77 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

**Chapter 77: Good Evening, Mister Bishop** "Who exactly is trying to harm me?!" At this very moment, Mozel clenched his teeth in bitter thought. Staring at the agitated crowd in front of him, he realized that he stood at a crossroads that would determine his future fate. It was certain that everything that transpired tonight would spread like wildfire throughout the city—no, even the entire Southern Province, reaching as far as the distant Imperial Capital. If he couldn't manage the current crisis effectively, he was truly doomed. Mozel's legs felt slightly weak. However, having weathered countless storms over the years, his composure far exceeded that of ordinary people. So despite the chaos in his mind, his face merely stiffened slightly, showing no sign of panic. If even he lost his nerve, the situation would be irretrievable. With this in mind, Mozel took a deep breath. Sensing the varied gazes directed at him, he suddenly shouted, "QUIET!!!" The sound waves imbued with extraordinary power swept across the crowd. Perceiving that Bishop Mozel had not fully lost his composure, the people, who still harbored a sliver of hope, exchanged glances and decided to hear what he had to say. The scene gradually quieted down. Seeing this, Mozel let out a slight sigh of relief. "You must be thinking right now, Mozel is such a greedy man," he spoke coldly. "With so much money in his hands, he must have pocketed all the donations and offerings meant for the divine, isn't that so?" "Is that truly the kind of untrustworthy image you have of me, Mozel?" Some of the followers, seeing their kind and amiable Bishop now so stern and angry, instinctively avoided his gaze, choosing to look away. Was it possible that the charitable and caring Mr. Mozel they knew could be such a greedy and dark figure? A hint of doubt rose in many hearts. People were easily deceived. In the face of authoritative and seemingly credible words, no matter how outrageous and beyond reason his actions might have been, he could justify them. After all, Mozel represented the Celestial Church. In the hearts of these believers, compared to the unseen and unfathomable Lord of Heaven, the tangible and present Bishop was more concrete, more real. They believed in the Church’s god, yet their faith extended beyond just that deity. Because a vast church is fundamentally composed of countless minute individuals and events forming a whole. As part of this entity, Mozel was an object of deep-seated trust among the people of Ornn City. This trust was in fact also a means of sustaining faith. Seeing the crowd fall silent, Mozel relaxed inwardly. The most challenging hurdle had been surmounted. He continued, “Since you all are curious why the Celestial Church did not partake in the fundraising for disabled soldiers, let me take this opportunity to explain.” “The Lord taught us to do good and be kind, and not to turn a blind eye to the sufferings of others.” “To follow His teachings, we have been pondering since we heard about it, thinking about how the church could assist those soldiers who defended our homeland.” “So, our silence wasn’t out of cold indifference but was a preparation to gather funds secretly.” “As you can see,” Mozel gestured to the gold scattered on the ground, “these, along with all in the boxes behind me, were meant to be donated in the name of the Celestial Church and are not, as you might suspect, my private assets.” “Do you understand?” Mozel spoke sternly and deliberately. Of course, this was a lie. If he genuinely donated all the money, he wouldn’t see the next sunrise. This was merely a desperate delay tactic. He believed that the populace lacked memory. In the coming days, by creating several news spots in Ornn City, he could easily divert their conversations away from this matter. “Oh really?” “That’s a million; more than all other churches combined!” “Does this include my donations too?” “As expected from the Celestial Church!” Watching the people's excited discussions, Mozel finally breathed a sigh of relief. He thought he had barely made it through this ordeal. However, unexpectedly, an incongruous voice emerged from the crowd. “Oh? Mister Bishop, are you saying that the million gold coins behind you are all meant to be donated to the Empire’s disabled soldiers?” The voice’s owner spoke while parting the crowd, “If that’s the case, let me thank you and the church on behalf of the Duke for your generosity.” The moment Mozel heard this voice, he felt goosebumps all over. It was that madman! He instinctively looked up, only to see a handsome young man with black hair and blue eyes, clad in a coat, striding towards him under the guard of several escorts. “So it’s you.” Reflecting on their initial encounter at the charity banquet a few days ago, Mozel couldn't help but grit his teeth. Because that little madman had shot the heir of the Mosgra family on the spot, he had been severely reprimanded by the Second Prince. And now, this matter also bore his meddling. Perhaps, from that night onward, he and the Third Princess had already roped in Duke Tilious to orchestrate that fundraising event. Thus, they were enemies that wouldn’t rest until one of them was dead! A cold murderous intent flashed in Mozel’s eyes. "Good evening, Mister Bishop," Lynn said calmly. Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he pulled a gun from his pocket and fired a shot into the air. “Everyone, go home! Can’t you see Mister Bishop is busy handling things? Such lack of vision!” Seeing the crowd, easily manipulated by the words of the powerful, Lynn expressed his impatience. Amid a flurry of commotion, the people dispersed, somewhat startled. “Alright.” Relishing the newfound quiet, Lynn's expression returned to normal. “Now that everyone is gone, and the flames have mostly subsided, Mister Bishop, shall we discuss the donation arrangement?” “You’ve been waiting for me here all along?!” Mozel glared darkly at Lynn. At this moment, how could he not realize that everything happening tonight was orchestrated by this youngster?! First, utilizing public opinion to sow seeds of dissatisfaction and distrust amongst believers, then meticulously setting up this fire to flush out the hidden funds. Lastly, in front of the believers, he detonated the seeds planted in their hearts. Truly cunning and shameless!!! Lynn shrugged. “Don’t answer with a question, Mister Bishop.” Hearing this, Bishop Mozel sneered, “Do you think you've got me cornered? Think you can leverage public opinion to press the church, roasting me over the coals?” “Just watch, you Bastillon bastard!” With that, he turned on his heel, ready to leave. Yet a casual remark floated through the air once more. “By now, the Second Prince should nearly be here.”