Chapter 78: The Order of St. George and the Tithe (2)

Flattery is a profound art.

Although Bruno himself was unsure how to master the art of flattery, he was utterly astonished to find that his personal guard, Mike, seemed to have an exceptional talent for it.

With just a little guidance, Mike could make people feel elated and deeply satisfied with his words.

Thus, Bruno had no choice but to part with this capable subordinate, sending him along with a group of ruffians to Bethlehem.

In the Norman Empire, where both royal and religious authority held sway, there were only two paths to success: flattering the Emperor or flattering the Church.

Between the two, Bruno clearly chose the latter.

After all, the longstanding conflict between the five regent dukes and the Emperor of the Norman Empire was no secret. As a noble, no matter which side Bruno aligned himself with, he would inevitably face pressure from the other.

This was not just a matter of political alignment but a critical decision affecting the future development of Idar.

Rather than gambling with Idar's fate, Bruno preferred to adopt the same strategy as other noble territories playing both sides and shifting allegiance as needed between the Emperor and the regents.

As long as he could survive and maintain his power, Idar would one day become one of the most prominent noble territories not just in the east, but in the entire Norman Empire.

As a transmigrator, Bruno had absolute confidence in this.

Thus, the Holy Church, which reigned supreme within the Norman Empire, naturally became Bruno's first choice for allegiance.

After all, even if the Church's bishops were difficult to please and Mike failed to flatter them successfully, Idar wouldn't suffer any loss.

But if Mike managed to win their favor, then even the slightest benefits granted by the Church could be a great boon for the struggling, developing Idar Territory.

Inside the command tent, Mike's heartfelt and impassioned words allowed Cardinal Blancard to experience, for the first time, the sincere admiration and unwavering devotion of the common faithful.

So this is what it feels like to truly represent the Holy See… No wonder the Pope had entrusted him with such an important position.

Mike's flattery delighted the cardinal, making him feel an instant fondness for this ragged but earnest commoner standing before him.

"I have heard… that the workers from Idar are the only ones managing to complete their assigned tasks on time?" Cardinal Blancard asked.

"Yes… In fact, my lord, while completing my own duties, I have also been assisting other workers with their labor. Unfortunately, my abilities are limited, and I have not yet achieved the desired results… I beg for your forgiveness, Your Eminence." Mike spoke humbly and sincerely.

"You… help others quarry the stone?" The cardinal was visibly surprised.

"Yes, Your Eminence. My lord, the Earl of Idar, often reminds us that the God of Light is the most worthy deity of faith and praise. Any contribution made in His name helps cleanse us of our past sins. In this world, only the God of Light is our ultimate salvation."

At this moment, Cardinal Blancard was utterly stunned.

Could a mere noble truly have such devotion to the Church?

"Furthermore, in order to improve the efficiency of our fellow workers, I take time every evening to teach them quarrying and transportation techniques. Although the effects are not immediate, I believe that, in time, all the workers will become more efficient."

"These techniques… How did you Idarians learn them?"

"My lord, the Earl of Idar, has always said that building the Statue of the God of Light is the most important task in the entire Norman Empire. No effort must be spared!

Furthermore, assisting the Holy Church in constructing the statue is the sacred duty of every noble in the empire.

For this reason, before we Idar commoners came to Bethlehem to work on the statue, the Earl of Idar, Bruno Stuart, personally ensured we practiced every skill necessary for the construction from quarrying stone and transporting timber to mastering intricate construction techniques.

He insisted that we gain firsthand experience so that we would not hold others back upon arriving in Bethlehem."

"Firsthand… experience?"

"Yes, Your Eminence. To further improve our proficiency, Earl Bruno even spent a fortune constructing a garden in Idar. Its true purpose was to train us in preparation for working on the Holy Colossus.

Sadly, the soldiers of Soren Territory took advantage of this, frequently raiding our borders while our lord was focused on our training."

"…Are you saying… your lord, the Earl of Idar, spent a fortune on a garden just to train his people for Church service?"

"Yes, Your Eminence. Because Earl Bruno diverted vast sums into this project, the Soren soldiers saw their chance. They pillaged our lands, slaughtered our people, and committed unspeakable crimes.

Even after suffering such devastating losses, Earl Bruno never halted our work. Instead, he personally led his soldiers into battle, fought bravely, and ultimately repelled the invaders.

In the end, our earl was gravely wounded.

But perhaps the God of Light witnessed his unwavering devotion, for Earl Bruno made a miraculous recovery under His divine protection.

This experience has only strengthened our faith in the God of Light."

Cardinal Blancard: "…"

Although this entire story sounded far-fetched and Mike recounted it so smoothly that it felt rehearsed.

The undeniable efficiency of the Idar workers was right in front of him.

With no evidence to disprove the claims, the cardinal had no choice but to reluctantly believe Mike's words.

This Earl of Idar… is truly a man of unwavering faith and devotion to the Church!

But wait…

Where exactly is Idar again?

For a moment, the cardinal was completely puzzled.

This so-called Idar Territory… Why did he have no memory of it?

Upon returning to the Lateran Palace, Cardinal Blancard summoned his personal attendant.

"Idar Territory…" The attendant pondered for a moment before answering, "It should be one of the easternmost earldoms in the empire, near Mann Fortress. While the land is vast, it is also incredibly remote and barren."

"Remote and barren, is it…"

"In that case, issue the decree: Idar shall be exempt from tithes for the next five years.

Additionally, award Earl Bruno Stuart the Order of St. George, in recognition of his sincere devotion to the Holy Church."