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

The golden sunlight of the early morning blanketed the cathedral’s dome. As the brass bell tower tolled for the fourth time, the prospective priests by Champs-Elysees Lake slowly made their way in, showing their Holy Seal numbers, and subsequently entered different Nether rooms according to the order set by the priest’s guidance.

In both the cathedral’s grand hall and the plaza outside, magic screens towered, one after another, able to show live the performances of the saints in the rooms to the outside world.

It wasn’t only the saints from the Seven Great Churches who were present; common citizens of Farol could also attend to watch.

This not only demonstrated the Alchemical Church’s principles of fairness and openness in examination but also allowed them to charge a fee for spectators, ten gold coins per ticket.

Ten gold coins was not a small sum, equivalent to the monthly income of a typical family, yet despite this, the tickets were still in high demand, even being scalped on the black market for exorbitant prices of thirty to forty coins.

Many well-off middle-class citizens were willing to pay to watch the saints compete, for in their mundane lives, church saints were both a mystery and a sanctity that common folk rarely had the chance to encounter.

This event, furthermore, attracted national attention, with some nobles traveling from as far as the borders to the Imperial Capital to attend, testament to the examination’s significant influence.

Added to this were various gambling tables in tavern black markets, and the legendary Third Princess, Cersei Milton’s presence, which made the heat surrounding this exam palpable.

This was the Alchemical Church’s most unique alchemical manipulation: charging exam fees internally while collecting ticket sales externally, turning just one church examination into an economic stimulus, churning out many gold coins. @@novelbin@@

At the top of Third Cathedral, Bishop Morgan looked down, pleased, upon the sea of people in the plaza and at the youth lining up to enter. He revealed a seductive smile. The Sun Flame undulated gently, symbolizing his pleasure mood, and then suddenly, those flames seemed to sense something and turned abruptly cold.

"Old virgin," he did not know who he was speaking to, "since you’ve come, don’t hide."

Behind Bishop Morgan, countless pure white light points slowly converged, forming an unstable pure white silhouette.

"I am not a virgin," Merlin’s consciousness projection appeared behind Morgan, his face set as he demanded, "How much money have you made using my reputation to exploit the saints?"

Although the Seven Great Churches were branches of the same faith, they were also in competition, especially so during these advancement exams where deacons could reselect their alignments, making it the most fiercely competitive period for the churches.

Merlin had already learned about Bishop Morgan’s attempts to poach An Su away. As a bishop of the Radiant Holy See, he naturally could not tolerate this undermining.

"I’ve heard about what you did yesterday."

Merlin stared coldly at the back of Bishop Morgan, "Morgan Reinhart, I warn you, you can’t touch those children. They are all saints of the Radiant Holy See, whether An Su or anyone else. As long as I, Merlin, am here, you cannot exploit the saints of Radiant Holy See, for they are all my students!"

"The money made, I’ll give you forty percent," Morgan nodded readily.

"Good," Merlin also nodded readily, "Here’s An Su’s contact information. This boy is yours from now on."

Today was a truly joyous day.

Having discussed the most important matter, Merlin’s consciousness hovered in front of a window, overlooking the rows of saints in the hall. At that moment, the Third Princess also entered the cathedral in her carriage, and that silly boy An Su was happily discussing with Cersei the absurd bet of ’who loses becomes the son’...

Merlin watched for a long while and without lifting his head, said to Morgan,

"Who do you hope wins?"

"I hope this boy, An Su, loses," Morgan, also watching below, said intriguingly.

"Why?" Merlin, curious, turned back to ask Morgan, sensing the contradiction.

By all means, Morgan was a woman who liked attractive children.

"Because children look good when they cry," Bishop Morgan held his cheeks earnestly,

"It’s not that I am a pedophile, but I just find that children’s sincere emotions are most genuine when they cry. Think about it, those clear tears overflowing from azure eyes, streaming over fair cheeks—it’s not about taking everything away from them; I just think pitiful children look prettier, and I want to hold them. Of course, I am not a pedophile."

Sick....

"..." Merlin suddenly felt that selling An Su to the Alchemical Church was a bit too much.

He felt that if An Su really entered the Alchemical Church, he would be abused daily.

One should know that Bishop Morgan’s origin was the most terrifying among their batch,

In the year Merlin turned thirty,

That was when he had just completed his magical training, his romantic feelings blossoming, charming and dashing, the most popular figure among girls in the entire Church,

—and then he met this woman in need of alchemical materials.

Just so happened to need materials aged thirty years.

From then on, Merlin developed a psychological shadow towards women. Explore more stories with NovelBin.Côm

"And besides, this boy, his luck isn’t really good."

Bishop Morgan rather helplessly said, "The first room he drew is precisely the Alchemy room I designed. Whether he can pass depends on how flexibly the boy can think."

"And looking at the little princess, she should be able to pass quite easily."

Bishop Morgan’s designed Alchemy room... Merlin frowned; An Su’s luck was indeed very unfavorable.