Chapter 516: Divine Artifact Overwhelms (10k Words Chapter) (2/4)

Chapter Five Hundred and Sixteen: Crushed by the Divine Artifact (Ten-Thousand-Word Great Chapter) (Two of Four)

"Then there is this matter of the suicide note..." Bishop Byrne pointed at Wick. "I have read a copy of the content of that note. I found it quite sincere, and deeply moving. In those lines, the image of Inquisitor Pavarotti becomes clear and dimensional. However, a suicide note like this, investigative notes like these—I believe forging them presents no difficulty whatsoever."

Karen spoke up: "Your Grace, you are welcome to launch a challenge of suspicion against the evidence."

"Heh, I am merely stating what lies in my heart as it is." Bishop Byrne smiled. "Furthermore, I have indeed looked over your resume, Captain Karen. You say you are exceptional. Yes, I can even say that to deny your excellence, Captain Karen, would be a denial of the majority of the youth currently within our holy church.

During the Trial of the Gates of Samsara, your entire squad returned.

During the Lunar God Religion security operation, when the Lunar Son faced assassination, your entire squad returned.

With the Order Observation Group, upon the battlefield of Samsara and the Lunar God, your entire squad returned.

After drifting upon the great sea for so long, your entire squad returned.

Not long ago, a bit of chaos broke out on Fire Island—a vicious three-headed hound went mad, savagely attacking the entire island—yet you still returned with your entire squad.

As a squad leader, to be a member under your command is truly a piece of happiness. You truly possess the qualities an exceptional leader ought to have.

So please, tell me... why is it that Inquisitor Pavarotti, whose entire family lived with you, was so simply and easily silenced by murder?"

Karen answered: "That was my negligence."

"Negligence? I do not agree." Bishop Byrne turned to face everyone in the gallery. "Furthermore, I have another question. According to the earlier case presentation by this gentleman..."

Bishop Byrne pointed at Alfred.

"This gentleman's presentation clearly mentioned that after the distribution of merit in the Qihe case, Adjudicator Vicolai already harbored a murderous intent toward Inquisitor Pavarotti. Is that the meaning?"

Alfred stood up and answered: "Yes, exactly. During interrogation, Adjudicator Vicolai admitted this with his own lips."

"Oh, is that so?" Bishop Byrne smiled again. "But why did our Adjudicator Vicolai wait for so long?"

Karen answered: "Because I lived at the Pavarotti Inquisitorial Residence."

"Oh, yes, still because our Captain Karen is exceptional enough." Bishop Byrne's voice rose slightly. "Because he was wary of you, Adjudicator Vicolai never acted against Inquisitor Pavarotti. He would feel that moving against Pavarotti, who lived with you, would bring uncontrollable trouble upon himself, would he not?"

"Yes."

"But then, why is it that today, when Captain Karen's status grows ever higher, your power ever greater, and your fame ever wider, Adjudicator Vicolai suddenly moved to silence him with murder?

He did not kill him before, waiting all this time, only waiting until you, Karen, have become the Captain of the Operations Division of the Discipline Inspection Office to do the killing.

Is he mad?"

Karen fell silent.

Wick's heart skipped a beat. In truth, while organizing the chain of evidence, he had noticed this point. Inquisitor Pavarotti—his existence should not have been placed within this framework to begin with.

Since they had already set aside the matters of Vicolai and Richard, why couldn't Inquisitor Pavarotti be set aside as well?

If they needed to arrange for someone to report it, wouldn't it be more appropriate to arrange for another living person?

If even someone with his professional background could instantly grasp this flaw, it was only more natural that Bishop Byrne could see it.

However, Wick did not raise this point, because he had discovered that within this squad, the Captain's authority could not be questioned. Of course, primarily, he was a newcomer and did not wish to alienate himself.

"Furthermore, Inquisitor Pavarotti is dead. Oh no, according to Captain Karen's phrasing, he was silenced. His corpse cannot be found either, having been burned. The destruction of the corpse and erasing of traces was quite clean, was it not? Not quite clean; it left behind a photograph of his twin daughters, heh."

Bishop Byrne extended a finger and tapped his own forehead.

He said loudly:

"Captain Karen, do you not think that all of this is simply too much of a coincidence?"

Karen continued his silence.

Bishop Byrne turned to look at Gasper, saying: "Chief Judge, I request to supplement our evidence. I ask the Tribunal to verify it."

"Permitted."

Bishop Byrne produced a document file. After handing it to the clerk, he said: "The behind-the-scenes operator of that establishment, the true owner, is Enzo, the Chief of the Enforcement Department at the Whip of Order Headquarters of this grand district.

He colluded with the Whip of Order Prison, transporting certain prisoners from the prison to serve as dishes for people to enjoy.

Here is the evidence investigation provided by my grand district's Enforcement Department, as well as the evidence of the transfer of interests behind it. Furthermore, Chief Enzo's family members have already been detained by my grand district's Enforcement Department; they can also serve as witnesses to provide inside testimony regarding this matter.

However,

regrettably,

this Chief Enzo was assassinated and killed on the road last night. The assassin even deliberately ran to the doorstep of Adjudicator Vicolai's home to shout that Bishop Dolph was the mastermind behind the scenes.

Now,

everything is clear to us.

The one who investigated Adjudicator Vicolai and was then silenced—Inquisitor Pavarotti, who triggered this investigation and even this trial in the case presentation—had been living together with our Captain Karen all along.

In the case, the establishment our Adjudicator Vicolai was determined to have visited to consume and enjoy believers was opened by the Chief of the Enforcement Department of the Whip of Order, possessing a transfer of interests with the Whip of Order Prison.

Adjudicator Vicolai was arrested on the first floor of the Educational Affairs Building in front of many people. This directly caused a massive impact, and is also one of the main reasons today's trial could draw so many eyes.

But few people know that the reason Adjudicator Vicolai went to the Educational Affairs Building that day was to handle a conflict and contradiction with a young man named Richard. And that young man named Richard happens to be a subordinate of our Captain Karen.

As for the rest, I shall not say, but every single crime the Whip of Order has pinned upon Adjudicator Vicolai cannot be separated from Captain Karen.

Is it a coincidence?

Who could ever know?

But the greatest coincidence of all is that the prosecutor for the Whip of Order today happens to be you, Captain Karen."

Karen spoke up: "Your Grace, what the Tribunal speaks of is evidence, not speculation and insinuation."

"Oh, yes, of course. But I truly cannot comprehend these coincidences. Everything is a coincidence—is that possible?" Bishop Byrne took a few steps back. He raised his hand, pointing at Karen, and continued, "Captain Karen, I believe you are an exceptional young man, truly. From the first time I picked up your resume and read it, I was sincerely happy that my Holy Church of Order could possess such an exceptional young man.

But, young man, you must not be too impatient. Impatience makes it easy to ruin things.

Perhaps in your eyes, you hope the power of the Whip of Order can be elevated within the grand district. I can consider that you act out of a public spirit, but your methods and approach are incorrect.

A young man, in doing things, should be upright and honorable, rather than fond of using these underhanded methods that cannot be brought to light.

Because when you begin to use these methods, that original aspiration of yours is no longer clean!

I am also very afraid.

Afraid that if the Whip of Order investigates cases in this manner in the future, whenever they believe someone has committed a crime, they can directly manufacture this evidence full of coincidences to forcibly convict that person.

It is difficult to imagine,

when that time truly comes,

what kind of terrifying situation my Holy Church of Order will find itself in. The Holy Church will be dragged into the abyss, truly!"

Bishop Byrne's voice echoed through the tribunal hall. Before his aura, the other people around him, even including the Chief Judge, were suppressed, let alone Karen who faced him directly.

Whether it was those sitting in the gallery on-site or those watching the live broadcast of this trial, all felt pity for this young man of the Whip of Order who already seemed at a loss.

Karen picked up the teacup placed on the table and took a sip of water.

Wick turned the fountain pen in his hand somewhat nervously. He regretted it deeply—regretted why he had to be so eager to fit in; he should have spoken about this matter earlier.

Alfred, on the other hand, picked up the small thermos flask placed by his feet, took out ice cubes from within, and added them to Karen's water cup.

In the VIP gallery, Bishop Dolph clenched his fists, pumping them downward in excitement.

Beside him, a smile also appeared at the corner of Archbishop Wolfrun's mouth, though his happiness was different from Dolph's. He, Byrne, and the other bishops cared absolutely nothing for Vicolai's life or death. If conditions permitted, having one less person named Naton in the circle of bishops was something they were also glad to see.

No matter whether Wickley was ultimately acquitted, found guilty, or convicted of a major or minor crime, as long as this matter could be elevated to a political struggle, the Region would win; the Whip of Order would lose.

As for one Wickley, who besides his grandfather truly cared whether he lived or died.

Wofuren raised his teacup, took a sip, his expression entirely composed.

In the gallery, Delon’s face darkened; he hadn't been heavily involved before, so he hadn't mastered the chain of evidence in advance, but now he had a question, namely, why include that Pavaro when the narrative statement composed of three elements could have easily condemned Wickley using just the second element alone?

Delon didn't know if there was a problem with the narrative regarding this "Pavaro," he only knew it was redundant, and not only redundant, but had been seized upon by the opposing side as a breakthrough for a continuous assault.

Earlier, Delon had thought Karen's response was brilliant, but now, he felt this arrangement of Karen's was somewhat too wishful, treating the Regional Administration Office far too simply.

"Why does it feel like the tide has turned again," Philomena said to Richard. "The matter of Inquisitor Pavaro was still seized upon."

"Yes, now we see how Karen responds."

"Do you have that much confidence in him?"

"Yes, when he told me to go to the first floor and kneel down, I didn't hesitate for a second."

"Why?"

"Sometimes in life, being able to meet someone you are willing to trust unconditionally is also a kind of happiness."

"I cannot understand this kind of happiness."

……

"Neo, I remember when I reminded you, you said there was no problem with this chain of evidence."

Facing the inquiry from Bernie, Neo couldn't say this was what Karen insisted upon, so he could only reply, "It was my oversight."

"You trust this subordinate of yours too much, he is still young after all."

Neo said nothing.

……

"Captain Karen, are you married?"

"No."

"Mhm, so you are currently living with Mr. Pavaro's widow and those twin daughters, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"I also heard that Inquisitor Pavaro was not often at home, is that correct?"

"Yes," Karen looked at Bishop Berne. "The Bishop has indeed heard quite a lot."

"Heh, I also heard one more thing, that Mr. Pavaro's widow and those twin daughters are quite... quite beautiful."

Gaspar said in a heavy voice, "Defense for the accused, this tribunal issues a warning to you."

"My apologies, Chief Judge, it was a slip of the tongue."

Karen looked at Bishop Berne and asked, "What exactly is the Bishop trying to say?"

"I am not trying to say anything, it is just a normal conjecture that a normal person would have when looking at this matter, for instance, a bit of an eyesore. It could be that you, Captain Karen, found Inquisitor Pavaro to be an eyesore, or it could be that Inquisitor Pavaro found you to be an eyesore."