But Levin wore a mask of emotion, replying, "Yes! The people of Weimar City see me only as a tool, as a subordinate. But you, you treat me like a brother, like family! From now on, I'll go through fire and water for the Church without hesitation!"

This is going far too smoothly... The doubt flashed through Vladimir's mind.

But never mind. I'll leave the judgment to the higher-ups. My task is simply to survive and deliver this intelligence back. The rest is for the bishops to handle.

"Good! 'Swift Shield,' rest assured, the bishops will hold you in high regard. With your strength and position, you'll be crucial to our Church's resurgence in Weimar City. It's not impossible that you could become the Archdeacon of Weimar someday. Once you break through to mid-tier, you're certain to take on the role of Bishop, wielding the Church's core power. Then, whether it's wealth, status, or even the pursuit of legendary status, it will all be within your grasp!" Vladimir enthusiastically painted a grand vision of the future for Levin.

"Hey, Brother Vladimir, can we drop the 'Swift Shield' thing? I'm still young. Just call me Brother Levin." Levin grasped Vladimir's hands tightly, speaking with the ease of newfound camaraderie.

"Very well! I acknowledge you as my younger brother. Until we meet again!" With Levin's support, Vladimir climbed into his carriage. He had been convinced that falling into the hands of the Guards meant certain death, but now he was filled with the bliss of a near-miraculous escape. He cracked the whip, urging the horses forward.

"Take it slow, Brother Vladimir!" Levin waved him off from the distance.

"Will do, Brother Levin!" Vladimir called back, tears streaming down his face.

One tear was of joy.

The other, of terror.

...

"That's the situation," Vladimir reported upon returning to the Church's temporary camp on the border between Weimar City and the Cold Iron Federation.

"Vladimir, the intelligence you've provided is invaluable," Manolangin, who stood before him, received the information Vladimir had gathered over the past two years with a slow nod.

He had received similar reports through other channels, but it was always better to have corroboration from one's own men.

"Furthermore, the information you provided regarding 'Swift Shield' is of great significance." Manolangin fell into deep contemplation; cultivating an undercover agent within the Weimar City Guards and embedding a mole would undoubtedly serve the Church's grand design to return to Weimar City.

The Vakilis Church has traditionally been smaller in scale due to its outdated doctrines. Lacking concepts of an afterlife and reincarnation, it struggles to compete in the lower classes against religions that offer numbing comforts. However, Vakilis remains indifferent to this, seeking only those fervently devoted to blood, hunting, and the pursuit of strength.

This presents a challenge for the divine emissary tasked with development; without a substantial base of followers, there is a dearth of funding and influence, which subsequently impacts higher-level missionary work. Fortunately, Vakilis is a generous deity, lavish in the provision of divine arts and rituals. As long as one holds sincere faith, they can harness the abilities related to Vakilis's domains, and the transformation into a werewolf through ritual becomes a powerful lure for potential disciples. Those converted at a young age often form the most devoted and essential core of the Church.

The primary followers of the Vakilis Church comprise ambitious individuals driven by the pursuit of power, as well as fervent zealots transformed from a young age. 

Levin, as described by Vladimir, undoubtedly fits the former's definition.

...

"If what Vladimir says is true, this Levin is an ambitious individual pursuing legendary status, who has yet to realize his potential. We stand a high chance of securing his entry into the Lord's hunting grounds." During a hastily convened meeting, Manolangin presented Vladimir's report and sought the opinions of all the bishops.

Indeed, this meeting proceeded smoothly, with none of the members transforming.

Manolangin inadvertently discovered that his tolerance for his fellow church members had significantly increased.

"He hails from an orphan background, with no family—this makes him difficult to manipulate…" One female bishop, her arms crossed on the table, voiced her opinion in an ethereal tone tinged with madness.

"His orphan status is precisely his advantage. The Guardsmen, brainwashed by Weimar since its independence, hold their homes dearer than life itself, their fighting spirit far more resilient than that of armies from other nations… Securing such a mole is no easy feat," other bishops chimed in with differing perspectives.

"Moreover, from another angle, his lack of family means the Council of Sages cannot control him. As long as he remains obedient, he becomes the best kind of time bomb." A voice drifted from the corner of the room.

"Regardless, once he undergoes the ritual, he will become part of our family, won't he? Just have him accept the transformation into a werewolf; who cares if his intentions are genuine!" 

"No! You haven't considered this thoroughly enough." Manolangin rapped the table. "If he is genuinely sincere in his allegiance, allowing such a critical mole to undergo the transformation would increase the risk of exposure. For an ambitious individual like him, it equates to an early payment of rewards."

"Do you have a better idea? What if he's sent by Weimar to spy on us for intelligence!"

Manolangin's lips curled into a scornful smile. This illustrated the difference in strategy between him and his fellow clergy, affirming why he was the archbishop and they were to follow his command.

"You all overlook a crucial point: the intelligence we possess, even if made public, would inflict minimal damage on us. In fact, we desire more individuals to be aware of our intelligence, transitioning from a secret cult to a prominent church."

"Whether it's the Lord's gospel or our strength, it serves as our bargaining chip! The more people who know, the more seekers of power will come to us! If it weren't for the restrictions imposed by various nations, simply charging fees to filter out candidates suitable for the rituals would elevate us to a prominent church status!"

"What can 'Swift Shield' possibly covet from us beyond our strength, even if he is after our intelligence?" Manolangin's keen eyes swiftly scanned each individual present, akin to a hawk.

Expressions of realization flickered in their eyes.

"Indeed! What is there to spy on regarding our internal intelligence? What difference would it make if they knew?"

"There's absolutely no value in sending spies to Weimar, especially such a promising candidate to serve as one… How embarrassing…" 

"Not embarrassing at all! This indicates that our intelligence is something Weimar dares not allow its citizens to know!"

"Thus!" Manolangin raised his voice once more, signaling everyone to listen attentively, "I assess that 'Swift Shield's' defection is at least seventy percent genuine! However, to mitigate the Church's risks, I will grant him an opportunity to prove his loyalty!"

"I will have him assassinate a pro-Empire member of the Weimar City Council!"