Ch.140Report on the Downfall of Diligence (5)

Six of the seven committee members were evenly split—three for the Emperor and three for the Elector—leaving Hans, the church’s recommended appointee, holding the deciding vote.

This meant he was in a perfect position to obstruct, even if he couldn’t actively accomplish much himself.

Despite his lack of knowledge, which prevented him from proposing legislation or making meaningful suggestions, Hans remained an important figure for this very reason.

Brother Theodore was a native of the City of Lombardt and a highly respected monk known for his exceptional scholarship and eloquence.

From Hans’s perspective, the fact that Theodore belonged to the same religious order that had sent him here likely played a significant role.

“What kind of person is this Brother Theodore?”

“He’s known as an eccentric monk, a mystic. He’s quite peculiar. For starters, his gaze is unsettling. It’s like he sees right through you. Makes you feel completely exposed.”

The merchant made no attempt to hide his discomfort.

“Yet for some reason, women visit him day and night. And they bring all sorts of health tonics with them. They say that’s why he’s still so fit despite his age—because he’s constantly being nourished. Though that’s probably just a rumor. He is a monk of the order, after all.”

“But surely the Brother must have personal preferences?”

At Kain’s question, the merchant shook his head.

“Not really. He says it’s all about the ‘feeling.’ The feeling.”

“The feeling?”

“If he likes what he sees at first glance, that’s good. But if he doesn’t, no amount of offerings will change his mind.

We tried to figure out the pattern, but there’s no consistency. I have no idea what criteria he uses to decide…

I wonder if the rumor about him flipping a coin before meeting anyone is actually true.”

“I heard that Delegate Hans runs a relief facility. Is Brother Theodore connected to that as well?”

“Of course. He practically runs it on Hans’s behalf. Plus, it’s officially under the local diocese. That’s what makes it so frustrating.”

“Why’s that?”

“Like I said, it’s under the diocese. Even if you make a donation, it doesn’t go directly to Delegate Hans or Brother Theodore—it just goes into the general ‘diocesan donation’ fund.

It’s not money going into someone’s pocket; it’s like leaving a jar at the doorway. So it’s much less effective, you see.

But we still have to contribute. Not for any benefit, but to avoid disadvantages. You know how it is—just in case. Just in case.”

The merchant winked at Kain.

“So, you said you’re bringing fabric from the east? Since we’ll both have to pay the regional development fee anyway, we might as well do it together. Not a bad idea, right?”

He was suggesting they offer their bribes together.

“Why not, let’s do that,” Kain replied, not meaning a word of it.

“Come to think of it, this Hans must be a truly upright person. Someone in his position could be doing much easier work.

Where is this facility? Would it be possible to meet the delegate or the monk if we went there?”

The merchant responded to Kain’s question with a snort.

“I doubt it. Delegate Hans is known for being selective about who he meets. Says he wants to live humbly or something.

Not that we’re looking to get friendly with an Imperial hero anyway. As for the monk, well… unless you’re a ‘woman’ he finds appealing, it would be difficult.”

The merchant rudely looked Maria up and down, lingering on her cleavage.

Maria pouted and pretended to adjust her clothes while pushing up her chest with her elbow. Kain could see the merchant swallowing hard.

“Well, who knows? The shelter doesn’t just have children. There are elderly people, young people with nowhere to go, injured women too.

Sometimes people volunteer there for room and board.

If the monk were really that kind of person, would he do that? This city gets happier by the day thanks to such kind people working diligently and accumulating virtue. That’s what I’m saying.”

* * * * *

For two days, Kain and Maria met various people and visited different places.

They needed to learn more about Brother Theodore and identify others who might influence Hans.

From the pub on the first floor of the inn to luxurious saunas, art exhibitions, and poetry readings.

Each time, they changed their clothes, makeup, posture, and accent.

With heavy makeup, Maria looked like a businesswoman from the southern kingdoms. In modest but dignified attire, she resembled a member of a noble family from the capital.

Above all, Maria’s techniques were incredibly elaborate.

“Hold still!” She would attach fake moles with materials from who-knows-where, use oil to change Kain’s hairstyle, or reshape his mustache.

But what Maria utilized most actively were beauty marks.

Sometimes she placed one just below the corner of his mouth, sometimes on the bridge of his nose. She’d put one on the upper left chest, around the eyes like tear marks, or even scatter them densely like freckles.

“Beauty marks draw attention. That means they can blur the overall impression.”

Watching Maria apply freckles, Kain completely understood. With her hair braided into two pigtails, Maria looked like a mischievous young girl.

One day they went separately, another day together. Thanks to their disguises, even people they had met before couldn’t recognize them. They also changed lodgings each time to avoid unnecessary suspicion.

Someone who could meet Hans regularly. Someone who wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Someone who could freely move in and out of Hans’s mansion and around the city.

As they eliminated people who didn’t meet these conditions, only one name remained on their list: Brother Theodore.

While the extent of his involvement wasn’t clear, he appeared to establish the overall operational framework.

They also heard testimony that he was always present when noble ladies came to volunteer after weekend mass.

Recently, rumors circulated that he was quite busy looking at areas on the outskirts of the city, as the shelter within the city had become too small and needed to accommodate more people.

“Good. I don’t know if this person is the right answer, but at least he’s not definitely wrong. Let’s visit this shelter in two days.”

“Two days? What about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s the weekend. We might see his face, but we won’t be able to approach him. And on Sunday, there will definitely be outsiders coming, so if something suspicious is happening at the shelter, they won’t do it openly.”

Kain nodded in understanding. And when he met Maria again two days later, he understood why she had said she needed two days.

* * * * *

Maria looked like a desperately ill woman. Her face was pale, and her lips completely bloodless.

“Are you sick?”

“I’d look strange if I didn’t. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch yesterday. Just water and a little honey. I feel like I’m dying.”

“But why?”

“Because there’s no one who can go anywhere as freely as a sick, pitiful nun.”

“Do you look sick?”

“Yes.”

“Like you’re about to collapse?”

“No.”

Maria continued applying her makeup. “That won’t do. I need to look utterly pitiful, like I could faint at any moment.”

Kain finally sighed. “Maria, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

Maria paused her brush. “Would you rather play the role of the sick patient?”

“That seems unreasonable for anyone to believe. Besides, does someone really need to be sick…?”

“Then do as I say. Do you think angels live in shelters? No. There are only fallen angels who came wanting to be angels but had their wings torn off immediately.

If I walk in looking normal, they’ll think, ‘Oh, another sucker,’ and be busy tearing me apart.”

“What’s the advantage of looking sick?”

“At the very least, I won’t look like a naive woman who doesn’t know how the world works.”

Having finished her makeup, Maria adjusted her nun’s habit. If “adjusting” meant rubbing dust and ash on her body and wearing down the sleeves and hem by scraping them against bricks.

“Okay. How do I look?”

Maria truly looked pitiful. Having eaten nothing but water since lunch yesterday, her face was deathly pale.

The area around her eyes was dark while her face was white. The tight leather straps made her movements stiff and unnatural. Anyone would see her as “a nun who had barely recovered from a serious illness.”

But that wasn’t all.

“The cane. Give it to me.”

Kain handed over the cane without argument. He didn’t hold her up, but walked at an appropriate distance. Just enough to look like “a brother who came to take care of his sick cousin.”

* * * * *

The shelter was located in the northern part of the city. The facility was quite spacious, with a park and church nearby, far from anything gloomy.

Children played in the large yard, while volunteers and long-term patients could be seen preparing vegetables in the shaded areas.

“How may I help you?” A nun who had been sweeping the entrance approached and asked.

Kain mentioned the name of a company from the capital. It was, of course, a ghost company of the Security Bureau.

“I’m Verneith, the financial officer there,” Kain introduced himself brazenly.

“My cousin here was seriously ill until recently but miraculously recovered. To dedicate this glory to the Two-headed Eagle, I’m planning to establish a shelter like the one that took care of my cousin.”

“I heard a voice while I was lying sick,” Maria whispered, barely audibly. “Telling me to dedicate my life to this work.”

“Excuse me for a moment. I’m sorry.”

The moved nun covered her mouth and ran to the main building, abandoning her broom far behind.

“Is it okay to lie to a nun?” At Kain’s question, Maria whispered.

“Dedicate your life to this work, Maria. How’s that? Good enough?”

As Kain shook his head, an elderly nun approached. Her face was deeply wrinkled, but her smile was gentle. She introduced herself as Sister Grace.

“We have distinguished visitors. But how did you come all the way to this countryside, so far from the capital?”

“Since I’m establishing a shelter anyway, I wanted to do it using advanced methods. So I’m touring famous places throughout the Empire.”

Kain answered humbly. Grace seemed pleased by the suggestion that their shelter followed advanced methods.

“You’ve come at just the right time. It’s a perfect day for a quiet tour. Yesterday was absolute chaos. We had even more volunteers than usual.”

The facility was spacious and clean, with a well-organized volunteer system. Education, treatment, training, care, and rest were all systematically arranged.

“Many people want to work here, and we receive various donations. Thanks to this, Elector Bohemond I has expressed great interest in our operations. Of course, this is direct Imperial territory, but…”

“I know. Everything has to go through the committee.”

“In any case, it’s a way to contribute to the Empire.”

Grace bowed her head. Kain and Maria ventured deeper into the darker areas of the facility.