Interrogation

"The Inquisition?"

Merlin etched this place deeply into his mind. That powerful white-robed man came from the Inquisition of the Light Church. Merlin felt a secret, heightened vigilance in his heart; if he ever encountered people from the Inquisition in the future, he must handle them with extreme care.

The carriage stopped slowly. Led by the Guardian Swordsmen, Merlin stepped down from the carriage as well, looking up to see that they had actually arrived inside the church of Blackwater City.

There were many others like Merlin, though most did not receive Merlin's treatment. They were simply ordinary residents brought to the church by the men of the City Defense Corps.

"Go on inside and explain everything thoroughly. As long as you have nothing to do with the evil heretic, you'll be sent back very soon."

The Guardian Swordsman said to Merlin with a warm smile. Thanks to his connection with Kadoron, he held quite a favorable impression of Merlin.

Merlin nodded, then followed the Guardian Swordsman into the church.

Inside the church, there were already over a hundred people lined up in three rows. A few individuals were interrogating people one by one regarding the old man Aita, while several scribes were specifically tasked with recording everything.

With his keen hearing, Merlin could catch the questioning of a middle-aged man in his thirties just a few people ahead.

"When did you meet the evil heretic?"

"Many years ago. I'm a tailor, and every time the seasons changed, Mr. Aita would come to my little shop to have clothes made."

"Aside from making clothes, have you seen him?"

"Other than making clothes, I haven't seen Mr. Aita. He's a very mysterious person, staying in that little wooden shack all day and rarely coming out. Who would have thought he was an evil heretic?"

"Alright, next."

That was the entirety of the questioning. Those who finished answering were quickly led away by others to undergo further interrogation.

"If the questioning is just this simple, then there's nothing to be afraid of."

Merlin's heart gradually settled.

Soon it was Merlin's turn. Standing in front of Merlin was a clean-looking scribe who was responsible for taking notes, while the interrogator was a Guardian Swordsman.

The Guardian Swordsman merely raised his head, glanced indifferently at Merlin, and then asked, "What is your name?"

"Wilson Merlin."

Upon hearing Merlin's name, the Guardian Swordsman's expression shifted slightly. He then looked Merlin over carefully, his face growing noticeably grave.

"What is your relationship with the evil heretic?"

Merlin did not hesitate, stating directly, "I didn't know Aita's true identity beforehand, so I studied with him for a period of time regarding antique appraisal."

After finishing, Merlin secretly observed the Guardian Swordsman. Seeing that the other man's expression did not change much, Merlin understood in his heart.

These people must have already investigated the kinds of people old man Aita normally came into contact with, and they had gathered data on everyone he used to associate with. They undoubtedly already knew about the relationship between himself and old man Aita.

Following that, the Guardian Swordsman asked Merlin a few more questions in succession, but Merlin answered every one truthfully. Aside from the matter of the ring, Merlin would not conceal anything regarding old man Aita, as doing so would only arouse suspicion.

After a long while, the Guardian Swordsman finished most of his questions. He raised his head and said to another Guardian Swordsman nearby, "Take him inside. Let Lord Jason conduct the final screening."

Immediately, the other Guardian Swordsman stepped forward and led Merlin toward a small room deep inside the church.

"Go on in."

The Guardian Swordsman stopped right at the doorway and said indifferently to Merlin.

Merlin took a deep breath, then pushed open the door and stepped into the small room.

The interior was somewhat gloomy and carried a damp chill. The moment Merlin stepped inside, he could feel several gazes fix upon him.

"Miss Kailisi?"

Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly. He saw a familiar face inside the room—it was none other than Kailisi, who had also been brought in.

Kailisi saw Merlin as well and offered a slight nod of acknowledgment. Her emotions appeared to have stabilized considerably, lacking the terror she had shown yesterday.

Aside from Kailisi, there were a few strangers in the room: a bald elderly man, a plump woman, and the very same tailor who had been interrogated by the Guardian Swordsman earlier.

They all stood uneasily in the room, gazing with dread at a white-robed man seated in a chair directly ahead.

Upon seeing this white-robed man, Merlin knew he was the mage who had killed old man Aita—Mage Jason of the mysterious Inquisition.

Like the others, Merlin stood inside the small room while Jason remained silent, waiting quietly.

After another moment, a few more people were brought in from outside, bringing the total to eight. Their hearts were somewhat unsettled, and occasional flashes of fear flickered in their eyes as they wondered what kind of interrogation they were about to face.

Behind Mage Jason hung a massive religious mural depicting the God of Light punishing a horde of monstrous, wicked demons. Paired with the current atmosphere and the cold, detached Mage Jason, it stirred an involuntary terror in the heart.

At long last, Mage Jason finally stood up. His sharp gaze swept indifferently over everyone before he slowly spoke: "All of you have, to varying degrees, spent a considerable length of time in contact with the evil heretic. Evil heretics are insidious, cunning, and skilled in wicked spells. Therefore, I must personally test whether any of you have been bewitched by the evil heretic."

Hearing Mage Jason say this, the bald old man and the plump woman began to tremble all over. Had they not been supported by those beside them, they likely would have fainted on the spot.

Within the Light Church, anyone connected to an evil heretic would face the harshest punishments, the most severe being bound to a stake and burned alive. Thus, upon hearing Mage Jason suspect them of ties to the evil heretic, every one of them was gripped with fear.

The corners of Mage Jason's lips curved upward. He pressed his hands against his chest and said in a deep voice, "There is no need for panic. As long as you have not been bewitched by the evil heretic, the God will surely forgive you."

With that, Mage Jason began to chant incantations, and a faint white radiance started to emit from his body, radiating a sense of holiness and nobility.

These holy white rays gradually radiated outward from Mage Jason, enveloping the entire small room in the blink of an eye. By this time, Mage Jason had removed the light armor he had worn over himself, now clad only in a billowing white robe. As the holy light grew steadily brighter, the silver cross-sword emblem on his white robe became increasingly distinct.

Everyone enveloped by the holy light felt as though their entire bodies had been completely seen through, leaving not a single secret hidden. Merlin glanced sideways at Kailisi and saw her face flushed red, bearing an expression of awkwardness.

Merlin frowned, for he felt it too. Despite wearing clothes, under the shroud of this holy light, his garments seemed to offer no concealing effect at all, as if he were standing completely naked for others to peer at. It was no wonder Kailisi looked so embarrassed.

Is this miraculous magic? Fortunately I didn't bring the ring with me, otherwise I would never have escaped Jason's detection.

A cold chill ran through Merlin's heart, deepening his wariness toward the mysterious mages, for miraculous and powerful magic was a power entirely beyond his comprehension.

The others were thrown into a state of panic by the holy light emanating from Jason, but Merlin remained utterly calm. He even had the spare composure to observe Mage Jason, noticing the prominent silver cross-sword emblem on Jason's white robe.

Merlin had only ever seen such a unique emblem on Jason; even the Guardian Swordsmen of Gran City bore no such mark. In his heart, Merlin secretly guessed whether this emblem represented Jason's identity within the Inquisition.

The holy light persisted for a moment before gradually dissipating. Following that, Mage Jason wore a warm smile and proclaimed loudly, "Very well, I have just inspected you all. You are all faithful believers and have not been bewitched by the evil heretic."

Upon hearing Jason's words, everyone felt a weight lift from their hearts, and some quietly muttered silent prayers.

Screeech.

The door to the small room was pushed open, and Jason waved his hand, saying, "You may leave."

With that, the group bowed slightly to Mage Jason in courtesy, then hurriedly turned and rushed out of the room. After what had just transpired, it was clear no one wanted to linger in Jason's presence for a single second longer.

Borg the swordsman stepped into the small room, a look of puzzlement on his face as he asked, "Lord Jason, did you discover anything?"

Jason shook his head slightly and said, "Nothing was found. I just checked them with the Spirit Detection Technique; none of these people possess magic power, nor do they carry even a shred of the evil heretic's aura. It seems that evil heretic came to Blackwater City entirely alone."

Swordsman Borg nodded and continued, "What should we do with the things in the evil heretic's home?"

"Load them all onto carriages, transport them back to Gran City, and hand them over to the bishop. Perhaps we can find some other clues regarding other heretics among them."

Mage Jason instructed Swordsman Borg.

Stepping out of the church, bitter winds swept past in gusts, causing Merlin to instinctively shrink his neck. Yet his heart burned with heat—he had finally cleared this church hurdle, and next, he could secretly and systematically study old man Aita's spell grimoires.

"Miss Kailisi, are you alright?"

Seeing Kailisi following close behind him, Merlin asked with polite concern.

"I'm fine..."

Kailisi managed a forced smile. It was clear she remained thoroughly exhausted, no doubt deeply shaken by the whole ordeal with old man Aita.

"Miss Kailisi, just go back and rest well for a few days and you'll be fine," Merlin offered in comfort. Kailisi nodded, then bid Merlin farewell before hurriedly slipping into her carriage and departing swiftly.

Watching Kailisi's carriage vanish from sight, Merlin looked out toward the exterior of the church, knowing that the steward would definitely come.

Sure enough, Merlin caught sight of Moss's familiar figure. Yet amidst the biting wind beside Moss, alongside the steward, stood yet another familiar silhouette.