The establishment of the Snake Cult as the state religion was approved by the Empire. Things moved quickly, and there were reports that the delegation of the Snake Cult had already departed.

Dimona's expression also became somber.

"A delegation from the Snake Cult..."

"Isn't it just a courtesy visit to commemorate them becoming the state religion?"

"That's true, but it's not as simple as it seems."

Dimona looked out the window. The establishment of the Snake Cult as the state religion was not welcome news.

Two groups that have spent their entire existence gnawing at each other like they were tearing each other apart.

Not only the Sun God Religion but even Iskandar's and Isis's orders, all the official religions in the northern part of the Empire, have exchanged fierce blows with the Snake Cult.

"...I hope a fight doesn't break out. Now that the Snake Cult is an official religious group, even a minor skirmish could lead to war."

"Radatok, could I please have a konjac jelly? I'm feeling peckish."

"No."

"Wow. To think you'd betray me like this!"

"You may be like family, but I can't agree to this."

"Are you listening to me?"

Dimona growled.

"This delegation will be officially overseen by our 5th Inquisition Office. To prevent any unforeseen incidents, everyone's going to need to be on the move while they are here."

"It's Dwayne again this time? How persistent."

"That's right. Since they can't wear us down, they're trying to find any excuse they can. Inquisitor Radatok, please take charge of the 1st team Inquisitors. Can you manage that?"

"Of course, Inquisitor."

"Jahad, please ensure that the 2nd team Inquisitors don't act impulsively. I trust you can handle it."

"I'll do my best."

"Trying your best isn't enough. You absolutely have to succeed. Everything that happens this time will reflect on the 5th Inquisition Office."

Dimona's eyes blazed with determination.

"I'll show Dwayne how strong and formidable our group is!"

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound echoed. Dimona turned around with a smile.

"Come in."

Squeak.

The door opened, accompanied by the sound of something being dragged. Dimona furrowed her brows. Her face turned pale as she recognized who was entering.

Why now, of all times?

"Inquisitor! I'm back!"

"Ro-Rosemary?"

Cat ears poked out from her pinkish hair. Her bright and lively face was smeared with a bit of blood, and she dropped something she had been dragging on the floor.

For a moment, what she had thought was a corpse began to move.

Dimona shouted.

"What, what did you bring?"

"Oh, it's the Inquisitor who left with me! They got arrogant, so I just gave them a little lesson."

"Are you, are you crazy?! Why would you do that to a colleague?"

"Hey. As a senior, I just 'educated' a junior. The others are following diligently! I just came early because I missed the Inquisitor."

Rosemary licked the blood from her lips and glanced around, locking eyes with Jahad.

"There's someone I haven't seen before... Radatok! Long time no see!"

"Long time no see, Rosemary. Did the mission you went out on end safely?"

"Of course! You know, if we compare between you and me, I'm the stronger one."

"That's just speculation."

"If you want, we can decide now. But considering you, a person so unfeeling, you'd likely refuse anyway. I don't expect much."

Rosemary took a bold step forward, leaning her face close to Jahad. She noticed the emblem embroidered on his shoulder and grinned widely.

"Our adorable apprentice Paladin..."

Her expression suddenly soured.

"You don't even nod your head when you see a senior? Hmm?"

Dimona wiped her face with her hand. She didn't expect Rosemary to arrive so soon, especially at this awkward timing.

Rosemary—a competent worker but someone Dimona never wanted to get personally entangled with, the worst of the stubborn seniors.

The gang had returned after completing a nearly year-long mission.

Some of the first group of Paladins, who had gone out for work, had come back.

However, the atmosphere at the 5th Inquisition Office was far from bright. In fact, it was rather gloomy.

I could only let out a hollow laugh. It felt like the bonds we painstakingly built were being blatantly trampled.

Rosemary was evil incarnate!

"Could you please eat at another table? Junior? I can hardly tell what's going into my mouth when I'm eating with northern Barbarians like you, whether it's diarrhea or soup..."

The casual racism was clear as day.

"When you see an elder, you should bow your head... Who just nods like they have no manners?"

Her condescending tone popped up without warning.

"It seems discipline has gotten lax since we returned... Should we call for an assembly?"

She even summoned us out at night for punishment drills.

"Damn it!"

"For God's sake!"

"Is this any way to live?!"

Complaints poured out, and I was leading the charge. But I held it back with all my might.

Dimona earnestly intervened.

"Just hold on a little longer, Jahad. I'm sorry. But... Rosemary has been here even longer than Radatok. She's the real power player here. Just among her followers, they make up about 30 to 40% of our strength. Her personality may be unpleasant... but we can't afford any disturbances with big things on the horizon."

Hold on. Hold on.

Rosemary is just that kind of NPC, isn't she? She even avoids me intentionally, so we hardly ever meet... and honestly, even if we did meet, it wouldn't lead to any pleasant conversations.

To get close to her, you have to outshine her at some point. She only respects those more capable than herself. However, there was one major obstacle in that path.

She is almost on par with Radatok. I pondered whether I could really overpower her.

Originally, Radatok the Inquisitor could have advanced to Arbiter but chose not to.

We can't use the holy relics, so let's set them aside... also exclude the Demon Sword Surtr... and also avoid using shadow holy spells...

It's like fighting with all these penalties stacked against me, isn't it?

Moreover, the Snake Cult envoy will arrive very soon. There's nothing I can do about it. Let's avoid causing any trouble until then. Giving Dwayne anything to exploit will only hurt me.

"Is this guy laughing?"

"Hey, are you mocking us?"

"Are you crazy?"

The smile of patience! The smile of patience!

"Ha ha."

Rosemary's gang was strutting around with confidence. Caught among them, I was the one at the front taking all the punishment.

Naga whispered.

[Jahad, should we just go to the Snake Cult? I can wipe out all these worthless bastards…]

"Shh. You'll get in trouble with Lord Ra."

[But still... this is just too much…]

Splash!

Water splashed onto my face. Rosemary's gang laughed mockingly.

"How's that? Feeling wide awake now?"

"Consider it a favor from your seniors, pitied by your talking to yourself."

"Make sure you clean this up later."

...Patience!

Patience! Damn it! Patience!

“Ah… haha…”

I gritted my teeth and held on. Enduring was the best I could do.

Nord, Isabelle, and Austin gathered around. They whispered under the flickering candlelight in the middle of the night.

“Boss, just let me overturn this,” Austin said.

“We have to endure it.”

“This is just too unfair! They know you’re the key 2nd Inquisitor and that’s why they’re relentlessly harassing you!”

“We have to endure it.”

“Boss.”

“Endure…”

“No.”

Austin suddenly stood up.

“I can’t take it anymore.”

“Hey?! Stop that bastard!”

The 5th Inquisition Office had turned into a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Naga, unable to bear seeing me looking more haggard each day, whispered to me.

[Jahad, just endure a little longer. I... I've prepared a gift for you.]

"A gift?"

[You’ll know if you just wait a bit more... So, hang in there…]

A gift.

I was curious.

Just as I was about to ask Naga more about it, someone called for me. It was an Inquisitor from Rosemary's gang.

"Get up, you little bastard."

I was forcibly dragged away.

"Rosemary wants to see you."

A week of harassment.

After deliberately avoiding me, Rosemary finally called for me.

Rosemary lay sprawled across her desk, stretching like a cat.

The 5th Inquisition Office, where she returned after a long time, was utterly lax in discipline. The first and second squads were getting along too well, and some even spoke informally to each other.

She couldn't comprehend it.

This was an army. It was just like a battlefield, and an uncertain hierarchy on the battlefield leads to death.

Once again, someone had died. As the mission neared its end, she had let her guard down and was struck down by an enemy attack.

If only she had listened to her properly, she wouldn't have died.

Rosemary sipped her warm tea. The door suddenly flew open.

"Rosemary, I've brought him."

"Yes. Very well. You may leave."

Rosemary set down her black tea. Jahad, the Inquisitor, had been with them for just over a month.

However, his progress was astonishing. Within a month, he had unified the 2nd Inquisition squad and had essentially become Dimona Inquisitor’s closest associate. Even the notoriously stubborn Iron Blood Bear seemed to acknowledge him.

‘Why is that? What is he hiding?’

Rosemary crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

"Jahad, the Inquisitor."

She smiled warmly.

"It's been a week. How have you been?"

"Of course. I've been doing well, Rosemary."

The calm eyes smiled. Rosemary instantly assessed the man before her.

‘He's a snake-like man! Definitely not like Radatok!’

"I called you because I wanted to get closer to the Inquisitor. We can share some black tea and enjoy tea time... you know?"

"Of course. I would welcome that."

"Well then, before we enjoy this leisurely time..."

She gestured with her hand.

"Shall we start with the greetings we missed before?"

A gesture to establish a definite hierarchy. Rosemary whispered.

"Bend at the waist. Deeply enough for your head to touch the ground. Slowly, and twice, including the one you missed earlier."

"Only twice?"

A crack appeared on Jahad's forehead, who had been smiling the entire time.

"It's okay... it's okay... it's okay..."

Jahad, repeating himself like a broken record, suddenly grinned widely.

"Hey. Damn."

"...What?"

"Let's just have a go at it, you little wench."

Rosemary dropped her teaspoon.

"What did you just say?"

"Must have gone deaf with old age, huh."

Jahad cracked his wrist.

"Let's settle who's on top and who's not. It's a hierarchy fight, you little wench."

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