"So, what now?" Felix asked, knowing very well that punishing an Inquisitor General was way above their level.
Sylvester, however, was still not done with the interrogation. He had only stopped because he wanted to call Sir Arnold and make him hear it. After all, he'd need that man to take over the camp's command later.
"My friend, we have a bigger headache. It seems that Count Ranthburg is the main man behind all this. He…" Sylvester felt genuinely angry. "That man is sick in mind, a heathen so blind. He likes to violate Bright Mothers and kills them if they dare voice. He made these Half-Goblins take care of these Bright Mothers, all with the help of Inquisitor General, who wished for money."
"So the purge it is?" Felix muttered.
Sylvester shook his head. "It's not that easy. We don't have the authority to do something to an Archbishop-ranked clergy and a Count level noble."
"Then? Should we call someone from the Holy Land?"
Sylvester denied that as well. "We can't, or that will be seen as our failure. They expect us to take care of our own problems. We're Sanctum Inspectors, after all. However, we do need official directions from the Church to proceed further. I can arrest the Inquisitor General at most, but doing something to the Count won't be easy. The man likely has a small army and magical experts at his disposal."
Sylvester tried to brainstorm a plan to finish this assignment quickly. It was a dilemma that he knew the culprit but could not do anything about it. Yet again, a reminder that just being a clergy cannot always help him. If he was stronger, he could have done much more.
'I should not go to the Count before getting a reply from the Holy Land. Even if he learns about being found out, he can't escape once the Church announces his ex-communication.' Sylvester reckoned.
"I need to send a missive to the Holy Land. Let's find Sir Dolorem." He decided.
They could not allow the old Inquisitor General to be left alone, as the man was still an Arch Wizard ranked wizard. He could easily overpower them. So Sylvester sent Felix to bring the man and also Sir Arnold.
But he didn't let Sir Arnold join him as he didn't trust the man's loyalties. "Sir Dolorem, I need you to return to the Holy Land immediately. I would have sent Gabriel or Felix, but we don't have as many connections to get the right people to listen in time. You can get to Inquisitor High Lord in an instant or even higher."
"What's the missive about?" Sir Dolorem asked.
"Count Ranthburg is behind all the kidnappings and murders. He lusts for the pure women, specifically, Bright Mothers—you know the punishment regarding this in the books. But I need orders from the top to go through." He explained in the least words.
Sir Dolorem did frown at that, as was expected. But what the man said next revealed a new side of the world for Sylvester, how small his rank was. "In that case, I don't think even the resident Archbishop of this County can do anything. A noble Count is a rank too high… I shall immediately head out, Priest. At best, it will take me five days to reach the Holy Land, then maybe one day to get the words across."
"I shall wait for you here then. In ten days, we shall march to the Count's castle. Until your return, I shall try to gather support from minor nobles in the County and devise a plan of invasion in the worst-case scenario." Sylvester handed the letter sealed with his official stamp on it. "Here, please hurry in the Holy Land if you can."
Sir Dolorem saluted. "I am as angered as you by this, Priest Sylvester. I'm sure the superiors will be no exception."
With that, Sir Dolorem quickly left on his trusted horse. It was just morning, so he could start immediately, and the many light crystals would be helpful.
Sylvester began work from his side in an instant too. First, he called Sir Arnold, for the latter was to become the temporary General. But before that, he had to show the man that Inquisitor General Joseph was a sinner of the highest order.
"Stand here and listen calmly, Sir." He left him with Felix and entered.
He sat down in front of the Inquisitor General and held a parchment in hand. "I have talked with the Inquisitor High Lord, and he has granted me ten days to solve this mess, and if you cooperate, you shall get to keep living, albeit not as a member of the Church. So, answer me truthfully, and don't force me to act brutally."
He kept the most serious face possible to pull off the bluff. He knew it was working as he felt the odor of fear and anxiety from the old man in front of him, not to mention the latter's face had clear signs.
"Tell me, did you also participate in violating the Bright Mothers?"
"No!" General Joseph barked quickly as if he was offended. "I would never do that! I never even looked at them with ulterior motives… I do not even know the names of the women that the Count fancied.
"I only received the money to make the things go away."
Sylvester wrote everything down. "What was the modus operandi?"
"I… the Count loves traveling, especially to various monasteries across this Duchy of Ironstone. He would donate wealth to multiple monasteries and offer the Bright Mother of his liking to come and work at his castle to help the poor. He usually targets beautiful and young Bright Mothers with bubbly personalities.
"These women would eventually accept the offer for being naive and zealous to help the poor, not knowing they were stepping into the devil's den. There… they would be shackled and repeatedly violated by the Count only until he was bored. Then he would let that half-goblin man come, cut the Bright Mother in pieces and throw the body in front of a monastery to give a barbarian-like clue to inspectors like you."
Sylvester took a long breath in disgust. The man, as a Count, had all the power and wealth one could only dream of, yet he chose to do this. Some people were truly sick in the head, it was clear.
"Many Sanctum Inspectors came before me. How did none of them find the clue and raid the goblin camp?" Sylvester asked what was bugging him. "Were they bribed too?"
The Inquisitor General tiredly nodded. "Not all reached a conclusion. But for all who did, most took the money while only two wished to join the Count… for a few days."
"I want names." Sylvester coldly ordered.
"Bishop Denkish and Bishop Longsmith, both of them did it… I should have done something… oh lord, what have I done."
Sylvester did not pity the man, as he knew that these cries of guilt were not because the man felt sorry but because he was caught.
"Yet you didn't. That's the reality of the situation. Even if you didn't participate in the crime, you became the enabler—a sinner." Sylvester got up to leave.
"What will happen to me now?" the man asked.
Sylvester shrugged. "You will live.."
'As a formless soul.' Sylvester ended the sentence silently.
"Stay in this room until I tell you to come out. Do not meet anyone, do not talk to anyone, or consider the deal over. I will not use my personal favors to stop the Inquisitor High Lord."
Thud!—Inquisitor General fell to his knees as his darkened, baggy eyes moistened. "Thank you, Lord's Bard."
Sylvester did not respond. He stepped out of the room and locked it. Outside, he noticed the shocked face of Sir Arnold as the man sat on the floor with his back resting on the wall. The tall man looked visibly shaken, and it was understandable.
"I-I considered him my father… he's been my mentor since I was a kid. How could he do this… I… I wish to kill that disgusting sack of sin!"
Sylvester let the man burst out his anger in words. Then, when it stopped, he spoke. "Sir Arnold, words from the Holy Land will arrive soon. You must take command now and tell the troops that the Inquisitor General is sick. We need to prepare to siege the Count's castle."
Sir Arnold shook his head quickly. "We must never let things go that wrong, Priest. Count Ranthburg's castle is impenetrable. One of its sides is a deep cliff, while the other has large walls. It's even situated on a hill, giving it a wide view."
'Well, you just jinxed it then.' Sylvester thought.
"Don't worry. We will try all alternate methods. A full siege is the last resort. Let's go now. We have work."
…
It took Sir Dolorem five days to reach the Holy Land. He was tired and smelled like piss due to not taking any breaks other than sleeping and eating. And, even after entering the Holy Land, he didn't wait and went directly to meet the Inquisitor High Lord, as the man can then directly forward the letter to the Sanctum Council.
As expected, after Inquisitor High Lord opened the sealed letter, his eyes behind the visor shined in rage. He was still recuperating from his recent injuries. Otherwise, he would have gone to deal with this himself.
Without wasting any moment, he went to the Pope immediately and called Saint Wazir with him. "Read this."
The Pope took it first, and the frown turned into anger with each line. Then he passed it to Saint Wazir. "Having Half-Goblins infiltrating was surprising enough, but betrayal from our own hurts the most… from an Inquisitor General of all people."
The Inquisitor High Lord felt ashamed by that. Any taint on the name of Inquisition was akin to a mortal wound. "There is no salvation from this."
The Pope agreed. "I agree. This Inquisitor General has tarnished the name of the church. If this scandal comes out in the open, it will destroy the name of Bright Mothers. No lady will join this saintly organization anymore."
Saint Wazir, however, noticed exactly what Sylvester did. "The clues were so obvious. Why were they not noticed by other inspectors?"
The Pope clenched his fist in anger as the answer was clear. "Filth—all around them. This is unacceptable—unholy. The faith shall not forgive those involved. We must remind the world of what happens when one disrespects Solis and neglects their holy duties.
"Lord Inquisitor and Saint Wazir, I care not what must be done. I care not who we must send—I want the heathen's end."
"Your holiness, what about Count Ranthburg?" Saint Wazir asked, as the matter of civilian nobles required the Pope's authority. Only the Pope could supersede the local King's rule.
The Pope grunted and walked over to his desk. He picked up the quill and started writing, soon to stamp it with his seal. "Send this over."
But Saint Wazir felt his eyes pop out after looking at it. "P-Pardon me, your holiness, but is this appropriate? This is too much authority for…"
"Do as I command, Wazir. We were deceived—We must ensure on a silver platter their punishment is received! As for the young lad, he has played on my lap since he was a babe. I know his limits—his strengths, and so does he. He can handle this situation well. Now leave!"
[A/N: Just thought you'd like this info]
GORILLA ALONE! GIVE STONE!
**669 Stones = Bonus Chapter!**
APE TOGETHER STRONG!
