Chapter 519: Look, Who Am I? (Large Chapter) (2/4)

Chapter 519: Look closely, who am I? (Double Chapter) (2/4)

“It amounts to the same thing.” Wick shrugged. “In any case, there is no way he can escape.”

Upon arriving at the Academic Affairs Building, Karen alighted from the carriage. He walked at the head of the party, his subordinates following entirely in his wake.

As they ascended the steps, they happened to cross paths with two squads from the Whip of Order emerging from within. Catching sight of Karen, the two squad captains proactively approached, intending to offer their salutations.

Though they all held the rank of captain, Karen’s position was a tier above theirs, resembling the disparity between a metropolitan bureau and a town outpost.

Without waiting for them to introduce themselves, Karen extended a finger directly toward them and commanded:

“Follow us.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes, sir.”

From their earlier expressions, Karen could discern that they had likely watched the broadcast. Therefore, there was no need for superfluous courtesies at this juncture; it was best to issue orders to them directly.

They might not have been entirely willing to shift from a casual greeting to marching into the Academic Affairs Building for an arrest, but they dared not refuse an order from the Disciplinary Inspection Office at such a moment.

The former course might offend the regional management office, but if they refused the latter, they would instantly become the prime targets for being made a public example of in the next phase of disciplinary actions.

The big fish had to be caught, but the small fry could not be let slip either; the two captains understood this principle perfectly.

Thus, when Karen stepped into the Academic Affairs Building, he was flanked by a retinue of more than thirty men. Compared to when he had arrested Vicole here previously, the display of authority was vastly more imposing.

Deputy Chief Trisen’s office was on the twelfth floor. Karen took the lift up, while the other two squads climbed the stairs in their entirety. By the time the doors of Karen’s lift parted, the men of those two squads were already waiting at the entrance.

Not long ago, Karen had joked with Neo, saying that as long as they could get things moving and extend their influence, the next time they mobilized a squad from the Whip of Order, the other party would have to bring gifts to the door to explain themselves even if they did not wish to comply.

Now, the result was far better than Karen had initially anticipated.

Entering the office area of the Enforcement Department, Karen’s men moved in first to establish control over the perimeter.

The members of the Enforcement Department within were numerous, yet none moved to obstruct them. Indeed, no one even came forward to question them; their compliance was almost unnervingly meek.

This caught Karen somewhat by surprise, but when he arrived before the doors of the Deputy Chief’s office and saw the dozen or so Enforcement Department personnel standing there, the realization struck him.

For the men at the door were facing inward. This was not a preparation for protection or violent resistance, but rather the containment of their own Deputy Chief.

Within a single department, the only one capable of imposing such a restriction upon a deputy chief was likely the true Chief himself.

Alfred stepped forward and produced his credentials:

“In accordance with the verbal summons to assist in an investigation issued by Chief Inquisitor Gaspo, we hereby invite Deputy Chief Trisen to accompany us to the headquarters of the Whip of Order to assist in the investigation of a case.”

The clerics at the door all stepped aside.

Muri walked forward and pushed the door open.

The office was grand, its furnishings remarkably opulent.

Two men were inside; Chief Mochi and Deputy Chief Trisen sat facing one another upon the sofas.

“You see, the ones who are here to receive you have arrived,” Mochi said, continuing to pour the tea.

Trisen swept his gaze over Karen and the others who had entered, shook his head, and asked, “Could you really not wait a moment longer?”

Mochi shrugged and smiled. “All along, the one who truly could not wait was you. I told you before, once I had arranged a suitable new placement for myself, it was not out of the question for me to vacate the seat for you. But how could your Naton family be so unscrupulous, so desperately impatient to pull me down?

Then I must apologize, for it was your family that forced my hand. Of course, I suppose you might not perceive it that way. That is only natural, as I realized long ago that the minds of your entire family seem to suffer from a collective deficiency.”

Trisen’s gaze darkened ominously.

Yet Mochi pressed on. “I used to find it quite curious, but now I understand. Certain exceptional families are indeed prone to a universal affliction of intellect among their members.

Since your nephew can turn out to be your brother, then why could your father not turn out to be your sibling as well?”

Instead of showing anger, Trisen laughed, turning to Mochi. “You are truly leaving yourself no retreat whatsoever, are you?”

“Alas, it is not that I do not wish to leave myself one, but rather that the retreat of your family has already been thoroughly sealed.”

Trisen stood up, smoothing his divine robes as he spoke. “I shall return. Just you wait; I refuse to believe the region will sit idly by and watch my Naton family be utterly crushed by the Whip of Order.”

Mochi countered with a question, “So, do you truly believe that my treating you this way was a decision I made on my own?”

“What is the meaning of that?”

“It means nothing in particular. You can ponder it slowly at your own leisure.”

Karen stepped forward and said to Trisen, “Trisen Naton, we must now ask you to return with us to assist in our investigation.”

Trisen ignored Karen’s words, continuing instead to glare at Mochi. “Just you wait.”

Mochi picked at his ear, remarking with disdain, “Could you perhaps say something a bit more original?”

Muri and Bart stepped forward with the manacles, preparing to bind Trisen.

Looking at the restraints, Trisen asked, “I shall walk with you; is there any need to wear these?”

Karen shook his head and said, “We must consider our own personal safety. Please cooperate and put them on.”

“Resist, Trisen,” Mochi taunted. “Come now, resist, let your power erupt.”

Trisen closed his eyes.

Muri and Bart fastened the set of manacles upon him. As each clasp clicked shut, the aura enveloping Trisen’s body was progressively sealed away.

This fellow was, after all, capable of trading blows with Neo.

Though Neo had not exerted his full strength that night, the prowess of this Deputy Chief before them was indeed not to be underestimated.

Mochi produced a dossier and handed it to Karen.

“This is the evidence I have gathered regarding Trisen Naton’s violations of protocol during his tenure. I can provide both the witnesses and the physical proof for everything listed herein.”

It was entirely evident that Chief Mochi of the Enforcement Department intended to break with the Naton family completely.

Karen nodded, took the dossier, and said, “Our thanks to your Excellency for your cooperation and support of our work.”

“It is only right; we are of one house, after all.” Mochi opened his arms. “I watched the trial. It was splendid; particularly the words you spoke at the end, Captain Karen—I found myself in profound agreement.”

Karen likewise opened his arms, exchanging a ritualistic embrace with the Chief.

Mochi smiled. “Captain Karen, I believe we shall be seeing a great deal of each other in the future.”

“Does your Excellency intend to transfer into the Whip of Order?”

“Captain Karen should find out in short order.”

“Very well.”

Karen gave Muri a subtle nod, and Muri and Bart escorted Trisen toward the exit.

Trisen chose not to resist, but before he was led out of the office, he turned back to address Mochi who stood behind.

“You have no inkling of who stands above my Naton family.”

Then,

Trisen turned his head again to say to Karen, who was walking alongside him:

“And you have no inkling of who stands above our house either.”

Karen replied, “You uncle and nephew truly share the exact same disposition. Your nephew said nearly the identical words to me when he first saw me.

Oh, my apologies, a slip of the tongue. I meant to say, you two brothers.”

Thereson sneered and said, "Just you wait and see."

Karen smiled faintly, "Do you know? What I fear least is this kind of threat, because I am a devout believer in Order."

Because though my grandfather is asleep, he is not dead.

Reasonably speaking, this sort of rhetoric should have been his own frequent refrain.

Yet he seemed never to have used these words to threaten anyone, but was instead constantly threatened by others in this exact manner.

Oh well, as long as you are happy.

The Deputy