This chapter is sponsored by The Bitch in the Fantasy World Patrons:
• Adventurer GrimV
• Adventurer The orc warrior 261
• Mercenary Tafadzwa Kungwengwe
I wanted to post this extra chapter because Tafadzwa Kungwengwe is my first Mercenary Patron. Thank you, Tafadzwa Kungwengwe.
********************
********************
10:23 a.m.
Vivian sat on top of her bed in an Indian position. She took a quick bath when she came back from the Nummi family's mansion and changed to a fresh set of clothes; she wasn't wearing her cloak and boots, but she was wearing her Inquisitor full-mask and a black version of her usual clothes, and she was also wearing a belt pouch.
I can feel it…
They will or something will come…
And if it's a bloodbath they want, I'll be ready…
I wonder who's going to surrender first once I start raining skills and spells on their families and properties…
She touched one of the pouches on her belt pouch.
Extra clothes, check...
Potions and bombs, check...
She nodded her head.
Yes…
These lower lifeform insects have been too arrogant way, way long enough…
They actually believe they're on the top of the food chain…
But I must first break them psychologically…
Completely terrorize 3-4 families first, let 2 barely survive…
But for those 2 survivors, let them choose…
See their remaining families die…
Or be my dogs to fight the other families or enemies…
Wind's spell on her flashed inside her head.
That must be the L'ux family's Lore Magic…
So Caleb wasn't lying…
I mean, I don't know what the Lore Magic of the other Golden Families looks like, but I at least now know that their Lore Magic still plays with the basic rules of Magic Force…
Back at Plano Town, right after what happened between Vivian and Caleb versus Alejandro, Ferdino and Alejandro's goons, and Caleb went over to Vivian to apologize for accidentally hitting her with his Lore Magic, one of the conditions she demanded to accept his apology was information about his Lore Magic.
The damage of the Lore Magic of the Golden Families is mainly based on the morality of the target…
If the target is a 'morally bad' person, the greater the damage to their body and soul…
Meanwhile, if the target is a 'morally good' person, the lesser the damage to their body and soul…
However…
If the target's Magic Force is at least 3 Grades or 90 points higher compared to the caster, the target becomes completely immune to the Lore Magic Spell…
Vivian remembered something.
Vooom!
She turned into a blur. And when she came back, she returned with a map.
The Has'tam family is the caretakers of Du'reth Town and She'kel Village…
They have a private property or settlement outside of these 2 human settlements, just like Aristocratic Noble families…
It's located south of Du'reth Town, east of She'kel Village and northwest of the Great Pond of Laver…
Has'tam family…
Golden family…
5 Magic Art Affinities…
500 points…
530 points if I count [Blessing]…
590 points if I don't count [Blessing] and only count their Lore Magic…
620 points if I count [Blessing] and their Lore Magic…
650 points if I count [Blessing], their Lore Magic, and also them drinking a potion to momentarily increase their Magic Force…
650 to 750 points if I count [Blessing], their Lore Magic, them drinking a potion to momentarily increase their Magic Force, and them using a Lore Item…
My current stats are…
STR - 11 (+475)…
VIT - 9 (+460)…
AGI - 12 (+457)…
And INT - 8 (+455)…
If someone from the Has'tam Family or anyone from a Golden Family arrives here who has 500 points, I only have 2 ways to win…
Surprise them with [Greater Origin Enchant] + Physical Art Skill…
Or if they really try to corner me…
Go to the Cave of So'journ and kill offoff all the monsters there to level up my Physical and Magic Arts…
Or run to the Plains of Rue, cross the Great Forest of Ana'thema and then --…
Wait…!
Can I really reach Orion Kingdom and then head for the seas to also level up my Physical and Magic Arts…?
Damn…
The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to realize how small this continent is…
"Everything is too guarded…"
If only I had [Primordial Beast]…
She shook her head.
So I still have to play along with these people…
She let out a snort.
I'll throw every political talking points I know…
"Debate with emotions and ideals, not with logic and probabilities."
But then again…
That is assuming that a person with 5 Magic Art Affinities and has mastered the 5 Magic Art Affinities would come…
She shook her head once again.
I must always expect the worst…
ALWAYS EXPECT THE WORST SCENARIO…
Knock, knock…
There was a soft knock on the door.
Vivian immediately turned her head to the door.
"Sister Inquisitor Monad…? It's me, Sister Lieutenant Zola…" Zola's voice came from behind the door.
Vivian's eyes turned to slits.
So it's finally game time…
"I'm coming."
Vooom!
Ka-cha!
She turned into a blur as she wore her Cloak and put on her boots before finally opening the door.
Zola, who looked like she was trying so hard to hide the fear on her face, quickly saluted.
"S-Sister Inquisitor Monad…! High Brother Nathan sent me to inform you that the things and people you requested have already been prepared, and he's waiting for you at the Meeting Room assigned to our Squad…!"
***
Ka-cha!
A door opened, and then Vivian and Zola entered.
Vivian swept her gaze around the room.
Ronan was standing guard next to the door.
Janis was in the lounging area and looked like he wasn't sure what to do.
Manuel, who had the same expression that Zola was wearing, was at the long table with Nathan and 3 people that Vivian had never met before.
There were also 2 Memory Crystals and 2 log books at the long table.
Vivian knitted her brows behind her mask.
Wind and Pablo are not here…
When she finally reached Nathan, she saluted.
"High Brohter."
Nathan got up and nodded.
"Sister Inquisitor," he said and then gestured his hand to the 3 people. "Allow me to introduce to you Mr. Shalem Crotilo, the owner of Malia's Restaurant, Mr. Enoch, the Head Manager of Malia's Restaurant, and Ms. Arba, one of the waitresses at Malia's Restaurant."
Shalem was a fat man in his late 40s with brown hair.
Enoch was a thin man in his late 30s with blue hair.
And Arba was a woman in her mid-20s with brown hair.
They all lowered their heads.
"It is a great honor to meet you and be in your presence, Honored Priestess Crusader Monad."
Vivian focused on Nathan.
"Only 3 people?"
"I like to believe you didn't want to waste time, so I've chosen them based on their authority and the information they could provide."
Vivian nodded and then sat down.
Nathan gestured his hand over to 2 Memory Crystals and 2 logbooks.
"These are the Arrival and Departure Records that you requested. The Main Memory Crystal isn't here, but I checked it earlier and you will be pleased by what I found. Which one would you want to do first?"
"Let's start with these 3 people first."
Nathan nodded and then turned to Ronan.
"Brother High Lieutenant, please prepare the rooms."
Ronan saluted.
"Yes, High Brother!"
"There's no need," Vivian said, causing everyone to turn to her. "This will only be a quick interview and I will question them together," she said and then turned to Manuel. "Councilor Manuel, please inform Lord Councilor Pablo and ask if I'm allowed to do this."
Manuel swallowed.
"Honored Priestess Inquisitor Monad, Lord Councilor Pablo has informed me that he isn't feeling well at the moment and I would take his place in the meantime."
"I see. Am I allowed to interview the 3 of them?"
"Um, yes, if you want to. But that depends on whether they also agree."
Vivian turned to Shalem, Enoch and Arba. Before she could ask, they immediately answered.
Shalem lowered his head.
"It would be a great honor to assist you, Honored Priestess Crusader Monad."
Enoch also lowered his head.
"I share the same sentiment, Honored Priestess Crusader Monad."
Arba didn't say anything and also lowered her head.
"I'll be at the lounging area," Nathan announced.
"There's no need, High Brother. Just take a seat here," Vivian said and then turned to the rest. "All of you, just resume what you were doing earlier."
Ronan, Zola and Janis saluted.
"Yes, Sister Inquisitor!"
Vivian returned her attention to Nathan, Manuel, Shalem, Enoch and Arba.
"Before we proceed, let's pray first."
She clasped her hands together and pressed them on her forehead as she lowered her head.
"God of Light, we humbly ask you to come and bless this Holy Crusade investigation with your holy light.
"Grant us, especially your true and devout followers, the strength and wisdom to be just and fair.
"And to deliver your divine judgment to those who dare to lie and cheat in your name and presence.
"May all the demons, demon-kins, the Cult of Infinity, and heretics die and suffer eternal damnation.
"Amen."
Vivian put down her hands and then focused on Shalem, Enoch and Arba.
"The 3 of you, on the evening of Septus 20, Brother Emmanuel of the Nummi family visited your restaurant. I want to know who the woman was that he came with. Can any of you describe her?"
"I can," Enoch said.
"If my memory serves me, although she didn't mention what kingdom she was from, based on her accent, she was from the Verglas Kingdom."
"Can you describe her appearance?"
"Tall, beautiful, and long gray hair."
"Her age?"
"If I were to guess her age, I would say," he said and then turned to Arba. "24, 25? Somewhere at that range?"
Arba nodded.
"I would guess the same as well."
"And her name?" Vivian asked.
Shalem and Enoch turned to Arba.
"I was the one who took their order that night and Honored Priest Emmanuel happened to mention her name. Karoline," Arba said.
Vivian's brows knitted together.
Karoline…?
The younger sister of Yvonne…?
She turned to Nathan.
"Have you met this 'Karoline', High Brother?"
Nathan shook his head.
"I haven't. However, I found something interesting in the Arrival and Departure Records. But I'm not sure if such a topic is safe to discuss in the presence of outsiders."
Vivian turned to Manuel.
"Councilor Manuel. I will have these 3 people wait in another room for a moment. Is that fine?"
Manuel nodded.
"Yes. Technically, you have 1 hour to interview a person. More than that, you will be violating their human rights. However, since you've decided to interview them together, you can only interview them for 1 hour, not 3 hours."
Vivian turned to Ronan.
"Brother High Lieutenant, escort these 3 people to the next room and have them wait there."
Ronan saluted.
"Yes, Sister Inquisitor."
After Ronan escorted Shalem, Enoch and Arba to another room, Nathan looked at Manuel.
Manuel gave a sheepish look.
"Do you not want me here, Honored High Priest Nathan…?"
"It's not that. In fact, I was about to ask if you want to be here."
Manuel slowly turned to Vivian.
Vivian rolled her eyes.
"If you're that afraid, then you're free to join the 3 interviewees."
Manuel quickly got up and then lowered his head.
"Thank you, Honored Priestess Inquisitor Monad…! Thank you, Honored High Priest Nathan…!" he said and then exited the room.
"He's a civilian. Please understand him," Nathan said.
"Of course," Vivian said with a dismissive tone. "So, what did you find in the Arrival and Departure Records?"
"According to the logbooks, there was no Sister Karoline from the Verglas Chapter Temple who entered and left She'kel Village from Janus 1, 3023 to Octus 31, 3023.
"And according to the Memory Crystals, specifically these Memory Crystals, there also wasn't any Sister Karoline from the Verglas Chapter Temple who entered and left She'kel Village from Janus 1, 3023 to Octus 31, 3023.
"However, on the Main Memory Crystal, there was a Sister Karoline from the Verglas Chapter Temple who arrived at She'kel Village while riding a Draghorn on Septus 17, 3023, around 9:00 a.m. at an airport owned by the Temple of Tamers. But there was no record of when she left."
"So someone tampered with the logbooks and the Memory Crystals?" Vivian asked.
Nathan nodded.
"That's how it looks like."
"Have you spoken about this to anyone?"
Nathan shook his head.
"This is the first time I've talked about this to anyone."
Vivian leaned back on her chair and stared at the ceiling.
"Assuming that someone indeed tampered with the logbooks and the Memory Crystals except for the Main Memory Crystal, for someone who could do such a thing," she said and then returned her attention to Nathan. "They must have a very high position in this Village, don't you think, High Brother?"
Nathan pursed his lips and then nodded.
"Probably."
"And who, or which family, do you think would benefit the most in covering that?"
Nathan didn't say anything.
Vivian turned to Zola, who was standing guard near the door.
"Sister Lieutenant."
Zola saluted.
"Sister Inquisitor Monad…!"
"Sister Michelle and her Squad are still here, correct?"
"I'm… I'm not sure…"
Vivian rolled her eyes and then turned to Nathan.
"Yes, Sister Michelle and her group are still here, but I'm not sure where they are."
Of course they would still be here…
They would be here until the Final Hearing…
Nathan turned to Zola.
"I would suggest to try checking the library. I've heard that Sister Michelle sometimes likes to borrow books there."
Vivian returned her attention to Zola.
"Go and then ask her to come here. And make sure to mention that I have a proposal for her that she might be interested in."
"Yes, Sister Inquisitor…!" she said and then left.
Vivian turned to Janis.
"Brother Lieutenant."
Janis quickly got up from his seat and saluted.
"Yes, Sister Inquisitor Monad!"
"Where is Brother Inquisitor Wind?"
Janis thought about it for a moment.
"I believe he's in his room…?"
"Tell him to come here."
"Yes, Sister Inquisitor!" he said and then left.
Vivian finally returned her attention to Nathan, who was looking at her, but the expression on his face told her that his mind was somewhere else.
"Don't worry, High Brother. I will make sure to highlight you and your family's contributions in this investigation."
***
10:33 a.m.
Ka-cha!
A door opened and it was Wind and Janis.
Janis quickly made his way to the lounging area. Wind, on the other hand, made his way to the long table where Vivian and Nathan were.
The silence in the room was deafening. If not for the footsteps of Wind, everyone inside the room could hear each other's breathing.
Wind finally reached the table, grabbed a seat, and then sat down.
"How are you, brother? Are you also feeling unwell like Lord Councilor Pablo?"
Wind stared at Vivian for a moment.
"What are you planning, sister?"
"There has been a very interesting development. Just as WE expected, Brother Micaiah was indeed telling the truth. This was based on the information gathered from the people of Malia's Restaurant and also the Arrival and Departure Records.
"However, there was an issue.
"The Logbooks and the Memory Crystals, except for the Main Memory Crystal, have no records of Sister Karoline, Sister Yvonne's younger sister, coming here and leaving She'kel Village. Yes, you heard that right, it was Sister Karoline.
"But for someone who could tamper the Logbooks and Memory Crystals, except for the Main Memory Crystal, of the Arrival and Departure Records, well, that could only mean one thing: The person or people must have quite a high position to erase those records, and Brother Emmanuel is from a High-Tier Noble Priest Family.
"So considering all of those things, we can no longer trust anyone here in the Village, except for High Brother Nathan and his family. You, yourself, even witnessed how Brother Emmanuel's family was willing to attack an officer of the Holy Crusade to interfere with the case. Therefore, I believe that we must ask for reinforcements. I need you to write a letter right now, asking for reinforcements, and have Brother Lieutenant Janis send it."
Wind looked at Nathan for a moment and then returned his gaze to Vivian.
"I've already sent a letter."
"For what?"
"For you. If you continue what you're doing, I wouldn't be surprised if a huge riot between all of the families in this Village occurs."
"So you've betrayed me twice."
"Am I lying?"
"Get out of my sight. If my hands weren't full right now, I would've already arrested you for being a coward, incompetent and a heretic. You would rather side with outsiders than your own Squad? You are a disgrace as an Inquisitor!"
Wind got up and then left.
Vivian suppressed the urge to massage her forehead.
I have to write and send a letter right now before the people he called arrives…!
Knock, knock.
Just a few seconds right after Wind left, there was another knock on the door.
A door opened and it was Zola, who was accompanied by Michelle and Samara.
Vivian got up from her seat.
"Sister Michelle, welcome, please come join us here," she said with a warm tone.
I'm gonna need this woman are her group as my shields…
As Michelle headed over to the long table, she gave Nathan a nod and a smile.
Nathan returned the same gesture.
Michelle finally reached the table and joined them.
"Sister Inquisitor Monad, it's been a while," she said and smiled.
Vivian nodded.
"Yes, it has been. How have you been?"
"I'm doing well. How about you?"
"The same. Anyhow, let me get straight to the point: We've just discovered a new piece of information surrounding Brother Emmanuel that might interest you and your group…"
********************
********************
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
By the way, I've posted this chapter at WebNovel, Royal Road and Patreon. However, the main is P-a-t-r-e-o-n (Immortal_Shades) because I want to post pictures and videos there without any restrictions.
https://www.patreon.com/Immortal_Shades
Don't worry, the chapters there are free. And if you want to donate because I have no talent in being a writer, feel free to consider any of these titles:
• Adventurer - $2
• Mercenary - $3
• Knight - $4
• Priest/Priestess - $5
Thank you once again and I will see you at the next chapter.