In the name of the true god

Once His Majesty Leonard issues the decree, permitting the transfer of the forty-two implicated wizards and resonance sorcerers imprisoned in the capital's heavy prison to the Holy Temple of the Wind Holy Church—

Even excluding today.

Given the church's efficiency, the transfer should be completed by the day after tomorrow, November 5th (Monday) at the latest.

Jude and Allen will have to wait until November 10 (Saturday) to rotate to the Heretics Ward.

How to delay?

No matter how long it drags on, Jude understood one thing clearly after hearing the cruel plan that Chairman Frost had been forced to devise: it had to be delayed!

Because not only does the Descent of God's rescue operation require more time, his request for Edmund to "use distant water to quell nearby fires" can only be confirmed by re-entering the Heretic's Quarter.

"How about we ask your brother for help? Can he transfer us to the heresy ward ahead of time?" Allen suggested as his first idea.

“My brother only has the authority to dispatch priests. For us ordinary prison guards to be transferred, it would require approval from someone at the deputy warden level or higher,” Jude disagreed. “Let’s not even talk about whether Mr. Steele agrees. Even if he does, and then something happens in the heresy ward right after we were illegally transferred… what do you think the church will do?”

Allen blurted out, "They'll definitely trace it back to your brother and your 'brother and sister-in-law'."

"That's right."

"But..." Allen tried to plead, "Didn't you say that gods can't see into the hearts of priests?"

"But what if the church makes my brother swear an oath by God?"

"All right……"

President Frost stated: "The rescue operation must adhere to three prerequisites. First, the Descent of God must not be implicated. Second, Jude's identity must not be exposed. Third, Connor must not be placed in danger."

It was yesterday.

If Jude were to ask him, he would still say that the Descent of God would only guarantee to avoid becoming enemies with Connor Viera and Steele Fernando as much as possible during the rescue operation.

It is different now.

Connor's heart was with the "heretics." If it weren't for his risking his life to deliver the information, the Descent of God would most likely have fallen into the church's "fake transfer" trap.

Stance is paramount.

With the chances of a successful rescue already slim, there was absolutely no need to drag Connor, their "benefactor," into the mess.

The emphasis on Jude's inability to reveal his identity also takes into account the relationship between Jude and Connor.

If Jude is exposed, Connor, as his older brother, will still be suspected and interrogated by the church, thus leading to his exposure and death.

of course.

President Frost made this request not only out of emotion, but also because he rationally considered the long-term future.

They failed to significantly enhance the power of the Divine Descent Society by saving forty-two of their kind.

At least... they had a reliable informant within the Holy Church.

The situation is not completely dire.

"Then how do we stall?" Allen asked dejectedly. "Do you have a better way?"

"Perhaps... there's someone I could try," Jude suddenly thought of something.

"Who?"

"Who?"

President Frost and Allen pressed for an answer in unison.

"Melanie Gilbert, the superintendent of the general ward," Jude said. "Her stance has been very clear, and she has emphasized more than once that the priests must be made to pay for the innocent deaths of the guards before they are transferred. I think... having her intervene would not only prevent my brother from being exposed, but it might also have an unexpected effect."

"She dares to go against the priest?" President Frost had been planning the rescue for many years and naturally knew the higher-ups in the capital's heavy prison. However, he did not believe that Melanie, with her ordinary background, would have such audacity.

"She dares," Jude said with certainty.

-

At the same time.

In front of the main gate of the Royal Capital Heavy Prison.

Melanie, who had stayed up all night, was full of energy. She stood with her arms crossed and a gloomy face, waiting for Warden Urban Adel to return.

at last.

The luxury car carrying Warden Adel turned onto the street and slowly pulled up in front of the prison gate.

Before he could come down.

Melanie strode over and opened the back door first: "Warden."

Warden Adel turned his head and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Would it be convenient for us to chat in the car?"

"Come up."

Melanie walked around to the other side and got into the back seat of the car: "You should be able to tell that both of these prison breaks were orchestrated by the church."

"Where's the evidence?" Warden Adel asked, his eyes closed, as he gently rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"There is no evidence," Melanie said indignantly. "But some prison guards have been coerced by them, and some have been used to death. They rely on the power bestowed by the gods and do not treat ordinary people as human beings at all... As a first-class warden, and you as the warden, we cannot stand idly by."

"What do you want to do?"

"Make them pay the price."

"How will we pay the price?"

"If I could, I'd even make them pay with their lives... but that's unrealistic." Melanie wasn't blinded by resentment. "But no matter what, I can't let them just walk away like that. They play dirty tricks, so I'll play dirty tricks with them!"

Warden Adel opened his eyes, calmly pulled a pair of glasses from his inner pocket and put them on: "Who told you they were leaving?"

"The heretics were transferred, they—uh?" Melanie paused, "You mean…"

"I have met His Majesty Leonard."

"His Majesty did not grant the Church's request?"

Warden Adel revealed the outcome of the audience: "Neither agreed nor refused."

Melanie was a little confused: "What do you mean by 'neither agreeing nor refusing'?"

Warden Adel couldn't explain what Leonard meant either.

In short, he gave him a detailed report on the two recent prison breaks.

In his report, he was humble, neither denying his own dereliction of duty nor the loopholes in prison management, and also quite restrained in pointing out the various clues of the prison break incident.

Given Leonard's experience as a crown prince and king for so many years, it would be easy for him to connect the clues of the prison break with the church's motives and arrive at the obvious truth.

What happens after the truth is revealed?

One should either be outraged by the church's unscrupulous methods and resolutely oppose them, or think it's no big deal and go along with it to curry favor with the church.

But...

In the royal palace, Leonard, dressed in a magnificent royal robe and blind in his left eye, took time out of his busy schedule to listen attentively to Warden Adel's report. As if he already knew, he simply said calmly, "I understand."

"I understand?" Melanie was still confused. "And then? His Majesty Leonard didn't issue any decrees?"

"No." Warden Adel shook his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "He just told me to come back and continue working."