York City District's Church Administration Building, Law Enforcement Department, minister's office.
"Trisen, how are things with your nephew?"
The Law Enforcement Department Minister, Moqi, sat behind his desk, asking with a look of concern.
Trisen Naton, the deputy minister, frowned slightly at the question and replied:
"Minister, isn't our department's current priority to carry out the bishops' unanimous decision and do everything possible to rescue Vicolai?
"This has nothing to do with whether Vicolai is my nephew. Even if another arbiter had been arrested under these circumstances, we would still spare no effort to rescue them for the sake of our district's interests.
"We can arrest our own people and try them ourselves, but we absolutely cannot give the Whip of Order a chance to use this incident to rise again."
Minister Moqi smiled. "Yes, I know. What I mean is, I've seen the evidence the Whip of Order has been releasing step by step according to procedure. Their chain of evidence is solid. There's simply no attacking it from that angle.
"We can only apply pressure and intervene through other channels. There's no washing away the stains on that nephew of yours."
"I believe there are very few senior clerics in the district who could wash away their own stains."
"That's rather pointless, Trisen. It's your nephew who's been arrested."
"I understand, Minister. The bishops have successfully applied pressure. Two or three of them will attend tomorrow afternoon's Judgment Assembly."
"Will your father be among them?"
"Yes."
"Personally, I think he should recuse himself. Otherwise, it won't have a very good effect."
"But I believe a bishop should have the resolve to act without shying away from suspicions of partiality."
"All right, I understand. If you need any help, let me know. As you said, this concerns the district's