Bad Born Blood Chapter 301

301
Experience and knowledge are both important, regardless of weight.

Experience without knowledge is shallow, and knowledge without experience is empty.

Accrecia, Bellato, and Cora.

The three countries have different cultures and personalities.

But when you actually experience it, the fundamentals are no different. Even though the colors are different, the frame is the same.

Gaya, the Parish Priest and Psychotherapist of Border City, is a Force user and a high-ranking member of Korra.

‘Those who have metaphysical faith and belief, and who create supernatural powers that transcend physical phenomena from their own hands.’

If I had been a cadet, I would have thought of them as beings far away. I wouldn’t have even felt like they were of the same species.

Now, let’s think about it, Luca. Were those people you saw up close transcendent beings?

They are merely people who are more cultivated and have a bit more insight than ordinary people. They are not transcendent or incomprehensible alien beings.

‘… … He is the same person as me.’

Mr. Gaya was a man who fled after struggling between reality and ideals. He may have been noble, but he was never great. The burden he threw away was shouldered by his younger brother.

Gaya’s younger brother and the parish priest of Border City. His body was rotting and decaying under the weight of the burden he carried.

‘We will do whatever it takes to protect the parish of Border City.’

There is no way I could know everything the parish priest has done so far.

‘But if they’re going to join hands with Kinuan, they must have done something worse than some criminal organization.’

If the parish priest’s actions were known to the outside world, people would point fingers at him and call him a corrupt priest. However, if it weren’t for his vices, the parish of Border City would have collapsed long ago.

Perhaps the parish priest had better options than joining hands with someone like Kinuan, but at the time, all of those options were probably the best option for him.

“… … Kinuan is the kind of person you should not keep around. He only uses others. Everyone who has been with Kinuan has been betrayed and ruined.”

I opened my mouth heavily. The past flashed through my mind. Kinuan was a symbol of chaos and a sign of destruction.

Kinuan has a mastery of psychological control, both in the past and present, and has exquisitely exploited the weaknesses of the human mind.

“There are times when you have to drink from a poisoned chalice. Kinuan has been a good ally for many years. He has been able to bring great results with little support, and he has been very efficient.”

“When you work with Kinuan, you initially feel like you have a panacea. No matter what problem you have, you can call Kinuan and it will be solved. He doesn’t even ask for unreasonable support or compensation. That’s why the parish priest gradually came to rely on Kinuan.”

I spoke based on my experience.

The gaze of the parish priest looking at me gradually changed. Before I knew it, it was becoming closer to favor.

“Lukaus Custoria, you know a great deal about Kinuan. As expected of a Kinuan tracker.”

The parish priest knows that I am a famous person in the Empire, and that I worked under Jafar while I was in Border City, tracking down Kinuan.

“Kinuan is very gentle when he wants something from someone. And when he’s done with his business, he sets fire to erase his tracks and leaves. This time, the parish priest was caught in the fire. I wonder what Kinuan got this time. This will be a clue to finding him.”

The parish priest stroked his chin and sat lost in thought.

“I’ll leave for a moment. I’ll talk to the other priests.”

The parish priest lightly swung the chain attached to the bracelet. The chain fell off the bracelet on its own and wrapped around my neck guard.

Chorus!

The chain clung to my neck, bathed in the light of the Force.

“Even if I leave, the deceleration field will remain in place for several hours.”

The parish priest said this and left the room.

I touched the back of my neck and looked at Gaya. Gaya looked at the tea with a pensive expression on her face and then raised her head.

“I ended up showing my shame to Mr. Luca. As you said, I am a coward.”

“… … Didn’t Mr. Gaya know that Border City Parish was this difficult? He would have cut ties with it and lived there. Given your personality, if he had known, he would have tried to support you in some way.”

I said this to console myself.

“Not knowing is not an excuse. I just didn’t try to find out. Whether it was unconscious avoidance or laziness, it was my fault.”

Gaya is not a person who is generous to himself. He seems to feel a great sense of guilt.

I finished emptying my teacup and looked around. The Pioneer Temple was much more dangerous than I had thought.

‘And there’s no point in taking Gaya hostage. Gaya already feels guilty towards the parish priest. He’ll try to kill himself before being taken hostage. Judging from the parish priest’s words and actions, he’s not the type of person to be afraid of sacrificing his brother.’

I felt a scratchy sensation in my throat.

‘I didn’t know that the armor would react in the temple. If the armor’s device is a bomb… … My life is now in the hands of the parish priest.’

I never thought I would hand over my life and death to the parish priest so easily.

Even if you master the Axis Victima, it is difficult to see even an inch ahead in our world.

‘So the parish priest is also at ease. He must think that he holds my life in his hands. He must be discussing my disposal while meeting with his aides.’

I already had a hunch that if the negotiations go wrong, the parish priest will kill me.

The bishop revealed to me his evil deeds and corruption. If I spread this outside, the bishop would be finished.

‘My life or death will be determined by the outcome of the meeting.’

I too was making other plans in my head, keeping the worst outcome in mind.

But this time, it seemed like the lesser or better outcome would come rather than the worst.

‘… … Perhaps the parish priest will join hands with me.’

The parish priest has no other option. The artifact that Kinuan stole from the auction house must be very important to him as well.

Rattling.

The door opened.

The parish priest, who had finished the meeting, stood in the open doorway and looked at us.

“You can go now, hyung. This is no longer an area for outsiders to interfere with.”

After hearing the parish priest’s cold words, Gaya stood up without saying a word. He bowed to me and the parish priest and walked across the hallway.

* * *

The parish priest entered the reception room with a new person.

She was a woman dressed in pure white priestly attire, and her expressionless face, like that of a noblewoman, was impressive. She stood beside the parish priest in a reserved manner.

‘… … You are a combatant.’

I glanced at the female priest and turned my head. Even a brief glance showed that she was a combatant. At first glance, it was a flowing priest’s garb, but the pants and sleeves were fastened to increase mobility. There was also plenty of room in the baggy clothes to hide weapons.

‘And the overall atmosphere is that of a soldier or warrior.’

Just looking at the line from the nape of the female priest’s neck to her shoulder, you can see her well-trained muscles.

“This is Quilia Aso. She is my personal escort.”

The parish priest introduced Quilia. Quilia greeted me with a short bow.

Of course, Quilia would be a Force user too. I tried to figure out what her Force catalyst was, but I had no idea at the moment.

“You must be a close confidant with whom I can share many secrets.”

“Because I can’t protect myself if I don’t share the information. Up until now, whenever I’ve met Kinuan, Quilia has accompanied me.”

The parish priest paused for a moment and nodded to Quilia.

Squeak.

Quilia walked along the wall of the room, looking outside and out the window.

“It’s okay, your Excellency.”

“I’ve confirmed it,” said Quilia. Her tone was businesslike, without a hint of laughter.

“Not all the people in the temple are on my side. There are also watchers from the home country. My enemies are both inside and outside.”

“It’s pretty predictable. The bigger and older the group, the more internal conflict there is.”

I also know well the nature of those in power and authority.

The current parish priest’s situation was clearly visible even from fragmentary traces.

“… … My partnership with Kinuan began with the death of Paolo Kwan.”

I glanced up and looked at the parish priest. He wasn’t the parish priest of Border City for nothing. He knew a lot.

“Then you must be well aware of the relationship between Company Japa and Kinuan.”

“Since my brother is also indirectly involved, I can’t help but be interested. I’ve also been watching how Sergeant Jafar is tracking Kinuan through you.”

The parish priest did not just watch the flow of Border City blindly. He was also aware of the relationships flowing underneath.

‘Accrecia, Bellato, Cora. ​​None of the three kingdoms are easy opponents.’

I have not smelled Korra until now while tracking Kinuan. It may be that I have little experience with Korra, but they have maintained a very closed and secretive nature. They have ‘almost’ never revealed their tracks.

“Jafar’s husband, Paolo Kwan, was not a proper scholar, but he was deeply interested in the Arcane civilization. He had a strange obsession, and with the capital, he began to collect quite in-depth data. The old saying, ‘the ox steps backwards and catches a mouse’, applied perfectly to Paolo Kwan.”

The parish priest checked my complexion from time to time as he spoke. He was confessing his crimes.

“It’s okay. I’m not a clean person either. In fact, I’ve done more dirty things than anyone else.”

I said it tactfully.

“There were some materials and relics that Paolo Kwan had that should not be leaked out, although he himself did not know their exact value.”

“At that time, Paolo Kwan was under Kinuan’s protection, so it wouldn’t have been easy for him to steal the materials and relics.”

“There were a few clashes. We thought we had left no trace, but Kinuan found us first.”

What happened next was obvious. Kinuan betrayed Paolo Kwan and Japha… … and joined the parish priest.

‘And ruined Paolo Quan’s family.’

I closed my eyes and tried to control my emotions. One of the causes of the tragedy that happened to Jaffa and Anguish Regina was here.

“It was a mistake to keep Kinuan by your side even though you knew he was a traitor.”

I just realized that my words were a mistake. I didn’t have to be aggressive and blame the parish priest. Sometimes I am immature in this area, no, I am often immature.

“That’s a fair point. I was arrogant. I thought I could control Kinuan and eliminate him if necessary. Kinuan did a lot to maintain the Border City Diocese. Sometimes, he would take care of things I didn’t ask him to do, while understanding my feelings.”

That is the role of the Archie Domini. It carries out the Emperor’s will without direct orders.

I felt like sighing. I opened my mouth cautiously.

“… … Did you by any chance consider Kinuan a friend?”

I think I hit the nail on the head.

“I can’t deny it. I thought that a friendship had developed between us that transcended origins, religion, and ideology. I ended up letting my guard down against Kinuan.”

Kinuan builds bonds and then destroys them. His actions are so vile and cruel that it makes you wonder if he has no human heart.

But even I often wonder.

When I met Kinuan in person… … I didn’t feel like he was a person without a human heart. His words and actions were always sincere, and he treated others with a sincere attitude.

‘Monster.’

The Kinuan in my head is moving away from humans again.

I opened my mouth and changed the subject.

“So what did he take this time? I need to know that so I can find him.”

The parish priest hesitated and then nodded.