The Holy Silver Tower was built upon a magic network node, and due to the unique nature of magic in this world, many towns had risen alongside it, so Xidis and the others quickly arrived at the nearby town and casually found a tavern to sit down and talk.

Xidis didn’t even know why she was acting like a thief, not only locking the door tightly but even casting a soundproofing spell, was she about to discuss something shameful?

‘I just want to know the whereabouts of the Cardinals and Liyat so I can summon monsters to beat them away, that’s all!’

Xidis glanced at Kavier through her mask, since her identity had practically been exposed, she crossed her arms, crossed her legs and stared at them like they were trash, speaking disdainfully.

“Kavier, I came to the Holy Silver Tower today to discuss business, you’d better explain why you’re bothering me.”

“Lady Xidis! Shouldn’t I be the one asking that! That great... great mage who keeps selling magic patents at dirt-cheap prices is you!”

Kavier nearly blurted out “idiot” but held it back, in the eyes of the Holy Silver Tower, Xilrodiel was indeed an unfathomable mage who occasionally sold magical patents at bargain prices.

The Southern Region Mage Association had profited massively from these patents, gradually gaining influence in magical technology to rival the Central Continent.

Before Xilrodiel appeared, the southern region lagged at least three hundred years behind the Central Continent in magical technology; now the gap was only about a decade.

“So I’m not allowed to earn extra money? If I don’t earn it, how am I supposed to build Lisea a retirement fund, buy him a house and horses and set up an estate for him?”

For the sake of letting Lisea fully slack off in life, Xidis had put in tremendous effort, leaving noble-born Kavier speechless, after all many nobles couldn’t even match the luxury Lisea enjoyed.

“Finished asking? Now it’s my turn, why are you at the Holy Silver Tower, and who is this kid?”

Seeing that she was nearly fully exposed anyway, Xidis simply took off her mask and tossed it aside, her resentful eyes brimming with killing intent, as if she’d pounce the moment Kavier failed to explain.

Before the old count could speak, the blond youth beside him raised his hand excitedly and introduced himself.

“Xilrodiel... no, I should call you Lady Xidis. I am Fal Inhix, Duke of Falette. I asked Count Kavier to bring me here to the Holy Silver Tower to discuss an important deal. Earlier we were attacked by an ancient Flame Demon, thank you for saving us! The technique you used to subdue it was so exquisite, it was like the previous Hero had personally arrived!”

‘Me? A Hero?’

Xidis felt like pinching her nose and fanning the air, could you not mention something so unpleasant, Heroes should just disappear already.

“Fine, got it.”

“You saved our lives, if you need help, I’m willing to do my part!”

Xidis could tell at a glance that Fal was trying to curry favor, though she didn’t know his intentions, she decided to make use of him and extract information about the Cardinals.

“Heh, in that case I won’t be polite, do you know about the Cardinal and the Saint coming to the Southern Region?”

The previously relaxed atmosphere instantly froze, Xidis felt a jolt inside, had she said something wrong, or was this topic too sensitive?

After a moment, instead of suspicion, she received two synchronized sighs.

“Sigh, who wouldn’t know about that.”

“The Church delegation will probably arrive in the south in two days, what a nuisance, can’t they just stay away?”

‘Wait... that’s not right, as nobles and Church supporters, shouldn’t you be questioning my motives?’

“What’s going on?”

Fal scratched his head and explained helplessly.

“What else could it be, disasters are rampant in the Central Continent, refugees everywhere, nobles don’t want to keep funding relief, the Church forces them to pay, so in the end the Southern Region citizens have to suffer.”

“Heh, the Left Cardinal and that greedy Liyat coming south together, isn’t their intention obvious, next year’s taxes will skyrocket.”

Xidis’ heart tightened, she didn’t care about the common people, but even she was shocked by the Church’s methods, the Southern Region was already the Empire’s core tax base with extremely high rates.

Luckily there hadn’t been any disasters recently, and whenever magical beasts came out of the southern forests to cause trouble, she killed them, otherwise people wouldn’t even survive.

If taxes rose further, many wouldn’t make it through the winter.

“What a bunch of greedy scum.”

“Exactly, if it were just donations for disaster relief, I could mediate and have the lords contribute, but Liyat loves to spend others’ money, making everyone share the burden, giving short-sighted fools an excuse to exploit the people further.”

As the future Grand Duke of Falette and a relative of the Emperor, Fal had influence in the Southern Region, he could get nobles to pay, but that Saint would definitely interfere.

In the end, Liyat would be praised, southern nobles keep their wealth, the Church gains a good reputation, the Central Continent nobles profit and only the southern citizens suffer.

Fal was grinding his teeth in hatred toward Liyat.

“If only they wouldn’t come...”

‘Oh damn, allies!’

Xidis was practically humming inside, she had feared asking about the Church’s movements would expose her, but now these two didn’t even want them to come, making things much easier.

“Actually, that’s why I came here, I have a way to stop the Church from collecting taxes, but I need your information.”

The two immediately became interested, Fal crossed his arms with admiration written all over his face.

“As expected of Lady Xidis, caring for the people, if it stops the Church from taxing, we’ll do everything we can to help!”

“Just tell me the Church’s movements, I’ll summon hundreds of monsters every day to attack them, then you can use monster outbreaks as an excuse to refuse taxes.”

“Great idea! Can you ensure your identity stays hidden? And avoid killing key personnel.”

“No problem.”

Her goal was to drive them away, not slaughter them, that much she could manage.

Having witnessed Xidis’ terrifying power, the two exchanged smiles and decided to let her act freely, as for faith in the Nine Holy Spirits or loyalty to the Empire?

Feed the people first, stabilize the Southern Region, everything else can wait.

At least, that was their consensus.

After settling things, Xidis planned to return to town for a massage, but just as she stood up, Fal stopped her with a polite smile.

“Lady Xidis, I have one more request, are you interested in a major deal?”

“Not really.”

She wasn’t short on money, stopping the Church from holding the Holy Spirit Festival in Migendorf was the priority.

“Ten thousand gold coins, and a mansion in Migendorf.”

“Now I am.”

Damn, ten thousand gold and a mansion in the Southern capital Migendorf, he was offering too much.

However, what Fal said next was more than tempting, it even made someone like Xidis feel a trace of unease.

“And all I need is for you to create a soul foundation for me.”