After returning to the Backlund Institute for Mechanical Research, Odis recounted his entire ordeal in detail under Max's accompaniment...
He had gone to Capim's place to demand the release of someone, only to coincidentally encounter an attack by an imposing figure. It was Parker who had attacked him first, forcing him to retaliate, which led to the conflict with Capim and the Beyonders in his villa.
To a certain extent, this was indeed the truth. Moreover, Odis had previously filed relevant reports with the 'Machinery Hivemind'.
Using his Beyonder abilities, Celt confirmed that everything Odis said was true.
It wasn't until the arrival of the kind looking, white-robed Archbishop, Horamick Haydn, that the 'Mandated Punishers' and MI9 realized just how much importance the 'Church of the God of Steam and Machinery' placed on Odis.
Upon hearing that both MI9 and the 'Mandated Punishers' had dispatched demigods to investigate the case, 'Machinery Hivemind' senior deacon Ikanser Bernard immediately sought out Archbishop Horamick.
When Horamick learned that the church's top intelligence officer was involved in a Beyonder incident, he rushed over without delay.
After meeting with the Church of Storms' Archbishop Ace and MI9 demigod Celt, Horamick first exchanged a few pleasantries before bringing up the sensational 'Tycoon Blair Case' that had recently rocked the Beyonder world.
He explicitly stated that it was thanks to Odis's critical intel that the 'Machinery Hivemind' had cracked the case while other official Beyonders remained completely unaware.
Ace and Celt immediately understood Horamick's implication: This man has my personal guarantee...
This was only natural... After all, such an outstanding intelligence officer would be fiercely protected by any organization.
Thus, once Ace learned that Odis had been unwillingly dragged into the incident, he refrained from asking any further questions.
Similarly, after Celt discovered that Byron's investigation had only uncovered Capim's criminal evidence but failed to trace details such as the buyers of the enslaved individuals, he merely asked Odis perfunctorily:
"Then why did you seem somewhat guilty when we first encountered you outside Capim's villa? Why didn't you immediately brief us on what you knew?"
"Because I've heard of the damage 'Psychic Lashing' can inflict," Odis replied with a helpless smile, "They say it can cause permanent harm, so I was reluctant to undergo your interrogation..."
Celt chuckled and asked no further questions.
With the two demigods showing little interest in pursuing the matter, the remaining inquiries were largely procedural...
As for questions like where the Beyonder characteristics of Harras and the others had gone, Odis simply pleaded ignorance, speculating that they might have been taken by that majestic figure.
After seeing off the 'Mandated Punishers' and MI9 personnel, Odis, who was now mostly cleared, rose and bowed to Horamick, "Your Grace, thank you for your protection."
Without this demigod's endorsement, even under the Machinery Hivemind's safeguard, his interrogation wouldn't have concluded so swiftly.
Horamick, seated comfortably, smiled and asked, "Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
Odis returned the smile, saying, "I knew my little tricks couldn't escape your notice."
Then, his expression turning serious, he continued, "I intentionally shot Capim because his disregard for life was appalling. The moment I realized that majestic figure's goal was to free the kidnapped girls, I offered some assistance."
Horamick responded mildly, "That's only human nature."
Odis pressed on, "Those four deceased Beyonders were all from the 'Arbiter' Pathway. Moreover, MI9 seemed unusually invested in this matter... Mr. Celt claimed he was nearby and thus arrived first, but from what I've inadvertently learned, he owns four properties in Backlund. We have no way of confirming whether he was actually staying in the Cherwood Borough during this incident."
Horamick straightened in his chair, fixing Odis with a penetrating gaze, "What are you implying?"
"I suspect the military is plotting something," Odis said gravely, "I have no proof... just a gut feeling." {T/N: MI9 is part of Loen Kingdom's military...}
Horamick, Ikanser, and the others fell silent. After a long pause, Horamick finally spoke, "Keep an eye out for related intelligence, but do not initiate any investigations yourself."
Odis immediately replied, "Understood!"
After Archbishop Horamick departed, Ikanser instructed Odis, "You'll stay here tonight. Sleep in the lounge. You know the drill for case investigations. Until this matter is resolved, you must remain on call."
In other words, as far as the 'Machinery Hivemind' was concerned, Odis was completely innocent. Still, appearances had to be maintained for the sake of procedure.
Odis nodded, "Understood."
Then, turning to his friend Max, he added, "Get me something to eat. I was conducting experiments in the mountains today and didn't even have lunch..."
....
~Above the gray fog~
Seated at the head of the ancient bronze table, Klein Moretti let out a long sigh of relief...
'That was terrifying!'
Who would've thought that mysterious lady he'd encountered at the Royal Museum would sneak up behind him so effortlessly and trap him in such a powerful seal?
Without the aid of the space above the gray fog, he might not have made it back...
Technically, he had returned to the Spirit World, but not by opening a passage to the Spirit World... Instead, the power of the 'gray fog' had manifested a door in the real world to retrieve him, rendering that formidable seal useless.
Exhausted, Klein performed a Spirit Pendulum Divination using his yellow crystal pendulum:
"The masked youth tonight was Mr. Gale."
"The masked youth tonight was Mr. Gale..."
After reciting it seven times, the pendulum rotated clockwise.
'It really was Mr. Gale!'
Klein then recalled that devastating battle-axe and murmured, "Does Mr. Gale also deal in arms? No, no– that's not the point. The real issue is... Ugh–"
The battle had drained too much of his Spirituality, leaving him with a splitting headache.
He hurriedly returned to the real world to rest, resolving to ponder this matter later when he had the energy...
....
~Empress Borough, Earl Hall Villa~
The next morning...
As Audrey Hall waited for her maid to cut her food, she overheard her father, who always read the papers during breakfast, chuckle and remark, "Capim is dead."
"Who's that?" she asked.
"A wealthy man who was secretly a human trafficker," Earl Hall replied lightly, "He was killed last night. All the papers are calling the murderer a Hero Bandit... the 'Hero Bandit Black Emperor'..."
'Black Emperor!'
Audrey instantly recalled the 'Card of Blasphemy' belonging to Mr. Fool. Her interest in Capim's murder case immediately spiked.
Earl Hall muttered, "It sounds fascinating. Though it's illegal, I must say... what that Hero Bandit did was quite admirable."
"Dad, what exactly happened?" Audrey asked.
"The investigation is still ongoing," Earl Hall said, sipping his tea, "But witnesses reported seeing a masked young man break into Capim's villa before the murder..."