Free Web NovelChapter 231: Chapter 231: The Purpose of the Murder_1
Several minutes later, the senior Judge who had been responsible for Kael’s deposition came out from the depths of the corridor, walked over, and reported to Rebecca, "He’s been questioned. Now we’re arranging for him to collect his reward."
"Did you ask him about his whereabouts during these past few days? Especially... those crucial moments," Rebecca inquired.
"Crucial moments?" Aiden overheard and asked casually.
"The two viscounts who were captured earlier both mentioned that the person supervising them would regularly visit to inspect their activities. We’ve noted down those times and locations," Rebecca answered.
"Got it," Aiden understood.
From the testimonies of the three captured vampires, the only clue that the Inquisition had about the "supervisor’s" whereabouts was when the "supervisor" went to visit the trio to check on their job progress, providing specific times and places.
By confirming Kael’s whereabouts at that time, perhaps they could determine whether he was the supervisor.
Aiden was also exceptionally focused on this matter. The vampire who appeared in the abandoned mine following the Harvest Mother Cult’s movements was likely from the Blood Moon Cult—even possibly the supervisor who was secretly manipulating those vampires.
If that supervisor had witnessed the witch gathering’s counterattack against the black goat during surveillance of the Harvest Mother Cult, he might have also discovered Aiden’s involvement—even if he hadn’t witnessed it personally, he could have heard of it from the dialogue between the Great Witches. After all, Presia, who had swapped into the priest’s body, had brought a corpse fabricated by one of his own offspring, and any loose talk by those witches on the scene could have revealed it.
If Kael was the supervisor, then the purpose behind his sudden approach to Aiden warranted caution.
"There is one time point where he provided an alibi that can be confirmed," the junior Judge mentioned while glancing at Aiden present, "On the afternoon of the 11th, he says he went to Rose Iron Prison, claiming he was there to visit his sister, Ophelia Callado. However, he was denied entry on the spot."
Rebecca immediately looked to Aiden for confirmation.
"That did happen. The person on duty at the reception had mentioned it to me; he had shown his identification there, so there will be no mistake," Aiden remembered after a brief recollection.
"What time was it?"
"Around 3:15 in the afternoon," Aiden said.
Aiden remembered the time because Isabella had mentioned that "Alice Liddell" had just happened to visit at that time as well.
"I recall that on that day, the ’supervisor’ visited the second suspect in the upper city around four in the afternoon, right?" Rebecca tried to recall, "If he had left the prison immediately to go there, he would have made it in time."
"But Kael Callado claims that he was still lingering near the prison at four o’clock and had an interaction with a female prison guard. He said he tried to get her help to pull some strings, but was rejected," the junior Judge added.
"That was Veronica; she also told me about this," Aiden confirmed.
"Apart from that, he also had contact with someone around 4:10 p.m. who just happened to be exiting through the prison side door, claiming it was... ’a guest of the prison leadership’, named Alice Liddell, who was a very beautiful girl under twenty years old, and then he said..." The junior Judge was speaking and looked at Aiden, suddenly pausing.
Aiden was slightly taken aback. He was unaware that Kael had met Abigail as well.
"What else did he say?" Rebecca pressed.
"He also said... uh..." The junior Judge smiled helplessly, looked at Aiden, and said, "He said that the visitor seemed to have a special relationship with you, the captain of the guard."
Aiden’s eye twitched.
This vampire was really being a dog, wasn’t he? Getting back at him for making him cooperate with the Inquisition’s questioning?
"Could you explain that, senior?" Rebecca looked over again.
"Do I really have to explain?"
Aiden was actually not keen on going into the details about Abigail; their dealings involved quite a few secrets.
Kael had encountered Veronica and Abigail within a short interval of each other, and in truth, Veronica’s testimony alone was enough to clear Kael of being that "Supervisor."
However, Rebecca seemed relentless: "Please make it clear."
The junior Judge beside her wore a subtle expression as if watching a play.
Seeing Rebecca so persistent in digging deeper, Aiden sighed and answered, "That person was actually Abigail."
Upon hearing this, both Rebecca and the junior Judge’s eyes widened.
"Abigail? The ’Peak Witch’?" the junior Judge asked in surprise.
Aiden nodded.
"The matters of the Harvest Mother Cult are over, and you still have dealings with the witches’ assembly?" Rebecca asked with wide eyes.
"I only have..." Aiden paused to think, then found a reason, "I’ve just engaged in a bit of business with them, that’s all."
"What kind of business?" Rebecca asked, "It doesn’t have to do with black magic, does it?"
"Don’t worry, it’s legal," Aiden shrugged, "Our prison is planning to use their technology to produce feminine hygiene products."
Rebecca and the junior Judge were both flabbergasted.
"Speaking of which, if that person inside isn’t the Supervisor, then this city must still be harboring a High-Rank Bloodline," Aiden steered the topic back, "To cause an Earl to be that afraid, the title must be at least above Duke."
A Bloodline vampire prince or duke, possibly an S-class wanted criminal in strength, lurking in this city and carrying suspicions of more than one murder, this was a major incident.
"Yes... once the chief arrives tomorrow, we’ll have to report it, and it looks like we’ll have more places to stake out. We’re going to be short-staffed," Rebecca sighed.
It seemed the Heretical Tribunal had already tried staking out the hiding spots of the two captured vampires, waiting to catch the "Supervisor" during a visit. freēwēbnovel.com
Now that Nos had been caught, the number of places to stake out had increased.
Considering the potential bloodline of the target might be of prince level, to capture the target at a stakeout location, leading the team with at least one senior Judge was necessary.
"So, senior, what are your plans this time...?" Rebecca looked over tentatively.
Last time, Aiden had taken the initiative and helped the Heretical Tribunal solve the dangerous Harvest Mother Cult case; Rebecca was unsure if he would get involved this time.
"I’ll see how it goes; I still have prison work to deal with. I only came here because the vampire inside grabbed me to report the crime," Aiden spread his hands.
Investigating and arresting criminals was the duty of the Heretical Tribunal, and he did have his own job to handle after all.
But if this new Blood Moon Cult was indeed traced back to him... he would have to find a way to deal with them, especially since they were very likely the real culprits behind the killings in the city.
However, if these murders and disappearances were truly the work of the Blood Moon Cult, what exactly were they killing for?
