Audit

"Alright, alright, it's just a coincidence." Dorothy stroked Du Pont's soft, dark hair, thinking it would be nice to style it into a braid. She couldn't help but admit that with such a good foundation, he looked handsome no matter what: "You only come once a week, it's unlikely that a Cultist assassin would specifically target you. Don't worry too much."

"Coincidences are even scarier." Du Pont pondered the image of those younger, clingy guys from his past life, but then he couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. He simply hugged her soft waist, making sure not to look up: "These Evil Gods' followers are just too awful. How can there be people who only want to harm others without benefiting themselves?"

"Some people are born evil, while others go astray later in life and take the wrong path." Dorothy frowned at this thought. She straightened Du Pont's body, subtly twisting the ring on her index finger, her expression serious: "This matter is no small thing. This is a murder case, and you're a party involved. The other priests will definitely check your consciousness to try to reconstruct the scene. Tell me secretly what really happened. If it's different from what you say, I won't be able to protect you."

Second Circle Divine Spell, Honesty Domain.

Everyone within a certain range cannot lie.

"Well, after the confession, I met that commanding monk, gave her the holy symbol, and went back to the changing room to get dressed and leave. Then I heard some strange words, like 'I'm here on behalf of The Lady to test you,' and 'You must obey me and I'll show you a new world' or something."

Dorothy's expression turned a bit awkward upon hearing this.

So, Simon was able to sneak in because she was unwell at the time, and a loophole appeared when Angie replaced her.

But she also discovered another problem.

Although Simon was a scumbag and a pervert, he was still a level 5 priest. How could he be killed so cleanly by this kid?

It even seemed like he was fatally wounded with just one knife. The attack was so accurate and swift, and the wound was so large that the blood spilled and stained nearly half of the changing room's stone bricks.

"Ah? I don't know either." Du Pont scratched his head, looking puzzled: "At first, I seemed to be under a spell, dazed and only able to hear his words. I did whatever he said. But suddenly, I heard him say that it was The Lady's will, and I felt something was wrong. I immediately woke up from that muddled state."

"How could The Lady allow her priest to cast control magic on his followers? Realizing this, I felt incredibly angry. I grabbed the small knife from the monk's robe and fought back. Then he fell down and bled a lot, muttering something I couldn't understand. Once I overcame my fear, I quickly went out to ask for help."

The Honesty Domain spell was constantly in effect.

"Angie?" Dorothy shook her head, turning off the divine spell on her ring: "This has nothing to do with her. I had some urgent business at the time, so I asked her to help me collect the holy symbol. It seems there was a problem during the switch. But who would have thought something like this would happen... Alright, Du Pont, you must not tell anyone else about this. If other priests need to verify the specific situation with you later, just accept it openly."

Du Pont nodded after hearing this, but then frowned, looking very puzzled: "Wait, shouldn't the church reward me for killing a Cultist? Why is there a gag order and verification? It's like I committed a crime!"

"...Church matters are always a bit troublesome. There are too many important figures, and the inside story of many things is beyond you and me. And matters related to Cultists are also of great importance." Dorothy poked his face as she spoke: "But you're right, what you did was indeed a good thing. I will mention your merits and ask the High Priest to give you a suitable reward."

"Hehe." Du Pont chuckled foolishly upon hearing this, and was about to continue taking advantage when a knock on the door interrupted him: "Apprentice Du Pont, please come with me."

——

As the sacred symbols resonated, a silence barrier enveloped the room. Dorothy and two other high-ranking church officials were in the High Priest's study, silently watching the light and shadows appearing on the wall with the owner of the room.

It was Du Pont's account of what happened after he was under the Suggestion, as well as the complete content of his unconscious acceptance of the spell detection.

Detect Alignment: Good.

The self-narration under Suggestion did not trigger the Honesty Domain, and was basically consistent with the report submitted by Dorothy, with only a few insignificant wording differences.

Secondary Lie Detection: The spell showed no reaction.

"The recording functions of both Image Crystals are fully intact, High Priest." Dorothy, at the end, spoke. After seeing the old man nod, she invaded the crystal with her mental power and played the second interrogation image on the wall.

The image was very long, a full half hour, but the few people silently watched the content they had already seen. After seeing the end where Du Pont was released from Dispel Magic, everyone lowered their gazes.

"The image is fine. We'll keep a copy for ourselves, and give the other to Yarhel Cathedral." The High Priest was old, and his voice was a bit hoarse: "Let's all speak our minds."

"Irene Du Pont, from Nassau Town, 14 years old. His father, Old Du Pont, is a well-known level 10 Demon Hunter Ranger, a Baron. His biological mother has passed away. Since being sent to Northwest Academy, he has hardly left. His reputation within the academy is no different from that of an ordinary adolescent. He has mediocre talent but is still considered hardworking, with no bad habits. He has basically no social life and no girlfriend. His personality is relatively introverted and lonely.

He regularly attends choir at the church every week and never misses it. He has not been to Yarhel and does not know Simon or his family. He has absolutely no motive to take action on his own initiative. It's even an accident that he was able to kill Simon. From the results, this is indeed a coincidence."

A burly man at the head spoke first, the greatsword behind him still emitting a bloody aura: "I think all the reports can be submitted. Simon is a complete scum who reaped what he sowed. He had a full set of luxurious magical equipment, but for the sake of convenience, he didn't bring anything. He even used Suggestion to try to make his success easier, but he died at the hands of a level 2 apprentice, who slit his throat with one knife, causing so much blood loss that even healing fatal wounds couldn't save him. This is completely the will of the goddess."

"I feel like there's something strange. Although Simon is indeed a good-for-nothing wastrel, he died too easily." The second person, a middle-aged man with a somewhat sinister face, subconsciously looked at Du Pont, who was asleep on the bed after drinking the potion: "Even if Simon was blinded by lust and had no defense, I don't think the possibility of being killed with one blow is high. Not to mention, why does this mage apprentice have such swift and decisive skills?"

"His file shows that he has absolutely no experience as an adventurer and has never killed anyone. He's as clean as an unwritten piece of papyrus. But his behavior is vastly different from this file. Even if we have a clear conscience, will the people of Yarhel think so? And why did we let this person be the deacon to receive the 'sinners'? This is a very important task, and yet this kind of thing happened at this juncture. Dorothy, I would like to hear your answer."

"Of course, it's because none of the people under Damien are willing to work in the confessional. I don't have many people under me, so I can only find a few fearless volunteers." Dorothy sneered upon hearing this: "They have to be good-looking enough to meet the aesthetic standards of the sinners, and they have to be clever, not cause new trouble, and know that silence is golden. Even this kid was carefully selected by me at a high price. Otherwise, would you give me someone to do this? Remember, you have to reimburse me for the expenses later!"

"As for his skills, wasn't it already detected that this kid is from Nassau? His father can become a level 10 ranger, so he's naturally extraordinary. Being able to be a noble in the Nass Desert must be a military aristocrat, maybe even fought against the dragon scourge. He just wanted his son to become a spellcaster, so he sent him here to be a mage. Isn't it normal for the children of these military aristocrats to have received melee combat training?"

"But he hasn't been back for two and a half years!"

"Damien, if you don't go out for two and a half years, does that mean you won't be able to cast spells?" Dorothy retorted: "What's more, he just said that a very strong Barbarian was teaching him how to fight. He also said that he was in a state of rage. Maybe he entered a Rage state and broke through Simon's Suggestion?"

"That's completely impossible!" Damien couldn't help but sneer upon hearing this: "A mage apprentice going to be a disciple to a Barbarian? Isn't that pure madness? And comprehending Rage is even more absurd. I've never heard of a mage having such a..."

Before he could finish speaking, the burly man opened his mouth: "Master Lavoisier does have a Barbarian friend named Boulderstone. He has high-level strength. If I don't use divine spells, it's almost impossible to defeat him in a melee."

Damien was choked half to death upon hearing this, and pointed to Du Pont on the bed: "But Griffin, that doesn't mean he has the talent to be a combat professional. Let alone be able to obtain the Rage Ability that many Northlands Barbarians can't even awaken?"

"I just checked, and this boy's physical talent is actually quite good, even stronger than many Paladin trainees in the church. His biggest weaknesses are only agility and perception. But you have to know that he's only 14 years old, and his body still has room to grow and he hasn't awakened his racial talent yet. If he can successfully awaken before the age of 18, it can be said that there is almost no profession he can't adapt to. Of course, some professions won't have a very high ceiling."

After saying this, the burly man continued, ignoring his companion's ugly expression: "If he's interested, it's not bad to come to the church to be a Paladin. At 14 years old, he has such a mind and courage, much stronger than those noble child soldiers sent from our Northwest. A 14 intelligence is very mediocre as a mage, but it's already an extraordinary existence in a Paladin. If he eats well, takes care of his body, and doesn't take detours, he might surpass me on the path of a Paladin in the future."

Hearing even their own commander say this, Damien completely lost his confidence, and just shrugged his shoulders and stopped talking. The old man smiled: "So, this kid is really an unpolished gem. How long do you think it will take for him to become a true Paladin?"

"Maybe he can become a trainee in less than half a year, and graduate before he's 16." The burly man scratched his head: "But according to the alignment detection just now, he can basically only become a Paladin of the Oath under the new system. If he goes the traditional route, it will take at least twice as long and may not even succeed.

But now, whether in the capital or in the Silvermoon Federation, there is endless debate about whether Paladins should follow the traditional path or the Oath path. This may not be a big deal in normal times, but at this juncture, cultivating this boy who just killed Simon into a Paladin, I'm afraid some people in Yarhel will think we're deliberately making trouble for them. This doesn't fit our consistent neutral attitude. At that time, I'm afraid some people will misunderstand that we're going to do something."

Hearing this sentence, both Damien and Dorothy nodded in unison.

Although Griffin's original intention was to cherish talent and not miss this good seedling, the current timing is too sensitive. In the eyes of those with ulterior motives, this is undoubtedly an excuse.

Even the perfunctory method is not very clever.

"Dorothy." The High Priest opened his mouth. Hearing the summons, she quickly lowered her head, placing her hand on her chest: "Please instruct me, High Priest."

"You're the one who recruited him. Tell me how to solve this matter."

"Apprentice Du Pont is a person with a relatively simple mind. He doesn't even know what would have happened if he hadn't resisted. He just thought that a Cultist was trying to harm him." Dorothy spoke very slowly, using cautious words: "I didn't tell him whether Simon was a Cultist or was bewitched by a Cultist. But he previously just thought that he had done the right thing and should be rewarded. I think as long as we give him a generous reward and then tell him that the real situation is a bit different..."

"To prevent more believers from panicking and for his own safety, we will release some false information to confuse those Cultists and remove him from this matter. He must also keep his mouth shut to avoid being overheard by the Cultists and retaliated against. We'll offer both kindness and explain the pros and cons; I think he'll know what to choose. Afterward, we shouldn't make any big moves. With a young man's temperament, he'll forget about it in a few months. I think we need to worry more about the Yarhel matter."

The High Priest looked at the others. Both remained silent, clearly having no objections to the plan.

"Let's do it this way." The old man pondered for a moment before saying, "The reward, you decide what to give. Be generous, don't be stingy. The key is to make this young man feel the church's care and importance attached to him, and then completely forget about this matter."

"As for Simon, preserve his body well and send it back to Yarhel. Anyway, our conscience is clear. Even if his family is willing to offer tens of thousands of Gold Coins and swallow their pride to ask the Archbishop to resurrect this waste, the information they get won't be any different. Even if they want revenge, they won't find us. If they want this kid's information, give it to them, but remember to remind Lavoisier that this is his friend's student and has nothing to do with us."

"Yes."

After saying that, the High Priest fell silent. He waved his hand, and the three people in the room bowed and filed out. The old man looked at the remaining Image Crystal and smiled.

"A genuine priest was killed, and the killer is to be rewarded... I see Yarrah is going to get lively again."