The others were so desperate to get their hands on the Ember Radiance just to curry favor with the head of the Chailros Family.

Loren had done some investigating. That young man was the young master of the Langton family, a man of high status who could indeed mobilize that many resources. He was most likely the mastermind behind the scenes.

Still, having killed so many people, Loren had already gotten his revenge. The rest could be handed over to the authorities. He couldn't be bothered to handle everything himself.

"Enjoy your final moments of peace."

Loren muttered behind the young man, then left.

Of course, he didn't forget to leave them a little present before he went.

Loren found a secret room inside and drew a ritual there directed at the Outer Gods. He knew how to set up remote-controlled rituals, too.

This ritual could serve as either a ticking time bomb or a convenient way to pin the blame and sling mud.

If the Church came to investigate later and found this, it would only add to their crimes.

...

After setting up the altar, Loren went home. Tomorrow, he planned to spill everything.

He had brought back all those black robes, which were also key pieces of evidence.

The next afternoon, after downing a quick bite, Loren prepared to head to the academy. Before leaving, he deliberately put on a look of deep worry.

The moment he stepped out, Casper, who had been waiting at the door, sensed Loren's mood and immediately scurried over with fawning attentiveness.

"Master Mentor, has something happened?"

He had noticed something was off with Loren before, but had never asked. Now, however, Loren's expression was far too obvious. In the end, Casper couldn't contain his curiosity and finally spoke up.

"Someone threatened me."

"!"

Those six words alone shocked Casper. He couldn't imagine who in the Nofica Theocracy would dare threaten Loren. Even the Pope had to treat him with the utmost respect.

"What exactly happened?"

Casper clenched his fists. He was already ready to act.

It was because of this threat that Loren had been absent from the academy for so long, making Casper wait all those days for nothing.

Even without those reasons, Casper would never allow anyone to threaten Loren.

"Someone captured my friend and threatened me to hand over the Ember Radiance, and told me not to tell the Church..."

As he spoke, Loren pulled out the threatening letter and handed it to Casper.

"I've already dealt with those people and rescued my friend. It's just a pity their identities were very well hidden. Even now, I don't know who the mastermind is."

"Anyway, given their strength, they probably couldn't have gotten those equipment on their own. There must be someone behind them pulling the strings. But I don't know who that person really is..."

After reading the letter, Casper tightened his fists. He felt an immense surge of rage. Just then, Loren handed him a black robe.

"This thing has an invisibility effect and caused me no small amount of trouble."

"Can you help me study this black robe? It's not ordinary invisibility. It can even block perception, but it can't block physical senses."

"Alright..."

Casper returned the threatening letter to Loren and took the black robe.

"Since your friend is already safe, you should go inform the Church immediately. I'll start studying this robe..."

"Mhm, I'll be going now."

Loren had brought back several of those black robes. Leaving one with Casper was no problem.

Loren headed straight for the Church. Gwen was currently hiding inside the Langton family mansion, still observing their situation.

The young man from the Langton family hadn't contacted anyone else today. Loren suspected he might be the final link in the chain, but that didn't stop Loren from taking his anger out on the entire family.

...

The church of the Nofica Church was far more magnificent than churches elsewhere. It was the largest Loren had ever seen, even surpassing the churches dedicated to the God of Light and Fire.

As soon as he entered, Loren was greeted by nuns. They had been waiting for his arrival every day, but today was the first time he actually showed up.

The Church people had visited Loren before, but he had barely acknowledged them, simply accepting their gifts.

"Master Mentor, what business do you have at the Church?"

Upon hearing that Loren had arrived, a priest rushed over to him without a moment's delay, while also sending a nun to notify the Bishop. His own rank was too low to properly receive Loren.

"Oh, I was threatened."

"Uh... what did you say?"

The priest doubted his own ears and asked again.

"I mean, here, on the territory of the Bountiful Church, under the protection of the Bountiful Church, I was threatened."

Loren deliberately emphasized the Bountiful Church. He didn't say it outright, but the priest understood clearly—Loren was taking out his anger on the Church.

"I'll go notify the Pope immediately..."

This was no longer something the Bishop could handle, let alone a mere priest like him. He scrambled and stumbled out, praying that the Pope was still here.

"Alright. Hurry back."

Loren wasn't in too much of a rush. He found a seat and waited.

"Master Mentor..."

A nearby nun quickly brought him tea, but Loren declined.

"Sorry, I'm a bit scared right now. I'm not in the mood for tea..."

"!"

The nun's heart leaped into her throat. This was the first time she had seen Loren like this. She realized how serious the situation was and, without hesitation, plucked out one of her own eyeballs.

"Master Mentor, have a bite of this. My eyeballs have a calming effect."

"Never mind. I'm just a little flustered, not injured. It's not an emergency. Save this for someone who needs it..."

Loren put on a noble and righteous expression. In truth, he simply had no desire to eat that disgusting thing right now.

Unless there was no other choice, there was no way he was touching that.

"Very well..."

The nun sighed and ate her own eye. Soon, a new eye grew from the branch sprouting from her eye socket.

Though she was a bit panicked, she couldn't help but admire Loren's noble spirit.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Master Mentor..."

Just as Loren had refused the nun's kindness, the ground in front of him suddenly burst open. Plants grew from within, intertwining and twisting together, eventually forming the shape of an old man.

"It's an honor to finally meet you in person, Your Holiness the Pope."

Loren recognized the visitor. He was the Pope of the Nofica Theocracy.

This Pope was several hundred years old. He had completely transformed into a plant and was no longer human.

At the same time, this body brought him closer to the God of Bountiful Harvest, granting him even greater power.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Loren handed the threatening letter and the black robe to the Pope. The moment the Pope took the robe, he instantly recognized what it was.

"This is Langton family property. They've used these invisibility cloaks to commit plenty of bad deeds, but nothing too serious, so I never bothered to deal with them..."

"I never imagined they would dare to do something like this..."

The Pope was furious. Loren could feel the ground trembling.

The Langton family was in danger.