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

Moreover, the manner of death would undoubtedly be indescribably grim.

Even grimmer than a death strong enough to rival a thousand Bishop Radas.

An Su looked at the two with a face full of sympathy, already envisioning their bleak and desolate future.

This was the Imperial Capital, and even more so, the ancient and esteemed Church Nation, famous for gatherings of high society. Given Annand’s and Marquis Norman’s pride, it would be unthinkable for them to just accept in public Bishop Morgan’s "personal" refund of the naked loan. They would probably need to pay off the debt on the spot, interests and all, and even donate a million or two to the Church in order to save face for their families.

Bishop Morgan’s bloodless scheme of borrowing a knife to kill someone not only avoided dirtying his hands, but he even seemed to turn a profit. It appeared that being born in the Imperial Capital certainly had its advantages over a borderland birth.

And without having to lift a finger!

"...At least you two could still keep your lives... Probably," An Su consoled them.

"Bishop Morgan also said," Arthur and Lister’s eyes had become somewhat ashen, "that he wants to discuss with our fathers the ’gender transition issue’ of their own sons and whether there’s been a mistake in the educational values passed on to the next generation."

"..." An Su suddenly remembered, these two were still dressed as girls!

"You two are finished," he said.

"We’re finished," Arthur and Lister nodded.

Nobles from the borderlands trekking all the way to the Imperial Capital only to discover that their sons had secretly undergone sex change surgeries—it was a script An Su found hauntingly familiar... he scarcely dared to imagine what Annand and Marquis Norman would do, fearing they might flip out on the spot.

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Fortunately, An Su hadn’t undergone gender reassignment surgery,

the son of the borderlands’ richest family covertly becoming a sexual minority; a darker father might just lose the latest King’s support as well.

"Look on the bright side, even though you two are finished..." An Su still tried to comfort them, "the arrival of the God of War and the Holy Hand in the Imperial Capital is at least somewhat beneficial to our undercover operation. The organization will remember the sacrifices you two have made."

In the mission given by the Three Great Esoteric Sects, An Su and his companions were tasked to handle Annand, Marquis Norman, and Count Karlo respectively. Although An Su had already taken care of his own father, the other two were still out there.

As long as the military resources and political power remain stable, the Church Nation has no hold on the borderlands.

"Brother Su, we’re both done for," Arthur and Lister looked at An Su with faces riddled with frustration, "If our fathers don’t kill us on the spot, that would be lucky enough, how could they possibly have the patience to listen to our plans..."

"There’s still one chance for survival," An Su sighed, "Do well on tomorrow’s exam. If you can get a decent grade, it might save your fathers’ faces, and that could give you hope."

"So, are there answers for this test as well?" Arthur looked eagerly at Brother Su, knowing that An Su always had a way.

"..." An Su’s face was lined with frustration, "...There aren’t any this time."

"I’ll purchase them with a naked loan then," Lister, being a meticulous and empathetic noble, inferred An Su’s need from his expression and promptly offered to pay more; after all, when the debts were high, one more didn’t matter.

"There really aren’t any this time," An Su murmured solemnly.

"We swear on the honor of the Sun Family, there will definitely be no refunds this time," Arthur quickly vowed, beating his chest in assurance.

"I’ve said it, there are none, there really are none," An Su sighed deeply, "figure it out for yourselves."

He couldn’t help but sigh at the absurdity of it; in the original story, these two were upright and passionate male protagonists, with Arthur following the ’do not bully the young and poor’ heroic path. After failing the saint exam and being expelled from his family, he made a three-year vow, awakened his powers, worked hard, and in the end, he tamed the Sun Family’s ’Sun Flame,’ returning to his clan after three years and showing his worth.

And Lister took the less orthodox path of opening a harem. After failing to become a saint, he went back to the borderlands, made a three-year vow, accidentally stumbled upon a secret tradition after falling off a cliff, and eventually came to his senses. He began a life of chivalry and romantic adventures, only to discover the tragic fact that all his sweethearts were his sisters...

Separated, any one of these characters would have been able to lead a novel, each destined to reach the heights of a Demigod in the future. Who would have thought that when brought together, they would go from being shining stars to a complete mess? Together in An Su’s company, the two once-upstanding youths had returned to their true natures.

But luckily, though they’d become lowly, they still had their talents and gifts; they’d just adopted a less noble approach to problem-solving.

"Relax, even if you do poorly, you’ll at least be within the top five," An Su said emotionlessly, "since there are only five of us taking the exam."

Luo Xiaohei doesn’t count; she barely passes for a cat.

"Makes sense, at least top five," Arthur and Lister nodded, showing a rare seriousness, "but still, the key is to pass. Just get through three rooms in a row."

Rankings no longer mattered, but passing the exam was essential.

"Actually, there’s one more plan if you fail the exam," An Su said, as if a new idea had struck him, his blue-green eyes serious, "It might just save your lives."

Seeing the calm smile on An Su’s lips, Arthur and Lister knew Brother Su must have thought of some underhanded trick and inquired eagerly, "What’s the plan?"

"It’s simple, I’ll call Dad," An Su said.

"At tomorrow’s parent-teacher meeting, I’ll take turns impersonating your fathers," An Su smiled at his two ’daughters’, "Just call me Dad then. I’ll handle Bishop Morgan."