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The achievements of the clergy who entered the training center were progressing smoothly. Among them, many had already mastered Sophia’s Reverse Muscle Technique and Reverse Brain Method, even understanding their fundamental principles. Some could even clumsily evoke golden or jade-colored Light Power through the Immovable King Wisdom Technique.

“If this continues, everyone should surpass the beginner level by the time the three months we set are up.”

“Haha, and that’s just the beginner level, huh?”

Cardinal Andrea and Cardinal Alessandro, who had taken the time to check on the situation, couldn’t stop chuckling. Sophia wasn’t wrong. They too had learned the training methods and the Immovable King Wisdom Technique from her and could now summon light to destroy demons. However, due to a lack of proficiency and various other reasons, they still struggled with the output, duration, and control of the light.

They were still far from emitting light that could dominate an entire space like Sophia.

“Well, I said it’s the beginner level, but honestly, I’ve taught them everything I can. From here on out, it’s up to them to refine themselves.”

If Sophia had acted as she usually did, she might have openly challenged Cardinal Andrea, but since Cardinal Alessandro was also present, she was unusually polite.

Cardinal Andrea, baffled by Sophia’s uncharacteristic behavior, pointed it out.

“But why are you acting so unnaturally polite? What’s with the ridiculous honorifics?”

Sophia’s eyebrow twitched at the direct provocation.

“What are you talking about? Someone might misunderstand if they hear you.”

Cardinal Andrea, seeing Sophia’s sharp retort, turned to Cardinal Alessandro.

“See? She’s trying to match me directly.”

“Haha, it’s like watching your younger self. It’s quite entertaining.”

At Cardinal Alessandro’s words, both Sophia and Cardinal Andrea’s expressions darkened.

“Honestly, what you just said made me a bit uncomfortable.”

“Indeed. No matter how I think about it, I’m clearly at a disadvantage here.”

“What? How am I supposed to take that?”

As the two began to bicker, Cardinal Alessandro smiled warmly.

“By the way, how’s that matter going?”

At Cardinal Alessandro’s question, Sophia, who had been engaged in a verbal spar with Cardinal Andrea, sharpened her gaze.

“Actually, the succession dispute over the Iron Throne is said to have originated from differing interpretations of the Walong Law.”

The Walong Law, which applied to the western and central parts of the continent, stipulated that the primary inheritance rights to the family’s core assets, derived from the paternal line, should first go to the eldest child of the legal wife.

An additional clause stated that assets passed down through the maternal line were strictly distributed only through that maternal bloodline, but this was irrelevant to the current succession dispute in Rotaringia.

The Walong Law was consistently applied from the most dignified royal positions to ordinary farming households in the western and central parts of the continent.

“The problem is that the current king’s first prince is not a legitimate child but a bastard.”

Cardinal Alessandro mentioned with a headache. The chaotic state of Rotaringia’s royal succession stemmed from this issue.

“Strictly speaking, the current royal family has no legitimate heirs. For some reason, all the children born from the queen died before reaching fifteen.”

In the absence of legitimate heirs, the next in line should have been the eldest among the bastards.

“Just before the king fell ill, there was an attempt to make the mother of the seventh prince the queen.”

This situation unofficially placed the seventh prince ahead of the first prince. And taking advantage of this chaos was none other than the royal uncle.

“My brother, the king, is unconscious, and the royal succession is in disarray. So, I will step in to resolve this chaos,” he said. It was clear to everyone that he aimed to become the regent and subtly seize power, but there was no influential figure to point this out politically.

Cardinal Andrea also added with a serious expression. The church’s headquarters in Ravenna was adjacent to the Rotaringia court. With such a complex succession conflict arising in the royal family, it was inevitable that the church would be stressed, directly or indirectly.

“By the way, I found something interesting.”

At Sophia’s words, both Cardinal Andrea and Cardinal Alessandro’s eyes lit up. They had been shocked when they first heard Sophia’s report. Who would have thought that a poisonous mushroom was growing in the shadows right under their noses in Ravenna?

However, from the church’s perspective, this was easier to handle. Conflicts arising from human interests were too complicated for the church’s leaders, who were clergy to the bone. But if the opponent was a demon, the problem became straightforward.

“Demons hiding among the royal family’s associates? It’s shocking, but it explains many suspicious situations.”

Cardinal Andrea shook his head. He couldn’t help but be shocked that such a situation was unfolding in the royal capital, right next to the holy city. If the church had overlooked this and a major incident had occurred, it could have led to an irreparable disaster.

Sophia didn’t mention that the seventh prince’s nanny was likely a demon. She had decided this after much thought.

If it became publicly known that the seventh prince’s nanny was a demon, his supporters would lose their justification for backing him.

The seventh prince’s supporters included prominent families from Ravenna and its allied cities, court nobles, and legal nobles. Sophia wasn’t sure if it was right for these third estate members to lose their political influence.

‘This is why I entrusted the investigation to Josef Hiltman, the head of the detective agency.’

If traces of demons were found in others besides the seventh prince, the blame couldn’t be solely placed on him and his followers. Ultimately, the situation would favor the first prince, who should have had the succession rights confirmed long ago, but at least it would prevent indiscriminate political retaliation.

…And fortunately, Sophia’s expectations were soon met. Not long after, she finally received a message from Josef Hiltman, the head of the detective agency.

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‘Are you really okay with this?’

At Josef Hiltman’s worried question, Sophia calmly nodded in affirmation. However, the detective agency head’s expression remained uneasy. After all, the building she was infiltrating that night was none other than the royal uncle’s mansion.

But Sophia wasn’t worried. Her stealth technique was so refined and subtle that ordinary humans could hardly detect it.

Climbing the outer wall of the royal uncle’s mansion, Sophia picked the lock of a window leading to a suitable attic and slipped in silently.

Her target was none other than the royal uncle’s third concubine.

‘He said she frequently communicated with the seventh prince’s nanny. There’s no reason for someone of her status to do such a thing.’

At least, if she were human. But if she were a demon or a follower of one, this communication could be interpreted as a scheme by demons to plunge Rotaringia into chaos.

 

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