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“Are you threatening me?” Irene asked, her voice shaking with a mixture of shock and anger. The urge to retaliate physically was strong, but she knew she couldn’t act on it.

“That’s right, I am,” Yaeger replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of regret. In her previous life, Irene had been a popular figure among players, and Yaeger knew her well. The secret of Irene’s hidden collection under her bed had been leaked by a player who had gained her trust, complete with detailed information and even video evidence. Unfortunately, Irene’s choice of friends had led to her becoming a topic of gossip across Jade City.

Yaeger felt a pang of sympathy for Irene. Both of them were victims of circumstance in their own ways. ‘I would never want to threaten you unless I had no other choice,’ Yaeger thought, sighing internally.

Yaeger was acutely aware of the significant disparity in strength between herself and Irene. A direct confrontation would place her in considerable danger. Recognizing this, she understood that the best strategy was to subdue the Saintess without resorting to physical conflict.

“What do you want me to do?” Irene asked, having weighed her options and ultimately deciding to comply with Yaeger’s demands. Her role as the Saintess was too important to jeopardize. Internally, she lamented, ‘I’ve been blackmailed by the Black-hearted Princess, how dreadful! Will she force me into unspeakable acts?’ The thought of such humiliation filled her mind with disturbing images and despair over the loss of her long-guarded purity.

“What I want is simple,” Yaeger stated calmly.

Irene braced herself for the worst, fearing the loss of her innocence. ‘This is it, the end of my purity,’ she thought despairingly.

“I just want to get my stuff back, and also punish that little rat. Just don’t interfere,” Yaeger clarified in a whisper.

“You evil… Huh? It’s that simple?” Irene was taken aback, her fear giving way to surprise and relief.

“Then what else did you think?” Yaeger asked, slightly amused.

“I… I… Nothing… Ahahaha!” Irene laughed awkwardly, feeling an immense sense of relief. She resolved to destroy her secret book collection once this ordeal was over, thereby removing any leverage Yaeger held over her.

The onlookers, observing the pair whispering to each other, were perplexed. Moments ago, they seemed ready to engage in a deadly fight, yet now they appeared to be sharing a friendly conversation.

The middle-aged man, known as the Grand Bishop, watched with unease, suspecting some underhanded deal between Yaeger and Irene.

Bishop Eir, nursing his bleeding nose, approached the Grand Bishop for help. The Grand Bishop, aware of Eir’s character and only tolerating him due to the gifts he received, reprimanded Eir for his foolishness.

“Do you have a brain? Can’t you tell who you can and cannot mess with?” the Grand Bishop scolded.

Bishop Eir, cowering, mentioned possessing a treasure suitable for their church, catching the Grand Bishop’s interest.

Before Eir could reveal more, Yaeger’s voice cut through the air, “Fatty, be a good boy and return my item.”

“Nonsense. I already gave it back to you! I haven’t even settled the score with you hitting me!” Eir protested, now devoid of his earlier bravado and seeking protection from the Grand Bishop.

“Looks like you need more punishment,” Yaeger declared, her expression stern and resolute.

The Grand Bishop, witnessing Irene and Yaeger’s united front, felt a sense of foreboding, convinced they had struck a clandestine deal. Normally, he would have preferred to stay out of such affairs, but his high status and the public’s scrutiny made withdrawal impossible without damaging his reputation. He lamented the restrictions his position imposed on him, realizing that sometimes status could be a cage.

If Irene weren’t a Saintess, her personal interests would be of no consequence to others. Similarly, the Grand Bishop, despite his influential position, was constrained by the expectations and scrutiny that came with it. Any sign of weakness or retreat in this conflict could be exploited by his rivals within the church.

“Nonsense! How dare you cause a ruckus here!” the Grand Bishop exclaimed angrily, his subordinates assuming a combat stance and emanating killing intent. They believed that with the Grand Bishop and the powerful Saintess present, Yaeger would not dare to act recklessly.

However, they underestimated Yaeger’s resolve. With a swift, almost silent movement, a semi-transparent tentacle lashed out, striking Bishop Eir with a sudden sharpness. His cry of pain echoed through the cathedral, causing the Grand Bishop’s expression to twist in realization of the escalating situation.

The Grand Bishop turned to Irene, his voice laden with indignation. “Saintess, your highness, did you see that? This maniac has dared to assault a servant of God in public. It’s absolutely incredulous!”

Irene, maintaining her composure, replied succinctly, “I saw nothing just now.”

This response left both the Grand Bishop and Bishop Eir feeling as though they’d been sucker-punched. Betrayal was the only word that came to their minds. The Saintess had seemingly defected! This left all the Holy Knights and Priests in a state of utter shock and disbelief.

“I’m warning you, you had better give it back quickly, otherwise…” Yaeger’s voice trailed off menacingly, her threat hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

“No… I can’t give you something that doesn’t exist!” Bishop Eir retorted with difficulty. He was banking on the imminent return of the Holy Knights. Once they arrived, he believed the odds would turn in his favor against the lone [Princess]. Moreover, he was convinced that Irene, as a Saintess, wouldn’t dare to attack her own people, for fear of losing her sacred title.

“I hope you won’t regret it,” Yaeger said, stepping back with a sly smile. After a moment’s hesitation, Irene followed suit.

As they retreated five meters, Bishop Eir’s right pocket emitted a sudden green glow. An explosive burst of power followed. With a resounding bang, both Bishop Eir and the Grand Bishop were hurled through the air, their screams echoing through the cathedral.

“It’s never easy to snatch my possessions,” Yaeger declared, her voice cold and unyielding. Her power, precise and versatile, was akin to a scalpel, equally capable of saving or destroying lives.

With a casual flick of her hand, the scattered fragments on the ground soared through the air, landing neatly in her palm.

“Holy Spirit Shard?” Irene exclaimed in surprise the moment she caught sight of the fragment. Her reaction was a mix of astonishment and recognition.