Chapter 468: D172. Crime and Punishment
“Damn Sect followers…”
In the underground level of the Church, at the end of a corridor where only candle flames flickered weakly, an Interrogator cursed as he pushed open the hidden door, stepping out with heavy footsteps.
However, his anger did not last long, disappearing after two or three steps, replaced by a look of dejection.
“I’ve been at it for almost a week, and I still can’t break that woman’s self-imposed restraints… Am I really not cut out for this job?” he muttered to himself.
As a member of the Heresy Court, this Interrogator was usually bathed in the fearful gazes of others, and even higher-tier bishops from outside the Church would treat them with utmost respect.
But at this moment, his face was filled with frustration and self-doubt. He was not only proficient in physical torture but also skilled in tormenting the spirit. Yet, the woman in the dungeon made him feel as if the blood on his hands was not blood but something trivial like tomato sauce.
As the Interrogator stood still, lost in thought, a Cleric with purple hair and wearing a church robe approached, followed by two young girls of distinct but equally beautiful temperaments.
Especially the girl with jet-black hair and emerald eyes, whose presence seemed to disperse the gloom of the dungeon with a faint light.
When the Interrogator’s eyes met her clear pupils, a strange sensation suddenly arose within him: those emerald eyes, like a bright mirror, reflected his own ugliness without any reservations, as if he alone was the dirt and dust in her sight.
Yet incredibly, this realization of his ugliness did not bring about feelings of cowardice. She was like the gentle night sky, the frosted moonlight, seemingly able to embrace people’s sins.
The next moment, the Interrogator jolted, his gaze immediately returning to clarity, though beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
‘Supernatural… no, perhaps Legendary Charm? And definitely specialized abilities, perhaps more than one!’
How could such a young girl possess such strength, and why had he never seen her in the Church before?
Working in the dark underground, rarely going out, the Interrogator, despite realizing he was influenced by the girl’s charm, still felt a certain fondness when he looked towards her.
‘It’s a charm that can rival that of the woman in the dungeon, but even more pure…’ his eyes brightened.
“Interrogator.”
Seeing the Interrogator staring blankly at the Hero, the Cruising Bishop spoke up with an understanding and slightly displeased tone, bringing him back to reality.
“Any progress with the interrogation of that Sect follower?”
“Sorry, Lord Bishop, there’s still no substantial progress,” the Interrogator replied, shaking his head helplessly.
His gaze turned towards the two girls, as he somewhat managed to control his expression and asked, “May I ask who these two are?”
“You might have already heard of them,” the Cruising Bishop said with a slight smile and a calm voice laced with pride, “This is the newly risen Military Merit Duke from the Border, the Hero involved in the action against the Black Gate. And this, is the Fourteenth Princess.”
With the introduction from the Cruising Bishop, the Interrogator’s expression quickly became serious and respectful. He bowed slightly to the two, and the young girls also nodded to the Interrogator, then expressed their intentions.
“Would you like to visit the Masochist in the dungeon? Since it’s the request of the Bishop and these ladies, of course, there’s no problem,” the Interrogator immediately agreed.
Then he hesitated for a moment, lowering his voice.
“But Lord Bishop, are you sure about letting these two young girls into a place like the dungeon?”
“I will take responsibility for the Princess, and the Hero is no frail girl. You must have personally felt it; maybe she has some way to deal with that woman.”
The Cruising Bishop also responded quietly.
Despite the Hero not intending it and not using any Skills, the stronger one’s Perception, the easier to feel her charm and be influenced by her, and this Interrogator was nearly captivated by her presence unexpectedly.
“Then I have no questions, this way please.”
With that said, the Interrogator no longer insisted, turned around to lead the way, and re-entered the dungeon they had just left.
The four of them proceeded along the quiet and dimly lit corridor.
Unlike the bloodstained, terrifyingly bleak dungeon the Hero had imagined, this area belonging to the Heresy Court of the Church was unexpectedly clean and tidy despite the dim lighting and hooded figures passing by, maintaining a mysterious aura yet somehow revealing an air of solemn grandeur.
It was the Church’s underground Tribunal, a special place, and even the Fourteenth Princess was visiting for the first time. As they looked around curiously yet cautiously without raising their voices, the Cruising Bishop temporarily acted as a guide, explaining in a low voice:
“As you know, our Church, as one of the Six Major Professional Guilds, focuses on the cultivation of Spirit and Constitution. One of the Church’s specialties is Spirit-related Spells.
“Of course, we do not use these Spells during preaching, but here in the Heresy Court, when necessary, we do not hesitate to use them to interrogate the wicked.”
The two young girls listened and nodded slightly without showing any surprise or discomfort.
The Church’s ability to maintain its position as the leading Guild among the Six Major Guilds was not just through acts of charity and relief. For, being essentially organizations of Combat Professionals, and having once ignited a fifteen-year Holy War, the Church’s martial virtue perhaps matched or even surpassed that of the other five Great Guilds combined.