"What brings Sister Annette to the Luminous Cathedral?" True Dawn asked with a polite smile.

"Are you really sure Papal Majesty would grant you full authority... you? A child who doesn't even look of age?" Annette pressed on, still skeptical.

"Sister Annette can rest assured. Whatever decision I make, Papal Majesty will approve it," True Dawn said, squinting with a smile.

"Miss Annette has no need to doubt this. Or does Miss Annette think I lack persuasiveness?" Euphemia stood beside True Dawn, her hand resting on her sword hilt.

Radiant Sword Saint Euphemia... the right hand of the Pride Witch. With her here, the persuasiveness was undeniable.

At the very least, her combat prowess could easily overpower everyone present.

You had to submit, whether you liked it or not!

Seeing Euphemia's poised stance, Annette quickly backed down.

After all, she hadn't come here to start a fight.

But what was with that collar around her neck? Was she really acting as the Pride Witch's lapdog now...

And who was this beautiful maiden claiming to be the Holy Maiden, riding a pure white unicorn—a symbol of absolute purity?

These two sisters... each more outrageous than the last.

They looked so bright and sunny, yet both served the Pride Witch.

"My superiors gave me a mission: to formally establish an alliance with the Luminous Cathedral. Since the Holy Moon Kingdom here rebelled against the Pride Witch, I took the opportunity to stop by," Annette explained her reason for coming.

"An alliance, you say? Then let's formally discuss the terms," True Dawn cut straight to the point.

"Are you sure? Won't Papal Majesty veto this later?" Annette still didn't quite believe True Dawn had the authority to represent that arrogant witch.

True Dawn shook her head. "Please rest assured. Papal Majesty, being so benevolent, would never say no."

Beside her, the head maid Aileen gently pushed up her glasses.

"Is Miss True Dawn really given full authority?"

On the other end, Cecile, unseen by anyone, was utterly carefree.

This was her first moment of relaxation since being transported into this game.

No need to think about what to do next, no one else coming to trouble her.

It was like returning to the happy days of being a homebody.

Holding conjured popcorn and cola, she sat cross-legged on the throne with no regard for decorum, facing a real-time transcription screen from Aileen's end.

"No problem. For anything involving talking, just leave it to True Dawn. For actual fighting, we have Euphemia and you."

"As you command, Master."

Cecile felt she probably couldn't handle negotiations.

Leave professional matters to professionals.

True Dawn, the intellectual powerhouse of the entire game, was clearly perfect for this job.

She just needed to sit back and enjoy the show.

Who doesn't love gossip and drama?

On the other side, True Dawn had already begun negotiations with Annette.

"I believe the leading party of the alliance should be our Luminous Cathedral..."

"That's impossible. In every aspect, Demon Hunt should take the lead. Your Papal Majesty is strong, but she's just one person. Demon Hunt has many who can match her."

Although Annette knew the Pope of the Luminous Cathedral was the Pride Witch, and that on the surface, the two of them couldn't compare to the trio on the other side, this was a negotiation. Demon Hunt had the right to stand equal to a Luminous Cathedral with no visible strength.

After all, they hadn't heard of a single achievement from the other side.

Demon Hunt was a secret organization, true, but rumors about it were everywhere. It just needed the right moment to become a public force against the witches.

"Can Sister Annette really be sure? Perhaps in fame, the Luminous Cathedral can't match Demon Hunt for now. But if we get serious, how do you know we'd lose to you? How many in your ranks can match my sister, the Radiant Knight?"

True Dawn had long known everything about the Pride Witch's side, including how to address her sister in front of different people.

That's why Cecile felt confident delegating to her.

When it came to rhetoric, no character in the entire game could surpass her.

"One Radiant Knight doesn't prove much. She might beat one or two, but can she defeat four?"

Are they really sisters...? Annette had never heard that the Radiant Sword Saint had a sister.

No wonder she was so loyal to the Pride Witch, showing no interest in Demon Hunt's past recruitment attempts.

Looking at True Dawn's fair and delicate appearance, it was clear she was a sheltered flower.

She really couldn't understand why the Pride Witch thought she was qualified to represent her in negotiations.

This was actually quite good.

Annette really didn't want to face Cecile. Watching her kill her companions right before her eyes... forcing her to kill them herself... the abuse during captivity, and that forceful first kiss taken without warning...

Facing True Dawn, she might still hold the upper hand.

But facing the Pride Witch, she might not even be able to utter a complete sentence.

She was truly afraid of that terrifying woman.

"Now, now, Sister Annette! Who told you the Luminous Cathedral only has the Radiant Knight as its ace? We just haven't shown it, but it's not that we don't have it," True Dawn chuckled lightly.

"I haven't heard of anyone else in the Luminous Cathedral besides the Radiant Knight who's worth mentioning."

"Would Sister Annette like to see for herself? How about this... both sides send a few people to clear out witch forces at designated locations."

"This isn't a fair fight," Annette shook her head.

Sending the Pride Witch's people to fight the Pride Witch's people? That's absurd.

In the end, you'd just be adding your own people to the mix. What's the point!

She didn't want to get her own people killed again.

"Don't be so quick to refuse, Sister Annette. The place we're offering is here..."

Aileen, standing nearby, promptly handed over the latest map of the Pride Witch's territory. True Dawn pointed to a prosperous area: the port of Yahar City.

"Isn't this the territory of the Evil Fire Gang? Demon Hunt can go ahead and purge the cultists there. I've heard the city defenses have been lax lately. If you don't seize this chance now, there won't be another opportunity like this."

Annette looked at the port, feeling tempted.

This place was often mentioned in Demon Hunt meetings. It was practically the only river route for smuggling anything. The Evil Fire Gang, entrenched there under the Pride Witch's protection, collected all sorts of tolls.

To replenish supplies, especially weapon parts, Demon Hunt paid exorbitant fees every year.

If Demon Hunt could take control of this place, their expenses would drastically decrease.

"Are you really sure? Representing your Papal Majesty, I'm serious... you know that if people die in this, it won't be good for either side."

The Pride Witch had released her back then precisely for the Luminous Cathedral to ally with Demon Hunt.

If Demon Hunt suffered heavy losses in this, not only would the alliance be off the table, but a complete split was also possible.

"This is no problem. It's just a small port; Papal Majesty won't care," True Dawn nodded firmly.

"Well..."

"Here, right?" True Dawn casually pointed to a mountain. "This will be Demon Hunt's choice, as a fair battleground."

On the last sentence, True Dawn added a slight emphasis.

Annette understood. This was a hint; she wanted her side to suppress that place.

Although it wasn't Annette's first choice, if the port was part of the deal, choosing that place was acceptable.

But why did True Dawn choose that worthless mountain, occupied by a pack of gnolls?

It was just a bunch of bandits, uncivilized beasts.

"As for other aspects, Sister Annette probably wants to set the terms after gaining the lead, right? Who's dominant, who's subordinate."

"Some things still need Papal Majesty's approval."

...

On the other side, Cecile, munching on popcorn, watched as True Dawn gradually took control of the conversation. Annette on the other end had no idea.

She shook her head while eating.

"True Dawn really is the best for this job. Except for the beginning, she's been steering the entire conversation."

"Four people... does my Demon Hunt branch have four fighters comparable to Euphemia? Whatever. I'll leave it to Euphemia later. It'll be a stepping stone for her growth..."

"And that port—does getting it really solve everything? On the surface, it still falls under my rule. Taxes must be paid, accounts must be accurate—no slack allowed. With random inspections, they'd go bankrupt."

"Even if it's technically Demon Hunt's side, once I make a move, they'll just have to accept it... but it doesn't matter. Given away, it's given away. Monitoring will be easier later. As long as Demon Hunt doesn't become stronger than the Luminous Cathedral, with some suppression, merger is inevitable."

"Before that, let me see which of my disobedient people can serve as whetstones for the Luminous Cathedral."

"And those gnolls at the mountain pass. Heh, True Dawn really picked a good task. The reason they've existed on my territory for so long without being wiped out isn't because I neglected it. Yahar City is a significant treasury. Who would allow a pack of greedy bandits next to a treasury? Especially since they're backed by the Evil Moon Sect, a cult that worships an evil god."

"Purging cultists in Demon Hunt's name... tsk, a good excuse! Anyway, the Luminous Cathedral isn't well-known yet."

"Hmm?!" Cecile put down the popcorn she was holding and looked around her opulent hall.

She was getting tired of this place. Being alone was so boring. Was there anyone she could tease?

"Yahar City, huh? It's one of the top cities in the game, a famous metropolis..."

"In the game, you're always stuck following the protagonist's perspective with quest restrictions. You can't properly explore a great city like that. So boring."

"Ah! I suddenly want to go out and take a look around."