A Businesslike Attitude Is Very Important

Was he joking? Kius asked himself, yet he could not convince himself of it. He did not believe that anyone in the world would joke about those two matters in front of an Emperor's Child—unless this Grand Inquisitor was actually a fraud.

But that was even less likely. What kind of person would dare impersonate an Inquisitor? Even the most deranged underhive gangs probably would not dare do such a thing, let alone—

Kius swiftly glanced at the golden-armored giant standing in the corner of the room, then extinguished every one of those absurd and ill-timed speculations in his mind.

For a moment, he did not know what to say. Silence filled the conference room, descending like thick fog, while the Inquisitor suddenly wore an expression of sudden realization.

"Ah, I understand. You don't believe me, do you?"

"..."

Kius was left speechless. He wanted to answer, but could not force out a single word. At this moment, he even felt a faint urge to laugh—though of course, he could not laugh at all. Instead, Ramitz, seated to his right, hesitantly spoke up.

"No, my lord, this is not a matter of belief or disbelief—"

"Then what is it?" The Inquisitor looked at him, smiling.

The more Kius looked, the stranger it seemed. That smile did not belong on a man like him, nor did it belong in this setting.

Ramitz was clearly somewhat stunned by it as well. He had enlisted only six years ago and had yet to earn even a single honor within the Chapter sufficient to win recognition. This was even his first patrol.

The corporal sighed inwardly at the thought and decided to speak in order to bail him out—only for Ramitz to respond before he could.

"Very well, my lord. Forgive my frankness, but