474 The Bishops Plan (1/2)
”Let him in.” Ordered Daniel with a domineering tone that came from the main hall of his designated residence. Normally, Daniel would have never talked to Edmund like that, but in the eyes of the spiritual faction, he was one of Iewah's children, and therefore, he had to act like one.
Edmund quickly understood, and after a forty-five degrees bow directed at the place from which the voice had originated, he turned to look at the first bishop, and said, ”Please, come in.” He then led him in, but not before noticing how, before entering the residence, the first bishop had observed his surroundings in an inconspicuous manner.
When the two reached the main hall of the residence, they found Daniel sitting in front of a fireplace, and scrolling through one of the historical books on which was written in detail the history of the spiritual faction. ”It's a pleasure to meet you, Outcast.” Said the first bishop before following Edmund's directions, and sitting on the armchair placed on the opposite side of a small table that was right next to Daniel.
”The pleasure is all mine, Mister Yuto.” Responded Daniel while slowly closing the book, and placing it over the small table. He then twined his fingers over his already overlapped legs, and added, ”To what do I owe a visit from one of the notorious bishops of the spiritual faction?”
”Ahah” chuckled the first bishop before pressing his back over the internal back of the chair. Then, right after mimicking Daniel's action of twining his fingers, he said, ”My name doesn't have a fame that can precede my persona. You are even more impressive than people give you credit for.”
Daniel did not respond to the compliment. He had already felt the power of the first bishop, and he knew that a cultivator at a stage comparable to the two hundredth phase of high immortality, could not be a simple gate keeper for his faction's event. To connect him to the figures called bishops was the least Daniel could do, and therefore, he did not feel that he deserved to be praised.
As he noticed that his words were received coldly, Yuto straightened his back, and asked with a more serious tone, ”Your desire to participate in my Emperor's marriage is a surprise to say the least. Are you perhaps willing to share with me why you have decided to come?”
Daniel let a faint smile curve his lips. ”Your faction and I have a troubled history. I thought that paying my respects on such an important day would.. Ease things between us.” He said calmly.
Yuto was well aware of what Daniel meant. The punishment they had received when competing against the Sovereign of Corruption for Gai'ha's planet of origin had hurt them, and since then, based on the vindictive behaviour of Iewah's children, Daniel had been assumed to be hostile to their faction. What Daniel had said now seemed to show otherwise, but he wasn't yet convinced.
”So, in the spectrum of craziness of which your kin belongs, you are on the smart side.” He said before moving his twined hands closer to his stomach. He then asked, ”Does your decision to pick a peaceful resolution over an all-out war come as a result of the progress of my Emperor's cultivation?”
Daniel confirmed the bishop's suspicions with a smile.
The bishop let out a dry laugh, and said, ”I reckon that a year ago, with your power, you could have gone hand to hand with him, and maybe even defeat him. Now, I can understand why you'd choose this path.” Then, almost as becoming nostalgic all of a sudden, he muttered, ”Power sure attracts friendship.. But sometimes, there is a cost to that.”
”I cannot imagine what could be worrying someone of your stature.” Said Daniel with feigned confusion.
The first bishop was waiting for this question, and as soon as Daniel asked, he showed a troubled expression, and said, ”I am the closest my emperor has to a family member, and in this matter, I feel like the voice at the back of his head that is telling him to reconsider this whole wedding.”
”You do not approve? I have heard that the bride-to-be is as talented as she is beautiful.” Asked Daniel with undeniable curiosity. He more than anything wanted to hear the bishop talk about Alesia, and this was his first chance.
”I don't deny either her talent or her beauty.. But two cultivators can only bear each other's presence for a few decades, and will inevitably end up separating.. and regretting the time wasted on one another instead of focusing on their cultivation.” Responded the first bishop with a matter-of-fact tone.
What Yuto had said was not entirely wrong. While it was true that successful marriages were hard to find in the world of cultivation, that had more to do with the fact that cultivators would marry for power, and not for love. Those kinds of marriage would usually end in a divorce the moment the two parts would stop gaining benefits from one another.
Daniel could not deny Yuto's words, but he also knew that there was more to it than what he had heard. ”I haven't heard any rumors about the power behind the bride. For what reason but love would the spiritual emperor decide to marry her?”
”I have no doubt that my Emperor loves the woman.. But I know him. One day he will realize this marriage was a mistake, and will get rid of her.” Yuto said with a hint of disappointment. He then sighed slowly before adding, ”Instead of both of them wasting time, it would be better if this marriage wouldn't happen to begin with.”
Here it was. The true reason why the first bishop had personally come to visit one of his faction's enemies. Expressed in the form of an outspoken random thought which no one would take seriously.. Were his true intentions. He wanted Daniel to kill Alesia.
Both Daniel and Edmund realized what the intentions of the first bishop were, and in their hearts, they felt a strong anger surge through their bodies and invade their minds, but thanks to Daniel's mental fortitude, he was able to calm down right away. But, unfortunately, that was not the case for Edmund, who looked at Yuto with what looked like the intention to start a fight.