After choosing to leave, they regretted it.

"The messenger said that a delegation from the Church of the Supreme God will arrive in Tafia in about an hour. They are said to be looking for the master. Lord Sheen wants to know if the master is willing to attend the upcoming meeting."

Aize smiled gently:

"finally come."

So many things have happened since he announced his withdrawal from the team. Even now, the church leaders have not had direct contact with Aize.

Of course, I have to test my own words in order to find out the church's attitude towards me.

This is a big deal, and of course we can't avoid it.

Aize stood up, stretched his neck and arms, clenched his fists, and said to the two people beside him:

"Just wait at home. I'll go meet them and be back soon... And don't eat that thing again, okay?!"

Chapter 8 Pressure from the Court

After changing into slightly more formal clothes and arriving at Sheen's lord's mansion, Sheen had already set up the layout and was ready to welcome him.

Soon, a huge, shiny and unfriendly-looking team appeared at the end of the street and came to the lord's mansion in an orderly manner.

A moment later, in the reception room of the mansion, Aize and Sheen received the church's envoy team.

There were three people in total.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a serious expression, about 40 years old.

Aize knew him. He was the archbishop in charge of the Inquisition in the church. His name was Colin. Even by the church's standards, he was a quite insane person.

Sending this kind of person here, it seems that today's talks will probably not be very friendly.

Not involving Violet was the right decision.

Besides him, there was a young man and a young woman.

The woman was none other than Rosaline, a member of the Goddess Blade team, whom Aize was familiar with, and a saint or priestess-type hero.

"Long time no see, Aize."

After the simple and ritualistic greetings, Rosalyn took the lead in greeting with her unchanging smile.

"I heard that you were in a coma for many days after the previous battle. I was worried sick in the Holy City. How is your situation now?"

"No big deal, just a little tired."

Aize said this, moving his neck slightly with an expressionless face.

"Compared to me, how is the situation over there? What are the other two people like now?"

I'm referring, of course, to Leah and Heidi.

Rosalyn smiled bitterly and shook her head:

"Xiaoya... because of her previous disobedience, she is now under investigation by the Inquisition. Before leaving this time, I went to visit her. She is fine physically, but she is a little unwell mentally."

"Um……"

Aize knew that Leah was arrested.

Rather, it could be said that the joint accusation by the Fengying and Yinxing teams was actually manipulated by Aize behind the scenes.

But at first, he just wanted to trap her for a few days and cause her trouble while he dealt with the orcs.

I didn't expect it to be released yet.

Aize certainly knew what the church was thinking, but that was not discussed for now.

There is another question:

"Where's Heidi? Any news about her lately?"

Rosalyn shook her head.

"No."

"...Really? Not at all?"

"No, there has been no news since she returned to the capital."

There's no news even from the church?

Or had something happened that even Rosalyn was kept in the dark?

Or did she know but deliberately conceal it?

Not sure.

Aize can see through most people, but he can never figure out what this teammate who always smiles is thinking.

Anyway, please pay more attention.

At this moment, Archbishop Colin, who was excluded from the conversation as the leader of the team, frowned in displeasure.

He interrupted the two with two dry coughs, then unceremoniously intervened in the conversation:

"Master Brave Aize, we came to Tafia not to chat, but to represent the Church and the Inquisition and have an important mission to complete."

The tone he used when he spoke was even more unfriendly than what he showed on his face, which was kind of an occupational hazard for the Inquisitor type characters.

Rosalyn's smile wavered slightly as she was forced out of the conversation, but she said nothing and gave up her place in the conversation.

And Aize, of course, doesn't accept this attitude.

He had a calm and nonchalant expression on his face, and replied casually:

"Hero? Who is the hero? I've already given up on that identity. The church's top brass already knows about it. Is the Inquisition still in the dark?"

Colin's expression became more and more unhappy:

"The status of a hero is granted by the divine realm and recognized by the church. Whether or not to give up the status of a hero is not your decision. It must be certified by the church and the inquisition."

This is so shameless, and her arrogance is no different from Leah's.

Aize snorted coldly, not hiding his contempt:

"When did the Church become qualified to certify heroes? Isn't this considered usurpation? It seems that the ones who need to be judged by heretics the most are you guys."

"Watch your words!"

Colin's voice suddenly became louder.

"Lord Aize, you must understand that the status of a hero is a blessing from the Supreme God Realm, but it is also a responsibility bestowed upon you. You actually want to abandon her. This in itself is a serious act of heresy!"

"If it weren't for Lord Aize's past achievements, I wouldn't be here to talk to you nicely, but would have directly tied you up and taken you back to the Holy City!"

The undisguised threats and arrogance made Sheen, the local lord, look disgusted.

These crazy people who believe in the goddess are really all the same. It's quite funny to think about it.

Aize didn't intend to waste too much time with him, so he asked directly and sarcastically:

"So? Since you're not planning on taking me back, what do you want to do by coming to Tafia this time?"

Colin paused, turned around and winked at his subordinates standing beside him.

The subordinate immediately took out a large stack of files from his bag, handed them over respectfully, and placed them on the coffee table in front of the few people.

Aize raised his eyebrows:

"what is this?"

"Records of the case of Lady Leah Alfred."

"There are too many to read, just tell me the result."

Colin's facial muscles trembled in displeasure.

But in the end, he did not get angry and answered honestly:

"Currently, the case is still under trial. There are different opinions within the church regarding her sentence and treatment. We currently lack crucial evidence to convict a hero."

As he spoke, he glanced at Aize with a meaningful look:

"I heard that Lady Leah had many inappropriate words and deeds when she was in the team. So, if Lady Aize is willing to go back and testify, then the charge of heresy will be confirmed without a doubt."

Aize sneered in his heart.

Then asked:

"It's confirmed, then what?"

"The specific method of handling this is still under discussion, but removing her from the existing Hero system and deploying more Holy War Knights to replenish the strength of the Goddess Blade Squad is inevitable."

He sneered and added:

"Of course, this is all based on the premise of conviction."

Having said that, the truth is revealed.

The meaning is very clear, which is to hope that Aize can retract his previous decision and return to the church.

In exchange, the church will judge Leah, help Aize vent his anger and take revenge, while completely eliminating her influence, and then give Aize more resources and troops to command.

It wasn't unexpected.

But what’s interesting is that the church clearly wants Aize to go back, but they sent such a guy to negotiate with him.

Without even saying a word, they first put a big hat on you and then make all kinds of threats.

It is just to create a card out of thin air, and forcibly reverse the position of being in need of help from others, making it seem as if they are doing a favor.

This PUA is so standard, worthy of being a missionary, mental manipulation is professional.

Too bad it's useless to Aize.

It even made him feel a little nauseous.

After all, Leah had been misbehaving in the team for a long time, so why did they only think of punishing her today?

Because in the past, I was there, so I could take the blame. Isn't it best not to offend both sides?

Why are we dealing with her now?

Nonsense, if I don’t deal with her, she will make a big fuss?

Dealing with Leah means far more to the church than to Aize, but he pretends that he is doing it for you.

He didn't even waste time thinking, he just smiled lightly, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, then said with a slight smile:

"Do I need to point out Leia's misconduct in the team? If I remember correctly, there are three other people in the Goddess Blade team besides her and me, right?"

Colin shook his head.

"Lady Heidi's whereabouts are currently unknown, and Lady Rosalyn's accusation alone cannot form a valid chain of evidence."

This made Aize laugh out loud:

"Chain of evidence? Doesn't your Inquisition always insist on 'If I think you look like a heretic, then you are a heretic?' When did you need something like evidence?"

"you--"

The archbishop was so choked that he was speechless and almost slammed the table and stood up.

But after thinking about it, I came here to negotiate after all, and it would be too disgraceful to break up with them.

Then he sat back down, suppressing the anger in his heart and asked:

"So, you're saying that you're not going back to the church no matter what?"

“There are no plans in this regard for now.”

Having said that, Aize also shrugged:

"I don't intend to accept the title of hero anymore, but if you insist that I'm still a hero... well, that doesn't really matter. I'll stay here and continue to fight the invading demons. The job descriptions aren't that different, so we can still work together, right?"

This statement, while rejecting the other party, is also giving them a safety net and a reminder.

What I mean is, although I am working alone, I am not prepared to become your enemy for the time being.

Unless you did something shameful.

In this way, as long as the church does not go crazy, it should continue to observe the situation for a short period of time, and will not do anything indecent to force Aize.

Good for everyone.