I! Cleaner!
Chapter 157 - 157: 0136 Do you think it counts or not_1

*Was that... it was all over?*

Seeing Leon glare at the Bishop of the Scales Gold Sect and kill him in an instant, then turning his fierce gaze towards them, the remaining people in the room all shuddered in unison.

The old man from the Marceni family was the first to react, immediately dropping to his knees, narrowly avoiding an invisible hand that seemed to reach for his head.

"Mercy! I barely know her!"

With his exemplary response, the three from the Ryan Family quickly followed suit, falling to their knees one after another, begging for mercy in a chorus.

"I don't know her either!"

"We had no idea what she was doing!"

"Your Grace! I'm with the old Duke!"

It had to be said, anyone who climbed to a high position within the sprawling Ryan Family wasn't slow to react. Of the three old men from the Ryan Family, each kneeled faster than the last. Once they lowered themselves, their distinctive small golden curls finally caught Leon's eye.

*Calling me 'Your Grace,' and with that head of golden hair...*

Observing the sparse heads in front of him, and recognizing one as the old Duke's steward, Leon was momentarily taken aback, then instinctively furrowed his brow.

"Are you really with the Scales Gold Sect?"

"No, no!"

Afraid the three from the Ryan Family would sell him out, the old man from the Rose Family quickly interjected,

"We're not with the Scales Gold Sect! We just asked her for help to find someone. I'm the Earl of the Rose Family! Your Grace, we're related by marriage!"

"Yes, yes, we have nothing to do with the Scales Gold Sect."

"Indeed, we are from the Ryan Family."

"I'm the newly appointed head of the Ryan Family, and he is the last patriarch. We are yours, Your Grace!"

"..."

*Damn, I shouldn't have asked.*

Looking at these little... old golden-haired ones, Leon couldn't help but click his tongue in slight annoyance.

These three from the Ryan Family, since they managed to escape the Ryan Blood Night without being killed by him using the Heart of Ambition, were clearly not heinous criminals. However, according to the Ryan Family's excellent average moral standards, while they weren't outright villains, they certainly weren't good people either—at best, they were bastards with a hint of humanity.

...

Although he wanted to pretend he hadn't asked and let them shuffle off, the suspicion of causing the Ryan Blood Night loomed over him. Plus, the director's repeated warnings before departure made Leon set aside the tempting idea, asking with a grim expression,

"So... we're still in Rose Manor? Was it that Bishop from the Scales Gold Sect who brought me back?"

"Yes, yes, it was all her doing!"

Seeing that Leon seemed to give up on getting physical, the few old men in the room let out a sigh of relief, then scrambled to pin the blame on the headless corpse on the ground.

"You left a note and vanished. We just wanted to bring you back. It was all her idea!"

"Right, right. She wanted to lure you into the Scales Gold Sect and brought you over with that cat spirit!"

"She surely coveted... coveted the Ryan Family's assets under your name!"

"..."

From the somewhat confused descriptions of the old men, Leon pieced together the gist of the situation, bewildered,

"So, after she forcibly brought me over, I have a mark from the Scales Gold Sect on me, making me one of them?"

"Well... we don't know, but she certainly said so..."

"..."

*Absurd... Even though I'd killed the Holy Spirit of the Scales Gold Sect and just took out a high-ranking bishop, I've now directly earned a position as a member of the Scales Gold Sect...*

Shaking his head in disbelief, Leon opened the badge panel and looked at the constantly blinking Holy Spirit Badge.

[Practitioner (Silver): Having personally slain a large number of evil heretics and spread the fame of the Scales Gold Sect around the world, your efforts are deeply recognized by the followers and Holy Spirits of the Sect]

[Wearing Effect: Greatly increases affinity with Anomalous Objects marked as "Sacred," simultaneously lowering the Cost while significantly enhancing the effect]

[Advancement Route: Become a Bishop of a certain branch of the Scales Gold Sect, or preach your understanding of the teachings to three thousand members and earn their recognition, after which this badge will automatically advance to the Golden Badge "Deputy," progress in preaching the teachings to the congregation 0/3000]

[Hidden Trait (doesn't require wearing): Due to actively practicing the Scales Gold Sect's teachings, your soul becomes increasingly firm and pure, making it easier to gain favor from certain entities of order]

"..."

*Well, this is a blessing in disguise, saving me quite a bit of trouble.*

After examining the advancement route of the Practitioner badge, Leon frowned again, then squinted at the old man with the rose embroidered on his chest, confidently saying,

"You lied just now, didn't you?"

"I...I didn't..."

"You'd best not rush to deny it."

Looking at the rose emblem on the old man's chest, Leon spoke,

"Your Marceni Family's collusion with the Scales Gold Sect is no secret. That's why, when I vanished, they came to you for help. Am I right?"

"Actually, it wasn't to help..."

Just then, the old steward cautiously reminded,

"Your Grace, with regard to finding your whereabouts, Lord Sam demanded a hefty price and said it wasn't his desire. It was the Bishop's insistence..."

"I haven't been paid! The money hasn't been paid yet! I don't want anything now! And, not only this time, the money invested in the Rose Department Store can also be returned to you!"

Realizing Leon was likely at odds with the Scales Gold Sect, after promising to return all the money, the old man from the Rose Family wailed,

"Your Grace! Our family truly doesn't collude with the Scales Gold Sect. We just have minor collaborations. Please, don't..."

"I want to become a Bishop of the Scales Gold Sect."

"Huh?"

Seeing the old man gape in confusion, eyes full of bewilderment, Leon patiently repeated,

"Tell me, how can I become a Bishop of the Scales Gold Sect?"

???

*But... you just killed their Bishop two minutes ago, then the moment you heard you were part of the Scales Gold Sect, you immediately switched sides, not only accepting your new identity but also aspiring to become a Bishop?*

*Is your adaptability outrageously strong?*

Watching Leon's earnest expression and realizing this newly appointed Duke of Lionheart wasn't joking but genuinely serious, the old man's dry lips moved twice, finally flustered,

"Well... The Scales Gold Sect has three branches. Each branch can have at most three Bishops simultaneously. To become a Bishop, you must first get the joint recommendation of at least two Bishops from different branches, then participate in three congregations to gain the congregation's approval..."

"Too troublesome, is there a quicker way?"

"Uh... Then it's True God's personal designation, or receiving the approval of two of the three... Holy Spirits and being imbued with their aura to be directly acknowledged by the Scales Gold Sect followers."

*I see...*

After hearing the old man's words, Leon slightly frowned.

*True God's personal designation is impossible. I directly killed His Holy Spirit; the likelihood of Him personally condemning me is higher than appointing me as a Bishop. As for Holy Spirit recognition...*

"In that case, let me ask you."

After touching the Holy Spirit pendant on his chest, Leon seriously pursued,

"If I took out a Holy Spirit and crafted it into... um... an accessory, wearing it consistently, would it count as being imbued with its aura? Would it be acknowledged?"