While My Mage Wife Grinds, I Power Up Idly-Chapter 50: Do You Want to Meet?

After speaking,

She switched the topic and said, "This morning, on behalf of Riven Town, the family met with a foreign visitor. They claimed that one of their Commanders went missing in our territory, and that the Commander’s relatives will be arriving tonight. Since Riven Town currently lacks a Town Mayor, it should be your responsibility to meet with them. If that’s inconvenient, the Kyle family can handle the meeting instead."

Upon hearing this, Ashu couldn’t help but think back to the Outlander in the basement.

He had come to buy him, and dying in the basement was certainly a fitting end for him.

However, the fact that he hadn’t returned for so long raised suspicions.

"I’ll meet with them," Ashu replied.

On one hand, meeting them personally would allow him to get to the bottom of things.

On the other hand, if possible, all of them should die. Whether on a personal level or for their country’s sake.

Their Commander wasn’t the only one looking to buy Ashu; he was also dealing with a citizen of the Atras Empire.

The Holy Cultivator Guild would stand firmly on Ashu’s side.

"Alright, then I’ll take my leave."

She spoke, then gave Kylelaw enforcer a glare before leaving on her own.

Although no collar was attached to him, Kylelaw enforcer still obediently stood up and said, "Goodbye, Ashu. I hope I’m still alive when we meet next time."

"It seems like that Cidi Deacon really messed with your head," Ashu remarked.

...

After watching them leave the church, Ashu walked toward the back.

Anna and Leia were busy helping to clean up the remains of the bodies.

Ashu looked at the bloodstains on the floor. Cleaning it up was going to be a real hassle.

"Do we have any cleaning magic? If we rely on just our hands, we’ll be busy until nightfall," Ashu said. "We have someone to meet this afternoon."

"Who?"

Ashu glanced at the Outlander’s body, whose head he had blown off, and replied, "His faction."

Anna briefly looked at the corpse’s attire and said, "After the King of the Kingdom of Ankgarde suddenly died, his young son succeeded him, and the Queen’s Faction gained considerable power and took control of the government. The other faction is the Duke’s Faction, which he belonged to. Based on his attire, it looks like he was just a Commander from the Duke’s Faction’s army."

With just a few words from Anna, Ashu had a rough understanding of the situation in the neighboring country.

In other words, the people arriving were from that military faction.

Ashu recounted Cidi Bishop’s words from the night before: "This guy came here to discuss my price with Midaldas. They’re treating me as a commodity, wanting the foundational cultivator knowledge in my head. I gave a free lecture in Gorn Village, but they weren’t fortunate enough to hear it. Now, they’re targeting me personally."

Upon hearing this, Anna silently marked another grudge in her heart: "So it’s the Duke’s Faction from the neighboring country? Once I regain my strength, I’ll fully support the Queen’s Faction and wipe you out!"

"Let them come," Anna said. "It’s not like it’s something that can be shown in the light. I’ll destroy this body right now."

As she spoke, she raised her hands and conjured two bolts of lightning. When the two bolts merged into one, violent lightning immediately spread across the entire basement ceiling.

Ashu was startled, his body jerking in response. The ceiling, though high, was still the basement after all.

Normally, hearing thunder during a storm was enough to shake the soul, but being so close to it in this confined space made the scene even more intense and terrifying.

Leia, a Forest Elf, was particularly frightened by thunder, quickly huddling next to Ashu.

"Boom—"

A thunderclap rang out, and a golden bolt of lightning twisted through the air, striking the Outlander’s headless body.

In an instant, the body was obliterated by the force of the lightning, reduced to nothing but a cloud of ash.

[Anna Kagreia has gained: Lightning Flash Strike +1]

[Critical Return! Vessel has gained: Thundering Surge!]

Feeling the return information in his mind, Ashu couldn’t help but feel a surge of delight.

The return was a qualitatively upgraded version of his skill.

In simple terms, Thundering Surge would harness natural lightning, and as the caster charged it, up to 99 lightning strikes could fall simultaneously.

What would 99 lightning strikes mean?

Setting aside the sheer power, just the sight of such a scene would be enough to convey an overwhelming sense of apocalyptic pressure.

Normally, even a single bolt of lightning that landed nearby would be enough to rattle the soul. If there were 99 strikes, Ashu felt it would surpass the threshold for even mid-tier cultivators.

"This is a lightning magic I learned before. Now, it’s been reactivated, though it’s a bit rusty since I haven’t used it in so long. Otherwise, there wouldn’t even be any ashes left," Anna said as she withdrew her hands.

"This power is already strong enough."

"He was just a corpse. If he were alive and took the hit, it wouldn’t have been like this," Anna explained.

...

In the afternoon,

The sky grew darker.

A group of individuals arrogantly entered Riven Town through the main gate.

According to their prearranged meeting, they were to meet at the church.

The leader, somewhat older, had black long hair and wore a raven-feather cloak.

Walking alongside him was a younger man dressed in hunting attire.

"Uncle Vikrant, do you think my father will be alright? The atmosphere in this town feels off, it’s more solemn than usual," the young man asked.

"Don’t worry, Shaan. Even if Midaldas had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare do anything to your father. You have to understand, it’s because of your father that he’s managed to get this far," Vikrant replied confidently.

The two rode side by side, followed by ten soldiers clad in heavy armor.

As their group arrived at the church, no one came out to greet them. Only the passing worshippers threw curious glances their way.

"Tch!"

Vikrant, with his black long hair, sneered and spat on the ground before dismounting.

"Really getting more and more disrespectful, that damn old fool thinks he’s got everything locked down?" he cursed under his breath.

The young man also dismounted and approached Vikrant. "Uncle, I feel like my heart is racing more and more."

"Haha! When your father was your age, he felt the same way, of course, I did too," Vikrant said, patting Shaan’s chest. He then took a large step forward. "Let’s go. Seeing more of the world will help you get used to it."

Since there were no hitching posts outside the church, the soldiers were left to hold the horses while the two men entered through the large doors of the church.

Once again, Vikrant led the way, walking with an air of indifference, completely unlike the pious believers passing by.

Ashu, standing beneath the Divine Mother Goddess’s statue, naturally noticed them immediately.

He didn’t scold nor greet them; he simply waited silently.

As they approached, he finally spoke, his voice calm but firm: "You two, do not show disrespect to the goddess."

The Divine Statue of the Divine Mother Goddess stood upon a dark golden platform. Ashu usually sat there, but now he stood at the edge, coldly gazing down at the two men as they reached the foot of the platform.

The two men looked up, staring at Ashu, seeing a face they had never encountered before.

"Heh, so Midaldas still dares to show us this kind of arrogance. Go call him out!" Vikrant sneered, then looked at the statue of the Divine Mother Goddess. "We only worship our own gods, not your goddess. What are you going to do about it?"

"Then get out of my church," Ashu replied.

As a Bishop, one had to maintain their authority. If he didn’t assert himself with some force, these people would never understand that Riven Town had already undergone a fundamental transformation.

Vikrant was clearly stunned by these words. He never imagined that a young cleric would dare to speak to him with such disrespect.

It was the younger man, Shaan, who was more perceptive. He immediately spotted the Bishop Sovereign Ring on Ashu’s right hand and nudged his uncle with his elbow.

Vikrant followed his nephew’s gesture and finally noticed the ring.

His brow furrowed, and he immediately asked, "Where is Midaldas?"

"In hell," Ashu answered, still looking down from his elevated position. "Do you wish to see him?"

"Dead?"

Upon hearing the news of Midaldas’ death, Vikrant’s mind immediately went into turmoil. He knew clearly that his Commander—who was also his brother—had explicitly stated he was going to negotiate a deal with Midaldas.

This deal was crucial for the entire military faction, and if successful, they could even replace a prince and become a regent! What an immense honor that would be!

They were so close—just one step away—from usurping power and elevating their family’s status.

But now, Midaldas was dead.

The old man was dead, and now the Sovereign Ring, a symbol of the Bishop’s power, was worn on the hand of a young man.

But what about the older brother?

At this moment, the young man Shaan’s heart was beating faster, so intensely that even Ashu could hear his heartbeat.

"Two of you, do not show disrespect to the gods. Once the proper rites are completed, we can begin our friendly conversation," Ashu reminded them again.

Upon hearing this,

Vikrant did not immediately question or agree. He was internally consumed with thoughts. The young man before him didn’t seem to have any spiritual perception, yet he had undeniably become a Bishop.

Young, lacking spiritual perception, Bishop... the combination of these three things sparked a terrifying thought in his mind.

Could it be that this young man’s strength had already reached a level that could easily crush them?

Because only in that case would they not feel any spiritual perception.

Otherwise, how could someone without the talent for spiritual perception become a Bishop?

And Midaldas’ death... it was very likely related to this person.

Had there been such a figure in the Riven town area before?

Suddenly, Vikrant thought of the Demon Huntress Nun. The high-profile activities of the Demon Huntress Nun in recent days had almost sounded the death knell for the cultists in this region.

Could it be that this young man was the airlifted leader brought in by the Demon Huntress Nun?

No wonder he was so confident!

If he had judged Midaldas, then it was very likely that his brother—who had been negotiating with Midaldas—had been captured by this young man.

Vikrant was cautious of the Holy Cultivator Guild’s reputation and the relationships between nations. Surely, he wouldn’t dare to kill his brother, would he?

Thus,

Vikrant pulled Shaan by the arm, and the two of them slowly knelt down.

According to ceremonial protocol, they were required to kiss the Bishop’s right hand in turn to show their respect for the gods.

However, despite Vikrant extending his hands, Ashu did not offer his right hand.

He left the two of them standing there, waiting.