Ch.134The Beginning of the End (2)

It’s a dead end. Just as Anna said. If I pretend we didn’t investigate, it would mean the Order really did capture and kill two Imperial citizens. That’s why the Cardinal shouted.

“This is going too far! I came here seeking cooperation, not to be interrogated! If you wish to refuse the Holy Father’s request, then simply do so. What on earth does what happened in Magdeburg have to do with me or this matter!”

“The connection is more than sufficient. Overflowing, in fact.” Niki Brien placed his interlocked hands on the table.

“A prince-elector who received authority from the Emperor. A count who received authority from that prince-elector. And if that count had deep connections with a heretical religion, and one of the Seven Heroes who defeated the Demon King, Roberta, had settled in the count’s territory…”

Before the agitated Cardinal could say anything, Brien quickly continued.

“Surely you won’t claim ignorance of this too. Berta Village was also destroyed, and Roberta has disappeared as well. The Holy Grail Knights were also tasked with guarding Roberta. Yet they weren’t at the scene. When we checked, they had withdrawn without notice and never returned.”

“Those White Blood Knights you’re so proud of!”

“I heard Roberta herself refused protection. She even drove them out of the village. So they bear no responsibility in this matter.”

The Cardinal’s face turned crimson. Even the whites of his eyes reddened.

“Cardinal.”

Yet Anna remained cold. As if it didn’t matter to her how agitated the other person became.

“There’s no need for complicated games. What we want to know is what really happened at the Monastery of St. Georgios, and why the Holy Father, who knows about all this, continues to make decisions that are difficult to accept.”

“Difficult to accept…”

“Isn’t that the truth? Regarding the attacks on the Seven Heroes, His Holiness hasn’t said anything to the Empire. Even at this moment, you’re trying to control information as much as possible. As if nothing happened.

No. Let’s not get angry. You have neither the right nor reason to be angry. Mobilizing all the holy knights actually has a different purpose.

To prevent others from knowing what’s happening to the heroes. To block all access to them! When surrounded by the knights’ encirclement, no one will be able to approach the heroes!”

“You’re severely misinterpreting our intentions!”

“If Bördem were truly fake, you wouldn’t be so sensitive about it! His Holiness knew he was ‘real.’ If he really was Count Bördem, the Empire couldn’t just stand by.

They would naturally send an investigation team, and if they did, the truth you’ve been trying to hide would be revealed! Do you think I don’t understand the Holy Father’s intentions? What he wants is only one thing: to prevent Imperial intervention by any means!”

“Why would the Holy Father do such a thing!”

“Because he wants to become Emperor!”

The Cardinal’s face turned deathly pale.

Despite his agitation, the Cardinal was still a diplomat.

Most clergy are intellectuals, and to rise to the rank of Cardinal means being an exceptional elite among intellectuals. They don’t let emotions ruin their work. Even their apparent agitation is calculated.

Therefore, the Cardinal didn’t misinterpret Anna’s statement as “You seem too excited, that’s too delusional.”

The real reason the Emperor’s sister came here was to express the Emperor’s wrath.

Anger that said, ‘We will not tolerate any challenge to the Emperor’s authority.’

Whether Anna’s thoughts made sense or not wasn’t important. What mattered was that a member of the Imperial family was interpreting things this way.

If the usurper of the throne, who deliberately avoided public appearances, personally showed up, it meant that at least on this issue, Anna and the Emperor were in agreement.

Finally, the Cardinal wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was essentially a white flag, a gesture asking for some leniency.

“…The initial investigation report must bear a seal. To signify that it was not forged but conducted through proper and correct procedures. In principle, reports without seals are not recognized.”

“And?”

“The report that came to us had no seal.”

The Cardinal let out a deep sigh. This time it wasn’t calculated, but a lament from his humanity.

“The report was written by Inquisitor Maria. She’s from the Magdeburg headquarters, but I don’t know how she appeared there.

It’s customary not to question an Inquisitor’s mission, even by their superiors. Anyone can become a heretic, and even the most noble clergy are no exception.

But she has also disappeared. She left a sealed report and simply vanished. A mercenary accompanied her, and he has also disappeared.

And Maria’s situation is confusing as well. According to the abbot of St. Georgios Monastery, Inquisitor Maria appeared at the monastery on horseback with a mercenary, dropped off two heretic priests and the self-proclaimed Count Bördem in sacks, shouted ‘I received a revelation and found them in the forest,’ and then collapsed.

Then she drifted in and out of consciousness. The doctor said it was due to extreme exhaustion. She managed to write the report somehow, but after sealing it properly, she didn’t stamp her seal…

We’re investigating whether this was a simple error or if the report itself, including the seal, was forged.

Meanwhile, Count Bördem and one heretic priest who were being transported to Magdeburg died… Given the situation, our internal affairs are in chaos.”

“Wait.” Niki Brien tilted his head. “You said two heretic priests were arrested. Where’s the other one…”

“He was found dead at St. Georgios Monastery. He committed suicide by stabbing his neck with a tree branch.”

“Ah…” Niki nodded and said nothing more. The Cardinal’s face was now colored with fatigue.

“We’ve issued a summons for Inquisitor Maria. Frankly, that mercenary is equally suspicious. Whether Sister Maria truly received a revelation or how she happened to be there… but she’s disappeared. We’re frustrated too.”

Anna’s expression was one of utter contempt for the situation. Niki was awkwardly smiling. The Cardinal shook his head again.

“It’s an unbelievable story. I understand. I find it hard to believe myself. But I swear by the Two-headed Eagle, what I’m telling you is the unvarnished truth. At least as far as I know.

If you ask, ‘Are you expecting me to believe this?’ I have nothing to say. It is the truth, and I cannot elaborate further on the truth.”

“…I’ll believe it that way. It has too many holes to be a hastily concocted story… it’s something even a child wouldn’t believe. As the old saying goes, ‘Impossible things often happen, but plausible things don’t’?”

Anna made no attempt to hide her sarcasm. Niki even moistened his lips as he smiled.

“Cardinal Benedicto. You must have known this would be a difficult request. But for that, there must be compelling reasons. Especially for something like mobilizing the knights.

But the story you’ve just told us… it’s hard for us to accept, let alone the Emperor, and how would you convince the Noble Council?”

“It’s because we only have fragments of the truth.” The Cardinal’s voice was completely hoarse. “We can’t see the whole picture because we only have pieces, but there’s definitely something bigger here. That much is certain.”

“Then I’ll speak plainly. I am the Imperial Chancellor, and a chancellor’s job is to avoid mistakes rather than excel at things. In your words, I see no urgency that would justify the Empire permitting troop movements. Therefore…”

This is bad. The Cardinal’s body went limp. But for some reason, Niki Brien paused. ‘What are you doing? Just cut my head off already. Are you dancing with the sword and then hesitating?’ Just as the Cardinal was about to sneer,

“…Please tell us more reasons why we should grant this request.”

The Cardinal almost spoke. But this time, the Pope’s insight proved brilliant. Niki would never accept it. So this question was a trap. A trap saying, ‘Spill everything you know willingly.’

But he couldn’t just ignore it, as there was still a possibility. Finally, the Cardinal decided to compromise to a certain extent.

“…All across the Empire, no. Not just the Empire. All over the world, even in the lands of pagans in the west and north, heretics are stirring. On an unprecedented scale.

They burrow into the hearts of the ignorant and manipulate their minds. While claiming they’re merely carrying on the legacy of the ancient Life Tree Order, the content of their doctrine is utterly horrific.

Revenge. Resentment. Curses. In their minds, there is only the thought that they have been wronged and must overturn the world.

But there’s something else. The heroes. The stories of heroes still give people dreams, hope, and courage. A spiritual war of light and darkness, fire and shadow is taking place.

But… now the light is being devoured. If even the heroes fall, what will become of the world?

I don’t believe those strange rumors. About monster ships flying through the sky, or beasts that are half-human and half-animal running around everywhere… or that if you pray desperately, a knight shrouded in darkness will appear and carry out revenge for you.

But the world is vast, and the intentions of agitators are unknowable. I fear more that the world’s heroes will fall at their hands.

And…”

The Cardinal’s eyes darted around. It was a chance to counterattack.

“It was the Empire that allowed things to deteriorate to this state. If people were at peace, if people were happy, would they listen to such absurd rumors?”

“That would be true in peaceful times.” Niki replied as if it were no big deal.

“Our parents’ generation went through the Third Crusade, and our generation has gone through the Fourth and Fifth Crusades. We’ve experienced three wars. Neglect? No. We are in the midst of a long period of recovery and rehabilitation.”

“Don’t say that. Are people happy because they took one blow instead of three? Can you tell them to be grateful to the Empire for blocking two? The people will say, ‘Why couldn’t you block all three?'”

“That’s why we’re saying nothing.” The Imperial Chancellor grinned. “But I have something to tell you, Cardinal. Excuse me for a moment.”

Niki clapped his hands twice quickly. A servant brought in a wooden box from outside. It wasn’t very large, but the Cardinal felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

The servant placed the wooden box on the table and disappeared. Niki gestured to the Cardinal to open it. The box had no lock.

‘I hope it’s not a human head or something,’ the Cardinal thought with mixed feelings as he opened the box.

There was nothing like that. What he saw were three books and a thick stack of papers.

“What is this?”

“Read one of them. It’s astounding. In many ways.”

Anna’s face was filled with disgust, and Niki’s with revulsion. The Cardinal picked up one book and opened it to a random page, wondering what this was all about.

A jumble of characters that was impossible to read spread before him. Anyone could tell it was written in code. Wondering what this was, the Cardinal continued turning the pages.

“…?”

The Cardinal’s eyes blinked. His breathing became urgent. His hand turning the pages became frantic. After skimming through the first book from beginning to end, he opened and read the second and third books.

“…This, this… what on earth…?”

“Women’s hair and… ahem. The ‘things’ from body parts too embarrassing to mention in public… glued in.”

“Why are you showing me such disgusting things?”

“Because the person who wrote this diary is one of the Seven Heroes, William the Chaste. Look at the decoded version too. It’s even more astounding. The effort put into decoding this cipher…

Shall I tell you something surprising? Each chapter is about the women William conquered. How he approached that woman. What he did right and what he did wrong, even how far physical contact went. The strands attached… changed according to the intimacy of the skinship.

First it’s hair. Then from the intimate parts of the upper body, and finally, after ‘conquering’ the precious parts of the lower body, he attached it as a memento. A kind of hunting record, you might say.

The women were quite diverse too. Noblewomen. Maids. Married women. Widows. Soon-to-be-married women. Nuns. Knights…”

The Cardinal’s vision darkened. If he could, he would have torn out his tongue and died. But Niki’s words didn’t end.

“The Imperial Cryptography Department has the best experts. None better. But even they struggled quite a bit. Do you know why?

The cipher key used was different for each chapter. A cipher that only the hunter could remember. It was the names of the women he conquered. That’s why the cipher key changed with each chapter, taking a long time to decode.”

“Ah… aah…”

If the Cardinal had any attention left, if he could have compared the original with the decoded version, he would have noticed that the latter half of the third volume hadn’t been decoded. But he no longer had such rationality left. All he could do was hold back his tears.

“So, Cardinal. Let me ask you. Is the Holy Father really going to issue a general mobilization order for the holy knights to protect such people? Or… does he know, has he known all along, and is ignoring it?”