208. The Situation in the Secular Kingdom
To summarize, the first thought Fernandez had upon seeing Fabiano’s appearance was, “This is too much.”
Too much. Fabiano, at least for now, was cautiously withholding judgment, but he wasn’t a clueless fool. Therefore, his actions had an exaggerated quality to them.
Suddenly appearing, smashing tiles everywhere, loudly shouting “Brother!” and rushing in, acting overly emotional… All the ceremonial gestures, like celebrating the return of a comrade from war, were over the top.
But the moment Fernandez heard that this was Zephis’s order to act as loudly as possible, he understood Zephis’s intentions—and by extension, Beorn’s behind him.
So he shouted, as authoritatively as possible.
“Make way, sheep of the Temple of the Gods!!”
Roughly translated, it meant…
‘I am an Inquisition Officer performing holy duties, a high-ranking cleric with extraterritorial rights.’
This was directed at Sigard’s enforcement team.
‘Hey, Vicente. We know each other, right? Let’s talk later, slowly.’
This was aimed at the Dane Inner Circle.
‘For any inquiries, please contact the Inquisition Office. Or try to take me on by force right now.’
This was for the various intelligence agencies, slightly intimidated by Fabiano’s show of force.
And finally.
‘I haven’t fallen. I’ll return after completing the operation.’
This was for Zephis and the other Inquisition Officers who were probably watching this situation from somewhere.
A single sentence carrying multiple intentions. For Fernandez, this was a basic skill. And then he turned his head toward where the Inquisition Office would be.
‘I’ve bought us some time.’
* * *
Zephis chuckled as he watched the scene. It wasn’t the kind of scheming one would expect from someone not even twenty years old. Of course, even if he were older, it wouldn’t be an easy feat to pull off.
“Can you guess what that means, brothers?”
“Impressive.”
Brother Enmagika nodded in admiration. Act as loudly as possible. The message Zephis had conveyed through Fabiano was to divert all attention from various nations and factions to himself.
The Vatican of Vaitas, which had suddenly fallen silent after the declaration of the Holy War, was now losing trust and reputation in the international community in direct proportion to time.
The attention of all factions was focused on the northern sea routes. The background of the Holy War was the detection of large-scale demonic activity in the north.
Therefore, at this very moment, every port along the northern trade routes was under the world’s scrutiny. In fact, the intelligence agencies’ focus was likely converging here, especially after Guimerin’s artillery fire.
Thus, in a situation where secrecy was no longer possible, they needed time to play political tricks on the Vatican and the Monastery Head. To allow the panicked leadership to calm down.
So, ‘Act as loudly as possible. And confuse the intelligence agencies.’
Whatever it took, draw attention and buy time. For the Inquisition Officers assembling task forces to hunt demons, this was a familiar kind of order.
As loudly as possible.
And so, Fernandez, upon returning from a long journey, with no prior information, did just that.
At least at this point, if he could display such judgment, it couldn’t be said that he was clearly showing signs of corruption. And an Inquisition Officer who hasn’t fallen is still their ‘brother,’ no matter the situation.
“Execute the operation. Protect our brother.”
“Protect our brother!”
At Zephis’s gesture, the Heretics lurking in the city rushed out.
* * *
With all eyes on him, Fernandez slowly placed one hand on the sword hilt and pulled out a rosary with the other. The rosary, engraved with the symbol of Vaitas, dangled with a clinking sound.
“Wait a moment, Inquisition Officer Arcangelo. You’ll need to give me some time.”
“Your affiliation?”
“Patrick, from the 3rd Enforcement Division under the Phaeirn Royal Intelligence Department.”
Merlin Port was a city of the Phaeirn Royal Family, and the Royal Intelligence Department was one of the royal family’s most powerful trump cards. Fernandez could sense the tension in this professional assassin’s body.
“At this point, less than a year since the heresy incident within the royal family… Are you saying you’ll escort the Inquisition Officer?”
Then, a low voice echoed from the rooftop of the nearby unloading dock. Fernandez perked up and looked for a familiar face. It was Zephis. The seasoned giant Diemonica glared at Patrick with a rumbling voice.
Patrick flinched and looked around. One, two. Before he knew it, five Inquisition Officers had appeared on the rooftops, alleys, and under the walls, surrounding them.
“…The royal family won’t forget this.”
“If we are guilty, we will be judged before the Lord.”
“How arrogant! It was only two weeks ago that the secular royal family requested troops! And now, after causing political waves with the Church’s authority, you’re saying you’ll withdraw? Is that all?”
“Is that all?”
-BOOM!
Zephis leaped down, smashing tiles just as Fabiano had. Fernandez flicked away a couple of tiles flying toward him and thought.
‘He’s overdoing it.’
-It’s an over-the-top situation. Fittingly so.
Zephis was someone who extremely disliked revealing himself publicly. In fact, all Inquisition Officers, except for the Diemonica, despised exposing their identities to secular society.
The Diemonica, after all, were special forces dispatched only to regions where secular society had collapsed, and they had no thoughts of their own… Zephis, in his position of controlling them, had learned to think and act like a Heretic.
For him to move so aggressively like this meant the situation was more serious than expected. Zephis strode over and stood in front of Patrick.
A long shadow fell over Patrick. Due to the Diemonica’s massive frame, as he stood tall and looked down, only cold blue eyes gleamed in the backlight.
“Judicial authority of the Inquisition.”
“What…?”
At Zephis’s words, the Inquisition Officers surrounding them chanted.
“Before the Inquisition, we possess judicial authority over our verdicts and executions, which is not hindered by the laws of secular kingdoms.”
“Authority for immediate execution of heretics.”
“Once a verdict of heresy is confirmed, the accused has no right to appeal, and this verdict is not hindered by the status or laws of secular kingdoms.”
“Authority to requisition military forces for exorcism.”
“In situations of heresy trials, detention, interrogation, and arrest, the responsible Inquisition Officer has the authority to requisition military forces from secular kingdoms, which is not hindered by their laws.”
“Authority to act as a proxy for Church sacraments.”
“The responsible Inquisition Officer holds authority equivalent to a bishop of the Church of the Temple of the Gods during operations and heresy trials, with the power to administer all levels of sacraments.”
Zephis slowly clasped Patrick’s shoulder as he finished speaking. Patrick flinched under the strong grip of that large hand.
“You’ll regret this. Not just Phaeirn, but all the kingdoms will question this incident…”
“By the authority guaranteed by the Temple of the Gods, we will now conduct a heresy trial and purification sacrament for our brother. This takes precedence over any other situation, as per the will of the Monastery Head and His Holiness the Pope. Be silent.”
Patrick bit his lip.
Fernandez closed his eyes for a moment. Soon, he shook his head and shouted loudly.
“Make way for the investigators!!”
Immediately, the Sigards lining the alley stepped aside, creating a path. Zephis finally released Patrick’s shoulder and walked past him as Patrick stepped aside.
Fernandez and his group also followed behind Zephis. The Inquisition Officers surrounded them as if escorting them, marching in unison.
At that moment, a knight in a green cloak with the Dane Royal Family’s emblem on his shoulder approached with his arms wide open.
“Lord Sernerd.”
“Hmm. You must have mistaken me for someone else.”
“His Highness Vicente is deeply concerned.”
The knight seemed to know exactly who Fernandez was. Fernandez smirked and looked at him. Soon, his eyes widened.
“Oh, you?”
“I apologize for meeting a Knight of the Round Table like this. Please forgive me for not showing proper respect.”
The knight lifted his visor slightly and grinned. He was one of the knights who had been dispatched to the Eastern Kingdom Alliance in the Great Wilderness.
“What is there to forgive! But, His Highness Vicente’s concern… is it of a political and diplomatic nature?”
“How could that be? His Highness expressed concern for the safety of his dear friend.”
“That’s kind of him. Please let him know I’ll visit soon. And, were you part of the Inner Circle? I remember you were just one of the squires back then…”
The Dane Royal Family was a feudal state filled with a spirit of reverence, where knights and magus managed high nobles and administrative nobles. The knights of the Round Table, who formed the core of the royal family, were each lords of a region, and their swords were needed by the royal family.
While they could use royal guards for external matters, not all royal duties were external. Some tasks required secrecy and discretion. Those who performed such duties were the knights of the Dane Inner Circle.
Like the Knight of the Sky in his past life. Fernandez frowned slightly but soon composed himself. Seeing this, the knight spoke meaningfully.
“His Highness Vicente is deeply concerned for his friends. I was in charge of Lady Abelesas’s security at the time.”
The knight bowed slightly to Abel, who stood behind Fernandez, and then left. Zephis chuckled as he watched.
“You’re quite popular, aren’t you?”
“It just happened that way.”
“Be careful. Popularity among clergy is like poison.”
“Though it seems Brother has also done things that would make his popularity soar…”
“Haha, making a name for yourself at this age. Me too.”
Zephis laughed heartily and patted Fernandez on the shoulder.
“I’m glad to see you safe. Welcome back, brother.”
“Diplomatic Inquisition Officer Fernandez Sernerd, 2nd Class. Mission complete, reporting back, Brother. I’m glad to see you safe as well.”
“The Monastery Head will be pleased too. …Probably.”
Zephis gripped Fernandez’s shoulder firmly and then let go. He walked away with a lighter step.
‘He just checked my equipment.’
-He made sure the Holy Sword was intact.
‘Well, one big hurdle is cleared. Zephis has a strong voice in the headquarters.’
-But things won’t flow easily from here. Let’s see how it goes.
Faijashi looked intrigued.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the Inquisition Keep, a place with a sign that ominously read, “Entry forbidden to non-related personnel, heretics,” a purple flag was hanging.
The Pope’s seal, intricately embroidered, fluttered in the gentle spring breeze. The seal depicted a Keyblade, a magnificent crown, and a royal orb.
Beorn sighed as he looked out the window.
“This is exhausting.”
“My apologies.”
The pinnacle of the Inquisition Officers, each a bishop-level figure. The Monastery Head of the Inquisition Office held immense authority, even as a cardinal with the power to elect the Pope.
Yet, even he had to maintain strict etiquette in front of the man leisurely flipping through a report. He knew it was a formality. The Pope had already read that report over seven times.
But still, the Pope sighed at some parts and marveled at others, reading it as if it were the first time. Beorn understood his actions. It was impossible not to be impressed each time.
-Tap.
The Pope carefully closed the report. He then took a sip of tea and looked at Beorn.
“Truly, the presence of the Lord. To have eradicated two Great Demons in one era. Such a feat has never been recorded before.”
“Indeed.”
“To say worldly matters belong to the world… but this situation has escalated too far. Haha. I don’t know whether to consider this fortunate or regrettable.”
“My apologies.”
“Why are you apologizing? You made the best judgment. Overpreparation is always better. Isn’t that the Inquisition Officers’ motto?”
“Indeed.”
“Hahaha, don’t be so stiff! Do you think I’d dismiss you?”
Someone had to take responsibility. The incident had too great an impact on various factions to be ignored, and without any action, the Church’s authority would plummet.
Some secular lords believed this commotion was a ruse to support a specific nation. On this tangled web of differing agendas, large-scale military deployments would inevitably harm national defense and finances.
Could it be that the Church of the Temple of the Gods was attempting to interfere in secular politics? Such suspicions seemed highly plausible. Other churches, directly hit by these suspicions, sent petitions to the Vaitas Church, fuming.
In such a situation, it was impossible for the matter to conclude without someone taking responsibility. Beorn, recognizing his mistake, had already submitted a recommendation for the next Monastery Head to the Pope.
“Someone must take responsibility.”
“But it doesn’t have to be us.”
“…Pardon?”
“If someone used the Church, must the Church not do the same?”
The Pope smiled nonchalantly as he looked at Beorn. Beorn felt a chill as he gazed into the Pope’s unfathomably deep eyes.
“The Empire… you mean?”
“We remember the Emperor using the Church’s recognized saint for his own ends. The ‘current’ Emperor has shown no remorse for that incident.”
“The current…”
“Yes. The current.”
Beorn fell silent, understanding the implications of the Pope’s words. The Church never directly intervenes in the politics and diplomacy of secular kingdoms. This was an implicit agreement to safeguard the Church’s authority.
Never meddling in politics and diplomacy. If it appears so, it must be due to incidents involving demons or heretics. This belief served as a bridge between the kingdom and the Church. There was no need for hostility. At least, not over ‘human societal matters.’
But now, the Pope was essentially declaring direct intervention in Imperial politics. While it might be the only solution in the current situation… it was far from ideal.
“If revealed, the repercussions will be significant.”
“Fortunately, we’re adept at concealing things.”
Demons cause corruption merely by their existence. The Inquisition Office specializes in eradicating and eliminating such information.
Thus, the Pope was implicitly ordering a new covert operation. No reports, no operation proposals, no documents would remain. A secret operation.
‘Shift the Church’s blame onto the Imperial family.’
In summary, that was the plan. Beorn quietly picked up his teacup. The Pope chuckled as he watched. Beorn found that cheerful smile terrifying.
“When is our Saint Brother expected to arrive?”
“He should be here soon.”
“I’m looking forward to it!”
Beorn nodded silently.
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