"I really want to escape~ but I can't~"
"Ugh! Why is this trench business still haunting me..."
Honestly, Herbert was a bit speechless right now.
He had purposely gone to this secluded corner to fetch water, just to avoid encountering that scene in the kitchen again.
This friend of mine, could you be a bit more considerate?
I'm a kind-hearted person, can't bear to see a poor grass carp suffer such bullying.
Besides... seeing the aftermath is one thing, at most I'd be speechless for a while.
If I walked in on it happening, wouldn't everyone feel awkward?
"Ugh, the Bottom Boy! Ugh, the Tachi Knight..."
Herbert took one last look at the grass carp's lifeless eyes staring blankly, then silently moved to the other side, tossing the bucket into the well to start fetching water.
"Don't look at me, grievances have their roots and debts have their owners, I saw nothing, I saw nothing..."
Though he had stumbled upon this twice, Herbert still had no intention of tattling to anyone.
Firstly, it's still about understanding others' preferences and respecting every special hobby.
After all, there are all kinds of love in this world.
Even big mushrooms have people obsessed with them, even armed helicopters have fans, even plastic bags have their admirers...
It's just a grass carp after all!
At least it's a biological entity.
That's already pretty good.
Compared to others, his situation is much less severe.
Secondly... Herbert himself isn't clean either.
A big brother shouldn't criticize the little brother, we're all in the same boat.
Not to mention the Evil God Contractor identity on him, just the things he planned to do next were already quite odd.
From others' perspectives, what Herbert was doing probably wasn't any more noble than what the grass carp guy did.
Washing women's hair, then hiding in a room to savor it...
Is this something a good person would do?
Just thinking about this scenario is pretty disturbing.
To avoid trouble, Herbert decided it's better to stay out of it, acting as if he hadn't noticed anything.
The rain has nothing to do with me.
After fetching the water, he quickly left, without trying to find traces from the grass carp, completely ignoring its presence.
He wasn't curious about the identity of the grass carp guy at all.
Not at all!
.
.
Judgement Hall.
"Your Excellency, Chief Judge."
In the cold grand hall, Herbert calmly bowed to the burly man sitting quietly, slightly lowering his head.
The bald man's head was adorned with a strange, spiky crown, covering his eyes, revealing only the lower half of his face that showed no emotion.
His body was wrapped in dark red, thick thorns, their sharp tips piercing through his clothes, burying into his skin, continuously drawing nutrients and magic power from his flesh, looking rather terrifying.
Though he didn't seem like a good person, he was indeed one of the high-ranking officials of the Mist Monastery.
In the Mist Monastery, aside from the elusive Archbishop, there were also three visible high-ranking Cardinals.
They were the Chief Judge who managed the Judgement Hall, the Guardian who watched over various artifacts and treasures, and the Knight Order Leader who commanded all Paladins, Martial Monks, and Ascetics.
And the one before him now was the Chief Judge, known as the Thorn Bishop, responsible for overseeing all affairs of the Judgement Hall.
The functions of the Judgement Hall were quite similar to the inquisitions of his past life, responsible for the detainment, interrogation, and punishment of heretics and the Fallen.
In a way, the Chief Judge was Herbert's direct superior as the Prison Warden.
He was also the person whom Herbert, this fellow destined to walk a reverse trinity path, least wanted to approach.
Desecration, oath-breaking, corruption; any of his secrets would definitely be judged by this person should they come to light.
Yet, at this moment, Herbert still appeared before him voluntarily.
The Thorn Bishop slowly opened his eyes, bloodshot and crimson, indifferently staring at the white-haired youth respectfully lowering his head before him.
After a moment, he slowly spoke, "It's you, Herbert Albert."
"I remember you, but you should be in the prison enlightening the heretics right now. Why are you here?"
"Did you come to find me for something?"
The Thorn Bishop's voice was deep and thick, but unexpectedly, contrary to his grizzled appearance, it didn't feel cold, instead carrying a warmth like a spring breeze.
If Herbert were to give a review, it would probably be the kind of elegant uncle voice that excites many fans of voice aesthetics.
Moreover, he wasn't taciturn, surprisingly talkative.
Whether he'd been holding it in too long or not, Herbert had only spoken a sentence, yet he went on mumbling to himself for quite awhile.
Herbert raised his head, softly reporting to the Thorn Bishop, "Your Excellency, Chief Judge, I have something I wish to report to His Excellency, the Archbishop."
"Need to report to the Archbishop?"
The Thorn Bishop was taken aback, then his expression changed slightly, furrowing his brows, "What do you have that requires direct reporting to His Excellency, the Archbishop? Can't you tell me?"
Though he didn't express it outright, Herbert could still discern the hidden meaning in his gaze—Oh, you don't think I'm enough?
"Yes, this matter is of utmost importance, only His Excellency, the Archbishop, can handle it."
Seeing the Thorn Bishop's apparent displeasure, Herbert didn't beat around the bush, directly saying, "Here's how it is, while inspecting yesterday I noticed some anomalies in the Third Region of the Alien Race prison."
"The Prison of Darkness has completely turned into a space where one cannot proceed, not only could I not locate the prisoners within, but I also couldn't enter the Fourth Region."
Quickly, Herbert detailed his findings and the specifics of his attempts, even including his conjectures, without holding back anything.
Once everything was explained, Herbert earnestly looked at the Thorn Bishop, sincerely asking, "Your Excellency, Chief Judge, can I leave this matter in your capable hands?"
"..."
The Thorn Bishop was silent, his gaze subtly shifting as he looked elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Herbert kept his expression tight, not daring to show a hint of emotion.
Are you saying I look down on you?
You've got to be kidding.
Can you handle it or not, that's what I want to know.
"Ahem... I understand the situation."
After a while, the Thorn Bishop nodded with an unchanged expression, calmly saying, "This isn't a major issue, no rush to address it. I'll inform His Excellency, the Archbishop, later."
Not a major issue? No rush?
Herbert detected some underlying implications but wisely chose not to expose them, gratefully responding, "Understood, I'll rely on you to handle this matter, Your Excellency."
The Thorn Bishop waved his hand, wearing a look of indifference as he said, "Mm, it's nothing, it's my duty."
"Alright then, I'll take my leave first."
Just as Herbert was about to depart after reporting, the Thorn Bishop suddenly spoke in a deep tone, "Wait a moment."
"...Yes, Your Excellency?"
Those crimson eyes of the Thorn Bishop were fixated on him, slowly asking:
"Have you..."
"Encountered any acts of desecration recently?"
!!?