Chapter 183
The more Simon read through the confidential documents, the more dumbfounded he became.
The Blood Heaven Cult's objective wasn't about acquiring slaves or living sacrifices.
Their ultimate goal was war between the Holy Federation and the Dark Alliance.
'I thought they were just a bunch of insane heretics with no real agenda, but so they had this kind of scheme all along.'
It was almost clever.
Right now, the tension between the two forces was at its peak. It felt like a war was only missing one or two puzzle pieces to become a reality.
But what if the Blood Heaven Cult's train hijacking incident broke out now, and the news that the culprits behind it were Keyzen and the necromancers of the Dark Alliance spread across the entire Federation?
Hostility toward necromancers and the public outcry for war would explode. At that point, even the Pontifex wouldn't be able to stop a war.
"This... really might lead to war."
Metin, who was reading the documents alongside him, let out a heavy sigh, seemingly in agreement.
"If you look through the documents, the Blood Heaven Cult intentionally leaked information to the Inquisition Director, prompting him to raid their headquarters. That man is one of the most extreme warmongers. He'll use this incident to start a war, no matter what it takes. It's like giving wings to a tiger."
"...Is he really that extreme of a person?"
"Yes."
The boss of all heretic inquisitors, Inquisition Director Leight, was infamous in both the Holy Federation and the Dark Alliance.
In his youth, he crucified countless necromancers on red crosses, an unrelenting warmonger without mercy. Now, as the Director of the Inquisition, he was known for burning hundreds of Federation citizens each year in witch hunts, an extremist through and through.
Hearing the explanation, Simon brought a hand to his chin.
"This is just hypothetical, but... what if we submitted these documents to that Leight as evidence...?"
Metin shook his head.
"The Director doesn't care about the truth. He'll burn the documents on the spot, and it wouldn't be surprising at all if he killed us to silence us."
"...Ugh."
If what Metin said was true, convincing him seemed impossible.
While Simon was lost in thought, Metin set down the documents and sighed deeply.
"Honestly, I used to believe a certain level of war was necessary."
He gazed quietly at Simon.
"But after seeing that 'miracle' you performed, my thinking began to change. I keep wondering if I've been too trapped in narrow-minded thoughts."
Simon flinched at the words, then forced a smile and crossed himself.
"I don't quite understand what you're saying, Haha!"
Metin chuckled at Simon's reaction. He hides his identity quite thoroughly.
Simon returned to a serious expression.
"Then, before the Inquisition Director raids the crime scene, what if we release this evidence to the press first?"
Metin nodded.
"Yes, I believe that's our best option."
In the end, it was all about timing.
If Leight stirred up public hatred and anger toward necromancers first, then even if they tried to reveal afterward, "Actually, it was all the Blood Heaven Cult's scheme!", it would be far too late.
It would be drowned out by the war hysteria or dismissed as a petty conspiracy theory.
But if they were the first to publish an article about the Blood Heaven Cult and expose their scheme to provoke war between the Holy Federation and the Dark Alliance, it could plant that narrative in the public's mind. Afterward, even if Leight tried to incite necromancer hatred through his own media, the impact would be much weaker.
It could even inspire a rebellious mentality—"Let's not play into the Blood Heaven Cult's hands."
However, the plan carried one key risk: the Federation's media was under the control of Efnelle. Every article had to be approved by them, so drafting one would take time.
In the meantime, Leight could interfere and have the article rejected.
"It's done!"
At that moment, Lete raised both arms and shouted. The holy magic circle she'd been working on glowed brightly, and the train car began to rattle.
"Can you control it?"
"Of course! It might be a bit slow, but it can reverse. More importantly, how did the investigation turn out?"
Simon shared the information they had uncovered with Lete. As she listened, her expression grew grave.
"So this whole incident was orchestrated by the Blood Heaven Cult to provoke war between the two factions, and the one coming to clean up the mess is the extremist warmonger Inquisition Director. Is that right?"
"That's right."
"..."
She fell into deep thought.
"I agree we should use the media. But I think rather than us—nobodies with no influence—submitting this to the press, it'd be better to entrust it to someone influential."
"...Someone influential?"
"Yes. I'll contact an acquaintance. Someone with sway over both Efnelle and the press, and above all, someone who desires peace more than anyone. Would that be acceptable?"
Lete pulled out a communication crystal from her robes and began manipulating it.
Chzzzzk!
A moment later, the connection went through, and Lete spoke with extreme formality.
"Gratula mi Kibilis. This is Lete Chardena."
Simon's eyes widened in surprise.
That was a greeting reserved for high-ranking priests.
* * *
"I understand."
Clack.
The man who set down the communication crystal let out a faint chuckle.
A room without even a single light. Curtains blocked the windows, leaving the office in total darkness.
The man sitting in a large chair was clad in heavy armor, even indoors, with weapons strapped all over his body. His right eye showed only the white, and his short black hair gave him a stubborn, unyielding look.
"The time has come."
At his words, a subordinate standing nearby responded.
"Did the Blood Heaven Cult really hijack the train?"
"Yes."
The man curled his lip. He was none other than the most prolific necromancer slayer in the world, the Inquisition Director, Leight.
"The time of judgment is drawing near."
The Blood Heaven Cult had planned to use the Inquisition to start a war. Their goal was to hide themselves, lure the heretic inquisitors to the scene, and have them gather the evidence.
But before they could even leak that information to the Inquisition, Director Leight had already learned everything through his own information network.
In the end, the entire situation was already dancing in the palm of Leight's hand.
"Arrogant fools."
He twisted the corner of his lips.
"They probably thought they were using us, but we're the ones using them. At dawn tomorrow, we'll wipe out the Blood Heaven Cult in a surprise raid and inform every news agency that the Dark Alliance is behind them. Once the atmosphere is ripe, I'll personally head to Efnelle and request an audience with Her Holiness the Pontifex."
"Yes! I'll prepare without leaving a single gap!"
As Leight flicked his finger, the curtains drew open and light poured in through the window.
"Grghhhh..."
As the darkness lifted, people soaked in blood came into view, nailed to red crosses.
Their bodies were impaled with massive nails, their fingernails and tongues had been ripped out, and their flesh bore burn marks from searing hot iron. There was no light in their eyes, no trace of will to live.
"Number 5415. Has confessed."
"Well done."
At Leight's finger gesture, the inquisitors began dragging the bloodied people out of the office.
Now, these people would confess their sins in the Holy Tribunal, be executed, and at last, be freed from torture. All that remained where they had been were long trails of blood.
"At last."
Leight rose to his feet. His massive frame, over three meters tall, stood towering.
"The time of war is approaching."
He gently touched his right eye, now showing only the white.
A wound inflicted by Neftis. The thought that the time was drawing near when he would tear that woman apart with his own hands filled him with twisted pleasure.
FWOOSH!
An explosive surge of holiness erupted from behind him. The standing inquisitors flinched and stepped back.
'This is the rumored…!'
Leight's holiness revealed its true worth in war against heretics.
When engaged in war, Leight's holiness granted him "infinity". He never tired no matter how many battlefields he crossed. With a limitless supply of holiness, he rose again and again, crushing countless necromancers. Victory always belonged to him, the one left standing to the end.
"By next year, I will slaughter every last wicked being left on the continent!"
Holiness is the will of the Goddess.
The will of the Goddess is war.
"Prepare the executions! Carve the crosses! Paint them red!"
He opened his mouth wide in a grin.
"This year, carpenters will be busy."
* * *
Night had fallen.
Though Lete had figured out how to control the magic circle and made the train reverse, it soon came to a stop.
The problem was a lack of fuel. During the intense battle, the pipe that supplied fuel to the engine had been damaged.
With no other choice, Metin selected a few sturdy men from among the passengers and worked with them to refuel manually. Since all the staff with relevant knowledge had died, the process involved many mistakes.
As they waited for the fuel to be replenished, darkness fell and night arrived.
Until the refueling was complete, they had no choice but to remain in the halted train. The passengers trembled, terrified the Blood Heaven Cult might attack again at any moment.
Lete gathered the priests and clerics capable of fighting and organized a temporary vigilante corps, and she distributed the remaining food in the storage to feed the hungry passengers.
There were no signs of another attack yet. Simon, Lete, and Ellen sat in an empty passenger car with a broken wall, keeping watch outside as they had a late dinner.
Munch munch.
Lete, in fact, had a hearty appetite. After devouring an entire steak in no time, she opened another lunch box and began to speak.
"I spoke with that person again in the restroom earlier, and they said they'll come here personally."
Simon's eyes widened.
"Wha—really? They're coming here?"
"I was shocked too. They're usually so busy and stubborn about moving, but they said the situation seemed too serious and they'd come right away."
Even Lete herself seemed genuinely surprised.
"How are they getting here?"
"They're abusing some insanely expensive teleportation magic circles to get here. They said they wanted to see the situation with their own eyes. So once we get the train moving again, I have to go set up a teleportation guide circle near the Blood Heaven Cult's headquarters."
Ellen, who had been quietly focused on eating, gasped and raised her head.
"T-That's way too dangerous! Who knows how many of those terrible heretics are over there!"
"I have no choice. I'm the one who called them, so I have to take responsibility."
"I'll go with you."
At Simon's words, Lete nodded.
"Would you? Then once this matter is wrapped up, let's head straight to the Tree of Life. It's not far from here."
As they exchanged these and other words, Simon excused himself to use the restroom.
The moment he left, Ellen leaned in with a glint in her eyes.
"Lete, Lete! So, what's going on between you two? You're so in sync!"
"Shut up. Want me to slam your jawbone up into your skull?"
"Eek! Lete, you're so cold to me!"
Lete leaned back in her seat, responding dryly.
"There's nothing going on."
That answer only fired Ellen up more. She spoke in rapid bursts.
"Aww, nothing? Come on, bringing a necromancer like Simon all the way here meant you had to risk your life too! Can anyone really risk their life for a total stranger?"
Lete widened her eyes and spoke clearly and firmly.
"For me, it was a matter of the life of someone I'm indebted to, and it just so happens their son came here as a collaborator. That's all."
As she answered, Lete let out a deep sigh, wondering why she was even making excuses like this.
"It's obvious, so grow up. I know what kind of romantic story you're trying to paint, but it's not the fun little tale you're hoping for."
"Is that so?"
Ellen chuckled mischievously.
"Then can I confess to Simon tonight?"