CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 261: PACIFICATION_1

Lance couldn’t help but curse inwardly. These religiously brainwashed fanatics are truly troublesome to deal with, he thought.

His patience was commendable, at least when it came to engaging with capable individuals like Grendel, as he was willing to patiently and thoroughly try to understand them.

But his patience did not extend to fools, especially those brainwashed by the Church. They’re like stones from a latrine—foul and unyielding—and can cause a heap of trouble if you’re not careful, he mused.

If she weren’t still useful, she would have died last night, Lance considered.

It could only be said that under the Church’s brainwashing, the logic of its Clerics deviated from that of normal people. The nun, for example, still stubbornly believed she bore some sacred duty, fundamentally denying everything Lance said.

"If that’s the case, then use your Divine Arts on me," Lance said, spreading his arms wide. "Come on. Let your God see whether I am the heretic you claim I am."

The nun hesitated for a moment, but then her gaze firmed, and she actually raised her hand to cast her Divine Arts on Lance.

Then... nothing happened. Just as with countless other attacks before, Lance, protected by Sanctuary, was immune to these flashy abilities. Only physical attacks could harm him.

"See? I’m fine," Lance stated. "The problem lies with you. You cause disturbances in town because you have no money. Your behavior is truly disgusting. I never should have saved you."

The nun stood dumbfounded. Even though I haven’t recovered, I can’t be so starved that I’m hallucinating, can I? she thought.

Could I really have been mistaken?

As the psychological pillar supporting all her actions crumbled, the nun seemed to fall into a state of self-denial.

This place really is just an ordinary small town, and this building that looks like a church is just a school. Everything I did... it was because I had no money...

"Oh, what have I done..." The nun sank into deep self-reproach, clutching the Holy Canon as she prayed in a low voice, begging her God for forgiveness.

Lance found her reaction somewhat strange. She was so unyielding just moments ago, and now a single sentence has brought her to this, he mused.

It’s clear she still has a normal sense of right and wrong, Lance considered. It’s just that the Church’s indoctrination has skewed her logic from that of a normal person.

Lance began to understand. This nun isn’t one of the Church’s exploiters; she’s merely one of its victims.

She’s a major dupe, much like Reynard. He, at least, witnessed the Church’s ugliness during a holy war, awakened, embarked on a path of self-redemption, and finally, under my guidance, found himself again in Hamlet.

But she hasn’t reached that point yet. Her rashness shows she hasn’t truly seen the world for what it is.

Originally, the nun was just a tool for me to use to discredit the Church and elevate myself, Lance schemed. The scene just now will surely spread throughout the town, further tarnishing the townspeople’s opinion of the Church.

What becomes of the nun after I’m finished with her is irrelevant. The scandal itself will help unite Hamlet around me. If she leaves, it’s of no consequence; no one will care.

However, after learning from Dismas that the mission had failed and Ovando’s plan was consequently on hold, Lance devised a new scheme.

He planned to leverage her remaining potential: have her "accidentally" find the distress letter on her way out and use her Church status to prompt an investigation by the Church into the Ascension Sect in Ovando City.

Regardless of the outcome, it will draw the evil cult’s attention, buying me more time for my own development, he plotted.

But now Lance realized this nun’s faith wasn’t as impeccably steadfast as it appeared. Perhaps I can exploit this further, he thought.

"Miss," Lance said softly, "you wouldn’t want others to find out about your debts and the trouble you’ve caused, would you?"

At Lance’s soft words, the nun’s body went limp, and she collapsed onto the bench where she used to pray, her eyes losing their light and becoming vacant.

"I’m sorry... I..." The nun looked up at Lance, her face devoid of its prior resolve, now filled only with guilt and unease.

She acknowledged her mistake. As the fervent excitement subsided, weakness flooded her mind, making her body feel incredibly weary. Simultaneously, her hungry stomach grumbled once more.

Lance, with his keen senses, naturally noticed this. A person’s willpower weakens when they are physically feeble, he knew.

He didn’t press her further. He had already found a weakness, and there was no rush to completely break her.

"Let’s go," Lance said. "We’ll talk somewhere else so this doesn’t further disrupt the school’s routine."

The nun didn’t speak, but her posture as she rose indicated her silent agreement.

Lance led her out of the main hall toward the back of the school. Upon exiting, he saw a crowd waiting and waved them away.

"It’s alright. Everyone, back to your duties."

Rosa and the others noticed the nun now meekly following the Lord, a stark, almost jarring contrast to her previously arrogant demeanor.

They didn’t know what the Lord had done, but taming such a headstrong nun surely wasn’t easy. This only further emphasized their Lord’s formidable strength.

Curiously, Lance didn’t take her off the school grounds. Instead, he led her to the dining hall.

It was well past breakfast time, but procuring some leftovers was simple. A word from Lance was all it took for food to be brought out.

Nevertheless, those who brought the food clearly recognized this peculiar woman as the one who had caused the commotion at the school earlier, and their expressions were understandably strange.