The Empror's Trap

This was an unprecedented cleansing.

From anyone's perspective, this cleansing would not receive favorable evaluations. After all, without any warning, Luminara City had suddenly been placed under complete lockdown, with the Gray Scales Division and the city garrison simultaneously sealing off the streets. Such ruthless and unreasonable operations were inevitably going to face considerable opposition.

However, compared to those soft criticisms, resolving the Holy Church's infiltration of Luminara City was far more important.

While Lina and the Scale Guards were striking throughout the city to capture those tentacles of the Holy Church that had infiltrated, Pluvia and Kenji were enjoying snacks in the study.

Carefully crafted cheese complemented by nuts—take a bite of cheese, chew a few nuts, and that subtle sweetness would fill your mouth.

"Tomorrow will be busy," Pluvia complained.

"It doesn't matter, Your Majesty. I suspect I'll be busy alongside you anyway," Kenji replied, leaning back in his chair and enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

They both knew very well that after a short while, neither of them would have any time to relax.

The capital would be under martial law for three days, with the Gray Scales Division mobilizing everywhere, arresting people in large numbers and placing them in centralized detention. Among those arrested were nobles from home and abroad, foreign talents who had come to study, and missionaries waiting for preaching permits to be issued...

Secular circles, religious circles, academic circles... people from almost every sphere were being arrested. Even members of the imperial court would likely face interrogation. The vast network this would uncover was extraordinary. Pluvia could already imagine the scene of petitions and inquiries piling up on her desk the next day.

"To be honest, this operation is far too rushed. Although I agree with eliminating the Church's influence in Luminara City, it's clearly happening a bit too quickly."

"Your Majesty, you've said that conventional methods are useless against religious forces—only equally extreme measures will work. For the Holy Church, whether we gradually remove them or cut them off swiftly, we're severely reducing their interests either way. They'll 'treat us the same' regardless. If the outcome is the same, we might as well end this farce quickly and minimize our losses," Kenji said with a smile as he ate his cheese.

"I just feel like the city's prisons won't be enough to hold everyone," Pluvia didn't disagree with his view. In fact, Kenji's reasoning made sense—these religious extremists, with their attitude that anyone who doesn't believe in their Holy Lord will go to hell, might as well be dealt with more thoroughly.

But honestly, with so many arrests, when it came time for interrogations, there probably wouldn't be enough prison space!

"I've already told Lina that among those she's arrested, there will definitely be some who refuse to confess. For those people, since the prisons won't have enough space anyway, we can put them in the ice cellars first."

Kenji said this calmly, but Pluvia felt goosebumps all over.

The so-called ice cellars were places for storing ice blocks. To enjoy cold drinks and cool air even in summer, the Camelot royal family would have people harvest ice from frozen rivers every winter and store it in ice cellars.

In summer, this ice would be used for cooling and temperature reduction.

However, as the practice of cultivation became more systematic and the number of cultivators increased significantly, corresponding arrays were developed that allowed Camelot to produce ice directly in summer. While ice cellars were still in use, they were now mostly serving the needs of common citizens.

In the suburbs and underground areas of Luminara City, most of the formerly royal ice cellars had been leased or sold to merchants, allowing ordinary people to occasionally enjoy coolness in summer.

But there were still some abandoned ice cellars. These cellars were often excavated underground—cold and dark, with only one entrance for people to come and go, though the interior space was quite substantial...

Putting people in there was indeed a solution, though it might cause psychological damage to some. She had visited those ice cellars once—cold and dim inside, with echoing voices and stone brick walls that completely blocked sounds from above ground. It was extremely oppressive.

This guy really had ideas.

"The Church just relies on deception to attract people. Making everything so chaotic," Pluvia complained casually. Of course, she knew that for the Church to have endured for so long, it must have its merits. This couldn't be explained simply by the word "deception."

But dislike was dislike—she didn't believe in their so-called Holy Lord.

"Some of their practices are actually quite good. I've seen their weddings before. Although Camelot weddings are more grand and festive, the wedding ceremonies of Holy Church believers are interesting too. And their procedures are more simple and straightforward," Kenji remarked.

Regarding the true internal rituals of the Holy Church, he wasn't a believer, so naturally he knew nothing about them.

But he had seen ceremonies that ordinary people participate in, like weddings and funerals.

Just speaking of weddings, the Holy Church was indeed more concise. Kenji believed that if he were a lazy person who disliked complications, the Holy Church's wedding ceremony would definitely be suitable.

"Hmm..." Hearing his words, Pluvia's heart tightened, or rather, when she heard him say this, she felt quite uncomfortable.

What was this? How did the topic abruptly shift to weddings? What was he trying to say?

"You like their weddings?"

"Oh, not really. I just think their concise approach is quite interesting. Camelot weddings may be more complex, but they're very lively and festive. After all, how many times can one get married in a lifetime? Being festive is quite nice."

Pluvia nodded.

Well! They hadn't even decided whether to form a political marriage alliance, yet he was already considering wedding styles? This guy had clearly come with a determined mindset from the beginning!

"Like when we get married in the future, I think having a traditional wedding would be nice. No need to copy those foreign practices."

Kenji sighed.

His main reason for this remark was that in his original world, many wedding styles had already become Westernized. Since he had come to Camelot, he naturally wanted to try an authentic traditional wedding.

But Pluvia felt the atmosphere growing increasingly awkward.

"We?"

Not hiding it anymore, huh?

She lowered her head and began rapidly considering whether this marriage should happen at all. From what she could see, Kenji hadn't attempted rebellion, but rashly marrying him and potentially allowing his family to become too powerful...

Besides...

Would he be content as a consort? This guy's pride was definitely substantial. If he had to wear the title of Emperor's Consort and serve as a political accessory every day, that would be even more uncomfortable than being a high official.

Both senior officials and imperial consorts follow the emperor in public, but senior officials give people the impression of being exceptionally talented individuals. But an imperial consort? The first impression would be someone who "married up for power"...

Would he be willing to accept this? What if he became dissatisfied and tried to seize power? If he succeeded in seizing power, she would go from emperor to empress, and where would the Camelot family put their face?