"A...bet?"
Flander looked at Lette in surprise, "Your Highness, what do you want to bet on?"
Lette pointed to the Holy Sword in the distance, "Since you say this sword is a divine relic bestowed by your Light God.
And you've been boasting about how mighty and majestic the Light God is! Then I, a mere mortal, surely can't pull out this Holy Sword, right?
But I'm the type who doesn't believe in such things, so I want to give it a try.
But simply pulling it out like that seems quite silly and dull, so how about we bet on something, to add some excitement to this mundane life."
Flander hesitated for a moment, then began to waver internally.
As a core member of the New Church, she naturally knew that this sword was not a divine relic of the Light God.
The reason for such a show was firstly to make a spectacle and take advantage of the Holy Presence Ceremony to promote the New Church and recruit more believers.
Secondly, to grab a share of the terrifying income from this Holy Relic.
After all, due to differences in doctrine and divine taboos, the New Church was despised in the Holy City.
Being recognized by the Church Court was already the limit of tolerance, and it's impossible for them to receive any funding or subsidies.
No income means no ability to grow stronger, which is something the faction's leaders don't want to see.
Today's farce, to put it plainly, was a scheme.
Even if they couldn't gain an advantage, they could force the Church Court to give in on funding subsidies.
Unexpectedly, they encountered the returning Apprentice Saint.
"What's the matter? Weren't you so confident just now? Why are you hesitating now when victory is so close at hand?"
Lette purposely spoke loudly, "Could it be that everything you just said was nonsense?
Or is it that you have no faith in your Light God?"
Not only did these words shake the ordinary believers watching, but even the members of the New Church faction couldn't help but waver internally.
Hearing the whispers of the people behind her, Flander began to panic.
If she avoided or refused to bet now, most of the believers she had painstakingly gathered might leave.
Although they weren't elite members, their departure would surely trigger a chain reaction.
The New Church had worked hard to reach this point and couldn't afford all its efforts to go to waste now.
"Alright! If Your Highness wants to play, I'll accompany you."
Flander rolled her eyes, coming up with a countermeasure, "But matters of divine relics cannot be taken lightly! If Your Highness fails to pull out the Holy Sword, you must face the most severe punishment!"
"Oh? What punishment?"
"If Your Highness fails, please submit an application to the Church Court, renounce your Saint Heir status! Then join our New Church and serve the great Light God sincerely!"
"How presumptuous!"
The Knight Captain immediately became furious, "The sacred status of the Apprentice Saint is crucial to the continuity and prosperity of the Church Court! It cannot be wagered!"
Flander was smug because that's exactly the effect she wanted.
Raise the stakes so high that the other party doesn't dare accept! So high that the bet cannot proceed! This way, the betting matter could quietly end.
"Alright, it's a deal!"
Unexpectedly, without a second thought, Lette agreed, "I can even raise the stakes! If I fail to pull out this sword,
not only will I resign as Apprentice Saint, but I will also help the New Church secure the Apprentice Saint vacancy."
The Knight Captain immediately panicked, "Your Highness! No way! How will we explain this to His Holiness the Pope! The Holy Temple Council would never agree!"
"Why worry? The Holy Temple Council can't wait to relieve me of the Apprentice Saint position. As for my mentor, I will explain it myself.
Besides, do you doubt my ability to pull it out?"
The Knight Captain thought this made sense and said no more. He stopped objecting, but Flander was dumbfounded.
What happened, why did he agree?
What should I do now?
He... he won't really be able to pull it out, right?
"I've stated my wager, how about you, Miss Flander, do you have a wager of equal value?"
Hearing this, Flander was relieved.
She understood that the ball was now in her court. As long as she stated she had no equivalent wager, the other party would definitely play along, and the bet would be called off.
Ha! Men!
Merely a little face-saving trick.
"I am of humble status and certainly cannot produce a wager of equal value with Your Highness."
However, unexpectedly, Lette looked at her as if appraising merchandise and finally nodded in satisfaction.
"Since you can't provide a wager, then you can work off the debt yourself!
It just so happens I brought a pampered young lady home who really lacks a maid to serve tea, make beds, and warm the bed."
"Wh-what!? How can this be!"
Flander blushed deeply, not expecting such a blatant humiliation in public!
Lette sneered coldly, "What, are you scared now that it's about yourself?
If you're unwilling to dedicate yourself, then your devotion to the God seems rather average.
Or are you doubting the might of the God you believe in?"
Hearing this, Flander grew more confident.
Yes! With the great Light God watching over me, what should I fear?
The Light God may not bless me to pull out the Holy Sword, but preventing this person from pulling it out can't be hard, right?
As long as I sincerely pray, the Light God will surely respond to me!
Besides, thinking of it inversely, the stakes he offered are too tempting!
If the New Church can secure an Apprentice Saint position, it means securing an upper-echelon spot in the Church Court in advance!
The New Church would essentially rise to prominence! Becoming a mainstream faction would be within reach!
Even for this goal, the Light God will surely help me!
"Alright! I'm betting with you!"
"Well then, let's each make our divine vows!"
"No problem!"
After confirming the betting contents and their stakes, they began making their divine vows.
This was Lette's true intention all along!
Through this elaborate arrangement, he just wanted to see what kind of being this so-called Light God truly was.
As they made their vows, he also observed the praying Flander with his spiritual power highly focused, carefully searching...
"Huh? There really is such a deity! Hiss... Holy Light Law authority equal to the Holy Light Goddess?
The Holy Light Church adheres to the one true God, so where did this one spring from?"
Lette felt a slight uneasiness, anticipating that something significant might happen at this Holy Presence Ceremony.
"Alright, I've made my vow. Your Highness, shall we begin?"
Seeing Flander's smug demeanor, Lette laughed scornfully.
"What, you're so eager to become a maid? Alright then, I'll grant your wish!"
With that, he strode towards the Holy Sword at the East Gate.
As he moved, the Holy Sword began to tremble slightly, as if there was some resonance between the person and the sword.
This miraculous scene drew gasps from the crowd, and Flander felt her heart leap into her throat.
"You people don't even know its name and just yank it randomly..."
While speaking, Lette had already reached the Holy Sword, grasping its hilt with an unprecedented solemn expression.
"When a beam of light shines into the iron tower, revealing its filth and ugliness, this light becomes sinful! It's evil!
If the world is truly this way, then let me be this light! Illuminate everything!
Listen well!
This sword! It's called Sin Light!"
Zheng!
In an instant, a joyous sword cry accompanied by dazzling Holy Light pierced through the sky!