**Chapter Five Hundred and Eleven: Obstruction**
Conquer Sea North Shore, Kankdar.
As one of the largest and most prosperous cities in Northern Ufeiga, Kankdar serves as a crucial communication hub for the region, attracting a large population that includes many foreign expatriates from the Main Continent. This has led to the establishment of sizable foreign residential areas in Kankdar, where local inhabitants from Northern Ufeiga are not permitted to enter, creating a cityscape that starkly contrasts with that of the broader Northern Ufeiga.
The assassination incident at the South Station of Kankdar on the morning of the twentieth significantly rattled the city, particularly its foreign residents. They had not anticipated that what was supposed to be a grand welcoming ceremony would devolve into such a bloodbath. The casualties included the Mayor of Kankdar and other prominent members of the expatriate community, causing a massive uproar among Kankdar’s foreign citizens, who expressed outrage at the assassin.
The foreign community in Kankdar has long looked down upon the local inhabitants and holds little regard for Shadi’s heretical regime. After the assassination was reported, the discontent among Kankdar’s citizens quickly transformed into fury directed at Shadi’s government. In public discussions, nearly everyone vehemently denounced the barbarity and heretical cruelty of the Adus rebel forces and expressed sympathy for the exiled Baruch royal family members who were victims of the assassination. Many people went to visit the victims.
At noon, in an elegant restaurant located on a bustling street in Kankdar’s foreign residential area, a diverse group of well-dressed individuals speaking various languages gathered to dine and engage in conversation. Naturally, their discussions centered on the recent assassination incident. It was clear that everyone was deeply appalled by the heretics and Shadi, expressing sympathy for the victims, with some voices raised in anger.
On the second floor of this restaurant, at a window-side table, two figures were dining—Doro and Nephnis. Doro, wearing a white floral dress and a sun hat, was cutting into a steak placed before her. Nephnis, dressed in a fitted blouse and trousers, along with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, was more focused on the latest newspaper than on the exquisite food.
“Heretics are heartless, yet humanity shows compassion… together facing suffering and offering love… due to the assassination incident on the twentieth, the Baruch royal family in exile has received profound sympathy from international and social circles,” Nephnis read aloud, frowning at the article. “During an interview with the temporary representative of the Baruch royal family, Prince Ma Aide, it was stated that following the assassination, they received a succession of donations from various parties. These donations are of utmost importance, helping them, the exiles, to get through their current difficulties and to remain united against the persecution of heretical tyranny.
“In the interview, Prince Ma Aide tearfully thanked the international community for its concern, promising to remember the aid the exiled royal family received in this time of crisis. He mentioned they would establish a monument in honor of these donations should they one day return to Adis…”
Furrowing her brow, Nephnis slowly read the news article, her expression growing graver with each line. After finishing, she remarked, “Donations from the poor? This is madness! Every couple of blocks on the streets of Adis has statues erected of those royal family members. They could make swimming pools in the desert for fun. They took everything of any value from the museum. I spent a long time searching for remnants, and what they took from Adis could feed them for generations. And they’re claiming to be in difficulties and asking for donations? There are countless people in Adis who are worse off than those Baruch exiles.”
Holding the newspaper, Nephnis candidly criticized, recalling her own experience searching for the Judge of Heaven’s sacrificial outfit at the Adis museum, where she found very few artifacts left. After much searching, she had eventually located some remnants of ancient Northern Ufeiga jewelry. Drawing from her background in ancient fashion studies and her accumulated knowledge, she spent a night designing a female priestess outfit from ancient Northern Ufeiga culture, and Doro quickly crafted it for her using spare fabric, transforming Nephnis into the priestess Isis. After this incident, Doro realized that Nephnis had a talent for fashion design, as she regularly bought clothes, strolled through shops, and browsed magazines.
Having seen the state of the Adis museum, Nephnis could now grasp how much wealth the Baruch royals had taken with them during their flight. Thus, she felt that the donations to them were absurdly ironic, having witnessed countless impoverished individuals waiting in line for meager relief in Adis. Their lives were far more challenging than those of the Baruch exiles.
“Whoever controls the narrative controls the definition of the matter. For the current rulers of Kankdar and the forces behind them, the Baruch legacy, regardless of its comforts, must be painted as pitiful victims at this time. The distant public, removed from these hardships, only trusts what they read in the media; the truth is far too messy to understand. After all, the suffering of millions a thousand miles away pales in comparison to the impact of a few deaths and injuries right here.”
With a hint of sarcasm, Doro explained while enjoying her steak. As she listened, Nephnis set the newspaper down and turned to Doro with concern.
“Doro, what happened yesterday was clearly a setup. Those Kankdar people want to harm Sister Vania; she’s in danger. Should we take her away swiftly?”
“Sister Vania is indeed in a somewhat precarious position, but now is not the time for hasty exits. Taking her away would only reinforce the false accusations against her and make her situation even more dangerous. The urgent matter now is to clear her name and eliminate the suspicions of her involvement with heresy. Only when those suspicions are cleared can she truly be safe.”
Doro explained as she speared a piece of steak. After hearing this, Nephnis pressed on, “Clear her name… but the investigation is being conducted by Kankdar’s people. Those guys clearly don’t wish for Sister Vania to come out unscathed. Even if we had evidence, would it really clear her?”
“Yes, the investigation is in their hands. Even with evidence, there’s little we can do. But don’t forget, this is a matter involving the Church and heresy. The final authority on the investigation will revert to the Church, meaning how this incident ultimately unfolds and how the case is characterized will be determined by the Church. What Kankdar’s people say now is irrelevant. What we need to do is wait for the Church to take over the investigation and then provide aid to Sister Vania discreetly. They should be arriving soon…”
Saying this, Doro gestured toward a newspaper on the table that reported, “The Sacred Summit has dispatched an envoy group to Kankdar.”
“Their plans look hastily drawn up and have several flaws. After we disrupt them, there will be many loopholes. As long as the Church’s investigation team maintains a proper stance, we can easily assist Sister Vania in shedding suspicion. There’s even a chance to turn the tables on Kankdar’s people using the investigation team.”
Doro continued her analysis. If those plans had gone off without a hitch, Sister Vania would indeed be in danger. However, with the plan significantly disrupted, any slightly professional team could detect the discrepancies in this assassination case. As long as the investigation and verdict were fair, clearing Sister Vania’s name would be straightforward.
After pondering Doro’s words, Nephnis contemplated and then spoke again, “What if the investigation team doesn’t maintain a proper stance… What should we do then, Doro?”
At Nephnis’s question, Doro paused as she sipped her juice, placing it down before wiping her lips and responding, “If the investigation team’s stance is flawed, then that’s when things become truly difficult. At that point, all the evidence we provide would be disregarded and Sister Vania’s unjust conviction would become a foregone conclusion… In that case, reversing the situation would rely solely on contacting Shadi, persuading him to abandon internal consolidation, risking a large-scale civil war to announce a definitive break with the Savior Faction, thereby proving Sister Vania’s innocence.
“But even then, it won’t be easy to save her. If they are determined to pin the heretic label on Adus and Sister Vania, even Shadi’s announcement wouldn’t help. The compromised Church investigation team could claim they found evidence to prove that Shadi’s announcement was a mutual rescue effort between heretics, untrustworthy in nature. In short, if the Church investigation team and the judgment body share the same agenda as Kankdar’s people, any attempts to prove Sister Vania’s innocence would be in vain.
“If things escalate to that point, we’ll have to resort to our last resort: a violent rescue and take Sister Vania and flee.”
Doro stated simply, implying that whoever holds the investigative power holds everything. Evidence is only valid under the condition of neutrality and fairness from the investigation team; if the investigators intend to frame you from the start, any evidence in your possession becomes worthless.
Upon hearing Doro’s response, Nephnis shuddered slightly and looked at the newspaper on the table announcing the arrival of the Church investigation team, her eyes revealing hints of worry.
—
The White Dove Hotel, located in the foreign residential district of Kankdar, is the largest church adjacent to the Church of Peace. Due to its proximity to the church, the envoy group sent by the Church to Adus was arranged to stay here upon their arrival in Kankdar. Now, with the return of the envoy group from Adus, the hotel once again became their resting place, though this time only Sister Vania remained inside.
Following the assassination incident, the arrests did not only involve the two so-called “assassins.” The entire crew of the Desert Arrow and the injured members of the envoy’s guard were detained by the Kankdar city guards and imprisoned on serious suspicion. As for Vania, since she had intervened to save others and stop the assassin, the guards found it inappropriate to apprehend her directly; thus, they took her to this hotel, imposing strict limitations on her movement and subjecting her to round-the-clock surveillance.
Even in the eyes of the general public influenced by propaganda, Sister Vania, due to her heroics, was perceived not to be connected with heresy. She was merely a poor nun caught up in an unfortunate situation, leading the Kankdar authorities to handle her gently, merely placing her under house arrest while ensuring her comfort.
So, Vania remained comfortably in the hotel for several days, spending almost every day in prayer. The Kankdar authorities did not further scrutinize her. However, the current situation had changed because the true investigation and judgment authority, the Church’s Inquisition Bureau’s investigation team, had now arrived at Kankdar port. Their first stop was the White Dove Hotel.
At dusk, under the glow of the setting sun, several figures appeared on the road to the White Dove Hotel. They numbered around ten, all similarly attired in red and black clerical robes, wearing veils and cloth caps. On one side of their waist hung swords, while on the other side hung thick scrolls of scripture; some individuals carried long staffs displaying scripts like flags. This procession walked silently in the evening sun, exuding an air of heaviness.
At the front of the group walked the leading man, dressed in a more elaborate version of the black and red clerical robe. He appeared to be in his fifties, devoid of any facial covering, and was completely bald; the sunlight revealed the church’s radiant emblem imprinted on his forehead. Even without expression, his face emanated a fierce demeanor. Standing respectfully beside him was Hazheta, the captain of the Kankdar city guards.
Leading his group, the bald man headed straight for the White Dove Hotel. Upon seeing them, the guards at the hotel entrance immediately parted, allowing them to enter. Inside the hotel lobby, the bald man glanced back at his team before issuing orders.
“Stay here.”
“Yes.”
After the brief response, the group stood still. The bald man then looked at Hazheta and spoke with a hint of arrogance, “Lead the way.”
“Right this way, Your Honor,” Hazheta replied, guiding the bald judge up to the hotel’s third floor. Upon reaching the door of a particular room, he signaled to two guards standing by the doorway; one of them promptly retrieved a key and unlocked the door. Following Hazheta, the bald cleric entered the room and immediately spotted Sister Vania, kneeling in prayer on the plush floor. Hearing the commotion, she looked up in surprise at the entrance.
“Senior Deacon Vania Chafiren, I am Senior Judge Clifton, sent by High Judge Clama to investigate the case of the heretical corruption of the Savior Faction’s envoy in Kankdar. According to various pieces of evidence, you are now under serious suspicion of corruption. Please stand up and come with me.”
Addressing the kneeling Sister Vania, Clifton spoke in a stern voice. His words momentarily stunned Vania, who then protested, “Judge, I have not been corrupted by heresy. I did not participate in the assassination. I stopped the assassin and saved the victims…”
“Hmph, the craftiest heretics are often adept at concealing their true intentions. Your actions are insufficient to clear your suspicion in my eyes. Only a thorough interrogation by the Inquisition Bureau can prove your innocence. So, come with me now, or you will be treated as a heretic for obstructing the investigation!”
Clifton’s expression was severe as he threatened Vania. Upon hearing his words, a flicker of panic flashed in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, an ethereal voice resounded in the room.
“What a magnificent display of authority you have, Judge Clifton. With that kind of momentum, you could likely arrest any cardinal in this place.”
Taken aback by the voice, Clifton turned quickly toward its source, where he beheld a slowly materializing apparition.
It was the specter of a female cleric, appearing to be in her early twenties, dressed in white nun robes like Vania. Golden hair flowed down to her chest from beneath her nun’s cap. A hint of mockery graced her originally gentle features. Upon recognizing this ghostly nun, Clifton’s expression froze, and after a moment, he spoke slowly.
“Sister Evi… you’re here as well…”
“I’m naturally here. Sister Vania has always been recognized for her character by Amanda. Thus, after the assassination incident involving heretics in Kankdar occurred, she kept a vigilant eye on the situation. In order to stay updated on the progress and direction of this investigation and to preempt any violations from occurring, she dispatched me to monitor things.”
Evi explained calmly in response to Clifton’s query. Upon hearing Evi’s response, Clifton’s gaze shifted to the slightly panicked Vania before speaking again.
“I must take Sister Vania back to the Fiery Trial for questioning as part of our procedures. I ask Sister Evi not to interfere.”
“If it’s an inquiry, it can take place anywhere. The Fiery Trial is suitable, but this location would suffice just as well. Why go far when it’s closer? Judge Clifton, please pose your questions here; no need for multiple trips.”
Evi replied with her calm demeanor. Hearing her words, Clifton’s expression darkened, and a flicker of anger surfaced in his eyes.
