Free Web NovelAt Saint Rosalia Prison, Bishop Beckett walked out through the main gate under the escort of two knights and boarded a carriage.
Once inside, he activated the Blessing of Teleportation and established contact with Earl Foyle.
“As expected, Cardinal Torres firmly rejected our request for an investigation. The people at the Saint Rosalia Research Institute were extremely resistant. They were practically one step away from throwing me out.”
Bishop Beckett truthfully reported the results of his trip to investigate the Saint Rosalia Research Institute.
The Weiss Rogers incident had caused an enormous uproar throughout the Empire.
Although Cardinal Zeven had publicly announced that the event was a terrorist attack carried out by a heretical organization, the Church's explanation had not been fully accepted by the public because the perpetrators had never been captured.
As a result, the Church's reputation suffered a severe blow.
The entire affair had effectively evolved into a major Church scandal.
The incident also triggered a political earthquake within the Church itself.
Anyone connected to Weiss was affected to some degree.
Weiss's father, who had been scheduled to participate in the next election for Archbishop Rogers's position, had his approval process suspended and was summoned for investigation by Cardinal Stuart, the Chief Inquisitor.
Numerous personnel connected to Weiss, including Archbishop Kulik and many researchers employed by the Saint Rosalia Research Institute—especially members of the Rose School—had been detained for questioning.
Senior officials of the Southeastern Archdiocese, including Cardinal Zeven in his role as Archdiocesan Leader, also received internal disciplinary measures from the College of Cardinals.
The Church had split into multiple factions.
Some seized the opportunity to attack political enemies.
Some focused on self-preservation.
Some watched from the sidelines.
Some sought the truth.
Others concentrated on minimizing the damage.
Yet regardless of faction, everyone was actively searching for Weiss Rogers's whereabouts.
Bishop Beckett was no exception.
Though in his case, he was primarily carrying out the Earl's orders.
During the events in the Archdiocese, he had briefly tracked Weiss and had been one of the primary witnesses to the werewolf's rescue operation.
Combined with the Earl's network of connections, he successfully joined the Church's internal investigation task force and, with the Earl's covert support, began investigating everyone within the Church connected to Weiss.
However, his investigation had not proceeded smoothly.
Because he had shot Weiss when she transformed into a Witch, many people associated with her had become wary of him.
Some even grew suspicious of him in return and were unwilling to cooperate.
Thus, when he visited the Saint Rosalia Research Institute this time, receiving a cold reception was practically inevitable.
He had barely arrived before being driven away by the institute's administrators.
“How likely do you think it is that personnel inside the Saint Rosalia Research Institute were involved?” the Earl asked.
“Probably not very likely.
“Our planted agents had already infiltrated the Rose School. We even learned about the confidential project that transformed Weiss Rogers into a Witch.
“If someone inside the institute had secretly arranged protection for her, there's no way we wouldn't have noticed something.
“Furthermore, among all the bishops at the institute, only one possesses the Blessing of Time Acceleration, and that bishop wasn't attending the Holy Spirit Festival at the time but was participating in another event.
“Although we can't directly investigate inside the institute, that limitation doesn't significantly affect our conclusions.”
Bishop Beckett calmly analyzed the situation.
“What about the possibility that the Great Witch Lamia was involved?” the Earl asked again.
The Great Witch Lamia, former Countess of Moiland and High Priestess of the Abyssal Church, had once been a member of the Witches' Gathering.
However, she had lost an internal political struggle within Moiland and was charged with serious crimes.
Refusing to accept the verdict, Lamia fled across the sea to the Empire.
The public story claimed that she had subsequently been captured by the Church and imprisoned in Saint Rosalia Prison.
But intelligence obtained through Arachne, the Insect Queen and sources planted inside Saint Rosalia Prison painted a different picture.
In reality, Lamia had voluntarily surrendered to the Church and reached a secret agreement.
Under the agreement, she provided valuable intelligence to the Church, and the Church provided protection in return.
The reason she remained inside Saint Rosalia Prison was because its heavy security made it one of the safest locations available while also allowing the Church to monitor her closely.
At the same time, the Church secretly afforded her rather comfortable living conditions.
Within Saint Rosalia Prison, the group that interacted most frequently with Lamia was the Rose School.
Because they sought to study Witches and held the least hostility toward them, many Rose School scholars—including Weiss herself—had obtained important research information from Lamia.
Some had even collaborated with her on research projects.
Lamia's defection had occurred twelve years ago.
According to reports, it was she who informed the Church that the Witches' Gathering was secretly supporting the Arlander restoration movement in the eastern Empire.
The Empire launched investigations and arrests.
Arachne, who had been responsible for cultivating the restoration movement, was forced to launch the rebellion before conditions were fully mature.
That uprising ultimately led to the war between the Empire and Moiland ten years earlier.
Perhaps because of this, Arachne hated Lamia intensely and had repeatedly mentioned her existence to the Earl.
Considering the Earl's cooperative relationship with the Witches' Gathering, Arachne's assistance had also been utilized during the current operation.
As a defector from the Witches' Gathering, Lamia had ties to the Rose School and stood in opposition to both Arachne and the Witches' Gathering.
She certainly possessed a motive to interfere.
Yet Bishop Beckett dismissed the possibility almost immediately.
“Being under constant Church surveillance, it's unlikely she learned of our plans in advance.
“And even if she somehow did, warning Weiss would have been sufficient.
“She doesn't possess any external force capable of directly interfering with our operation.”
“What about the investigation into Weiss Rogers's residence?” the Earl continued.
“The investigation team has already sealed it.
“All documents and evidence are currently being transferred.
“I'm on my way to examine them now.
“Though honestly, I wouldn't place too much hope in finding useful clues.”
Bishop Beckett answered.
They had investigated numerous avenues, including Weiss's personal relationships.
The results had been disappointing.
“Then it seems we'll still have to start with the Time Acceleration lead?” the Earl said.
“Yes.
“Unfortunately, that's currently the only concrete lead we possess.”
Bishop Beckett nodded.
“Are you certain it's concrete?” the Earl pressed.
“Absolutely.”
Bishop Beckett's tone was unequivocal.
“That werewolf can only be explained one way.
“He consumed a Beastification Potion and also possessed the Blessing of Time Acceleration.”
Because he had personally fought against the werewolf—and suffered because of it—he was nearly one hundred percent certain.
The werewolf's bizarre, impossible-to-predict movements had been the result of Time Acceleration.
It was their most important clue.
Fortunately, that clue narrowed the field significantly.
At the time, only five Church members in the Southeastern Archdiocese possessed that blessing.
After eliminating those with solid alibis, only three remained.
“Is he still on the list?” the Earl asked.
“Unfortunately, Leon Set remains on it.
“And he's near the top.”
Bishop Beckett answered.
He had investigated from every angle.
Weiss's social relationships.
The evidence left behind by the incident.
Potential outside forces that could have intervened.
Throughout the process, anyone possessing even the slightest combination of opportunity, motive, or capability was added to the suspect list before later being removed or retained.
Bishop Beckett deliberately excluded personal emotions from the process.
Many names appeared and were later crossed out.
But ever since Leon's name had been added, it had never been removed.
And considering that Weiss had shown special interest in him when he formally joined the Church, his level of suspicion ranked among the highest.
“But does he have a motive?” the Earl asked.
Leon was currently one of their own.
He had been warned about Weiss long ago and certainly understood that helping her would amount to betrayal.
There was also an agreement between them.
And in the Earl's assessment, Leon lacked obvious ambition.
While he certainly possessed the capability, he did not appear to have a motive strong enough to risk his life for Weiss.
The theory that Leon was the culprit still lacked a critical piece.
“My lord, what were the results of your previous test?” Bishop Beckett asked in return.
“I couldn't tell.
“He showed no signs of contacting Archbishop Rogers.
“But he certainly understands the seriousness of the matter.”
The Earl replied.
When he invited Leon to speak at the Club, it had not merely been a conversation.
It had also been a subtle test.
Yet no obvious result had emerged.
“Then I suggest leaving him for last.”
Bishop Beckett made his recommendation.
Although Leon ranked high on the suspect list, Bishop Beckett was in no hurry to investigate him.
Leon's Mana production had already become integrated into the Earl's business network.
Including his own territory, he now supplied raw materials to five surrounding counties.
The Magical Potion businesses in both River Valley County and South Harbor County were performing exceptionally well.
The Earl's share of the profits was considerable.
And beyond that, Leon had accumulated a remarkable network of Church connections on behalf of their faction.
In less than a year, his value had surpassed that of every other cadre.
If their suspicions were correct, investigating Leon prematurely might alert him.
If their suspicions were wrong, the investigation would accomplish nothing.
Worse, if Leon noticed it, unnecessary distrust could damage their ability to manage and control such a valuable asset.
Therefore, until all the puzzle pieces fit together and success was virtually guaranteed, Bishop Beckett preferred not to investigate Leon directly.
The carriage arrived at the local Inquisition Office.
Ending his discussion with the Earl, Bishop Beckett stepped out and entered the building.
There he joined the other bishops on the investigation team in the evidence room and began examining the materials confiscated from Weiss's residence.
He did not hold high expectations.
Many of the items recovered from Weiss's home appeared to be research documents, but they were completely useless to him.
After casually reviewing them, his attention settled on several bottles and test tubes containing herbal ingredients.
“She was conducting research projects at home too?
“Or perhaps secretly researching Magical Potions?”
Bishop Beckett commented.
“We found no corresponding records within the Church.
“It appears to have been private research.
“That's not uncommon among Church researchers.
“Only ordinary herbs were found here.
“Either she was mixing ordinary medicines, or she carefully hid the primary ingredients for any Magical Potions elsewhere.”
The bishop responsible for searching Weiss's residence answered.
“Then let's start with these medicines at least.
“Have specialists attempted to reproduce them?”
Bishop Beckett asked.
“We don't know the exact proportions.
“We've only produced several mixed samples.”
The bishop pointed toward several small bottles in the corner.
“We haven't been able to determine anything yet.”
Bishop Beckett picked up one of the bottles and gently shook it.
Then he opened it.
A scent similar to mint drifted out.
His brow furrowed slightly.
Suddenly, his memories returned to a year ago—
To the investigation of the Hamel Labyrinth.
He had smelled a similar medicinal scent somewhere before.
