Ch.606Episode 22 – The Kazinsky Test

After crossing mountains and roads, the village they finally arrived at retained an old-fashioned charm.

A quiet village exuding a rural atmosphere. The fresh silhouette of a fig tree standing like an island was clearly visible from the entrance, and neat stone walls lined the sandy, gravelly path in an orderly fashion.

And two mules making their way through a date palm plantation.

“What a taste…”

Veronica placed one hand on her hip and muttered quietly. There was a faint smile in her criticism.

I guess age really can’t be hidden.

“Leaving a nice residence behind to summon me to a place like this—that’s certainly the stubbornness of an old man.”

“But the scenery is nice, isn’t it?”

“Hmm. Well, now that you mention it, I can’t disagree.”

Camilla and Veronica stopped their conversation and began guiding their mules.

“Hyah.”

Click. Click.

The mule’s movements quickened as she spurred it on. Camilla gently rolled the reins in her hand, then pushed her bottom deep into the saddle and pressed her legs tightly together.

As they leisurely descended the modest slope and passed under the fig tree.

With a rumbling sound, the hoofbeats stopped, and both women’s feet touched the ground.

Under the shaded fig tree sat a man, and the sparse white hair resting on his head like snowflakes gave away his age.

“Living comfortably, I see. While some of us had to cross those mountains on ponies without even sending a guide.”

“As the old saying goes, if you want to live comfortably, get into a coffin. Besides, the Saint needed some exercise.”

“Nam-isa.”

Veronica tossed the reins onto the stirrup and looked at the old man with a dissatisfied gaze.

It wasn’t so much anger as the look of a child complaining about side dishes.

“You must be glad to be in good health, Commissioner Pedro.”

Episode 22 – The Kajiski Test

While Veronica treats anyone older than her as an old fogey, whether they’re the Pope or a bishop, she isn’t rude to all elderly people.

Politicians fundamentally shouldn’t make enemies carelessly. Even the Saint, known for attacking the elderly, didn’t aim her arrows at old clergy members just anytime, and this was a standard she had set for herself.

Of course, the vast majority of clergy would disagree with this.

Even the former Pope had questioned whether the Saint had properly adhered to her so-called “standard” over the past twelve years. It was a standard in name only—essentially Schrödinger’s red line that could be interpreted however she wanted. She was truly the embodiment of arrogance.

But even Veronica had people she couldn’t treat carelessly. The “real” old fogeys who constantly checked her and turned her mood upside down.

Considering that in the hierarchical power structure of the church, those who could dare to irritate Veronica could be counted on one hand, anyone would recognize the identity of such figures just by hearing their names.

The new master of the Medius Cathedral, Pope Raphael.

And no clergy member would be unfamiliar with Commissioner Pedro, who had been leading the Inquisition for decades.

This was why one of the Saint’s eyebrows rose in displeasure as soon as the old man opened his mouth.

“I see you still haven’t cut down on your drinking. You haven’t changed at all, Saint Veronica.”

Nagging right from the start.

I can’t help but sigh from the beginning.

“Here we go again. You’re starting already.”

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but you reek of alcohol. Surely you haven’t forgotten that you’re on official duty?”

“I don’t think there’s any reason for the Commissioner to concern himself with my personal life.”

Veronica frowned and grumbled, but Pedro merely smiled gently, his wrinkled eyes crinkling.

“Haha. How could I possibly ignore it? I am, after all, the head of the Inquisition, tasked with upholding church law.”

“How thoughtful of you.”

Inquisition Commissioner Pedro, seated in a folding chair, gestured for the two women to take a seat.

Veronica, still looking displeased, pushed at the prepared cushion, while Camilla moistened her throat with lukewarm water from a teacup.

“Hmm…”

The Inquisition. Camilla had heard of this organization before. During her stay in Laterano, it was the agency that had handled several briefings related to Frederick’s assassination attempt.

For someone like her who followed the news regularly, it was a somewhat familiar government department.

It had stuck in her memory partly because it was a familiar name.

After all, wasn’t it the kind of name that sounded like it might destroy planets while fighting evil extraterrestrial beings?

Of course, it wasn’t quite the SF-like agency that traversed the universe, but rather an organization that hunted heretics across continents. In any case, Camilla had developed a certain inexplicable internal affinity for the Inquisition.

Veronica, who had messed up the neatly arranged cushion with kicks, plopped down on it with a thud and muttered as if tired.

“If you were going to call me, you could have chosen somewhere closer… Tsk, you’re still the Commissioner, Pedro. How many years has it been now?”

“Excluding reappointments, 11 years. In total, exactly 29 years this year.”

“I think you were already Commissioner when I first came to Laterano… You must not get tired easily.”

“What can I do when His Holiness refuses to allow this lamb to retire?”

Commissioner Pedro smiled calmly, as if there was nothing he could do about it.

“Wasn’t there someone mentioned as your successor? I remember there were two candidates.”

“Archbishop Theodosius and Security Bureau Director Bernard. However, Archbishop Theodosius still has time left in his term, and Director Bernard has declined the succession to the Commissioner position… In truth, there isn’t a single suitable candidate for my position.”

He was saying that two clergy members had been recommended as successors, but both were reluctant to become the Inquisition Commissioner.

Director Bernard was certainly a capable person, and there was the merit of internal promotion, so Veronica had kept an eye on him, but it seemed the person himself was uncomfortable with the idea of skipping the Deputy Commissioner position and being promoted directly to Commissioner.

Archbishop Theodosius, who had served as a professor at the Theological University, was recommended as a candidate because he was well-versed in exorcism and inquisition. However, since the Inquisition also served as an intelligence and investigative agency, there were concerns about appointing him as the head of an intelligence agency.

In short, there was a lack of suitable talent.

The Saint of the church let out a deep sigh.

“Whether it’s the Archbishop and Director who decline such a good position, or the Pope who can’t find a successor and keeps squeezing an old man dry… Everyone is unbearably stubborn. And you, standing firm in the middle of it all, are no different.”

“Then perhaps the Saint would like to take on the role of Commissioner?”

“Pedro. How many vacation days did you use last year?”

The Inquisition Commissioner just smiled silently. Veronica nodded and grinned.

“Don’t try to be clever. Trying to enslave someone else.”

“Well, that’s a shame.”

The Saint, successful in her evasive maneuver once again, smiled with satisfaction, while the Inquisition Commissioner, who had failed in his recruitment attempt, clicked his tongue in disappointment.

As the sound of laughter drifted through the window, beyond it, the figures of Inquisitors leading donkeys by their reins briefly passed by.

Pedro asked Veronica with a slightly curious tone.

“Is that mule yours, Saint?”

“It’s a mule the warrior bought.”

The mule was actually a donkey that Camilla had brought from the market.

They had been in a predicament, needing to travel a long distance but without suitable transportation. Just then, an old man happened to be leading several mules carrying bundles.

They had earned some income from hunting monsters.

Since both Camilla and Veronica knew how to ride horses, and moreover, the mule was an appealing white color, they had quickly purchased two without a second thought.

“Hmm.”

Pedro nodded calmly, praising Camilla’s decision.

“You’ve made an excellent choice. In the desert, mules are far more useful than cars.”

“Hehe.”

“Even an Archmage would have no idea to travel by mule.”

This was praise that would have dismayed the Grand Duke, who was probably combing through Bahar city in search of his disciple. He would have lamented that someone much younger than him was teaching his disciple bad habits.

Of course, most of Camilla’s bad behaviors were learned from Frederick.

But if confronted, he would only offer the inexplicable racially charged excuse of “speak to the ancestral blood flowing through her veins,” leaving the Archmage with no recourse.

All he could do was pray that the disciple he had taken on in his later years would cause him less grief in the future.

Commissioner Pedro asked Camilla in a very gentle tone. It was a question tinged with slight concern.

“I’m a bit worried that our Saint might have been bothering you.”

“No, no. Bothering me? She’s such a wonderful person.”

“Hoho. Thank you for your kind words.”

“…What’s this?”

Veronica’s lips protruded like a duck’s bill.

“You scold me as soon as you see me, but you’re kind to the warrior? I wonder if you can really call yourself a clergy member.”

“Oh, I’m always grateful to the Saint who strives for love and peace.”

Veronica was momentarily dumbfounded by his attitude of treating Camilla as if she were his own granddaughter. Commissioner Pedro placed his hand on his chest and continued in a very apologetic tone.

“I would be even more delighted if you would heed my advice about your health.”

“If that were all you nagged about, I wouldn’t have said anything.”

“If the Saint didn’t sneak away and skip Sunday Mass, my lips would also remain sealed.”

“If there hadn’t been so much nagging, I would have fulfilled my duties diligently, but that’s a shame.”

“Regrettably, correcting the Saint’s deviations is also my duty as the Inquisition Commissioner.”

“Since when has nagging every evening been part of the Inquisition’s duties?”

“Just shy of a year. It was the last important task entrusted to me by the former Pope before he retired last year.”

“Ugh… If he’s retired, he should focus on his garden as he wished. That old geezer is making life difficult till the end.”

Veronica was thoroughly fed up with the constant barrage of nagging.

Even the Saint, who had complained about the former Pope and the current Pope being harsh, couldn’t withstand the tongue of the Inquisition Commissioner, who never lost an argument.

No wonder he had survived for 29 years in the Inquisition.

After the affectionate bickering filled with complaints and rebuttals ended, the three people seated in the residence stopped their small talk and entered into a more serious conversation.

“Since you said you were inquiring about werewolves, let me get straight to the point.”

The Inquisition Commissioner, who had gathered the Saint and the warrior, first emptied his teacup.

“The reason this old man has arranged this meeting is that I have something urgent to ask of you both.”

His voice was quite solemn and cautious.

Commissioner Pedro, with his hands on his knees, straightened his back and adjusted his posture. Veronica stared at the Commissioner and muttered with a blank face.

“You called us because of werewolves, but you’re building suspense. Why don’t you just speak plainly?”

“If it were just about werewolves, I wouldn’t even need to come here in person.”

“Hmm. When you put it that way, it makes me uneasy.”

Starting with such ominous words.

Veronica pulled her upper body forward with a crooked smile.

“Alright. Let’s hear what this is about.”

Pedro nodded as if in understanding, though Veronica was slightly displeased with the Commissioner’s attitude.

Regardless, Pedro began to reveal the main point with an infinitely calm demeanor.

“We’ve received intelligence that hundreds of werewolves are planning a large-scale attack here.”

*

A few months ago.

A tip from a neighboring intelligence agency was reported to the Inquisition Commissioner.

“Commissioner. Father Rebecca is on line 6.”

“Connect her.”

Father Rebecca, who was actively working in the Mauritanian continent, was a line that the Inquisition had attached to Saint Lucia.

The safety of the Pope and the Saints had traditionally been the responsibility of the Inquisition, and the Saint, who had gone to a dangerous region marked by civil war, needed an appropriate safety net.

Moreover, it was right after a cultist who had stolen the blood of a Saint had taken hundreds of thousands of lives. There had been a strict order from Pope Raphael to prevent the same thing from happening again by any means necessary.

Father Rebecca’s report was treated with the highest urgency.

-“This is Rebecca.”

“Yes, what is it? If it’s about the remnants of Al-Cair, I just received a communication from the Templar Order.”

Pedro assumed this contact was related to the cultists.

Though they had lost their leader and been reduced to the level of a small group, the surviving remnants were spreading throughout the Mauritanian continent, looking for their next opportunity. Father Rebecca was tracking these remnants to prevent any unforeseen incidents.

But the subsequent report deviated significantly from Pedro’s expectations.

-“It’s not about Al-Cair. I’ve submitted a document transferred from another agency and request your confirmation.”

“Where is this material from?”

-“Major Frederick from Military Intelligence.”

“…Him? Alright, I’ll check it right away.”

It was an inexplicable request, but there was no need to question it. If Military Intelligence was sending material to Pedro, there was no room for doubt.

The Commissioner opened the file sent through the internal line and carefully reviewed the contents.

The content was simple.

Suspicious activity had been detected by one of Frederick’s informants in Necropolis. The identity of this informant had been roughly determined through reports from Templar Order members who had raided Al-Cair’s residence—an exiled magician named Joaquin Goodman.

[A criminal organization in the Port of the Dead Whale, specializing in smuggling and illegal immigration of non-human species, is looking for transportation to the continent. According to an insider’s testimony, it is presumed that the clients may possibly be demons.]

[Currently, the clients are attempting illegal entry through port routes (*see attached materials). While the specific destination is unknown, there is clear evidence that the final destination is the continent.]

[Considering the traditional illegal immigration methods of refugees from the Mauritanian continent, it is highly likely that they will illegally enter through the nearest port in the Lushan Federal Kingdom after crossing the strait.]

Though it seemed simple, this was intelligence that couldn’t be ignored.

After all, materials shared with other intelligence agencies typically underwent thorough analysis and verification. The Abbas intelligence authorities must have shared this with some confidence, and that confidence was likely related to the possibility of a terrorist attack against the church.

Frederick had only presented suspicious trends without directly suggesting possibilities, but Military Intelligence was somewhat suspicious of a terrorist attack aimed at the church or Lucia.

Of course, for the Inquisition, which collected tens of thousands of pieces of intelligence daily, this wasn’t particularly significant.

Groups hostile to the church were abundant, and most terrorist threats were false or exaggerated.

With so many, it was impossible to verify each one.

Moreover, Frederick, the officer in charge, had expressed a negative opinion about the possibility of terrorism. He had passed the material to Rebecca solely because of the small chance that “demons might be involved.”

Therefore, Pedro absolutely could not ignore this material.

Unlike the uncertain Frederick, he was the head of the Inquisition.

He knew clearly from his 29 years of experience that intelligence related to demons, no matter how trivial, should never be taken lightly.

“Tell the 4th Deputy to meet with the Lushan Federation Ambassador. Exclude any mention of demons until we have concrete evidence.”

“Yes, Commissioner.”

And so, after the material with the phrase “demons” deleted was passed to the Lushan Federation Intelligence Department.

On a day when waves about 4.5 meters high were fiercely surging.

The Lushan Federation Navy’s patrol ships stopped a refugee ship passing through the strait.

Navy magicians thoroughly searched the ship and successfully seized 682 refugees and several pieces of cargo.

And the incident began.

《During the search, some resisting refugees and crew members were shot by the Federation Navy boarding inspection team. 77.3kg of ‘Linnegel’ was confiscated from the ballast tank at the bottom of the hull. This drug is used to suppress the violence of werewolves and is enough for simultaneous dosing of approximately 2,570 individuals. On the orders of the Federation Navy Headquarters, the refugee ship docked at □□ base instead of the original ○○ port.》

《Large-scale blood tests were conducted on all 682 individuals under the pretext of an infectious disease investigation by the Federation Health Department. During this process, a disturbance occurred, and 4 refugees attempting to flee the base were shot dead, while 2 were arrested.》

《Positive reactions were detected in the blood of the 4 killed and 2 arrested individuals. The 00 base defense team members injured during the arrest were isolated in a special ward. The 2 werewolves were transported to the Federation Land Management Agency’s hostile life form detention facility, and at the request of the base chaplains, a laying-on of hands prayer was conducted in the special ward.》

《According to information shared by the Federation Intelligence Department, the werewolves’ plan was to move to an unknown residence in downtown Bahar after illegal entry. The liaison officer recommended active surveillance throughout Bahar, and the Federation Intelligence Department accepted this and is searching for the werewolves’ residence.》

*

On the day the report came up under the name of the Bahar diocese head.

The Pope and the Inquisition Commissioner, who gathered at the Medius Cathedral, agreed to keep all facts confidential for the time being.

The Inquisition cooperated with Lushan Federation intelligence agencies to collect and analyze all intelligence about werewolves. The Abbas intelligence authorities also provided partial assistance to the extent they knew.

Hundreds of smuggling routes through which Mauritanian continent refugees enter the Lushan Federation.

Dozens of border lines connecting the eastern part of the Mauritanian continent, the habitat of werewolves, and the northern part where smuggling sites are concentrated, and the routes to cross them.

And werewolves suspected to have already passed through here.

Rough calculations suggested there were easily hundreds of them.

The fact that werewolves were openly using smuggling routes in Necropolis, which was no different from a demon’s lair, and trying to move to Bahar meant that a system was in place.

The circulation of drugs that could simultaneously suppress the violence of 2,570 werewolves also supported this conjecture.

The problem was that this conclusion came only after a year had passed.

The Lushan Federation Intelligence Department, which had expected there to be at most just over twenty werewolves, was noticeably flustered when they saw the analysis report that appeared a year later.

“…This is quite a pessimistic prediction. It can’t be true.”

“Ambassador. This is a report carefully reviewed by your country’s intelligence authorities and our side.”

“Damn it, we’ve already prepared to welcome guests, Deputy. The negotiation team will arrive in the capital tomorrow, and you’re telling me there are hundreds of werewolves, not even therianthropes?”

This was the worst conclusion for the Lushan Federation, which was about to host the 4-party talks.

Of course, no damage presumed to be the work of werewolves had been detected by any intelligence agency’s surveillance network over the past year, but it was like realizing that what they thought was a wood chip under their foot was actually an unexploded mine.

It was truly a headache-inducing situation.

But as they say, even if the sky falls, there will be a hole to emerge from.

Finally, a clue was found in the surveillance operation that had been stagnant for months.

“The lycans were hiding in a bar? How did you find them?”

“Based on the interrogation results of werewolves since the end of last year, the Federation has put several stores on the list of suspects. After investigating thousands of places and excluding some establishments confirmed to be run by humans, they secretly collected bodily fluids from employees and owners of suspicious places… and one of the samples tested positive for the gene.”

“…Hmm.”

After examining the document handed over by the Lushan Federation, Pedro rested his chin on his hand and fell into deep thought.

Werewolves lurking in downtown Bahar. The prevailing opinion was that there were easily hundreds of them.

This was a matter that could be readily resolved by dispatching the Templar Order. Of course, countless people would die or be injured, and beautiful Bahar would instantly turn into a battlefield.

For the Templar Order, which had won victory even in the war against vampires 300 years ago, those hairy beasts were targets that could be annihilated in the blink of an eye, regardless of how many hundreds there were. They were no match from the start.

However,

The stumbling block was that the 4-party talks were being held in that very Bahar.

“Has the meeting started?”

“Yes. 40 minutes ago, the ministers gathered at the National Convention Center, led by the Ashtistan Foreign Minister, who was the last to arrive. I heard the Grand Duke and the High Priest were also identified.”

“With the Archmages there, safety is guaranteed. The problem is that this isn’t an operation that will end overnight…”

Even the Lushan Federation, the most certain victim, was hesitant to mobilize its military due to international scrutiny.

If the church were to deploy the Templar Order, all countries except Abbas and Lushan, who knew the situation, might be shocked. Even if they sent Inquisitors to lower the intensity, the situation wouldn’t change.

No, Lushan wouldn’t even accept Inquisitors in the first place.

Considering the 4-party talks and the upcoming World Union meeting to be held in Bahar, they had the most to lose.

Especially with a king who, unlike the crown prince, took a negative stance toward the church, he would never overlook this issue.

– Knock. Knock.

As his interlocked fingers rhythmically tapped the back of his hand, a name flashed through Pedro’s mind.

Coincidentally, there was a person suitable for dealing with demons right at the scene.

A clergy member whom even Inquisitors avoided and Templar Knights steered clear of.

A gunslinger who received angry mockery from demon worshippers and even demons themselves for being vulgar.

Crucially, someone with the tremendous courage to openly utter obscene curses in front of the Pope, and the skill to survive afterward.

Hearing the name that came from Pedro’s lips, Raphael couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

“…Listen, Commissioner Pedro. Must we really entrust this to that sister?”

“There is one more suitable candidate, but Your Holiness would never assign this task to that person.”

“Really? Do you truly think this is the best option?”

“At least the person I’ve recommended would be far more skilled than other candidates. She has experience dealing with werewolves multiple times and knows how to handle information better than anyone. If she discovers something that could help the investigation, she certainly won’t miss even the smallest piece.”

“…Haah. I know, I understand, but I’m concerned that sister might cause trouble.”

“……”

On the desk piled high with intelligence reports, the Pope looked at the already full ashtray and then covered his face with both hands.

It was a gesture that could almost be described as tearing at his face.

“Oh, Lord. Why do you give me such trials? You’ve given me two chances… Damn it. Even after praying all night for months, how is it that you don’t help me even once?”

The Pope was very displeased with the plan. He seemed slightly eager to escape from reality, but for the Commissioner, there was no more attractive candidate.

Therefore, there wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in his movements.

The Inquisition Commissioner picked up the receiver in front of the Pope, who was chain-smoking.

“…My back. Aish, does old man Pedro never sleep…? Calling at the crack of dawn… Hello?”

The Saint, who had slipped out of bed without anyone knowing, began to wander through the bars of Bahar with a gun bag slung over her shoulder.