Chapter 615: 415 Chapter 615: 415 Brendan was bound and suppressed on the ground by Floey with black vines.
At his side, there were more than a dozen black-clad Monks, similarly bound and detained. They were Brendan’s subordinates and also Clergy assigned to handle affairs in the Royal City Church.
They belonged to the sa group, so Chen Lun naturally showed no rcy.
After Floey finished writing the letter, Chen Lun summoned the ssenger of the Generous Council, the Faceless Servant, with his Golden Cup Token and had it send the letter back to headquarters.
“Deliver this letter to the Speaker or the Senate Governor for review,”
Chen Lun instructed the Faceless Servant.
The latter nodded in understanding, softly acknowledging that he got the ssage.
The Faceless Servant was one of the first ssengers from the Generous Council to make contact with Chen Lun, and they were quite close to each other, almost like one of his own. It was well aware that the Senate Governors also had their factions, so it naturally wouldn’t deliver the letter to the opponents of Jack, naly those of Houston.
It soon left with the letter in hand, returning to the headquarters of the Generous Council.
By the evening of that day, the Faceless Servant returned and inford Chen Lun that the Speaker was aware of the incident and had also affird the way he handled the situation.
After holding a secret eting, the expressions on the faces of the Governing Officers such as Houston were incredibly ugly.
“I see, and what was the outco?”
Chen Lun asked.
“Lord Jack, although so Governing Officers, including Houston, argued vehently, the Speaker personally issued an order to strip Brendan of his Golden Cup mbership and to transport him back to headquarters for trial.”
The Faceless Servant answered.
Chen Lun nodded in satisfaction.
Although he knew that this would offend Houston and others, they were already at odds, so offending them was inevitable. Since he stood on the side of righteousness, even if they were unhappy, they had to swallow their grievances, as it was Houston who had shown poor judgnt in people.
“In addition, the Generous Council has decided to allocate all the embezzled funds recovered from Brendan as construction capital for you to manage at your discretion.”
The Faceless Servant said.
“However, this might take a few days.”
“That’s not a problem.”
Chen Lun laughed.
He was sowhat pleased. Although he still had three hundred and fifty thousand Gold Pounds at hand, since there were public funds available, it naturally wouldn’t hurt to spend those. The money Brendan had embezzled amounted to over a hundred thousand Gold Pounds, which was enough to do many things.
“I need you, upon your return to headquarters, to inform the mbers under my command, including Akebin and Frey, the Golden Cup mbers, to co to the Royal City… We are short on manpower here, and I need their help.”
“Of course, Lord Jack.”
The Faceless Servant respectfully answered.
Brendan and the others were escorted back to headquarters on the sa day, and Chen Lun had Floey accompany them to ensure the smooth completion of affairs.
As for the other mbers of the Circus, Chen Lun arranged their accommodation in the Generous Church District. Though not yet completely refurbished, the basic facilities were intact and usable.
Chen Lun planned to hire more construction crews once the funding was secured to completely renovate the Church District before the Empire’s celebration day.
*
*
*
Three days later.
The Generous Council’s trial of Brendan concluded. Hundreds of mbers in the Great Hall witnessed this Golden Cup mber’s mont of downfall, and the one involved in pronouncing the verdict and listing the charges was none other than his superior, Governor Houston.
Houston maintained an expressionless face throughout, indifferently recounting Brendan’s transgressions. The latter, with a heart like dead ashes, despairingly hung his head, seemingly unwilling to witness the many scornful, angry, and mocking eyes around him.
In the end, Brendan, charged with more than a dozen cris including embezzlent of public funds, false pretenses, and damaging the reputation and credibility of the Generous Council, was stripped of his mbership and imprisoned in the council’s jail for seven hundred and sixty years.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would end his days in jail, for Transcendents who had not ascended to high positions, even those of Sequence Five, had lifespans no different from ordinary people.
His life from now on was dood to be bleak.
Governor Houston was also sowhat affected by this, as the dishonored mber of the Generous Council was His direct subordinate, indirectly affecting His reputation.
Because of this incident, His mood had been very gloomy recently.
Of course, as the initiator, Chen Lun also incurred the disdain of these Governing Officers. Even though he was far in the Royal City, he continuously received notifications of a decrease in Affection Points from four Governing Officers, shifting from indifferent to hostile.
But Chen Lun rely smiled faintly at this and did not care.
Everything has two sides. Although he had incurred the hostility of Houston and other Governing Officers, he also earned the favor and respect of other mbers of the Generous Council, as such a “fair and impartial” governing officer was more convincing.
Chen Lun’s reputation within the council had risen significantly.
The Faceless Servant soon brought over the ill-gotten funds from Brendan, as well as additional construction funds approved by the Senate, totaling one hundred and fifty thousand Gold Pounds.
This was also a reward for him.
Because he had used his ans to replace Brendan’s deceitful “tap water” given to Believers with the genuine “Fountain of Youth Water,” an act of damage control that had co to the Generous Council’s attention.
In the depths of the Church District’s eting room, the Faceless Servant conveyed the Speaker’s verbal praise to Chen Lun.
“This is rely my duty.”
Sitting in a high-backed chair, Chen Lun shook his head and said to the ssenger.
“Please convey my thanks to the Speaker and to governors like Kingsberg on my behalf.”
“I will do so, Lord Jack.”
The Faceless Servant presented the Imperial Bank’s voucher with both hands, then turned and left.
Along with it, Akebin, Frey, and four other Golden Cup mbers, twelve Silver Cup mbers, and several dozen ordinary mbers had also arrived. These people stayed in the eting room, ready to accept Chen Lun’s commissions and orders.
*
*
*
Chen Lun, now in possession of this imnse public fund, generously allocated fifty thousand Gold Pounds to Frey.
{“}The refurbishnt of the Generous Church District is now your responsibility, Frey.{“}
Chen Lun turned his head and spoke to him,
“Don’t worry about the expense. If these fifty thousand Gold Pounds are not enough, report back to … but rember, you must pursue the best quality, the most efficient speed, and a style of architecture that best suits our teaching.”
Frey sat on an ordinary wooden chair in front of the desk. He was initially startled, then promptly stood up to receive the bank certificate, respectfully placing his hand over his chest in a bow, and said with a tinge of excitent,
“Thank you for your trust, Lord Jack. I will definitely do my utmost to complete this task.”
Chen Lun nodded with a smile.
He then pointed to the other people seated beside him,
“You may assign three Silver Cup council mbers and ten ordinary council mbers as assistants, aiming to complete the work by the 23rd of this month, which is also the day of the Empire’s celebration.”
Frey glanced at the others and nodded solemnly at Chen Lun.
“Yes, Lord Jack!”
Having arranged the matters for the renovation of the Church District, Chen Lun also set several tasks for Akebin and two other Golden Cup council mbers, as the initial developnt plan after arriving at the Royal City.
After the eting ended, Chen Lun was sitting alone in a high-backed chair in deep thought when Connie knocked on the conference room door.
“I apologize for the interruption, Mr. Jack, but a steward from the Royal Family has co to visit, claiming to convey a ssage from the Prince.”
Connie’s face showed an apologetic expression, yet her eyes were filled with respect and admiration.
As Mr. Jack’s status beca increasingly elevated, with even the Prince sending ssengers to visit him, she, as the team’s “little butler,” could not help but feel a sense of shared pride.
“Let him in,”
Chen Lun said with a nod and a smile.
Connie obediently responded and then left after closing the door.
Soon after, she led in a middle-aged man dressed in a gold and red outfit with ruffled collar edges, who entered carrying himself with pride and a hint of arrogance.
“Mr. Jack Spett, good day.”
The man ca to the front of the desk and nodded slightly.
Chen Lun just looked up at him and then extended his hand, gesturing,
“Please, take a seat.”
“No need, I will leave once I’ve said my piece.”
The man, possibly offended by Chen Lun not standing up, had a flicker of displeasure in his eyes, and with his hands behind his back, he continued,
“Having heard of your Excellency’s arrival in Bixie Crost, His Highness the Prince was overjoyed and has sent to tell you that on the 23rd of this month, the day of the Empire’s celebration, His Highness will personally confer a knighthood upon you. You must dress properly, in accordance with Imperial etiquette, and absolutely must not be late.”
“Hmm, I understand,”
Chen Lun gently nodded.
The man paused for a mont before adding,
“Oh, and after the knighthood ceremony, there will be a banquet hosted by the Prince, and you are also on the list of invitees… However, the guests present will be all people of power and high-standing, as well as other high-ranking Clergy, so please ensure that you do not commit any faux pas.”
“Of course,”
Chen Lun raised his eyebrows and said with a light laugh.
Having said his piece, the Royal Family steward nodded and took his leave.
Chen Lun watched the man’s retreating figure and shook his head slightly. Such was the way of the Sun Royal Family, tinged with a bit of superiority, even though he was a Governing Officer of the Generous Council and a reservist of the Imperial Judgent Group, the steward didn’t seem to regard him very highly.
Perhaps a key reason was that Chen Lun was not one of the high-ranking nobles.
If he were facing a Saint, the Royal Family steward would never dare to speak with such an attitude.
‘In the end, it’s all about strength…’
Chen Lun was not angry, but shook his head with so reflection.
‘Regrettably, I still have no leads on the Mythological Knowledge of Sequence Four, and the Immortal Realm has been mostly explored. I can’t contact Philip for the ti being… I need to start from the official side and, after the celebration day, find a chance to understand the reward and punishnt system of the Imperial Judgent Group.’
After this little episode,
The next day,
Chen Lun was preaching to the Believers at the Generous Church.
Thanks to [Multitasking], he had mastered the Generous Council’s Bible, the [Justice Scroll], with its doctrines fully understood, making his preaching effortlessly fluid.
Had it not been for holding the Bible being more fitting for a Priest’s image, he would have even reclined in a chair with his hands free while speaking.
In recent days, more and more worshippers had been coming to the church, not only lured by its reputation but also by the spread of the news about the “Atonent Holy Water.” Many residents of the Royal City were hoping to try their luck for longevity and healing.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of the Believers, this Priest Jack was nowhere to be found outside of his “working hours” from ten in the morning to three in the afternoon, and he also never ntioned anything about “Atonent Holy Water,” leaving many who ca just for the excitent disappointed.
At two twenty-five in the afternoon, Chen Lun ended his sermon early and stood on the podium to listen to the grievances of the Believers.
This was one of his duties.
Strictly speaking, these matters were not supposed to be handled by him as a Governing Officer, but since his council mbers were busy and unfamiliar with the “business,” he had to deal with it personally for the ti being.
However, this situation would soon improve.
After the day of the Empire’s celebration, Chen Lun planned to hand over the role of Priest to one of the Golden Cup council mbers.
Just after a young male Believer finished his complaints about his newly started company being sabotaged by a competitor using underhanded tactics, a couple rushed into the church.
“Priest Jack!”
The woman cried out excitedly.
She drew the attention of other Believers, and Chen Lun also looked up, his eyebrows rising in recognition.
This couple was none other than Fana and Johnston, whom he had t before on the Pearl Barmogo. He had advised them to join the Generous Council and believe in His Majesty Conrad, but Mr. Johnston declined the offer at the ti.
“Johnston has been cheated! That damned Peter, we trusted him so much, considering him our best friend and partner, but he treated Johnston like a fool, took all our initial capital, and ran off!”
Fana spoke with indignation.
Her husband, Johnston, looked utterly dejected, even ashad due to his wife’s impolite behavior.
Reviews
All reviews (0)