Actually, Archbishop Ronnis has always been advocating for the formation of an alliance among various countries to deal with the Cult of the Dead. Unfortunately, this plan has never been implemented.

  Although the Dark Brotherhood is infamous among the people, no leader or politician of any country thinks that they are a gang that must be eliminated. After all, they are just playing with strange and mysterious magic, and their actions are somewhat secretive. Even if they occasionally kill people and turn them into zombies, compared to the number of deaths caused by suppressing a peasant uprising, a small friction between countries, or a coup, it is simply insignificant.

  Moreover, the Holy See's attitude towards the Cult of the Dead Gods is also very strange. Although it has always shown hostility to this evil organization, it has only been 'expressed' and there has never been any actual action. Bishop Ronis has submitted proposals to the Pope to eradicate the Cult of the Dead Gods more than once, but for various reasons, plans and proposals have always been stillborn.

  However, this attitude probably still has objective reasons. The church itself does not have enough combat power and can only mobilize the machinery of various countries to send troops to fight. With Diya Valley surrounded by Feilong Desert and Yingsuan Mountain Range, even veteran adventurers find it extremely difficult to reach, let alone armies. Rumors say that every undead mage is a top-notch magician, and no national leader wants to go out of their way to look for trouble with these people.

  On the contrary, there was once an ambitious monarch who had thought of winning over this group of mysterious hermit mages to help him conquer the world. He sent a delegation composed of famous diplomats with grand and thick gifts to visit them.

  Against all expectations, the peaceful envoys who ventured into the land of death actually returned safely. They not only brought back the gifts they had taken with them intact, but also brought back gifts that were said to have been given to them by the necromancers. These gifts were all priceless works of art and jewels, worth at least ten times more than the gifts the king had asked them to bring. Just as the king was looking at these unexpected gains with a mixture of joy and shame, the envoys, who had looked perfectly normal until then, suddenly stepped forward and twisted the king's head off alive. Before the guards and ministers could react, they also twisted their own heads off. Then the headless envoys used these bloody heads to write several large characters on the floor of the great hall with blood. This terrifying scene was said to have driven half of the people present at the time mad.

  Don't bother us if nothing's wrong.

  This is the message that the people of Deja Vu Valley convey to the world through their unique means.

  From then on, no one dared to have the idea of establishing any connection with that place. It can be seen how difficult it was for Bishop Ronis to form an alliance against them.

  But the difficulty is inevitable. Therefore, Bishop Rohnis also prepared a plan, and the stage of this plan is the Royal Hunting Conference to be held in the capital soon.

  The Royal Hunting Conference was originally just a private recreational activity of the Gufenhart royal family. There is a large forest pasture in the southwest of the capital, which is an excellent hunting ground. Every year, the emperor would bring the princes and nobles to hunt together. In recent years, due to the gentle personality of the new emperor, the relations between the empire and neighboring countries have improved, and they recently successfully resolved disputes with various countries over Oufuda. Under the good mood of young Emperor Gufenhart XVII, he invited the princes and nobles of various countries to participate in this activity.

  Bishop Ronis also took this opportunity to call on the leaders of various countries again. As usual, he emphasized the harm and unpredictability of the Death Spirit Association, and pointed out that various signs indicated that they would expand their own strength and even threaten the entire continent, calling on everyone to unite to destroy them. The reaction of various countries was still to regard this appeal as a unique bias and extremism of religious figures, and out of respect for this venerable old man, they would not refuse it face-to-face, but only politely used some diplomatic rhetoric to perfunctorily respond.

  This hunt's plan was the beginning of all plans, requiring careful and meticulous arrangements, as well as skillful communication to carry out. These things were undoubtedly not suitable for someone with Bishop Ronis' noble status to do, and the Magic Academy couldn't find anyone suitable either. Just then, one of Bishop Ronis' friends returned to the capital, so the bishop had Asa go ask for his help.

  This man is the most famous wind Liu figure in the Empire of Ainafast. His reputation and footprints even exceeded national borders, and no one on the entire continent dared to look up to him.

  When he was young, he was the most infatuated noble son. He once ran to death dozens of the best horses in the wilderness where wolves were still roaming around, just to send a rare flower from the Sandfiss Mountains that a woman he had a crush on wanted to see. He was also the most cunning and unruly playboy, making vows with innocent girls during the day and then renting out an entire brothel at night to indulge in wild revelry with prostitutes. He was also the most lethal dream lover, the most elegant rogue, and the white prince with a mysterious and enchanting power like a demon. Countless noblewomen went crazy training their dancing postures, willing to undergo painful treatments from priests and skilled butchers to make themselves thinner, with higher noses and more sensual eyes, all just for the chance to dance with him at a ball and have him remember their names.

  He later became interested in theology and magic, entering a school of magic. At the time he was a renowned theologian, invincible in theological debates. However, he remained an abomination to devout believers, who claimed that he had once discussed with prostitutes and clients how the Virgin Mary had given birth to her son from nowhere in a certain posture.

  He was also a talented writer. His poetry collections were so good that even the most discerning people would applaud, and his plays were performed at the Royal Theatre. He was also an artist who defied the world. He once spent a huge sum of money to buy many precious artworks and held an exhibition, then smashed them into pieces in front of everyone, saying they were all fake. Then he placed one of his own large paintings on top of the fragments that had been worth a fortune, saying this was true art. This move caused all artists to sever ties with him - it was a highly realistic painting of a woman's lower body, accompanied by a poem called "The Gate of the World".

  But the strangest thing about this man is that he was actually friends with Bishop Ronis.

  It's indeed unbelievable that these two people with vastly different personalities, regardless of the circumstances, can get along without rejecting each other. Perhaps this carefree person also has a deep and complex emotional life, or maybe the bishop is not as rigid and serious as he seems. Moreover, objectively speaking, the bishop also needs to rely on this talented and versatile friend with a complicated identity in many ways, such as now.

  He was absolutely a wonderful, strange and mysterious person. But when Asa went to see him, his mood was somewhat unnatural. Because he was the famous Earl of Inham, Elne. According to seniority and family rules, he was the nominal head of the Elne family, Clauvus's father.

  But one thing is certain, the relationship between this father and son is absolutely estranged. Their completely different personalities and values are the best evidence, it is said that at Klaus's wedding, this noble father was not seen at all. Although this nominal head of the household is an object of contempt and exclusion in the Ernie family, a father not attending his son's wedding is almost unthinkable according to aristocratic etiquette.

  Asa arrived at the Marquis's mansion. Compared to the many official residences in the capital, it was not eye-catching and even a bit shabby, forming a stark contrast with the grandeur of the Duke's mansion. After Asa revealed his identity to the old man who opened the door, the old man directly led him inside, where he met the Marquis in a very simple living room.

  When Asa saw the Marquis, he understood that Klaus's good looks were inherited from his father. However, the personalities of the two men were completely different. The Marquis had a slightly thin face, deep and melancholic eyes that were very handsome, a straight nose, and thin lips that seemed to smile but not quite. In his youth, he must have been a handsome man with a hint of elegance, and now he combined mature self-assurance with an external charm that was hard to resist. This was definitely someone who could attract attention at first glance and would never bore others no matter how many times they looked at him.

  Asa bowed his head and saluted, saying: "Your Excellency, I have come to discuss some matters with you on the orders of Bishop Ronis."

  "Your courtesy is quite perfunctory, completely insincere." The marquis's pair of slender eyebrows rose slightly, which seemed a bit too elegant for a man.

  A Sa was shocked.

  "It's been a long time since I've seen such an unpretentious and natural clergyman." The marquis had a smile in his eyes. He had a pair of youthful eyes, even though he was over 40 years old, there was no sign of aging on them, not even a wrinkle at the corners, and when he smiled, it looked extremely good. He expressed his fondness for Asa very frankly. "I like people like you."

  A Sa actually blushed a bit. Normally he would rarely be embarrassed even when facing girls.

  "Alright. Let's go to the study and talk." The marquis patted Asa on the shoulder, as naturally as an old friend of many years, without any pretence. "Since Bishop Ronis asked you to find me, it means you must be someone he trusts very much, and what we're going to discuss is probably something he can't resolve himself."

  In the study, the Marquis sighed after hearing Ronis' plan: "I didn't think that my noble and upright friend would also have to use these dirty tricks used by politicians..." He gave Asa a very charming smile. "But I believe he must have a very lofty reason, such as for the sake of light and justice, right?"

  For this strange lament that bluntly called the bishop 'filthy', Asa didn't know what expression to make. He could only murmur a vague "oh".

  The marquis bowed his head in thought for a moment, and then seemed to perk up a bit. "You know, the script I wrote before was a classic of the Royal Theater, but there's one regret that I've never directed a real play. Now isn't this plan just an opportunity? What kind of scenery and scene can compare to the reality of this big stage? This is truly art with flesh and blood." He winked at Asa, seeming a bit self-satisfied, and nodded his head. "Just wait and see."

  Asa looked at his vibrant expression and couldn't help but ask, "Did you really attend the Magic Academy? Or are you one of the most outstanding geniuses and renowned theologians?" Based on his previous experience, the more books one read, the deeper their knowledge, and the more detestable and dull they became. However, Marquis was completely different; every smile, movement, tone, and voice seemed to be filled with genuine emotions that were full of vitality yet not shallow.

  "Absolutely not an excellent student." The marquis waved his hand and said, "I was expelled."

  "Oh? Why?"

  "Because I criticized their statue of the Virgin Mary for having breasts carved in a completely wrong way."

  "What's wrong?"

  "The mother of a virgin has a pair of breasts that only a woman with a very fulfilling sex life can have, which is certainly not right." The marquis said in an expert tone, very unfairly.

  "Is that how they expelled you?" Asa felt a strong sense of injustice for the Marquis, his excellent senior from the Magic Academy.

  The marquis said innocently: "They didn't listen to my suggestion, so I had no choice but to take matters into my own hands. I smashed the breasts of the Virgin Mary statues in the cathedral and several other places, and then re-sculpted them with flour to make them look like a virgin's breasts should be. As a result, they expelled me."

  "Hahaha..." Asa laughed loudly. He was certain that the Magic Academy must have taken into consideration the face of the Ernie family to mete out this punishment, if not for this illustrious family, this audacious senior would have paid the price for his true insight on the stake at that time.

  After discussing the formalities, the two continued to chat freely in the study for a while, and soon became as familiar and affectionate as old friends. The Marquis was very impressed with Asa, this temporary promoted priest who wouldn't even memorize the Holy Scriptures, saying that those rigid and formal clergy were just wooden puppets, and only someone like him, who had an unbridled and genuine personality, could improve the stifling atmosphere of the Magic Academy. Asa thought this person was really too lovely and endearing. Perhaps Klaus was so unpopular because his father hadn't passed on these lovable traits to him.

  Before he knew it, it was already late afternoon, and Asa had to leave. The marquis saw him out.

  On the road, Marquis suddenly said: "Although it's a bit sorry for you, but out of my aesthetic sense, there is one thing I must say."

  A Sa frowned and asked: "What's wrong?"

  The marquis sighed and said, "You know, this divine attire on you is really too unattractive, too inharmonious. It's even stranger than a butcher wearing a light silk skirt."

  "Oh? I'm really not good at dressing up." Asa couldn't help but look down at himself. This set of originally solemn and dignified priestly attire he had simply put on casually, just like wearing pajamas.

  "It's not the clothes." The marquis' eyes gleamed with artistic light, his gestures showing a poet's elegance. "It's temperament. Character and vitality blended together, radiating from within, can't be influenced by clothes or any other external things. The flavor you exude is really incompatible with the solemn and dull religion," he glanced at Asa. "Naturally straightforward, unaware or unwilling to disguise and repress, if I had to say a suitable profession for you... probably a vagabond or a bandit."

  Asa let out a laugh that was incongruous with his somber identity. Being around this person, he found himself laughing more than ever before, and genuinely happy.

  Marquis stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers, producing a crisp, character-filled sound. "Look at that, this kind of hearty laughter is clearly the exclusive patent of heroic outlaws. Those stupid bookworms who recite scriptures can't laugh so happily."

  "Sorry." The marquis suddenly sighed and said.

  "What?" Asa didn't understand.

  "I'm too late. Not in time to stop that ugly marriage." The marquis's eyes were full of apology. "A good girl like Miss Mlacak should absolutely marry someone like you, not my stupid son."

  A Sa stared at him with a mixture of shock and embarrassment, this was definitely not something a father should say.

  "The Duke of Marlborough and the members of my family are a bunch of vulgar and powerful animals, even those who have spent their whole lives holding a hoe are more tasteful than them. They don't know that in this ugly world, only the pure love between men and women is the only beautiful thing. And they actually destroyed the beautiful love between these two young people for the sake of power and money, it's really too ugly." The head of the family speaks out in injustice for his wife and her lover with a poet's sentiment and tone.

  A Sa could only listen stupidly at this time, and whatever he said seemed inappropriate.

  "She's a good girl, unfortunately born into the most detestable and vulgar noble family. But if there's anything more detestable and vulgar than a noble family, it's a wealthy noble family. And she just happens to have married into one, being bound by those inexplicable household rules that don't even allow her to easily go out... what a pity." The marquis suddenly leaned in close to Asa's ear and whispered, "She should be in her own room over there right now, do you want to go take a look? I can have the servants cleared away..."

  "No need, no need." Asa waved his hands in a flurry of refusal.

  "Right. Why don't we let her join in our magnificent play as well? Let her see how the person she likes becomes a hero." The marquis suddenly came up with an even bolder suggestion.

  "This is probably inconvenient?" Asa was a bit at a loss.

  The marquis smiled with confidence, his manner calm and composed, making it seem like this was just a trivial matter that he could handle with ease. He patted Asa's shoulder, his air of confidence and elegance already making it impossible for him to refuse: "Don't worry, leave everything to me, it will definitely be wonderful and interesting."