Asa sighed and said, "If you hadn't captured me in the first place, none of this would have happened. But even though we now know the truth, this isn't the time to dwell on it. Whether you want to settle scores with Inham or I have unfinished business with Orford, those are matters for later. Right now, let's focus on the present. Release her first."
Lancelote hesitated for a moment before letting go of Aimee. "I can let you two go, but what do you expect me to do with these orcs? Do you want me to ferry them back to Orford one by one on griffins?"
"As long as you hold your troops back and allow these orc warriors to safely withdraw from Celeste, that will be enough. Of course, I will take my hostage with me as well—until we reach the safety of the Wild Highlands."
"Impossible." Lancelote shook his head. "Even if these orcs march at their fastest pace, it would still take at least two to three months to reach the Wild Highlands. There is no way I will agree to let His Holiness remain among these mindless orcs for that long."
Asa replied calmly, "But do you have a better alternative?"
"You release him first, and I guarantee the orcs' safe departure."
"A guarantee? Sorry, Sir Lancelote, but I don't really believe in such things." Asa chuckled lightly and shook his head.
"You don't even trust my word?" Lancelote's expression darkened. The anger on Talice and the high priests' faces grew more intense.
"A guarantee is just a guarantee," Asa replied, still calm and composed.
"I think we should try looking at this from another perspective. A prolonged stalemate benefits neither side," Adra suddenly spoke.
"Oh? And what do you propose? Let's hear it." Asa nodded. "I don't want to drag this out either—holding onto someone like you is hardly an easy task."
"Since we now know for certain that Theodorus is truly dead, I can tell you plainly that I don't care much about the fate of these few hundred orcs. If you insist, letting them go is not an issue."
"Oh? Well, that works out perfectly then."
"So my point is, with both Theodorus and Grutt gone, there's no reason for us to break our word over a mere few hundred orcs. You have nothing to worry about."
"Breaking your word? I don't think Sir Lancelote breaking his word would cause him any real loss—at most, it would be a matter of pride. Don't try to placate me with talk of morality and honor. If these words came from a hot-blooded, penniless bandit, I might believe them. But I've seen too many powerful people act contrary to their words. At their level, it's not just about virtue—they hold too much in their hands, and sometimes, they simply have no choice."
"I have to admit, you make a fair point. Only interests are truly reliable." Adra nodded, then suddenly lowered his voice to a level only Asa could hear. "But what if I make you the promise? If I swear in the name of the Lord, in front of all these people, then you should understand that breaking my word would cost me far more than the lives of these few hundred orcs."
"Perhaps." Asa pondered for a moment before nodding. Adra was still acting as the interim Pope. Even if it was only a temporary position, a Pope's word was not something he could easily go back on—unless he was willing to forfeit his position entirely.
"But if I let these orcs go, then the World Tree Leaf stays with me."
Asa immediately shook his head. "From what I can see, you don't have an absolute need for the World Tree Leaf. But I do."
"I do have an important need for it—I just can't tell you what it is. No matter what, I cannot let you take the World Tree Leaf." Adra's tone was firm and unwavering.
"Then I'm afraid I must insist—this World Tree Leaf is something I absolutely need. Since you've already revealed your trump card to me, I'll return the favor. If I return this World Tree Leaf to the elves, I can not only mend the rift between them and Agrenel, but I'll also gain a most reliable ally and a safe haven. You see, someone like me, if I could have a place like the Whispering Forest as a sanctuary, even sleeping would be much easier. The elves, though somewhat naïve and lacking flexibility in their thinking, have their virtues. Their commitment to honor and moral integrity outweighs their greed. If I manage to reclaim their holy relic, they'll be my most loyal allies for life."
"So, this World Tree Leaf is more valuable to me than these orcs. As you know, with both Grutt and Theodorus gone, I need this item to find a safer place. This is non-negotiable." Asa sighed deeply. "I'm tired, truly tired. You know, holding someone hostage under Lancelote's watchful eye isn't easy. I have to make sure I can turn you into a decaying corpse before he unsheathes his sword, and at the same time be cautious of any potential paralysis spells from some overzealous cardinal. Keeping my concentration for such long periods is draining. For your safety, please stop bargaining with me. I'm afraid I won't be able to maintain control over my strength and magical power for much longer. This is no longer about what I want or don't want."
Adra's face darkened. He could distinctly feel the tightening grip around his neck. A subtle but ferocious necromantic aura surged through the hand, like a giant venomous snake that could not help but flick its tongue, sensing the danger. He could feel the skin and muscle cells in that area already decayed, leaving a battlefield of death and destruction.
Lancelote's expression was no better, though he still refrained from making a move. He knew that the other man had the ability to crush Adra's neck and unleash necromantic magic, filling his brain like sausages being stuffed. The power and magic were already gathered in his hands, like a bow drawn tight. But paradoxically, it was Lancelote himself pulling on the bowstring, restraining the force from being released.
Cold sweat appeared on Adra's forehead, but he didn't seem overly panicked. Instead, he narrowed his eyes as if quickly weighing the situation in his mind. After a moment, he sighed and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll let you have the World Tree Leaf. Shall we consider this our agreement?"
Asa finally nodded. His expression relaxed, but his hand still did not loosen. "Fine. Continuing this stalemate isn't helping anyone…"
Adra raised his voice, lifting one hand toward the sky in a gesture resembling a believer taking an oath. He proclaimed loudly, "Alright. I swear in the name of the acting Pope, in the name of the Lord above, that as long as you release me, I guarantee that I will not send anyone to exterminate these hundreds of orcs before they reach the Wild Highlands. And of course, you and this young lady will be included in that promise."
His voice was loud, not just reaching the ears of the high-ranking priests and others around them, but also the many people gathered around the square.
"Good. Since His Holiness has spoken, I can rest easy." Asa's gaze swept across the faces of the high priests and others around him, then suddenly let go, pulling the still-dazed Ayime and retreating swiftly toward the orc crowd.
Even as he did so, he did not fully relax his guard, keeping a watchful eye on Lancelote and Adra, ready to respond instantly to any signs of action from them.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Lancelote took a step forward to support Adra. However, the looks from the high priests, the cardinals, and even Talice were far from approving when they looked at the acting Pope. Talice seemed to want to say something to Lancelote, but in the end, she kept silent.
"I'm fine." Adra rubbed his neck and coldly watched as Asa took Ayime into the orc ranks. "I didn't expect this guy to be so difficult to deal with. I'm sorry. Because of me, he took the World Tree Leaf. Now, I can only hope that he really intends to use it to ally with the elves."
Lancelote's face darkened as he listened to Adra's words. "Your Majesty, why say such things?" He seemed to be holding back frustration. "But... it seems that we have no choice but to let them go now. If Theodorus and Grutt are really dead, these few hundred orcs won't pose much of a threat..."
Adra, his eyes locked onto the orcs trapped in the center, looked so grim it was as if water could drip from his face. After a long pause, he finally shook his head. "We cannot let them go. This is a rare opportunity. Putting the orcs aside, if we miss this chance, capturing that boy and retrieving the World Tree Leaf will become nearly impossible."
"But Your Majesty, you've already..." Lancelote began, his voice tinged with confusion and concern.
"It doesn't matter," Adra interrupted coldly. "I am still the acting Pope, and my orders still carry weight, don't they? I hereby order the immediate execution of these orcs and the capture of that boy, Asa. We will retrieve the World Tree Leaf."
Adra's voice was icy, and even without looking around, he could sense the eyes of the others on him. Except for Lancelote, everyone else was filled with doubt, suspicion, and confusion. Adra's reputation in Celeste was already shaky, and the revelation from Ai Yimei about his dealings only worsened his standing. When he spoke, the looks in the eyes of the people around him were filled with astonishment, and more than a little disdain.
"Don't be surprised. Just get my final order passed on," Adra said, his voice still cold. "I will now step down from the position of acting Pope. I have broken the oath I swore in the name of the Lord, and I am no longer fit to carry the responsibility bestowed upon me. I suggest that Lancelote take over as acting Pope. No objections, right?"
The people around him exchanged uncertain glances, the tension palpable. But the most shocked of them all was Lancelote. He rushed to speak. "Your Majesty, how can you say such a thing?"
Adra, or rather Magnus, who now occupied this young body, sighed softly, his expression neutral, neither happy nor sad. He spoke in a calm voice, "This is the best way forward. Since that boy dared to bet his life, why shouldn't I use this meaningless title to gamble as well? There's no time for hesitation. Let's act now."