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12:31 p.m.
Interrogation Meeting Room, Temple of Priests building, She'kel Village.
"Thank you, Sister High Captain. You have been a great help. Unfortunately, that's all for today. Please remain in She'kel Village until Octus 31 in case we need to do a follow-up interview. May the God of Light be with you."
Shona nodded.
"If an emergency doesn't happen at the La Spada Air and Exploratory Division Headquarters that requires my presence, I will be here until Octus 31."
Wind nodded as well.
"That's acceptable."
"May the God of Light be with you as well," Shona said and then got up before heading to the exit.
Once Shona left, Wind turned to Vivian and Pablo.
"Thank you all for your hard work. We'll take a break and then resume at 1:00 p.m."
Pablo nodded and then got up.
"I will retire to my room. See you both later," he said and then head for the exit.
Wind turned to Vivian, who was still busy finalizing her notes. He waited until she was finally done.
"What do you plan to do, sister?"
"If I go back to my room, my body will be in rest mode. And when I come back here, it would take me a couple of minutes to be in work mode again."
A confused expression flashed behind Wind's full-mask. Truth be told, he has never heard of the word 'mode' but he understood what Vivian meant, and so he nodded.
"I understand the feeling. So you plan to just wait here?"
"I want to walk around for a bit. My body feels too stiff from sitting all morning."
Wind let out a chuckle.
"I feel the same way. May I walk with you?"
Vivian, whose mind was too occupied with other things, thought nothing of it and nodded.
"Sure."
***
12:39 p.m.
Wind and Vivian were walking on a pathway within the compound of the Branch Chapter Temple. The pavement was wet while the sky was dark and cloudy as if it were going to break out at any moment.
Naturally, it wasn't Wind's idea to walk outside. And even when Vivian stepped out of the building, he didn't say anything.
"May I ask you a question, sister?"
"Sure."
"How do you find the case?"
Vivian's brows knitted behind her full-mask.
"How do I find the case? In what aspect? Are you asking about my opinion regarding Brother Jeremiah, Sister Bithiah and Brother Emmanuel?"
Wind shook his head.
"Forgive me, I asked wrongly. What I meant was if you find the case tiring to deal with. Throughout the interviews, whenever the interviewee had a Councilor with them and they would object, there were times I think I felt your frustration -- not that it's a bad thing, because even I sometimes share the same feeling and all cases are usually like this, at least to my knowledge."
"I see."
Wind didn't say anything because he felt that Vivian was thinking. Ever since they arrived here, based on his observation, he figured that she was the type who doesn't say much but would reply if you ask her something. But most importantly, she would think before answering.
Two Guards who were standing in front of an entrance saluted as Wind and Vivian passed them.
Wind turned and nodded to them. Meanwhile, Vivian didn't react.
"I have a question, brother."
"Yes?"
"If this is indeed how investigations typically go, what is the point of being an Inquisitor?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I can understand outsiders being uncooperative or trying to resist. But for Priests? I don't understand."
"Try to look at it from this perspective, sister: Some of our Brothers and Sisters take so much pride from being Priests that they even have rules within their families to maintain their power and status as Priests. So when someone -- people like us -- tries to challenge their power and status, they feel offended."
"I see."
Wind stayed silent because he knew Vivian was thinking once again.
But after almost a minute, all he heard was a snort.
"You're not satisfied, sister?"
"No, that's not it."
Truth be told, in Vivian's head, she was expecting that being an "Inquisitor" would be like the "religious inquisitors" from her original world.
"Is it time to head back?" she asked.
Wind pulled out a pocketwatch from his pant's pocket.
"12 minutes to 1:00."
"Let's head back."
***
1:04 p.m.
Interrogation Meeting Room.
"Yes, Brother Inquisitor, there are only 6 people available for interview this afternoon," Ronan said.
"If there's any news that another recipient arrived today, especially if it's from Brother Emmanuel's side, inform us immediately in between the interviewees," Wind said.
Ronan nodded.
"Yes, Brother Inquisitor."
"That will be all."
Ronan saluted and then headed for the exit.
When Ronan finally left, Wind turned to Vivian and Pablo.
"If no new recipients from Brother Emmanuel's side arrive today, we will only have 3 people to interview tonight -- Brother Kadmiel, Sister Leah and Brother Emmanuel."
"They're parents and child, correct?" Pablo asked.
Wind nodded.
"Yes."
"This is just a suggestion. What if we conduct the interview at the Nummi family's home? Of course, I understand that it wouldn't be a good look, especially for the 3 of us, but considering what happened to Priestess Imlah, wouldn't it be more cost-effective?"
"Actually, I was considering that and planning to present that idea after we interviewed all of the interviewees for this afternoon. But since you already brought that, what do both of you think?"
Pablo shrugged with a smile.
"Both of you already know what my stance is on the matter."
Wind and Pablo turned to Vivian.
"Is it safe?" she asked.
"Of course. Why would you think that?" Wind said.
"Based on some of the people we interviewed, some can be uncooperative. If we do that on their turf, I can only imagine how 'more uncooperative' can they be."
"We would be bringing with us powerful and high-ranking Brothers and Sisters."
Vivian shook her head.
"I don't know. I mean, if they threatened any of our Brothers and Sisters or perhaps even the Guards, there wouldn't be that much of a problem. However, if they threatened Lord Councilor Pablo, I don't know."
Wind nodded.
"That's a very good point, sister. To be honest, I also considered that. However, it's highly unlikely that they would target Lord Councilor Pablo. After all, he's neutral. It's us that they would be more focused on."
Although Vivian didn't say anything and her face was covered with a full-mask, Wind and Pablo knew what her expression was saying.
"I understand, sister. You must be thinking: 'You want us to put our lives in unnecessary danger?'
"But as I already mentioned earlier, we would be bringing powerful and high-ranking Brothers and Sisters with us. And if they decide to threaten our lives, they would face the entire wrath of our Temple and there won't be a place in this world they could hide from."
Knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door.
Ka-cha!
The door opened and it was Ronan accompanied by a White Cloak Priestess in her late 20s with a slightly short blonde hair.
Ronan gestured his hand over to the vacant three-person sofa at the bottom.
"Please take a seat over there."
The Priestess saluted and then head over to the lounging area. When she reached the lounging area, she saluted once again before finally sitting down.
"Thank you for answering our summons and coming here. I am Brother Inquisitor Wind, this is Sister Inquisitor Monad and this is Lord Councilor Pablo. May we ask you to introduce yourself?" Wind said.
"I am Sister High Lieutenant Ava from the Holy Chapter Temple and I'm currently in the Holy Crusade under the Sea Division."
"Are you aware of the reason why you were summoned here?"
"It's about my ex-fiance."
"Yes, i--"
"Brother Inquisitor, Sister Inquisitor and Lord Councilor, I mean no disrespect but it's been years since I've last spoken and talked to my ex-fiance, I have a restraining order against him which is signed by His Holiness Light Saint Louie himself, and I'm currently engaged and happy with my current fiance, Brother Caleb, so I have no intention or whatsoever of talking about him.
"But even if I did have any intention of talking about him, this is all I'm going to say: Whatever crime he's accused of, he's guilty.
"That is all."
She got up from her seat.
"I will take my leave and return to my station."
She saluted.
"May the God of Light be with you."
And then walked away.
"You can talk to my family or my Councilor if you have any more questions."
When she finally left the room, it took about almost minute before any of the remaining people spoke.
"In a way, I could say that was unexpected. But at the same time, I could also say it's expected," Pablo said.
Wind stared at the floor for a moment before raising his gaze. He tried to speak but no words came out of his mouth.
Truth be told, that was his first time experiencing something like that that he had to view the world slow-motion as he tried to recall all of the investigation rules and protocols that he read. But even after that, no words came out of his mouth.
"At least we still have about 40 minutes to prepare for the next one, right?" Pablo said. But after noticing that Wind was still unresponsive, he turned to Vivian. "Right, Priestess Inquisitor Monad?"
"Yes."
***
1:46 p.m.
Ka-cha!
The door opened and it was Ronan accompanied by 2 people -- a White Cloak Priestess in her mid-20s with long pink hair, and a bespectacled Councilor in her late 30s with short brown wavy hair wearing a black-colored scholarly robe with gold accents.
Ronan gestured his hand over to the vacant three-person sofa at the bottom.
"Please take a seat over there."
The Priestess and the Councilor nodded and then headed over to the lounging area. When they finally reached the lounging area, they both nodded once again before sitting down.
"Thank you for answering our summons and coming here. I am Brother Inquisitor Wind, this is Sister Inquisitor Monad and this is Lord Councilor Pablo. May we ask you to introduce yourself?" Wind said.
The Councilor pushed up her glasses and then gestured her hand over to the Priestess beside her.
"This is Honored Priestess Kiera of the Twin Chapter Temple. She's part of the Holy Crusade's Sea Division but she's currently in training and will return next year," she said and placed her hand down. "And I am Councilor Charlotte of the Twin Kingdom. I will be her Defense Councilor."
Wind focused his gaze on Kiera.
"Sister, this is only an interview. Is this necessary?"
"Objection, Lord Councilor. According to the Public Investigation Laws, Article 2.3 and at the Holy Codex, Holy Crusade Article 1.7, a person being questioned by a legal representative of the law is allowed to hire a Councilor to speak on their behalf."
"Sustained," Pablo said.
"And according to the Public Investigation Laws, Article 3.5 and at the Holy Codex, Holy Crusade Article 2.1, if the person feels threatened by the legal representative of the law, they have the right to end the interview and file a charge against the legal representative."
"Lord Councilor, I believe we've all witnessed that I did not make any threats. Also, according to the Holy Codex, Holy Crusade Article 1.8, if a Councilor deliberately disrupts a legal and proper investigation done by a legal representative of the Holy Crusade, that Councilor can be legally removed and banned from the investigation process, and also arrested and then charged," Wind said.
"Sustained. However," Pablo said and then focused on Wind and Charlotte. "I want you both to be civil. If any of you continue this, I will have the both of you removed from this room immediately, while Priestess Inquisitor Monad, Priestess Kiera and I would continue."
Wind and Charlotte nodded.
"Yes, Lord Councilor," the both said.
"Resume," Pablo said.
"Sister Kiera, are you aware of the reason why you were summoned here?" Wind asked.
"It's about Honored Priest Emmanuel being accused and under house arrest as an accomplice to the True Death Murder Case of Honored Priestess Bithiah," Charlotte replied.
"Sister Kiera, you are currently engaged with Brother Emmanuel, correct?"
"Due to the current circumstances that Honored Priest Emmanuel is in, my client's relationship status with him is currently unclear."
"Sister Kiera, before this case happened, how long have you been engaged with him?"
"Their engagement was announced in Decus 13, 2030."
"Before your engagement, did you know him?"
"Only in name."
Wind turned to Pablo.
"Lord Councilor, is the interviewee not allowed to speak?"
"For an informal interview process, the person being questioned is allowed to refuse to answer any question.
"For a formal interview process, the person being questioned can refuse to answer as long as he/she has a Defense Councilor present with him/her to answer on their behalf.
"However, if the person being questioned doesn't have a Defense Councilor present with him/her during the interview process, he/she can request for a Defense Councilor and the interview process will be moved to a different date that's based on the agreement of the two parties."
"Yes, Lord Councilor," Wind said and then turned to focus back on Kiera. And as he returned his attention to her, he noticed that she was looking at him with a confused expression.
"Is there something you want to say, Sister Kiera?"
"Please leave all the answering to me, Honored Priestess…" Charlotte whispered.
"Your voice… it sounds familiar… and you overall appearance… Is that you, Brother Hezekiah?" Kiera said.
"I'm not familiar with who Brother Hezekiah is. But if you think I'm Brother Hezekiah, feel free to think that. However, please focus on the case. And since you're now speaking, if possible, I would like you to answer my questions yourself."
"That way of speaking... You are Brother Hezekiah, aren't you...?"
"I would like to repeat my question: Prior to being engaged to Brother Emmanuel, did you know him?"
Keira tilted her head to the side.
"Why is your hair green? Isn't your hair white?"
After Keira said Wind's hair was white, everyone looked at him, including Vivian.
Charlotte's lips turned to a smirk.
"Someone from one of the Golden Families," she said with an accusing town.
Wind turned to Pablo.
"Lord Councilor, please advise the interviewee to focus on the interview process."
"Ah… yes…" he said and then turned to Kiera and Charlotte. "Priestess Kiera, please focus on the interview process. You and Priest Inquisitor Wind can catch up later. And Defense Councilor Charlotte, please tell your client to focus on the interview process."
Charlotte turned to Kiera.
"Honored Priestess Kiera, please focus on the interview process. Don't forget, this Inquisitor is from one of the Golden Families, so you have to be careful," she said with her tone dripping with sarcasm and then she turned to the windows as she let out a sigh. "However, isn't this interview process already compromised because one of the interviewers and the interviewee are friends? Or perhaps more than that, considering the interviewee was able to identify him despite all of his efforts to hide his true identity?"
"Brother, let me take it from here," Vivian said and then focused on Charlotte and Keira. "Let me remind you both. Trying to uncover an Inquisitor's identity and trying to reveal an Inquisitor's identity to other people is a grave offense. I don't know if what Sister Kiera said is true. But if you continue on this path, unlike Brother Inquisitor Wind, I have no qualms about punishing anyone who violates that rule."
Charlotte's eyes gleamed as she pushed up her glass.
"Is that a threat, Priestess Inquisitor? Lord Councilor, did you --"
All of a sudden, the temperature of the room fell as a thick, bloodthirsty and murderous intent started to emanate from Vivian.
Wind and Kiera, who are part of the Holy Crusade, immediately sensed it and their fighter instincts kicked in.
Pablo and Charlotte, on the other hand, their basic human instincts immediately not only kicked in, but literally came in charging and screaming that their hairs stood and they felt a lump in their throat.
"-- just.. wit…nessed… t-that…?" Charlotte finally finished and then swallowed.
Pablo swallowed as well.
"Priestess Inquisitor --"
Vivian turned to him, and he felt like he had been hit by a powerful and oppressive invisible wave, causing him to slump a bit in his chair.
"Listen here, all of you," she said and then swept her gaze to everyone. "If word starts to travel that Brother Inquisitor Wind might be Brother Hezekiah, Evans, Ekans, or that he and I might be from one of the Golden Families, I will know WHO EXACTLY to ask because no one else has accused us of that."
She turned to Kiera.
"None of you are from the Golden Families."
She turned to Charlotte.
"Nor from the Aristocratic Families."
She turned to Pablo.
"So nothing would really happen to me if I were to exercise some 'actual inquisition' tactics here."
Hearing Vivian's explanation, some form of courage ignited inside Charlotte's belly, causing her to sit up straight and fix her glasses.
"Great assessment, but that's assuming you have the actual power and courage to do such a thing."
"Want to test it now? If any of you can say one word before I could rip your tongues out of your mouths, I'll step down."
Charlotte recoiled for a moment and then turned to Pablo.
"Lord Councilor, what is the meaning of this?!" she said and then got up. "This interview process vio--"
"Return to your seat and mind your tongue, Defense Councilor Charlotte, or I will make you do it myself!" Pablo said.
There was a reason -- a couple of reasons, actually -- why Pablo never mentioned to anyone, not even to Vivian, that he and "Inquisitor Monad" met at Plano Town during the Feugo Festival, why he didn't greet her with the Marbleamean way when he first met her here at She'kel Village, why he's being extremely and patiently neutral whenever there's a Councilor involved but would let Wind do anything he wanted to the interviewee if there was no Councilor, and why he would still try to converse with Vivian even though she would only talk to him if he asks her a question.
He could still vividly remember the reports:
• Caleb single-handedly defeated Alejandro's Mercenary bodyguards
• Caleb used his Lore Magic on Alejandro and left him in a comatose state
• A female Inquisitor named Monad decapitated a thief that Alejandro and his bodyguards of Mercenaries caught in the middle of the day on a busy street
• The same female Inquisitor almost killed Caleb for accidentally hitting her with his Lore Magic
• Again, the same female Inquisitor decapitated Ferdino with a [Power Fist]
• How Caleb and Vivian faced no punishment for what they did
As a matter of fact, he was actually quite angry that one of the Inquisitors he had to work with here turned out to be Inquisitor Monad and he made a promise to himself that the next time a job like this would be offered to him, he would first ask who the Inquisitors are.
If someone were to hold a weapon against his neck and ask him to guess the identity of Inquisitor Monad, he would say that she's a member of the Judgment Faction, particularly the Fur'ia family, which is the most war-freak family out of all of the Golden Families -- the Wrath family is also considered to be one of the war-freak Golden Families, but most people would say they're on the 3rd or 4th place against the Votum family.
"Everyone, stand down," Wind said with a commanding and stern tone, causing everyone to turn to him. "We shall calm our emotions and recollect our thoughts for a moment. After that, we will resume the interview and only stick to that like proper and respectable members of society."
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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
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