They all call me Great Master

Under the watchful eye of the Marquess of West Berlin, Catherine reluctantly took her seat to the left of Arthur, holding a carving knife and slicing the roast pork for him—the pork of West Berlin was famous throughout South County, especially wild boar. For a considerable period, it was even regarded as a symbol of valor so much that during the coming-of-age ceremonies held by the nobility in the Silver Age of West Berlin, young nobles were required to hunt a wild boar on their own.

Squeak, squeak.

The skin-on pork chop made a crisp sound under Catherine's knife.

The thick layer of fat, masterfully crisped by the chef's skill, gave off a rich aroma the moment the tender meat underneath was sliced.

There was the scent of pine resin, along with the rich aroma of garlic and pepper.

Arthur savored it quietly.

Meanwhile, Jacqueline silently poured juice for Arthur on the other side.

Arthur had refused alcoholic beverages before the meal.

Therefore, the chefs in the Marquis's castle offered Arthur a vast array of juices, ranging from the more common apple and peach juices to the rare sea buckthorn juice.

Arthur favored coconut juice, however.

Watching Arthur alternate between bites of pork and sips of coconut juice, the Marquess of West Berlin showed a satisfied smile.

The Marquis was well aware that all this was just a facade.

It was a compromise chosen by his two daughters who dared not face him directly.

As for Arthur?

He was merely going along with it.

But what of that?

If the facade continued indefinitely, who could say that it wouldn't become reality?

Moreover, the Marquis had considerable confidence.

As long as he was there, all of this would continue.

He picked up the honey-butter ale in front of him.

Savoring the sweetness inside and the richness that the fat brought afterward.

The Marquis squinted his eyes and glanced down at the messages that kept coming with the food.

True to Arthur's words, the Inland Church had taken action.

It wasn't just the congregation at Port Doldot; even the hands on Ateil Trail were mobilized.

And the "Rapids Squad" had also appeared.

Clearly, the Inland Church had declared full-scale war on the Pain Church.

This battle would surely be a fight to the death for both sides.

However, the Inland Church held the upper hand for now.

That's because the head of the Pain Church was still here and had not taken action.

The Marquis unconsciously glanced at his two daughters, and the hint of coldness that appeared in his eyes made Jacqueline and Catherine's bodies tremble.

The twins felt their father's murderous intent once again.

However, the Marquis quickly averted his gaze.

"Lord Kledos, as we agreed before,

this time…

I am counting on you!"

Having said that, the Marquis stood up.

The time was almost right!

He needed to make his move!

Otherwise, if he missed this opportunity, that person might go into hiding again!

This was something the Marquess of West Berlin could not accept under any circumstances.

As for mobilizing his retainers and staff?

In the eyes of the Marquis, those retainers and staff were not more reliable than Arthur, and in some ways, the outsider Arthur was even more dependable.

After all, that person's roots were in West Berlin.

Who could guarantee that his retainers and staff had not been corrupted?

Therefore, this matter required his personal involvement.

With that thought, the Marquis quickened his pace.

Even as he passed by his daughters, he did not stop.

His gaze scanned over them, but he was not looking at Jacqueline and Catherine.

Instead, his eyes met with Arthur's.

Both nodded at the same time, then one bowed his head to eat, and the other strode away.

The doors to the banquet hall closed once more.

The musicians also left, following Jacqueline's signal.

Soon, only Arthur, Jacqueline, and Catherine remained in the great hall.

The reluctant Catherine had now shrunk her neck like a quail—she had just appeared rather defiant.

But in reality?

She was scared to death.

Finding out her father was willing to communicate with Arthur on an equal footing, Catherine, who already feared her father, didn't dare to underestimate Arthur.

Even the fear was shifting.

Jacqueline was doing much better, however.

After pouring Arthur another coconut juice, the High Priest of the Pain Church asked softly—

"Do you see, do we still have a chance?"

With the previous contact, Jacqueline had become even more cautious.

Because the High Priest of the Pain Church knew all too well that she didn't have many chips to play with.

Even if she included herself and Catherine, it was only enough for one desperate gamble.

Therefore, no amount of caution was too excessive.

Not to mention her choice of words.

If possible, the High Priest of the Pain Church would have loved to invent a language just to communicate with Arthur.

"Yes, but it's slim."

Arthur spoke plainly.

How could the Marquess of West Berlin, who had been scheming for so many years, be easily overthrown?

He was already snatching chestnuts out of the fire.

Not to mention Jacqueline and Catherine.

They were just sitting ducks.

Upon hearing Arthur's words, Catherine collapsed onto the seat, her entire being filled with weariness and disappointment.

However, Jacqueline's eyes lit up.

"So there's hope?"

The voice of the High Priest of the Pain Church had an undulation.

Arthur did not respond directly, but asked softly—

"When will a hunter appear?"

"When there is prey."

Catherine quickly interjected from the side.

As soon as her sister Jacqueline mentioned 'hope,' the Saintess of the Pain Church quickly recovered, not only wiping away her weariness and disappointment, but also appearing eager to try.

Arthur shook his head.

"It's when the prey lets down its guard."

Jacqueline added.

"Right, but not entirely correct."

Arthur replied.

"What is it, then?"

Catherine asked, full of curiosity.

Arthur didn't answer right away; the young Spirit Medium tossed aside his cutlery and grabbed a roast pork chop, opening his mouth wide to tear at it voraciously, his voice coming out muffled and unclear from his throat—

"When the prey thinks it is the hunter."

Catherine blinked her beautiful emerald eyes.

Clearly, Her Holiness the Saintess of the Pain Church did not grasp the meaning of Arthur's words immediately.

Jacqueline, on the other hand, shuddered all over.

The High Priest of the Pain Church widened her emerald eyes in disbelief, staring at Arthur.

Arthur just shrugged.

"Why are you looking at me?

None of this is my handiwork."

After wolfing down the roast pork chop in his hands, Arthur casually reached for the one in front of Jacqueline and began to devour it, while the High Priestess of the Pain Church did not give the slightest care to this, but instead pressed on with an urgent tone.

"Evidence! What evidence do you have?"

Arthur rolled his eyes at her before grumbling.

"All of West Berlin is so vast, and everything is personally overseen by the Marquess of West Berlin. Our Marquis really does take a personal hand! He even refuses to recruit some talents to serve as his vassals."

"Father has a Guard Commander, a Swordsmanship Chief, a Head Hunter, and..."

The still-confused Catherine's voice grew quieter and quieter.

Just like her sister, Her Holiness the Saintess of the Pain Church widened her eyes in realization.

She had finally understood.