Ch.433Secret Invitation

The assassination attempt on Erich, the Cardinal of the Church of Kranus, was suspected to be a self-orchestrated plot, so we decided to investigate his subordinate to find evidence.

There was a possibility that the Cardinal had planned it alone… but in my opinion, that probability was low.

If he staged it alone and things went wrong, how would he handle the aftermath?

For a perfect staged plot, it would be safer to involve at least three people in the plan.

Someone to carry out the assassination attempt, the Cardinal’s guard knight who would conveniently let the assassin escape, and a priest to treat the Cardinal who had collapsed with serious injuries.

First, the person in charge of the assassination would certainly be one of his close associates.

He wouldn’t use just anyone, risking exposure of the plot through them, or worse, having that person actually kill him by striking him from behind.

When your own life is at stake, you wouldn’t use a disposable pawn or someone you couldn’t trust.

“That makes sense.”

Lacy also agreed with my reasoning.

She said that such an important task would definitely be assigned to someone from his inner circle.

“The guard knight must also be in on it. If they used someone unaware of the plan for protection and that person killed the assassin, it would be a disaster, right?”

“The person in charge of security at that time was… Michael, a high-ranking Paladin of the Church of Kranus. It would be difficult to approach him carelessly.”

Indeed, someone of high-ranking Paladin status would likely notice mediocre surveillance or tailing.

Even if I confronted him directly, while killing him might be possible, bringing him in quietly would be quite difficult.

“And there’s one more person, the priest who healed the Cardinal is also suspicious. I heard another priest treated him because he had fallen unconscious from serious injuries… If I were staging such a plot, rather than actually sustaining serious injuries and being treated by someone else, I’d prefer to falsify medical records—pretending to be seriously injured when I wasn’t.”

Actually sustaining serious injuries carries too much risk.

Human life can seem incredibly resilient at times, but it can also be surprisingly fragile.

Some tough individuals can survive even with their internal organs damaged, while more fragile ones might die instantly from shock just from having an eye gouged out or an arm cut off.

The truly unlucky ones might die unexpectedly just from bumping into something or falling down.

Moreover, for an elderly person in his 60s like Cardinal Erich, injuries that a younger person might easily survive could prove fatal.

“If Erich thought like me, he would have assigned the role of healer to one of his associates and instructed them to make a minor injury look like a serious one.”

That’s probably it, right?

After going through all the trouble of staging a plot, dying from shock because your body couldn’t handle it would be a pathetic end that would go down in the history of the Holy State.

“Hmm… then we should secretly monitor that priest first. We don’t know the identity of the assassin, and Michael is too dangerous.”

“That’s right.”

Nodding, Lacy took out a paper from the drawer and began writing orders for the Crusader of Seals.

—-

The next day.

I was standing in front of a warehouse-like building located in a remote part of the city.

With Lacy, who had summoned me in the middle of the night.

Lacy guided me to the basement of the building, and what I encountered there was—

“Mmph! Mmmmph! Mmmmmmph!”

As I had expected, a middle-aged priest in his underwear, with his limbs bound and a gag in his mouth.

As if proving that 70% of the human body is made of water, he was drenched in cold sweat, and upon seeing Lacy and me, he began shaking his head violently as if having a seizure.

“…This seems quite different from what I understand as ‘secret monitoring.'”

This is just kidnapping and imprisonment.

Was the meaning of secret monitoring to secretly abduct someone and observe them all day?

“It couldn’t be helped. Thanks to the report from the Crusader, I learned that this priest, Heinrich, is scheduled to be reassigned to the Arad district in two days. Quite coincidentally, I might add.”

“Really? That is quite a coincidence.”

Right after the Cardinal’s attack, the person involved in the incident suddenly leaves for another city?

If we weren’t already suspicious of the Cardinal, this would be extremely suspicious.

It looks like they’re trying to hide someone who could be evidence of the staged plot.

“Besides, if he leaves in two days… today is our only chance to meet like this. Yes, from your position, you had no choice but to invite him here, even if it meant going to extremes.”

Once he goes to Arad, there would be no way to catch him.

“Yes. I actually had no choice but to invite him here rather forcefully. So we must get answers here and now. We have to release him in two days. Whether we send him to Arad or straight to heaven… I’m still considering that.”

With a shrug and a smile, Lacy brought a crate from the corner of the basement and sat on it in front of Heinrich.

She positioned her mace between her legs, resting her hands and chin on its handle.

…That kind of natural posture isn’t developed from just one or two experiences.

How many people did she beat up in her childhood for that posture to come so naturally…?

Heinrich raised his head, glaring at Lacy and screaming, but due to the thick gag, his words couldn’t reach anyone else’s ears.

Well, even if they had, Lacy wouldn’t have cared anyway.

The curses or threats of a frightened middle-aged man, especially one who likely committed wrongdoing.

From Lacy’s perspective, they were just noise not worth paying attention to.

“So, what are you going to do now? Seeing that you brought me here, do you want me to interrogate him my way?”

He’d be half-ruined after that.

If he was indeed involved in the staged plot, it wouldn’t matter, but if by chance he was an innocent person dragged here without knowing why, turning him into a wreck right away would be a bit…

“No. There’s no need for you to step in, Baron Median. I alone am enough for him. So, you just need to watch if anyone approaches.”

It seemed Lacy wanted to conduct the interrogation herself.

Was she planning to start with intimidation?

No, surely not.

With the Archbishop of Trier, the evidence was already 80% confirmed, but with this priest, it’s still ambiguous whether he’s guilty or innocent.

“Fine. Then I’ll be upstairs keeping watch outside. If anything happens, just shout. I’ll come right down.”

Leaving Lacy, who nodded in gratitude, I left the basement and returned to ground level.

The first floor of the building was pitch black without a single light.

There were no mana lamps to begin with, and all the oil lamps had been turned off.

But it wasn’t so dark that I couldn’t see anything, so I took out a cigarette and leisurely looked around.

I heard this building was made for cover but was also used as an actual warehouse.

Dusty crates were everywhere, and in one corner, there was even a rest area for staff.

Though the rest area consisted of just a long leather chair and a wooden table.

I sat on the chair, put my feet up on the table, and smoked while waiting for Lacy to finish her interrogation.

“Stardolf! What is the meaning of this!”

“What do you mean? Can’t you see? Or are you pretending not to know?”

As I was focusing my senses on hearing to check if anyone was approaching, the sounds from the basement came through clearly.

Lacy must have removed the gag, as Heinrich was shouting with anger and bewilderment.

“I invited you here because I have something urgent to ask. Was my subordinate’s escort satisfactory?”

“You’re insane! Do you realize what you’re doing—gahk!”

There was a thudding sound followed by what seemed like a leather bag falling.

Lacy must have struck him.

Surely she didn’t swing the mace right away; it was probably just a kick.

“Don’t raise your voice. It’s inconsiderate to others.”

“Urgh…!”

A whispered murmur.

Heinrich couldn’t answer and only groaned.

Did she really hit him with the mace…?

“Now, let’s begin our conversation, Priest Heinrich. You’re ready to listen quietly, aren’t you?”

“What… conversation are you talking about…!”

One hit seemed to have instilled some manners in him, as Heinrich’s voice had become quite subdued.

His speech had also changed from informal to semi-formal.

“About the staged plot that Erich orchestrated. You understand what I mean, don’t you? Since you’re an accomplice.”

“What…?! No, that’s not…”

“Your pupils are trembling.”

Heinrich tried to deny it, but Lacy cut off his lie with a resolute voice, seemingly already convinced by his expression alone.

“You look curious. How I know about this, how many people know about it, and why I specifically invited you here. You have many questions for me, don’t you?”

…Maybe I should have gone down to watch.

Listening to this, it’s more interesting than I expected.

“But… unfortunately, I can’t answer you. Right now, it’s not me but Priest Heinrich who needs to answer my questions first. You understand, don’t you?”

Lacy began to interrogate him, pounding her mace on the basement floor.

As if implying that if he spoke nonsense or tried to stall, the mace would strike his limbs instead of the ground.

“What nonsense are you talking about…?”

But Heinrich didn’t seem to properly receive Lacy’s warning.

Unfortunately.

“Staged plot? I don’t understand what you’re—”

“Shall I help you remember?”

Then, the sound of bones being shattered echoed all the way from the basement.