Chapter 428

The assassination of a Cardinal.

It was an event that could shake the very foundation of the Holy Kingdom.

Even if the Church Orders were hostile to each other, it was merely a part of the power struggle, not something that would target the life of a leader.

The assassination of a Cardinal itself was a rare event in the history of the Holy Kingdom.

The Cardinals of each Church Order declared that they would seal off the Holy City and control entry and exit until the culprit was revealed.

Naturally, all official schedules were canceled, and Lacey’s hearing was also postponed.

Now, a hearing was the least of our concerns.

The Menes Church Order, which had recovered Cardinal Paulus’s body, revealed that he had died between 21:00 and 23:00, with his neck cleanly severed from behind.

Unfortunately, his whereabouts during that time were unknown, and it was impossible to determine whether he was killed in the alley where his body was found or if he was killed elsewhere and then moved.

Due to the purification blessing cast over the entire city, no bloodstains were left behind.

—

All the residents of Alhebron stayed in their respective residences, pouring out speculations about the identity of the culprit.

“The Shaulite Church Order, the largest faction without a Saint candidate, is behind this.”

“No, it’s the Free Holy Assembly, the weakest faction, trying to overturn the power balance.”

“If it’s assassination, it must be the Keres Church Order. They serve the Goddess of Death.”

The prevailing speculation was that it was a result of factional strife among the Church Orders.

The main suspects were the Shaulite Church Order, which had the clearest motive, the notoriously radical Bølberg Church Order, and the assassination-specialized Keres Church Order.

Of course, the three Church Orders denied the allegations and stated that they would respond at the Church level if such rumors continued to spread.

Though they called it a response, it was essentially a threat to kill anyone spreading false rumors.

The other Church Orders also issued statements declaring their innocence and vowing to do their utmost to find the culprit.

All except one.

“Why is the Bimos Church Order silent?”

“That’s just how they are. They only have one Cardinal in the Holy City anyway.”

The Bimos Church Order maintained its usual silence.

The people of the Holy City, knowing the Bimos Church Order, simply let it go.

While it was suspicious that no one suspected them, it seemed unlikely that a Church Order with only one Cardinal in the Holy City could have done anything.

“It might be the work of heretics. Didn’t the Dream Paradise Society’s leader recently get annihilated by the Menes Church Order?”

“Maybe in Holon, but heretics infiltrating Alhebron? Impossible.”

Some pointed to the leader of the Dream Paradise Society, but it wasn’t considered a very credible speculation.

Heretics infiltrating Alhebron?

It was as absurd as suggesting that a suicidal Cardinal had cut off his own head.

At least, that’s what they thought.

“Could it be Staldorf’s doing? They say she imprisons even Cardinals who go against her will, and she met with Cardinal Paulus that day.”

“With Ai-shan Gi-or, the human butcher, under her command, assassinating Cardinal Paulus would have been all too easy.”

There were also those who suspected Lacey and me.

Well, if I were in their shoes, I’d probably think the same.

“Hey, Hashelle… Did you really do it…?”

Even Milia looked at me with suspicion.

“Milia… Have you been looking at me like that all this time…?”

If anything, Lacey and I were the victims.

We had lost Paulus, whom we had worked so hard to persuade, and our initial plan to gather detailed information during the hearing period had been disrupted.

“Losing Paulus was the biggest blow to me and Lacey. Besides, I wouldn’t do something as heinous as assassination, right?”

[Where did you leave your conscience…? Oh, sorry. You never had one to begin with.]

Hersela, who had been listening in my head, burst out laughing.

Milia also looked at me with a “What are you talking about?” expression and tilted her head.

“Huh…? Like with Knut… Last time, you disappeared for a few days, and then the King of Panam was assassinated…”

Well… That was my doing, but…!

“…This time, it’s really not me.”

“Right, Milia, Hashelle wouldn’t do that.”

Damien, who was next to me, subtly defended me.

What’s with him?

“They said his neck was cleanly cut. If Hashelle had done it, the body would have been in pieces. His head would have exploded.”

…This guy, really.

“Ah, that makes sense.”

What do you mean, “that makes sense”?

They say couples resemble each other, and seeing Milia nodding sincerely at Damien’s absurd defense made me crave a cigarette.

I was already smoking, but it made me crave it even more.

Of course, I couldn’t light another one.

Smoking two cigarettes at once is something only weaklings do.

—

Anyway, for these reasons, we had no choice but to hole up in St. Eluniel Cathedral.

It was fortunate that we had an alibi, having been in St. Eluniel Cathedral during the estimated time of death and having cooperated in Holon. Otherwise, the Church Orders might have pointed fingers at us and tried to arrest us first.

“…We’ve been had. I never expected it to turn out like this.”

Lacey sighed, clearly showing her frustration.

It was a natural reaction. The plan we had set up had gone awry from the start.

Though it was a familiar situation for me.

“Reality always exceeds expectations. So, what now? The original plan is ruined. Should we try contacting the Kranuus and Imela Church Orders?”

From my perspective, the culprit was likely one of them.

Though Paulus’s whereabouts were unknown, he had mentioned to Lacey and me that he planned to meet with those two Cardinals.

I don’t know what conversation led to such an extreme outcome, but…

Of course, the two Church Orders would dismiss our accusations as baseless slander.

If, by some slim chance, they weren’t the culprits, then interrogating them would only turn them into irreconcilable enemies.

“That… Let’s hold off on that for now. If they’re the enemy, it would be simple, but if they’re not, it could become a serious problem. If, by any chance, they too are killed after contacting us… Our position would become quite difficult.”

Lacey sighed deeply, holding her forehead with a troubled expression.

Her furrowed brow, filled with worry and conflict, reminded me of when she faced heretics.

“So, what? Just wait quietly? That doesn’t seem like a good idea. From my experience, waiting quietly only makes things more complicated. It never resolves anything.”

I gave Isabella just a few days, and look what happened—the Imperial Palace collapsed, and the country split in half.

“…Of course, we have to take action.”

Naturally, Lacey knew that too.

After all, she was one of those who nearly died in that incident.

“How?”

“Without knowing the identity of the enemy or their next move… It’s best to assume the worst possible scenario. What do you think is the worst possible outcome for us?”

Lacey looked up at me and asked directly.

…I wish she wouldn’t answer a question with another question.

“The worst outcome? Hmm, you dying or the Holy Kingdom falling?”

“…You’re going too far. The worst, not the end.”

Lacey looked at me like a homeroom teacher looking at a high school student who got basic math wrong.

[How is it that your brain only works when you’re deceiving or torturing someone? It’s truly baffling.]

Being called stupid by a barbarian, how did I end up like this?

I must have adapted too well to this body.

Maybe I lost my modern brain and got a barbarian’s brain, causing my intelligence to drop.

“Let me say this first. In my opinion, the worst situation we could face is being framed as the masterminds behind the Cardinal’s assassination. If they can pin the blame on us in any way, then any subsequent Cardinal assassinations will be attributed to us. The real culprit can eliminate all obstacles without suspicion.”

It was a plausible theory.

Except for the fact that we don’t know how they would frame us.

“Right, that makes sense. I’d do the same. So, how do we respond? Should we go protect the Cardinals?”

Though it’s unlikely they’d accept our protection.

“That would be difficult unless you have ten bodies. There’s a better way.”

Lacey smiled as if she had been waiting for this and pulled out a piece of paper from the stack on the desk.

“The reason the Cardinal’s assassination is a critical threat to us is that it’s a shocking and heinous tragedy rarely seen in the history of the Holy Kingdom. So, we… need to change public perception so that it’s seen as a natural event rather than a tragedy. Would you like to read it?”

She spoke calmly, but it was an incredibly subversive idea.

What would it take for a Cardinal’s assassination to be seen as a natural event?

“Let’s see…”

I took the paper from Lacey and read it.

—

“The current Holy Kingdom is wrong.

The Holy Kingdom, which once rose with a united heart, respected each other, and pursued humanity’s future, is gone.

Look around you.

All that remains here is divided Church Orders, endless chaos, and the sprouting of evil!

Who do you think caused this?

Who is responsible for this chaos?

There is only one answer.

The leaders who have forgotten the essence of faith and the misguided fanaticism of those who still follow them.

They are the ones who have brought the Holy Kingdom to ruin!

Open your eyes and see.

Use your head and understand.

The gods do not fight among themselves for supremacy, so why do those closest to the gods seek to elevate their own Church Orders above others, causing strife?

Is that the right thing for those who serve the gods?

No, it is not.

Our gods wished for their children not to fight among themselves.

Yet, look at those greedy individuals, fighting for secular power and promoting division.

They have lost the noble ideals of protecting humanity and refusing to compromise with power.

They are no longer serving the gods but the authority and power of the gods!

Awaken, people of the Holy Kingdom!

We live to serve the gods, not the Cardinals!”

—

“…Are you insane? Are you trying to start a civil war?”

“Of course not. It’s just to separate the ordinary believers of the Holy Kingdom from the Cardinals.”

Lacey smiled brightly, but I couldn’t help but recall her expression when she gave speeches about exterminating beastmen.