The more they oppose, the more it shows that I am doing the right thing

"To be honest," Merlin said expressionlessly to An Su, "I don’t know either. Ever since you made me throw together those questions, the Association hasn’t let me be an examiner anymore."

"Didn’t you draw a scapegoat to take the blame for you?" An Su was quite surprised.

"Because the scapegoat I drew was too unlucky, had already taken the blame for me thirteen times before, and now the bishops see him and don’t believe it anymore; they all unanimously think it was my doing."

Merlin sighed helplessly, frustrated at the inefficacy.

This guy just isn’t capable, merely took the blame thirteen times before getting exposed. The Church’s bishops suspected him, even the Church’s dim-witted leaders couldn’t be fooled, let alone outwit those cunning and despicable Esoteric Sect Followers.

Incompetence was bad enough, but coupled with bad luck, that was his lot in life.

"...It is really miserable being under your command."

An Su also sighed lightly, his eyes flashing with sympathy and pity, what a congenital Blamebearing Sacred Body...

He couldn’t help but feel sad for that unseen Blamebearing Saint, so unfortunate to have encountered Merlin, the veteran leader—this promising District Bishop could have been promoted long ago without Merlin.

Merlin was truly inhumane... An Su reflected inwardly.

He must never mix with Merlin once he entered service.

"You lad, don’t stir up trouble anymore, do you know how much the Association had to pay to settle the trouble you caused..."

Merlin stared at An Su with ill intent, the instigator being you, yet you even pity others.

"The number of people who passed the written test is less than ten; the Church can’t even recruit clerks this year, which is simply an international scandal. I don’t even know how to explain it to the other bishops!"

"You must be joking," An Su said unflinchingly, "The fewer the people we recruit, the more it shows how the Radiant Holy See is thriving."

"...What nonsense are you talking about?" Merlin massaged his forehead.

"Your Majesty Merlin, you don’t know this,"

An Su revealed a calm smile, his eyes brimming with sincerity,

"Nearly no one at the base level of the Church can pass the promotion exam, which precisely shows that all the geniuses of the entire Imperial Capital have already been taken in by your wise and valiant discernment of people. There aren’t any talents left overlooked or buried at the base level, hence nobody can pass your exam."

"So the fewer the talents we recruit, the more talents there are in the Church, signifying our Radiant Holy See’s bright and thriving future!"

That makes sense.

Merlin felt as if basking in a refreshing breeze, but after a careful thought, he realized these were just flattering, confusing words meant to insult his intelligence. As a sincere Radiant Bishop, Merlin despised such muddled words the most.

He’ll use these words to hoodwink those dim-witted bishops in a bit.

Merlin nodded, displaying a satisfied smile. Find adventures at NovelBin.Côm

He thought An Su truly was a talent, speaking nonsense without a script. If he were to recruit this little trickster into the Magic Association, appointing him as the second Blamebearing Saint, he might last thirty times before being exposed.

Still, he was a notch below himself.

"You lad, go prepare for tomorrow’s exam," Merlin sighed, "The original has already figured out how to handle this accident."

This incident indeed was a significant one, with the whole world’s eyes on Farol; if only about five students showed up for the day after tomorrow’s exam, it would definitely explode into a huge scandal.

This matter was challenging to handle, especially with the media’s scrutiny,

and a few saints participating in the exam the day after tomorrow were well aware of this.

"Do you have a clever plan?" An Su eyed Merlin skeptically.

"That is to not disclose the results." Merlin revealed a calm smile, "Let these saints stay in the Imperial Capital, continue with the official exam, and after they’ve all completed it, in order to protect the examinees’ privacy, only announce the top five’s results."

"The rest of the saints can just go home and wait for the notification, which, half a year later, will inform them that they had actually been eliminated in the first round of the preliminary exam."

"..." An Su showed an admiring expression; the leader indeed was the leader. Merlin could sit in the Bishop’s seat indeed had his tricks—brushing coal.

Having already eliminated people yet letting them continue with the exams, even waiting half a year to notify them—this was indeed reaching a profound depth of insensitivity.

It struck right at the heart!

He could already imagine the saints, full of hope, waiting for over half a year, eager to see what positions the high ranks of the Church would offer them, only to face the heartbreaking despair when receiving the notification. @@novelbin@@

"What will happen after half a year?" An Su asked, "The problem still isn’t solved."

"After half a year, I’ll resign and take a vacation, not in charge of the examination institute anymore." Merlin’s eyes twinkled with trusting radiance, "We have to trust in the wisdom of future generations."

"Also, when outside, remember to call by the title, ’Bishop of Chaos.’"

An Su felt he still had room to advance on the path to insensitivity... Regardless, the Imperial Capital’s three novices were born tonight.