Chapter: 147
The documents were a mess, and the donations supposedly distributed to each orphanage had vanished somewhere along the way.
Maybe Claudius really had taken them as slush funds.
At least on this point, Chief Priest Evans might not have lied.
But… I can no longer trust him at face value.
During this whole scandal, Chief Priest Evans had shown many suspicious signs.
And so, Priest Pedro was forced to consider the one possibility he truly hated to think about.
What if Chief Priest Evans… was trying to frame House Claudius all along?
Just then—
Knock, knock.
Pedro frowned.
Journalists?
But this was the secret lodging Isaac himself had arranged, hidden so reporters couldn’t find it.
It was practically a slum, but still—
He stayed silent, pretending no one was inside.
Knock. Knock-knock-knock. Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock.
The knocking grew urgent, as if whoever it was already knew Pedro was there.
Finally, Pedro couldn’t bear it and rose.
“Who’s there?”
Creak—
The old door groaned as it opened.
A man stood beyond it.
His head was covered by a hood, and his face was hidden by a mask.
Not a reporter. And certainly not here with good intentions.
Pedro’s eyes widened.
The man drew a dagger from his cloak.
Shhhk.
The scrape of metal sent chills down Pedro’s spine.
“W-What is this? If you want something, we can—”
But the masked man didn’t answer. He simply raised the blade high.
In the dim corridor, the sharpened steel glinted white.
Pedro’s mind went blank.
Am I really going to die here?!
He wasn’t a saint who could say before the Goddess, I lived with no regrets.
But he hadn’t done anything to earn this kind of hatred either.
So why?
Before he could finish the thought—
Swish!
The dagger stabbed down.
Pedro squeezed his eyes shut.
But the pain never came.
Clang!
Another sword intercepted the strike, knocking the dagger aside with speed and precision.
Pedro opened his eyes.
A man now stood in front of him, shielding him.
Unlike the hooded attacker, this man revealed his face proudly, without a trace of fear.
He glanced back briefly.
“Are you unharmed?”
“Uh…”
Pedro felt dazed, as if struck on the head.
Even in the dark, that pale platinum hair and ice-blue eyes shone clearly.
There was no mistaking him.
“D-Duke Claudius?!”
It was Dietrich, the young head of House Claudius—Pedro’s enemy until now.
“Let’s save the talk…”
Dietrich twirled his sword once.
“…until after I deal with this man.”
He lunged, his blade flashing.
Clang!
Blue light split the darkness.
“Ghhk!”
The masked man groaned, stumbling back.
Despite his slim build, Dietrich’s strikes carried terrifying power, breaking his balance instantly.
Cold sweat trickled down the intruder’s back.
I have to escape!
There were rumors that the Duke of Claudius was strong, on par with his knights.
The masked man had always scoffed at that.
Just another pampered noble, nothing more.
But now—
These rumors don’t do him justice!
The intruder slashed wildly, but Dietrich pressed closer, step by step.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel rang sharply again and again.
“Damn it!”
With a desperate roar, the masked man thrust his dagger with all his strength.
But Dietrich turned the force against him.
He grabbed the attacker’s wrist and yanked him forward—
Crash!
“Argh!”
The masked man hit the ground hard.
He tried to scramble up, but it was too late.
A gleaming blue blade now rested at his throat.
“I prefer efficiency.”
The tip dug in just enough for a drop of blood to spill down.
The intruder froze.
“So if you resist again… I’ll start by slicing the tendons in your wrists and ankles.”
Dietrich smiled gracefully.
“How about it?”
“….”
Grinding his teeth, the masked man glared—then dropped his dagger.
Clatter!
The weapon rang against the floor.
Dietrich kicked it away and turned to Pedro.
“You’re Priest Pedro, correct?”
“Y-Yes, that’s me…”
“Then come with me.”
His words were gentle, but the pressure behind them was undeniable.
He had just overpowered a giant of a man in seconds, and still looked as calm as if nothing had happened.
There’s no way I can refuse.
Pedro swallowed hard and nodded.
“Y-Yes.”
“Good.”
Dietrich answered casually, then kicked the intruder in the chin.
“Ghhk!”
The masked man let out a strangled cry and went limp.
Once the situation was settled, the masked attacker—bound tight—was handed over to Claudius knights.
Pedro, still shaken, thought in confusion:
Why would the Duke save me?
To Claudius, Priest Pedro was nothing but a thorn in the side.
So why show him kindness?
Unable to hold back his doubts, Pedro asked carefully, seated in the carriage opposite Dietrich.
“Um… just what exactly is going on here?”
Dietrich only shrugged.
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain once we reach the estate.”
“I-I see…”
Pedro froze mid-reply.
Wait… am I being taken to House Claudius?
As if to confirm his fear, the carriage slipped smoothly into the grand Claudius townhouse.
Dietrich personally led Pedro into a reception room.
“Please, sit.”
“Ah, yes.”
Pedro sat awkwardly, the chair creaking under him.
A maid brought tea and sweets, but Pedro was far too tense to touch them.
Across from him, those piercing blue eyes watched him steadily
as if seeing right through his soul.
