73 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

### Chapter 73: This Is My Strategy to Break the Deadlock As he gazed at the Duke of Tillus, who was at the peak of his fury, Lynn's heart remained calm. The events that transpired at the municipal square had clearly spread throughout the entire city. Of course, Lynn himself couldn't possibly be unaware of this. Moreover, when Lynn unfurled the banner, he deliberately noted that this move was an initiative by the Duke of Tillus. This essentially pushed the duke into a pit, making him the target of everyone's criticism. It would even affect the Tillus family's public reputation to some extent. Observers would only see a seemingly powerful ducal family as a lone commander whose call to arms was ignored. This was undeniably a severe blow to the Duke of Tillus's prestige. Therefore, upon discovering Lynn's actions, the Duke of Tillus couldn't sit still and hurried to Augusta Manor. At present, he was extremely angry and wished to interrogate Lynn thoroughly. "Please calm down, Your Grace," Lynn sighed. "I understand your urgency, but there's no need to rush." "In my view, the party that should be more anxious right now is the church." Hearing this, the Duke of Tillus paused, then sneered, "Those people are busy banding together against us. How could they be the anxious ones?" Lynn shook his head, "If you consider the situation from the perspective of the common people and believers, you'll find that the scenario is entirely different." "What do you mean?" Though he had arrived in anger initially, at this moment, the Duke of Tillus, guided by Lynn's few words, gradually became calmer. He sat down on an empty chair nearby, resting his hands on his knees, maintaining a straight posture. Seeing this, Lynn continued, "Let me give an example." "If Your Grace were a devout follower of the Church of Abundance and one day saw those donation boxes and banners while passing through the municipal square, wouldn't you feel compelled to contribute to your faith?" "I certainly would." The Duke of Tillus initially wanted to refute. But when he put himself in that position, he realized it was indeed the case. The donation boxes were intentionally made of transparent glass so that passersby and onlookers could clearly see the amounts inside, alongside the related church and faith. This leads to a substantial issue. The more impoverished individuals are, or the more disappointed they feel with life, the more likely they are to place their hope in intangible religious faith, believing that the divine will save them. Once they develop a devout faith, these individuals may exhibit a fervent side. For instance, the common trait across most humans—vanity. It's not only the wealthy who indulge in comparison. To uphold their beliefs, at times, the poor and average citizens also become fanatically competitive. Because they genuinely believe that the gods are watching over humanity. So, after these glass donation boxes were set up in the municipal square, to ensure their faith's church maintained its dignity, they would support this fundraising activity wholeheartedly. Believers would compete passionately, contesting over which church donated more. After all, this was an overt opportunity presented in the clear gaze of everyone. Moreover, the rivalry and friction between different churches and their believers would intensify like never before. No believer would want their church to contribute less than others. Eventually, it would escalate into a citywide frenzied celebration. Unfortunately, Lynn had foreseen this scenario. So, from the start, he had ordered the guards to prohibit ordinary believers and citizens from making donations. Thus, up until now, those donation boxes, which should have long been filled, remained empty. "Think about it; the banners on those donation boxes and the empty state within are a profound mockery to those believers." "Though not fatal, it is enough to spark some doubts about faith during their idle moments amidst busy lives." "For instance, why have I donated so much to the church, yet in the end, they haven't given anything?" Lynn remarked nonchalantly. At this moment, the Duke of Tillus fell into deep contemplation. Truthfully, as soon as Lynn started speaking, the duke vaguely guessed Lynn’s intentions. Such a remarkably unconventional line of thinking! The last trace of dissatisfaction in his heart dissipated. After a brief silence, the Duke of Tillus posed another question, "But what if they decide to start anew, what will you do then?" Currently, the group spearheaded by the Church of Providence is uniting in resistance. To counter Duke Tillus and avoid disheartening their believers, they might hold a separate donation ceremony. Essentially, this would just be another transfer from one hand to another. In the end, it would be another resource drain on the populace, while the money from their people would return entact. "They won't have time," Lynn smiled. "Your Grace, it’s already the fourth day." "If I’m not mistaken, starting tomorrow, this contest originating from the clash between royal power, the church, and nobility shall see a reversal in roles." There's something about this young man—he evokes a sense that the tables can turn at any moment. "So, what are you waiting for now?" asked the Duke of Tillus, looking at Lynn. Lynn raised his index finger: "I'm waiting for the opportunity to break the deadlock, the 'prominent figure'." At that moment, the steward Kesha returned and quietly reported to Lynn, "Young master, the district bishop of the Slan sect wishes to meet with you." "Look, he's arrived." Led by a maid, Iver Traore arrived at a garden with trepidation. At this moment, his heart was filled with anxiety and fear. As the district bishop of the Slan sect in the city of Orne, he risked the Church of Providence's animosity to meet the mastermind behind this event. This is the plight of a minor church. The Slan sect hardly presents anything worthwhile. Bishop Iver was not a native of the city of Orne. He hailed from a small, remote country nestled between the Holy Loran Empire and the Tutcamon Empire, where the populace predominantly worshipped the Earth God, most being followers of the Slan sect. This nation abundantly produced magical stone veins; they could make massive profits solely through export trade. But possessing valuable resources incurs danger. After accumulating such wealth in a short period, they drew the Tutcamon Empire's gaze. This empire worshiped the God of War and revered conflict and violence. Consequently, a common invasion war ensued. Iver fled his nation during that war. To keep the Slan sect from extinction, he decided to propagate his faith far and wide, ultimately making his way to the city of Orne after a long journey. Thankfully, the city embraced the freedom of faith, becoming exceptional ground for nurturing sect growth. In the years that followed, the sect gradually grew robust. Though it couldn't compare to the likes of the Church of Providence, it boasted close to ten thousand devout believers within Orne. However, numerous issues soon arose. First, the Earth God's doctrines conflicted with the deeply-rooted Church of Abundance, frequently drawing warnings from the city council and security bureau to amend their doctrines. Such a demand seemed absurd. After all, he was merely a bishop—how could he have the authority to alter divine scriptures? Then, a few years ago, the Cathedral of the God of War established itself in Orne and began aggressively absorbing believers. This church belonged to the Tutcamon Empire, which had an unending vendetta with Iver's homeland, making any peaceful coexistence impossible. Under the pressure from both fronts, the Slan sect's space to survive had been continuously squeezed. At present, it had almost become the city's weakest church, teetering on the brink of demise. And thus, seeking survival, he ultimately arrived at Augusta Manor. Looking at the young man, who appeared even younger than expected, and the silently observing Duke of Tillus by his side, Bishop Iver sensed he might have found the right place.