Chapter 598: Counterattack! (Big Chapter!)

Chapter 598: Counterattack! (Mega Chapter!)

Although Director Karen, head of the investigation team, had not disclosed any progress or details of the investigation to the public, his concluding remarks were already as explosive as they could possibly be.

If the arrest of the six bishops in the auditorium yesterday could be seen as the regional Whiplash of Order declaring war on the regional administrative office, then Director Karen’s words at today’s press conference could be viewed as the formal launch of the charge.

There was no probing, no reservation; what was presented was a raw, uncompromising battle to the death.

The previous incident involving the Ned family could still be viewed as a multi-party political gamble, which ultimately sacrificed the Neds under a mutual, tacit understanding to exchange for a new balance of power, and moreover, that was only one bishop;

This time, moving directly against six bishops was no longer within the realm of political gambling; it resembled one faction launching an extermination against another to eradicate them utterly.

Accompanying the spokesperson Director Karen’s muffled coughing, followed by his departure in a very weak state supported by his subordinates, today’s press conference came to an end.

What followed immediately was the explosive dissemination of this news, while other regions, including the Dingle Region, still had a bit of a buffer zone—at least everyone could gather to drink tea and discuss, analyzing the political winds behind this matter and the actions they themselves needed to take.

As for the York City Region... it fell directly into a state of semi-paralysis.

These six bishops essentially each controlled a department, and the personnel of those departments along with their own factional forces were naturally in a completely dazed state at this time, so who could possibly continue working normally?

The remaining bishops and department heads were also immensely shaken at this moment; they even felt that next, they too would receive an investigation order from the Whiplash of Order and be taken away together.

In short, the water that had already been continuously throwing up small bubbles finally, after this press conference...

Boiled over.

...

Minister Bernie walked down the corridor, and when he arrived before the door of Karen’s office, Philomena, who was sitting there, stood up and raised her hand, blocking him.

If it were merely a simple obstruction it would be one thing, but precisely, Bernie also saw Philomena’s other hand, gripping a knife.

Bernie was almost provoked to a laugh by his anger, and asked: "What, do you actually worry that I will strike inside this building?"

Philomena nodded and replied:

"Yes, I do."

Philomena feared Karen alone; as for anyone else, she could admit she was no match for them, but there was truly no such thing as dread in her vocabulary.

Just as when facing Madam Tangli, she was well aware that the old lady had found her very displeasing to the eye earlier on, and she also understood that the old lady seemed to possess the ability to cripple her with two slaps, yet she still did not choose to deliberately become "obedient and sensible" in her presence.

To use Alfred’s words, among the two successive batches of "believers" he had developed, the most devout in conduct ought to be Philomena.

Muri was more rational, Ventura was more emotional,

Only Philomena,

If something happened, she would truly go straight in without a second word!

"Creak..."

The office door was opened from the inside at this moment, and Alfred stood at the doorway: "Lord Minister, please enter."

Bernie walked inside, and Karen, who had already changed into a clean divine robe, sat behind the desk, flipping through the investigation reports in his hands, principally the dossier of Bishop Yeder.

"I came to help treat your injuries." Bernie proactively walked toward Karen.

"No need, Lord Minister." Karen chose to decline, "The injuries are not severe."

"But I saw you looking very weak on the speaker’s podium, it is still better to check."

"That was a facade." A smile appeared on Karen’s face, "It carried a few traces of performance."

"Then the assassination was also self-directed and self-acted by you?"

"Since you have guessed it all, why do you still ask?" Karen shrugged, "However, the assassin is real, and was also captured alive, a mole of the Night God Cult hidden within our church, the genuine kind, you do not need to interrogate him, trust me, it will not bring a burden to your work."

Karen’s thoroughly candid attitude left Bernie somewhat at a loss; of course, what he understood even better was that this candor was built upon a foundation of completely disdaining to disguise.

He calmed himself for a moment, pulled back a chair, and sat down opposite Karen.

Karen proactively asked: "What would you like to drink? Is ice water acceptable?"

"It is."

Karen gestured with his hand toward the cabinet over there: "The water is below, the ice cubes are placed upon the cabinet."

Bernie stood up, walked over to the cabinet to pour two cups of ice water, walked back, and placed one cup before Karen.

"You are too polite, I was merely asking just now if you required it, I am not thirsty."

"What, afraid I might poison the water?"

"Yes." Karen nodded, "After all, you are capable of doing any sort of thing."

"Those words ought to be spoken by me to you, you have already gone mad twice, Karen!"

Karen shook his head and said: "In reality, only this time; last time, was my conduct not all carried out under your instructions?

You cannot count the wild behavior of the Director of the Second Office against my head as the Director of the First Office; as a superior, one must distribute rewards and punishments clearly."

"I command you now, stay your hand, and then let this matter cool down, do you know that by doing this, the regional administrative office over there will immediately have movements, do you think relying on a Chief can suppress it?"

"In fact, I do not care about the movements over there, what I care about more is when exactly the personnel required for my investigation can be gathered together.

Up to now, the Whiplash of Order teams that have reported for duty in response to my command number only three, which is far from enough, I need at least thirty."

"Not everyone is willing to go mad with you, Karen."

"In half an hour, my deputy director will help me publish the situation regarding the inability to mobilize the Whiplash of Order teams to the public, I believe those reporters will be very glad to report this matter.

A young Director of the Whiplash of Order, devout toward the 《Regulations of Order》, dares to challenge the bishops, not only was he assassinated, but during the process of investigation, his manpower was even restricted by his own superior.

How difficult it must be for him, as if the forces of both sides are exerting suppression upon him, neither wishing for this righteous young man to pierce through this superficial layer of beautiful, tacit understanding."

"The 《Order Weekly》 is not the 《York City Sun》;

Within the church circles, there are not so many naive people, do not use this kind of playstyle from secular society to fit into here, you will not be able to play it out, Karen, this world is not as simple as you imagine."

"No, no, no, I have never doubted the complexity of this world, yet I still choose simplicity."

"Is this your revenge?" Bernie asked, "Revenge for my arrangements for you at the commendation assembly?"

"You will not believe it, but actually, I am mostly still following along with the 《Regulations of Order》, though of course, it does not exclude the influence that your actions on that day caused upon my decision."

Bishop Bernie stood up, looking at Karen: "Fine, the manpower I will arrange for you, I will in my name, and further request the Governor in the name of the Whip-Holder, to requisition all Whiplash of Order teams of the York City Region, as well as the Whiplash of Order teams of other nearby regions, to all come to your place to obey your deployment."

"My thanks for your support of my work, Lord Minister."

"I hope you can achieve results early, otherwise, for the press conferences of the next few days, you cannot possibly continue to arrange assassinations for yourself, and the number of moles is not enough for you to use in this manner."

"Yes, I am also having a headache over that, Lord Minister, perhaps, you could first give me the complete dossier regarding Bishop Yeder, in that case I would be endlessly grateful to you."

"The dossier, I have already had someone give to you."

"But upon the dossier, apart from some problems of personal virtue concerning Bishop Yeder himself and his family members, there is no other useful information."

"Then that might explain that Bishop Yeder himself has no major problems, and we have wronged him?"

"However, this investigation was launched in your name, if the investigation cannot smoothly continue, the one most affected should be you."

"I am already prepared to be reprimanded, even to have punishment descended upon me, truly."

"Do not be so pessimistic, Lord Minister, as your excellent subordinate, I will not let you fall into such a situation, I guarantee it."

"Good, I look forward to it."

Bernie turned and departed.

Vick stepped out from the inner room, having listened to the entirety of the conversation, and said, "Director, you have him right where you want him."

Kallen shook his head and said, "No, he has simply changed his tactics."

"Changed his tactics?"

"Though I do not know why his superiors ordered him to target me, now that Neo has flipped the table, his mission has become very clear—to extinguish this fire in the York City region as quickly as possible.

But he can no longer smother the flames at their source, because of my non-cooperation, and because I have just added more fuel to the fire.

Watch, next he will put on a show of fiercely supporting my work, creating an illusion of solidarity.

Because there is another way to put out a fire quickly: accelerate the burning. Once the firewood is spent, the fire will die out on its own."

Vick grew thoughtful, remarking with admiration, "He reacted that quickly?"

"He was never a simple man to begin with. Before the commendation ceremony, Neo and I were still discussing how to help him get promoted so we could rise along with him, because we both felt he was an excellent boss—at the very least, he wouldn't drag us down.

So, you see, I have pondered this for a whole day and night, and I still cannot understand why he wanted to target me."

"I believe we can set that question aside for the time being, sir."

"Yes, you are right. Let us produce some concrete results first, otherwise we really will run out of firewood. Have you contacted Leon's side?"

"I reached out last night, but Leon consulted his grandfather... and the Chief's reply was that he has nothing." Vick paused. "I suspect the Chief might have changed his mind."

"He could not have changed his mind. I imagine there must be some other reason."

"I suggest you make time to meet with the Chief, sir. At the very least, you must obtain the case file regarding Bishop Yeder. After all, you cannot say the exact same things at the press conferences tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that."

"It would be useless. Do you believe me?"

"I..."

"Very well, then please connect me to the Chief's office right now."

"Understood, Director."

Vick picked up the receiver and dialed the Chief's office. The call was answered quickly, presumably by Leon.

"Yes, the Director wishes to speak with the Chief. Very well, I shall wait."

After a brief moment, Vick's brow furrowed as he replied, "Understood. I see."

Vick hung up the telephone, turned to Kallen, and said, "Director, Leon says his grandfather does not wish to speak with you."

"Just as I said."

Kallen showed no hint of surprise at this outcome.

"Now, I truly cannot decipher the Chief's stance anymore. By all accounts..."

"He is disappointed." Kallen offered the answer from his heart. "The reason he dislikes the Whip of Order is not because his authority over the regional management office was diluted, but because he feels an inflated Whip of Order will cause greater instability, even harm.

Originally, he intended to place his faith in it one last time before his death, yet things turned out like this.

And so, he is disappointed."

Vick spoke up, "If that is the case, I suspect the Chief might not even possess a complete list or chain of evidence. Even as the Chief Bishop, while he certainly has ample reason to keep tabs on the scandals and reputations of the bishops under his command, establishing a flawless chain of evidence remains somewhat unrealistic."