"Bishop." Byles paused as he heard a dreaded voice from behind. Esmond seemed to manifest out of the shadows of the small temple Byles had been after finishing his work.

Byles analyzed Esmond for a while, his eyes going narrow. "Esmond Underwell I assume. I was under the impression you wouldn’t be here."

"The Emporer’s safety is my priority, to not come would be foolish. Would you join me for a conversation?" Esmond asked getting a nod from Byles. The two old men quickly left the temple, walking in silence.

It wasn’t a long walk when Emsond opened the door to a small cafe. It was full but seeing a bishop and someone who must have been of considerable wealth walk in, the owner quickly prepared a private table.

"I assume you didn’t invite me out as a friend?" Byles ordered a water before asking.

"No. You see it is my job to make sure everything that his Majesty can’t concern himself with is solved. And my men have been giving me very dangerous reports."

"I wonder what they have told you." Byles picked up his glass having a sip as he watched every movement Esmond made from the subtle change in posture to the twitch In his eyes. Despite the immense focus it was nearly impossible to get a read of the man.

"Well, I wonder why the church involves itself with the criminal underworld of the Empire. That does not seem very holy."

"I have no idea what you mean, Count."

"Of course you don’t." Esmond smiled saying that as the servant placed a cup of tea in front of him. Taking a sip he smacked his lips after. "But I have a very good reason to believe you do." Esmond pulled out a small slip of paper and slid it over to Byles.

He took a glance at him and chuckled sipping his water again. "It seems someone has been handing out church pardons." Byles shook his head in frustration with Esmond staring blankly at him.

"Whilst the church hasn’t been doing anything illegal per se, don’t you think they are overstepping their boundaries by interfering with the Empire’s law by doing this?"

And I will make sure to reprimand whoever the culprit is."

"Despite your signature being on it you still are playing ignorant." Esmond scoffed. "But I must thank you. I don’t know what you wished to achieve by doing this, but thanks to you and the rest of the church, you have shown those who are now useless to me."

"They have all received a religious pardon Count, to make a move them. Well, that’s an attack on the very institution. Don’t you think you would be interfering with religious law by doing this?" Byles smiled after saying that causing Esmond to chuckle.

"Perhaps. But do you not remember my words? I carry out the acts his Majesty cannot concern himself with. This isn’t the Empire carrying out justice after all." Esmonds words caused Byles to frown. He instantly understood what Esmond was about to do. ’Maybe he already has done it. Maybe it’s going on now.’ Byles didn’t doubt those thoughts. Looking at the old man he couldn’t get a read of him.

’He nothing like Blackwood and his operatives. The man is an enigma.’ Byles took a sip of his water. "I wonder if you have met with the other Bishops yet."

"You already know I haven’t Byles. But I do plan on doing so at some point. Especially Blackwood. He has been up to some interesting things. It’s given William quite a headache."

"I’m sure the general has a lot on his plate, especially seeing as how Issac is gone and Marcus is in a form of exile. Ambition is a dangerous thing after all."

"Yes. So I wonder why you holy men are obsessed with it? Shouldn’t you be following your Lord only? Politics doesn’t suit you. It’s a filthy thing after all."

"You talk as if you don’t follow Sol, Count."

"And I don’t" Esmond leaned back staring at Byles with cold eyes. His words came as shook to the old bishop not expecting someone so openly to admit that.

"Don’t tell me you’re a heathen?"

Esmond shrugged saying nothing more on the subject. "Let me cut to the chase. The church needs to back off."

Byles scoffed at his words, his eyes filling with arrogance. "And why should we?"

"Two reasons. I’ve done a little digging you see. That Bishop, Blackwood. He’s not meant to be here. It was hard that get that information. I couldn’t directly target him and those around him, it’s too dangerous. But you see, the church, whilst it likes to display a united front, is very fragmented it seems after Samuel’s Death." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"His Holiness Samuel." Byles cut in. Although he wished to hear what Esmond had to say, he wouldn’t tolerate disrespect.

"Right, His holiness. But as I was saying. Many of the clergy we spoke to had no idea about anything related to the inner workings of the Holy Land. But a few did, and with a little convincing I was able to find out some truly interesting things. It made me wonder. How would His Holiness Constance feel when he finds out that Cardinal Francis has been going behind his back."

Esmond words caused Byles to frown. ’That idiot. Why did he place so many people here.’ Byles clenched the top of his cane thinking about the cardinal. ’He should know best the old snake would eventually catch on to him.’

Byles lossened his grip. "Yes, I believe His Holiness would find that to be quite the annoyance. But it would take, a month maybe more for the word to reach the Holy Land. And then for His Holiness to actually hear of it... things always get lost in bureaucracy."

"Yes. These things can happen. But I wonder if the Church would ignore the seal of the Blessed One. Because from my understanding to ignore him is to ignore Sol."

"Reasonable assumption. But still, if that happened it would still take a month or so. Things can happen in such a short amount of time."

"If you didn’t forget I said I have two reasons." Esmond lips curled up full of malice as he stared deep into Byles’s eyes. It caused a shiver down his spine, as his throat went tight, feeling like a serpent was tightening around it.

"I have been given complete freedom now," Esmond said in a cold voice. "Whatever idiot decided to kill Desmond’s secretary was very stupid. His Majesty did not appreciate that one bit, and after speaking to our dear mayor, he spoke to me. Before he gave me great freedom, but now." Emsond didn’t finish his words, letting his smile speak.

"Is this a threat Count?" Byles’s eyes went cold. The two sat in silence for what felt like hours.

Esmodn dropped his overbearing display. "His Majesty, the Blessed One, is making one final offer to you Bishop," Esmond spoke first breaking the silent tension, "He makes this directly to you Byles, not Blackwood or any other Bishop, only you. He recognizes that you out of all the Bishops are the most competent, even if you are dangerous."

"Help him. Become Arch-Bishop. We will return a few privileges that we took away under Raven’s term, but in exchange, you do not interfere with His Majesties or the Empire’s long-term vision. Do this, and we will continue to walk hand in hand."

"Did your Emporer just threaten a schism?" Byles’s voice went sharp as a murderous chill filled his eyes.

"When did I say something so dangerous? He simply offered a way forward that ensures the prosperity of both the Church and Empire."

"This is a joke." Byles’s scoffed after saying that. "Tell the Blessed One I refuse. He may be blessed by Sol himself, but the Church is Sol’s home. Its rights are not something he can just offer back after he unrightfully took them because of his greed."

Esmond sighed. "A shame, Bishop. Maybe it’s because he was feeling sentimental due to the day celebrating his departed friend, but he truly wished you accepted." Esmond stood up tidying his appearance. "Forgive me, but if we meet again, it won’t be under such peaceful circumstances."

Byles watched the old man’s back leave as he blended into the crowd, disappearing. ’To say he has been given complete freedom. Does he really plan to break away from the church?’ Byles tapped the table, sipping his water. ’What gives him the confidence? The Principality.’

Byles couldn’t understand. Esmond had already been targeting the Church when the peace between them was broken but to say that now meant nothing was off limits anymore. Bishops could end up dying. ’Something happened.’ Closing his eyes he fell into thought. It only lasted a couple of seconds before they opened wide. ’Issac Flanders. Why did he leave despite such a hectic time? What has he done?’ Hundreds of possibilities flooded Byles’s mind as he tried to think, but nothing stood out.

’I need Blackwood to investigate.’