After hearing Audrey's words, Raphael said, "That's right. That retaliation was one of my missions."
Audrey was puzzled. "How did you anger the Church of Storms?"
Although they were easily angered, Mr. Hanged Man had specifically explained that this time seemed somewhat different from their usual anger.
Raphael said, "I called them cultists."
"Cult-" Audrey didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "They're a church of an orthodox god."
Raphael merely shrugged. "They had guilty consciences. Why else would they get angry?"
Audrey didn't dwell on the question, since Raphael didn't seem to believe in the Seven Gods.
Raphael then briefly recounted what had happened, but at the end, he only said that he had completed his mission. He didn't mention killing the Mandated Punishers.
That was because Raphael felt that the highlights of the incident were those two messages.
With their business concluded, Audrey wasn't in the mood to chat with Raphael. They exchanged brief goodbyes, Raphael got out of the carriage, and Audrey rode back to the Loen Charity Education Fund.
She remained deep in thought along the way.
Only when they were nearly at their destination did Susie say, "Audrey, you don't need to feel so lost.
"After all, you didn't make this world's rules. You're also a victim of them."
Audrey paused in surprise. "Susie, do you agree with Raphael too?"
Susie opened her canine mouth in a grin. "I've heard other dogs say that many dogs lead miserable lives. And humans aren't punished by the law for killing dogs, unless the dog doesn't belong to them.
"But even then, it's only a matter of property, not the right to life."
Audrey froze again. Two images suddenly appeared in her mind. In one, Susie was dressed as a lawyer, defending a dog with a tragic fate.